Opinion

The Art of Communication by Henry Ukazu

Published

7 years ago

December 29, 2018

Eric

Compliments of the season!

I trust you are having a good Christmas celebration and preparing for the New Year which promises to be exciting and interesting. Since we are in the season of love, we are encouraged to share love, but more importantly communicate love in such a way it will be felt. What is important is not what we really give during this season of love, but how we give it. That is why I decided to write on communication today to enlighten and inspire everyone on the proactive ways of communicating.

Let’s start by asking ourselves, what really is communication? Depending on who you are speaking to and what message you are trying to pass around, you are bound to get different response. Do you have a business? Are you a politician or a student? Are you in a relationship or married? Are you searching for a job, writing a cover letter, preparing a resume, business plan, are you trying to woo a lady? Just name it, nor matter what you are trying to do, being able to articulate and communicate is the key to your success. You may have a good product but if you don’t know how to package it well, you may have a hard time selling your product.

What then is communication? Communication can defined as the imparting or exchanging information. It can also be defined a means of connection between people at different places at different. It may interest you to know as rational human beings we connect with people everyday. Just like I’m writing this article now, I’m connecting and communicating to a large of people across the world.

During the course of this article we shall be discussing the different types of communication, how we can use communication skill to enhance our product, and how communication can serve as icing on our cake.

We have different types of communication, we shall be discussing six types briefly:

Intrapersonal Communication: This is basically the type of communication we have with ourselves. This communication is basically and internal one where one engages his or heart, mind, body and soul. Sometimes, it can take the form of intuitive analyses. Some of the people who practice this form of communication are public speakers and those who practice meditation.

Interpersonal Communication: This form of communication is normally practiced in work environment and social event gathering where seminars, workshop and break out session is being organized. It is normally between a small groups of individuals, typically in a face-to-face setting, where participants engage in a minimally restricted dialogue with each other. It helps to breed in harmony, understanding, cooperation, trust and value.
Verbal Communication: This is referred to as the spoken words. This is the most conventional way of communicating. In order to be a good communicator you must be able to speak clearly in such a manner that your audience will be able to understand you clearly.

There’s no communication if your audience have a hard time hearing and understanding you. It should be noted that there’s a big difference between engaged listening and simply hearing. When you really listen, you’re engaged with what’s being said. You’ll hear the subtle intonations in someone’s voice that tell you how that person is feeling and the emotions they’re trying to communicate. When you’re an engaged listener, not only will you better understand the other person, you’ll also make that person feel heard and understood, which can help build a stronger, deeper connection between you.

Written Communication: This is another great tool for communicating. This form of communication can take the shape of emails, social media and any information that involves writing, for example legal documents. The ability to write a great is a great skill that is in demand. The limiting factor in this form of communication is that it can be used against the author. For example, when the wrong email is sent to the wrong person or an unbecoming post is shared on social media platform, it can come back to haunt the writer.

Non Verbal Communication: This is a great communication tool that involves less stress. It is mostly conveyed using signs and symbols. This form of communication is best conveyed using sign language and attitude. Sometimes, the best way to communicate is remaining silent because silence can be golden. It’s instructive to know that in communication what is important is not what is being said but what is not being said. Therein, lies the message.
Visual Communication: This form of communication involves using pictures and symbols to covey a message. Depending on what you are trying to say, sometimes, the best way to convey a message or teach is by using pictures. For example, journalist or photographers can use cartoon images to send a desired messages to their audience. It’s being said that pictures say a thousand words more than spoken or written words. According to this school of thought, they believe pictures travel faster than any form of communication. This form of communication is less used compared to other medium of communication. Another interesting part of this brand of communication is that it can be used for presentations.

Below are list of several type of visual elements that are being used by marketers or companies of interest. Colors (such as brand colors), Design (logo and brand design), Advertising (Animations, Illustrations, Typography and Presentations).
The big question now is how can you use effective communication to promote your product? Communication can either make or mar somebody depending on how it’s been used. Communication is the most resourceful tool in the hands of any creative being who is able to think out of the box. Communicating with people is not hard, what is difficult is understanding people and knowing how to meet them half way in addition to knowing what they need. A resourceful promoter or marketer can literary make people buy a product if the proper words and communication skill is being used. In some social parlance, it is being said that men are always attracted by what they see while women are attracted by what hear. The same mindset can be applied in communication. In communication, perception is everting, if people are not swayed how they perceive you and your message, it will be hard to convince them to patronize you. Your ability to relate cordially with people and understand their needs is critical to the success of your product. In politics, you must understand the pulse of the people, you must say the right words even though it means being politically correct. In politics, if you are insensitive to the needs of people, you are as good as an expired product because you’ll have no electoral value.

Communication can serve as a good icing on a cake if used effectively. Using the six levels of communication mentioned above, you can literally get anything you want. To make a beautiful presentation, the beginning and ending of your message is very important. Always leave your guest gasping for more information. All you need to do is to do your research and know which one suits you audience most. Also bear in mind, the tone, pitch and the right words are very crucial in conveying your message.

Communication skill is a very important in skill to posses in our contemporary society. Everyone needs it. As mentioned earlier it can make or mar anyone. An individual in search of a job needs a good communication skill, those working in cooperate organisations need good communication skills, human resource personnel and leaders also needs it. Let’s see how communication applies to the above mentioned people.

To demonstrate good personal relation and communication skills, a rational minds must do the following:

Listens attentively and pay attention to constructive feedback
Speaks confidently in public settings
Motivate others
Delegates tasks effectively
Provides well thought out solutions
Welcomes responsibility
To show your research/planning skills, a journalist and meteorologist must be able to show his or communication skills by being able to:

Accurately forecasts outcomes
Identifies and allocates resources appropriately
Identifies problems & develop solutions
Gathers information & assess current situations

Adverse effects of communication skills: Everything that has advantage also have disadvantage. Ineffective or incoherent communication can make a lively conversation boring. Some of the adverse effects of communication can lead to the following:
Lack of focus. You can’t communicate effectively when you’re multitasking. If you’re checking your phone, to communicate effectively, you need to avoid distractions and stay focused. You must stay focused like an eagle to get the best out of anything.

Inconsistent body language: This works like non-verbal communication. Most times, people get the exact message from a speaker via his or body language. As stated earlier, sometimes in communication, what is not said has more information than what is being said. For example, you can’t say “yes” while shaking your head no.

Negative body language. If you disagree with or dislike what’s being said, you might use negative body language to rebuff the other person’s message, such as crossing your arms, avoiding eye contact, or tapping your feet. You don’t have to agree with, or even like what’s being said, but to communicate effectively and not put the other person on the defensive, it’s important to avoid sending negative signals.

I hope I have been able to shed some light on the art of communication. Be inspired!!!

Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with New York City Department of Correction as the legal Coordinator. He’s the author of the acclaimed book Design Your Destiny – Actualizing Your Birthright To Success.

Opinion

How Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Hamza (PT, mNSP) Became Kano’s Healthcare Star and a Model for African Women in Leadership

Published

2 days ago

December 6, 2025

Eric

By Dr. Sani Sa’idu Baba

My dear country men and women, over the years, I have been opportune to watch numerous speeches delivered by outstanding women shaping the global health sector especially those within Africa. Back home, I have also listened to towering figures like Dr. Hadiza Galadanci, the renowned O&G consultant whose passion for healthcare reform continues to inspire many. Even more closer home, there is Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Hamza, my classmate and colleague. Anyone who knew her from the beginning would remember a hardworking young woman who left no stone unturned in her pursuit of excellence. Today, she stands tall as one of the most powerful illustrations of what African women in leadership can achieve when brilliance, discipline, and integrity are brought together.

Before I dwell into the main business for this week, let me make this serious confession. If you are a regular traveler within Nigeria like myself, especially in the last two years, you will agree that no state currently matches Kano in healthcare delivery and institutional sophistication. This transformation is not accidental. It is the result of a coordinated, disciplined, and visionary ecosystem of leadership enabled by Kano State Governor, Engr Abba Kabir Yusuf. From the strategic drive of the Hospitals Management Board under the meticulous leadership of Dr. Mansur Nagoda, to the policy direction and oversight provided by the Ministry of Health led by the ever committed Dr. Abubakar Labaran, and the groundbreaking reforms championed by the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board under the highly cerebral Professor Salisu Ahmed Ibrahim, the former Private Health Institution Management Agency (PHIMA) boss, a man who embodies competence, hard work, honesty, and principle, the progress of Kano’s health sector becomes easy to understand. With such a strong leadership backbone, it is no surprise that individuals like Dr. Fatima Ibrahim Hamza is thriving and redefining what effective healthcare leadership looks like in Nigeria.

Across the world, from top medical institutions to global leadership arenas, one truth echoes unmistakably: when women lead with vision, systems transform. Their leadership is rarely about theatrics or force; it is about empathy, innovation, discipline, and a capacity to drive change from the inside out. Kano State has, in recent years, witnessed this truth firsthand through the extraordinary work of Dr. Fatima at Sheikh Muhammad Jidda General Hospital.

In less than 2 years, Dr. Fatima has emerged as a phenomenon within Kano’s healthcare landscape. As the youngest hospital director in the state, she has demonstrated a style of leadership that mirrors the excellence seen in celebrated female leaders worldwide, women who inspire not by occupying space, but by redefining it. Her performance has earned her two high level commendations. First, a recognition by the Head of Service following a rigorous independent assessment of her achievements, and more recently, a formal commendation letter from the Hospitals Management Board acknowledging her professionalism, discipline, and transformative impact.

These acknowledgements are far more than administrative gestures, they place her in the company of women leaders whose influence reshaped nations: New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern with her empathy driven governance, Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf with her courageous reforms, and Germany’s Angela Merkel with her disciplined, steady leadership. Dr. Fatima belongs to this esteemed lineage of women who do not wait for change, they create it.

What sets her apart is her ability to merge vision with structure, compassion with competence, and humility with bold ambition. Staff members describe her as firm yet accessible, warm yet uncompromising on standards, traits that embody the modern leadership model the world is steadily embracing. Under her stewardship, Sheikh Jidda General Hospital has transformed from a routine public facility into an institution of possibility, demonstrating what happens when a capable woman is given the opportunity to lead without constraint.

The recent commendation letter from the Hospitals Management Board captures this evolution clearly: “Dr. Fatima has strengthened administrative coordination, improved patient care, elevated professional standards, and fostered a hospital environment where excellence has become the norm rather than the exception”. These outcomes are remarkable in a system that often battles bureaucratic bottlenecks and infrastructural limitations. Her work is proof that effective leadership especially in health must be visionary, intentional, and rooted in integrity.

In a period when global discourse places increasing emphasis on the importance of women in leadership particularly in healthcare, Dr. Fatima stands as a living testament to what is possible. She has demonstrated that leadership is never about gender, but capacity, clarity of purpose, and the willingness to serve with unwavering commitment.

Her rise sends a powerful message to young girls across Nigeria and Africa: that excellence has no gender boundaries. It is a call to institutions to trust and empower competent women. And it is a reminder to society that progress accelerates when leadership is guided by competence rather than stereotypes.

As Kano continues its journey toward comprehensive healthcare reform, Dr. Fatima represents a new chapter, one where leadership is defined not by age or gender, but by impact, innovation, and measurable progress. She is, without question, one of the most compelling examples of modern African women in leadership today.

May her story continue to enlighten, inspire, and redefine what African women can, and will achieve when given the opportunity to lead.

Dr. Baba writes from Kano, and can be reached via drssbaba@yahoo.com

Opinion

Book Review: Against the Odds by Dozy Mmobuosi

Published

4 days ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

By Sola Ojewusi

Against the Odds is an ambitious, deeply personal, and unflinchingly honest memoir that traces the remarkable rise of Dozy Mmobuosi, one of Nigeria’s most dynamic and controversial entrepreneurs. In this sweeping narrative, Mmobuosi reveals not just the public milestones of his career, but the intimate struggles, internal battles, and defining moments that shaped his identity and worldview.

The book is both a personal testimony and a broader commentary on leadership, innovation, and Africa’s future—and it succeeds in balancing these worlds with surprising emotional clarity.

A Candid Portrait of Beginnings

Mmobuosi’s story begins in the bustling, unpredictable ecosystem of Lagos, where early challenges served as the furnace that forged his ambitions. The memoir details the circumstances of his upbringing, the value systems passed down from family, and the early encounters that sparked his desire to build solutions at scale.

These foundational chapters do important work: they humanize the protagonist. Readers meet a young Dozy not as a business figurehead, but as a Nigerian navigating complex social, financial, and personal realities—realities that millions of Africans will find familiar.

The Making of an Entrepreneur

As the narrative progresses, the memoir transitions into the defining phase of Mmobuosi’s business evolution. Here, he walks readers through the origins of his earliest ventures and the relentless curiosity that led him to operate across multiple industries—fintech, agri-tech, telecoms, AI, healthcare, consumer goods, and beyond.

What is striking is the pattern of calculated risk-taking. Mmobuosi positions himself as someone unafraid to venture into uncharted territory, even when the cost of failure is steep. His explanations offer readers valuable insights into:
• market intuition
• the psychology of entrepreneurship
• the sacrifices required to build at scale
• the emotional and operational toll of high-growth ventures

These passages make the book not only readable but instructive—especially for emerging

African entrepreneurs.

Triumphs, Crises, and Public Scrutiny
One of the book’s most compelling strengths is its willingness to confront controversy head-on.

Mmobuosi addresses periods of intense scrutiny, institutional pressure, and personal trials.

Instead of glossing over these chapters, he uses them to illustrate the complexities of building businesses in emerging markets and navigating public perception.

The tone is reflective rather than defensive, inviting readers to consider the thin line between innovation and misunderstanding in environments where the rules are still being written.

This vulnerability is where the memoir finds its emotional resonance.

A Vision for Africa

Beyond personal history, Against the Odds expands into a passionate manifesto for African transformation. Mmobuosi articulates a vision of a continent whose young population, natural resources, and intellectual capital position it not as a follower, but a potential leader in global innovation.

He challenges outdated narratives about Africa’s dependency, instead advocating for
homegrown technology, supply chain sovereignty, inclusive economic systems, and investment in human capital.

For development strategists, policymakers, and visionaries, these sections elevate the work from memoir to thought leadership.

The Writing: Accessible, Engaging, and Purposeful

Stylistically, the memoir is direct and approachable. Mmobuosi writes with clarity and intention, blending storytelling with reflection in a way that keeps the momentum steady. The pacing is effective: the book moves seamlessly from personal anecdotes to business lessons, from introspection to bold declarations.

Despite its business-heavy subject matter, the prose remains accessible to everyday readers.

The emotional honesty, in particular, will appeal to those who appreciate memoirs that feel lived rather than curated.

Why This Book Matters

Against the Odds arrives at a critical moment for Africa’s socioeconomic trajectory. As global attention shifts toward African innovation, the need for authentic narratives from those building within the system becomes essential.

Mmobuosi’s memoir offers:
• a case study in resilience
• an insider’s perspective on entrepreneurship in frontier markets
• a meditation on reputation, legacy, and leadership
• a rallying cry for African ambition

For readers like Sola Ojewusi, whose work intersects with media, policy, leadership, and social development, this book offers profound insight into the human stories driving Africa’s new generation of builders.

Final Verdict

Against the Odds is more than a success story—it is a layered, introspective, and timely work that captures the pressures and possibilities of modern African enterprise. It challenges stereotypes, raises important questions about leadership and impact, and ultimately delivers a narrative of persistence that audiences across the world will find relatable.

It is an essential read for anyone interested in the future of African innovation, the personal realities behind public leadership, and the enduring power of vision and resilience

Opinion

Redefining Self-leadership: Henry Ukazu As a Model

Published

4 days ago

December 3, 2025

Eric

By Abdulakeem Sodeeq SULYMAN

In a world filled with talents and unique gifts, nurturing oneself for an impact-filled living becomes one of the potent metrics for assuming how one’s life would unfold – either in the nearest or far future. I am sure the question you may be curious to ask is ‘what is the important quality that has shaped the life of every individual who has unleashed their ingenuity?’ Apparently, our society is filled with numerous people, who missed the track of their life. Their iniquity is boiled down to one thing – failure to lead oneself.

Realising how important it is to be your own leader has been the springboard for every transformative life. Notably, this also becomes the premise for appreciating and celebrating Henry Ukazu for setting the pace and modeling self-leadership in this era, where self-leadership is under-appreciated by our people. Self-leadership itself engineers purposeful and impactful living, turning individuals to sources of hope to others.

This is exactly what Henry Ukazu symbolises. The name Henry Ukazu is akin to many great things such as ‘Unleashing One’s Destiny,’ ‘Finding One’s Purpose’ and ‘Triumphant Living.’ Regardless of the impression one have formed about Henry Ukazu, one thing you cannot deny is his ability to be pure to nature and committed to his cause. Henry Ukazu is one of the rare people who still believed in the values of the human worth and has committed every penny of his to ensure that every human deserves to live the best life.

The trajectory of Henry Ukazu’s life is convincing enough to be choosing as an icon by anyone who chooses to climb the ladder of self-leadership. Oftentimes, Henry Ukazu always narrate how he faced the storms of life when birthing his purpose. He takes honour in his struggles, knowing full well that every stumbling blocks life throws at him helped in building himself. If not for self-leadership, he will not found honours in his struggles, let alone challenging himself to be an example of purposeful living to others.

Without mincing words, Henry Ukazu’s life has been blessed with the presence of many people, with some filling his life with disappointments, while some blessing him with immeasurable transformations. Surprisingly, Henry Ukazu has never chosen to be treating people negatively; rather he would only choose the path of honour by avoiding drama and let common sense prevail. That’s one of the height of simplicity!

Dear readers, do you know why today is important for celebrating Henry Ukazu? Today, 3rd December, is his birthday and with all sincerity, Henry Ukazu deserves to be celebrated because he has chosen the noble path, one filled with honours and recognitions for being an icon of inspiration and transformation to the mankind. As Henry Ukazu marks another year today, may the good Lord continue shielding him from all evils and guiding him in right directions, where posterity will feel his role and impacts!

Many happy returns, Sir!