UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE; Who's your money on?

Written by Tokunbo Aladejare

I won't lie, the champions league anthem before games gets me pumped up, even if I'm seeing the game as a neutral, so its with anxiety and great anticipation that I look forward to the commencement of hostilities on 18 september 2012. I'm certain that every football loving person across the globe is also very excited like me. Who do you think will be lifting that trophy at Wembley in May 2013? 

TRADITIONAL CONTENDERS
I know what comes to mind now, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Chelsea FC, Manchester United. These are teams that are perceived to have what it takes to win the trophy, for obvious reasons, but I have a reason to believe Manchester United and Chelsea are outsiders in this category. Yes, Chelsea are champions, but one needs to look back at the way they won the trophy in May, to see that their victory was probably ordained by God. For me, I don't think they will be able to defend the trophy successfully. Manchester United on the other hand, is Manchester United. They struggled in Europe last season, and the jury is out on them and Chelsea FC for this one. Let's see how they do. 
As for Barcelona, well they have Lionel Messi and are "the best team in the world", so you'd expect them to get to the latter stages. Real Madrid haven't started the season quite well, but then the Champions League is a different competition and I'll expect them to go all guns blazing. 

OUTSIDERS
One thing I've come to love about this competition is the possibility of an upset, and teams that are capable of pulling off an upset are in this category. Here, you'd find Manchester City yes, Manchester City, Arsenal, Juventus. Manchester City would have been one of my favourites to win this year, but I don't believe Mancini can lead his team to victory, besides their lack of pedigree has already seen them in the "Group of Death", meaning they have a tough start to this year's competition. As for Arsenal, they've started the season well, by their recent standards and although its certain they'll make the knockout stages, it'll be a miracle if they make it to the semis, but there's quiet optimism among the gooner faithful that this could be their year. 

That's it folks, I'm going to be glued to my tv set wherever I may be, at whatever time during the season, and I'll be cheering my team(won't let you know which team though), and I know you all will be doing the same. But then, Who's your money on?
 Comments? 

INSPIRING 'SINKS'

 By Noka Agudah

       Yup, you read right;sinks! I came across a website recently (www.home-designing.com) that featured a lot of creative designs of sinks and the word that kept coming out of my small mouth (hehehe) as i went through some of the designs was 'WOW'!
      What struck me about these sinks weren't just the weird and creative designs but the fact that they were created by people who thought outside the box and were not confined to think of a sink as just a 'bowl and faucet' to wash.These sinks have since become a symbol of creativity to me.
      Thinking outside the box should come easily to us, if we would sit down for a minute and not subject ourselves to the society stereotyped thinking of 'this is how it should be done'.In any line of work you do, whether it involves 'Art' or not, just try to put your brain to work and think of 'sinks'(really inspirational yea?LOL).For instance, imagine if Run DMC and Aerosmith hadn't thought outside the box to create a musical blend that would later change hip hop (and music generally)for the better with their 90's hit 'walk this way'.Music would have probably still had barriers and remained stereotyped as to what 'type' of people could listen to a particular style of music.
     Aha the sinks! (sorry for the digression).I will share some of the awesome sinks with you so as to 'ginger' you guys* i hope*. Enjoy :D

Amazing isn't it?

           

this is perhaps my favorite :D

Hope they were as inspiring to you guys? please we would love to hear your thoughts....Thanks !

11 Most Influential Young Nigerians Under 20

By onyeka Nwelue
Edited by Ada Igboanugo.

22 year-old award-winning Nigerian author of The Abyssinian Boy, Onyeka Nwelue thinks that young people under 20 are perfectly doing fine. He picks out eleven creative minds who are leading the way.

1 Jon Ogah – 19


Right from the beginning, Jon Ogah impressed me. No one can fault the conclusion that he is the most important among all these young people under 20 who are shaping the future of Nigeria. There are people, younger people, who sing better than him, but Jon won Naija Sings last year when he was 18. He is our spooky tour guide through a world of fame at young age, as he became a household name and quickly moved to Arizona State University to study Medicine. Unconsciously, the $100,000 USD musical prodigy has become dear to our hearts. His debut single, Gbedu, in which he features female rapper, Sasha, topped charts and was widely viewed on YouTube. So, while in the country recently to promote his new single, Tonight, which has been favourably received by fans and critics alike, we met up to talk about his career and vision. His style in Tonight has been likened to that of Wande Coal and the tone of the rhythm mooring with Omawunmi’s Today na Today. But in all, Jon has taken us to an arena of bliss with his sonorous voice and good looks.

2 Wizkid Ayo Balogun – 18


Wizkid is like a virus and his influence is an unconscious effect. He is leading a generation of muscular stars with a unique style. Anyone would be forgiven for saying that so much attention is being paid to him, because of his ‘relationship’ with Banky W, which is not bad anyway, but the truth is, Wizkid has a life of his own. Infact, he is a big force to reckon with and he could be tagged the heavyweight champion of the new hip hop generation, punching at his age. Currently a student of Lead City University, Wizkid’s performance is electrifying and his vocals, amazing.

3 Chibundu Onuzo – 19


She is not a musician, she’s a writer. And she’s not only a writer. Her appearance on CNN introduced her to me and since then, she has charmed me. She has catapulted herself to fame for her first book, The Spider King’s Daughter, which has been bought by one of UK’s finest publishing houses, Faber. I hope I get charmed by this book that gets released by the Summer of 2011. For her tale has inspired a lot; Chibundu Onuzo grew up in Lagos. She’s the youngest of four children to doctor parents; she moved to the UK four years ago and is in her first year at King’s College London studying History.

4 Sheifunmi – 19


SheiFunmi is a one-off: an independent-minded blogger, who calls himself a ‘gossip-journalist’, but he really doesn’t gossip. Infact, he has gone on to promote Nigerian and US musical artistes on his website, through series of interviews with celebrities and entertainment gurus. He has forged a strong and happy working relationship with Hollywood, as he is based in the United States of America. However you may want to put it, online, he is more popular than his contemporaries. But one thing remains, most celebrities don’t like him; still he gets to interview them, which shows a lot of commitment, determination and strong-will.

5 MoCheddah – 20


This lousy ranking of MoCheddah as number 5, just goes to show that it’s quality, not quantity that counts. She is sexy and speaks softly like a child, but that is not all. Her single, If You Want Me stole my heart and is on replay on my laptop. Sometimes I don’t understand what she sings, but as music beats to the heart, MoCheddah is my sweetheart and that goes to show how much I see her as a recluse. I actually went to meet her in person, specifically to know her age, which she quickly replied to: “I’m 20.” She is a fabled figure indeed, having released a debut album, Franchise Celebrity which fans love and critics are waiting to tear apart. But then, she is the beauty of the new generation and she is the reason why I believe that young female musicians can hold our breaths.

6 Eromo Egbejule – 19


The most accomplished among all of them and one of the most respected young creative people today – by me. An introvert, a brilliant graphic designer and an engaging writer, Eromo Egbejule organized the “Nsukka Book Trek” in 2009 that preceded the 11th Lagos Book and Art Festival. His simplicity reflects in what he does, as he is a final year student of Bioresources Engineering at the University of Nigeria. He has done investigative journalism for the Guardian during the Nsukka Riot in January. His writings could be found online, as they are scathingly funny and straight from the heart.

7 Noble Ezeala – 19


Noble is the ‘gossip blogger.’ His criticism of the Nigerian entertainment industry is, at once, annoyingly harsh, and humourous. Infact, he has a very investigative eye which could be described as the best. Very nosy about what is happening in Nigeria, while a student at College Park, Baltimore in the US, Noble has the gift of the gods, as he has a compelling way of keeping the readers wanting more of what he has to ‘gossip’ about. Truth is, he doesn’t call himself a ‘gossip’, but we know it is what he does, as he has actually got annoyed with what Ini Edo wore to a party and wasn’t impressed with one of the videos of Wande Coal.

8 Adebayo Oke-Lawal- 19


One of the least well-known designers in Nigeria, maybe, because he’s young? Well, now that he’s the Creative Director of Onyx & Pearl, ‘Bayo, (this is what most people call him) can’t get onto the red carpet and you won’t notice him. Intelligent, focused, geeky as well and amazingly Bohemian in dressing, he has clothed fellow young celebrities, like Jon Ogah and MoCheddah and works at one of the city’s top artsy joints, LifeHouse. He doesn’t talk much, but he does much. He has his eyes set on conquering the world, as he has just graduated from university and is ready to break records with his designs. Still, a lot of people consider his designs as childish, but come to think of it, they are on their way to stardom, like LaQuan Smith was, a few years ago. So, it’s about time we embrace him and say to him, ‘Young man, you are great!’

9 Chizitere Ojiaka – 20


No one on this list travels more than she does. And no one can fault that conclusion too. From Paris to Frankfurt to Venice to New York to Maryland to Lagos to Nsukka and to where angels fear to tread, Chizitere Ojiaka is fearless. She has created a distinctive way of connecting with people. At 20, she is an artiste manager, publicist and final year student of economics at the University of Nigeria and has done investigative reports for newspapers and written for magazines, both at home and abroad. Her images of the Nsukka Riot made the front pages of the Guardian in January. She has been interviewed by Financial Times (London) by famous Kenyan writer, Parselelo Kantai and heads a media organization. Her book on war is already inducing shudders. But the thing is, can she for once sit down and finish it?

10 Mervis Ifeoma Emelife – 19
(Mervis; Front row; second from the right)

She is not just sexy, she is calm and reserved. A writer, poet and motivational speaker, she deserves to be known. She founded Young Visionaries Initiative of Nigeria (which is a youth based organization that focuses on changing the negative mindset that most young people have about their purpose in life, education, success and corruption). Sounds didactic, yes? Well, in 2008, a documentary of her life as a Nigerian teenager was aired by ChannelOne News in New York to about six million students in the US via 24/17 TV. Currently a student of Mass Communication at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, she is the editor of a magazine in Lagos. Earlier this year, she travelled to the ancient city of Addis Ababa to present a paper on ‘Young People and Stigmatization of People Living with HIV/AIDS’ at the 4th African Conference on Sexual Health and Rights.

11 Aboyeji E. Iyinoluwa – 19


Those who know him very well, find it difficult to believe he got so polished and became this articulate so early. He is politically engaged, maybe thoughtfully and comment-wise. But he’s just 19 and is currently studying at University of Waterloo in Canada, where he heads a publishing firm. He has written articles on the fates of international students in Canada, highlighting their plights. He is very charismatic and persistent, which is why he made the list anyway, but he should set his mind on accomplishing goals that will engage the young Nigerian.


Onyeka Nwelue wrote The Abyssinian Boy (DADA Books, 2009) when he was 18, won the 2009 TM ALUKO Prize for First Book, 2nd runner-up, IBRAHIM TAHIR Prize for Fiction, nominated for the Future Awards 2010, lectured at NSS College, Ottapalam in Kerala, South India, appeared at The Man Hong Kong International Literary Festival alongside South African writer, Andre Brink and has interviewed Wole Soyinka for the Guardian. He is currently working on his debut film, The Distant Light and second novel.

Must Read!!!

By January 08, 2011, there will be approximately 35 million Nigerians between the ages of 18-35. We will embody the hopes of another generation, a generation neither touched by the civil war nor old enough to have enjoyed the brief period of prosperity that followed the oil boom.
We will represent a generation that cannot remember any cross country journey we undertook without encountering craters in the middle of the road. A generation that inherited broken down schools, discouraged teachers and a confused education system. A generation, forced to compete in a world they were not adequately prepared for.

Disappearance of a Genius

It started like a child’s It was more like trial and error at the beginning when Olaitan Oladapo Olaonipekun started his versatile rapping style, going from one street to the other. Gradually he became an adult and chose the stage name 'Da Grin' meaning 'The Evergreen'. He quit at 26, not only from the entertainment scene but totally from the face of the earth. OLAITAN BALOGUN writes about the soft-spoken, well reserved, versatile rapper that lived a short life but made an impact so great

Dagrin was admitted to Lagos University Teaching Hospital LUTH after a horrible accident in the early hours of Wednesday April 14. He ran into a parked truck and was rescued by the police on duty to the hospital. The accident occurred in front of Alakara Police Station off Agege Motor road in Mushin, Lagos. After operations and treatment he later died on Thurday April 22 in a private ward inside LUTH. What a tragic end!

HUSTLING days

"I remember when I was hawking,
Coming home from school I must hawk.
If I prove strong-head not to hawk
I will be beaten up, punished
What is that thing on earth I have not hawked,
Beans, Garri, Cassava flour even Tanfirin
Sometimes I was into hairdressing,
you can't believe this if I do your wife's hairstyle
Am a sharp boy, am not an idiot or stupid.
For that, people find me like Bin Laden,
While I was 14 - 15 years
Mumsy will say Ola you are good for nothing,
But I want to prove her wrong,
I stole their money in a canteen,
They beat the hell out of me,
I took phensic and support it with pilatin"
The above intro tells the story of dagrin’s hustling days.

ACHIEVEMENT

Surely, after the rains comes the sunshine. After hawking, he ventured into other businesses but in less still doing music. Then, he was mocked, insulted and disgraced. But, after the CEO album he became the choice of everyone.
Less than a year after he dropped the album CEO, he became the long awaited Messiah. Any songs he was featured turned to everyone's favorites. "You see, they now looked for me like diamond" Dagrin said in one of his track Make Doe.
In less than a year, he achieved a lot of things which many of his peers are still struggling to get for many years. He worked with So Sick (Gino's younger brother), Dokta Frabs, Bigiano, Dark Poet, T-Frizzle, Omawunmi, Isolate and other younger artistes to promote their talents. Others are YQ of 2Koncept Ent in Efi Mile, with 9ice in Loni Ni (New single from 9ice). With KSB in Turn Me around. D-squad featured him and Thouzar in What You Know?
He was featured in new video of JJC with Femi Kuti, Eldee, DJ Zeez, Kel, AY and so on. Oritse Femi featured Dagrin and Rymzo in Mercies of the Lord (Remix). Kode - Where Dem Day featured Dagrin. Also Kurt One and Dagrin. Iceberg Slim featured him in I Made It. Fresh ft Dagrin - Too Much Money, Tee Blag ft Dagrin - O ya Pa. KO9DZ - Olewu featured Dagrin. Never out Kabakaba is a new one from Konga he featured Dagrin and Remi Aluko. Too many but to mention few. Jazzman and Dagrin - Ere kere.
Gone were the days when he played free shows. He now had recognition from corporate bodies and other well meaning Nigerians. The Glo G-bam show, Oniru beach valentine show, Arise African Fashion Collection Fall 2009. Kennis Musiceaster fiesta, AY show at the Federal Palace Hotel and Casino and so on.
He had many works which he didn't finish, but it's so sad that he left us while we are enjoying his style of music. He left while he was at the peak of his game. Also at the prime of his game. Its painful.

CONDOLENCES

Both the electronic and print media have been paying tributes to Dagrin. There was candle light tribute to Dagrin in New York on Friday a day after his death. Also on Sunday in UNILAG. Other artistes paid their tribute last Wednesday. Also his facebook fans have already bombarded the site by posting condolence messages.
Dagrin is even greater in death than while on the face of the earth. I pray God will draw him close and give him everlasting peace. He had said in his new exclusive single titled "If I Die" that no one should cry for him, so that he can have peaceful rest.
I know you are now resting with the Lord its goodnite and not goodbye.
Miss you my great pal, DAGRIN.



26 Years After...

Some 27years ago
A woman laboured in pains
She groaned
But smiled when the baby came out
On that day he was called names like bouncing baby boy and so on
He grew up to be known as Oladapo
He attended Rosemary Nursery and primary, Good Shepherd Nursery and Primary, Community High School, Egbado College
and Computer Tech. Institution

27 years after

That Oladapo turned out to be the rock
Not the run-of-the-mill rapper,
But an oddity given it suave, diffident persona,
Rap was just your best form of expression
You listened to a lot of R&B, a little bit of rock,
But, chose rap as the best channel to express your pains and emotions,

As you tried it out, saw it worked and kept on doing it
No wonder you took over all the control rooms in the city
You’re a touch bearer

Those who know you not,
See you as the best-ever when it comes to tight rap
But those who have worked with you
Knew you as an uncommon patriot.
Who knows that life is not just a style
But that the purpose of life
Is a life of purpose

From you

I have learnt that in our daily life
If we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy
Not only we, but everyone will surely benefit from it

But why, why so soon?
When the world just started to feel little from your river of talent
Though the street has lost its CEO
But your words, I mean your soft-spoken words
Will always lead us right

Posterity will judge you kindly
Not only as to the things which you have done
But also to those which you have omitted
By carrying them along in your swag-like
So as to leave to others the pleasure of discovery

On behalf of other youths,
I say we miss you so much,
Olaitan Oladapo Olaonipekun,
Barack O'GRIN.


You Say



My style of music comes in my mother's tongue and I have massive fans. I wouldn't like to disappoint them. My style of music will remain till I die, jooooooo.
Dagrin


They Say

Dagrin… dis so crazy but who can question PAPA GOD decision, no amount of tears can brig u back 2 us. I pray u find God's love and peacefully rest in his bossom. We were praying 4 ur recovery and eagerly waiting 2 watch u perform@ next month Hip Hop Awards. U will always b dear 2me. Ur infectious and humble personality will always b buried in my numskull. Azuka Ogujiuba


If tears could bring you back we have a river of it available. If it cost money we would have provided
Money sacks larger than Ibori's loot bags. In ur short stay on earth you made an impact that a library of words can't explain. Though the streets have lost you, your words will always ignite our path and lead us out of poverty.
Odu Black


Gone too soon Dagrin came at a very harsh tym when d world has just began to smile on you. I 4 sure will definitely miss u on be half my humble self and my family am saying rest in peace.
Lawal Yaqoub

I believe God needs a rapper like u in heave das y he called you bro RIP, go and sing for ur God bro. ND Nwankwo

God show ur wonder, plz wak ma luv Dagrin, lik u woke Lazarus in d BIBLE. Beckyblack

LEATHER GLOVES

BY OLADIMEJI OJO.


To borrow a line from a friend of mine, love is like asking to hold hands with someone in the winter, with your gloves off. I’m sure you’re wondering, why so sappy. Why a sappy article. Well, for the past few weeks, my life has been a little like a soap opera. Articles like this are usually meant for the ladies. This one is for the guys. I know that when you take those gloves off and offer your hand to that person, it feels like the best thing in the world. It feels so right doesn’t it? That sincere declaration of love, the outpouring of emotion, it feels so good, till your fingers get burnt or is it frostbitten.

It could be one of two ways. I still haven’t figured out which hurts the most. When your partner, whoever she is pulls away or when she never takes her gloves off and leaves you standing in the snow, metaphorically, of course.

In the first case, she’s taken your hand, you’re both standing there, palms glued together, each providing the warmth the other needs. Standing in the snow and somehow you’re not cold. The fierce wind doesn’t matter, it doesn’t make you shiver. That other person is there. You’re there watching life go by, stuck in your own little time capsule. To you, nothing could ever go wrong, then she lies to you. Cheats on you, leaves you for a pair of knit gloves. You feel the rip but you don’t believe it. The pain comes later, as each day passes, as each night comes. You’re alone in the snow, slowly freezing to death.

The second case seems worse when you’re younger. You tell her what you think, that you’d love to hold her hand. You spend your money, give her your time. She encourages you, eggs you on. You’re confident nothing can go wrong and that’s when you get stupid, you take off your gloves before she does. You wait for the warmth, for the sense of fulfilment, the safety, the confidence. For that giddiness that made you take off your gloves in the first place to mature into a confident joy. Then, halfway through your expectant smile, you realise her hand will never come. That your 17,000 Naira watch isn’t going to make a difference after all. That your sincerity was worth nothing.

The question is, how do you react. In anger? Lashing out at every lady who makes the mistake of offering her hand to you. In sorrow? Afraid to ever trust again. Sitting shyly in the corner of life waiting for a miracle. In obsession? Watching her from the distance, unable to move on. Or, do you act like a man? Rise and dust yourself off, waiting till you feel your heart overflow with the joy it once felt, and when you do, take your gloves off once again, in the name of love.

DEAR SIR

BY OLADIMEJI A. OJO

DEAR SIR,

This is my way of reaching out to you. I cannot come into your home, I do not dare to come to your place of work. The most I can do is to write and hope that you get to read this. I am your daughter’s boyfriend.

She has been crying has she not? That is because I broke it off with her. I did so because she told me that you were against our relationship and that you had threatened her repeatedly with various consequences if she did not end it. I love your daughter. I cannot bear to see her suffer, not even for the affection we share. The irony is, by trying to stop her suffering, i have inflicted the fresh one of heartbreak.

When we first met, your daughter was shy. She smiled rarely and snapped at everybody. A lot of people ignored her. She was alone. I could see that her loneliness went deeper than some giggling teenagers. She was hurting somewhere bad and had nobody to share it with, so I spoke to her. We talked for almost a year before she opened up, still, when she did I realised that all along she was in agony.

She suffered from memories inflicted on her by society. By persons whom you chose at the time, one of whom you still trust today. She was violated and came to believe herself worth less than nothing. She had no pride so she acted like she was proud. She had no friends so she pushed everybody away. She was alone because she had nobody to trust. Till she met me.

She had hidden herself away from you. Hidden from her mother. Hidden from her family. I made her come out. I made her come clean, open herself to you. She told you all there was to say, she spoke her mind. I expected your sympathy, I expected your outrage. I even expected you to go beserk, rain down your wrath from heaven on all those who dared attempt to ruin your child’s life. What I did not expect was for you to ignore it. I did not expect you to confine it to the dustbin of your mind. To pass it off as child’s play.

She opened up her soul to you and you turned her away with your disregard. I do not claim to understand parenting, i have never been a father. One day I hope to be. I know i will not accept disrespect as a father, this is why i do not offer it. This is why I have chosen to let your daughter be though it hurts me as much as it hurts her. This is why though she would rather we defy you, i have chosen to respect you.

Sir, it is not a crime to love a blind man. I am not one who has lost his way, a vagrant or a scoundrel. I am simply impaired. I can see, it is just we do not see the same ways. We can coexist, can we not? I can make use of my other senses, I can see the way. Atleast, at the very least, i see that i love your daughter and that is all i can say.


YOURS SINCERELY

YOUR DAUGHTER’S BOYFRIEND

Bamkole Deji's Blog

YOUTH AMBITION by Olaitan Bello

CEOs Without Degrees (I)

Studies have shown that it’s the ages from five years to fifteen years that really shape a person, that by the time a child has finished secondary school, his or her values are already formed. Children go through school to gradually acquire knowledge that will prepare them for life.
Here are some CEOs that hit it big by having a big dream and live up to it by making things happen and excel in their field without a college degree. Who said that you always need a paper qualification to start something good? Taking action is way more important and there are good examples of people who we can learn from.

1. Dennis Albaugh, Chairman, Albaugh: Type of Business: Pesticides. Education: Associate's degree from Des Moines Area Community College. Fun fact: He has a collection of more than 100 classic Chevrolets




2. Paul Allen, Founder and chairman, Vulcan: His Business based on Media, telecommunications. Education, he dropped out of Washington State College after two years. Fun fact: He persuaded Bill Gates to drop out of Harvard. They later founded Microsoft (MSFT) together.

3. Richard Branson, CEO, Virgin Group: Type of Business: Travel, radio, TV, music, venture capital_Education: No college degree. Fun fact: He became an entrepreneur at age 16 with the creation of Student magazine.

4. Maverick Carter: CEO, LRMR Innovative Marketing & Branding. Type of Business: Marketing_Education: 3.5 years of college at Western Michigan University and University of Akron combined. Quote: “Don't be afraid if you see an opportunity to go and give it shot. You can finish school later; it's always there.”

5. Michael Dell, Founder, chairman, and CEO Dell (DELL):
Type of Business: Computers. Education: Attended University of Texas, Austin; did not finish. Quote: “When I started our company, it was very much an idea outside of the conventional wisdom, and if there were people telling me that it wasn't going to work, I wasn't really listening to them.”

6. Felix Dennis, Founder and chairman, Alpha Media Group, formerly Dennis Publishing: Type of Business: Publishing (Maxim, The Week). Education: No college degree. Fun fact: He wrote a biography and published a magazine about Bruce Lee; sales surged when the martial arts star died suddenly in 1973.

7. Barry Diller, Chairman and CEO of IAC/InterActiveCorp (IACI)
Type of Business: Media. Education: Dropped out of UCLA after three weeks_Fun fact: He started his career working in the mail room of the William Morris Agency.

TO BE CONTINED.
Next edition will feature other retail magnates or who I will like to call philanthropists who never finished college, but they made it into corporate spots.

•Richard Branson



CEOs Without Degrees (II)

This edition featured some retail magnates that never finished college, but they made it into corporate spots. This edition is the continuation of where the last edition stoped.

8. Barry Diller
Chairman and CEO of IAC/InterActiveCorp (IACI) Type of Business: Media.
Education: Dropped out of UCLA after three weeks. Fun fact: He started his career working in the mail room of the William Morris Agency.


9. Bill Gates
Co-chair and Trustee, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Chairman, Microsoft (MSFT). Type of Business: Philanthropy. Software. Education: Dropped out of Harvard Fun fact: As a schoolboy, he created a program that allowed people to play tic-tac-toe on the computer.


10. Mukesh "Micky" Jagtiani, Chairman, Landmark International (Dubai). Type of Business: Retailing. Education: No college degree. Fun fact: The billionaire mall developer flunked out of a London accounting school as a teenager and worked as a taxi driver before becoming an entrepreneur.


11. Dean Kamen
Founder and chairman, Segway. Type of Business: Motor vehicles. Education: Dropped out of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Fun fact: Kamen founded FIRST, a robotics competition for high school students.


12. David Oreck
Founder, Oreck. Type of Business: Vacuum cleaners
Education: No college. At 17, enlisted in the army, and flew B-29 bombers during World War II
Quote: "Things are never as bad as they seem to the pessimist and never as good as they seem to the optimist."

13. Amancio Ortega Gaona
President, Inditex Group. Type of Business: Fashion retailing (Zara, Kiddy Class, others). (A Coruna, Spain). Education: No college. Fun fact: Often cited as the richest man in Spain, he reportedly has never given any media interviews


14. Phillip Ruffin
Owner, Treasure Island. Type of Business: Casinos. Education: Attended Washburn University for three years and Wichita State University but never got his degree.
Quote: "You get the most experience from the business of life."


15. Alfred Taubman
Founder, Taubman Centers (TCO). Philanthropist. Type of Business: Shopping malls. Education: Attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor for three years but left to start a family and his career
Quote: "Become an expert in one fundamental area of your market or business. No one starts out as a generalist."


16. Ty Warner
Founder, Ty, Inc. Type of Business: Toys (stuffed animals). Education: Dropped out of college to pursue a career in acting. Later founded Ty Inc. Fun fact: The plush animals his company manufactured retailed for only $5 in the 1990s, but Beanie Baby-mania drove prices up to $30 or more for the hard-to-get characters.

We can all make it in life. Lets be hard-working and be prayerful.







From Kafanchan to London
The ambition of a baby soldier is to become a General one day, while the ambition of a rookie journalist is to become an editor or a publisher one day, so it is with other trainees of any profession. Biyi Bandele-Thomas had a great ambition that made him what he is today. Born in the Northern part of the country, in a small town known as Kafanchan, although his parents were from Abeokuta in Ogun State. He had been a writer and a director for about 20 years now, a profession he settled for when he was living in the United Kingdom. Today, he is the author of the novel 'Burma Boy', which has been translated into 15 languages. His many plays have been staged in every major theatre in the UK as well as one staged last year off New York's Broadway. Bandele -Thomas’ story is a lesson which other youths can learn from. According to him, “winners don't quit”.
Bandele-Thomas explains why he chose UK as a base, saying he didn't deliberately chose the UK. According to him, he visited London soon after his graduation from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in Ile-Ife. His initial plan of staying just for six months soon changed. Saying he just wanted to travel the world and when he arrived UK in the first place, he got a job with a Nigerian newspaper. He was appointed as the arts editor. Bandele-Thomas was to later found a publisher for his first novel he wrote in Nigeria before going to the universit. According to him, “I found a publisher for that and since it had always been my dream to be a writer, and by pure serendipity, my career took off when I came here (UK). Six months turned into a year, and then four years and then five years. I go home quite often and apart from the Fela project and the Half of the Yellow Sun project, I'm going to do many, many more film projects in Nigeria.”
As one of the most prolific Nigerian writers in the Diaspora, he has tried his hands on theatre, journalism, television, film, and radio, as well as fiction, which earned him his reputation. Only recently, Bandele-Thomas was selected as one of the jury members of International Film Festival Port Harcourt '09. For Bandele-Thomas, mentoring is a passion. He already has plans for a membership programme that would see people being trained in every single department of production. “My dream is that someday, we’ll have in Nigeria the equivalent of Sundance Institute or Omaha in Uganda, where several times a year, they bring in the best professionals from all over the world as parent filmmakers. They just work together, " he said. A jury member of the forthcoming International Film Festival in the Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt, Bandele-Thomas looks forward to the event.
Through Bandele-Thomas story, it is evident that the youths should be encouraged, motivated and inspired to take what ever life throws at them.
You do not have to give up on whatever you are doing. You could be having a hard time starting a business, restoring a broken marriage (or relationship) or trying to cope with the loss of a loved one. If you believe in your heart that you can make it, then there is nothing that can stop you. The truth is, you were not born to fail, you were not made to be a loser in anyway.
We do fail sometimes and we do lose some battles but this is because we allow the dark side to take over. We start to think negative and it is through those emotions that we lose and fail. One of the best ways to deal with this is to get hold of some encouraging words and try to learn from others.
Some of the things that discourage us at times are too insignificant to even allow them to determine our destiny. I do understand that at times it can be a situation that is beyond your control. What ever it may be, try to exercise some patience and look forward to another day. Do not make decisions when you are most vulnerable because you might regret them later.




A Cleaner as a Motivator

David Oreck is an American salesman, entrepreneur, and businessman. He is the founder of the Oreck Corporation, makers of vacuum cleanersand air purifiers, and is known through hisspokesman appearance in Oreck television commercials and infomercials.
At 85, David Oreck isn't about to slow down. He still drives his mint-condition motorcycles to work, flies his biplanes out of New Orleans Lakefront Airport, and runs a few miles a day in Audubon Park. He likes to work hard and play hard, too. And the idea of retirement is unspeakable. Says Oreck, "You might just as well be productive."
Born in Duluth, Minn., Oreck joined the Army Air Force at the age of 17. A radar officer and navigator, he flew bombing missions over Japan during World War II. Then he made his way to New York City and discovered what would turn out to be his true calling - working as a salesman. Selling everything from Whirlpool appliances to RCA televisions and microwaves, he rose through the ranks to become general sales manager. Then, in 1963, he left to form Oreck Corporation.
While Whirlpool was unable to make a success of its upright vacuum cleaners, Oreck believed that with a redesign of the machine, he could give it a new lease on life. So Whirlpool gave him exclusive rights to market them throughout the United States. The company also gave Oreck free reign to redesign the machine and then produced his prototype for him under the RCA Whirlpool label.
On a cold snowy day in Chicago, carrying the vacuum cleaner under his arm a la Willie Loman, the call came. In New Orleans, the RCA distributor was fighting for last place and winning, and the company wanted to know if he’d be interested in taking it over. "I flew down to New Orleans that day. The sun was out. It was beautiful. I was still in my heavy winter overcoat. I said to myself, 'Wow. I’m missing something here.’”
As Oreck has explained, he had "a good idea, a lot of energy, and no money."[1] Oreck claims it took about 20 years of hard work to begin to achieve a semblance of success, but he was a believer in Winston Churchill's maxim, "Never, never, never give up."