New UEFA Champions

The euphoria of victory will continue to drown soccer fans all over the world especially Barcelona fans. But bitterness will definitely hover on many Manchester United fans, yet a new UEFA champion has emerge and that’s the irony of fate. Many are joyous over the calmness with which most of these fans have accepted this irony of fate.

In the past, the aftermath of such glorious event has been hooliganism and killings among over-zealous fans. However, one fact remains that, there can never be a win, win situation at all times, much the same we can never have lose, lose situation anywhere, except for those who don’t know their onions or are never desirous of championship status. Remember Man’ united was a champion and still is. That she lost to Barca, has never made her a lesser team, it just points to one thing, and that's the irony of fate, which puts you in edge when you miscalculate in your operations. The result could’ve been the other way round, yet the irony of fate has made it what it was yesterday.

On the minds of most resolute Man U fans, May 27, 2009 remains a date of monumental loss. But, it’s believed that, that event has come and gone and understanding minds will surely take it in good faith. While, we share in the euphoria of FC Barcelona’s victory, we also urge our darling team Manchester United to take heart and embrace yesterday’s blow with the spirit of sportsmanship.

The Power of Emotional Intelligence

A lot of us are engrossed in the depression our times present to everyone, while some are busy re-strategizing, re-defining their goals and targets; yet others grabbed the opportunity to draw closer to God, seek his face and to ask for redirection. What about you? Where do you belong? Are you in the Blame-Shifts Wagon? Or just flowing in between like a floater guided/directed by tides and waves?

The option available to most of us I think is that of inward search and the self-believe concept. You just have to question yourself about what you have and can offer. You should believe in yourself first, for only then can you figure out what can coast you off the strong tide our global economic reality presents. Thus, it brings to mind the power of emotional intelligence. It may sound like a made believe, but it's a fact of life. Otherwise, ask yourself, why are some people successful despite their weaknesses academic or non-academic, political or social; yet many good guys out there don't just make it either in their career/profession? You may claim, you have no answer, but really truly, the answer lies within you.

However, today presents to you the power of emotional intelligence which some old scholars/humanists have discovered long ago. Again, this is a ready opportunity for you to discover that seemingly mysterious but simple fact of life that has made many a success in life and others a colossal failure. No doubt you can change your situation if only you can discover the truth which is tied to relationship management - the true gospel of emotional intelligence. It was Johnnie Walker who said life is not about what you have, but whom you know.

A proper application of your emotional intelligence can actually take you places. This therefore calls for self recognition. And the fact of life still remains that no one ever knows you better than you know yourself. So you alone have an answer as to what your strengths and weaknesses are. You know what you can do and what you can't. It's time to start identifying what those strengths are. Once you're done with that, the next step is to pencil down all the people around you, whom you can relate to, or better still, figure out those who can help you, or support/buy your idea. Approach them; place your demands/requests in a humble and polite way.

Remember we all have our individual differences, so be careful about moods and atmosphere. If the atmosphere is tensed, chances are that your request might hit the Greek wall. So be fast to rebook your appointment if that is the case on your chosen date. Should you have a fruitful talk and no result seem to be in sight, don't give up. Note that everyone is different and so not all would share your idea/opinion. Because one person turn down your request does not mean that, that will be the case everywhere. So do a wide search of your would be helper.

If you understand the nuances of people, you definite would know how to manage people and get your way out. But if you fail to recognize our individual differences, you'll continually have issues with people. Therefore Emotional Intelligences calls for you, knowing yourself and others’ peculiarities or differences and knowing how to manage people and yourself as well. This simple but absolute fact of life, has actually taken a lot of people to their desired destinations in life. Meanwhile, those who are yet to come to terms with this are the ones still battling to climb the first ladder even. The fact remain unchanged that most of the people you know that have made successes, have explored and applied the power of emotional intelligence to it fullest. It’s your choice to do same today. Otherwise, you stop shifting blames and accept responsibility for what you’re facing today. Most great and successful people are great risk takers, they have the same mind and heart just like you. It’s a question of what you do with yours.

You’re great, just like every other creature! So take a bold step today, NOT Tomorrow.

Dear Readers, please feel free to send your comments.

Thank you!

Concern for Global Peace

How does someone else’s headache bother you? That's exactly the kind of question that goes on, on most people's minds. But really truly, do we need to bother ourselves what's happening in another country or region or continent or even an individual or a group? Yes! Without equivocation, my reasons are that we live in an interdependent, inter-related and indeed a highly globalize village. Thus, what affects me or what is happening right now in my region, Niger Delta - Nigeria, in all honestly bothers almost everyone in the face of the earth, if not for the Crude Oil/Petroleum that is involved, at least for the sake of humanity. As we speak, lives are on the demise both private and public.

Official records have it that two military officers are missing today. Meanwhile, 18 deaths involving the Joint Military Task Force have been recorded, as against the hundreds of civilians lives lost in the shoot-out between the Joint Military Task Force and the Militants in the N’ Delta. Yet the military has threatened that the sporadic shootings will go on until the two missing are found. The lives of the innocent victims trapped at cross-fire poses both a National and an International question.

Sad enough one of the big players in the Nigerian Petroleum industry, Chevron has just been hit, thus, affecting crude oil production whose multiplier effect will be noticed at the international oil market. So what are we talking about the sad event here not concerning anyone else where? The truth is, events in the past are enough lessons for global leaders to call their colleagues in troubled areas to question instead waiting till when things get completely worst or out of hand before intervening. The earlier we sue for peace, the closer we would get to the much expected economic succession, succor and relief. There’s no gain saying the obvious, which is the fact that one problem that has a global impact lead to tons of problem that affects other economies and people of the world.

We all owe a duty to implant or enthrone peace in our world, even though they say, he that needs peace must prepare for war.

Please have your say fellow bloggers and readers!

The Prize of Negligence

Nigeria yesterday Paid the big prize of her sit-tight attitude and fire brigade approach to vital issues, when FIFA booted her. Indeed the shock of FIFA's Vice President pronouncement still reverberates on the minds of many Nigerians.

Interestingly, the powers that be are in their usual tradition putting off defence in the face of glaring facts of unreadiness to host the World Youths Champion in the next four months in Nigeria. However anyone sees it, what is obvious is the bitter experience the hosting rights denial and the big lesson to learn from it.

Many are praying that our leaders have a change of heart and attitude. But you tell us how you think these leaders can be made to change.

Your comments are most welcomed!

When we sleep over our collective responsibilities

Many things have taken the form and shape they all wear now because of some kind of dereliction of duty. When the man whose job it is to police local, nation or global affairs goes to sleep at a time s/he is supposed to be awake, a whole lot goes amiss.

It is true that the world is growing complex by day; interestingly nature has a way of balancing its systems through human and natural endowments. Unfortunately, our highly politicized systems have polarized every facet of our world such that sleeping on duty is now a part of our social responsibilities. But the cry of the ordinary observer has often shattered the peace and tranquility the world needs to transit.

This may therefore serve as a wake up call to all people of the world, and especially to our global players and key decision makers in all the nooks and crannies of the globe to rise to their individual responsibilities. We’ve had different crises that have resulted into wars, tribal/ethnic disunity among many other vices that have evolved into non-reconcile differences and even unbridgeable gorge. Yet, all the efforts at quelling these heart-warming developments seem to have defiled every solution; and as one is gaining partial resolution, others are emanating in quick successions. The need to find lasting solution should therefore bother our collective consciences, if we true want to make this world a peaceful habitat.

And this can only begin with genuine effort and not the usual sycophantic and highly political gimmick employed by some experts of anomaly. Perhaps, one should suggest that the United Nations (UN) through it Security Council should set up an unbiased, non-racist and non-political monitoring bodies in all nations. Or better still reinforce its diplomats with a supplementary body whose task will that of monitoring developments in all parts of the world, and then report such immediately to the umbrella body who must set an interception/intervention team, which should swiftly get in involved in whatever is happening in any part of the world, and then see to it that whatsoever it is, is resolved amicably. In the event that the body fails, world leaders headed by the UN Secretary General gets in to put a final full stop to whatever disagreement, divide or grouse that may been tearing apart the peoples’ peace.

We must not continue to hid under the excuses of being engrossed in domestic affairs, only to show concern when resolvable issues/problems develops into irreparable crisis. This is not to suggest that the UN is not awake to her duties, but with all due respect, this is to encourage additional efforts, as well as engender quick dispatch in the resolution of global crises.

Events that has culminated into the crises in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Seri lanka, Thailand, Sudan, Somalia, and many other parts of the world would not have arouse so much global attention if some drastic measures devoid of politics, religious, ethnic and racial sentiments were applied early enough. Indeed the frequency of global crises in a world that has been reduced to a village calls for genuine collaborative efforts and desperate actions in fostering world peace.

If we may bother to take a census of innocent souls that have been lost by mankind right from creation, who cannot in its own powers create a soul, we would be amazed at how negligence has brought about a soil so polluted with harmless, voiceless and innocent bloods. And so, for how long must this go on? How much do we gain or add to our lives when we destroy another? We may agree that some people gain some peace when some other people are no more; but how much peace do we really get when we hear of barrage of innocent deaths?

Our world leaders should please begin now to police every nation’s affairs without attaching sentiments, conditions and political interests. Otherwise, let us just allow things to remain the way it is, rather than make noise and pretend to be concern, or even call for world peace. We should begin by asking stakeholders, policy and decision makers questions in different parts of the world, before crisis their nations emanate into a global one whose gory tales leaves most people of the with sleepless nights and a cause to worry. A preventive measure is what some people think would serve or foster world peace instead of a curative measure.

One may implore the UN with utmost humility to toe the path of the US government by creating a public opinion poll site where all concern citizens of the world can post their comments on global issues and also report developments of global concern from different parts of the world.
In doing so, we can all collectively avail the monitoring team with information about happenings outside their reach. And an appropriate precautionary action taken swiftly to save us the usual fire-brigade approach that often ensue crisis.

The Meltdown Alternative

What stares on our faces to most of us is indescribable. Yet to some, it’s either worrisome or interesting. To some still, the reality of the global financial crisis triggers a fluid of fear, fretfulness and frustration. Interestingly, this brings an entirely new twist to human relationship as it calls for collaboration, tolerance, prudence, cares and above all understanding and love for humanity.

At the same time, to some people the current reality calls for indifference, impatience and selfishness. But before you think of it deeply, you may as well ask yourself, what is in this life, when we’ll all die some day? Nature has indeed been fair by offering us alternatives in the face of a seemingly hopeless world. So what alternatives are there in a world so cash-trapped?

My fellow global villagers, the contemporary realism calls for partnership, collaboration, synergy, sifting of options, prudence, careful thinking and the full application of the winning ways. Many of us rarely sift our ideas or options thoroughly that is why we end up in taking irrational decisions, regrettable actions, while some even go to the extent of committing suicide or heinous crimes.

They are some people who undermine the might of our creator; such are the ones who depend very strongly on their strength and abilities. So this period indeed calls for sober reflection. We must return to our creator with humility seeking for pardon and for his divine redemption.

While some may be right in their thinking that egocentric treatment to their fellow country men is the best way to survive the present milieu. They had better think of the best life could offer in an isolated world. In all honesty, we all need each other to move on, or better get out of the economic crunch quickly.

Remember that the reality on ground has taught so many people to live like the proverbial cat with nine lives. So some old friends are bound to dodge or avoid you; please don’t use their actions/attitudes to you as basis to generalize that every one will treat you as such. Rather than live a life of assumptions, better device new survival strategy or way of life. This moment indeed calls for our thinking skills sharpening.

A careful application of the de Bono’s Plus, Minus and Interesting point (PMI) thinking tool can help you figure out those you can partner with to set up Blue-chip businesses; or to figure out where collaboration, synergy and prudence would work. Think deeply, and you’ll be amazed at how many other alternatives are out there for you grab.

Indeed the circumstances we all find ourselves’ calls for proper application of emotional intelligence, a key to success and survival in a financial crisis state where no one can actually predict its terminal date.

World Bank Loan

If we must get out of the current global financial crisis pretty fast, then we must all apply precision, while we truncate presumptions, sentiments and biases. When we read about those mind blowing figures in the press/mass media, one begins to wonder where they are coming from.

According to our local newspaper – the Guardian of May 13, 2009 …”18 million Nigerians will become poorer in 2009, says World Bank.” From the limited knowledge most of us have about the root cause of this very crisis, one would have expected that the financial regulatory authorities will apply extreme caution in disbursing funds, be it loan, aids or relief. Additionally, alleviation of poverty should be done with sincerity of purpose, rather than do it for formality or political purposes.

To say that 18 million Nigerians will be poorer this year is a serious understatement. This is because in Nigeria over 60% of 150 million populations are unemployed. And before late 2008 when the meltdown hit Nigeria, about 15% of Nigerians were living above the $1 per day index. With the ever increasing birth rate and financial irregularities in Nigeria, the best World Bank can do for the country is a thorough field’s job. And through the field exercise, those who will be engaged in the facts finding work on the streets of Nigeria would have a momentary employment/income. At least we have good indigenous researchers who can do a clean field work, instead of the arm-chair research work often shrouded with presupposition and estimation.

Many Shoddy deals have thieved under the present circumstance where public figures or some opportunists’ data have served as a basis for planning. And this very practice has led us to the middle of nowhere.

Let us tell the truth for once. Many of us are poor not only in Nigeria, but in the rest of the world because a few opportunists want it so. We all can’t be politicians, just as we all can’t be the same thing. Nature made it that things take their turns; I guess it’s to avoid log-jam, chaos and violence. Captivatingly, a few of us are trying to make a fool of nature by instigating everyone to be the same thing. Little wonder irrational minds are quick to go into violent crime and other social vices.

We all know that poverty is perpetually on the rise because of greed, selfishness and insensitivity; grippingly, the solutions to the problems are ever ignored by those who are supposed to remedy the ugly situation. Perhaps, some people take delight in presenting bloating figures of poverty in some parts of our world. While some still enjoy providing imaginary figures, thus, rubbishing every effort at finding a common solution.

With the aid of technology the United Nations (UN) can help the World Bank gather an accurate figure of Nigeria’s poor population; the assumed 18 million is annoying, and cannot help in any development planning. Our leaders have always been working with those fictitious or assumed figures and that is why they never recorded any meaningful development for about fifty years now. Thus, if the World Bank and other donor agencies truly mean to help Nigeria fight poverty, they should help our government out of this delusion. It is never enough to relief a poverty ridden country like Nigeria with funds that have been programmed to drift or trickle into a few private pockets in the name of peoples’ interests.

If 18 million will be poorer at the very dawn of global meltdown, then how impoverished will Nigeria be at the expiration of the financial crisis, which even the World Bank has attested to its unpredictable terminal date? For Poverty to be eradicated in a country like Nigeria, local and national development communication experts must be fully engaged. It is high time the World Bank, identified the true development needs of a people before embarking on any kind of project or even disburse funds. If we must succeed in the fight against poverty in Nigeria and the world at large, then we must be sincere and genuine in our approach.

Ultimately, local participation in all poverty mitigation and development projects must be encouraged. And again, before any such project begun, the initiators should endeavor to do a need assessment of the beneficiaries. Anything short of that is a design to fail, which amounts to putting contributors’ funds into trouble waters. And that of course will neither take the fight against poverty anywhere, nor bring an end to the global financial crisis any time soon.

World Bank Loans - A Risk or Booster?

We talk about a Global Financial Crisis that can be traceable to financial recklessness and impropriety yet, World Bank is busy disbursing funds without caution. It should concern everybody especially those who are often at the receiving end. Everyone needs a bail out, but every financial disbursement, whether loan or aid should be well intended, and above all caution should be the watch word, if truly our financial regulators mean to bail out the world economy.

No one can rule out the need for societal well being in the face of a hurting financial crunch, where most of us cannot afford basic health care needs. The World Bank $1 billion dollar loan to Nigeria for Malaria prevention could not come at better time down now. But the question of implementations should bother anyone whose money is going for that project. In fact, people need to ask questions about the health care in the country where such loan is going. Our antecedents should give our lenders and sympathizers’ insight into how these funds will be expended. If I were in World Bank shoes, I would device other means of bailout some economies; and for the same of a plural benefit, a well mapped out implementation plan must be seen before funds are released.

According to some observers, if we truly want to help societies like Nigeria to get out of the Malaria deaths, a drastic measure like fumigation, direct distribution of drugs, treated Mosquito Nets, etc will be a better approach to reaching the people who can't health care bills under the present circumstance. Hence, caution must be applied in bailout economies, giving out aids, loans and so on, giving most economies history of diverting funds into unidentifiable project or worst still into faceless government agents’ pockets.

A word would always enough for those who want to hear. More so, we cannot bail out some economies be plunging them into further impoverishment, rather a relief can be a better aid only to people who are sensitive to the current reality and true needs of its citizenry.

We must not make the same mistake over and over, and expect that the financial crisis will be over soon; for we can actually predict when it shall be over if we do the right at the right time.

World Bank Funds

At the G-20 Summit recently in London, global leaders resolved to mop up about $3 trillion to bail out our world economy among other resolutions. There is no doubt that this was well intended, however it is, caution must be applied to ensure that this laudable step is not rubbished by any nation or body; that way, a true global economic bailout can be actualized.

If the custodian of this plush fund must make any mistakes in its disbursement or apply any unctuous sharing formula then, we must be ready to pay an excruciating prize of negligence in the near future. This may sound like some kind of hullabaloo, but at the last drop of every din an indication of what happened is noted by a careful observer.

It is true that the World Bank and the International monetary Funds offer assistance to developing nations with motive, most times a good one and other times questionable. And that is when the carrot – stick approach is applied. In order to offer some nations a loaf of bread for succor and just before complete digestion is taken place, a purgative is equally given to the famished nation to empty the system. Thus, in the end, the hungry nation is left a completely malnourished nation.

If the bailout truly meant anything to the World Bank, then every cent dolled out must be well intended. She owes it a duty to make a meaning out of those contributions of the donors. The furor over this unsuspecting gimmick often applied by the financial regulatory body came from no ordinary person, but the number 4 man in Nigeria – Honorable Dimeji Bankole, Speaker of the House of Representative in Nigeria …in one Nigeria’s local newspapers, the Guardian Newspaper – April 28, 2009.

It will be unfortunate for anybody to imagine that what is good for nation/continent A isn’t good for another nation/continent. The reality of our time calls for sincerity of purpose, equity and fair treatment. Events of our time no longer recognize race, color, language, religion or class, rather when they strike it does touch all people of the world. And for this reason, we must learn to help one and another, a treat everyone fairly, and as equals.

With all due respect, one would implore the World Bank to have a change of heart and attitude in the handling of financial matters globally. Whatever assistance she chooses to offer any nation or continent must meet the true needs of the people. She must avoid the political ploy of most of our politicians, who often claim to know what is mostly needed by a people, only to divert such assistance when they eventually come, thus abusing the very essence of the aid.

Unfortunately, the supposed beneficiaries are made to pay for such financial embezzlement and indebtedness in the end. We can’t help but learn from the bitter lessons the current global economic recession has thought us.