TOLU'S PARADISE

THE DREAM LIVES ON.

2009-06-23T14:15:00.001-07:00

What does it take to achieve a dream? This is a question I know many people ask themselves daily. In today's world, it is so easy to be distracted by things happening around us. As if the hostile circumstances are not enough, the mainstream media keeps churning out all kinds of negative news that could make our sinks sink. Bad news sells and I'm still intrigued by that fact. However, we also live in a world that has a lot of facilities and infrastructure that can make us achieve our dreams easily. A lot of the tools we have in our hands are facilitated by the internet. The World Wide Web is helping a lot of otherwise helpless individuals to take their destinies into their hands. All kinds of things can be done online these days.

So do you have a dream? If you do, it is time to start moving things yourself. You dont need to wait for a Producer or Publisher to spot you. You dont need a middleman to make your dreams come to pass all the time. A lot of creative people are realizing that they are being ripped off by Record Companies and Publishers. It is increasingly becoming a do-it-youself world. If you're into music, you can use MySpace to promote your music. There are also other sites online which you can use to push your songs to people on the web. And there are 1.5 billion people on the world wide web. That is a huge market for you. If you're a creative writer like me, you should start thinking of self publishing. Check out www.lulu.com for your publishing needs. There are also a lot of online writing jobs. So if the Media does not employ you after dropping your CV and attending several interviews, it is time to be self employed. It might be difficult at the beginning but things will come good if you're hardworking, creative and focused.

If you're entrepreneurial in nature, you can promote your company by having an account on Facebook and Bebo. There are many social networking sites around that you can use for advertising and Marketing purposes. You can also use online forums like Nairaland, Nigerian Village Square and NaNaija.com to let people know what you're doing and up to. The World Wide Web is a place where the unimaginable can be done and where you can fulfil your dreams. All thanks to Tim Berners Lee, the man behind www [ World Wide Web ]. We are in the age of information and you should naturally not be left behind. God has deposited all we need to succeed in us right from the day we were born. Our heavenly father loves us and he knows there will come a time when we will need to look inwards for survival. That is why he gave us gifts and abilities. Thank God for his goodness. So hold on to your dreams and keep your head up. You've got something that can not be taken away from you. You're blessed. And how was your day?

BACK TO MY BLOG.

2009-06-19T08:50:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I've not posted anything on my blog for a while. Yeah, I promised to keep blogging no matter what happens, earlier in the year. The problem is that I am now on Facebook and I spend more of my time on the social networking site these days. Its like a dashing young man who has found a new woman to throw his passions on. Facebook can be so addictive and I'm thinking of suspending my account. You get to meet all kinds of people on the site. And some of them say stupid things, while others post memorable videos. Can't be bothered though. It is a free world.

I have now come back to my senses. I have come back to the girl that truly loves me. I love Blogspot and I won't negelect it. Gosh!!, there is so much communication these days online with all kinds of social networking sites springing up. Sometimes I wonder where we get the time to comment and post our thoughts online, when we've got jobs to do. Or are we all work-at-home types who are always online? Hmn. So what has been happening to you since I was gone? Talk to me, mate. I should not be the one telling you stuff all the time. So I am all ears now. Spill it. And how was your day?

MAKING UP MY MIND TO DO GOD'S WILL.

2009-05-22T13:35:00.000-07:00

'' God gave me these wonderful gifts for a reason. When you see all the destructive things going on in the world, you realize it is up to you to decide whether or not you are going to help change it or fall into it. If I can use my gifts to change the world for the better and make a difference, that's what I intend to do. ''
- Michelle Williams, member of Destiny's Child.

I came across these profound words in a copy of ESSENCE Magazine. Michelle Williams has continued to release gospel albums despite being a member of Destiny's Child, the American R&B group. I dunno if the group still exists. Beyonce Knowles is now a recognised solo artist. Haven't heard about Kelly Rowland for some time. Michelle's words really touched me. I know God does not give us gifts without expecting us to use them for certain purposes. Many people die without using the talents God placed in them. This happens due to a lot of reasons including poverty, sudden death, ignorance, misplaced priorities, laziness, lack of focus and general lethargy.

However, there are always opportunities for us to make our dreams come true. This is the best period in history for people to actualize their dreams. A lot of things and technology have been put in our hands. We can connect with people in different parts of the world easily. We can share our dreams with others and receive advice from them. We can have our own websites for free or at a cheap price. If we are determined enough, we can become millionaires in a matter of years. What I'm trying to say is that it is easier these days to recreate our world. It does not matter the kind of society we live in. It does not matter if we live in a rich or poor country. Poor countries can only become rich if people decide to do something about the state of their country.

That is why I've decided to use the gifts God gave me positively. I'm going to embark on some projects very soon. You'll get to hear about these projects on this blog before the world knows about them. I don't want to let the cat out of the bag, but I love children. That should give you a clue about what I'm up to. May the good lord bless the work of my hands when the time comes. Say amen with me. Amen. And how was your day?

IS THIS THE WAY THINGS SHOULD BE?

2009-05-15T08:45:00.000-07:00

We are all fond of complaining about the state of things in Nigeria. Apart from the bad state of facilities and lack of good infrastructure, the attitude of many Nigerians is nothing to write home about. Greed, selfishness and the PhD Syndrome has contributed to the fall of Africa's most populous nation. There are many questions I would have loved to ask you, my readers, but I've decided to ask only one. Is this the way things should be? It seems that many of us have concluded that life is meant to be unjust and unkind. Yeah, we might have been treated badly or cheated by people, but that should not make us give up on life.

We can change things. God has given us the abilities to turn things around. Bad people can change if we put in our best to reform them. Selfish people can start giving, if we decide to show them the way by not giving up on them. I know it is difficult to change people but we can do it if we try. In the midst of all the bad circumstances of life, we are still enjoying one or two things. These facilities or tools were designed by people who did not give up on life. Your PC or Laptop was designed by people who want you to achieve more in life. You use a mobile phone, right? Your phone helps you to communicate better. What I'm trying to say is this: We can all contribute to the development of Nigeria. We can do it in different ways. Things don't have to reamain the way they are. We can be agents of change. Yes, We Can. And how

Masta Ace - The I.N.C. Ride [ REAL TALENT ON DISPLAY ].

2009-05-15T04:04:00.001-07:00

I wonder what is wrong with Hip-Hop these days. I remember when I first listened to the juicy rap music of Masta Ace [ Duval Clear]. I was on holidays from High School [ Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State ] and was listening to the radio. I think it was OGBC then. That was when the Abeokuta FM station was running the show. These days, Cool FM, Ray Power 100.5, Rythm FM et al have taken over. As I was saying, the DJ played Masta Ace's INC RIDE and I really loved the track. The lyrics were cool and the beat was out of this world. It was the first time I would be listening to Masta Ace's songs.

Fast Forward to 2009 and I'm watching the video of the great track. This is rap at its best. There is no way you won't like the song. The concept behind the video is also amazing. You would see people riding different cars and feeling happy. The wording of the song makes sense unlike the lyrics of many rap songs today.

These days, rappers rap about money, big cars, women, sex and drugs. Their videos are also sickening and don't have any meaning. I'm not saying the video I posted is 100% good, but it does make sense. The song is also evergreen. So what do we learn from this? This video and song should hopefully help us to be very creative in all we do. Innovation is key to being successful in our endeavours. This is my first post in May. I'm back and I will only be stronger for it. And how was your day?

THANK YOU, TIM BERNERS-LEE.

2009-04-30T09:29:00.000-07:00

April 2009 ends today and I think it is apt for me to honour the man who has made it possible for me to be able to maintain a blog online. His name is Tim Berners Lee. He ushered in the World Wide Web in the early Nineties. He was a chip off the old block as his parents were mathematicians, who helped construct the Manchester Mark 1,one of the earliest electronic computers.

Tim attended Oxford University and he built a working computer out of Spare parts, before he was banned from using the elite institution's computer after being caught hacking. In 1980, Tim Berbers-Lee took a job as an independent contractor at Cern, a huge physics laboratory in the Swiss Alps. Frustrated that he could not remember the connections between the variuos people and projects that filled the Laboratory, he created ENQUIRE, a primitive programme that used hypertext to link documents on his computer. He then proceeded to link the systems of his colleagues. That was how the internet started. Today, there are more than 1.5 billion internet users worldwide. Tim hardly made a penny from his creation. What a man!!

Tim has taught me to believe in the creative abilities that the good lord has deposited in me. We are all born to make an impact in this world. Are you using your gifts today? Start thinking creatively. And how was your day?

ITCHING HANDS.

2009-04-29T14:53:00.000-07:00

I got up this morning and really didn't know what to do. After saying a quick prayer, I looked out of the window. Yeah, vehicles were moving to and fro and the Buses were picking up passengers infront of my house. That's the way of the world for you. People will always go about their own businesses irrespective of the way you feel about them. That thought jolted me back to my senses. I have a part time job now, and I'm still trying to get a full time job. However, there is something I still want to do. Until I make my mark in the literary world, I will not be satisfied. I know I've got a writing talent and God is expecting me to unleash it on the world. I believe God does not give us gifts for nothing [ the black boys in South East London will say 'nuffin' ]. So I really want to use my writing gifts.

I just finished sending some articles to thejuicetimes.com. It is news website conceptualized and run by my friend, Abiola Oyewo. I believe his site will do well. April is already gone. Tomorrow is the last day of the month. My hands are itching and something tells me I will finally be able to complete a projeect of mine this year. Lets keep our fingers crossed. And how was your day?

Gino - No Be God? [ MY BEST NAIJA HIP-HOP VIDEO ].

2009-04-25T12:24:00.001-07:00

I believe Nigerian youths are gifted and very creative. We have what it takes to dominate the world when it comes to Entertainment. It is just that we have a government that does not care about Youth Development in the country. Gino's song ' No Be God ' is my best Nigerian Rap song. The track and video was No 1 on the list of many charts in Nigeria for months. The song is very inspirational. Thanks Gino for making my day and helping me to believe in myself.

I wish you the best in life, Gino. I also have my own dreams too. Cheers.

CHANGING JOBS, SEEKING FULFILMENT.

2009-04-25T11:27:00.000-07:00

I stopped going to work on Wednesday night. I had been planning to change jobs for some time now. My body could not stand the rigour of working night shifts anymore. You see, I have been doing night shifts with my company for almost eight months. During those months of staying awake from 11pm to 6.45am, I gave the job my utmost best. I worked hard and I was recognised for it. Though my take home pay was not increased. I must confess that it was a tough job. Sorting plastics, cans, milk bottles and all kinds of things for Recycling. It was indeed a difficult job. It was my hardworking nature that made me continue with the job. It is all over now. I'm moving on.

One thing I have learnt in life is to understand my body. I cherish my health than the money someone is going to pay me for working for his or her company. There is nothing like moving on to better things. One cannot be in a place for ever. I've got my dreams to carry on. There are other things I want to do. Staying rooted in a place does not signify progress. I'm always on the move. The guys at the office called me and yelled at me for not coming to work. Then one of them told me I had been sacked. Not for once have I felt bothered about their decision to do away with me. I'm at peace with myself and my environment. Before I left the job, I had already gotten a Part time job. I will definately move on to bigger things. I have a winning mentality. I know that ultimately, I would have my own business. I was born to be a change bringer. The time for me to launch out on my own is getting near.

I will never be fulfilled working for others. I have always known that. I can only learn and gather financial resources from anyone I work for at this stage in my life. Like Martin Luther King said- I have a dream. Tolu Ihidero has dreams. So I need to keep learning. And Nigeria is home. How was your day?

FLYING ABOVE THE STORMS OF LIFE.

2009-04-13T09:17:00.000-07:00

When the storms of life rage, I will not be moved. I will not become jittery and start looking for help elsewhere. My help and strenght comes from the lord. He did not promise me that the road to my destiny will be easy, but I know he's always close to me. God does not fail those who believe in him. I have seen the manifestation of his power in my life. He has saved me from the darts and arrows of the devil several times. I know he will keep protecting me.

The storms of life can keep raging, but I'm not perturbed. I hold on to the promises of Jesus Christ. With him, I know my dreams will come to pass. He has started with me, and he'll finish his work in my life.

With Jesus, I'm flying above the storms of life.

God bless you. Amen.

BIOLA'S COURAGE.

2009-04-13T07:58:00.000-07:00

His name is Abiola Oyewo. I met him for the first time in 1994 at Twinmoric Hostel in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria. What struck me then were his looks. Biola was very handsome and still is. At least from his recent pictures I've seen. He was one boy that I never had problems with as a Senior student. Maybe because he did not attend the same school with me initially. He spent some time at the Adeola Odutola College in Ijebu-Ode before jumping ship to JOGS. Most guys in town then wanted to attend my school- Ijebu-Ode Grammar School.

I will tell you more about Biola later on. We are currently involved in some projects. Biola is now into Multi-Media and Website development. He is based in the United States. He is doing some things that amaze me. I'm in awe of his design skills and current knowledge about the internet. This was a guy that jumped around the hostel grounds, back in the days, as if he had no purpose in life. He's a dynamite now and could be the next big thing in Internet business. I'm watching him like a hawk. Biola started a site- www.monitorthechange.com The site was meant to observe how President Barack Obama will fulfil his election promises. Due to a scarcity of resources, he has taken the site down. He's been up to something new recently. His new site is- www.thejuicetimes.com

I've decided to support Biola in his endeavours. These are the kind of guys that Nigeria needs. Like I said before, Nigera's Got Talent. I will post his photos on this blog soon. Hope you're enjoying the Easter Holidays. I'm not too happy these days. I'll let you know why later. Help me promote this bog. Thanks. And how was your day?

JUST GOOGLE IT: An Interview With Sergey Brin. [ Co-founder, Larry Page ]

2009-04-10T15:48:00.001-07:00

If you look carefully at my Shelfari bookshelf, which is on this blog, you'll notice I have a book about Google on it. I am an ardent admirer of Sergin Brin and Larry Page, the founders of the highly acclaimed search engine. I became fascinated with the internet way back in 2003, and Sergey and Larry have helped me deepen my knowledge about the workings of search engines.

I will focus more on Sergey Brin in this post. This is because he is the one that mainly talks to the press. Larry is a bit reserved and loves to work behind the scenes. Sergey was born in Moscow, USSR, on August 21, 1973, to Russian Jewish parents. His father, Michael Brin, is a Mathematics Professor at the University of Maryland, USA. His mother, Eugenia Brin, is a research scientist at NASA'S Goddard space flight centre.

Sergey met Larry Page, the co-founder of Google Inc at Stanford University when he was doing his PhD in Computer Science there. They quickly became friends and were very intellectual in nature. Soon they started working on Google. They crammed their dormitory room with cheap computers and tested their new search engine designs on the web. Their project grew quickly enough to cause problems for Stanford's computing Infrastructure. They then realized they had succeeded in creating a superior engine for searching the web. This discovery made them suspend their PhD studies to work more on Google.

If you want to read more about Google, conduct an internet search yourself. Wikipedia will give you more information about the company and its founders. Google Inc has become the best search engine in the world. It is the world's largest internet company based on its search engine and online advertising technology. Sergey Brin is ranked by Forbes as the 32nd richest person in the world. Brin is worth billions of dollars. The company has also won many awards, including the Outstanding Search Service Award in 2001. Brin is a Computer Scientist, Technology Innnovator and Entrepreneur.

Everything about Google gets me excited. The Company has its own way of conducting business. Google employees hardly wear ties and suits. They dress like people going for a nice time at the Pub. They are indulged with three square meals at work. If you care to know, Google actually has an in-house cook. Google Employees can also be found playing computer games at work. However, they get the job done for Brin and Page. My advice to you is that you should pick friends that will inspire you to greatness. Don't walk with friends that cannot support your dreams. Good friends are hard to find. Sergey Brin and Larry Page are both Jews. Their parents are scholars, so they were able to positively influence their children. Try and stimulate the thinking of your kids. It would do them a lot of good.

I don't have many friends. The fewer my friends, the better for me. Most of my friends are nerds anyway. One Nigerian I admire is Seun Osewa. The founder of Nairaland and Nairalist. Nairaland has about 315,000 memebers now. Seun's sites are getting adverts from Google these days. I admire Seun because he started Nairaland as a forum where Nigerians and friends of Nigeria can exchange ideas. His Nairalist is also people oriented. Learn a lesson from this. Think about others. As for me, I have my own plans. And how was your day?

TECHNICAL PROBLEM.

2009-04-07T08:47:00.000-07:00

I made a mistake today while trying to make this blog better. I wanted to upload a photograph of US President, Barack Obama, but the picture appeared in a bad format on my blog. It is making the site look somehow. Dunno what to do now. However, I have learnt a lesson today. I will never underestimate the workings of the World Wide Web again. Though the internet is a good place to get resources for whatever we are doing online, things could go awry when we least expect it. Anyway, I hope to add more posts today so that this mishap on my page can be pushed further down the listings. I'm learning daily. I know I'm going to make mistakes, but those mistakes will only make me stronger. Like it is said- There is no gain without pain. Cheers.

Vitamin Water Essential Widget

2009-04-07T08:43:00.001-07:00

DIRECT ADVERTISING AND YOU.

2009-04-04T05:20:00.000-07:00

I decided to conduct a search on the internet during the week. If you can remember, I made a promise in one of my posts to make TOLU'S PARADISE outstanding this year. If you've noticed, my blog has not been having a lot of pictures to complement the words I've been spewing out. So I decided to do what many a great mind would have done- I decided to scour the web for sites where I can get free pictures and photographs. Thanks to Google, My search delivered many websites to me. The sites providing free photos for bloggers are many. Before I go on, I will like to ask you this question. What are you doing to make the lives of other citizens under the sun better? I'm asking this question because I know some people in different continents decided to help creative types like me, to make their online experience good, by providing free pictures for them to download for their personal use.

Back to the issue of direct marketing. Nigerians need to embrace the concept of Direct Marketing as the economy continues to expand. Companies in Nigeria must realize that it is not enough to place adverts on the Radio, Television and in Newspapers and Magazines. Adverts placed in the electronic media are fleeting and they might be quickly forgotten. I'm not ruling out putting adverts on our screens and on the airwaves, but research has shown that Direct Marketing pulls in more customers than other kinds of advertising. I have this belief that if Mr Biggs, Tantalizers, Sweet Sensation, Tastee Fried Chicken and other fast food outlets start utilizing the power of direct marketing, they will increase their customer base and make more money. Research has shown that many Nigerians need that fast food outlets are meant for rich people. So they don't even bother patronizing Tantalizers and Co. So why can't Mr Biggs and the rest of the fast food gang bring their services direct to Nigerian homes?

Direct Marketing does not cost much. It is a whole lot cheaper than other forms of advertising. Leaflets can do the job for both Small businesses and established big business alike. Leaflets do not cost much to print. What is vital is that the leaflets should be colourful, well designed and carry a strong message. Good images should be used on the leaflets. Images of cakes , meat pies, balloons etc will be suitable for a leaflet that is promoting a Fat Food joint. The prices of the snacks and food items should also be listed on the flyer or leaflet. Phone numbers, websites and email addresses of the eateries should also be displayed on the leaflets. My advice to any graphics designer or printer looking for Leaflet Design ideas is this- Conduct a search on the internet.

Creative advertising is what is needed in the Nigerian business environment. Many small businesses are failing because their founders are not innovative enough. They also don't want to go the extra mile of creating awareness for their business concerns. They just sit back and expect customers to come to them. In the end, the business collapses and packs up. I'm going to upload an image I downloaded from the web with this post. If it works, it will be the beginning of solid pictures appearing on my blog. I will give you a link to many of these sites that provide free pictures later on. If you're a small business owner, you need to start thinking of direct advertising and marketing. It is time to start giving the big businesses a run for their money. Cheers. And how was your day?

WE CAN MAKE IT IF WE TRY.

2009-04-02T10:24:00.000-07:00

I have just finished watching one of the best music videos to come out of Nigeria. The rapper is Gino and the name of the track is- '' No Be God ''. The video was well produced with amazing camera shots that made proud of being a Nigerian. The video was shot in Dolphin Estate in Lagos, Nigeria. I have always believed that one make it anywhere in the world if you have focus, creativity, God and determination. I have seen Africans in Europe who are simply wasting their time there. I have also seen people in Nigeria and other African nations, who are making loads of money in their countries without travelling out of the continent. I love the message Gino passed along to us in the track. He is telling us that no matter what we are going through or what we have gone through in the past, we can still make it if we try.

I can still remember my days as a boarding house student at Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria. There were days when I would have nothing in my locker to eat. The food served by the school authorities was nothing to write home about. I can recall that I often begged for Gari and Sugar from some of my friends and hostel mates. I still wondered how I survived back in those days when Hip-Hop was still in its truest form. Back in those days of Heavy D, KrissKross, Queen Latifah, Guru and DJ Premier [ Gangstarr ], Hammer, etc etc. I thank God that I survived the siege called ' exixtence ' from 1990-1995. Nothing has come to me on a platter of Gold since I was born. I've had to fight for some of the things I have today.

I love my country, Nigeria. After travelling out of Nigeria and seeing what obtains in Britain, I have come to love my country deeply. Nigeria is a blessed country. We have a nice weather and practically any crop can be grown in the country. There was a time I travelled to Abuja in 2002 [ I was also in Abuja in 2005 ]. As the Luxury Bus passed through Kogi State onward to the Federal Capital, I could not help being proud of the scenery. I saw forests, rock formations and hills that reminded me of some states in America. Nigeria is indeed beautiful. When I was serving in Ondo State, I was privileged to visit places like Owo, Ikare- Akoko, Ipele, Owena, Sabotu [ Riverine area ] and I also lived in Akure. Nigerian states have an amazing scenery. The problem with my coutry is bad leadership. Our leaders are mostly visionless and very greedy.

However, I believe we can make it if we try. It is time for all of us to start believing in Nigeria. Gino did not leave the country before shooting that great video. Change has come to Nigeria and it is the citizens that have brought about the change themselves. A lot of positive things are going on in Nigeria amidst the lack of basic infrastructure. Ordinary Nigerians are on the move. The country is being rebranded and my prayer is that Dora Akunyili will succeed where others have failed. At the end of Gino's video is the saying- ' No food for lazy man '. I agree with the dude. Hardwork pays. Let us put a lot of effort into anything we do. Our breakthrough will come when we least expect it. We can make it if we try. We need to make Nigeria the country it is destined to be. As for me, its hey no stopping me now, I'm on the move. And how was your day?

AN INTERESTING FACT.

2009-03-31T12:49:00.000-07:00

Hi there, today is the last day of March 2009. I tried to cut my hair at the local barbershop some hours ago, but Tony and his boys had closed. I checked out two other Hair Salons and they had also closed. Bad timing on my side, I suppose. I will give this hair-cutting need my best shot tomorrow. That means I will need to go out earlier to get the task done. Someone asked me at work yesterday if I was trying to grow dreadlocks. Who? Me?. Nah, I'm not about to become Bob Marley.

Anyway, I dug up an interesting fact today from a book I was reading. I guess you've heard of the gun AK-47? Yeah, you might have also seen soldiers and Military Policemen wielding AK-47's in Nigeria. The full meaning of AK is ' avtomat Kalashnikova ' which means Kalashnikov's Automatic. The 47 means the year the gun was selected as the official weapon of the Soviet Union. The name of the man who invented the AK-47 is Mikhail Kalashnikov. The gun is light and easy to use. Former Soviet Union school boys were taught to clean and assemble the weapon in an average of 2 minutes. No wonder the rifle has become very popular all over the world. The Russians must have made pretty good money selling the weapon.

The AK-47 has been used for both good and evil tasks. It has been used by the Mafia in Italy to settle scores during territorial wars. It has alo been used by Armed Gangs in Nigeria and other parts of the world. The weapon is also being used to maintain law and order by Government agencies in different countries. The United Nations also gives the gun to soldiers for peace keeping missions [ I believe only God can guarantee peace in the world ] in war-torn countries. Hmn, what a fact. I hope you loved my lecture. And how was your day?

P Diddy - I'll be missing you [ Remembering Rotimi Leigh ].

2009-03-27T07:56:00.001-07:00

Rotimi Leigh was a young man with a lot of technical abilities. I was not so close to him but he was a friend of my family. His younger brother, Lanre Leigh, is my friend. The last time I was around him was in late 2007. I went to the Leigh's home that day and he was in his room. We talked for a long time that day. We also took a walk with his Rottweiller.

I learnt of his death two days ago. What a waste of talent. We live in a strange world. I am still in shock concerning his death. God, why did you allow the cruel hands of death to take him at a time when his life has just started to blossom? I was told he complained of headache and was taken to the hospital where he died.

I posted this video as a tribute to Rotimi Leigh. He was a good man, though he had his own flaws. I can still remember how he sounds when he talks. I can still remember the brightness in his eyes when he spoke about his dreams. I will really miss him. We cannot always understand why people die unexpectedly. Only God knows why he took Rotimi from us. May his soul rest in peace. We all need to know that life is short . We need to make the best out of life positively. Death is certain. However, it would be good if we die and leave a good name behind. Rotimi Leigh, once more, Rest in Peace.

WORKING ON MY BUSINESS PLAN.

2009-03-25T14:18:00.000-07:00

I made up my mind this morning to start work on my business plan. I have always wanted to be a publisher since the age of seven. It seems I was born to publish a magazine that will touch people's lives deeply. I can remember that I sold some self made comics when I was in Primary school to a neighbour's son. I can also recall that I put a notice outside our house that read: COMICS FOR SALE HERE. Great things start from small beginnings. I still believe that I will become a very successful publisher. All what I need lies in me. The good lord has deposited the skills I need to succeed in me right from the day I was born.

So I'm determined to fulfil my destiny and do God's will.

I have started writing my business plan.

Why don't you join me on this journey of self fulfilment?

May the good lord help us to make money work for us and not to work for money all the time. Cheers. And how was your day?

TY BELLO - GREENLAND

2009-03-20T14:14:00.001-07:00

The land is indeed Green. The harvest is ready and the lord is telling me so. I want you to ask yourself this question- What efforts am I making to ensure Nigeria is a better place to live in? We have talked and complained for many years. It is time for us to join our hands and hearts together to make Nigeria better.

I admire TY Bello's patriotism and her musical talent. She is one of my role models who makes me believe that good things can come out of Nigeria. She is using all her creative gifts to place Nigeria on the world map. No matter how bad the economy of the country is, you can find your pot of Gold if you're hardworking and very creative. If you've seen the blockbuster movie, SlumDog Milionaire, you will understand what I'm saying. I posted this lovely video on my blog to inspire you to do something about the gifts God has placed in you. Your talent can unlock the doors that might have been closed against you. And how was your day?

Feel free to comment on this blog. It will make my day. Cheers.

NB: TY Bello is a former member of KUSH, Nigeria's first contemporary urban gospel music group.

GREEN BLOOD IN MY VEINS.

2009-03-20T13:08:00.000-07:00

I wrote an article for AFRICA, St Patrick's Missions Magazine sometime ago. The Sports article was on Fredi Kanoute, the Fench born captain of Mali's national football team. I started the piece with a quote which goes thus- '' You can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy ''. Though Kanoute's parents went to France to seek greener pastures, and eventually gave birth to him there, Fredi knew that he was Malian by origin. I am sure racism in France must have contributed to his decision to don Malian colours after playing for the French junior teams. This is apart from the fact that he spent his holidays in Mali when he was young. I have since come to the conclusion that no matter where one goes to live, we can never deny our countries of origin. There is no place like home.

I have green blood in my veins. I'm proud to be Nigerian. I have this deep belief that Nigeria will attain her manifest destiny. Nigerians have been through a lot. They have suffered from the bad policies of military adventurers who found or blasted their way into the corridors of power. They have sometimes been under the siege of armed robbers who operative as if there is no Police Force in the land. Nigerians have also been denied the use of basic infrastructure which would have made life easier for them. Many leaders in the country have been visionless for a long time, and the citizens have been impoverished in a land with many resources. I make bold to say that Nigeria has all what it takes to become a rich and industrialized nation. Our leaders just need to start thinking deeply. The time has come for Nigeria to put the Western nations to shame. Since the western media delights in reporting negative news about Nigeria [ I know Nigeria has corrupt leaders and a small number of fraudulent citizens, but does that mean people in Europe and America are saints? ], I feel it is time our leaders start the reconstruction of the country.

I will be very happy when I live in a country with electricity 24 hours daily. I want to live in a country with smooth roads and a functional railway system. I want Nigerian universities to start competing with universities in the USA and Britain. I desire a country where food crops are processed into finished products. All our oranges, mangoes, pine apples, carrots, bananas, plantains etc etc can be used to produce all kinds of finished food products that can be exported to other parts of the world and also consumed locally. I have found out that many Nigerians in the diaspora are really concerned about the development of their country. There is a lot of discussion going on over the internet daily about what could be done to make Nigeria great again. I believe Nigeria needs her children who are abroad. The exposure gained by Nigerians abroad could prove very vital in the reconstruction of the country. Nigerians are really contributing to the development of other countries. They need to be invited back home by President Umaru Yar'Adua and given resources to build cottage industries and contribute to research in our universities. I have green blood running in my veins. I am a descendant of great men and women. I am proud to be an african, but I am also grateful to Britain in many ways. It is time to rebuild Nigeria. Please start thinking about the reconstruction of Nigeria today. God bless Nigeria. And how was your day?

5 BUSINESS IDEAS THAT WILL SHAPE NIGERIA'S FUTURE.

2009-03-15T18:19:00.000-07:00

The good lord dropped the idea for this post into my mind yesterday. Nigeria is a developing country and the future of the country is bright. Just like former KUSH memeber, TY Bello, I believe the land is green. I refuse to be negative about the future of Nigeria. One of the best places to invest in right now is Nigeria. The land with a rich history and solid geography. The land that threw up brave warriors like Mai Idris Alooma of Bornu, Queen Aminat of Zaria and Sango [ I love Oyo State ], the Legendary African King. I have decided to post 5 business ideas that will shape the future of Nigeria. Just like GRITS [ American Gospel Rappers ], I'm saying- Here we go:

ONLINE PAYMENT COMPANIES: A lot of trade is going on in Nigeria presently. People are buying and selling all kinds of things, from cars, electronic products, books, clothes to insurance and even goats [ those mallams @Agege!! ]. However, many Nigerians have to pay money directly to get these goods from the sellers. This causes a lot of incovenience to the buyers and sellers alike. The buyer might be in Kaduna State while the seller is in Lagos [ Eko o ni baje o ]. While the buyer might find it difficult to come to Lagos, the seller is often in a dangerous position if he carries too much cash. Armed Robbers can strike anytime. Anyone that starts an online payment comapany in Nigeria will make a lot of money. I don't even know what the banks are doing concerning online payment. Once the company assures Nigerians that their bank details are safe, I know Nigerians will start paying for goods and services online. Buying and selling is booming in Nigeria. And with the coming of Seun Osewa's nairalist.com, trade will increase further in Nigeria. IT eggheads, start doing something about this business idea.

FOOD PACKAGING AND DISTRIBUTION: This is another business idea that is sure to be a money spinner. I wonder what would happen if all the Bukas and food joints around us in Nigeria start engaging in Home Service for their customers. Since there are mobile phones in Nigeria and the internet is penetrating fast, we should start thinking of ordering for Eba, Amala, Iyan , Rice and Beans from the comfort of our homes and offices. Some guys and ladies need to put on their thinking caps here. They can start small businesses that will work alongside these Mama Lasisis and Eba Ibo joints all over the country. What is needed is a vehicle, a mobile phone and the sealed plastic bowls that will contain the food to be delivered. The companies will make sure the Canteens and Bukas maintain a strong hygiene while preparing the food. The canteens will pay delivery costs and a commission to the delivering company and operatives. Start thinking, folks.

SPECIALIST PUBLICATIONS BUSINESS: We are in the age of information. Nigerians need to be informed properly. A lot of the publications on sale in Nigeria tend to cover all possible topics under the sun. Nigerians need Magazines, Gazettes and Newspapers that are specialist in nature. I have done some research on this issue. Nigeria does not currently have a solid Agricultural Magazine. Many farmers in Nigeria do not know what obtains in the advanced world. Knowledge is power and I believe Nigerian Farmers need timely information that will help them in their daily living and businesses. This also applies to other sectors of the economy. To Publish a specialist Publication, one needs to be well informed and creative with words and pictures. It is an area where the mighty have fallen. However, with good strategies, there is a lot of money to be made in this business. So why don't you dump your boss and do something about this idea?

LEAFLET DESIGN AND DISTRIBUTION/PROMOTION BUSINESS: One of the problems hindering businesses in Nigeria is the near comatose condition of Direct Marketing. Many businesses believe in placing adverts in Newspapers and Magazines alone. This has proved to be their undoing. Their dependence on large media outlets has led to their not having enough customers. Face2faceMarketing will change the way business is done in Nigeria in the near future. Guys and Gals, if you're good at designing stuff on the PC, this is the right time to start a Leaflet Design and Distribution business. It is not a capital intensive business. You can start small. You will have to get operatives to deliver the leaflets into people's homes for you. You will have to pay them too. Let me let you into a little secret. Those secondary school boys and girls in your area can do the job for you at a small price. They can work for you after school hours and on Weeekends. Figure out how to approach businesses and companies yourself. Remember, Ideas are capital. So start thinking.

KUNG-FU, KARATE, DANCING, ART, DRAMA & OTHER TALENT CLASSES: If you've got a natural talent, this is the kind of business for you. There are many people in Nigeria who want to learn certain skills. My research shows that many young boys and girls in Nigeria don't know how to dance. And they want someone to teach them how to impress their peers with their moves on the dancefloor. Why don't you tap into this opportunity? I've seen guys that want to be Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. They are looking for someone to teach them self defence. Don't forget that we have cultists in our campuses and on the streets. If you've got any of the natural gifts mentioned, this is the time to start making money with your gifts. Get some promotional materials printed, distribute them all over the place and watch your phone start buzzing. People are out there waiting for you to announce your business. Do something now.

I have thousands of ideas in my head. I gave out this 5 ideas freely without collecting any money. As God gave me, I'm giving to you freely. However, one thing I want you to know is this- You have to start reeading widely if you want to succeed in any of the business ideas listed. Rememeber, if you're not informed, you are deformed. Feel free to comment on this post and other posts on my blog. I will send this post as a link to you in your inbox. Forward it to your friends and loved ones. They need to read it. Thanks. And how was your day?

GETTING MY HANDS DIRTY.

2009-03-13T16:59:00.000-07:00

I really intend to make this blog outstanding this year. Blogging could be tedious especially if you desire to keep the blog going. This means that you have to create new content frequently. This is where deep imagination and hardwork comes in. I know I have not gotten there yet. TOLU'S PARADISE is not among the most followed blogs in the world. However, I am getting there gradually. I have decided to get my hands dirty in recent times. I have come to realize that talent must not be wasted. It could be a wealth spinning virtue if it is unleashed in a positive way. The growth of this blog was stalled because I did not have access to the internet for some time. Paying for time at the cyber cafes had little impact on my work. With the internet at my disposal now, this blog will keep getting better and better. The editing of TOLU'S PARADISE will definately improve.

I will be using all kinds of resources I find on the net to develop my blog. Pictures, videos, wall papers, poems, news feeds etc will be scoured from the web and put on the blog for my devoted readers. I believe that what is worth doing is worth doing well. I know there will be pain and lots of hardwork ahead, but I am determined to make this work. I will surmount all obstacles along the way with the help of God. I am in this for the long haul. I know I have a gift from God. The marriage of me and my pen is like magic. I want to use this gift that the father has given me to his glory. I want to boost the readership of this blog and also improve its content. All this will require some hardwork and innovation. Let me have your ideas and suggestions for the development of this blog. We will all soon be in our own paradise where we will make money work for us and not always work for money. Amen. And how was your day?

SAILING ON THE WEB.

2009-03-10T13:36:00.000-07:00

What can one not do on the internet these days? I want to use this opportunity to thank those behind the development of the internet for what they have done. My vision is to use the world wide web to better my fortunes and also to help others achieve their goals. I'm deeply fascinated by the internet these days. I aim to make maximum use of it by the grace of God. I have been coming across some great sites recently. The sites are scattered in different countries all over this planet. Do you know that I was able to watch my favourite childhood cartoon, VOLTRON, DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE, on Youtube.com? It was as if I was in a time machine and being taken back to the mid 80's. You can view a lot of stuff on Youtube. You can also get absolutely anything done on the web these days. I am determined to make this blog better with the resources I will gather on the web. Here are some sites that can help you out.

www.nairaland.com [ for information on Nigeria and Nigerians ]
www.nairalist.com [ for jobs in Nigeria ]
www.lulu.com [ self publishing ]
www.shelfari.com [ maintaining a personal online library ]
www.simpletruths.com [ a site that motivates and inspires people with vision ]
www.bestjobnigeria.com [ Nigerian job site ]
www.jobnownow.com [ Nigerian job site ]
www.derbjobs.com [ Nigerian job site ]

I hope you'll enjoy going through the websites above. As for me, I'm enjoying my adventures on the web. I'm sailing to discovery and fulfilment island. And how was your day?

Kush - Lets Live Together

2009-03-08T17:54:00.001-07:00

This song is so special to me. Anytime I listen to it, I just thank the lord for giving us different creative abilities. Though Kush as a band has gone extinct [ Some hardcore fans of the group believe the quartet will come together again for a sophomore album ], their album - THE EXPERIENCE- is still selling and it is also relant.

Meanwhile, KUSH memebers are doing well individually. TY Bello [ She's my favourite ] has released her solo album, and I love the track, '' Greenland ''. It is a very patriotic song about Nigeria's future greatness. TY is also a photographer and philantrophist. Lara Bajomo [ I love her voice ] is married and has also released her solo album, I love her song '' Ijoba Orun ''. Lara is an architect by profession. Emem Ema Obasi [ The Rapper ] has a Media Business of her own. She was given an award by the British Council for Musical Entrepreneurship some years ago. She is a lawyer. Dapo Torimiro is the only male in the group He is based in California, USA . Dapo is really doing well for himself as a composer, arranger, and Music producer. The four of them met at Unilag. They were members of Pastor Paul Adefarasin's church, House on the Rock. I hope you enjoyed '' Lets Live Together '' . You can view and comment on more of their songs on YOUTUBE..

If you love this blog, help me promote it by word of mouth. I promise to keep making the blog better. Email me at ; tolu.ihidero@gmail.com

And how was your day?

2 LIFE CHANGING QUOTES.

2009-03-08T16:57:00.000-07:00

While trawling through the web to read up on a business opportunity, I came across two lovely quotes that touched me deeply. I believe quotes are guideposts that are given to us by men and women with creative minds. So here we go-

'' It is our choices that determine who we are, far more than our abilities ''
- J.K Rowling.

The quote above is solid. J.K Rowling has said it all. We can have all the gifts, talents and abilities in the world, but if we make the wrong choices, we might not achieve anything in the end. We need to put in some effort to become successful in life. Rowling is the author of the Harry Potter books.

'' Strive for perfection in everything you do. Take the best that exists and make it better. When it does not exist, design it. ''
- Sir Henry Royce

Sir Henry Royce is a wordsmith. We need to give our all in anything we lay our hands on. In a world where you can be easily discouraged for being hardworking, this quote is a soothing balm. Let us heed the advice of Sir Royce. Work hard and be innovative.

Hey, it is March. Try and manage your time effectively this month. Time is precious and I just recently realized it. 2009 is slipping away. Make March and the remaining months count. And how was your day? Cheers.

TAKE CONTROL, LORD.

2009-03-05T17:47:00.000-08:00

We are living in difficult times. The world is going through a deep recession. The global economic downturn which was hitherto limited to the western world has now started to bite in Africa. Thousands of people are losing jobs daily and it seems things would continue to get worse. Governments of different countries are trying to pacify their citizens with all sorts of measures. Some immigrants in the developed world are returning back to their countries, as it seems as if their home countries are now better off than the lands were they went to look for greener pastures. Nothing seems to be secure these days. Morality is at an all time low. It seems trying to have self control is frowned at these days. People do not care about their behaviour even when they've seen others suffer the consequences of their actions. These are days that try men's hearts. It is hard to trust anyone these days.

I remember when I was growing up back in the 80's and early 90's. Things had not become as critical as they are these days. I dreamt of a world that would be full of love in the future. Nigeria was still a functional country then. Though some of the problems we have had started creeping in, things were not as bad as this. Nigeria, today,is a dysfunctional nation. The quality of most things in the world seems to be deteriorating. Music in the 80's and 90's was really good to listen to. The artists then did not have to use all the computer technology of these days to sound cool. They were naturally gifted and they knew how to play instruments like the guitar, Piano, Drums, accordion etc. The songs also had meaning. And man, they really made an impact on listeners. They might not have sold a lot copies of their albums like artists [ Can we really call the likes of Tuface, 9ice, Modenine, Idris Abdulkareem, Tony Tetuila, etc musicians? Be the judge. ] Nigeria also produces a lot of movies these days, but these movies do not win awards or get duly recognised in the western world. I must admit that Nollywood is really making much impact in Africa and among the African Diaspora.

I could go on complaning about the state of things but I feel there is no need to do that. It is clear that man does not have control over the destiny of this world. Man has tried to combat terrorism and other evils and he has failed. Man has tried to stop hunger and starvation, but he is still struggling to overcome this obstacle that threatens many countries in the world. Divorce is high these days and true love is becoming very hard to find. It seems people have forgoten the source of true love. So they keep looking for love in the wrong places. That is why heartbreakers continue to flourish all around the world. I'm not trying to preach to you or bible bash, but I believe the key to happiness in this world is God. He is the only one that can give you hope when the future looks so bleak. The world desperately needs God at this moment. We can not do it alone. Let us admit it. As for me, I believe in the power of the almighty God. I believe in Jesus, his son who died for my sins. That is why I know that my future will be great. Thank you lord, for everything. The world is facing bleak times. Take control, lord. And how was your day? Cheer up.

ENCOUNTERING GINGER WILLIAMS IN 2009.

2009-01-26T07:31:00.000-08:00

I am absolutely wowed and I don't know what to say. I just finished listening to and watching a video production of Ginger Williams on YOUTUBE. Wonders will never end. My father has an album of Ginger Williams among his Record collection. The title of the album is '' Strange World ''. Williams Ihidero used to play this particular album when I was growing up. I grew to like Ginger Williams as the years went by. She has a beautiful voice and she's pretty. Her songs are mostly about love and I believe she has not been celebrated for her uniqueness. Sometimes, I wonder if it was with the songs of Ginger that my father wooed my Mum. Though my mum told me she fell for my father because of his soccer skills, while they were both living in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Listening to Ginger Williams in 2009 is refreshing. All thanks to YOUTUBE. Folks all over the world log on to YOUTUBE to watch their favourite videos and do all kinds of stuff. You can find anything on the site these days from Documentaries, Movies, Music Videos, News broadcasts, Sports, Xrated stuff, etc. The great thing about YOUTUBE is that it can be operated by anyone. There is no Station Manager to control you and tell you what to post on the site. There is only a Moderator who removes material he or she considers inappropriate from the site. The site is owned by Google- Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Remember them? They are the brains behind Google- the world's Leviathan in Search. I am impressed by the services YOUTUBE is providing for us all. Why not make a video and upload it on YOUTUBE? Someone could view you from any part of the world and notice your talent. Some great artistes got signed after Record companies saw them singing on YOUTUBE. I plan to play Ginger's songs to my wife, when I get hitched. In recent years, the concept of selling creativity has changed. It is all in your hands now. Do what you can to better yourself with the technology at your finger tips. Cheers. And how was your day?

I AM STILL AROUND.

2009-01-18T10:16:00.000-08:00

Hey, I know if you've been following my blog, you'll have wondered why I'm not publishing new posts. 2008 was a year of discovery for me. I went through some lows, but the good lord did not forget me. I overcame some obstacles and had to face the prospects of living on my own. I am now staying on my own. With the help of God, this blog will continue to develop in an amazing way. I have a lot of dreams I want to share with you. This is 2009 and it is a year that requires us putting in a lot of effort to get our dreams achieved. I am with you all the way. This blog will resume very soon. I intend to put more pictures and videos on the blog. Also let me know what you think about TOLU'S PARADISE. I wish you a productive 2009. Amen.

MY LIST OF BOOKS. THE TOP 20.

2008-08-25T16:07:00.000-07:00

Hi there, I am a voracious reader and reading has always been something I've always engaged in since I was young. I started reading at a very early age. It should be around age 4. I have always read books that were considered above my level. My mum encouraged me in that direction. Okay, let me get to the business of this post. Here are my top 20 books. I hope you'll like my list. I'm influenced to write this piece my the great song of the rapper, NAS- My Book of Rhymes. Check it out on Youtube. Cheers.

1. The Holy Bible Revised Standard Version.
2. The Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.
3. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
4. Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
5. Business At The Speed of Thought by Bill Gates
6. The Road Ahead by Bill Gates
7. The Stillborn by Zaynab Alkali
8. Ibadan by Wole Soyinka
9. The Last of The Mohicans by J Fenimore Cooper.
10. Washington Square by Henry James.
11. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
12. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
13. The Passport of Mallam Ilia by Cyprian Ekwensi
14. An African Night's Entertainment by Cyprian Ekwensi
15. The Boy Slave by Kola Onadipe
16. The Lonely Londoners by Samuel Selvon
17. Animal Farm by George Orwell
18. Encyclopaedias of all kinds
19. Little Women by Louisa M Alcott
20. The Biography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley.

THE LOST ONES.

2008-08-25T15:18:00.000-07:00

I decided to title this particular post- The Lost Ones, after a track in Lauryn Hill's outstanding album, THE MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL. Lauryn Hill is an artiste I really admire. She's good at what she does and she is very frank about her feelings towards different issues. Having lived in England at different periods of my life, I have come across different people and I've walked through lots of Neighbourhoods. I have seen people who I believe have their origins in Nigeria. I call these people the lost ones. I'm not in any way trying to despise them for living in the western world where they are sometimes not appreciated. I am also not trying to say they don'y know what they are doing or have become stranded in Europe, America or Canada. I am seeing them as the precious human resources that Nigeria has lost due to bad and visionless leadership.

When will the lost ones return home? Can they ever return home? Can they ever forgive the Nigerian Government for sending their parents into the Western world as refugees, or for letting them leave to seek greener pastures outside Nigeria? When I come across black or multi- racial kids in Britain, who bear Nigerian names like Dayo, Funsho, Jide, Ikenna, Chukwudi, Musa, Fatima, Jumoke etc etc, I become sad and angry with those that put them in the situation that they are. This is because even though they were born in a developed society like Britain, they have to struggle to gain recognition which is easily given to their white, fairheaded and blue eyed counterparts. It seems as if the blackman is destined to fight for everything if he wants to make progress in life. Another painful thing is that they could have contributed to the development of Nigeria if a conducive environment had been provided for them there.

I see the lost ones on the streets of London and Essex daily. I've seen some of them in Bristol, Maidstone, Folkstone and other areas of Kent. Some of them were born in the UK while others were born in Africa. Some of those that were born in Africa have become British citizens through marriage, Ancestry, switching nationality due to their possessing a special talent or ability, or serving in the British Armed Forces. I also want to note that some of ' The Lost Ones ', are what the Government of the western countries term as illegal immigrants. However, this set of people I have mentioned are mostly treated in the same way. They are seen as foreigners who have come to contaminate the pure racial make up of the indigenous white people. It is a veiled kind of racism that blacks face in the Western world.

I often wonder about what the Nigerian and other African Governments are doing to help the lost ones return home. The development of Africa lies in the hands of her children who are outside her shores. What is making it so difficult for Africans in the diaspora to return home? Why do the The Lost Ones prefer living in countries where they are discriminated against and seen as scums, criminals and never do wells? I feel that Africans in the diaspora don't want to return to their continent of origin because of her underdevelopment. African leaders are mostly visionless and very greedy. They are also bad leaders who wont let those that want to change things get into power. There are so many intelligent africans abroad that can give Africa the creative leadership it needs. Africa needs creative leaders that can take the continent to the next level. The shocking truth is that many of the creative leaders we need are in the diaspora. The President we need might just be washing plates in a restaurant in London, or might be driving a Taxi Cab in New York. The Lost Ones need to be brought back home. Africa needs them more than the Western economies. However, the Nigerian Government has to wake up to its responsibility. President Yar'Adua needs to get the ball rolling by tackling the Electricity problem first and other things will follow. We need serious leaders at the moment and I hope our curent leader is serious enough. And how was your day? Cheers.

I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING.

2008-07-22T15:16:00.000-07:00

I know who I am, I know who I'm not. I can never forget where I come from, I know where I am going. To reach for my dreams and conquer the challenges, I will dare to be different, and with proper guidance and direction, nothing is impossible. I am indeed a future leader- A quote for young, black and gifted men.

THE INTERNET: THE NEW CONTINENT.

2008-07-22T10:54:00.000-07:00

I grew up being told that there were six continents in the world- Africa [ My continent which I hold dearly to my heart ] , South America, North America, Asia, Oceania and Europe. Today, there are arguments that the continents are more than six. To some Geographers, we have seven continents. The Geographers include Antartica on the list. Some scholars also believe that we have eight continents. In some other countries like the United States [ I call the USA a salad bowl ], High School students are sometimes taught of the existence of Five continents. The two American continents being lumped together as one. In recent years, another continent has been discovered. That continent is not physical like the others discovered before it. While other continents have boundaries and are governed by political organizations, with numerous Nations led by Politicians, this new continent has amazing characteristics.

It is a continent that has no leaders and physical boundaries. This continent has no borders and cannot be measured. This continent exists in an undefined space and it could be ubiquitous. It is a continent that is rich in information, images and width. This continent lies at the mercy of those who travel on it. This continent is full of opportunities for those who can dare to possess and creatively exploit it. This continent I'm talking about is the internet. Have you ever sat down to think about what you can do with this mighty tool at your disposal? Yeah, the internet is at your beck and call. You don't need a visa to travel to this continent. You don't need to think of boarding a flight across the atlantic and the deserts to get to this continent. This continent is just around the corner, at the nearest cybercafe. If you can afford to get connection at home, it is just at your front. The possibilities of the internet are endless. It depends on what you want to do with it.
I am not going to bore you with what human beings have been able to do on the World Wide Web. As you know, the internet has changed the way we live. It has changed the way we relate to one another and it has changed the way we do business. It is clearly up to you to use the internet for either positive or negative things.

We live in the information age where business, according to Bill Gates, is done at the speed of thought. What Gates is saying here is that Business these days is powered by Technology. And the technology that powers Business is the internet and Personal computers. They both work together to make business defy borders and bureaucracy. The internet has fostered a new generation of internet entrepreneurs. Think of Amazon [ The Bookseller ] and Jeff Bezos, Think of Ebay [ The Auctioneers ] and Pierre Omidyar, Think of Microsoft [ The software leviathan ] and Bill Gates and Think of Gumtree, London's spectacular site, which has spread like cancer to other countries. Then think of MySpace, Facebook, Bebo, Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, Aol, etc. I want to ask a question here: What are you doing with this continent that lies in your hands? Do you know that you can power your business with the internet? Do you know that you can change your life with this unique technology? Think about what you can do with the internet. Don't be left behind. As for me, I am an infopreneur and I have gradually started treading on this continent. I am looking at the road ahead with optimism. I can't say this is exactly what lies ahead of me, but I have my creator backing me. God is alive. I place my hope in him. Are you on Facebook yet? I'm not on this popular social networking site for now. Don't laugh at me, please. Anyway,how was your day? Cheers.

DNA: WHAT IT MEANS TO ME.

2008-05-29T03:29:00.000-07:00

I know that the acronym DNA is seen as scientific by many people on earth today. The media has popularized the acronym in Movies, newspapers, magazines and music. The term DNA has become a regular word in the spy novels that are being churned out in large numbers today. Talk about James Patterson and his contemporaries. Normally, the term DNA is associated with the human cell system and anatomy. I don't know much about science, and I am open to corrction here. Anyway, Science apart, I don't think conventionally. I think out of the box. So to me, DNA connotes something else.

I believe in natural talent so DNA means DYNAMIC NATURAL ABILITY to me. I came up with this acronym while thinking deeply last year. I always like thinking deeply because I believe the future belongs to individuals who think before making decisions. Do you believe you have a natural ability? Do you know that our natural abilities are dynamic? Have you realized those whose names are worth mentioning in today's world are people who make good use of their natural abilities. There is a reason why God planted unique abilities in us when he breathed us into existence. Scientists have not been able to come up with explanations as to what makes us creative and having the ability to do amazing things. Yeah, they could relate our intelligence to the functioning of the brain, but the question is: What is the force behind the working of the brain?

The force behind the working of the brain is Jehovah God. Anyway, you have a dynamic natural ability that cannot be taken away from you. The natural ability I am talking about is your talent. Have you discovered your talent or talents? Who knows, you might have more than one talent. What is it that you do easily that people compliment you about? What is that creative thing that you enjoy doing? Look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself that you're not worthless. You need to check your DNA and rediscover yourself. It is worth doing if you want to amount to anything in life. When it seems that nobody appreciates your value or your hardwork at your place of work, it is time to check your DNA and take action. Your dynamic natural ability can lift you out of poverty, joblessness, poverty and boredom. Your Dynamic Natural Ability is your passport to success and fulfilment in life. You need some other factors to enhance your DNA. You need prayers, focus, hardwork and networking to guide you on your road to achievement.

Tiger Woods, Bill Gates, Woody Allen, Oprah Winfrey, Rupert Murdoch, Michael Jordan, Wayne Rooney, John Terry, Jay Jay Okocha, Chimamanda Adichie, Dan Brown, Barack Obama etc are men and women who make good use of their Dynamic Natural Abilities [DNA]. We read about them daily but we need to strive to make use of our own abilities. The hours should not pass us by. It is time to take action. When will you be celebrated? Cheers, and how was your day?

HITTING THE BULLSEYE BY 40.

2008-04-12T13:13:00.000-07:00

I can't remember the day the day these wild thoughts jumped into my mind. I have always been a deep thinker right from the day I first encountered failure. That was in 1991 when I received my report card in Secondary School. The Secondary School happened to be Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. I was expecting to move on to JSS 3 the next term. What I saw shocked me to my bones. I was told to repeat Form two. Tears welled up in my eyes and I was so down in my feelings, that I had a tough time packing my luggage for the onward journey home. It was the last day of the term and all boarders had to vacate the hostel and head back home for the two months holiday. To make matters worse, one of my classmates blamed me for being unserious with my studies. I can still remember his name. Ayodele Samaiye.

Anyway, due to a twist in my situation when we resumed, I was promoted to Jss 3. I don't know what happened to this date. However, that incident which nearly saw me repeating a class [ something which had never happened to me ] created the desire to succeed in me. I have since come to the understanding that every great man or woman, must receive his or her wake up call at a period in life. I also believe that we don't need to wait till we are 40 years old to start striving to achieve our goals. We can be made before we are 40. It all has to do with how early we start on the journey to success. It also has to do with our focus. Life throws a lot of challenges before us and I also know that plans fail. I'm not trying to paint a picture of life being a bed of roses. The path to success is full of thorns and people staying on the sidelines mocking you. However, you have to keep going on. You need to keep moving. It does not matter if you take two steps a day, just keep on moving. You will get to your destination before you know it.

Whenever I read about people like Bill Gates, Michael Dell, Christiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Brad Pitt, Will Smith, Chimamanda Adichie, Jimoh Ibrahim et al, I often can't help but wonder when they started their journey to success. They were all comfortable and famous before they became 40 years old. Some of them are still far from being 40 years old. It is not good to be struggling to survive when you record two scores. I don't pray for you to be struggling to pay the school fees of your kids at that age. I think a lot about the topic i'm discussing today. It is an issue that makes me sober when it crosses my mind. I have this belief that nobody owes you anything. It is really good for a man to take care of himself and be independent. However, we cannot do without support from others. We all need each other. Which brings me to the scourge of Self Centredness that is threatening to eat up the world today. We might not be able to hit the bullseye by the time we are 40, without help from others. No one that became successful did it all alone. There must have been some assistance along the way, in whatever form it was received.

We need to share our ideas and learn from others. Networking is the key to financial independence and success. Information cannot be gotten in solitude. It can only be received when we are in constant communication with other people of like minds. What are you doing now to ensure you're comfortable by the time you're 40? How much time do you spend thinking and working on your goals? Do you have a goal in life? Have you ever had this feeling that you are born to be a change agent to people you know? Have you also had the feeling that you were created to do something specific? I don't know what calling you have, but I do know that God created us all for different reasons. Hmn, to be made by 40? It is possible. I know I can. I can do it with the help of God. What about you? What do you think? And how was your day, mate?

LEE LEE, BY RESONANCE.

2008-03-24T14:32:00.001-07:00

This is another video that blows my mind. Africa is rich in everything. Esther's voice and mastery of the guitar is amazing. She sings in Igbo Language, one of Nigeria's three major Languages. Resonance is a group I have come to respect. I love good music, and when I come across beautiful tracks, the creativity in me is stirred up. Though I don't understand what she is saying, I know it is a deep spiritual song. She seems to be singing about her journey to fame through the help of God. The village setting also makes the video unique. Africa is indeed a blessed continent. I just pray that the fortunes of Africa turns around in the next ten years. Meanwhile, enjoy lee lee. And let me know how you feel about the song. And please help spread the word about this blog. Thanks.

TRUE LOVE

2008-03-20T08:21:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been in love? I mean, have you been in a relationship with a man or a woman? It should not come as a surprise to you that there are those who have never gone on a date with someone they admire. The world is peopled by different characters who also have different motives. Lets talk about true love today. Does true love exist in the world today? That is a million dollar question that the world has not been able to answer. In this age of fractured marriages, wife battery, divorces and cheating spouses, one might be forced to wonder if true love exists.

I've been told several times by friends and collegues that they don't believe in love. To them , love does not exist. To them , it is something that should be traced to fairyland. However, I know True love exists. I've come across couples that are truly in love, and waoh, I'm impressed. I have come to realize that it is up to us to make the best out of the affairs we have with those we fancy. It is not difficult as it seems to truly love someone. Have you ever wondered why relationships that seem to be so strong at the beginning suddenly go awry? To me, it might be that the two involved in the relationship never really knew what they wanted. In the first instance, were they really in love?

I read on the internet and in the traditional media [ Newspapers and Magazines] of people who are seeking for true love. I often laugh when I read these emotional stories. True love comes from above and cannot be given by man to another human being. It is difficult for someone to truly love if a spiritual presence is not involved. Man is naturally selfish and he is programmed not to consider the needs of others, except he is obliged to help them. That obligation most times is brought about by a divine being. That divine being exudes love himself. And that divine being is God. True love is all about sacrifice. True love is about being there for those you love. True love shares, gives and nourishes the other person involved in the relationship. True love does not seek perfection, but looks out for ways to make the other person attain a level of maturity. For there is no one that is perfect. So much to talk about concerning true love. We all need to to be truly loved by our partners. We just need to grasp this simple truth- True love comes from God. And how was your day?

DREAMS CAN COME TRUE.

2008-03-18T05:36:00.000-07:00

I have always been a dreamer. Right from my primary school days, I have always wanted to see the world. I have always looked forward to the day when I will see other places apart from my home land, Nigeria. Thanks be to God, I have now seen what the outer world looks like. However, in my bid to see that my dreams come true, I have faced obstacles that only the lord helped me surmount. I have seen people sneer at my focus and positive outlook to life. I have heard negative comments being made in my front and behind me. I have been alone most of the time in my current journey to find my destiny. However, I refuse to become what the world wants me to become. I have my life to live.

I have a lot of things I want to achieve before I die. At 30, I can't say I've achieved much. I have made a name for myself when it comes to writing, but it is still on a small scale. I've won awards in school [ back at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria ] and I write for a catholic magazine. Though I'm making progress, I know I have to work harder on the ideas in my head. I believe dreams can come true if we work towards achieving set goals. It is really an unstable world right now, but we have to push on. It is a world that is not balanced and it is a world full of conflict. Right now, there is a conflict raging inside me. I love my country, Nigeria, passionately. However, the country is not providing a conducive environment for creative types like me. I want to stay permanently in the western world, but I know there would be challenges to surmount in the strange places I've been to. It is really a war that is going on inside me. And there is the war going on outside. The racism, terrorist attacks and wickedness that humanity is being subjected to.

Everyday, I wake up to the reality that there are grounds to conquer. I wonder if I am working hard enough to get my goals achieved. I pray hard for the guidance of my creator. I pray hard that good leaders will be installed in Nigeria so that the country can claim its place in the comity of advanced nations. I pray for the iraqi war to come to an end. I pray for people to accept each other for who they are and not what they are. I also pray to God to help me with the resources I need to carry out my vision for children in Africa.Let me know how you feel about this blog. Thank you lord. And how was your day.

Fire On The Mountain - asa (http://houbs007.skyrock.com)

2008-03-15T12:05:00.001-07:00

ASA is a prophetess. I love this track and video from her new album. She is really talented and she loves doing what she does. She is currently making waves all over Europe with her unique kind of music. Like I said earlier on, I want things that are inspiring to be on my blog. I want to lift your spirit when you are down. I also want to be with you all the way as you creatively move on to your destiny. At the end of the day, it is what we do with our gifts that matters. Remember the parable of talents in the bible. I also believe the world has to liten to the lyrics of this song. We need to stop hurting others for our own advancement. Cheers All.

LIVING A LIE

2008-03-15T02:44:00.000-07:00

I always like being natural when relating with other people. I don't know how to pretend I am someone else other than me. Some of my friends have told me I am still the same boy they met years ago. I have been told that I am too simple and too trusting of others. I have been accused of being too blunt. I have been advised to play along with people in a bid to get what I want from them. I have been told to be diplomatic when dealing with people.I have been constantly warned not to tell my dreams of the future to others. I have been told- '' BEWARE OF DREAM KILLERS!! ''.

However, I have realized that I can't live a lie. I can't change who I am. God has a reason for making the type of person I am. I am not saying I am a saint or angel [ don't forget some angels are on the side of the devil. They are the demons you often hear about ]. The problem people seem to have with me is that I have this confidence in my intellect and my abilities. It is sad that we live in a world that does not encourage people to voice out what and how they feel. I'm not going to start listing examples in this post. It sometimes becomes boring when you do that, you know. So we are often made to keep quiet and endure all kinds of horrible behaviour and comments.

To the dream killers issue. How can a dream come to manifestation if the vision is not shared with people? Many things would have been invented but the potential inventors kept their plans to themselves. Of course, they died with their ideas. Those who would have supported them were not approached for help. Mind you, not everyone out there is a dream killer. There are some people out there, who are prepared to run along with you in actualising your vision. You need to go out and look for them. They won't come to you if you don't go hunting for them. Most times, if you don't present yourself as you are to others, you are taking the risk of living a lie. And there is nothing worse than living a fake life.

You don't have to feel ashamed of who you are. Once you're in tune with God, you can never lose. Your personality traits have nothing to do with what you can become in life. If you possess negative behaviour, you can work on yourself and change those things you don't like about your conduct in public. You can do it with God's help. However, be true to yourself, to God and your loved ones. It pays in the end. Cheers. And how was your day?

SORRY ABOUT THE VACATION.

2008-03-15T02:30:00.000-07:00

Hello, I know you might have been wondering what is going on this blog. Blogs are meant to be updated daily, you know. I have been on an unannounced vacation and it is time to get back to work. I am someone that does not like abandoning projects. However, there was a time I tried to update this blog, but couldn't get my mission accomplished. After putting down my thoughts, I clicked on the post button. The article refused to upload. I was stunned. I tried again and again, but I could not post the write up on my blog. I had to give up because it was already getting late. Besides, I was feeling sleepy. I had to go to bed.

So here I am once again. I hope you like this blog. Let me know how you feel about TOLU'S PARADISE. I will keep trying to make the blog more attractive content and graphics wise. Cheers.

2Pac - Changes

2008-02-29T14:55:00.001-08:00

This is the video of Tupac's thought provoking song, 'CHANGES '.The song aptly describes what I feel about human relations daily. Listen to it and make up your own mind about what the current system of things mean to you. Cheers.

IF I COULD TEACH THE WORLD.

2008-02-28T13:03:00.000-08:00

When I wake up every morning these days, I usually wonder where the world is heading to. Apart from the news items that could send you back into your bed, I sometimes think about the events I see happening around me. I see humanity heading towards a destination I do not know about. The milk of human kindness is hard to come by nowadays. Being good is now seen as a weak trait. Being brash, loud and arrogant is celebrated by many citizens of the world nowadays. Sex, which is a gift to humanity by God has been turned into a weapon by human beings. It has been commercialised in a mostly negative manner. I don't want to be a judge on this matter, but I wish I could teach the world.

It is no longer the world I grew up in. I grew up feeling peace in the air. There was this Garden of Eden atmosphere back then that I can't describe now. Maybe it was because I was a kid back then. Maybe I was too young to notice the physical and spiritual wars going on among humanity then. However, I was given a lot of love then. I am talking about the 80's and early 90's, before things went awry. There were relationships then. People fell in love way back without too much material consideration. Nowadays it is all about the Benjamins. Money is mostly considered first before love or attraction. How sad. If only I could teach the world.

Marriages break up easily these days. Terrorism is virtually turning the world into a fortress. There is so much suspicion and Governments spend a lot of money on security. I feel this cash should be spent on the homeless and the poor who don't have food to eat. Man has not been able to understand the reason for various shades of skin color and has been sometimes animalistic when dealing with those who are not looking like him. Knowledge is rampant these days, but there is no kindness to back it up. And knowledge without compassion is like drinking cereal mixed with gravel. I wish I could teach the world.

I wish I could teach the world to change its ways. I wish I had the power to influence people to treat their fellow human beings better. I wish I had the power to bring peace to the world, stop hunger and poverty and make people realize the folly of stacking up money in banks or building external reserves of money when people are suffering. However, I have realized that the power to change the world does not lie with me. It lies with God. He is the only one that can redeem the world. I can only pray to him to touch the hearts of men. He knows where the world is heading to anyway, and it is all for the achievement of his grand purpose for humanity. The world lies in his hands and that is why we have day and night, winter and summer and spring and autumn. I wait in earnest for the new world.

AFRICAN IRISH

2008-02-21T16:33:00.000-08:00

I started knowing about Ireland in 2003 when I met a young man known as Vincent Egede. Vincent was my course mate at the University of Ibadan. We were not close during the first year at Uni, but somehow fate [ or is it God? ] brought us together. It happened that after a particular lecture on a rainy afternoon, we both left the Faculty of Arts [ We were both students of History ], and walked to the Sports Centre. It was there that Vincent told me his story. I cannot for the reasons of privacy divulge what Vincent told me that day, but it all boiled down to the fact that he'd left the monastery to help the Irish Missionaries out when it came to Catholic Publications. Vincent introduced me to the work of the St Patrick Fathers. I am still protestant, but I admire the work of the Irish missionaries in Nigeria. They are quietly bringing succour to people in my country.

I started writing for AFRICA, St Patrick's Missions Magazine back in 2004. I have been with the Publication since then. Vincent is the Assistant Editor of the Magazine, with Father Jim Sheering as the Editor. Along with other priests, writers and contributors we successfully publish the West African Edition of the Magazine four times a year. I consider myself an African-Irish. I don't carry an Irish Passport, but I am somehow Irish. The colour of my blog was deliberately chosen to be Green. The colour of St Patrick. I look forward to visiting Ireland one day. I love the liberal Irish way of life and it's beautiful countryside. I guess this years St Patrick's day will be superb. At least I can be Irish on that day. We don't usually have St Patrick's day parades in Africa, but I know the day will be marked somehow at St Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Nigeria.

The Irish people and Ireland have come to stay in my heart. Ireland has a great history and I've got friends in Dublin. There is one thing about me. My dreams come true. So I know I will visit Ireland soon. Thanks to Vincent Egede for bringing into the world of the Irish. And how was your day?

FREEBORN

2008-02-20T14:31:00.000-08:00

There is a song that I love playing everyday. The song is titled ''I WISH I KNEW HOW IT WOULD FEEL TO BE FREE''. It was sung by Tunde Baiyewu and Paul Tucker when they were still known as the Lighthouse Family. They have parted ways but their songs continue to touch people all around the World. I have two of their Cd's- WHATEVER GETS YOU THROUGH THE DAY and OCEAN DRIVE. Tunde Baiyewu has such a unique voice and I bet that if he makes heaven, he will be drafted immediately into the choir there. Well, I've not been to heaven before but Tunde's voice is heavenly. He is just outstanding.Here are the lyrics to my popular song. Enjoy.

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I can break all the chains holding me
I wish I could say all the things that I should say
Say 'em loud, Say 'em clear
For the whole wide world to hear

I wish I could share
All the love that's in my heart
Remove all the bars that keep us apart
And I wish you could know how it feels to be me
Then You'd see and agree that every man should be free

I wish I could be like a bird in the sky
How sweet it would be if I found I could fly
Well I'd soar to the sun and look down at the sea
And I'd sing 'cos I know how it feels to be free

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I could break all the chains holding me
And I wish I could say all the things that I wanna say
Say 'em loud, Say 'em clear
For the whole wide world to hear [3ce]

One love one blood
One life you've got to do what you should
One life with each other
Sisters, brothers

One love but we're not the same
We got to carry each other
Carry each other
One One One One One

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free (END)

Yeah, that it. I love the song. We need to set ourselves free from the hatred and racism that threatens to control the world today. We need to aspire towards certain goals without being limited by the deeds and discouraging words of people. Let us love ourselves genuinely without faking emotions for selfish ends. True love stands the test of time. May the good lord help us succeed in this world. Amen. And how was your day?

BOOKS AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT.

2008-02-18T20:03:00.000-08:00

I love reading good books. My father encouraged my siblings and I to read voraciously. I remember the day he came back from work with two big cartons of books, comics and Magazines. They'd been given to him by his Lebanese and Syrian friends who had kids studying in the United States. I still remember that one of the kids had his name on some of the books. ''Nabil'' was the name, yeah. My mother was also keen to fire our imagination with books. She introduced me to the FAMOUS FIVE series written by Enid Blyton. I started wondering where London was on the world map, after reading Blyton's books.

Books are very essential when it comes to Personal Development. Books provide us with a lot of information which we can use to transform our lives. We get to know about other races, countries and continents on the pages of books. Personal Development is what adds the extra value to us after we bag certificates from schools. Qualifications alone can not take us to the zenith of our careers. We always need to display enough mental skills that will set us apart. Books provide information that can enhance our qualifications. In short, reading makes a man. One of the reasons why Nigeria is stunted developmentally, can be deduced from the fact that most of our leaders don't read. How many Governors and Ministers in Nigeria have personal libraries? How many commissioners and State officials have read Ben Carson's books? I doubt if they even know who Dr Carson is. It is as bad as that in my country.

Personal Development is something we need to think about daily. Apart from praying to God, Personal Development should be our main focus. When we develop ourselves daily, we'll become indispensable to our enployers, communities and countries. Personal Development is a close relative of Books. Show me a man that reads and I will show you a winner. Reading is not a difficult thing to engage in. Just create time to sit down with a book for at least an hour daily. In no time, you would have finished reading the book. Then you can pick another book and start the process again. God knows how many books you'll be able to read in a year with this technique. And the sweet thing is that all the knowledge you garner from reading voraciously will be useful one day. Happy Reading. You can check www.shelfari.com to sign up as a lover of books. And how was your day?

HEEDING THE CALL, THE JOY OF FOLLOWING MY DREAMS.

2008-02-15T10:46:00.000-08:00

Guess you read my post about my birthday? I was a year older on the 22nd of January 2008. I am an Aquarian and I 've discovered that most Aquarians are very strong willed and creative. It is not as if I believe in Horoscopes or Spritism. However, I feel there are certain truths about those signs. Back to the topic of my post. I am happy that I discovered my calling early in life. I can still remember those days when I used to write stories and poems on sheets of paper. A great feeling of satisfaction usually descended upon me anytime I wrote in the 8o's and 90's. Sometimes, I wrote things I did not understand myself. I wrote about Cowboys and Indians in the United States. I wrote about Secondary School thugs, Junior students and their adventures. I wrote about people in other lands and their activities. The more books I read, the more my horizon widened.

It was after graduating from Secondary School, that this strange feeling came upon me. It was then I realized that I was born to be a writer. The easiest thing I could do was to write. I discovered that my friends respected me for my writing skills. To most of my High School mates, I was not important except when they needed me to write something for them. I wrote a lot of love letters those days for my mates who wanted to date some girls in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. I remember that one of the girls actually fell for Goke Solaja. Goke was my Junior. He approached me and told me to craft out a letter that would touch the girl. We called the girl 11-11. She read my letter and fell for Sir Solaja. Those were the humble beginnings.

From 1999, I started writing for a living with National Encomium Magazine. Though I was paid peanuts there, I made an impact before I left for more education. Before working for Encomium, I bagged a diploma in Journalism from NIJ. At the University of Ibadan, I joined Zikpress Organization and bagged some awards on Campus. My pen name as a Campus journalist was REDMAN. In 2004, the course of my writing career changed. I was introduced to the St Patrick's Missionary Society. I am happy I followed my dreams.

AT THE CROSSROADS

2008-02-14T07:42:00.000-08:00

Have you listened to the American Hip-Hop group called Bone Thugs and Harmony? I started appreciating their unique style of rap, which is a mixture of south-central ebonics and strong rhymes. The four members of the group, Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Wish Bone, and Bizzy Bone were real tonguetwisters when performing their songs. Though I dont like some of their tracks, I love listening to ''THE CROSSROADS'', their Grammy Award winning song in 1997. The song is about man's existence and what would and could happen to him when he dies. It was a first class Rap performance.

There comes a time in our life when we come to the Crossroads. It is a time when we are faced with making a crucial decision about our future. It is a period of reflection. Deep reflection. It happens that you have two good options, and you don't feel like dropping any of them. However, you know you have to sacrifice one of the options for you to move ahead. Just like Jesus gave his life for humanity on the cross of calvary. He could have bowed down to the Devil and taken the ''Gifts and Prizes'' he was offered , but he chose to redeem mankind. What a sacrifice of love!

We all arrive at the crossroads at a period in our life. And we need to take that crucial decision. Something has to be sacrificed to move forward. However, there is the need for us to put the situation in the hands of God. This is to stop us from making grave mistakes in our race towards destiny.Let us move close to God when we arrive at the crossroads. I hope this piece makes sense to you. I am the crossroads as I write today's post. May the good lord continue to protect us. Amen.

THE COMING VALENTINE'S DAY.

2008-02-07T12:11:00.000-08:00

I have tried to figure out what the Valentine's day means to me. I started witnessing people celebrating the event from my secondary school days. I used to notice the prefects and other seniors designing greeting cards that would be given to their Girlfriends on the day. Before you start grinning , I want you to know that my school was a Boys only School. Yeah, we were all boys. We used to be mixed until the 1960's when the ladies were packed [as I was told] into a bus and driven to a new premises that had been built for them. That premises became Anglican Girls Grammar School [AGGS], Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

So the seniors and prefects would sneak out to AGGS and other female secondary Institutions to see their girlfriends. There were always valentine parties held in town. These parties were usually thrown by students whowere not boarders and who came from rich homes. Hmn? I was not born with a silver spoon. I come from a humble background, though my Parents were not poor. I grew up in a middle class home in Ikeja, Lagos State. I have never really celebrated a valentine's day with a lady, you know. Though I have had female friends in the past, I can't remember taking any of them out for Valentine's day. To me Valentine should be a daily thing, not the February 14 frenzy that it is. It is not a day to get drunk, or have wild sex only. I feel it should be a day when lovers will spend quality time together to reassess their relationship. A day of talking about the future of the relationship or marriage. A day to share gifts and a day to thank God for the relationship.

Well, I don't know how my Valantine's day will be, but I would definately be enjoying myself. And don't ask me who it will be with. That's a top secret between me and my creator. Have a wonderful valentine's day in advance.

And how was your day?

THE QUOTES OF LIFE

2008-01-31T15:15:00.000-08:00

All your dreams can come true
if you have the courage to pursue them
- Walt Disney [Disney is the creator of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. He grew up living on a farm and studying how Animals behave. This habit became his talisman. One of his legacies is The Disney World in Florida, USA.]

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
- Walt Disney

There are plenty of ways to get ahead. The first is so basic I'm almost embarrassed to say it: Spend less than you earn.
- Paul Clitheroe [ May God grant us the ability to spend wisely]

Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Accordingly, a genius is often merely a talented person who has done all of his or her homework.
- Thomas Edison [ Hardwork Matters, Folks ]

Think not of yourself as the architect of your career but as the sculptor.Expect to have to do a lot of hard hammering and chiseling and scraping and polishing.
- Bc Forbes [ Nice quote, but remember that your life does not belong to you. It belongs to God ]

I have no Napoleonic dream. I'm just hardworking and pragmatic.
- Roman Abramovich [ No wonder Chelsea FC is becoming one of the best clubs on earth]

I wish it grew on trees, but it takes hardwork to make money.
- Paul Clitheroe [ True, you know. However, money can't buy you love and happiness]

You have put in many, many, tiny efforts that nobody sees or appreciates before you achieve anything worthwhile.
- Brian Tracy [ Nobody knew Jimoh Ibrahim when he was swotting to earn his Masters degree in the university. I bet they are confounded with his achievements now]

I love quotes a lot. I feel those that produce quotes are very intelligent people who know how to express themselves pointedly. I hope you can pick a thing or two from these quotes. I tagged them '' The Quotes of Life ''

I am a writer- Journalist, folks.

Just trying to remind you again.

And how was your day?

CHANGING THE NIGERIAN MENTALITY

2008-01-30T16:15:00.000-08:00

I sometimes wonder what would happen to my country, Nigeria, if most of her citizens could think creatively. At the moment, it is only a tiny fraction of the Nigerian population that is thinking differently. There seems to be this general haste to acquire wealth at the expense of the common good. There is this battle to outdo one another when it comes to material possession. Personally, I do not see anything wrong in trying to be successful financially. What I do not subscribe to is when we hurt others due to our failure to see the Big Picture.

As Nigerians, we need to change the current pervasive mentality that acquires the general pot of gold for private ends. I am not talking about corrupt politicians alone. We are all guilty in one way or the other, and we must do something fast to haul Nigeria back to her feet as the Giant of Africa. We sometimes blame the rich in our society for being selfish, but are we prepared to make a difference when we eventually make it? What are we doing at our present level to change our sorroundings? Have we handled our current leadership positions effectively by being creative in our thinking?

Nigerians need to adopt a new mentality in this information age. We need to adopt an attitude that values knowledge. We need to do away with envy that eats deep into our soul. That envy that has denied us many opportunities to put the ideas of our gifted ones into practice. We need to embrace innovation and encourage research. We need to appreciate our geniuses for who and what they are. For a genius that is appreciated can design a product that will lead to the employment of thousands of Nigerians. Nigerians need to realize that stashing up the common wealth for private use, will only prolong the enslavement of the country to the Western powers.

We need to adopt a mentality that sees religion as a tool for development, and not as a device to enrich ouselves. We need to adopt a mentality that treasures books. For in books, we can see how great leaders and businessmen left their footprints in the sands of time. And by reading these books, we can emulate them. We need to adopt a mentality of social welfare. We need to be concerned about how the other person is doing. We need to share in this environment that continues to promote selfishness. We need to honour those that have brought glory to our nation, by taking care of them and ensuring that they live the rest of their lives in prosperity.This is the challenge before us in this new year and I pray the good lord will give us the power to start thinking differently and creatively.Amen.

OBAMA'S AUDACITY OF HOPE.

2008-01-27T13:30:00.000-08:00

In July 2004, Barack Obama gave an address that spoke to Americans across the Political spectrum at the National Democratic Convention. The speech was titled '' The Audacity of Hope ''. Obama later released a book of the same title that became the number three bestseller on the New York Times nonfiction list as of October 2006. He is now campaigning to become the President of the United States of America. A black man? , you might say.

I admire Barack Obama for daring to fulfil his vision for his life. He is not sitting down moaning about the obstacles before him. He is striving to achieve his dreams. We need to share Obama's audacity of Hope.

I know I can with God on my side.

And how are you doing?

DEADLINES AND TARGETS.

2008-01-27T09:41:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to meet up with my writing schedule in the last three days. As a writer, My life is measured by deadlines and targets. There is always a story to be completed or an article to be written. Sometimes, there comes the occasional phone call or text from my Editor telling me to speed up work on my stories. I know I have to meet the deadlines if I hope to get paid. However, it is a life I enjoy living. I do not have any regrets whatsoever.

I also believe that life should also be lived with deadlines and targets in sight. The Bible says there is a time for everything. We need to give deadlines to some projects that we have embarked on, or we will never complete them. We also need to target the audience or the segment of the society that we want the Project to benefit or reap profit from. We must not just exist, but we must live for something. There should be an idea or purpose we must live for. Deadlines and targets are good for us because they act as guideposts in the rocky path of destiny.

Readers, don't just do things like that. With a wave of the hand. Do things with the end in your sight. Picture where you want to be or what you want to achieve someday. Then work towards it. With God on your side, your dreams will come to pass. Have you set a goal today?

Sitting still and wishing makes no one great,
the good lord sets the fishing-
but you must dig the bait.

And how was your day?

HOLD ON TO YOUR DREAMS.

2008-01-23T15:04:00.000-08:00

I have always been a dreamer. I have been dreaming since I was 6 years old. When I talk about dreams, I am not referring to those supernatural encounters we have when we are asleep. I am talking about the goals and aspirations that we have towards an expected end. I have always dreamed of publishing my own Magazine and writing a bestselling novel. This dream has been my driving force in all that I do. I went to Journalism School to polish up my writing skills [ though I know I'm a natural], and attended the University of Ibadan to study History. I am still on my journey to stardom. I am not going to run ahead of my creator in the bid to make it in life. I've learnt from reading the books of John Maxwell, that success is not a destination but a journey where you learn to impact the world positively.

I've faced a lot of challenges in my journey towards God's expected end. I have faced rejection from people that I tried to sell my ideas to. Since then, I have learnt not to look up to people for appraisals concerning my creativity.This is the cold truth: The world is full of people who don't know what they want exactly from life. Telling your dreams to them is like you're hurting them. So they mostly end up as obstacles to the future you dream of. I am not saying you should be a snob, but you've got to be focused and be able to discern those who try to discourage you.

I don't know about you, but I desire to make an impact in and on my generation. With God, I believe I can go the long haul.I usually ask myself this question. What do you hope to achieve before you're 40? I am also asking you this question at this moment. What are your goals at this moment? What project have you been working on in the last 6 months? What are you striving towards in life? You need to lay your hands on something and get started.Don't be idle or the hours, days, months and years will pass you by. Don't forget to commit your goals and dreams into the hands of God. As I write this piece, I am thinking of my immediate plans and how I am going to accomplish something worthwhile. That is the mentality of a winner.

I celebrated my birthday yesterday and I thanked the lord for sparing my life up to this moment. I was able to see beyond the food and goodies, and I spent the afternoon reflecting. Though the celebrations matter a lot, I've promised to hold on to my dreams.Hold on to your dreams.The problems and circumstances around us cannot be compared with the gifts that lie in us. And how was your day?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TOLU IHIDERO.

2008-01-21T12:54:00.000-08:00

I remember when I clocked 10. I was still in primary school then. I remember that lovely day in 1988. It was a Saturday and my mother [ too bad that she left my Father when I needed her most ] ,took me to a shoe shop somewhere in Ikeja where she bought me a nice pair of shoes. A suit had been sown for me some weeks before in anticipation of my great day. The day went well and I can still remember that someone gave me a birthday present that changed my life.

The birthday present was given to me by Chief Jaja, one of my father's friends, who happened to be the husband of my mother's sister. I believe in giving and that gift remains the best I've ever received. It was a very unique gift and it was three fold. The first part of it was a metal tin of biscuits. The second phase of the gift were two story books which were shipped in from the United States of America. The books were Walt Disney books and I can only imagine how much they will cost today. One of the books was titled ''The Fox and the Hound'', and the other was about some fairies living in a far away land. The third part of the gift inspired the creativity that still lies in me. It was a carefully designed briefcase that had pencils, pens, markers, crayons, and wax of all colours in it. I later found out it was manufactured by Crayola.

The briefcase remained with me for some time before I outgrew it. Lesson learnt? Always deposit goodness in the lives of people you meet. That was what the chief did to me. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Tomorrow, January 22, 2008 is my birthday. It will be a day of deep reflections for me. It will also be a day for me to pray to God for help. I definately need his help to forge through the year. My life is definately in his hands. If you get to read this post, I will appreciate it if you say a prayer for me. Thanks.

If you happen to be an Aquarian just as I am, then I want to wish you Happy Birthday as well. I also pray that someone will deposit a'' box of crayons '' into your life before the year runs out. And how are you doing?

LOVING AND GIVING

2008-01-20T08:59:00.000-08:00

Hi There, How was the service today? I could not attend church today because I followed my sister in law to Abbeywood, London, to do some housekeeping for her Mum, who is due to return to the UK from her trip to Nigeria. As we drove back home, guess the song that was played on radio?

Bryan Adams is a star anyday, and his song- '' Everything I do, I do it for you'' was played on one of London's FM Stations. This is a year for us to love and give with the help of Jesus Christ. Bryan Adams said it himself on December 26, 2007.He said: '' Let your Happy New Year depend on what you do for others''. So I will be leaving you with lyrics of his song at this hour. Remember that love is a gift from God, and you are given the ability to love, so as to make the world a better place for us all to live in. You can print or copy out this song for your loved ones. Cheers.

Look into my eyes- you will see

What you mean to me

Search your heart- search your soul

And when you find me there you'll search no more.

Don't tell me it's not worth trying for

You can't tell me its not worth dying for

You know it's true

Everything I do- I do it for you.

Look into your heart- you will find

There's nothing there to hide

Take me as I am- take my life

I would give it all- I would sacrifice

Don't tell me it's not worth fighting for

I can't help it- there's nothing I want more

You know it's true

Everything I do- I do it for you

There's no love- like your love

And no other- could give more love

There's nowhere- unless you're there

All the time- all the way

Oh- you can't tell me it's not worth trying for

I can't help it- there's nothing I want more

I would fight for you, I'd lie for you

Walk the wire for you- yeah I'd die for you.

You know it's true

Everything I do- I do it for you.

So that's the song. Have a great day.

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

2008-01-19T11:50:00.000-08:00

New year resolutions are decisions we make at the beginning of every year to either quit a bad habit, or get something we've been procrastinating about done. Just like millions of people around the world, I made some New year resolutions on the 1st of January 2008.

I resolved [ you need to be firm this year] to finish writing my debut novel this year. I also resolved to move a notch higher in my academic pursuit.I promised myself, that I would start my Masters Degree this year. I also resolved with the help of God to overcome an habit I don't like. If your mouth is agape that I have an habit I want to overcome, then you'd better brace yourself up for surprises anytime you step into my blog. I am not an hypocrite, Okay?

Anyway, I made another resolution which I want to keep personal. Yeah, I want it to be between me and my God only. However, the resolution has to do with finding my nicked rib. Hope you're feeling me now. Hope you get the drift. So what New year resolutions did you make? Whatever resolutions you've made for 2008, My prayer is that the good lord will help you by being faithful in keeping them.

I want you to know that this blog will keep getting better by the day. The pictures and more colour will be coming soon.Stay with me and you won't be disappointed. And how're you doing?

CLOSING THE DAY WITH THE LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY

2008-01-18T15:53:00.000-08:00

Hi There, it is really nice talking to you again. You're welcome to my world once more. The week has not been so good to me in the sense that I went through an emotional turmoil. My birthday is coming up on the 22nd of this month, a month that is said to be named after the Roman god, Janus. I am an Aquarian and I share the same date of birth with Hakeem Olajuwon. Olajuwon? The name rings a bell, does'nt it? Olajuwon was a respected basketballer in the NBA until he retired some years ago. He played for the Houston Rockets of Texas , a state in the USA.

Anyway, I brightened up today, and I had a new writing opportunity for which I will paid. One of my colleagues way back in the University, David Brown, has called me up to write for a new Business Magazine he is putting together. I have a deadline to meet and I am really excited about the project. My writing file is getting heavier by the day. Well, I am only paying the price for deciding to make a living with the pen.

I am signing out today with some lyrics from the Lighthouse Family. I loved the group when it was in existence. Tunde Baiyewu is my hero anyday. His voice is out of this world. Baiyewu's singing talent shows that africans are really gifted in the arts. I hope to make my mark in the writing world as he has made a huge impact on the music scene. I love their track '' Happy'' , which is the second song in their last album '' Whatever Gets You Through The Day'' . Here are some lines from the beautiful song:

Hey let's all go out tonight

Why don't you and me go out and have a good time?

Make our life a supernatural high

' Cos we're both leaving all that bad stuff far behind

Who says you can't be happy all the time?

Say what you like but I'm still gonna try

Who says you can't be happy all the time?

I know but I'm still gonna try

( c) Paul Tucker and Tunde Baiyewu.

So Let us try and be happy even when ugly circumstances sorround us. How was your day?

STRANGE MAILS, PROLOGUE

2008-01-17T13:34:00.000-08:00

Hi There, I just thought of giving you a peek into the prologue of the novel I am working on. STRANGE MAILS is the tentative title of the book. I hope you'll like it.Perhaps I can generate interest for the book here.Happy reading.

The young man whistled sofly as he waited for his turn to be attended to. His hands deep in the side pockets of his blue jeans, he nodded slowly to the Hip-Hop music that was coming out of a speaker near him. He was clean shaven and had a height that could fetch him a contract with the Chicago Bulls. His face was round and smooth, and he was putting on a big black Tee Shirt which had the letter X inscribed on it. A pair of Reebok trainers covered his feet. He was on a long queue of trendily dressed young men and women who were anxious to purchase their tickets and get on with their lives. One of them hissed loudly and threw up his hands.

'' This place is gradually becoming like the other Cafe's out there.Why are things so slow here?.'' he shouted

His disgust inspired an uproar among the customers on the queue. It took some pleading from one of the boys at the ticket issuing area to calm them down. Suddenly, it was Bayo's turn. He stepped forward and handed a crisp Naira note to the cashier. One of the attendants with an afro hairstyle punched some keys on a laptop which was connected to a printer, and handed him his ticket in seconds.

'' You're welcome.'' the attendant said, exposing his tobacco stained teeth.

Bayo took the pink colored ticket and looked at it. He'd been sold seventy minutes to do whatever he wanted on any of the Cafe's two hundred and fifty computer systems. The ticket was valid for two days and printed on it was a password which read DX34728JCB. Bayo moved away from the queue and started his search for a free system. He walked past several customers who were already neck deep in their browsing. Most of them had earphones on and were largely oblivious of what was going on around them. That was the culture at Joe's Cyber Plaza. Don't lay too much on what the other person is doing. Choose a spot for your own fishing. After failing to get a free system on the Plaza's ground floor, Bayo climbed the staircase to the first floor.

It was the same situation there. Rows and rows of partitioned wooden desks with glass eyed youths staring into the monitors.There was no one loitering around. Engraved on plastic discs which were attached to the walls were the words: one person per system. Bayo Williams knew he had to move to the second floor before the Cafe's security personnel accosted him. He had come across one of them with bulging biceps a minute earlier, and didn't find the guard's glare funny.

So up he went and that was where he got what he wanted. A pretty young girl in braids had just finished her session and obviously did not want any more time.

'' Are you through with the system?.'' Bayo asked, trying to look away from her slightly exposed chest region. He looked again.

'' Yes,'' the girl said, rebuke dancing in her pupils. She picked up her jacket and walked out of the enclosure.

Bayo settled down before the blinking Compaq flat screen and started to type. His mind went back to the girl and her cold look. He smiled and signed on to Yahoo! Messenger. Girls. They were such an unpredictable lot. They were like cars which could develop faults without giving prior notice. His mesenger list had about forty names. He moved the cursor to the top of the list and clicked on the name, Brenda Edwards. This was the girl he wanted to chat with and he hoped she would be online. She was online most times, though. At least the United Kingdom had stable electricity.

Writing is not for the faint hearted, you know. I have been on this book since 2005. Are you surprised? Dan Brown spent about 10 years writing ''The Da Vinci Code'', his bestselling Novel. 60.5 million copies sold and published in 44 languages. I believe in Jesus though. And how are you doing?

WELCOME TO MY WORLD

2008-01-17T12:04:00.000-08:00

Hi, welcome to my blog. This is a new beginning for me when it comes to writing online. My name is Tolu Ihidero. I just can't believe I am doing this. Before I go on, I want to let you know when I started writing. I started putting my feelings on paper when I was six years old. I used to write on the inner back of my exercise books in Primary School. I wrote pieces that were more like drama scenes, but my drama pieces were never acted out. I was introvertive then, and I am still very reserved.

I continued writing in High School which happened to be Ijebu-Ode Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria. JOGS as my High School [ High Schools are referred to as Secondary Schools in Nigeria.Dunno about other African Countries] was popularly called helped in developing my writing talent. The School had a very good Library which was stocked with the latest books on the planet. I was told the Library received a yearly grant of 10,000 Naira from the foundation of the late Mobolaji Bank Anthony. Bank Anthony was one of Nigeria's prominent businessmen who by 1966, was either chairman or director of over a dozen Companies. Some of the companies included Mobil Oil Nigeria, Aero Contractors company of Nigeria and the Pressed Metal Works. Sir Mobolaji Bank Anthony was a Philanthropist with a difference and he was the president of The Young Men's Christian Association [ YMCA] in Lagos.

Well, the school library nurtured my appetite for reading, and, boy, I read alot of books there. I will give you the list of books I read later. I wrote my first mini novel at JOGS. The book was titled '' The Great Attempt'', and it was about an armed robbery gang and a Cop that was determined to see them end up in jail. My friends and classmates loved the book and it was passed around until someone decided to keep in an unknown library. The book was not published for the outer world, but I guess it won't make much sense to the average reader today.That was my humble beginning.

After High School, I attended the Nigerian Institute of Journalisn [NIJ] at Ogba, Lagos.The School is close to one of the offices of that Examination body that plays a role in determining if you'll attend a University or Polytechnic in Nigeria.I also attended the University of Ibadan and got a Degree in History from the Premier University. I currently write for AFRICA, St Patrick's Mission's Magazine. I write the Music and Sports pages of the Catholic publication. I've been writing for AFRICA since 2004.

I 've just given you an abrigded version of my journey in the Wilderness of words.How are you doing?