KEEP THE DREAM ALIVE!

Dear Entreprenuer, Has anyone laughed at your ambition? Perhaps, at a uniquely bright but somewhat complex idea that can't be interpreted by the poorly visioned majority?






These under-listed names once had these brand names in their head, today, it's a huge reality and strong brands to reckon with.






Ben Murray-Bruce – Silverbird Group


Adenike Ogunlesi – Ruff N Tumble


Ahmed Barma – ABS Merchandising


Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede – Access Bank


Alaba Olukayode – Dr Kay


Aliko Dangote – Dangote Group


Atuyota Akporobomeriere a.k.a. Ali Baba


Ausbeth Ajagu – Betcy Group of Companies


Biodun Shobanjo – Troyka Holdings


Chidi Anyaegbu – Chisco Group


Cosmas Maduka – Coscharis Group of Companies


Emeka Henry – Generation Next


Fayemi – Pyramid Spices


Femi Otedola – Zenon Petroleum


Folu & Bose Ayeni – Tantalizers


Frank Nneji – ABC Transport


Innocent Ujah Idibia – TuFace


Isaac Durojaiye – DMT Mobile Toilets


Jim Ovia – Ex CEO Zenith Bank


Jimoh Ibrahim – Global Fleet, NICON


Kehinde Kamson – Sweet Sensation


Kenny Ogungbe & Dayo Adeneye – Prime Time Entertainment


Larry Izamoje – Brila Sports


Leke Alder – Brand Consultant


Leo Stan Ekeh – Zinox Computers


Lucky Uduikhue – Data-Point Microsystems


Mike Adenuga – Globacom


Nduka Obaigbena – ThisDay


Nsikak Johny – Nisk Motors


Pat Utomi – Entreprenuer & Social Activist


Raymond Dokpesi – Daar Communications, AIT


Razak Okoya – Eleganza Group


Sam Ohuabunwa – Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals


Samuel Adedoyin – Doyin Group


Seye Kehinde – City People


Stella Okoli – Emzor Pharmaceuticals


Stella Ogiemwonyi – Sea Petroleum & Gas


Sunny Obazu-Ojeagbase – Success Digest


Taiwo Oluwadare – Banker Turned Consultant


Tony Elumelu – Ex CEO UBA Group


Wale Babalakin – Bi-Courtney


Wale Tinubu – Oando Group


...Courtesy of Nairaland.


Don't give up, the next story to be told could be yours.


Sincerely Yours,


D-Motivator.

THE POWER OF SMALL THINGS.

There is power of little things; when things are little, we tend to neglect them. People are naturally inclined to do big things. People want to make it big, to drive big cars, to own big houses, to work with big corporations. Whatever your intention is, there is great power in small things, small tasks, small enterprises, small kind actions, and small bold steps. A wise man said that everyone is trying to accomplish big things without knowing that the big things are made up of small components.

While you are preparing to do big things, prepare yourself by being efficient in handling small things. It is your efficiency in handling small tasks that makes you qualified for greater things. But you see, what happens is that great things often come in small packages and we don’t recognize it when they come. Great opportunities can come disguised as work, great moments can come disguised as challenges and if we are not prepared to take on responsibilities and confront challenges, we may go on complaining as though no opportunity ever came around.

Do not dissipate your energy doing everything; find something you were created to achieve. Get dedicated to God and start with the small things around that everyone is neglecting. Sometimes, you are looking for platforms and you may forget simple platforms and fix your eyes on big platforms. Start performing from your small stage and the bigger stage will come. Serve God on the smaller platform and the bigger platform will come. Do not fold your hands simply because you think no one is giving you an opportunity. Look around you, you will find where to start from.

Our people say that what we are often looking for in faraway places can actually be found in nearer places. Look within you, what is that small thing that you have been neglecting; your ability to act, your ability to sing, your ability to write, your dexterity with computers, your negotiation and speaking abilities and with all that you’ve got, you still think that you’ve got nothing? Dear friend, you have a lot. What you simply need is polishing of your small skills; and you know that slow and steady polishing will always graduate you as a finished product.

So check out where you can start from and if you don’t really know where to start from, pray and ask God for direction. Remember, when Jesus asked his disciples, ‘What do we have?’ and they answered him, we have NOTHING except five loaves and two fish, yet those NOTHING in the hands of God fed five thousand men and still remained. When Moses had NOTHING except a ROD, the rod in the hands of God divided the RED Sea and proved to be the perfect tool for the moment. When David bragged that God was able to give the giant into his hands, he had NOTHING in his hands except his catapult, that simple tool in the hands of God brought down the giant called Goliath.

So are you ready? Wouldn’t you rather look within, look around and identify those small things that can stand you out when you do them. I believe when you start, you will grow from doing small things in great ways to doing big things in even greater ways because efficiency begins with perfection in getting small things done in great ways.

Stay Blessed and Motivated!

I WALKED AWAY!

Pensive, lost in thought and drinking a bottle of chilled Fayrouz; music in my ear, and a song is playing...'Don't give up, it's not over, when you give up, then it's over!' Wiping the last remnant of tears...picking my pen...writing...

Welcome friends. These are my thoughts, my musings, my convictions. I have always been an optimist and I still am. I have always been positive minded and courageous and today that has not changed. But on the 15th of March, 2014, I was given a new reason to ponder; to think on what has become of us as a nation. It is no longer news that about 23 persons lost their lives in different states of Nigeria while attending an interview organized by the Nigeria Immigration Service on 15^th of March 2014. Before that day, I had allayed my deep fears on the organization of the exam when I heard that the venue would be a stadium. I did not necessarily want to work for the immigration service but I wanted to have a firsthand experience of the Nigerian situation because I applied for the job before getting my present job. I prepared and went, the time was 7a.m, 15th March, 2014. When I reached National Stadium Abuja, the crowd I saw there, to say the least was unprecedented. It was much more than I had imagined. I observed that everybody wore white and white with white shoes that was supposedly for a fitness test. Many people also had medical fitness certificates or paper ; whatever you may choose to call it.

I began to ask myself, why a medical fitness certificate for just a job test? Who gave the information that white and white should be worn? What would be the modalities for the physical fitness? I bottled up my fears and observed carefully, deeply aware of the confusion and cluelessness of the person currently serving as the Director of Immigration and many other leaders holding critical positions in Nigeria. While the moment lasted, I remembered vividly the encounter I had while trying to get an International passport earlier in the year. I remember scolding a senior immigration officer at the Immigration head office in Soka, Abuja for trying to extort money from me for a passport and how he asked some gun wielding officers to send me out of the premises just because I dared to challenge his corrupt practices.

Let me spare you the details of that encounter for I later got my passport at a different location, at their Gwagwalada office, Abuja.

Back to the event of 15th March; mind you, I was wearing my own white and white, oblivious of who actually authorized the dress code and the medical certificate within the short time of notification for the test. Once in a while, an ambulance will pass with siren blasting. I never knew some people had already died in an earlier stampede. I was there from 7 a.m till 2pm. It was at about 2pm that I saw young people like me that came for interview, gathering nylon bags and stuffing it into  each other to create a sort of nylon ball...and started playing it like a football, chasing very excitedly in the field at the national stadium...people that came for a test. Some people started having different forms of display, obviously trying to entertain others that came for same interview. At this point, I wept. Is it that we do not know what to do with ourselves or the government does not know what to do with us? Who is to blame? Qui est Coupable? An exam that was scheduled for 7a.m and until 2p.m, nothing had happened, not the fitness test, not the test, nothing. This means that whoever authorized the gathering thought everyone that came around as stupid folks who can be made idle from morning till night and then attend to them at any time they feel like. I became annoyed and my adventure ended. It was not a joke to me anymore. I knew that things could be done differently; I knew that we could do better than this, I know that we could be the greatest country in the world if we channeled the energies of the young people I saw on March 15 together.

When I left, I assured myself that I did not belong to that group and would not be fulfilled if offered the job; so not minding anyone or anybody, I left the venue, sad, depressed and very disturbed; that was by 3.30pm and the exam had not started.

I sympathize with the families of those that died in the course of the interview. Please take heart, please wipe your tears, may God console you.

To my fellow young people who held on to write the test, I salute your strong will and courage and faithfully hope you will make the successful list without lobbying but I think we have more work in our hands than we could imagine. We can't trust our future on the government; we must chart a new course for ourselves, for our children and unborn children. Our people say that he who has been rejected does not reject himself. We need entrepreneurs to drive development, we need creative leaders and politicians, honest civil servants, competent professionals who would know exactly what to do in nation building.

This resolution starts from within; what can you do, what can I do? What can we do to make something good out of our lives? Do not say there is nothing you can do, build networks, develop yourself, build your vision. It may take time but stay committed and together we shall create a better future.

Nigeria, oh Nigeria! May your children rise to deliver you from leaders befuddled by mediocrity and cluelessness.

Friends, no matter what happens, Nigeria is still ours to plough, not to plunder!

Stay Positive.

D-Motivator.

(A note written on 17th of March, 2014, after the immigration recruitment exercise that caused a great stampede, resulting to the death of over 23 people across Nigeria.)