Happy Birthday Ryta

The screen of the computer monitor served as a mirror that helped me peer deep into your face to admire the lady you have grown into. I had to stop to smile richly at you. You are a year older today Ryta. Look at you; you have grown in wisdom, in stature (not sure you’ve grown in stature the last five years), in favour with God and with man.

Twenty…years ago, you were born. I celebrate your mum Ryta; her hands were strong to have brought you up in the ways of God. She reminds me of the proverbs 31 woman. I celebrate your dad also. He helped you discover your interest even before you knew yourself and created the right environment that shaped your career. He never spared you those subtle challenges that nudged you to keep @ it!  I am really glad mum and dad never spared the rod on you.

Your elder sisters (Grace, Mercy, Gladys and Patricia) shaped you immensely into the lady you have grown into. They were indeed role models you looked up to as a girl and even till today. Grace the eldest sister especially did a great job in drilling into you the virtues that can never depart from you. Great job Grace! (Junior mummy).

I’m really happy for you for the right contacts you made when you got into the University; the GPC family. They stood as ladders; they made you know that it is possible to be fashionable, classy, smart, and pretty and still have God.  They really help smoothen the rough edges in you Ryta.

The journey of life has not particularly been a rosy one. Looking at you through the screen of the monitor, I remember moments those moments you you’ve cried out to God in frustration, “Hey God! Are you there? Can you hear me? If you can hear me, talk back at me.” Those tough moments strengthened you; they wove the rich tapestry that makes you Ryta.

Do you know something I have discovered? I found out that at best, you are a mess but God has been faithful to you. You know how many times you have slipped and you thought God was going to give up you? Amazingly, those were the time He held you even tighter in His bosom. How His love humbles you and makes you cry like a baby (wiping a tear). How you’ve enjoyed divine health you cannot pay for; favour you do not deserve.

I will not fail to celebrate your slice from heaven (Biodun). I know you never really had the nerve to ask God for a someone like him; guilt from experiences of past made it too much to ask  for, but trust God, He always reserve his best prince for even the most miscreant daughter, probably to make the statement clear “I Love you; I died for you”. I see the way you two look into each other’s eyes, and I know you could not have asked God for anyone better. Never seen you melt like a jelly until he tagged along (smile).

Happy birthday Ryta, I am proud of the girl you were, the lady you are and the woman you are growing into. Special thanks to all the people that have somewhere somehow added a brick into your life. Special thanks to all of you and especially to you reading this message right now.

Ryta, I told God this morning to keep you strong, to make your dimples always have a cause to dimple, to always tease your lips and tickle your checks to keep smiling. To give you a deeper revelation of the knowledge of Him, to help you not to just mark numbers but sustainable relevance and purpose, and to keep you fashionable in His style.

Happy birthday girl; Have all the fun you can afford.

I love you to shreds Ryta!

Happy birthday.

Ryta.

Plotting the way forward for Nigeria

It is barely two months that Nigeria celebrated her centenary; and issues threatening its continuity rock her to the root. Nigeria is no doubt going through her darkest age.

Issues she never could relate to or imagine are right at her door step staring point blank into her eyes. Not only is the country in her dark age, but also in her most confused state.

One of the unspoken questions in the heart of a lot of Nigerians are; “when will all of these end? When will the peace Nigeria used to enjoy be restored? Is Nigeria going to divide? What can we do?”

When I learnt of the May Day bombing at Nyanya, few kilometers away from the place that was bombed on the 14^th of April 2014, I shivered as the country is yet to recover from the abduction of the Chibok school girls on the 15^th of April. There are no definite solutions to curb the insurgence of bombing. When I think of those female teenagers abducted at Chibok, I wonder what must have become of them.

What scares me most is that I fear we are losing our sensitivity as a people.  The death tolls have become mere statistics. Whenever I think of the families of some the victims of bomb blast, my heart get heavy. Somebody just lost a father, a mother, a bread winner. Someone just lost a wife, a husband, a defendant, a loved one.

Where do we go from here?

I believe we can go back in time. Maybe we should go back to our root; to our values and culture. I believe Nigeria can learn from the success story of Israel. Israel is a little nation of only 7.1 million people, 64 years old with no natural resources yet a global giant.

I learnt 11 critical lessons from Israel.  

·        1.  Persistence

·         2. Chutzpah

·         3. Battle field entrepreneurship

·         4. Cultural innovation

·         5. Mashup

·        6. Education

·         7.  Rosh gadol mentality

·         8. Venture capital

·         9. Immigration

·         10. Diaspora network

·        11.  Betrayal

Stay close. I will elaborate on them subsequently.

Adieu Amaka Igwe

Foremost producer, writer, director and a leading player in the Nigerian motion picture industry Amaka Igwe is dead. She reportedly suffered an asthmatic attack, and died while being taken to the hospital.

According to reports, she was in Enugu for pre-production of an Igbo series. Ibinabo Fiberesima, the President of the Actor’s Guild of Nigeria, confirmed the news to Best of Nollywood.

Amak Igwe may not have started shooting movies in 1992 but it is not in doubt that Amaka Igwe’s effort as a motion picture practitioner has drawn international recognition for the burgeoning Nigerian motion picture industry. Some of her early efforts like Checkmate and Violated has largely remained a watershed in the history of soaps and movie production in Nigeria.

The Parable of the Pencil

I stumbled upon this parable and thought of sharing them with you.

Once upon a time!

The Pencil maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box; he said to the pencil "There are 5 things you need to know before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be."

1. “You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone’s hand."
2. “You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil”.
3. “You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make."
4. “The most important part of you will always be what's inside."
5  “On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write."
The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.

Now replacing the place of the pencil with you; always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be. 

1.  You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.

2.  You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but you'll need it to become a stronger person. 
3.  You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make. 
4.  The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside.
5.  On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.
Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish.

Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot make a change.

Enjoy a fruitful weekend Friends!

Ryta Moemeke

No Fewer than 100 Girls abducted at Chibok Senior Secondary School

As the nation is yet to wipe their tears from the bomb blast that claimed hundreds of people at Nyanya Park, Abuja on 14^th April, 2014, no fewer than 100 girls have been abducted at Chibok Senior Secondary School, by suspected insurgence group (Boko Haram) in Borno State on 15^th April, 2014

But the BBC quoted parents to have told its Hausa service that at least 200 girls were abducted. Eye witnesses said the girls who were in school preparing for their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE) were taken at about 3.00 a.m.

Joseph Walama, a resident, said the attackers numbering about 50, stormed the town in a convey of Toyota Hilux vehicles before unleashing terror on residents.

“They arrived in the town at about 10:00 p.m. in a convoy of no fewer than seven Hilux vehicles and took control of the town and set fire on residential and public buildings,’’ Walama said.

He said some of the attackers engaged in mass looting of food items, while others harassed residents at will. “Then suddenly they headed for the Senior Secondary School, Chibok, which is a WAEC examination centre.

“Some of the teachers and students took to their heels on sighting them, but they eventually abducted those who remained in the hostel. They packed food items and the students into an abandoned lorry before heading for the Sambisa forest,’’ he said.

The Borno Commissioner of Police, Lawal Tanko, confirmed the attack, but said he did not have details of the incident.

Bomb Blast in Nyanya, Abuja- Over 200 people Dead...

This is obviously someone that may just have lost a dear one; maybe a father, mother, maybe a wife, maybe a child, a friend or a dependant

These are promising futures; destinies that just got terminated in their prime. Innocent people struggling  for daily survival. They might have kissed their loved ones goodbye before leaving the house with an expectation to come home for dinner.

This may be an only child. He may the hope and pride of his parents. Maybe an only child...

These are obviously young men struggling for daily survival. They may be the bread winners of their home. 

A human person with dignity, created in the image and likeness of God

Can words articulate the pains and groaning of these souls as they got consumed in this fire? Who will comfort the relatives of these victims? Who will heal the wound? Who will placate the fear that has enveloped the people of Nigeria.?Will Nigerian recover from this trauma,  can they really have faith in the government to save them?  Where could be the next target? Who will be the next victim? Could it be that the government is helpless?(Quite scary to admit)Are the citizens helpless too? What can we do to stop further bomb blast? (I am equally thinking...)

The Twin Capital of the World

Are you kidding me Ryta?

If I ask you to take a wild guess of the town that has the highest number of twin birth in the told what will be your guess? As you thinking about that, let me tell you a little story… once upon a time in 2011 I was posted to Oyo State for National Youth Service Corpse Service to serve my dearly beloved Nigeria.  I was excited because I had long yearned to wear khaki.

At NYSC Orientation Camp; Isenyi 

Anyways, the three weeks spent in NYSC orientation camp located at Isenyi, Oyo state was a beautiful experience. It is funny how most graduates’ longs for NYSC even when they have no inclination of why NYSC was instituted. I honestly appreciated the initiative of our leaders in instituting NYSC as this gives every Nigerian graduate the opportunity to serve the nation for one calendar year.  This service is aimed at fostering cultural integration and unity through diversity judging from our multi-cultural background as a nation. (You may not agree with me though)

Posting Letter

I was not really particular about serving in the capital city of Oyo state (Ibadan), I did not mind being posted in any of the 33 Local Government area in Oyo state. Whenever my friends asked me where I will like to be posted for my PPA (Place of Primary Assignment) I always replied “wherever, so long there is light, internet, water and road I’m good”. I’m not sure I meant it though, that was just the answer that came easily to me. At the end of the three weeks, I received my posting letter and it read “Idere, Ibarapa Central Local Government Area”.  Ibarapa Central has two towns, villages sorry (Igbo-Ora and Idere). From some of Yoruba friends in camp, I was told that “Igbo” meant ‘bush’. I was not put off by that though. I quickly located the vehicle that was to convey my fellow compatriots and I. and off we went.

The Journey from Iseyin to Ibarapa Central

The journey took us 60 minutes although it seemed like 60 hours. I saw a lot of bushes, I was still not perturbed, “we will soon get to the town babe” I encouraged myself. I sat by the window so I busied myself my admiring some of the birds that flew by. I closed my eyes at some point to drink into nature.

You are Welcome to Igboora, the Nation’s Home of Twins

As I flipped open my eyes, I was greeted with the inscription “You are Welcome to Igboora, The Nation’s Home of Twins” this followed by shouts of ‘welcome’ by previous batches of corps serving in Ibarapa Central Local Government called me back to reality. My first reaction to the environment was that of disdain. Although I never attempted to influence my posting but at that point I did not know whether to regret my decision or be excited. “Dear Lord! What am I doing here? You mean I will be stuck here for the next 12 months?” I muttered loud not aware of the tears streaming freely down my cheeks. “kopa welcome. To our land; the home of twin” a kind looking man said to me. I managed to flash him a smile. “Home of twins indeed; who cares?” I muttered inaudibly.

My First shocker

The shouts of jubilation from the house next to the coppers lodge where we putting up for the night drew our attention.  News reached us that a woman just gave birth to her fourth set of twins. My eyes almost bulged out “are you kidding me” I blotted out as I could not contain my amazement. Out of curiosity, I mobilized some of my colleagues and we went to pay the family a visit. Sorry I did not tell you that corpse members are highly respected, it was like an August visit. One of my colleagues, Alex surprised said “Is the same person that was sulking a while ago?”

Igboora; Twin Capital of the World 

It turned out to be a memorable twelve months. Each day was adventure for me. I appreciated culture and NYSC first hand.  Not joke, you will not find a household without at least a set of twin. It is their pride and heritage. Research into multiple births carried out at Lagos's University Teaching Hospital has suggested that a high level of a chemical found in the Yoruba women and the peelings of the tuber could account for the high level of multiple births. A consultant gynecologist at the hospital explains: “These substances are usually linked to the release of more than one egg, which usually leads to twin pregnancies. That means that there is possibly an environmental factor that encourages the high level of this chemical substance.”

My Favourite meal; Amala and Ilasa

You can trust that Amala and Ilasa became my favourite meal through my stay there. I consumed it as though there was no tomorrow. I told all my friends and family about it. I pitched its effect to anyone that cared to listen to me. I was disappointed when I was told that the effect was only seen on bona fide sons of the soil that the probability that non indigenes will give birth to twins after consuming Amala and Ilasa was very slim. You can imagine my disappointment. “Why did you not tell me early enough” I quarreled with them when they told me few weeks before passing out.  

So? What about the Twin Capital of the World?

It may seem like another story, but this is phenomena that is worthy of recognition. The question I asked myself through my stay there as a corpse member is “how do we preserve this yam? How do we replicate this outside? Can’t this place be a research institute? Can’t this natural endowment deliver revenue to this people? What story do we tell from this? What can we do about this? What can our government do about this? If cultural innovation is a true concept, what innovation can stem out this phenomenon? How do we tell this story?

My fears?

Should this yam go out of extinction, will history forgive us for not preserving and sustaining Amala and Ilasa.  

Written by Ryta Moemeke

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ritamoemeke@gmail.com