Metro
The Painted Canvases: ‘Zero’ As a Nation!
By Tolulope A. Adegoke
“It takes rising up to the call(s) of destiny for any group or individuals of any nation or community(s) to reach the destination of their quality state! You cannot change the world that you live in until you change yourself from within! You can get up, yes! You must get up! Be inspired! Be responsible!” Tolulope A. Adegoke
We’ll be painting Japan in 1945, after the Second World War, as an image of a Zero on a detailed canvas, but her narrative doesn’t finish there. The Second World War began in 1935 and concluded in 1945 as a consequence of the United States of America’s political and military engagement, which officially embraced the doctrine of isolationism. Her role before the war was purely economic, allowing her to accumulate financial muscle for herself in order to establish what was required for her worldwide reputation. During the war, Germany, Italy, and Japan sought to establish a “tripartite strategy” in order to gain hegemony over all countries on the planet. Germany, under Adolf Hitler, desired total control of Europe; Italy, under Benito Mussolini, desired total control of Africa; and Japan, under Emperor Hirohito, desired total control of Asia. However, Adolf Hitler of Germany and Benito Mussolini of Italy were eventually defeated, while Japan was ordered to step down in order to end the war, but she remained adamant (stiff-necked); the United States of America saw this as a threat to their global intentions because Britain and France had been weakened by the war. As a result, by unleashing the “Weapon of Mass Destruction” on Japan, America assumed the burden of joining in the Second World War both politically and militarily. Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan’s two main economic centers, were completely devastated, resulting in the loss of countless lives and assets. The impact of the United States of America’s bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on the Japanese continues to this day to demonstrate the breadth of the devastation of once popular and lush territory into deserts (Zero).
At the anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings in the early 2000s, Japan’s Prime Minister said, “If they gave Japan enough time to move her people, they could bomb Japan any way they wanted, and even if they put Japan in the desert, they would rebuild Japan to the world’s second-largest economy in a short time.”
Japan is an example of a country that does not have enough steel to create bonnets, enough silicon to produce side mirrors, or enough rubber to produce steering wheels, but is the world’s largest exporter of automobiles. Where am I going with this? Japan came from zero to be responsible, despite the difficulties and pains of ascending the ladder of becoming a worldwide hero among countries of the globe, against all chances of being smashed to zero. Every zero, if diligently worked on, has the ability to bounce back. The riches of every country, therefore, will be discovered in-between its people’s “ears,” i.e., the contents of their brain and character of their being (applicability capability)!
Life is the irrefutable, mysterious (powerful) gift given to man by God, containing a plethora of hidden secrets…
It is up to us (man) to maximize its use, but only man’s actions poison it! There is always a reason to do something and a reason not to do it. This is known as an “excuse.” It is God’s responsibility to deposit riches and treasures in the shape of skills, potentials, or gifts into our earthen vessels, but it is up to us as people to dig very deeply with real light for their revealing, utilization, and maximization for our own benefit for His (God Almighty) glory.
Nigeria as a country fits into the above-mentioned framework in order to re-orient her leadership and followership, particularly the youth, via this evident truth in the ultimate reality of being and living. It is important to emphasize unequivocally that Nigeria’s wealth is not in the Niger-Delta (South-South region), nor is it anyplace in the ground, nor is oil our riches, nor is it any of the natural resources that we have around us, but it is the people that you can see around you, exactly where you are… We are Nigeria’s riches because we have the elegance, splendour, and capability to harness and use those mineral resources, as well as one another, to satisfy the Creator’s certain requirements! The so-called natural resources that we so desperately seek beneath the earth are not the “actual resources,” but the untapped “divin-istic wealth” of those who died before their time with their riches in them…These people did not perish in vain! A functional resource (s) is the quality treasure (s) encoded in a living, physically sized being known as “man”, positioned in-between his two ears (his brain)! These assets that God bestowed upon him are limitless since he was formed for special objectives of addressing requirements and providing potential (beyond the norm) for people, corporations, and nations. The human brain is a perplexing (yet powerful) biological system that allows us to link our hearts to the supernatural. We must thus be resolute and prepared to die empty by depleting the resources that God Almighty has placed inside us for the glory of God Almighty and the development of people and the environment.
When a man prays to God for money, God showers him with thoughts that will change his destiny, then connects him with other individuals who were made to chart causes that are earthly or supernaturally connected to the fulfillment of the intended purposes of these ideas. These folks are known as “destiny’s assistants!”
The more we ask God for answers, the more God sends another man in the shape of new-borns who carry divine solutions through divine order or inspires, discloses, and illuminates another adult man with the appropriate and needed ability to fulfill the solution in an active and visible manifestation! The more a man fails as a result of earthly distractions or causes, the more He sends another man to replace him and carry out His ideal intentions. God is never taken aback by man’s flaws or gaps. He always has backup plans in place to complete the delivery mission(s).
We strive to maintain the mindset that “we are the wealth of our generation(s), situated in specific geographical locations for the divine purpose(s) of performing a divine mandate all to the glory of God and for the relief of humanity from grieves, agonies, and pains.” Your nation(s) depends on your endowments to thrive; without you, there will always be gaps in that specific area of your calling(s) due to your unwillingness to surrender to it! I now charge you to rise to your divine calling(s). Only then do you have a chance to become a LEGEND (hero)! You, can take charge (control) of your talents only if you can imagine them. Do not become a zero! ” It is a man’s talents that will pave the road for him… he will stand before monarchs (kings), not mere (ordinary) men! This is an undeniable fact: without your constructive contributions, your country would stay at zero! To achieve the goal of their quality state, any group or person from any country or community must answer the call(s) of destiny! You cannot change the environment in which you live unless you first change yourself.
You can get up, yes!
You need to rise up!
Be inspired!
Take responsibility!
Learn and Apply. Thank you!
Watch out for the Book titled: “The Power of an Empowered Zero” (From Zero to HERO) by Tolulope A. Adegoke. Foreword by Dr Yomi Garnett (CEO/Chancellor, Royal Biographical Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania U.S.A., U.K., Abuja, Nigeria.) Edited by Ola Aboderin.
Abuja, the nation’s federal capital, came alive with joy and excitement on Wednesday as a new set of winners in the ongoing Globacom Festival of Joy promotion received mouth-watering prizes they won at a special presentation ceremony held at the premises of Globacom at Aminu Kano Crescent.
A glittering brand new Toyota Prado, a brand new Kia Picanto, tricycles (Keke Napep) and scores of other prizes including power generating sets, sewing machines and grinding machines were handed over to joyful winners.
Sarah Ilya Madu was presented the keys to her brand-new Toyota Prado by Senator Simon Lalong, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth Development, supported by a stellar cast of celebrities and influencers.
Sarah, a federal civil servant from Borno State, who emerged winner of the Toyota Prado in the draw of the promotion held in Abuja last Friday, expressed shock when she was called up. She dropped the call from Globacom several times because the news was too good to be believed.
She said, “I was prevailed upon by my colleagues to do a video call with the Glo staff who called me. Even when I saw the office environment, I was still doubtful.” She added that when she eventually agreed to visit the Glo office, she went with a hefty colleague just in case she was being set up.
Ufot Victor, a 43-year-old businessman based in the FCT, was expectant about winning as he had been recharging regularly so as to cross the minimum requirement for a car. Winning a brand new Kia Picanto was a huge reward for his dedication.
Other lucky winners also went home with tricycles (Keke), power generating sets, sewing machines and grinding machines. Ireimiya Mallo, a SIM registration agent and native of Nasarawa State, who won Keke, said, ”I was so joyful on learning I had won a Keke”. He disclosed that he would be deploying it for commercial purpose”, while the winner of a power generating set, Felix Gabriel, thanked Globacom for always remembering Nigerians every year in its annual promos.
The Special Guest, Senator Simon Lalong, praised the Chairman of Globacom for putting the promo in place for Nigerians and also extolled his strong support for sports. He said he would love to be a winner in the Glo promo one day soon. Also Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the spokesman of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth Development, said Globacom has always been a brand after his heart, adding that the network is not just attracting customers but also giving out to show that it means well not only for the customers but also for Nigerians.
In his remarks at the event, Globacom’s Head of Division, North West, Mr. Kazeem Kaka, said that to participate in the Festival of Joy promo, new and existing subscribers should dial *611# so as to opt into the promo and to keep recharging thereafter to meet the threshold for the various prizes. He added that new subscribers can participate immediately by purchasing a new SIM, registering it and dialing *611#.
Guests at the event included representatives of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Mariam Imam, Assistant Director, Consumer Affairs at the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), Moses Iyi; comedians, Tee A, Seyi Law, and Gordons.
Others were Nollywood duo of Ebube Nwagbo and Juliet Ibrahim as well as popular content creator, Kiekie.
U.S immigration and border officials will be able to arrest migrants at so-called “sensitive” locations again, after the Trump administration overturned policies limiting where such arrests could happen.
Officers will now be able to make arrests at designated “sensitive” areas, including houses of worship, schools, and hospitals.
Officials have been prohibited from doing this since 2011.
Later, the Biden administration expanded the regulation, further restricting the authority’s powers.
“Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
“The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense.”
A second directive reinstates the ability for the U.S. to quickly deport any undocumented person arrested who is unable to prove they have been in the country for more than two years.
A 23-year-old Turkish OnlyFans model, Azranur AV aka Ezra Vandan, has been arrested by Istanbul police after announcing her plan to engage in sexual activity with 100 men within 24 hours.
Vandan’s social media post, in which she declared her intention to live-stream the act in an attempt to set a national record, was deemed “obscene” and “damaging” to public morals by authorities.
“My goal is to break a Turkish record first, then a world record!” she wrote in the now-viral post.
Her arrest was carried out by the Morality Bureau of the Istanbul Security Branch Directorate at a cosmetic surgery clinic in Atasehir, Istanbul.
