Pragmatic Gbengus

  The Japa syndrome has been in vogue or has been trending for some time. It is even more now that inflation is biting harder, Naira is weaker, and Dollar is a super-hero. But the question is: “why are people moving out of the country in droves? Where are they moving to? Is there any consequence(s) for moving out? Many Nigerians want to “Japa” because of the present economic hardship. They just want to leave the country to anywhere as far as it is not “Naija”. It could be Ghana, Togo, Morocco, Canada, Yankee or anywhere. According to many of them who want to “Japa”. They want to be free from the manacle and the clutches of the woes bedeviling them in Nigeria. The term “Japa” meaning to be free, run away, or migrate or escape from a present reality or problem was first popularized in 2020 after Naira Marley, a Nigerian singer released his singles titled “Japa”. Many Naija just want to “Japa” not considering the harsh realities outside the shores of the country. Everyday many...

  Today, 23rd April, 2024 is celebrated as the World English Language Day. It coincides with Williams Shakespeare’s birthday (the Bard and Avon of literature) and the World Book and Copyright Day. I am sure many people are not aware of this important day. This day is very significant in the UN’s calendar because English Language is one of the two working languages (the other is French) of the UN secretariat and one of the organization’s six official languages.  Why is this day important? English Language is spoken in over eighty-eight (88) countries of the world. In Africa, twenty-four (24) countries use the English Language as their official Language.  English is often referred to as a “World Language” or the lingua franca (bridge language or common language used by speakers of different languages) of the modern era because it is widely spoken. Since Nigeria is an English-speaking country, celebrating this auspicious even is very important.  The UN first celebrated ...

  I remembered attending a friend's birthday party more than ten years ago who turned fifty (50). He is far older than I am anyway, since then, I have been thinking how turning fifty would look like.  That birthday party was one of the memorable one that I have ever attended. On that occasion, he did a housewarming. The other of my friend celebrated with a doctorate degree last year. So, I have been planning and racking my brain what special event I would mark my own with, Finally, the day I have been waiting for is here and it appears that I was haven't done my preparation and was caught unawares. While doing my preparation last year before this D-day, I thought I would have completed a foreign degree abroad or would have moved into my own house or would have done something special or remarkable. But, I really don't know how time flies, and I was caught unprepared,  But, the most important thing is that I am alive and to see this wonderful stage of my life. Turning fifty...

    There is no doubt that there is low level of insurance awareness among the younger generation in this part of the world. In order to further strengthen this campaign and advocacies among students and bridge the divide in schools in Lagos State, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria  (CIIN) has partnered with School Connect Magazine, an education based magazine in order to give students insurance education thus making them to be well- informed about insurance matters. This was during a two-day media cum insurance education training workshop organized for senior secondary students at Emcoy Favoured Comprehensive College, Ogba, Lagos today by School Connect Magazine in collaboration with the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria. The Citizen  Journalism training which was an initiative of School Connect Magazine is aimed at giving students media education towards creating a well-informed school community and reporting events and activities within the schoo...

  "I call on leaders and adults everywhere to do everything possible to enable the world's youth to enjoy lives of safety, dignity and opportunity and contribute to the fullest of the great potentials."            - Antono Guterres (9th Secretary of the UN and former Prime Minster of Portugal 1995- 2002) Today is the International Youths Day according to the UN calendar. Every August 12th, the Youths Days is usually commemorated all over the world with a special youths session at the UN Headquarters, New York. The theme for this year's years celebration is: YOUTHS ENGAGEMENT FOR GLOBAL ACTION. This is a wonderful theme. Here is an excerpt from the theme as it is globally celebrated: “Youth Engagement for Global Action” seeks to highlight the ways in which the engagement of young people at the local, national and global levels is enriching national and multilateral institutions and processes, as well as draw lessons on how their representation and engag...

    So how do you find your place? To find your place in life, you need to do three important things: 1. Ask From God:   It is quite unfortunate that many people are asking the right questions from the wrong people. If you are familiar with electronic gadgets or the automobile, you will discover that they cone with a manual. Even your mobile phones. If discover that anything goes wrong, just go to the manual and will be able to fix it. When some people get to a crossroads, they ask the wrong people. And asking the wrong people the right question will lead you to the wrong destination. So, the first thing you need to do is to find your place is to ask from God. In fact, you cannot find your place until you find God. Maybe your present misery or circumstances is to lead you to your creator. Until you find God, you cannot find your place and until you find your place, you cannot fulfill your destiny. Don’t get me wrong. It is possible to make all the money in t...

To find your fulfillment in life, you need to have two things: location (your place) and your passion .   Finding the right location or being in the right place is very important. You cannot be in the wrong place and succeed in the life. It is also possible to be in the right place and misplace your passion. That is why you need to pay attention to where you are (your place) and you ambition (your place). Many people would have been very successful in life, but they missed their place and their passion. That is why the first thing you need to set out is your place. Are you in the wrong employment? In the wrong career or vocation? In short, you need to pause and ask yourself where you are. Is your present location where you are actually supposed to be at the moment? Is it where your creator wanted you to be or where destiny has placed you? If fate has determined your present location, then you are in the wrong place. No matter how you hard you try, you will not be fulfilled...