Feb 16 2009
Are you a Criminal?
Announcements: The New Nigeria Club online conference will hold on Thursday the 19th of February, 2009 at 8pm Nigerian Time. We’ll be doing the conference on skype, if you are interested in attending send me your skype ID on my deolu@newnigeriaclub.net or write it here as a comment.
I got up really early this morning, I wanted to be ready for 6:30am so I could make the Lagos to Ilorin trip on time and return on time too. My Secondary School (Federal Government College Ilorin) was celebrating their 36th birthday, and I was invited to come and speak to and inpire the students. I had done the same thing last year, so I guess I’m gradually becoming a regular item on the founder’s day celebration 
. It was a bit stressful for me getting up, as I was truly tired, given that I had an engaging weekend. Over the weekend I had spent about 3hrs of my Saturday in a church I was invited to speak in, a good part of the rest with the organizers of HR MBA. Sunday had also gotten me going from Church to HR MBA, and then to Realty Point office where I facilitated for IFA and then back home late. I eventually went ahead to sleep on Sunday night around 3pm and knew I had to get up for 5:30am if I was going to make the Ilorin trip and be there on time.
It turned out to be a really packed day for me, I’m on my bed now, trying to retire for the night, and I can safely say that I feel really invested (spent) today. My mind casts back at the scenery of FGC Ilorin, everything still looks pretty the same way I left it 15yrs ago. The assembly hall is still incomplete, the sports pavilion still looks like it’s in development. Save for a few “new” buildings here and there which are actually balanced out by the buildings that have deteriorated, the school is still basically the same. I had given scholarships to a few of the students last year, but looking at their faces today I was motivated to increase the number of students enjoying the scholarship. I had spent over 9hrs on the road, travelled long distances, risked not making money today, given of my time, my effort and fallen into the risk of being misscontrued. On my way back however, I recalled a thought that stayed with me through the weekend and gave me inspiration. It said “It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! ” – Matthew 25:26b
Living cautiously is criminal! To do less than you are capable of doing, is to rob the world, your country and your enviroment of what whas deposited on your inside. When you risk nothing, you gain nothing! The master is not interested in people that stick only in their comfort zones and dare nothing. People who play it safe don’t play so well. The true genius is not the person who goes around afraid of making mistakes, but the one that goes around using and giving out of everything that he or she has.
It is when you lose yourself into a cause that you truly find yourself. Just like with money, until it leaves your hand and gets sent on an assignment it doesn’t increase. No sowing, no reaping! Cautious living is criminal living. If indeed we have been blessed, if truly we enjoyed some privileges then we owe our country, our society, our community and generations after ours! To whom much is given, much is expected.
I think you need to analyze your life, and ask yourself a few vital questions. Are you giving back? Are you doing as much as you are capable of doing? Are you living cautiously? Are there people that will meet you in 5yrs time and weep when they quantify the value you added to their lives? Are you helping anybody or are you more concerned about your reputation? Are you living boldly or cautiously? Are you playing to win, or are you playing it safe? Are you taking risks or are you hunting for risk free opportunities?
I really don’t intend to burst your bubbles or benchmark you. I’m only saying that if a lot more of us, could spend a little more money, a little more time, a little more effort, a little more to add value to our environment, to our alma mata’s to our families, then the world would be a much better place!
To rob the world of so much stored up within, to rob our generation of solutions that we could have birthed, to rob others the pleasure of having us as friends, to rob ourselves of the businesses we could have led, to sacrifice our dreams on the alter of fear… all these are criminal. Are you?
And… Lest I forget… we got the First NNC in secondary school set up today as well…. more gist on this later.
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Grand and challenging, as always. Thanks chairman.
There is nothing that can compare to making the efforts to touch others, even if it means doing it when it is not convenient.
I’ve just sent my skype ID to deolu@newnigeriaclub.net
Looking forward to Thursday.
Your report and gist is quite inspiring, i’m challenged each time i think about how much you are doing using the same resources we all have, i mean 24 hours a day.
It’s fantastic to hear of the first NNC in secondary is starting, the future is very great, we will reach our goal. UP NNC!!! God Bless Nigeria!!!
Great Reminder Deolu,
As I use to say “if you are not investing in men your return is limited”.
He who live only for himself is a waste in creation.
No matter how little, let’s know “little” counts too.
Thanks for the reminder
My brother,
Bravo! I’m particularly inspired by the scholarship- it’s one of the trans-generational effort anyone could attempt to make. Those students will never forget.
Many will weep when we get to heaven and they see what they were capable of doing but didn’t stretch themselves just a little further to achieve.
No wonder Myles Munroe said the wealthiest place on earth is the graveyard with untapped human resources.
MAY WE DIE EMPTY!
Doing more, going extra mile is the proof that one appreciates the giver of life who entrusted one into our hands. In doing more, one may be branded with a negative vibes as wanting to be seen, but a man of vision knows that Life is about giving. Let us increase our stakes and make more impacts.
God gives seeds to the sower 2 Cor 9:10.
Giving creates an opportunity to be blessed. You can give just anything..your time, your money, your self…help others, share with others like Oga Deolu.
Giving brings multiplication, that’s why God gave Jesus that several others (billions of people) might be saved.
God bless U, Deolu Akinyemi for sharing with us always.
@deolu
I tried sending my skype id to deolu@newnigeriaclub.net but it was returned undelivered.
This is especially for the potential ladened individuals who prefer to be passive…..
my skype ID is: gbengaijotan
Oyinsi,
This is a reminder to all of us who relate with 3 people only. Me, I, and Myself. God taught me this lesson in July 2000 when I lost my only brother (the most precious thing to me at that time) in a mysterious way. I discovered that after the burial of the 18 year old boy, all our friends and family disappeared. The only set of people we were seeing, were those who had a story of one thing or the other he did to improve their situation, mostly boosting their moral.
I have therefore since decided to make sure that anyone I meet, I must leave something in their lives for them to remember me all their lives.
You know what? Doing that will actually make us be like Jesus. He lived for us all, so that we can live to remember His impact. “…He touched me and made me whole”
Chairman,
Its great to be a benefactor. Individuals who have an entitlement mentality thinks the society or government owes them. The give me, carry me attitude to life is at best subsistent.
The benefactor has the upper hand. Overflow is their portion. Their lot is “Press down, shaken together , running over”
Oluyemi Adeosun
True Talk,
Our true greatness is measured by how much we give. All men that have lived sacrificial lives end up in greatness.
May we never live our life with “OTHERS” in the picture. May our lives be used to teach history of the evolution of the True Nigeria in years to come.
Its quite inspiring bros,
we need to come to the understanding that God did not create us to just come and live, get married, have children, send them to the best school of the time, build houses, and buy toys… there is more to living than all that. Jesus made it clear to us all that He had a meat, which was to do the will of the Father, and what was that will? Simply to impart life unto others. We may not have the power to impart Jesus kind of life, but we surely can make life better for those in our immediate environment. Let it be an habit for evryone of us that whenever we have the opportunity to wake up in the morning, let us always take time to ask ourselves this most important question of a lifetime: What is my meat? And don’t forget that a life without a purpose is a life without a destination.
Shallom
dear man,
words of encouragement from a brother, you know i kept asking my self about 5yrs ago what exactly av i given back to my environment, and the best answer i could get is nothing, then i thought, it is either am not meant to be in this country or better still am a spectator brought into this world with no identity. then i thought that this would be unfair after the vigorous strength my dad had to go through on that faithful night, and my mother on the receiving end of that mutual exercise, and before the lucky whitish slipp-salty guy met its companion accompanied at 145kj per secs, then i knew am ungreateful. subsequently, i got myself involved in organisations.
sincerely, more hands still as to be on deck. cheeeers.
would like to be part of the online conference.My skype id is imaginedarams
A constant dose of motivation like yours will keep us giving out what wetin we carry. Keep it up
Oga D,
really tought provoking and challenging. Thanks again
This is indeed a fact…At least i have experienced abundantly many times in my life. When i left high school, i gave most of my time to eradicate the fear for mathematics in Ajegunle and was able to raise over 26 mathematics teachers who are doing very well today. When i got into the university and left, i continued also. When i got into Globacom, i thought of helping people by given at least 20000 naira to any good high school student with admission letter and sponsor-deficient (still in Ajegunle). Though this came into the hands of about two people and didn’t last long as i had to pursue my PhD too. But with all fairness to honesty, most of the things i have enjoyed here in America, i didn’t pay a dime for it. Men rally round on my behalf to make my life very comfortable. I seen the blessings of God in my life beyond normal. Its really amazing to live like the king i never was when i was in Nigeria.
I will keep thanking God and will not be a criminal by living cautiously.
God bless You Deoulu for giving me the opportunity to share this small testimony.
As i read through the comments, i read the comment with the first line.. ‘Onyinsi’. I really smiled and laughed quietly. I suppose u must have asked what that means. I smiled because that tells me two things;
1. That statement as i believe is a term in Igbo language and the person who wrote it has a full- fleshed yoruba name. That tells me how much i want to see Nigerians integrated in themselves in all things, where we are able to invoke the idea of utter oneness.
Until we come to this level especially in marriage, we might still be having dangerous crisis.
2. Onyinsi means strong man. I share in that opinion if it refers to Deoulu. You have been an inspiration to me. I dont know of another but with what i read each time here, i believe u ve also inspired millions.
You are indeed a strong man.
Thanks for this…
It is a reminder to me to live my life daily as a contributor and not always as a collector..
Thanks
how many of us are guilty of felony? I used to be guilty as charged and was sentenced to “serving my God, community, state and nation for the rest of my life with hard passion.”
I’m from Ijero-Ekiti LGA and I’m passionate about making the “fountain of knowledge” a truely distinctive oasis of knowledge.
In English, I’m interested in the politics of that state to the effect that things will become as they should be. I have been “condemned” to take responsibility and though the game is dirty, who knows whether it just lacks cleaners.
If you are so inclined or know a little more than i do with respect to Ekiti politics. Please let me know.
My email is busayoakanro@gmail.com
I’m joining the conference at 8pm. My skype id is ifective.ifects
sorry cant be part of the conference my system could not install skype… sure you guys wld have all the fun
There is joy in giving meaning to lives.
VEry inspiring!
To live cautiously is criminal?….Food for thought
Many thanks!
@Toni, Why couldn’t you install Skype? What was the problem? Please install it oh.. we’ll be having a lot more of these conferences.
I was by my PC @ 8pm to join the conference but I could not connect. Could you please, let us know what the resolve was.
Thanks
I have finished installing skype and my id is manofhope5
Wow, this is one of the most wonderful thing I’v read in this new year. I have decided to join the race and not be a criminal. Thanx bro!
Truly inspirational…i personally have found out that you get cheap victories in life when you are a giver!..your time..knowledge..smile…money.. are given to you to give to others .., I believe you are blessed to be a blessing ! Where my family is today is as a result of knowing/ serving God and living a lifestyle of giving! Thanks for provoking me to do more! @Otome Elisha, my bro, i feel you! at Bussee, your first statements just cracked me up! God bless us all!
This is true, and i believe that If God has smiled on you, smile on someone else!
well i used to be very guilty as charged until i repented and i began to live more purposefully. now i am hoping to developing more internet presence this year, for the purpose of blessing lives. i truly believe that we should do all we can to be a blessing to someone at the time we should.
it’s not the “bigness” of what is done, but the quality and thoughtfulness that actually matters. so let’s do what we can in our own little way to be a blessing, and not a criminal. thank you
Does NNC have a website?I tried going through a link to the website but it brought an error page. Pls, what is the website if there is any?
It’s great impacting others! God help us!
@ Kilanko Oluwaseun, You are just literally on fire these days with your comments, anyway i’m really enjoying you keep it up. As for NNC website which is why i’m writing, Yes surely NNC has a website which is always updated with information, check it out http://www.newnigeriaclub.net or better still if you click on the PATRIOTIC Logo on Deolu’s website just right up here, it will surely take you to the website. If you use Facebook at all search for New Nigeria Club definitely you will get an answer. Again, a special invitation for you, why not join us for the next NNC Online Conference coming up on Thursday 23rd of April 2009 by 7pm (Naija Time) Via Skype just add ID ‘newnaijaclub’ to your contact list ,connecting is very easy, hope to meet you then, cheers.
My friend on Orkut shared this link and I’m not dissapointed that I came to your blog.
@Peter: Thanks for your comments and your kind gesture. I really appreciate it.
Yep! bros, this is serious food for thot.
Are we maximizing our potentials? Are we really working to our capacity? Are we really giving our best to life?
We have many people in life that are looking for good examples, they live very close to us, can they really find our life as examples. when the society needs us do we hide and say after all it’s everybody’s job why point at me particularly. Whatever potential, skill, creativity deposited in us, it is first meant for the society, the community where we are, ‘cos God could have dropped it in someone else that will use it for societal benefit, so we need to justify the gift, skills and potential we’ve got.
Let’s do our best, let the society know that we are here and impacting.
…to give to the society less than it deserve is to rob the society of some of its potentials. Although deposited in us but not for us, we are just channels to reach the targeted end users the earlier we know that the better for us.
Thanks man.