Random thoughts…

In my life, it has unconsciously turned into a routine that most of my mornings start with randomly thinking of how I can live a happier life, do more fulfilling work, make an impact, etc, that I start talking to people about it.

Most times, we get so engulfed in navigating through challenges, struggles, meeting up deadlines, getting to work in time, disappointments and setbacks, that we fail to ask ourselves the most important questions that have the power to unlock so much fulfillment, joy, and peace in our lives, if we only take a minute to answer them.

Today, let’s take a break from our challenges, all our striving, working and committing and answer this simple (but not easy) question:

In a few words, what do you long for the most in your life today?

The New Year…the 1st working Monday!

There is every reason to be happy and excited about the new year! It’s a new phase, people mark strong beginnings and record great achievements in the new year. But it’s never a reason to choke yourself with millions of new year resolutions which you might never achieve.

Life is in stages. It’s only safe to pick up one or two goals, kickstart them and believe in the process. Bad behaviours and lifestyle were not adopted in a twinkle of an eye, it was a process and should be stopped through a process too. Also choose better friends, so you won’t end up in the bandwagon of “cutting people off every year”.

The new year is a time to evaluate one’s strength and weaknesses and make personal improvements in private without the hypocrisy on the internet.

New is the year, new are the hopes, new is the resolution, new are the spirits, and new are my warm wishes just for you.

May this year bring new happiness, newgoals, new achievements and a lot of newinspirations on your life. Wishing you a yearfully loaded with happiness, success and prosperity. May God give thee whatsoever thou art setting thy heart upon, and accomplish all thy desires!

And on the lighter note…Enjoy all the AMALA moments…?

Random Thoughts!

Have you ever gotten into a place that zones you out completely from the reality of our great country? Ever been in a place, where you completely forget you are in Nigeria? How about a place where once you get into its environment you are welcomed by a serene breath of fresh air, beautiful trees, lake and fountains, water retention ponds, natural landscape, flowers all over the place, tarred roads, pedestrian walkway, street lights, traffic signs, zebra crossings, amazing security men at the gate, polite customer service at the bar and most amazingly, express WiFi! A place where everything works efficiently. A place where we could take pictures, upload on the gram and throw our followers into confusion as to whether we are still in the country! A place that totally creates an illusion of  *What and how we wish our country would look like*

Most people would quickly jump into conclusion that this must only be attainable overseas! Well, I am really pleased and delighted to announce that the descriptions above is the case of  “The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture”(IITA, Ibadan) which I visited a few days ago. The co-ordination and efficiency was worth tripping for. As long as I remained there I was in ecstasy until I stepped out of its gate and behold the land of Chaos! Crazy drivers, bad roads, no light to talk of WiFi. It felt like a boundary between heaven and hell.

It brings me to the fact I always say, “we do not need to depend solely on the government to give us the heaven we deserve. Our self input matter a lot. IITA is run by an institution and a body of dedicated people who I feel are not interested in carting away money meant for the development of a place, people who have the interest of people at heart. This is the exact reason why we are the direct opposite because we know the ‘other of the day’!

IITA is a reminder of how we could be if we have a change of attitude and positive thinking towards our country. If the land can be green in IITA, it can be green for the country at large!

Remember, the land is only green where you water it!

May Nigeria Succeed!

Random Thoughts!

What’s the season? What’s the reason?? What’s the reason for the season?? Lol…this write up is not about to answer any of those questions above rather I am humbly trying to make rhymes.

You can answer the questions to suit your various beliefs, traditions and religious attachments. Just find a corner.

Basically, it’s a time of celebration, happiness, gifts and sharing loads of love to one another. The season is not to prove to be wealthier than others, it isn’t to show off that one is blessed than the other, it isn’t to intimidate the less privileged. It is a season of LOVE!

Show someone else that the universe is aware of their existence and they are as important as every other person. Don’t tell them about love! Show them love and remember that you cannot express love when you do not know what it is. So, love yourself too!

For those courting, spend quality time with your partners and remind them that it will always be them and no other.

Parents appreciate your children and continue to build stronger relationships in the family.

Guys, reach out to that colleague who never smiles at the office, they could probably be battling depression. A good video game or subtle hangout won’t be bad.

Ladies, reach out to that your home-girl who doesn’t do her make-up right (always a clown when she walks in with her joint brows), teach her some new make-up skills, make her better! Don’t ask how I know this. lol

You are single? Shoot your shot! Who knows you could be on her wish list! That was my advice to a young man at a wedding party we both attended yesterday. This young man lives in Houston and I was trying to get his ‘search-light’ to a sister in Ibadan. lol

Love can be expressed on so many levels, so do not restrict yourself. Make a wish and it will come through. Remember one thing, love is pure and genuine. No strings attached! It’s sometimes undeserving and needs no validation. Spread Love and have Amala/Abula Moments!

Shout out to Peter, Jimmy, and Biliaminu

Birthday celebrations for me are sometimes overrated because you get so worked up trying to put things in place, get your guests to satisfaction and at the end of the day lose the real essence of the day which is to celebrate yourself. After all, some people will still complain about the kind of meal served on Amala and Abula, the quantity and how it wasn’t enough to take home!

Last year, my last birthday goal was to reach out to some children and people through a foundation although I needed some support, I strongly believed in putting smiles on the faces of people. It is much more fulfilling than spending extravagantly on designers and perishables on my birthdays.

CHEVENING ALUMNI; numbering around 50,000 worldwide calls for more investment in Human Capital Development.

Chevening Alumni is an influential and international professional group which members have excellent records of rising to positions of leadership across a wide range of fields which include politics, business, media and information, civil society, science and technology, and academia.

Chevening Fellowship is an important element of Britain’s public diplomacy efforts which brings professionals, who have already displayed outstanding leadership talents, to study in the United Kingdom. The focus is to support foreign policy priorities and achieve Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) objectives by creating lasting positive relationships with future leaders, influencers and decision- makers.

A few Collection of Touching Messages for my birthday:

I don’t really believe in celebrating birth anniversary simply because many people celebrate it on the excuse that they’re alive and healthy. What’s the purpose of being alive and healthy when your existence has not benefitted humanity in any way?

Oloye Abiola Iyiola is one silent astounding achiever whose birth anniversary deserves rolling out the drums. May Heavens bless the day he was born! He has toiled so much to be a personal success that he is today in preparation for what he desires to do to make humanity better than he met it. And ever since his toils have been blessed by his Creator, Oloye Abiola Iyiola has not ceased to affect humanity in a most positive way.

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Oloye Abiola Iyiola: Portrait of a Silent Achiever.

A man with a class, disciplined and a set standard of guiding principles which he adheres to religiously.
He believes that the first step to learning is to acknowledge you do not know everything and as such must always be humble enough to bow to superior arguments.

Personal life tips:
“Always bear yourself with some pride and decorum” Your reasoning, comportment and general attitude to life must change for the better as you grow. You must always think clearly before taking any action bearing in mind that you have a distinctive identity and personality to protect, so never be led by the nose. It is should always be “Mind Over Matter” your head should control every other part of you.
His watch-words are discipline, self-reliance and excellence, and humility.

Oloye Abiola Iyiola is a golden fish who, despite his modest achievements, burns with a passion to serve humanity. He is a firm believer of the maxim that states “to serve God is to love humanity”

As a man of humble parentage, he knows first-hand what deprivation is, and therefore steadily carving a niche for himself in social service. His foundation, Abiola Iyiola Foundation (AIF) an organization dedicated to empowering people for better living and mentoring, providing access to clean water, and partnering with neighborhood health care centers. His humble philanthropy through this foundation has put smiles on the faces of many people of his community both in Nigeria and United States.

However, despite his towering records in the business world, the Ibadan-born businessman prefers to remain in the background. This, according to him, is his major business philosophy. He is not into the ostentatious lifestyle.

Chief Abiola Iyiola is forever proud to hail from Ibadan in Oyo state as he never ceases to flaunt the beauty of Ibadan on his social media pages. He is a proud lover of “Amala”, one of the amazing delicacies in Ibadan.

“We do not have to wait on the government for everything. We can do better if we individually and collectively fuel the progress of our society with our actions” – Oloye Abiola Iyiola

Cheers to a silent achiever! Happy birthday Sir!

Written: Ozichukwu J Kanu

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Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to a beautiful soul, an epitome of wisdom, a brilliant personality. May Allah perfect all that concerns you. May this day bring you endless joy and more. Wishing you Allah’s Ramah, Idayah, Risiq, Sekinat, Hassanah, Al-barq and above all a life worthy of Aljanah Firdaus. Have fun Abiola!!!

missyriky

Happy birthday to the most awesome uncle in the world!
You are dashing, intelligent, smart, handsome and brace.
To the best moments shared with you. To the love you have given to me throughout these years. To the advices you have shared with me that kept my feet on the ground. To the times that you have pushed me to overcome myself. I know these words are never enough to measure the gratitude I have for having you around. I pray to God to shower blessings and health every day on you. May you live to fulfill more greatness in life… Cheers to the new age Uncle????

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Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to a rare gem! I do not think my words can express how blessed and grateful I am to know you. You are amazing! I pray that as you continue to make people smile, may smile never depart from you and your family. Have a wonderful celebration Mogaji??

Oloye. Happy Birthday to You.

Thank you for the great things you do for those of us fortunate to be your friends. May God continue to bless you.

Long life and prosperity and good health all the way !!!

Barrister Wakil Oyedemi

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Happy birthday to this one-of-a-kind brother, friend and birthday mate of mine. Oloye Abiola Iyiola, the dependable mogaji tia, igba odun, odun kan ni o. Continue to bask in Allah’s favors, mercy, grace, baraka and rahama. Enjoy your day and remain forever blessed bro. Aseyi samodun

Kehinde Adetona

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Birthday song…

???mogaji de b’ose nde Abiola de t’owo t’owo t’iyi t’ola, oke agba to gun oba oke oni je o jabo.

Talo wa ninu ogba yen omo kekere kan ni, se nwa wo ewa woooo odaara pupo…

Omo bibire kose f’owo ra???

Oya coman spray me some money, ko easy to dey sing

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Special birthday Video: by Remilekun Mariam Kasali Chanter

Random Thought!

Ever find yourself staring at the ceiling? Creating faces in the cloud? Seeing a mother and child with a more intense look into the moon.? Ever thought the sun was following your bus or car while on transit? Or sitting on the toilet pondering about worldly issues and the amazing realization that cars come with smiling faces while trucks come with beastly faces but sometimes, we drift off. Well, it’s only normal because sometimes there’s really nothing to do or think about. After all, that’s the real picture of boredom. It could be really unpleasing to have your head going in and out of places that sometimes you really want to shutdown your entire system – Sleep!

“The only thing that you have that nobody else has is You! Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live and create the world you dream for yourself as only you can” Remember, you control the voices in your head.

Create a home inside your head! A safe house you could trust when pressure sets in. A place to reboot and refill. The place that calls you back to order when you suddenly want to find out the components of a cassette -destroy! Spend time alone. A “party of one” is important in the balance of your day and the scope of your life. Be comfortable with pursuing hobbies, relaxing, exercising, eating (Amala and Abula ?) and travelling on your own allows for thought, introspection and personal growth. Find you and Celebrate you!