This 👇 is how excited I am for the 8 of you who subscribed to my newsletter this past week! 😍
It's a small community still, and I am glad you decided to join in. In my own words; "Growth is growth, whether it trickles or flows"
And speaking of growth, please do well to share this newsletter with your friends, colleagues and acquaintances. Let's all join in growing the community ehn 😉.
That said, I was going to write this on Friday but I decided otherwise. I figured it would be best to stick to Monday evenings (for now). This way, you can binge on it on your way back from work after the typical tiring Monday. So, here goes. 👇
Saturday marked the 61st independence anniversary of our country Nigeria 🇳🇬, and as much as I spent the bulk of the my day processing orders from my business my mind was in turmoil because of two particular things.
1) I found out that I couldn't finish reciting the 1st stanza of the Nigerian anthem. It practically stuck in my throat when I got to "the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain.."
The previous day, news broke about the murder of Dr. Chike Akunyili, husband of late Dr. Dora Akunyili. A national heroine whom we lost to Uterine cancer in 2014.
Sadly, Dora's husband was murdered on his return to Anambra to collect a posthumous award on behalf of his late wife. (What other disregard can be worse than this?) 😭🤦♀️
2) I could not fathom how we were celebrating 61 years of independence when in the real sense things are practically worse than they were 61 years ago. Just this year alone, food inflation accounts for 8/10% of the overall inflation rate in Nigeria!
Let me give you a jarring example:👇
The previous Saturday I bought a pack of shrimps for N1,799.9 and the next Thursday, I bought that same pack of shrimps in the same mart for N2,499.9. A N700 difference within the space of 6 days!
Yet Mr. President in his independence speech said he had in the period of his 6 years in office outdone all previous presidents. 🤷♀️
*) There was one other thing. The independence day triggered a remembrance of the #ENDSARS protest of October 2020.
I could not help but remember how the Nigerian government murdered its citizens in cold blood in a bit to quench their agitation for better governance and an overhaul of the SARS (a unit of the Nigerian Police Force).
For all these reasons, I could not complete the default stanza of the national anthem. I instead proceeded to take the 2nd stanza which I found much more soothing. It was a prayer and plea to God, to guide and direct our leaders and youth whilst we "build a nation where peace and justice shall reign."
I have to confess, I felt much better reciting this particular stanza and it gave me the glimmer of hope that Nigeria will indeed get better.
Remember the popular saying: "He who has lost hope has lost it all? " This is true in all sincerity and it is on this basis that I enjoin you to keep the hope alive. 'Hope' that God who knows and can do all things, can and will turn the story of Nigeria around for the best. This turnaround I believe we can kickstart as individuals which will in turn create a chain reaction that will bring about the lasting change and progress that we all desire.
Speaking of chain reactions, the award winning investigate journalist David Hundeyin released this shocking yet insightful article on the formation, rise, and enthronement of terrorism (religious) in Nigeria. I call it shocking because you will be amazed at the huge role our popular NASCO cornflakes played and is still playing in the funding and expansion of terrorism in our dear nation. 🇳🇬
Well, enough said about Nigeria and back to me. 😌😊
I spent the better part of Q3 building a small business that focuses on addressing soup needs in Lagos Nigeria. You should check out my business website and place an order for any of the bowls that catches your fancy. 😉
I started this Q4 by jumping on the #bumpabusinesschallenge. Winning this will give me the much needed funding to grow my business while mitigating the increasing cost of food items in the market.
In this quarter, I am also working as the Project Co-ordinator (Lagos) for the #ProjectSchoolUniform. The goal of this project is to provide indigent pupils of a public school with school uniforms. This we believe will go a long way to boost their self esteem through their appearance, while giving them the much needed zeal to focus on their education.
If you'd like to contribute to this cause, please do well to send in your heartfelt donations through:👇Account Number: 0814219673
Account Name: Just Let Go Foundation
Bank Name: Access Bank.
You can also send us an email to Justletgofoundation@gmail.com for further inquiries and/or partnership. This is a project very dear to my heart and I really look forward to your support. 🙏
Now that's enough information for one day! 😂
As usual, thank you so much for reading through! 🤭🤗
Do well to share with your network, and if you are joining the community for the first time, kindly click on the subscribe button 👇and let's get us to 20 subscribers this week! 😍
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Until I write you again, stay Jiggy! 🥂
Jess! Omo Ologo