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Passion is Stronger Than Power by Henry Ukazu
Published
7 years agoon
By
Eric
Greetings my beloved friends. Today, we shall be discussing one of the hidden secrets of most successful people if not all that ever lived on the planet earth. If you care to know, that secret is passion. Passion is an uncontrollable force fueling the bloodstream of a determined being. Without passion, it will be difficult to be successful in any productive venture. Passion can be likened to spiritual strength because it can’t be seen but it can be felt internally while power can be likened to physical strength.
According to Oprah Winfrey “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” For me, I’m able to discipline myself to write because I have joy and fulfillment in writing. If I don’t have passion in writing and researching, I won’t be consistent in writing every week. My passion is not only limited in writing, I also have passion in leadership, youth empowerment, public speaking and serving humanity in any little way I can. That’s the more reason I agree with Mia Ham when she said: “If you don’t love what you do, you won’t do it with much conviction or passion.”
During the course of this article, we shall be looking at how passion can influence and empower us to be successful; how we can discover our passion. We shall also be studying the relativity between passion and love; passion and money; passion and talent. We shall end the discussion with some great quotes that can keep you focus as you follow your heart by pursuing your passion. Since this article is about passion and power, it is pertinent to note that successful people know that passion is energy. It is what drives people to succeed. Without passion towards what you are doing, you do not have a WHY and when you do not have a WHY then HOW is hard to find.
One of the most difficult thing in the world is knowing oneself. A lot of people struggle with this feeling and this has really affected their success both their personal and professional development. It’s an indisputable fact that identification of a problem is fifty percent solved and the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step in the right direction. Discovering your passion is not really easy, but it can be easy if you know yourself.
It’s worthy to note that without passion it will be hard to succeed in any business or profession. Passion is more than ordinary strength, it is the energy that fuels the blood. All the great people that have ever succeeded in life were passionate about their cause in addition to believing in themselves. It is because of this belief that made John Sculley the former CEO of Pepsi to leave his job to join Steve jobs who was still building his company. He believed in the works of Steve Jobs in addition to seeing how passionate Steve Jobs was in his product and today, the rest is history. If you have a passion, please don’t allow it to die. According to Deepak Chopra “In all my research, the greatest leaders looked inward and were able to tell a good story with authenticity and passion.” Be informed, You are capable of changing the world with your dreams if you allow it to come through. According to the former president of South African Nelson Mandela “There is no passion to be found playing small–in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.
The big question is how can passion influence your success? If you are passionate about a cause, you will not only spend quality time on the task, you will go the extra mile trying to know more about the cause. You can even volunteer or pay to attend a workshop, seminar or an event of interest. There’s a saying, people see people that participate. When you spend valuable time trying to know more about a cause, people see you and when an opportunity comes up, your name normally comes first to mind. It was because of the passion Americans saw in Ocasio-Cortez that made her constituents to elect her as the youngest female in Congress on November 6, 2018. Successful people know that you can’t do everything at the same time. Just focus your energy on one particular task and believe your turning point will come through. In our contemporary society, the world is being governed by perception. People see what you do without you knowing and that’s why it’s very important you scrutinize what you share on social media, and the people and causes you identify with.
The next big question is how do you discover your passion? As mentioned earlier, knowing yourself is one of the most difficult tasks in life. A good way to know to know your passion is to ask yourself “If I have everything in the world, what will I do with my time”? Another way of knowing your passion is by discovering those things you like to do with relative ease. Your passion is that cause or work that makes you happy. You can easily do it any time of the day. Once you are passionate about any cause, you look beyond the pain. Let’s look at the relativeness of passion with other relevant words of interest.
Passion and Love: Passion is a very strong feeling about a person or thing. Passion is an intense emotion, a compelling enthusiasm or desire for something. Love is all about what you feel to care about, that comes along with affection, desire, and pleasure. Passion is the energy that keeps us going, it gives us meaning, and happiness, and excitement, and anticipation. Passion is a powerful force in accomplishing anything you set your mind on. Once you are passionate about something, you will love it. According to Barbara Corcoran “You can’t fake passion.”
Another way of understanding passion is by looking at a lady in love. Any lady that truly loves a man will go all out to fight for the man. She will date and even marry him for true love as opposed to martial possession regardless of the pressure and circumstances facing her. There’s a saying that there are two people you can’t advise: A rich man with money and a woman in love. This is because a woman in love won’t understand any other language except the love language of the man in question which according to Gary Chapman can be words affirmation, physical touch, gift, time or services.
Passion and Money: One of the fastest ways of making money is by solving a problem. If you don’t have money, it’s either because you are not solving problems for the right people or there’s a fundamental problem with your product. Once you provide the right services, opportunities will locate you. Many people have the mentality that following your passion might make you broke because it might take a long period of time to achieve success. I strongly disagree with that school of thought. This group of people believes that one might be broke in the guise of being passionate about a cause. According to them, they would rather take whatever is available just to put food on the table. I have a good news for them, handwork doesn’t kill, what kills is laziness. As an optimistic being, if you know yourself and know your product, all you need is consistency, perseverance, and patience. Trust me, It won’t be long for your breakthrough to come through. One of the great ways of knowing a passionate being is by looking at the time the individual spends on the product. A typical example is the lifestyle of an entrepreneur. They will grind and grind to the extent they might be mocked, they will get so many no’s and rejection, but the moment their product is accepted or endorsed the story changes. If you are in this category, my advise to you is hang in there. All you need is just one yes. Steve Jobs was definitely right when he said “You have to be burning with an idea, or a problem, or a wrong that you want to right. If you’re not passionate enough from the start, you’ll never stick it out”. Also according to Harriet Tubman “, Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
Passion And Talent: Passion is different from talent. If you are talented in doing something you really love, you may want to meditate and see if that’s where your passion lies. Talent is similar to gift with a slight difference. A creative mind can combine his or her talent, gift and skill to his/her passion to create a product or service. The idea is that the key to finding a great career is to identify your greatest interest – “your passion” – and pursue a career involving that interest. Moral: Just commit to following your passion, and you’ll have a great career. It is been said that when you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life. Isn’t it true that when you do what you love, you can make a real difference in people’s lives. With your passion, you can inspire others to find their dreams too. Passionate minds believe in paying now and playing later. They are never deterred in what they are facing. They strongly believe in what they have in their mind in addition to seeing the bigger picture. The Book of life States in 1 John 4:4 “ He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world.”
In conclusion, If you will agree with me, passion is the driving force behind success and happiness that allows us all to live better lives. It is because of passion that many people decide to go back to school to study a major that interest them; It is because of passion that a lot of people decide to have a Non-Government Organization to affect humanity and the list continues. I end this article by leaving you with four great quotes to meditate namely:
“Nothing is as important as passion. No matter what you want to do with your life, be passionate.”-Jon Bon Jovi.
“If you feel like there’s something out there that you’re supposed to be doing, if you have a passion for it, then stop wishing and just do it.”-Wanda Skyes
As you spend time with passionate, successful people, success skills will start to manifest in your live too. Successful people understand that in order to achieve, they must love what they do. So find something that you love to do and you will be following your passion. Passion is the fastest way to massive success. British Statesman.
A person can succeed at almost anything they have unlimited enthusiasm- Charles M. Schwab.
Finally, what’s your passion and what are you passionate about? Will you agree with me that passion is greater than power?
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He can be reached via henrous@gmail.com
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Leatherworld: A Masterclass in Enduring Excellence
Published
4 days agoon
March 21, 2026By
Eric
Leatherworld defines what it means to be classy. And it has confidently taken the higher road. For more than three decades, it has not merely sold furniture — it has demonstrated what class truly means in business: integrity in craftsmanship, consistency in service, and vision in growth. And as its name, “Leatherworld” implies, it is a world of its own.
Founded in 1994 to meet the demand for high-quality furniture in Nigeria, Leatherworld began as a retail outlet focused on premium pieces through partnerships with Italian luxury brands. However, it has now upped its ante, spreading its tentacles with showrooms in Victoria Island and Lekki Lagos, and also in Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory.
At a time when durability was often sacrificed for cost and quick turnover, the company made a deliberate decision: it would never compromise quality to cut corners. That principle has remained its compass ever since.
This is indeed the story of Leatherworld. For over 30 years, it has defined what luxury furniture means in Nigeria. It is not just a brand, it has consistently stood for one core principle: quality that lasts.
The company’s commitment to seasoned hardwood, aged for up to seven years before production, speaks to a patience that is rare in modern manufacturing. Indeed, its furniture is designed not for seasons, but for decade
Its growth has been matched by recognitions and honours from far and wide. Notable among some of these awards and recognitions are; international honours such as the Quality Summit New York International Award for Excellence (2013) to multiple awards from reputable organisation such as; the Nigerian National Assembly 2004 Awards, Furniture and Allied Products Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Award (2008), Interior Designer Association of Nigeria, IDAN, Award (2012). Indeed, Leatherworld’s name has become synonymous with leadership in interior décor and furniture manufacturing.
But beyond awards and expansion, it is its customer loyalty that tells the real story. For many clients, the Leatherworld experience begins long before the furniture is delivered.
The brand has earned respect across borders. But class is not proven by trophies alone. It is revealed in everyday interactions. Customers consistently describe professional staff, meticulous delivery teams, and after-sale technical support that is “second to none.”
From custom requests handled with speed and care to full-room assemblies executed with precision, Leatherworld treats service as part of the product itself.
Many customers attest to owning Leatherworld pieces for over 30 years — still structurally sound, still comfortable, still elegant. In a marketplace often flooded with disposable options, that kind of longevity is not accidental; it is intentional. This explains why the customers of Leatherworld attests to the durability and high quality of its products.
“I really enjoyed my shopping experience,” says Anita Ajah, who visited the Lagos showroom. “Their customer service was unlike anything I have experienced in Nigeria.”
Diana Ufuah shares a similar sentiment. “Leatherworld is the very best in terms of quality. I bought a sofa there and it is extremely comfortable and durable. What I also find intriguing is their customer service. My family and I were treated like royalty while shopping.”
It is a recurring theme – professionalism, warmth, and attention to detail.
Oluwole Adekoya describes the experience as “first-class quality furniture reasonably priced,” recommending the brand to anyone “with a dimension for taste.”
Kunle Adegbite highlights the end-to-end service: “I found exactly what I was looking for. Not only were the choices incredible, the service was outstanding. I requested their operations team to assemble my living room and they were quick, professional, and executed it beautifully. I couldn’t ask for more.”
Chioma Okonkwo, a long-standing client is more effusive in her review: “You only get bored with the same furniture but the thought of the new price you will pay keeps you loving your FOREVER furniture from Leatherworld!”
Those testimonies indeed speak volumes. Still, Leatherworld has not dithered from its vision to revolutionise the furniture and interior design industry in Nigeria and West Africa. And its message is simple: quality furniture is not a cost — it is an investment. You choose once. You choose well. You buy for life.
Leatherworld’s aesthetic draws inspiration from the elegance of Florence and the opulence of Nigerian culture — a fusion that respects global sophistication while celebrating local identity.
Its collections range from classical and neo-classical to contemporary and simple-line designs, ensuring that individuality is never compromised.
In doing so, the company has positioned itself not just as a seller of furniture, but as a curator of lifestyle — crafting pieces that define spaces for scholars, business leaders, families and discerning homeowners alike.
In business, class is consistency when no one is watching. It is honouring promises made decades ago. It is building products that outlive marketing campaigns. It is choosing long-term reputation over short-term gain.
In a competitive industry where shortcuts are tempting and compromise is common, Leatherworld has shown that real class lies in endurance — of materials, of service, of vision and of trust.
And in doing so, it has not only furnished homes across Nigeria and West Africa; it has furnished an example of how a company can grow, lead, and still remain grounded in excellence.
Bimbo Alashe, as the founder and CEO of Leatherworld Furniture Company, leads the international furniture retailing assemblage and manufacturing company in Nigeria. The company offers top quality leather furniture and accessories in wood, glass, marble, and other authentic and elegant materials, establishing a reputation for excellence in craftsmanship and design.
She is one of the most formidable entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Beyond building her company, she sits on the board of several companies and serves as a mentor to a number of aspiring and established entrepreneurs, sharing her experience and insight to help others grow.
Her story is not the typical one of a person who grows from old money. Alase had to create her story herself, making her way from the rough early days of owning a small mini-store to the point where she became a mega business owner through determination and persistence.
When Leatherworld was established, it entered the furniture space to redefine luxury and class. The business created an opportunity for her to explore her love for creativity, guided by a straightforward vision — to make high-quality furniture available to everyone.
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Tinubu, Atiku, Obi Felicitate with Muslim Ummah, Nigerians at Eid-el-Fitr
Published
4 days agoon
March 21, 2026By
Eric
By Eric Elezuo
The three frontline political leaders in Nigeria; President Bola Tinubu, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr Peter Obi, have in separate messages call for the strengthening of security, sustenance of the spirit of goodwill imbibed during Ramadan as well as kindness among Nigerians as the Muslim Ummah celebrate the 2026 Eid-el-Fitr.
The messages are in response to the successful completion of the 30-day fasting – a period of dedication, sacrifice, spiritual renewal and stocktaking – which end birth the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
Leading the avalanche of messages, President Tinubu, through a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, reiterated the need to lead a pious life seasoned by empathy and unity among humankind.
He noted that though the Ramadan season is over, but the lessons of piety, selflessness, perseverance, kindness and compassion, which the period is known, must consistently be the watchword of every Nigerian.
The message is captured in details below:
As Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid-el-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the Muslim faithful in Nigeria, urging renewed commitment to the nation and humanity.
President Tinubu enjoined Nigerian Muslims to rededicate themselves to the noble teachings of the holy month, which emphasize piety, empathy, and unity among humanity.
“We have a lot to draw from the noble lessons of Ramadan, especially at a time like this. We must continue to abide by the virtues of piety, selflessness, perseverance, kindness and compassion beyond this period,” he said.
President Tinubu urged all Muslim faithful to extend a hand of kindness to the needy of all faiths, to further show unity and camaraderie.
The President also tasked Muslim leaders to use the occasion to offer prayers for peace and prosperity to prevail in the country.
In the same vein, former Vice President of Nigeria and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar congratulated the Muslim faithful in Nigerian and across the world on the successful completion of the mandatory Ramadan fasting, and the celebration of the Eid-el-Fitr.
A press statement signed by the media office of the former Vice President, admonished Muslims to remain steadfast in piety by maintaining peace and in charitable causes.
According to Atiku, the completion of the obligatory fasting in the noble month of Ramadan should lead to more commitment to the injunctions of Almighty Allah.
“The completion of the Ramadan fasting is a call to duty that ensures we sustain the good deeds that the noble month requires of us.
“We must ensure that the lessons of the month are not lost on us and that the celebration of today is a reminder to the people, especially Muslims, to follow in the tradition of the noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in seeking closeness to God through worship and maintaining peace,” Atiku said.
He further called on the government to take it more seriously, stressing that “the protection of the lives and property of citizens is a divine decree and the sole responsibility of every government.”
Atiku similarly enjoins the privileged in the society to keep providing charity to the less privileged as this would go a long way in ensuring that the rising tide of economic downturn does not weigh too heavily on the poor.
“A greater number of people are being crushed by the economic downturn and global events in the past three weeks have further exacerbated the situation. It is incumbent on the wealthy to be more compassionate by taking up the responsibility of charity to help cushion the effect of the burden on the poor,” Atiku said.
Also lending his voice the congratulatory messages, Labour Party’s former presidential candidate, and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, urged Nigerian Muslims to imbibe the spirit of Ramadan going forward even as the 30-day fast has officially ended.
“I join you with heartfelt joy as we celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the blessed festival that marks the successful completion of the sacred month of Ramadan.
“This occasion is a profound reminder of the power of faith, discipline, selflessness, and unwavering devotion to Almighty Allah.
“Throughout Ramadan, you have fasted, prayed, given charity, and drawn closer to God, embodying values that inspire not only the Muslim ummah but every person of goodwill. These lessons of compassion, humility, patience, and solidarity must not end with the month; may they continue to guide our hearts, our actions, and our shared life as Nigerians.”
Many other prominent Nigerians and institutions have also identified with the Muslims in celebration, drumming the lesson of service, patriotism, piety and above unity of purpose to the hearing and learning of all and sundry.
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TEF Entrepreneurship: Tony Elumelu Foundation Sets March 22 to Announce 2026 Cohort
Published
5 days agoon
March 20, 2026By
Eric
The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the leading philanthropy empowering young African entrepreneurs will announce the 12th cohort of the flagship TEF Entrepreneurship Programme on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
In 2026, the Foundation will empower a total of 3,200 entrepreneurs across all its entrepreneurship programmes:
1,751 entrepreneurs through Heirs Holdings Group: Heirs Energies, Transcorp Power, Transcorp Hotels, and United Capital; 1,049 entrepreneurs in partnership with the European Commission, OACPS, BMZ and GIZ; 100 entrepreneurs in partnership with Sèmè City Development Agency; 100 entrepreneurs in partnership with DEG, the German Development Agency; 100 entrepreneurs in partnership with the IKEA Foundation, UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited and the Dutch Government; and 100 entrepreneurs in partnership with UNDP and the Rwandan Ministry of Youth and Arts.
Applications to the flagship programme were received from over 265,000 young Africans, representing all 54 African countries, underscoring Africa’s vibrant entrepreneurial sector and the funding challenge for entrepreneurs. The new cohort will join the TEF Alumni community of more than 24,000 entrepreneurs.
The selection process is conducted by Ernst & Young, ensuring an independent and rigorous assessment of applicants.
Each selected Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur will receive $5,000 in non-refundable seed capital, access to world-class business management training on TEFConnect, one-on-one mentorship, and entry into a powerful network of investors, partners, and other entrepreneurs.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation has empowered over 2.5 million young Africans with access to business management training on our proprietary digital hub, TEFConnect, and disbursed over US$100 million in seed capital to more than 24,000 selected entrepreneurs. Collectively, these entrepreneurs have generated $4.2 billion in revenue and created more than 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs. Through our support for African entrepreneurs, TEF has lifted 2.1 million Africans above the poverty line, and positively impacted more than 4 million African households, with 46% of supported entrepreneurs being African women.
Ahead of the upcoming announcement, Tony O. Elumelu, C.F.R., Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, reiterates his unwavering belief in the potential of Africa’s entrepreneurs:
“The future of Africa will be built by Africans who create businesses, generate jobs and solve the challenges of our continent. At the Tony Elumelu Foundation, we believe that empowering entrepreneurs is the most sustainable path to Africa’s economic transformation.
I look forward to announcing and congratulating the 2026 cohort of Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs and look forward to witnessing the impact they will create across our continent.”
The general public is invited to join, virtually.
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