THE WORLD MOURNS STEVE JOBS

 John 9:4 – I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the
night cometh, when no man can work.
 
(Reuters) – Steve Jobs, the transcendent Silicon Valley entrepreneur who reinvented the world’s computing, music and mobile phone industries and changed the daily habits of millions around the globe, died on Wednesday at the age of 56.
 
Beloved of God,
 
God has set eternity in the heart of every man, meaning that there is no limitation to the imagination of anyone that cares to dream.
 
Ecclesiastes 3:11 – … also he hath set the world in their heart…
 
Steve Jobs was one man that cared to dream and imagine. There was no limitation to his dreams and aspirations. The resultant effect of this was that Steve Jobs changed the world of computing, mobile music (entertainment generally) in a way nobody ever did!
 
He is now dead and the world mourns an uncommon man that gave out his best. What will you be remembered for when you die? One final lesson from Steve Job’s death is that in spite and despite what the world thinks of him, he’s now alone with His Maker where his works (of salvation, not Apple Innovations) will be reviewed to know whether he will go to heaven or hell. The same is applicable to us.
 
We must work the works of him that sent us, while it is day: the
night cometh, when no man can work.

Courtesy: Micheal Ogbaa

419 Reasons to Like Nigeria

For too long, Nigeria and Nigerians have been readily associated with
the online scams, financial crime and impersonation – termed ‘419’.
However, beyond the unfortunate stereotyping, there are several
positive characteristics and cogent intriguing traits of the country,
Nigeria and its people, some of which are highlighted below as part of
the ‘419 Reasons to Like Nigeria’ campaign which enlisted 100
volunteers and bloggers to share reasons why they like Nigeria. These
reasons echo the voices of Nigerians, with resonating similar themes.
The campaign is being facilitated in partnership with ‘The 419Positive
Project’.

The full list of ‘419 Reasons to Like Nigeria’ is available here
(http://www.419positive.org/419-reasons-to-like-nigeria-complete-list/)
 (www.419Positive.org)

The list of contributors to ‘419 Reasons to Like Nigeria’ is available
here (http://www.419positive.org/419-reasons-to-like-nigeria-contributors/)

If you would like to say something positive about Nigerians and
Nigeria, please do so here (http://419positive.org/) .

NIGERIA – UNITY IN DIVERSITY

** Our togetherness is legendary. With over
four hundred tribes, yet we remain united and
even merge into one through the beauty called
marriage

** Nigerians, despite our diversity are a united
people who always strive to help one another.
With 774 local government areas, multi religious
and ethnic affiliations, 36 States, population of
over 160 million, we still stand undeterred to
move forward together.

** Nigerians don’t give up. We still have a
country and still stay together despite our
historical and current ethnic clashes.

** Our greatest strength lies in our diversity.

** Diversity: In Nigeria it’s not uncommon to
see one family with 2 different religions or one
State with multiple languages and they all coexist
just fine.

** Nigeria is generally peaceful – despite the
civil war, we are still one.

** The Diversity: Yes, it’s quite cumbersome to
maintain but how many other countries can boast
of people with such diverse attitudes and values.
It prepares us for the world at large as we’re
already able to accept that people are different
and have their peculiarities.

** We are one. We are one. We believe in an
invincible, indivisible and forever united country.
We are Nigeria.

** Nigerians stick together like peas in a pod.
There’s this innate bond in us all that gets drawn
out especially when we find ourselves in the
Diaspora; and because we’re everywhere, a
Nigerian will always feel right at home no matter
where he finds himself.

** Nigeria is one of the most diverse nations in
the world (think ethnicity, and languages) and
yet somehow, despite all the clashes, we’re still
together. Smaller countries have split for less.

** Our ability to look beyond ethnicity, religion,
age, sex, and be kind to fellow men even in our
diversity.

** I love the diversity and acceptability /
tolerance amongst different ethnic groups. We stick together in spite of everything.

** Most Nigerians are peace loving people. Even in the face of several ethno-religious crises
in the past, Nigeria still remains undivided.

** Nigeria in her multiplicity of ethnicity has
thrived for 51 years: over 250 ethnic groups and over 400 languages. ONE NIGERIA!

** Nigeria is a country that has her strength in
her diversity, embraces her ethnic groups without
ethnicity and her tribes without tribalism.

** A Nigerian is never alone in the world. This is
one of the best reasons to like Nigeria and
Nigerians for me. We are all over the place and
when we run into each other outside the shores of the country, all those things which divide us as a people are quickly forgotten.

** Even outside the country, Nigerians remain
united. This gives a quiet assurance somewhat that you can get on a plane and go to any country of the world and find a Nigerian there who will not only make you feel welcome but will
go out of their way to be of really good help. i have experienced this several times on my travels and each time it amazes me how all I need to be
is a Nigerian, not Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa and once
I run into another Nigerian, I will immediately feel at home.

** Nigeria boasts unique cultures, awesome
weather, landscape, human resources, natural resources and variety of people, with over 300 different ethnic groups staying together as one.
419. NIGERIA is still a UNIT despite being plagued
so much with potentially disruptive ethnic/ religious tendencies.

Who Are Their Fathers?

It is usually a daily occurrence in Lagos, where to TOUTS popularly known as “AREA BOYS” or “AGBEROS” harass bus drivers and conductors because of a particular levy not paid

The amazing part of these cases is that these “area boys” go as far as  beating up bus conductors, and sometimes destroying valuable parts of the bus (side mirrors, boots, rear mirror etc)

A very striking question that has been burning in my heart is  WHO ARE THEIR AREA FATHERS? Or rather WHO DO THEY WORK FOR?

There are usually some on uniform (white Shirt and green trousers) for Lagos State, and some of them are not always on uniform. The so called AGBEROS usually demand for Money authoritatively, when they eventually collect these monies, receipts are not issued, and there won’t be any form of evidence of receiving the cash.

For the AGBEROS that usually extort “Bike Men” popularly known as “OKADA MEN”, they humiliate those okada riders so much that they usually do not have choices than to succumb to their offers. These AGBEROS go as far as slapping, seizing helmets and removing OKADA keys.

In most cases, the AGBEROS not on uniform claim to be the LOCAL GOVERNMENT’S TAX AND REVENUE  COLLECTORS, yet without proper documentation on monies and revenues collected.

 

My thoughts on this issue are; cant the Lagos State Chapter of the NURTW proffer a new medium for these LEVIES to be paid?

Secondly, The Lagos State Government should partner with the NURTW and make them see reasons why they should change the ways the Levies are collected. Lagos been a MEGA CITY in formation

My questions on this issue are

1. Who do these AGBEROS work for?
2. Who are their “AREA FATHERS?
3. Are they above the law? If they are, that means they have every right to harass fellow citizens

Dear readers, kindly share your thoughts and experiences on this issue. You can also tell us who their AREA FATHERS are if you know them (Laughs) by posting a comment.

You can also follow me on twitter @lammyng

Thank you for reading

GSM IN NIGERIA…..TEN YEARS AFTER!!!

Nigeria joined other nations of the world in 2001 with Telecommunication giants MTN and ECONET WIRELESS (now Airtel) can we proudly say that our level of communication and development has improved as a nation?

The use of cellular phones have soared and mostly replaced the unrealistic services of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL). I can remember very vividly that phones like NOKIA 3310, TRIUM SONY, ERICSON etc were hotcakes, while SIM cards were sold for quite a fortune (N20,000 –N30,000) calls within the GSM networks and to other CDMAs (STARCOMMS, RELTEL, MULTILINKS) providers’ costs N50 ‘per minute’

But with the grand launch of GLOBACOM in August 2003, the ‘per second billing system’ was introduced and subscribers then had the choice between ‘per second and per minute billing system’. The then existing GSM providers (MTN and VMOBILE (now Airtel)) followed suite so as to retain their subscriber base. And also joining the GSM operators December 2009 is ETISALAT which also came with mouth watering packages and other valued added services.

Well, with the invent of smart phones with 2G, EDGE and 3G technologies such as Blackberry, Andriod, iphones, HTC, windows Mobile, tablet PCs and the likes, there has been easy access to information. Now millions of Nigerians can browse the internet, check emails, access social network site such as FACEBOOK and TWITTER, read Newspapers and Magazines online with the various GSM operators providing internet access to do so

There is a saying that goes thus “Rome was not built in a day” can we categorically say we have made so  much  progress in building the Rome in question (Telecoms Industry) with recurrent Network failures, unsatisfactory internet services and other value added services, expensive and ‘unreliable promos’?

I would not end this article without stating some of the benefits and advantages of  the advent of GSM in Nigeria. Some of which are

1. Easy communication amongst individual without restriction in geographical locations
2. Job opportunities
3. Easier access to information
4. Mobile technology etc

Dear reader, ten years down the line, can we boldly say that Nigeria Telecommunications industry under the watchful eye of the NIGERIA COMMUNICATION COMMISSION (NCC) be rated amongst the best in the world?

Kindly share some of the advantages of GSM in Nigeria so far and steps you think should be taken to improve the services provided by the GSM operators

You can also follow me on twitter @lammyng

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