OGBENI SHOULD LEARN FROM HISTORY

2003 gubernatorial election in Osun state will linger long in the memory of many political stalwarts in the state, most especially, Chief Bisi Akande, the national leader of Action for Progressive Change (APC) who was then a gubernatorial candidate in the election keenly contested with Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola with the later winning the election from the platform of Peoples Democratic Party.

Prior to the 2003 elections, it was gathered that Chief Akande who was gunning for a second term in office took some callous decisions which affected many indigenes and students at different levels in the state. The effects of the compelled mass exodus of secondary school teachers from the teaching service in the state during Chief Akande regime will continue to be a plus factor in orchestrating his failed attempt to return to office coupled with reckless neglect of the four state owned higher institutions – Osun state college of Eductation, Ila- Orangun and Ilesa, Osun State polytechnic, Iree, and Osun state college of Technology, Esa- Oke among many other contributing factors.

Few years after, power changed hand in the state and one of Chief Akande’s political sons, Engineer Rauf Aregbesola got the mandate to govern the state in November 2010, after the court of appeal abolished the 2007 gubernatorial election. Aregbesola took over from Chief Olagunsoye Oyinlola in November 2010.

Since 2010, the state of Osun has experienced great developmental strides with different lofty projects getting executed in different sectors within the state. But one area the governor has failed is in the incessant industrial tussle between the state lecturers downing tools, which is now termed an ‘annual strike.’ Record has it that the lecturers went on a 5 months strike in 2011, shortly after the governor assumed office.  And again, by December 2012, lecturers went on another 3 weeks warning strike before embarking on a full stretched strike in March 2013 which lasted 4months, leaving the students and the society to the menace of students being temporarily out of school and disrupting the normal flow of the academic calendar. More disgustingly, on February 2014, all the four institutions were again closed down as the academic staff resumed the adjoined strike.

In Osun sate, students are tired of the annual strike they are now accustomed to because governor Aregbesola has failed to meet lecturer’s demands to a satisfactory extent for over four years. Some of the demands which include: elongation of retirement age from 60 to 65 years, full implementation of the federal government consolidated polytechnics and colleges of education academic salary structure, the non-remittance of contributed pensions and address the issue of understaffing in the higher institutions.

 However, governor Aregbesola’s courageous steps in revitalizing the educational system in the state with transformation reform policies being enacted in the elementary and middle and high schools. But the governor should extend these gigantic streaks to the higher institutions. Many are the deficiencies of these schools in term of infrastructural decay, understaffing, poor road networks, hostel accommodation and eventually find a lasting solution to incessant demoralising industrial action. Aside reduction in school fees and increment in bursary allocation for finalist students alone, the governor, has not really extended his reforms policies to higher institutions. 

Finally, with gubernatorial election fast approaching, the governor should remember his hopes lie in the hands of the electorates, students and lecturers inclusive. And like his fellow kinsman, Chief Bisi Akande learnt his lessons and was denied 2^nd term ambitions in 2003; Governor Aregbesola should set his house in order and reach a logical compromise with the warring opponents.   

Olaomo Gboluwaga John.

Osun State College of Education, Ilesa.

 

It was worth doing

‘Be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded.’ 2Chronicles 15:7

Dedicated to my fellow colleagues and friends at Calvary Baptist Schools:

Ayanleye Seyi Joseph, Oladiti Samuel Olatunji, Falodi toyin (Aunty Toyib)  Fagbenro Oluwatoyin Elizabeth & Amao Busayo.

Emotions were defiled; tears rolled down tender cheeks, prayers rented the air. It was a tensed and sober atmosphere, last Thursday. Why? “Twenty friends cannot play for 20years.” Or so they say, simply because, there are bound to be regroupings and re-structuring for individual, and of course, collective progress.

It was an action sparkled and tensed atmosphere to bid a heavily painful farewell to the 6 student teachers, who have diligently served the students and staff of Calvary Baptist Schools. And, yesterday (Thursday), it also became more crystal clear to me that ‘6 student teachers cannot be student teachers for more than 6weeks.’

I intentionally opted for a private secondary school for my second teaching practice exercise. To me, I needed a place to be passionately committed and massively distilled and brewed in some personal area of my life. A school I believed my conventions will be rightly challenged under the excellent administration, acute leadership of the school and of course the brilliant, diligent mind of the beautiful students. And so, I found, after failed attempts to some other private schools, Calvary Baptist Schools, Ikoyi. CBS was a square peg for my square hole. Quite on the contrary, reverse was the case. The students will surely remember I don’t spare the school when it comes to critical comparison and rational criticism in relation to other schools, most especially, my own secondary school, Wesley College of Science, Ibadan. I, like other student teachers made the students realize an urgent need for change. We therefore mobilized ourselves to ensure we position the students aright for local, national and global change. And, our efforts were well appreciated. It was evident in the grand farewell given to us at the college assembly ground, Thursday morning.

In life we meet to part and we part to meet. Thursday formed a very important day in our life as student teachers. Completion of a 6weeks compulsory teaching practice means we are making headway into destiny fulfilments. We can’t but say glory to God who has been faithful ever before now.

Never in the history of the school has it had a set of diligent, smart and lovable student teachers like us. Really, I must commend my fellow student teachers who have grown to be my friends over the course of the last 6 weeks. You guys are the best. To me, success in measured in impact, the level of success made/achieved must have a direct correlation with the level of impact made. No gain saying, our impact at CBS was lofty, and that could be felt in the grand farewell by those proud kids. We all made substantial correlate of impact.

It was a collective effort to ensure that the students were not where we met them at the end of 6weeks. Hence, every one of us was diligent to the cause we have chosen. We formed a cooperative team that was really mutual and we loved ourselves, knowing full well that an injury to one is an injury to all.

To us at Calvary Baptist Schools, we were not just interested in teaching Economics, English language, Agricultural science and more of our respective subjects, we touched lives and impacted destiny, sowing seeds of light into students’ future. We knew it was not just to teach, but change lives, model lives and mentor lives. We help some of the student right on destiny track, knowing full well that when the ‘foundation is destroyed, the righteous is left with no option but a calamitous end.

Also, we instituted a new and functional press Club, named ‘the Calvary Baptist Press Club, to relay and keep the students and staff abreast of happenings within and outside the campus community. We also set up the Junior Engineer Technician Scientists (JETS) club to help science students read ahead of their peers and to know what is out of their syllabus in a bid to grounding them into core aspect of their courses.

A day to our final exist, I had a ‘destiny chat’ with a one of the students. At a point in the middle of our discussion, the flow and depth of our discussion forced tears out of her eyes. Sincerely, I never knew she was having a special case until that day, and then, it was really no time help her more than what I’ve done by and the with the help of the Lord. While we had the farewell programme the following day, I saw her bursting in joy and laughter. And that propagated some pint of satisfaction on the inside of me. Although, not with the hitting conscience of ‘you could have done more, if you’ve started earlier.’

Finally, one vital lesson I learnt from the last 6weeks is just in the lines of this quote: “whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your heart and with all your might.” The world is watching, and so is the creator. God in heaven will move people and things to bless you for whatever is diligently done. I’m quite content with the many gifts I received from those wonderful kids, (my first teaching practice wasn’t like that) but my colleague, who wept like a baby, because he was to leave the children he loved, taught, and mentored had a substantial equivalent of material and emotional rewards. His passion, commitment, involvements and zeal paid off a great deal. That teaches me that wherever we find ourselves committed to a responsibility or given tasks to perform we are not be diligent, as the popular dictum goes: “ what is worth doing at all is worth doing well.”

God bless you.

I valve and respect your future.

Go beyond borders

After our parents got married, people were eager to know if momma has conceived. Luckily, mum conceived and everybody who saw her with protruded belly was happy. In fact, they soon became very eager to know when she's going to put to bed, because they want to come felicitate with the family. Mum soon put to bed, and dad announced to his in-laws and his own family, church members, family friends were not left out. Soon, everyone gathered together on the 8^th day to witness the christening – they were indeed in high spirits.

Now, months after, they care to know if as a baby, you're sitting very well, if you're crawling if you're walking, and if you've started growing teeth. Hahaha! They want to know if you've started nursery school. They want to know when you're making headway into secondary school; they want to know if you're enrolling for external examinations in senior class 2. They want to know what your SSCE results look like after college. They are keenly interested in knowing if your SSCE & JAMB results are fine enough to get you admitted into a higher institution, preferably, a university.

They want to know when you’re to graduate from higher institution, and definitely they want to know when and where you're serving your fatherland, as a youth corper. They want to know when you're looking for job; as if you're being an economically successful self employed citizen isn't any better.

Few years after you’re fortunate to be a gainful employee, laboring hard in someone else’s vineyard, at that point, they are interested in knowing your relationship status, they want to know if you're engaged and when you've set for introduction between you and your would-be in-laws. They can't wait to have you invite them to your wedding ceremony, they are eagerly waiting to escort you to the altar, and dance to melodious songs as you treat them to sumptuous meals with exotic wines on your wedding day.

Happily, after much anticipation for a phone call from the hospital, waiting to get a phone call breaking the good news of a child birth, they are back after you put to bed to witness the christening of your 1^st child. Months after, they await the child to start sitting, crawling, start formal schooling, as they soon expect a protruding belly, ready to welcome another baby, repeating what they did for your parents years before, ditto to your children. What a life!

But I ask myself, is that what life is about life? Cabbage in cabbage out and that’s all? This is a world where a little deviation from the conventional trend and cycle, make the world soon term you a failed entity. To me, I think I am getting to let no one dictate or define my life. And to you, it’s time your life starts on a brighter note and a clean slate. Let the world know you have your destiny in your hands, perfectly planned and programmed by GOD. No one but the creator has a say over your life and therefore you are not bound to any traditional or conventional expectations.

Fortunately, we as God’s people are mandated to live our lives as summed up in the perfect command, ‘let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence (and) your praiseworthy, noble, (and) good deeds (and) glorify your Father Who is in heaven – Matthew 5:16 (AMP) Anything short of that isn’t any worthwhile, acceptable accomplishment.

We belong to a kingdom that transcends human limited reasoning; our lives should equally transcend human expectations. We’ve received power and grace to do that with ease, so, step out of that limit, enlarge the place of your tent, and stretch forth the place of your habitation, spare not, lengthen your cords and strengthen their stakes. For you shall break forth on the right, and on the left… (Isaiah 54: 2-3)

Friend, break the bounds and go beyond boarders, you have what it takes to do it; you are too loaded to fail.

 I love and value your future.

 See you at the top, doing great. 

The Grip of Salvation Home

The Grip of Salvation Mission care is a mission care institute initiated by God to raise and nurture less privileged and disadvantaged children in the way of the Lord. Thus, they give the children hopes for better greater future and help them to become self reliant individuals, so they can live and lead successful life and become agents of change through adequate training, formal and qualitative education, empowerment and enlightenment, building the children up on God’s timeless principles.

The ministry is centered on supporting the less privileged, and the disadvantaged children from darkened societies. Thereby, raising kids that will radiate God’s light, which shines in the midst of gross darkness as a result of mass underdevelopment, ignorance and lack of civilization.

This idea was conceived by Mrs. Felicia Odeyemi in 2007. After she has spent over 33years in the Northern part of Nigeria as a itinerant professional photographer. She was the family photographer to the Dangote, Shagari, Buhari and many other famous families in the North. She was led to close down her multi million naira stocked studio in Kano, where customers in hundreds defile the Northern sourcing sun queuing to patronize her sophisticated photography studio to resumed what she now calls her ‘destiny job.’

Now, Mama is married to picking and raising Northern Christian children, (most of whom are yet to see the slightest form of modernization) from the street and societies of the ‘Maruzawas’ - a place secluded to the meager percentage of Christians in the North, where they seemingly lack the chance of getting qualitative formal education, opportunities and capacity to be well equipped to live a successful life.

Mama Felicia is now committed to raising contemporary Moses, Joshua, Calebs, Esthers, and Deborahs, just as the biblical Moses was divinely raised by Pharaoh Daughter in Pharaoh’s palace, to deliver the children of Israel from their Egyptian enemies. The children are being brought up to take their rightful place, and deliver their society from the hands of Midianites.

To achieve this, the children need to be housed together, shown care and love under a house where the word of God will be well rooted in their heart, where they will be formally educated, empowered and enlightened to start manifesting. Hence, the Grip of Salvation Mission Care. 

AT AGAPE MISSION

Agape mission is a non denominational Christian organization that propagates God’s love through unconventional means. We are a group of passionate, focused & young adults who have interest to initiate and sustain change.

Our vision is to be a first class mission institute of international reputes, making impacts in different sphere/sector of the society, which will be evident in lives of individuals we come in contact with. We believe absolutely in God - The author of love & giver of grace, our shield and lifter of our heads. 

As such, we extend God’s love to the less privileged, needy, vulnerable and orphans in the society. To God’s glory and to His praise alone, we have visited 3 of such homes in the year, 2013.

THE CHRISTMAS SEASON…

Christmas is a time Christians celebrate the birth of our Saviour and King. The time we rejoice in the ‘best thing’ that happened to humanity.

Christ, a King, came to this world to be a prisoner to reconcile us back to God, after the man fell and was found wanting of God’s glory (Romans 3:23)

To celebrate this unique season, we are at agape are once again extending the love we have received to the less privileged, vulnerable and orphans and children at the Grip of Salvation Mission Care.

This time, we are not just going to the home to donate and bless them with material gifts, foods and clothes; we also want to equip them with vocational skills that will help them build their capacity. We intend going to train the children with skill, that include catering, and decoration, time management, writing skills etc.

In addition to these, we also want to help restructure the compound of the home. During our last visit, we felt the need to create a more attractive, clean and tidy environment, especially, one that will portray the celebration of the Season. 

  

 WHY WE FEEL YOU SHOULD BE PART OF THIS?

God made it clear in His instructions to Israel: “For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land’” (Deuteronomy 15:11). The principle of helping the needy goes back to God’s original instruction for people to care for each other. Jesus Himself said that serving others and having love for one another were honorable, identifying characteristics of His followers (Matthew 25:31-46; John 13:34-35). As we are able, at times we need to provide additional help to the needy. As the apostle John wrote: “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:17-18). Proverbs 3:27 adds, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.” When we give to people in need, we follow the example of our Creator, whose nature is love toward others (John 3:16; 1 John 4:8). God wants us to develop the same loving, caring concern He has for all humankind. Describing this giving attitude, Paul wrote, “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need” (Ephesians 4:28). Charitable giving, we believe is a gentle way to attend to God’s bidding.

Furthermore, we believe whatever you give are sown seeds. The interesting principle of sowing and reaping in the bible can never be overemphasized.   God promised Noah after the flood, that as long as the earth remains, planting and harvesting will never seize. Whatever you sow will produce a bounty harvest that will expand God’s blessing in your life. (Luke 6:38)

You can be part of this vision, you can go with us and be part of the team that will be a channel to release God’s joy and love to the needy this Christmas season OR you release your resources go on your behalf to bless these children. Trust me, we’ll be glad you did, the children will be more glad and the heavens will be the most glad you did.  

Join us as we impact lives; let us extend the joy of the season to the needy and vulnerable in the society. For more information, please call Agape Project Manager, Dada Mayowa on: 08163318127 or  Gboluwaga on 07089348047.

Donations can also be sent to our UBA account: Account name: Agape Missions Network

Account no: 2058875601.    

YOUR GUIDING MANUAL

B – I - B – L – E By: Olaomo Gboluwaga

It is a book about Jesus,

It is a book about Grace,

It is a book I love to read.

Forever true Forever real

Forever potent forever active

Always sharper than a 2-edged sword

                                                                          

Standing the tests of time

Rigid amidst life’s fiery storm & its evil antagonists

Always maintaining its right place, purpose & value

It is God's own voice in written texts

Full of lovely promises for life uncertain journey

A needed guide in my interesting walk with God

An indispensable tool for my work for God

Pruning, correcting & taming my for God’s purpose

Conquering, delivering and shielding me from all forms of evil

Healing, preserving & preparing me for God’s greater glory

Boundless Love exemplified

Abundant Grace released

Extravagant Glory unveiled.