Uncategorized Stories & Experiences

The sounds of spectators cheering on Nigeria and Ivory Coast during the AFCON finals spread throughout the neighborhood as I sat in my room. As Nigeria took a 1-0 lead, there was an obvious sense of anxiety in the air, and the sound of celebratory firecrackers going off filled the night sky.

The happy festivity turned into chants and singing, which energized the atmosphere. Nigeria appeared to be on the verge of victory, and the excitement was intense.

But when Ivory Coast equalized, the mood swiftly changed, putting an end to the applause and leaving everyone in disbelief. The once-enthusiastic gathering dropped into a depressing silence as the situation's reality set in.

With a final score of 2-1, Ivory Coast triumphed, dashing the expectations of Nigerian supporters and leaving everyone dejected. With an overpowering feeling of disappointment, the festive atmosphere subsided and the watchers scattered, returning to their normal lives.

There was a silent recognition of the skill of both sides and the passion of the game amid the disappointment. Even though Nigeria might not have won, there was appreciation for Ivory Coast's victory as they deserved the game's result.

A young woodcutter was cutting wood in the mountains. In a short while, an old woodcutter came to work in the mountain as well.

At nightfall, the young woodcutter was surprised to find out that the old woodcutter had cut more wood even though he came later.

The young woodcutter made a decision secretly that he would come to work in the mountains even earlier the next morning.

The next day, the young woodcutter indeed came to work in the woods very early.

He thought, "i will certainly win this time." unexpectedly, when he carried his wood back, he found the old woodcutter had beaten him again.

On the third day, the young woodcutter decided that he would not only arrive early, but also leave late. He thought he would definitely win this time.

However, the old woodcutter beat him again on that day. The same thing happened on the fourth and fifth day.

On the sixth day, the young woodcutter could no longer stand it and raised the question to the old woodcutter, "i start working earlier than you and stop working later than you.

How come you beat me every time? Besides, i'm also younger than you."

"alas, young man!" the old woodcutter patted him on his shoulder and said, "after i get home every day, the first thing i do is to sharpen my axe.

While you are sleeping your fatigue off, your axe is getting duller and duller.

Therefore, even though i am older than you, start working later than you, and leave earlier than you, my axe is sharper than yours.

A tree will fall after i chop five times, but only after you chop more than ten times." the young woodcutter understood completely and set off to sharpen his ax

we sometimes get so busy that we don’t take time to sharpen the “axe”.

Sometimes we all need time to relax, to think and meditate, to learn and grow. If we don’t take the time to sharpen the “axe”, we will become dull and lose our effectiveness.

He always admired my school uniform, my smiles, my looks and maybe my step too.

He always stand along the way of my path to my second mummy shop. Always waiting to praise me and tell me how good l look and to remind me that he is still much interested to marry me. We were told not to give numbers anyhow as girls still in school especially to men who have relationship intentions then, l would have agreed to give him number. Though in my final year in secondary school but we are still not allowed phone freely in that stage by my second mummy unless it is family related. I was obedient.

Well I must confess, his praise is getting to me and am already considering his proposal because it has become a constant reminder to me everyday that l have decided to tell my second mummy who told me to ask him to see her.

But before I get the chance to meet him again. A call came to my phone and l immediately picked it.

Me: Hello

Call: Forget it, it is a set up.

Me: (glanced at the phone again. Of course this is my first mummy speaking) Mummy what are you talking about?

Mummy: That guy that always stop you on your way back from school to shop.

Me: Which one? There are a lot of them.

Mummy: The one that came with marriage proposal. The one you are already thinking about. The one you rejected his money gift. The one you....

Me: OK, OK mum. I remember him. What about him.

Mummy: He betted on your second mummy belief in you. That he must get you to shame her. He didn't know her directly but a person who knew her and her boast of you has strike a challenge. He is not genuine. He want to deceive you to sleep with you. And then smear it on your second mummy face for believing in you. Did you understand?

Me: Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!( Already feeling dizzy) How did you know?

Mummy: Revelation! I love you but don't forget that I am also proud of you. (She cut the call)

Me: Hey I almost fall o. Jesus ! How many set up have l surpassed in this stage? But why me?
With tears in my eyes. I prayed: Oh Lord protect my innocence. Whenever I am at my wit end, take over. I was angry in my spirit that I cursed the people involved together in this conspiracy.

well
this will be a short one
Growing up in the early 90s
i tried everything available as i lived with my mom
dads away working.
i play games
love American movies
i steal from mom to watch movies rent movies. play computer games
but as i grow
i started having dream paralysis
and before i enter the dream paralysis
i always see a whit light in my dream
it sucks me closer and boom i am frozen to my bed paralyzed.
i never told anyone
i fought silently and developed a way to break the paralysis but one this is
i never believed in witchcraft and wizardry but the case is different with my sisters who believed that my mom sis is a witch
they won’t eat her food but i will
i did all they are afraid of but to my surprise i am always good at the end. to this day my sisters believe that i am not normal
due to my constant ingestion of marijuana’s leaves with indomie from a young age.

anyways that’s a story for another day
stay weird and free

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ONCE UPON A TIME, A VILLAGE WAS OCCUPIED BY THE INVADERS, AND ALL ITS PEOPLE WERE IMPRISONED.

THEY SUFFERED FOR MONTHS IN THE COLD, SLEEPING ON ROCKS, AND HARDLY ATE GOOD FOOD. ON SEEING THE STATE OF THE PEOPLE OF THEIR VILLAGE, FOUR PHILANTHROPISTS DECIDED THEY WOULD SERVE THEM.

THE FIRST ONE DECIDED HE WOULD OFFER WARM CLOTHES, SHOES, AND SOCKS TO THE PEOPLE WHO WERE DYING OF THE COLD. SO, HE DID! HE THOUGHT HE DID THE BEST DEED, AND WALKED AWAY HAPPILY!

THE SECOND MAN DECIDED, HE WOULD PROVIDE BLANKETS, AND A COZY BED AND A PILLOW FOR ALL THE PRISONERS TO SLEEP, AND SO, HE DID! HE THOUGHT HE DID THE BEST DEED, AND WALKED AWAY HAPPILY!

THE THIRD PHILANTHROPIST WATCHED THE PEOPLE CRAVE FOR GOOD FOOD; SHE DECIDED TO OFFER THEM A HEALTHY MEAL AND CLEAN DRINKING WATER EVERY DAY. SO, SHE DID! SHE THOUGHT SHE HAD DONE THE BEST DEED OF ALL, AND SHE WALKED AWAY HAPPILY!

THE FOURTH LITTLE MAN WONDERED, "WHAT AM I TO DO FOR MY PEOPLE?"

HE WOKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, SNEAKED INTO THE PRISON, STOLE THE KEY FROM THE GUARD, AND RELEASED ALL OF THEM! AND, THE PEOPLE WALKED AWAY HAPPILY....

WE ALL HOLD THE KEY TO ACTS OF KINDNESS THAT WILL UNLOCK THE HAPPINESS FOR SOMEONE LESS FORTUNATE, NO MATTER HOW LITTLE THE DEED IS, SOMEONE WILL BENEFIT....

I had just woken up from bed, at exactly 5:45am, when I heard someone knocking my room door.
It turned out to be my Dad waking me up to observe subh, one of the five daily salat in Islam.
After, observing my salah, I quickly ran to the bathroom not wanting to be late on my first day in school. Ohh my data is almost exhausted, I would finish the story on my next post
Kindly like follow and share because if I win this, there would be a giveaway.
LOVE YOU GUYS @everyone@mubaraq

Good morning.
Have you ever asked yourself the question, "why do we work"?
Some will say they work in order to avoid hunger. Some will say they work in order not to just stay idle at home. Some will say they work in order to fit into the society.
There are several other reasons why we work.

Until you start to ask questions about your building towards the future, then you are on the right path.
Have you ever asked yourself, "When a man is too old to work," what is my plan towards that phase?

You can't work forever, so now that you are still much younger, I hope you are working towards that stage and not just working to eat and survive the present moment or economy?

That job you are currently engaged in, is it a temporary or permanent solution? You should be able to identify a permanent solution or a temporarily solution and not confuse them.

I am trying to find a permanent solution and sacrificing my convinience at this stage. I hope I find it soon: a permanent solution to my human needs and questions. Because when I am too old to work, I hope I have something better than a pension.

WHISPERS FROM TERRACOTTA: UNVEILING THE NOK, WEST AFRICA'S ANCIENT MASTERS

Hidden beneath the savannas of modern-day Nigeria, whispers of a long-forgotten civilization echo in the form of baked clay. This is the Nok, the enigmatic first complex society of West Africa, whose legacy still speaks volumes despite their silence. Emerging around 1500 BCE, the Nok thrived for centuries, leaving behind a captivating narrative crafted not in words, but in fire-kissed terracotta.

Our understanding of the Nok is gleaned from fragmented pieces - their signature terracotta sculptures, unearthed by chance in 1928. These silent sentinels, depicting stylized human figures and animals with elliptical eyes and elaborate hairstyles, offer tantalizing glimpses into their lives. Farmers of millet and sorghum, skilled ironworkers, and creators of complex societies, the Nok were far more than just artistic pioneers.

Their terracotta masterpieces, found across an expanse stretching hundreds of miles, hint at a sophisticated social structure. From musicians and dignitaries to hunters and pregnant women, the Nok captured a vibrant tapestry of humanity in clay. Some scholars believe these figures played a central role in elaborate funerary rituals, whispering secrets of the afterlife into the baked earth.

Yet, much remains shrouded in mystery. The origin of the Nok, their language, and even their name are lost to time. Were they the first architects of ironworking in West Africa? Did they trade their precious sculptures across vast distances? Did they succumb to internal strife or succumb to external forces? These are questions that continue to tantalize archaeologists and historians, fueling the allure of the enigmatic Nok.

Though their empire faded by the 2nd century CE, the echoes of their impact resonate throughout West Africa. The Nok laid the foundation for subsequent complex societies, proving that innovation and social sophistication thrived far earlier than previously thought. Their terracotta whispers have ignited a deeper understanding of the continent's rich and multifaceted past, reminding us that history holds countless untold stories waiting to be unearthed.

So, the next time you encounter a Nok artifact, whether in a museum display case or a dusty museum archive, remember, it's not just a piece of clay. It's a whisper from a long-lost civilization, a testament to the enduring legacy of the Nok, West Africa's ancient masters.

Queens echoed with boomboxes spitting beats, a rhythm young James danced to before he was even Cool J. At 14, rhyme-infused fury poured from his boombox, christening him "Ladies Love Cool James." Def Jam, a fledgling label, heard the heat, the swagger, the soul, and in 1985, "Radio" blasted forth.

Millions bopped to "I Need a Beat," LL's voice a force, rhymes sharp as diamonds. He rapped the streets, the struggles, the dreams, but also love, vulnerability, a softer side unseen before. He defied expectations, a mic-wielding knight breaking boundaries.

Years spun by, albums dropped like platinum bombs: "Walking With a Panther," "Mama Said Knock You Out," each a genre-bending masterpiece. He ruled charts, won Grammys, his rhymes echoing from Grammys to Hollywood blockbusters.

But through it all, James, the boy from Bay Shore, remained. He built schools, mentored kids, reminding them, "Don't call it a dream, call it a plan." Today, on his 56th birthday, the beats may be softer, the hair a touch grayer, but LL Cool J, the legend, still burns bright. His mic may be a microphone or a megaphone for good, but the message is the same: love, hustle, and never underestimate the power of a beat. Happy birthday, James. Keep rockin' the world.

A tragic incident unfolded in Ikorodu, Lagos State, where a female bank employee identified as Amarachi Ugochukwu took her own life inside the Staff Toilet room due to economic hardships.

The 32-year-old lady was said to have ingested a poisonous substance while in the bank’s restroom, leaving a note behind.

In the note, she expressed despair over her financial struggles, citing low figures and a pervasive sense of nothing working in her life. Additionally, she conveyed a bleak outlook for the future, attributing it to the increasing economic challenges.

Others at work started to look for her because her phone was ringing on her desk, and she wasn’t there to answer.

A police source confirmed that they later found Ugochukwu dead in the bathroom, along with a bottle of insecticide and her suicide note.

She wrote:

“Nothing is working in my life. My figures are low. My brain is clogged up. The economy is getting harder. My decisions are wrong. My mind is messed up. The future doesn’t seem bright at all. I see extreme hardship. I can’t bear the pain anymore.”

God's not dead He sees and sure knows too.... that's why He is Ominiscient. An attribute that can only be attributed to Him🙇🙇.
He see each tear that falls cos you're the apple of His eye🤭..... This is His eyes we're talking about here.
Would you see your eyes getting teary all the time and not want to do something about it?🤔
He cares ...... what a caring Father🥰🥰
He listens...... what a loving friend🥰❤️
He loves....... the best Lover you can ever have😍❤️
Though there's something special about this Lover(God)..... He has always loved , is still ever loving and will ever be loving🥰😘❤️
We, The Church are His Bride👰👰😊❤️
What would you say to Him if you should see Him now?..... what can you boast of?😢
Did you keep to your commitment of love or you broke His Heart.😭😭🥺
Oooooooh when we all get to Heaven🙇🤗💃💃
What a glorious day.... a day of rejoicing💃💃💃
One last question though food for thought😊
If Christ should come now; if the trumpet is to sound now ......... where will you spend eternity????

In the whispering savannah of Benue, where baobab trees stretched like ancient sentinels and the Benue River sang its serpentine song, lived Awashima. Her eyes, the color of sunbaked earth, held a spark of defiance that flickered against the weight of tradition. Born under a crimson moon, marked by the Ijov oracle as "bringer of storms," Awashima was condemned before she drew her first breath.

Her childhood was a dance with whispers and fear. Villagers avoided her, mothers clutched their children closer, and even the elders cast wary glances. Yet, Awashima refused to be a prisoner of the prophecy. She roamed the sun-drenched fields, barefoot and fearless, befriending the wind and learning the secrets of the whispering grasses. She studied with the village's oldest woman, Mama Abaji, who spoke of a world beyond the Ijov's pronouncements, where fate was not a fixed tapestry but a malleable clay waiting to be sculpted.

Years passed, and Awashima blossomed. Her laughter echoed through the fields, and her wisdom, nurtured by Mama Abaji's teachings, blossomed like the hibiscus flowers that adorned her braids. The fear surrounding her softened, replaced by curiosity and respect. Yet, the memory of the prophecy lingered, a shadow at the edge of her joy.

One scorching summer, the Benue River, usually a life-giving serpent, shrank to a cracked whisper. Crops withered, the air hung heavy with dust, and whispers of the Ijov's prophecy once again poisoned the air. Desperation gnawed at the villagers, their eyes turning towards Awashima with unspoken accusations.

But Awashima, her brow furrowed, refused to succumb to the weight of destiny. Mama Abaji's words resonated in her ears: "Fate is not a cage, but a canvas. We are the weavers, and our choices the threads." This was her moment to weave a new thread into the tapestry of her life.

Drawing upon her knowledge of the land and Mama Abaji's herbal wisdom, Awashima ventured into the parched hills. Days bled into nights, her sandals leaving imprints on the sun-baked earth. Hunger gnawed at her belly, but the fire in her eyes remained undimmed.

Then, one dawn, she stumbled upon it: a hidden spring, nestled between whispering rocks. Its waters, cool and life-giving, shimmered like a promise. Awashima knew this was more than just water; it was a defiance of the prophecy, a tangible thread woven into the tapestry of her fate.

Returning to the village, Awashima led them to the spring. Under her guidance, they built channels, their hands sculpting the land to quench the thirst of their crops and their hopes. As the rains returned, coaxed by the spring's gentle song, the village bloomed anew.

In the face of their bountiful harvest, the whispers of the prophecy finally faded. Awashima, once marked by fear, became a symbol of defiance, a testament to the power of choice over destiny. The villagers learned that fate was not a rigid hand holding the strings of their lives, but a malleable clay upon which their own actions could leave an indelible mark.

From that day on, Awashima continued to weave her tapestry, not with fear and submission, but with courage and wisdom. She taught the villagers the language of the land, the whispers of the wind, and the power of choices that defied even the pronouncements of oracles. For Awashima knew, and the village soon echoed her wisdom, "Only fools try to understand destiny, for the wise ones know it is in forging their own path that they truly find their fate."

And so, in the whispering savannah of Benue, bathed in the golden light of a new dawn, a village danced to the rhythm of a different prophecy, one woven not by fear, but by the defiant spirit of a young woman who dared to rewrite her own story.

(Not a true life story)

YEARS BACK...

I couldn't smile, couldn't pose for pictures... I was always in my shells because of the way l implemented on people's definition of "beauty"....

I had this big eyes that were so noticeable...
Classmates, teachers, relatives, friends, passers by and even at times my siblings will always say something about it.

Everyone had a comment to drop...

"Chii, your eyes are bigger than a 100 watt bulb, reduce it" as if l had power to reduce them...

"Your eyes are like a watchman's torch"
(How could someone's eyes be likened to that?)

When I fail arithmetic in class, my teacher will call pupils up to be punished, when it's my turn, she will be like, " Ekebuisi, don't look at me like that, you can't scare me with your big eyes and it won't stop me from flogging you, oya show me your palm"
And the whole classroom will roar with laughter 😢

At a point, those words and comments started affecting me.
I told myself I wasn't beautiful enough, once I hear we will take pictures, l will go and hide cos l have told myself that my eyes will spoil the picture...

It continued past through my teenage age...

Not until few years after my teenage stage, after listening to several tapes and reading the scriptures, l prayed about it too..

It took the Holy Spirit to give me that conviction that I was the best version of myself...
I looked my eyes in the mirror and told my eyes that they were wonderfully made

I started loving myself all over..😍
I pose for pictures comfortably with my eyes wide open.

Men and brethren who approached me after then will always say "I love your eyes" 😁

I flaunt my eyes ceaselessly, l can't ask God for a better eyes than this..

P.S: You might not see the eyes again, I don't even know where they went😊

To everyone out there:

📌 Mostly young people in their teenage stage, do not let anything or anybody make you feel less of yourself or appearance. We were all made in God's image.

📌 You are simply the best version of YOURSELF....

📌 Then to those who have made it a point of duty to dish out compliments about people's appearance. Please compliment with love that's if you must say something. You can as well reserve your comment and pass when you have nothing to say.

Look at the picture above closely, you see a Cow?

The water on the fire is going to be used by the butchers to remove the hair on the body, the machine at the other end was brought by a vulcanizer to blow air into the cow for easy removal of the hair.
The dogs are waiting patiently to take their share of the cow meats and bone.
The person who took this picture is the butcher, only the cow is not aware of the whole situations.

That's how some of us are. We are in the midst of enemies and we are not aware what they are planning against us.

In the remaining days of this year and years to come I pray no member of this group will ever be a prey for the wicked ones 🤲🤲🤲 ...Amen

In the midst of the cool harmattan breeze that wrapped our environment in a cozy embrace, I found myself eagerly awaiting Christmas. The air was filled with a unique blend of holiday excitement and the refreshing chill that only the harmattan season brings.
Christmas, my favorite time of the year, was even more nostalgic with the enchanting touch of the harmattan.

Yesterday, I was set for a karaoke service at Church which I had took time to prepare ahead of it. Days were spent creating the perfect gift list for my pair as we had to present gifts to each other. Finally, it arrived, the gifts were ready, packaged in an adorable bag, I included a warm letter to round it off.

Venturing into the heart of the town, I began my journey to church about 20 minutes walk. My heart leapt continuously in excitement with the thought of receiving a gift from my pair. Immediately, I arrived, my pair handed over her gift to me with a friendly smile — it was a watch, she stated she would be leaving for an interview. It was nothing close to my expectation but the joy of the season overwhelmed my heart as I received the gift.

Finally I presented my gift to the owner and vanished instantly to resume projecting. As she read the heartfelt message inside, her eyes lit up, and in that moment, my simple gesture brought a dose of Christmas magic to someone who needed it. She couldn't contain her joy and rushed to hug me, such a genuine,warm and grateful hug could only leave me gladdened.
My small act of kindness had a ripple effect, inspiring others who read the letter, to share in the joy of the season.

Surrounded by friends and family I had found in Church, I felt the true magic of Christmas – a perfect blend of love, kindness, and the enchanting embrace of the harmattan.

I woke up today feeling hungry, stomach-growling hungry. My friend and I decided to hit up the closest restaurant in town for some food. We were all excited, imagining the deliciousness waiting for us.
As we walked into the restaurant, the aroma of food greeted our noses. But just as we were about to dig into our meals, things took an unexpected turn. A disagreement between two groups of people quickly escalated into a full-blown fight. Chairs were knocked over, voices were raised, and it got intense real fast.

Suddenly, someone pulled out a knife and the others responded by grabbing sticks and broken bottles outside. That was when I knew these people are cult*sts. The whole restaurant turned into chaos, and we found ourselves running out of it.

Eventually, we made it out of the restaurant, our heart pumping fastly, and decided it was probably best to head home before our dinner plans turned into an unexpected action movie, at least we escaped the violence.

Mum It's scary was the statement a little boy made when his mum asked that he go get her something from the food pantry.

His mum kept persuading him to go but he insisted that it was too scary, then the mum had a bright idea and said "honey, you know what, you won't be going alone Jesus will be there with you"

This little boy then took the bold step and went to the food pantry but couldn't enter because he was still scared, suddenly a bright idea flashed in his mind and he shouted, "Jesus if you are truly in there could you hand me the peanut butter".

The faith of a child is the purest form, they are not afraid to be vulnerable. No matter how scary that decision might be to you, just believe that you can do it and you will pull through. I am rooting for you 👍🏾

In anticipation of a handwritten exam, we dedicated ourselves to a night class days before. Filled with determination, we had to carefully go through every bit of the material, aiming to conquer every question. However, the plot twisted when the exam format switched to computer-based, it sounds really like a relief as we will now have multiple options to choose only the correct one.

First there was a reduction in the speed to which we had been reading I personally thought I had read enough for the exam . A surprising delay disrupted our plans, and exam that was scheduled to start at noon didn't kick off until 6 pm. Despite the setback, we entered the exam hall with zeal, only to encounter another hurdle – technical issues plagued the computer system within minutes.

Frustration filled the room as the realization dawned that the exam had to be canceled. Disheartened, I left the exam hall, grappling with the unexpected turn of events. It was all a wasted effort,

But deeply i knew it was a better chance to rewrite our wrong as we went back to the text book trying to remember some of the familiar questions as the exam was rescheduled to next week. Do you think such a thing can happen in the united kingdom??