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Food for Living: Your Value is Your Influence
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
When you hear the word value, what comes to your mind? Value means different things to different people. To an academic, value might mean their academic credentials; to an employer, value might mean what a prospective employee might bring to the table; to a married partner or someone in a relationship, their value might be their qualities; to a real estate agent, value might mean the net worth of a house, and to an entrepreneur; it might be their asset.
In our contemporary society, when the word value is mentioned, many people think of money, but in reality, value is more than money. Value has a lot to do with your personality and intrinsic qualities which defines you. Value can be regarded as life because it is what you place on someone or something that will determine the respect or recognition that you will give to it. If you value time, you will endeavor to keep to time, if you value education, you will do your best to get a decent grade or education, if you value life, you will do your best to treat human beings fairly.
In business, your value is your bargaining power, when you have great value, you will be able to negotiate well. It’s sad to note that sometimes we undervalue ourselves and sell ourselves cheap just because we need certain opportunities. Your true value remains is in who you are and not what people think about you. When you truly know who are, you won’t be deterred due to the setbacks and vicissitudes of life.
If you want to gain more in life, have to produce results. Nobody will pay you more than you deserve. In your potential resides your value. Your capability in life has a lot to do with your mindset. According to Henry Ford, “if you think you can, you are right, if you think you can’t you are right”. Nobody knows you more than you know yourself. Your value and potential is intangible, you can’t see, but you can feel it. Only visionary people with the eyes of an eagle and see the value and potential in your being.
To determine your value, you must know what you are willing to give up and what you can accept to make a deal come through. For instance, if you have a desire to attain a certain ambition in life, you must sacrifice certain interests. Also, if as an upright man, you are asked to accept a kickback/bribe, whatever you demand or accept to be paid you is your value.
Your value does not have to do with where you are, it has a lot to do with where you are heading. So, you might be doing a dirty job or menial job to foot the bills, but that doesn’t define you. I remembered working as a security officer for many years in the US while doing my graduate program in New York Law School and even after my program, just because I couldn’t find a befitting job. I didn’t quit because I know one day an opportunity will present itself which ultimately came to pass.
So, this is to encourage you to hang in there, gain the experience, knowledge, and network wherever you are, you never can tell when it will come in handy. Each and every one of us has a different path to life. What’s important is to appreciate the journey and inherent lessons.
There are so many varieties of value. What Mr. A might value might be different from what Mr. B. might value. As human beings, we have different tastes. The same is applicable to different tribes, countries, and continents. What one tribe, country, or continent might value, might not be appreciated in another location.
Knowing your true value will help you in every aspect of business and life and this can only happen when you believe in yourself. Remember, if nobody believes you, believe in yourself. You need to believe in yourself before people will believe in you. Your confidence in life has a way of attracting people to you and when people believe in you, they can key into your vision. That’s how great leaders lead.
Value has a lot to do with location and how you communicate your thoughts. For instance, a bottle of water might be worth $5 in a store, but it might be sold for $10 in a hotel and $20 at the airport. It’s instructive to note that it’s the same brand of bottle and the same bottle, the only thing that changes is the location. The moral of this post is that when you are not celebrated or feel worthless in a place, have the courage to leave the scene and go to a place where you will be celebrated. Surround yourself with people who see your value and celebrate you.
In conclusion, work on adding value to your life regardless of any path you have chosen in life. As a lady, man, student, politician, businessman, pastor, parent, etc., strive to add value to your life because it will go a long way to enhance your life.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He’s a Human Capacity & mindset coach. He’s also a public speaker. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the author of the acclaimed book Design Your Destiny – Actualizing Your Birthright To Success and President of gloemi.com. He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
A State Security Service investigator, on Tuesday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja that Tukur Mamu was offered a N50 million share by Shugaba, leader of the terrorist group, who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna bound train in 2022.
The DSS operative, who testified as 6th prosecution witness (PW-6) in the ongoing terrorism trial of Mamu, the alleged terrorists’ negotiator, told Justice Mohammed Umar while being led in evidence by the DSS lawyer, David Kaswe.
The witness, who gave his testimony behind a witness screen for security reason, said that the group also asked Mamu to teach them how to open website for their terrorist activities.
He stated this while interpreting four voice notes played in the courtroom containing the defendant’s telephone interactions with the terrorists who held the abducted train passengers hostage.
The audio recordings were extracted from Mamu’s mobile telephones during interrogation after he was arrested in Egypt and brought back to Nigeria.
“The first voice note that played was for defendant (Mamu) fixing a date for delivery of ransom.
“The second voice note that played for five minutes was the voice of Shugaba, the leader of the terrorist group.
“In the voice note, he was appreciating the defendant’s effort and ask him to remove N50 million for his personal use from a particular tranche of ransom sent to them.
“The last voice note that played, Baba Adamu, who is their spokesperson, was heard requesting the defendant to help them procure speakers and public address system for their preaching activities and the defendant responded that he was going to look into their request.
“They also requested that the defendant teach them how to open website for their activities,” the witness said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mamu was alleged to have convinced the terrorists to discuss ransom payments with individual families of the hostages of the train attack instead of the Chief of Defense Staff Committee set up by the Federal Government for his personal financial gain.
The defendant was said to have been nominated by the terrorists that attacked the train sometime in March 2022 where scores of passengers were held hostage.
Mamu was alleged to have collected ransoms on behalf of terror group from families of hostages, confirmed the amount and facilitated the delivery of same to them.
The PW-6, while being led in evidence on Tuesday by the prosecuting lawyer, Kaswe, told the court that after Mamu was brought back from Egypt, he submitted his Samsung tablet and two phones to DSS’ officials.
The witness said he was one of those who investigated the case.
He told the court that when the defendant was intercepted in Egypt, he put a call to his in-law, identified as Mubarak Tinja and directed him to move out all his valuables, comprising cash, cars and other items of values, from his house to a safe location, to avoid detection by security agents.
“The defendant was subsequently arrested in Egypt and returned back to Nigeria, where a team of investigators were on ground to receive him.
“A duly endorsed search warrant was duly executed in his property and office in Kaduna, during which cash, in both local and foreign currencies; vehicles and other valuables were recovered.
“In compliance with his directive to his in law, Mubarak Tinja, and the other dependants in the house, some cars and cash were moved out of the house to various locations,” he said.
He said investigators later traced and located some of the items, including about 300,000 US dollars, about seven cars, including Toyota Camry (Muscle); Peugeot 5008, Lexus, Mercedes E350 and a Hyundai car.
Vehicle documents relating to the cars were later tendered by the prosecution through the witness, which the court admitted in evidence.
The witness added that when the defendant was brought back to the country, he “handed his Samsung tablet and two of his phones to our exhibit keeper, who sent them to our forensic department for forensic analysis.
“The outcome of the forensic analysis, included the voice notes of the conversation between the defendant and the terrorists, were part of the content that were presented to the interrogation team and the items recovered from his home.
“He (the defendant) was subsequently interviewed, during which the content of his phones and other items were presented to him.
“During the interview, the defendant admitted giving instruction to Mubarak to move his variables from his house.
“He also admitted communicating with the terrorists, using his voice notes, which were extracted from his two phones and Samsung tablet.”
He added that the defendant also admitted owning a pump action gun, which was recovered from his house, which he claimed was duly licensed.
The witness, however, told the court that investigators later discovered that the licence expired in December 2021, nine months before he was arrested.
The DSS operative said about 98 per cent of the conversation on the voice notes are in Housa Language, some of which were translated to English Language by him, because they were too many.
Kaswe then applied to tender the recorded voice notes stored in compact disk plates and flash drive, which the court admitted, after Mamu’s counsel, Johnson Usman, reserved his objection until the final address.
The recorded conversations were played in the courtroom.
The witness added that in the course of investigation, two victims volunteered written statements in which they recounted their experiences.
He said one of the statements was written in English and the other in Hausa Language.
He, however, said that the victims; a male and female, were no longer available, because they expressed their unwillingness to attend court to testify because of fear and trauma.
The court admitted the statements of the victims in evidence and marked them as exhibits after it was not opposed by Usman.
The court also admitted in evidence eight statements made to investigators by Mamu and video recordings of the statements writing sessions.
Kaswe then informed the court that he would be bringing a formal application for the court to visit where the items recovered from Mamu’s house and office are kept.
Justice Umar adjourned the matter until Nov. 26 at 11am for continuation of trial.
NAN
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday laid before the Lagos State House of Assembly a N4.237 trillion Appropriation Bill for the 2026 fiscal year, describing it as an ambitious, future-driven financial plan aimed at solidifying his administration’s legacy in its final full year.
Presenting the proposal, titled the “Budget of Shared Prosperity,” the governor said it reflects the collective optimism that Lagos will continue to expand opportunities, strengthen its leadership role, and reinforce its status as Africa’s foremost megacity.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the budget projects total revenue of N3,993,774,552,141, comprising N3.12 trillion in Internally Generated Revenue and N874 billion in expected Federal Transfers. The funding structure, he noted, leaves a deficit financing requirement of N243,332,457,167.
For the 2026 fiscal year, capital expenditure is set at N2,185,085,419,495, while recurrent expenditure stands at N2,052,021,589,812. He explained that the recurrent component covers overheads, personnel costs, and debt obligations.
A breakdown of recurrent spending shows total overhead costs of N1,084,245,843,091, including general overheads, subventions and dedicated expenditures, while personnel costs amount to N440,494,339,384. Recurrent debt charges are projected at ₦143,876,701,943, with debt repayments estimated at N383,404,705,394.
Sanwo-Olu also outlined the sectoral distribution of the 2026 budget. General Public Services will receive N847,472,071,966; Public Order and Safety, N147,040,088,897; and Economic Affairs, N1,372,307,808,626. The Environment Ministry is allocated N235,957,235,138, while Housing receives N123,760,310,429.
The Health sector is earmarked N338,449,258,945; Education gets N249,132,921,287; Social Protection, N70,024,171,038; and the Recreation and Culture sector will take N54,682,339,586.
The governor said the year 2026 carries special weight as the last full calendar year of his administration, describing it as a period crucial for consolidating achievements and ensuring a “strong, successful finish.”
He reaffirmed his commitment to completing all ongoing and newly initiated projects, adding that his administration will continue to prioritise citizen engagement to ensure government decisions reflect the needs of Lagosians.
According to him, Lagos is entering a new phase of “accelerated impact,” driven by sustained investment in infrastructure, human capital, social welfare and governance systems that are “intentional, inclusive and future-oriented.”
Sanwo-Olu reiterated his administration’s core mission: “To keep Lagos secure, to keep Lagos working, to keep Lagos growing, and to make sure the prosperity we build is shared by everyone who calls this centre of excellence home.”
He commended the Lagos State House of Assembly for its consistent partnership, describing the lawmakers as steadfast allies in the state’s development journey. He also praised the civil service for its hard work in translating government vision into measurable progress.
DailyPost
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, has disclosed that armed personnel have been deployed to all parts of Lagos State to protect schools and other public places.
CP Jimoh disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on the activities of the command in the last few months.
He also disclosed that no fewer than 56 criminals have also been arrested for different crimes in the last few months.
The police, however, stressed that the crime rate in the State has gone down significantly during the period under review.
The reinforcement of the security around the State may not be unconnected with the recent resurgence of kidnapping and violent attacks in some parts of the country.
According to police boss, the command also recovered ten exotic vehicles from robbers in different parts of the state.
CP Jimoh said: “The security situation in Lagos is not alarming, and we are firmly on top of the situation. During the period under review, there have not been any extraordinary or significant security problems throughout the bigger city.
This is not due to the police effort alone, it is due to the whole population and the collaboration and support of the public, individuals and other members of the public that have come to identify with the police and ensure the safety and protection of life and property throughout the State.”
CP Jimoh continued: “We are making significant progresses in the area of crime fighting and prevention. This with the introduction of new strategies.
It is due to the positive result that has led to the recovery of about 10 vehicles within the last few weeks.”
He stressed that during the month under review, the command recovered 10 vehicles stolen and one motorcycle removed from park.
Across multiple operations in November, the Command recovered six firearms, including locally made pistols, cut-tosize guns, a single cut-to-size barrel gun, multiple live cartridges, dangerous weapons such as a machete, a battle axe, and an assault dagger, as well as Nigerian military m camouflage, charms, and fake currency valued at four thousand dollars. ”
“These achievements are a testament to our sustained November strategy aimed at dismantling criminal gangs, intercepting stolen property, removing illegal firearms from circulation, and strengthening public safety across Lagos State.
“The total number of weapons and items recovered are: one machete, one battle axe, one assault dagger, one Nigerian military camouflage, one charm, and fake 4,000 USD,” the CP also stated.
He added: “These items were seized during intelligence-driven operations aimed at neutralising gangs responsible for violent crimes and coordinated attacks in different parts of Lagos State.
The recovery of these weapons and materials significantly disrupts the capabilities of criminal groups and enhances the overall security landscape of the State.”
CP Jimoh also urges people who may want to come and celebrate the Yuletide period in the state not to entertain any fear.
He noted that increased police surveillance had been put in place to prevent any breakdown of law and order during the celebration.
He added that he had also directed all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, Tactical Squads, and Unit Commanders to fortify worship centers with adequate security during services.
