There is a bright light at the end of the tunnel

Are you struggling with self-esteem? Do you think you are missing out or you've wasted a lot this year (2011)? Do you think you didn't do well this year? Instead of thinking about what you're missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing. With 2012 IF NOT FOR GOD, daily Devotional in your hands, no doubt greatness is yours... You have to learn the rules of the game, and then you have to play better than anyone else....HAPPY NEW YEAR IN ADVANCE with LOVE!!!
Yetunde Ogunsola

A gift from santa's goodie bag

yaaaay! It is five days to Christmas & i got a gift from a colleague at work.. It is a token, but it is well appreciated.


I am collecting gifts& i don't have Christmas dress.  O_O the lord will provide!

Merry Christmas in advance to everyone reading this.>>>*big hug

Did you get gifts from santa as well?? winks

UPDATE ON TOSIN OYELOWO did she really jump off a bridge?

It is with heavy heart i type this how can such a young soul jump off a bridge?

 

Arthur Raven Jr bridge

Report has it that the woman reported to have jumped off the Arthur Ravenel Jr bridge on friday is assumed to be Tosin Oyelowo.

Mount Pleasant’s police report lists the identity, confirmed by the driver’s license in her purse and documents in her parked car, Charleston police have not released the jumper’s name.  

Read the full story here>>>  Mountpleasant.com

In my opinion, until her body is found& identified. She is not dead..

Help bring Tosin home. Please say a prayer for her

Please click this link http://www.helpbringtosinhome.com/2011/12/help-bring-tosin-home-everyone-is.html
to read about Tosin Oyelowo the missing girl in Charleston, South Carolina. :(

By the power in the name of Jesus. Tosin will be found in Jesus name. Please help spread the word..

xoxo

HOLY MOLLY! Mercy Johnson is HAWT

Mercy johnson is officially my miss or mrs endowed. MJ is gifted with endowments. I remember those days of her near to nakedness dresses. *hides*
Check her out on the cover of WOW MAGAZINE.  Absolutely stunning.

  Totally stunning..

 Her curves are REAL!!  Lord have mercy..

 Hot????
xoxo

Is getting naked the new cool?

I asked my friend why pictures of butt naked people sell like mad. The reply: “Whose body do you want me to be thinking of when making love?”  huh? are you suppose to be thinking of someone's bum when you do that? To say i was shocked will be an understatement. In recent times, celebrities have thrown caution to the wind & bared it all in front of a camera.

A woman's body is a work of art with all the curves, contour, exclusive to each individual. Aside from magazines, artworks,the latest venture in the business of getting naked is a work of art documented in a book. Yes book! A coffee table book.  Not your regular book though. This book is celebrating the body of a woman in all its beauty with focus on the bum.

THE BOOK CULO

The book called "Culo" is a collaboration between Sean "Diddy" Combs,  Interscope  chairman Jimmy Iovine and fashion photographer Raphael Mazzucco. It features a collection of 248 photographs to celebrate the female behind. If you don't know about the book. "google.com is your friend.

‘The photographer behind this is Raphael Mazzucco is "one of the top 50 photographers in the world to watch." Renowned for his images of some of the most exceptional women in the world, his work graces billboards and magazine covers and fills coffee table books for clients as diverse as Ralph Lauren, Bergdorf Goodman, Victoria's Secret, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, Guess and L'Oreal. Raphael continues to define the look of popular culture and create iconic pop culture imagery, shooting portraiture for notable actors such as Adrien Brody, Benicio Del Toro, Matt Damon, Susan Sarandon, and Rachel Weisz, as well as Marisa Miller's 2007 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue photo sensation, in which she was 'wearing' only an iPod’.

Please note it is not a…… coughing* you know na! it is a coffee table book. 

Below are some of the pictures from the book…. >>CULO

Nicole Scherzinger

                        Lady Gaga’s shot in the book

                                                                       Alessandra Ambrosio

  Fergie

                                                          Lauren Bennett

   Leann Tweeden

Keri Hilson for Allure

Ciara on vibe magazine

Christine Teigen

The question is, would this be a trend?  Already a trend?? Getting naked fecthes alot of money only& only when you are a celebrity don't be feeling lucky & take your pics. It will only go viral& remain on the internet. It never cease to amaze me how they keep a straight face when taking these shots.

In other news: hhhmm! if i had a bum like KimK i would take a pics of my boom boom & frame it. until then, i am okay with keeping it in my pants. :D  
                                      "whether yours is large or small, rounded or flat, flaunt it, embrace it, flaunt it .
                                                                                                Susan Fales- Hill

xoxo

Breathtaking wedding... unforgettable proposal Isi Omiyi& Ngozi Gwam

Marriage is a sensitive issue for me! My friends think its silly when i quiver during discussions about marriage, commitment& all! I date yes! I loved& was loved but i runaway when it gets too serious. I can't explain it. not telling. That's a story for another day. I love weddings & all that comes with it but finding the right one to spend your forever with is the greatest joy of all. 

When i see beautiful love stories on how they met & the *beautiful part* how he proposed i dream like every girl of my age to have a better love story& an unforgettable porposal. Like proposals ain't unforgettable. lol  I ran into a lovestory on bellanaija.com and i confess i had teary eyes. lovely couples, beautiful wedding, lovely colors. oh dear!  I have nothing more to say.. Enjoy.

The most entertaining video Wizkid - Pakurumo

Whizkid's Pakurumo video was released on saturday 12pm & aired on soundcity.. If you missed it.. Here it is...

Funke Akindele is an entertainer any day. way to go Whizkey Whizkey..

xoxo

Praiz I Love You (Official Video)

I am sure y'all know Praiz fine boy like fine wine. If you don't, his birthname is Praiz Adejo a Nigerian fast rising R&B singer & runner up at the 1st edition of the Project Fame West Africa.

The X3M signer Praiz video for his single 'I LOVE YOU' is fresh, hot& delicious. The video features South African model, Khumi & directed by Jonathan Josh Clark

You like? Makes you want to fall in love??

WANDE COAL IS BACK WITH 3 HOT SINGLES

Yes! He is back. *ringing cele bell! The crooner is back i am too excited to say much. He came back with a bang with three hot singles. News have it that The Mo hits website crashed minutes after it was released.

I am one of the lucky few to download. 4shared as not crashed. :D

Long You Saw Me: .bit.ly/WClongyousawme 

Go Low: www.bit.ly/WCgolow

Private Trip: www.bit.ly/WCprivatetrips

Hurry before it crashes.....

Download the 3 : http://bit.ly/t8G9NV

xoxo

N.B: copy the link & paste on your browser.

PHONE SWAP OFFICIAL TRAILER

If you are looking for a movie with excellent script, world class interpretation, a movie that can compete internationally. Kunle Afolayan is your man. Remember 'The Figurine' Thats the man behind it. His new production is "PHONE SWAP'

Its about an arrogant business executive and a warm hearted fashion designer who exchange lives after accidentally swapping their mobile phones at a busy airport. oh dear! More like keeping someone else's phone. *interesting* I would like to swap with Aliko Dangote though.

Below is the official trailer>. It is on my must watch list. what about you?

What do you think? must watch?? I think Nse Ikpe is the next big thing..

xoxo

25 & MORE DELICIOUS WAYS TO WEAR A SCARF

Girls girls, we all know sometimes wearing a scarf on your outfit can be a difficult task & most people forget to tap into their creativity forgetting that the art of putting a delicious outfit together comes with creativity& style. I am kinda less busy today recovering from malaria. *less work load* yipee! so i decided to do a random search on youtube. i ran into this video & i am sharing. I am definitely trying it out when i get home. O_o

As a typical naija gal, some of us don't see scarf as a fashion accessory. Some see scarf as a piece you tie on your hair to church on sunday or as hair covering to bed. Hey! you can do much more with your scarf. Get creative don't limit yourself with the ideas in the video. Create your own as well. What better way can i say: Get creative& remain chic.

xoxo

Photo of the day

what is happening here?(•͡_ •͡

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO

I am torn between sharing what's on my mind & keeping it to myself. Words are playing rugby in my thoughts I need to put them together& they don't want to keep still. ☹
Am scared! What if I don't have money for the following month? What if I don't get customers to buy my shoes? Do I quit my job for school? Am confuse don't know what to do!

OLOYE "COLD MAN" is the new "IT"

I introduce to you Peter aka Oloye Cold Man. A song writer, a performer, an entertainer & a producer whose journey into music started at the age of 11. He would freestyle during lunch break with his friends in secondary schoool. Oloye was a group member of  ASPAD in the year 2001. A  group made up of Adeboye, Samson, Peter, Ayobami & Deji. Remember your social nights in secondary school on fridays? Devils baskets& all? yaaay!  ASPAD performed in every social night at their school (Hallmark Secondary School, Ondo) till the year 2004 when they broke up and he went solo.

In the year 2009 as a  computer science student of JABU (Joseph Ayo Babalola University). He won the awad for the dopest rapper. A yardstick for all upcoming rappers in his school. Till date, he is yet to be dethroned.  A young man of vision started a movement in the same year called Coldie Groups of Patriots.

Oloye Cold Man is presently working on his Mixtape Album dropping real soon. It will feature artist like Region,  T.Flex, Michel, Benjidi e.t.c.

His songs are available for  free download at:
www.reverbanation.com/coldestman
ADD him on Facebook: http://facebook.com/coldestman
Follow on Twitter: @coldest_man
xoxo

REASONS WHY FARIDA WAZIRI WAS REMOVED!

HOURS after her removal, the reason(s) for former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Mrs Farida Waziri’s fate remained hazy yesterday.

Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati said last night that her removal “is part of President Jonathan’s determination to revitalise the fight against corruption”.

Abati added: “President Jonathan may in due course announce further reforms and will be looking at other key areas to give more vigorous emphasis to the administration’s transformation agenda,” Abati said.

Government sources said the EFCC has suffered a reputation damage on account of Mrs Waziri’s headship of the agency.
The perception problem reportedly sparked doubts about the character and capacity of the agency’s leadership.
Mrs Waziri’s alleged poor handling of the Ibori case and the failure of the EFCC to challenge Ibori’s acquittal by the High Court in Asaba are also among the reasons for her removal. But a source dismissed this as “false” because, according to him, the Ibori matter is at the Court of Appeal where it is being challenged.

Mrs Waziri’s relationship with a certain Victor Uwajeh, according to sources, cast her in not good light in the eyes of government. She reportedly denied knowing Uwajeh, until the man produced pictures showing him with Mrs Waziri at a party.
Hillary Clinton’s assessment of the EFCC under Waziri also played a role.

The London Metropolitan Police cut ties with the EFCC over the Ibori case while other partners, like the UK Serious Fraud Office, also gave the agency a wide berth, according to the sources, who added that the loss of credibility was responsible for the doubts that trailed the recent arraignment of some PDP governors.

But another source dismissed these reasons as “lies”. He said the EFCC played a key role in bringing Ibori to Britain, providing key information in the case against the former governors.

Prior to her sack, a cabinet member was said to have made an ambassadorial offer to Mrs Waziri as a “soft-landing” option.
As at 6pm last night, Mrs Waziri was yet to receive her sack letter even when she was expected to vacate the office with immediate effect.
A source said: “No one has told her officially that she has been removed, she only heard through a third party and on television.
“It could also not be ascertained if the statement by the presidential spokesman will suffice as her sack letter because she was appointed through an official letter.”
Asked how Mrs Waziri received the news of her sack, the source said: “She was in the middle of a crucial meeting when she got the news. They did not even have the courtesy to confide in her and thank her for services to this country.
“Her phones were ringing endlessly but she was engrossed with the meeting, until she managed to pick a call from one of her key aides, who was in transit to Makurdi. The aide broke the news.”

Mrs Waziri is due to be conferred with an honourary degree at the Benue State University on Saturday.
Pressure from some bigwigs and influential politicians is believed to have led to her ouster.

A source said: “The threats of sack have been on in the last two years. If she is not a strong woman, she would not have survived up till this moment. It is just a miracle that she lasted this long in office.

“Some PDP stalwarts have done an analysis of the Politically Exposed Persons prosecuted so far and they have been alleging that Mrs. Waziri does not want to touch those in the opposition.

“They alleged that Mrs. Waziri is pursuing some agenda against the ruling party. They accused her of being soft towards those in opposition.
“The recent trial of some ex-governors in the Southwest created upset within the ruling party as some chieftains of the PDP allegedly accused Mrs. Waziri of aiding the opposition to foreclose the fortunes of the party in the zone.

Responding to a question, the source said some bigwigs accused her of being incommunicado.
The source added: “For instance, the day Chief Bode George was to be arrested in Abuja, she was incommunicado, such that no one could prevent the operation. That scenario pained some influential politicians who have vowed not to forgive her.

“The manner in which Chief Kenny Martins was arrested and the case disposed of was said to have angered some powers that be.
A source said: “Those complaining of one-sided trials have forgotten that the EFCC consults with the Presidency extensively for approval before moving against any high-profile suspect.

“Also, the PDP has produced more governors and ministers than any party. So, the ratio of trial cannot be even.”
It was gathered however that the government indirectly passed a message to Waziri through a Minister about two weeks ago with the offer of a posting as an Ambassador.

But, according to sources, Mrs. Waziri was “not forthcoming” as she could not understand why the offer was necessary when her term ought to expire next June.

One of the sources said: “The outgoing EFCC chairman, whose tenure would end in June 2012, was at a loss at the strange offer and could not make any sense out of it.
“She did not make any commitment on the offer even when the Minister was pressurising her to take a swift decision.
“I think she did her normal checks and there was no sign of any threat to her job. She also believes that the President has not put her into confidence on the likelihood of any change. Her removal today has now shown that the cabinet member was talking in parable..


As culled from: *lips are sealed*

BABA SUWE IS 25 MILLION NAIRA RICHER!!

 Babatunde Omidina popularly known as Baba Suwe make i add my own " baba oloju dudu orun pupa" if you don't understand Yoruba, it means: The Lord is with you. The popular comedian last month was arrested by the NDLEA at the international airport as a suspect when he was suspected of ingesting hard drugs. After excreting all his liver till he lost weight nothing was found in his system. He was released from the NDLEA detention on the 4th of November as ordered by a Lagos High Court.  His case will remain one of  the most embarrassing high profile case of the NDLEA as the agency did not retrieve any drug from his bowel after 3 weeks in detention.

The gist is: An Ikeja High Court has ordered the NDLEA to pay Baba Suwe the sum of 25 million Naira. *eyes popping* 25 MILLION NAIRA. The order was given this morning Thursday, November 24, 2011 by presiding judge Justice Yetunde Idowu who cited that the detention of Baba Suwe by the NDLEA was not justified.

‘The actions of the NDLEA constitute a flagrant abuse and infringement of fundamental rights of the applicant’, Justice Idowu said.
She also added, ‘the compensation awarded should reflect the extent of which the applicant’s dignity was damaged’.
 In addition to the sum of money ordered to be paid, justice Idowu also ordered the law enforcement agency to publish a statement of apology in two widely read newspapers. The chopice is to be agreed by both counsels.
As for me Talkative, i recommend that the statement of apology be printed in The Guardian& Punch newspaper  i will read with all pleasure. The statement should also be broadcasted on the network service of the NTA & read by the astute investigator & seasoned administrator the Chairman of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade. *straight face*





xoxo

WORLD BIGGEST MOUTH!

No matter how big your mouth is can it swallow a can of coke?

                                                     I know someone who can!!



The man in the pics, actually he is a young man!  20years old Francisco Domingo Joaquim from Sambizanga in Angola has been award the title of *the world biggest mouth* He won the competition at the mouth competitionin Rome this month.

Can you do this?

lol! i bet you can't? Damn! this mouth can swallow a head of a new born.

xoxo

EVEN AT 90 YEARS THE BRAIN STILL WORKS.. 90 YEARS OLD MAN GOES TO SCHOOL

With awe& with pride did i watch this man on my television screen last night. I was proud and it raised a question "who said education is for the young?

Education in the general sense is any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character, or physical ability of an individual. In its technical sense, education is the process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills, and values from one generation to another. Education can also be defined as the process of becoming an educated person. An educated person refers to a person that has access to optimal states of mind regardless of the situation they are in.That person is able to perceive accurately, think clearly and act effectively to achieve self-selected goals and aspirations. -Wikepedia

Education is very important among all of us, the fact which is commonly nothing to deny among any. It’s the education which transforms a person to live a better life and more importantly in a socially well being. It educates us with all the needed attributes in leading our life in a proper lifestyle. Education does make a remarkable effect on one’s personality. Getting educated and finally earning a professional degree prepares you to be a part and contribute in good organizations, companies or institutions. Education is the one which provides us the thrust in getting ahead and doing something constructive in our near future.

Education involves gathering of knowledge in whatever aspects. It helps a person to draw the best out of their mind and spirit. Education plays a vital role in the personal growth and the social development among all of us. It imparts us with all the power and necessities in making a noticeable mark in any of the field. In all in all, it is one’s education which decides what one can make out in their life. With the high urgency of education among all people, many of the nations have already come up with their ideas in maximizing the literacy among all. It becomes a quite challenging factor among many of the developing countries in spreading the awareness of education. But, in spite of that, we can hear a number of cases where almost all the people get the privilege to get educated provided by the governing bodies, which is indeed a positive sign. On account of the high importance of education among everyone, steps taken by respective governing bodies have eventually led a high literacy rate among many regions. It is on imparting education among all by which one can learn to get civilized and leading their life in a healthy way.

I introduce to you,PA ALLEN, a 90 years old grandpa who without shame is a primary one student in Igoro Jojo, Balyesa State Nigeria. 

The supposed purpose of Education as marketed by education is career advancement, good job, higher pay, better life. But for Pa Allen, his motivation is to sign his documents in his hand writing & not with finger prints. How many of us even as youths can go an extra mile for our own benefit?

Pa Allen, according to the report on channels Television 10.00 PM, he was given a scholarship & a total of N15,000 for his monthly upkeep by the chairman of his local government. A youth in his community was interviewed a young able bodied man, said "Pa is a source of inspiration for me to go back to school i am not a graduate yet & i want to go back to further." (the further means go back to school for those forming aje butta) But no matter how hard you want to shut your ears, your heart out of education the worse you get. Education is an essential tool in preparing you for a better tomorrow.
I pray thee, don't let your education rust it shut.Learn to think, not to follow. Combine your learning with action, letting with action, letting unavoidable errors impel you to seek greater understanding.
Pa Tete Allen, is a man whose action should tell you that its not late to take a second chance. It might not be in education that you have miscalculated, it might be in your business, your marriage, your decision. This is your wake up call. Take it, live it, run for it. Hey! there is a reason why its called a second chance. Its your chance to make it right! Go for it!!!
In other news, don'tmind the quality of the picture!

xoxo

DISABLED, STILL A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION_. Lizzy's story. BE INSPIRED!!

 I am passionate about helping people with disabilities many a times will you see me helping a blind man crossing the road. Back in my school, i met a charming flirty man who was a student in the department of  .... not telling! what drew me to him was his positivity towards life. He was blind but his zealousness to study was ahead of those of us who have eyes. He couldn't see but could distinguish you from your voice. Didn't i love when i hold his hands on the staircase? But people on a serious note, people with disabilities are people like you and i in some cases like Lizzy's, they became disabled by circumstances. Reach out to them, hold their hands, help them even when they throw your help back in your face, a little hello, a big smile, a helping hand, a chat, might not mean much to you but trust me it will forever remain printed in their heart.

Disabled, Still I Stand – Lizzy’s Story of Hope

By Elizabeth Oke

Prior to the accident, I was a happy teenager who had dare-I-say everything I needed. I had my parents’ love and was studying to be a nurse. I remember some called me happy, bubbly, cheesy, cute, nice, smart, conversationalist and so on.

I was that girl on Hi5 (the pre-facebook social networking website) who had the uncountable number of friends, and changed her profile picture just about every week. I loved getting dolled up, looking my best, taking pictures and knew how to have fun.

Before the accident

The Accident

On Sunday, March 23^rd 2008, after spring break, I packed my things, and went to the living room to bid my parents farewell before going back to school. Before I got into the car, I got quite indecisive and even asked my parents if they thought it was a good idea to drive. After some time had passed, I decided to call a friend, who was also going to school, so we could drive in a convoy. We planned to meet each other at a gas station, to embark on our three and a half to four hour journey from Texas to Oklahoma. When I got there, I still felt uneasy and even contemplated leaving my car at the gas station for my dad to pick up. But when I thought about having to keep asking people for rides at school, I decided to get over “this back-and-forth” crap, and get in my car already.

The drive began and I had some Sammie Okposo playing in the car. I started singing “Jesus I thank you, Wellu Wellu, You do well for me, Wellu Wellu … I no know wetin I do, Wey make you love me so”. Not too loud, not too low, just something to keep me awake. I drove behind my friend, and everything appeared fine. I wasn’t drunk, talking on the phone, or doing one of those driving don’ts.

I later learned from my friend that about 30 to 40 minutes to our destination, she looked back in her rear mirror, and saw my car flipping. The cops at the scene and everyone who “witnessed” the whole situation couldn’t explain what happened or caused the accident, as my car was the only one involved. My car flipped over for about 4 times, and it was up-side-down when the ambulance and helicopter crew got there.

My Car after the Accident

I honestly, till this day, don’t remember how the accident happened. I only remember what happened after the accident. I had a feeling that I was upside down, and I saw a police officer in an upside down manner telling me not to close my eyes and stay with him. I told him I felt like sleeping, and he warned me not to sleep. I remember thinking “see me see something oo, I should not sleep ke, what is a police officer doing here gan self?” I attempted to close my eyes again, then I heard the police officer telling me calmly that I had been involved in a car accident, and I had to stay awake. In my head I was like “accident?” He began asking me a variety of questions such as my name, phone number, my parent’s phone number e.t.c. When the number of questions reduced, I started saying over and over again “I shall live, I shall not die. I shall live to declare the glory of the Lord, to the declare the works of the Lord, to declare the counsel of the Lord, in the land of the living, in this year 2008, and several, several years to come”.

After the accident, I was flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital in the state of Oklahoma (OU Medical Center). The doctors said the accident affected my spinal cord at C4 level, and about 3 to 4 different surgeries were performed during the course of my stay at the hospital. I couldn’t move my legs or my arms and couldn’t even shrug my shoulders.

Starting Over

I don’t remember a lot of things that happened the first couple of days, but I remember my parents and best friend being in the hospital room, and they all had the “oh God” look on their faces. All I could think of was to assure them that I was fine. Then, I remember asking jokingly, “Is my face messed up or alright”? That question seemed to lighten everyone’s mood and they all burst out laughing because my face was not affected by the accident in a major way. Just little bruises here and there. Hearing them laugh in the midst of the chaos and “fear of the unknown” was very therapeutic to me. After the laughter, we went on talking about how much they all know I love my face and we talked about so many other little things that livened the mood (at least to a certain level).  I stayed in the hospital for a little over a month, most of which was spent in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and was then transferred to a rehabilitation center also in Oklahoma (Valir Rehab).

I stayed at that rehab for about another month, trying to re-learn to do basic things I could do before, such as eating, sitting without falling, brushing my teeth, holding a comb and so many other little things I couldn’t believe I was unable to do; I couldn’t sit without being held up by pillows, my left hand was in a cast and I could only use my right hand, which wasn’t completely functional because my fingers were curled inwards, and of course, I couldn’t walk or even dress myself. My neck had a collar around it to steady my neck and spine, so rehabilitation was not fun.

The left hand brace was off after a while but I was nowhere near being able to do things on my own. I moved back to Texas where I stayed in another rehabilitation center (Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation) for yet another month of vigorous therapy. There I learned how to do a lot more and began learning how to be as independent as possible on the wheelchair. Over the years, I’ve attended several other out-patient facilities to continue my strengthening exercises and therapies.

Support from Family and Friends

Family support, including support from my best friend, my boyfriend and certain other friends was something I didn’t lack and still don’t lack. During my stay in the hospital and the rehabilitation center in Oklahoma, my parents, best friend and little brother, would travel back and forth (from Texas to Oklahoma) to see and be with me. I remember some of my good days being days when my mom would bring me home-cooked meals, and I would eat it with such joy because I got tired of hospital food. My little brother was a breath of fresh air, he smiled at me every time he came; and just was the cutest and wonderful source of joy.

I remember my dad and mom sitting down in the room, keeping me company bringing up topics that were not related to the situation at hand and my best friend curling up on the little hospital chair and as uncomfortable as the hospital chairs were, they all stayed there for hours keeping me company. I remember my mom praying and assuring me that “God is good, and he has kept me alive for a purpose”. We all prayed together, laughed together, and had some silent tear shedding moments together.

What kept me going through the medical treatment was first and foremost the fact that God kept me alive for a reason. My desire to get up, and get back to my “normal self/life” was also a great motivating factor. My family, love from people (those I knew, and barely knew), and friends also kept me going. Prayers kept me going as cousins, aunties, families and friends far and near all prayed for me.

Speaking of friends, since I was in Oklahoma and most of my friends were in Texas. I understood how “hard” it probably was for most of them to visit me, but those who did, blew my mind in ways they can’t possibly understand. Aside from my best friend, I had a friend who came to see me just about every weekend. I thank God for friends who made me laugh even when nothing looked funny at the time. My eyes were blood-shot red, neck was in a collar, arm in a cast, and I could barely breathe on my own, but none of the people who came to see made me feel less of the “real me”. Of course I had friends – whom I expected to show up – that didn’t show up, but I forgave them. I was very fortunate to have people around me who showered me with their love and concerns that it didn’t even matter who hadn’t visited.

Life after the Accident

I went back to school less than a year after the car accident – despite all odds – and I remember my first semester back to school was the hardest. I had a room to myself in the dorm – yes, no roommate – and I had the manual wheelchair. The first week of school, I fell from the wheelchair and smashed my face on hard concrete! Can you imagine? My car flipped over 4 times, I broke a spinal cord in a car accident, and my face wasn’t affected, but 1^st week in school, the face got smashed on concrete! Shame on Satan!  I had a swollen face, lips, and massive headaches for days.

It’s strange but my outlook on life changed for the better. I realized that life was short, and we have to thank God for each day we are blessed with. Do the best you can do each day! Tell and show those whom you love that you genuinely and truthfully love them. I know this sounds cliché like, but honestly, it’s the truth. Live your life right, and keep God first in your life. Remember that you won’t always get things right, but correct them whenever you realize you’re getting them wrong.

I feel happier and a lot more at ease with life now than I did before the accident. However, this doesn’t mean that “I have accepted my fate, and concluded to life on a wheelchair forever”. Oh no, it’s far from that. I am thankful for being alive and well, and one thing stays constant in my life, my faith in God. I believe that I will walk again, but until that time, I will continue to conquer and live this life. The fact that I choose to live my life happy and grateful doesn’t mean I have lost hope/trust/faith in walking again.

I have been able, by the grace of God to go back to school, travel everywhere I want, and do the things I want to do, because I now have a deeper understanding of the phrase “Life is short”. I stay smiling because I genuinely know joy that is beyond comprehension. I came to realize that some things are not as serious as we take them to be.

Life on the wheelchair is not always perfect though.  Recently I was looking for an apartment and I ran into a problem. Most of the apartments are easily accessible; but the wheelchair couldn’t fit in most of the restroom doors; this is the same for some houses and most residential places. I eventually found an apartment with complete accessibility. I’m telling this story because some unforeseen issues arise.

This “new life” is definitely different than what I was used to for 18 years. Almost everything one does has to be planned or done with additional time, and for someone like me who is spontaneous, it took some getting used to. I had to devise ways to do things faster, quicker and be creative. For example, I enjoy being fashionable and wanted to continue to dress as I pleased, but after the accident I couldn’t wear jeans because they are really hard to wear. I found out that most maternity jeans have a flexibility to them that regular jeans don’t have, which makes them easier to wear. I also don’t have to worry about buttons and zipper resulting into skin problems. High-heels are out of the question because I have to rest my foot on the wheelchair, so I pick out flat shoes that are comfortable but look good.

Wheel Chair Accessibility in Nigeria

I was in Nigeria the summer of year 2009, and that was pretty challenging. I really don’t think disabled people are adequately cared for in Nigeria. During my visit, I realized that roads in Nigeria are not wheelchair accessible. Offices, buildings, shopping stores, markets, even schools are not accessible. I understand the aesthetics of stairs in a building, but SERIOUSLY? Does every building need stairs? One day, while in Lagos, I wanted to go into a bank with my friend and her mother, but come to find out, the bank’s entry had about 4 tiers of stairs, and even if I was able to get past the stairs by some manner, the doors to the bank are so small that a wheelchair would not fit into it. Also there was no back door to go in through! I was glad to see ATMs, but soon realized that someone on a wheelchair couldn’t even reach them! Where does this leave wheelchair users? No access to banks? Schools? Businesses? Companies?

I was even more heartbroken to see that the federal capital of Nigeria was not completely wheelchair accessible. I wanted to go into a popular shopping complex in Abuja but there was no ramp to easily take me into the complex. My cousins and a few people around had to literally lift me and the wheelchair up about 10 steps of stairs just to get into the shopping complex. Good thing the shopping complex had elevators, so I was able to explore each floor, but who needs an elevator when you cannot get past the stairs outside on your own?

The Nigerian Government is NOT adequately caring for people with disability, in my opinion.  If schools are not wheelchair accessible, what is life to become for a person who is disabled?  Without education, we know it’s hard to get a good job, and without access to most business places, a disabled individual is more susceptible to being poor, and having to beg for money and basic every day necessities.

I understand that it’s hard to make old buildings, old buses etc… wheelchair accessible, but what about the new things? A wheelchair user cannot get on BRT buses, or almost any other form of public transportation. I am not going to act like I know the bills that are passed in Nigeria, but if there is already a law on how every building, businesses, and schools ought to be wheelchair accessible, but people are not obeying, I think it’s time for the government to start fining and making sure people/businesses pay for not obeying the law. I don’t want to blame the government alone though, a lot of schools in Nigeria are “private schools”, and a lot of businesses are built by regular people who have nothing to do with the government, so I urge everyone out there, , to also please, do their parts.  It is easy to see a disabled person and pity them; however, pity does not bring change when no action follows it.

To the Disabled

Physical disability does not mean mental disability and it’s not a plague. That a person is disabled physically, does not make them less important or condemned.

You are the best person who understands what you’re going through, so let your voice be heard. Be presentable, look the best you can. Get rid of all bitterness – I agree that sometimes people “just don’t understand” what we’re going through. But please don’t make this an excuse to be a bitter, angry, or an unforgiving person.

My final message of hope for people experiencing a similar situation is 1^st Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it”. God Bless you all.

CREDIT: B.N

Lizzy Oke, i love your spirit & i pray with you that Jehovah the great physician will heal you & bless you with the gift of your legs. I hope this touches many who are bitter& resentful towards others& will accept the love that people give them.

I am inspired to make my life a blessing to others& give more helping hands to others. what about you??

COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE LIVE NAKED! STONE AGE STILL PRESENT IN MILLINEUM

They live, literally, in the stone age. Poverty and diseases ravage their land, like locusts. A good number of them still dress in the manner of...the Biblical Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden -- stark naked -- with fresh leaves for a little covering...



You are welcome to the top of the Gerinjina mountain in Gashaka Local Government area of Taraba State.

It was like a story from Mars when a casual talk to the hearing of this reporter indicated that there was a community up the mountain that lived worse than those of the Koma people who were discovered in the mid-1980s by a group of National youth corps members in the then Gongola State, now split into Adamawa and Taraba states. While the Koma community resides in Adamawa State, the new Stone Age people are in Taraba State.

They are called, the Jibu people and they are descendants of the Kwarafa Kingdom who lived for centuries in nine communities scattered around on the mountains in Gashaka.

Historical accounts have it that the people lived together with their fellow brothers in the kingdom until about 1807 when Fulani Jihadists invaded the kingdom. They were said to have run to the mountain top where they now live and are completely cut off from other tribes, and by extension the whole world. Not even the activities of the colonial masters reached them, largely because of the difficult terrain of their new abode. The mountain top is characterised by rivers, deep gullies and huge rocks.

Just like any other group of human beings, the Jibu people have their ways of life. These include collective circumcision of boys born within the same age group, a ceremony performed with the use sharp objects.

It is considered a test of strength and character for their boys not to cry during the ceremony. The circumcised are kept on bamboo beds and covered with fresh leaves that are gathered and burnt after the wound has healed.

For a young Jibu man to get a wife, he must serve the family of his bride for five years. Nonetheless, the marriage is determined by the capacity of the woman to conceive. This is measured by a dried long firewood that is set on fire for at least three months, within which if the woman does not become pregnant, the simple communication is the gods do not want the marriage.

Pregnant women work on the farms to the day of their delivery.They have a communal life and are ruled by the Waziri Garinjina, Tann Shidin Zunbi, who confirmed in an interview with the Nigerian Compass on Saturday that maternal and child mortality rates are high among them.

The Jibu people are neither Christians nor Muslims. Rather, they believe in their own gods and the ancestors. In an event of violation of their natural laws by any individual, animals are slaughtered to appease the land. It is also a similar story during every cropping season.

The harvests are brought before the Waziri for sacrifice to the gods, after which their brand of liquor is prepared for everybody to drink in merriment. Incidentally too, the Jibu people believe that some gods are not friendly with women.

Thus, throughout the period of ritual preparations, women remain indoors to avoid being exposed to the gods who could be harmful to them.When our correspondent visited Gerinjina, their condition of living was worse than that of the much-talked about Koma people. There is no access road.

They drink water with animals from the same rivers. In their scattered settlement system, there is no school around except for some missionaries who have a thatched space for that purpose but is yet to have any student. After a day's job on the farm, their women still have the task of grinding raw corn with heavy stones before food is ready for their male counterparts.

We went naked to gain their confidence – Cleric
Pastor Miracle Ishaya is the director of Mission Light House,Wukari, Taraba State, the first missionary that came in contact with the Jibu community. In this interview with STEPHEN OSU, he explained how his team had to go naked to get the people to listen to them, how he got to know about the community and their problems.

How true is it that you were the first to come in contact with the Jibu people?
It is true by the grace of God that we were the first missionaries to come across the people called Jibu. They are in a place called Galumjina. Their tribe is Jibu. These people were before now cut off from the rest of the world. In fact, nobody knew about them till we got there.

How did you know of their existence?
A woman named Mrs. Joseph is a trader who lived in a place called Abba Dogo. After some time of staying in the village, she started seeing some strange faces in the place with leaves as their clothing and when she asked, the learnt that they live on top of the mountains. So, she came to inform us and when we got there, it was difficult to believe but it was true. And as they sighted us, some ran away, some became very violent and came out with there arrows but for the woman’s ability to speak Jibu language. We were accepted.

How did she understand the language?
Yes, it is not as if the people are completely different from every other tribe in the place, but they are a section of the Jibu that settled on top of the mountain. There are some other sections of the same tribe that are developed. So, through them, the woman was able to understand little things in the language except that they speak the old version of the language.

In what condition did you meet them?
They were totally naked, both women and men, covering some parts of their bodies with leaves. As a strategy for us to be accepted by them, we also had to strip off some of our clothes and told them that we were their tribes men, only that we were born in the town.

How did you get them accept clothes?
It was difficult at the beginning but they accepted at last to wear it on top of their leaves. The women value the leaves. They believe that if a leaf falls from their waist and a man crosses it, he will automatically be impotent. We also talked to them about the God who created everything, whom they also believe as a God for the children. So they at last accepted everything.

Now that you have got there, what is the main problem?
It was difficult to get them accept our ways of life as you can see. When we introduced palm oil, they said it was human blood. At first, we were sleeping under the trees. Their food was Burukutu. Diseases kill them in large numbers.


Discovering Jibu: 
A journalist's nine-hour mountain climb
Stephen Osu

When, sometime last month, I visited the Koma hills in Jada Local Government area of Adamawa State on the instruction of my editor, I thought I had seen the worst in the living conditions of human beings that could ever be. I was wrong. Dead wrong.

Unknown to me, the encounter that would shock me to the very marrows, would be in my state of residence, Taraba.

On learning of another community of human beings who were probably worse than the Koma people and had just been in contact with the rest of the world, I quickly put a call through to my editor, again, informing him of the development.“Are you ready with the story?,” he asked. My answer was in the negative. “Why then are you wasting time? Steve, go get the story. Go, go, go,” he ordered.

Off I went same evening, on Wednesday,March 11, with just the ATM of my bank in my bag and a little cash that could serve for transport fare and feeding for the day, believing that there must be a bank in Serti Barewa, headquarters of Gashaka, with the Automatic Teller Machine (Or Any Time Money) facility.

But my assumption was, again, wide off the mark as the single bank (UBA) that had a branch in the town had no ATM.With some part of the report ready while the most important was still missing, I instantly started regretting my decision to get myself involved in the assignment. Meanwhile, calls kept pouring in from my Editor who wanted to assess the level of completion. At a point, I contemplated putting off my phone but remembered it would be suicidal considering where I was.

But thanks to one Mallam Hamidu Hassan who volunteered his UBA account number so that my office could effect a transfer, I became buoyant enough to hire two guides for the nine-hour mountain climbing.Each of the mountains took at least one hour of the tortuous journey. My two guides, Mallam Balla and Mr. Titus Tanko Usman, took me to the top and to the house of the Waziri Garinjina, Tann Shidin Zunbi.

Already tired, there was no option but to lay my head on any facility available for accommodation which my host magnanimously offered -- a bamboo mat in a structure, much of which was covered with grass.

That prepared the grounds for the actual battle with mosquitoes and other insects that came out from the dusty ground.After three days of the sojourn, both water and the little quantity of food got finished. Then came the time for dry fasting. That also took another one day and five hours, although locally brewed liquor was available for entertainment.

The Jibu women on the other hand, were so entertaining with there grinding stones. Yes! The complete story arrived at last, but it was with tea.

Incredible!
Thoughts?

talkofnaija.