Opinion
As Biodun Hits 50: Tribute to a Singing Jewel
Published
5 months agoon
By
Eric
By Idowu Ajanaku
Happy is the man who finds a true friend,
and far happier is he who finds
that true friend in his wife – Franz Schubert
She is a rare gem; a priceless pearl, in fact one who is comparable to a piece of dazzling diamond that beams with the brilliant light of an abiding faith in God, to conquer the demons of darkness. Call this some sort of glorification if you like. But truth be told, the subject matter here has been an enduring inspiration to the entire family, beginning of course, with the critical area of her being the symbol of the connecting chord to God, our all-loving maker.
Her name is Mrs. Biodun Elizabeth Ajanaku, popularly known as “Biodun Ajanaku”. She is referred to as “a talented, confident singer and jazzist based in Western Nigeria. Born in December to Nigerian parents, she hails from Ogun state. This energetic female vocalist, who started singing from childhood has worked with other great artistes in Nigeria and abroad, with performances of her tracks in the United states of America and the UK as well. She released her debut single “Joshua”, a classic tune which expresses the fall of the walls of Jericho, some years back to critical acclaim.

As fate would have it, she is the wife of yours truly. And I can tell the world, without qualms that for over the past 20 years that we got married, one has been immensely inspired by her driving passion to excel at whatever she sets her hands to do. That of course, includes rending her soul-lifting gospel songs that stir the spirit from the depths of despair up to the pinnacle of hope and honesty of purpose.
How should I describe her? She is a virtuous woman and as Proverbs Chapter 12 verse 4 aptly explains it: “A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband”. As the good Lord God stated: “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him”. One is therefore, grateful to God for the choice He inspired me to make by choosing her as my constant companion, my confidant, my comforter.
As the Greek storyteller, Homer rightly stated: ”There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends”. In fact, a good wife symbolizes LOVE as the harmonious heartbeats of two people, always there for each other through storm or calm. They act in acting in resonance. And as T. S Eliot described it, they are comparable to, “lovers whose bodies smell of each other, which think the same thoughts without the need of speech, without the need of meaning”. So strong is the bond of love that King Solomon stated in the book of Ecclesiastes that: “Love is as strong as death. A thousand waters cannot quench the fire of love”.
That explains why the choice of the woman one would marry as the most sensitive, delicate and life-changing decision in man’s history. A wrong choice and the man is doomed for life. On the flip side, when the right choice is made, especially with the assistance of the Holy Spirit the ‘lucky’ man is destined for greatness. And this is because emotional stability forms the firm foundation for a happy home and businesses to thrive. But why, you may ask? It is all because: “Every single marriage must include complete trust between the husband and wife” as Sarah McMillan highlighted.
As the Holy Bible asks in Proverbs, Chapter 31: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband does safely trust in her, and so that he shall have no need to spoil. She will do him good and not evil, all the days of her life”(verses 10-12). In addition,” she looks well to the ways of her household… and her children rise up and call her blessed and her husband also.” (25-28).
Incidentally, I am one of those fortunate few, as God, in His great wisdom and infinite mercy brought the woman of my dreams to cross my path. Accepting the fact that I had given my life to Jesus the Christ before we met, yet she it was who has drawn me closer to God’s throne of glory by her uncommon and exceptional dedication to the all things bright and beautiful in the kingdom of Salvation. Is it fervent prayers (as a lover of God), sharing words of faith (as a knowledge -seeker), spreading the gospel of salvation (as a woman of faith), or frequent fasting(as a virtuous woman) to stay true to righteousness, as the spirit dictates? She is there, for me and our children.

For instance, it is interesting to note, with an uncanny spiritual feature, that ever since we got married over 20 years ago she has always woken up to pray and fervently so, for members of the entire family between the hours of 12 midnight and 3.00 am. And let me restate it – every blessed night!
O, yes, she makes herself available, not just to cook the right meals at the right time, or provide the needed moral and financial support for the acquisition of our children’s quality education but she is the wise counselor and ever dependable pillar in the storm. She is there with her charming smile, her calming, velvety voice and her helping hand; when things do not evolve as expected. My wife has also proved to be the catalyst for positive change and master motivator to show us the sun behind the passing cumulous clouds, that always come down as heavenly rain of tremendous blessings!
One must confess that she has been a mother, a girlfriend and a lover, all rolled into one uncommon woman! So, why do I need another lover in my life? Never! Interestingly, friends and colleagues at work always look at me in utter disbelief and askance, when I boastfully tell them that I have never cheated on her since we got married. They simply find it incredible to believe.
That also explains that while they are out there in pubs drinking and womanizing, Biodun is there with me and my children in the comfort of our home, as a bright beacon showing me the path to righteousness. For her, I cannot thank God enough.
With regards to her phenomenal talent as a gospel singer she boasts of two international nbest-selling albums (‘Thank God’ and ‘Jesus Is Enough For Me’) and some scintillating singles to her credit. She has modeled her music after the late American singer Mahalia Jackson. Both possess powerful contralto voice as she aspires to become the next ‘Queen of Gospel’ like her heroine.
It is not surprising therefore, that her performances at international gospel music events in South Africa, Maryland and New York(USA) as well as London(UK) have drawn global attention to her brand of music. Why would one not be proud of such ‘a jewel of inestimable value’, to quote the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo while describing his wife.
Good enough, I have found all these virtues in my delectable damsel, my precious jewel, the one I call “ the daughter of grace”. She has matched the words of Martin Luther King Jnr when he stated that: “Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave”.
Oh yes, Biodiun has done that and more! So, we heartily celebrate her at 50, with full gratitude to God, wishing her more divine blessings and grace in the years to come.
Ajanaku Idowu writes from Lagos.
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By Kayode Emola
In less than 48 hours Nigeria will welcome a new President, charged with handling its affairs for the next four years. Yet among the many challenges awaiting the new president, whether Nigeria itself can even survive another four years remains to be seen. There is no doubt that the Tinubu/Shettima presidency will need more than courage to keep Nigeria united for the full duration of their elected term.
Only time will tell whether Tinubu and Shettima will be sworn in come May 29, or whether we will instead have an interim government. However, one thing of which we are certain is that the era of Muhammad Buhari is over, never to be experienced again. Those who have survived living under Buhari’s misrule in Nigeria for the last eight years deserve an award for endurance.
We must not allow the expected swearing-in of a Yoruba man as Nigeria’s president on Monday 29 to make us complacent. Indeed, my Yoruba people, our task has just doubled.
Nigeria’s future is now looking more imperiled than ever before. The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) are already threatening to declare their own independent Biafra nation if Tinubu is sworn in come May 29. And the Biafra campaigners are not the only disgruntled people within the country. The vast majority of our Yoruba people and even the Hausa people are becoming embittered with the trajectory Nigeria has taken since independence. At this point now, the new president must decide if Nigeria will continue as it is, or ask the indigenous people to decide their future.
It is increasingly evident that Nigeria is not a sustainable venture, and that a trading post cannot become a country that can endure the test of time. The people within Nigeria never decided to unite and become a country, so trying to hold them to ransom can never succeed.
I will therefore urge the incoming president to rethink his policies if he has not thought about a peaceful way in which Nigeria’s dissolution can be established. Powering through and hoping that he can hold Nigeria together like his predecessor Buhari did will definitely not stand the test of time.
To my fellow Yoruba people who are singing hallelujah that a Yoruba man is going to be president. I want us to know that just as Buhari is leaving the Presidential seat come Monday 29, Tinubu will also not be president for life. When he leaves what will be the fate of the Yoruba people or the other nationalities that makes up Nigeria.
At this juncture in our history, it would be the time to give the indigenous peoples of Nigerians the opportunity to determine their future in a constitutional conference. Nigeria has gone past its due date and must now be prepared for decommissioning just like several countries such as Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, etc has done in the past. If not, a dysfunctional disengagement may lead to utter chaos if not another civil considering the damage the country is currently doing to the lives of millions of frustrated youths. The rate of poverty is not abating with the currency being devalued on a daily basis putting more strain on the people’s finances
The handlers of Nigeria must acknowledge that the unitary system being practiced in Nigeria has utterly failed the people. The people must now be handed a lifeline in order to salvage a future for themselves and their future generations. Anything short of that may mean Nigeria may go the way other African countries such as Somalia and South Sudan etc have divided with years of bitter civil war which has resulted in the loss of millions of innocent lives.
Yoruba people should not shout ‘Uhuru’ yet because one of us is sitting in ‘Aso rock’. If history has thought us anything, whoever becomes president of Nigeria is there for themselves and not necessarily representing their constituents. That Tinubu will be president does not stop the call for an independent Yoruba nation, if anything, the call for an independent Yoruba nation should now become louder and clearer to send a strong signal to the local and international communities that the Yoruba people have finally made up their mind to leave Nigeria.
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By Dolapo Aina
According to Citizen Remote, “A digital nomad visa is a temporary permit that allows visitors to stay in a country while they work remotely. Multiple countries offer these sorts of visas, and most of them have a duration of twelve months, with the possibility to extend your stay. While they may not be for everyone, a digital nomad visa allows many remote workers to travel the world while they work from the comfort of their computers. They also help the countries impulse their economy by having foreigners stay for extended periods.”
Several benefits and fallouts of having digital nomads in a country include but not limited to positive country branding by the digital nomads who are residents in their host country. Digital nomads tend to amplify messages the host country might have been trying to get across to potential travellers. On the African Continent, only a few countries have latched on to Digital Nomads and Digital Nomad visas (and it is noteworthy to state that some African countries might not term it Digital Nomad Visas but have something in that guise.)
Since the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant fallouts, digital nomads and remote work have increased exponentially globally and in Africa particularly.
According to the Harvard School of Business, with the global shift towards remote work over the past three years, approximately forty-seven countries have developed digital nomad visa programmes. On the African Continent, a few countries offer Digital Nomad Visa. These countries are and in no particular order: Cape Verde, Mauritius, Namibia and Seychelles. Other countries on the African Continent have something within this category but officially, it is designated as Digital Nomad Visa.
On Tuesday, 9th of May 2023, Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board announced and welcomed Namibia’s first Digital Nomads.
According to a statement signed by Ms. Catherine Shipushu, who is the senior manager: Marketing, Branding and Communications of Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, “Namibia officially recorded her first digital nomads just five months after the official launch of the country’s Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) on 11 October 2022. The programme was launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration and Security (MHAISS) and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), with the aim of enhancing economic activity in the country. The first two digital nomad visa applications were approved on Tuesday, 14 February 2023.”
The statement further revealed that the Digital Nomad Visa programme aims to capitalise on the growing global remote workforce by offering location-independent foreign professionals the chance to live, work, and experience Namibia for up to six months. These digital nomads contribute towards the country’s economy by injecting foreign currency in the ecosystem, but without usurping jobs meant for Namibians. Early results are encouraging, with over 121 enquiries about the programme recorded so far. Of this number a total of 20 applications were received, out of which nine were approved, with five rejections. The reasons for rejection were made known to include; applicants who do not meet the income requirements of two thousand dollars per month, and are thus unable to prove that they can effectively sustain themselves while in Namibia. Other applications were rejected because they were submitted while the applicants were already in Namibia on a different legal status such as a Tourist Visa, or they arrived in the country before approval of their application.
According to Ms. Catherine Shipushu; “The launch of the Digital Nomad Visa earned Namibia international praise, from Cape Town to Germany and as far as Australia. Additionally, we have witnessed a surge in queries and applications for the DNV through our website, further demonstrating the growing global interest. This demonstrates Namibia’s potential to harness the digital nomad trend and create new opportunities for local businesses in the tourism and information and communication technologies support sectors. As an effective marketing tool for Namibia, the DNV program has also created visibility through digital nomads documenting and sharing their experiences on social media and other mass media platforms, showcasing the nation’s natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and hospitality. This increased visibility has the potential to help attract more tourists, investors, and talent, further stimulating the nation’s economic growth and development.”
It is said that, by design, the Digital Nomad Visa complements, rather than competes with, the local workforce, ensuring digital nomads bring their own remote jobs or freelance projects to Namibia. This approach benefits the Namibian economy and its people while creating an environment for local entrepreneurs and professionals to expand their networks, learn from their international counterparts, and explore new avenues for collaboration.
Dolapo Aina reached out to Ms. Catherine Shipushu (senior manager: Marketing, Branding and Communications of Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, in the Office of The Presidency) for more clarifications and insights.
On the abovementioned statement that the digital nomads contribute towards the country’s economy by injecting foreign currency in the ecosystem, I asked if this is the only criteria being looked at? What about those nomads who can attract global attention and global traffic into Namibia? How do you factor that into the policy? Ms. Catherine Shipushu stated that, “The Namibia Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) serves a dual purpose in enhancing the country’s economy. Firstly, it allows digital nomads to inject foreign currency into the ecosystem, contributing to economic activities and growth. Additionally, the DNV harnesses the power of digital nomads as ambassadors for Namibia. Through their documentation and sharing of experiences on social media and other platforms, they become valuable marketing assets, attracting global attention and generating publicity for the country. As part of our marketing campaign, we have engaged digital nomads, who are currently in Namibia, to share their unique perspectives and experiences, aiming to inspire and attract more digital nomads to choose Namibia as their preferred “work” destination. By leveraging their presence and influence, we strive to create a ripple effect of positive exposure and interest in Namibia, ultimately benefiting the local economy and fostering collaboration between local and international professionals.”
On the two thousand dollars per month projection, I asked if this was targeted at only Western nomads only or global nomads including African nomads who might not have the same financial muscle as their Western counterparts? And would this amount be reduced anytime soon? Ms. Catherine Shipushu stated that, “The requirement of USD 2,000 per month for the Namibia Digital Nomad Visa is not targeted exclusively at Western nomads. The income requirement serves as a benchmark to ensure that digital nomads, regardless of their nationality, have the financial means to sustain themselves comfortably in Namibia. The aim is to provide a positive experience for digital nomads and contribute to the local economy. The income requirement is based on the cost of living in Namibia and takes into account expenses such as accommodation, transportation, food and other essentials. The Namibian government understands the diverse backgrounds of digital nomads and aims to create an inclusive environment that welcomes global nomads, including those from Africa and other parts of the world, while maintaining a reasonable financial stability requirement. As with any programme, there is a possibility of periodic evaluation and adjustments based on feedback and the evolving circumstances.”
The launch of Namibia’s Digital Nomad Visa programme is a bold and strategic move that positions the country as a prime destination for remote workers from around the world. By embracing this global trend and offering a world-class visa program, Namibia stands to reap substantial economic, social, and cultural benefits.
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Adding Value
Adding Value: Understanding Oneself: Foundation to Success by Henry Ukazu
Published
2 days agoon
May 27, 2023By
Eric
Dear Destiny Friends,
“To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom” – Socrates
Please permit me to begin this article by asking a simple question. Who are you? By this, I mean what you stand for or represent and not what the world thinks of you. It is instructive to note that what the world thinks of you is your reputation, but your character is who you really are.
If an employer wants to know more about a prospective employee, they can ask an open-ended question such as how would you describe yourself in one sentence? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Have you ever experienced a challenge or problem at work? If yes, how did you handle it? All these questions are structured to inquire more about the personality of the employee.
One of the best things anyone can do in life is not only to understand who they are, but also understand what they represent. It will be hard to know what you represent if you don’t understand who you are. If you don’t understand yourself, it will be difficult to understand other people.
According to Forbes, only 15% of the world are self-aware. One begins to wonder, what about the remaining 85%. As a transformational Human Capacity Coach, my company is focused on helping people unleash their potential. To do this, we use our self-discovery and mindset training manual to know more about them by giving them a set of self awareness questions which they are required to answer to the best of their knowledge. It is rather unfortunate that a lot of people don’t know themselves. They just exist as opposed to living.
Self-discovery is truly lacking in our society. When you truly know yourself, you will know your strengths and weaknesses. When you know yourself, you will know your boundaries as regards what to accept from people and where to draw the lines; you will know your personality traits; you will have a clearer understanding of your career path in your professional life; you will know how to interact with people; you will know your core values; you will have a clearer version of your life purpose; and you will be self-motivated. The list is literally endless.
In the journey of life, we engage in a lot of activities we are not supposed to be engaged in. For example, we study courses we are not wired or love to study, and this makes understanding difficult. Some of us apply for jobs we are not passionate about just to pay bills. Some of us even marry partners we don’t really like due to circumstances. Again, the list is endless. All these can lead to frustration and depression if not properly managed. If only we can take a deep breath and ask ourselves some deep thought-provoking questions on what we really want in life, and the reason we are doing what we are doing, the result will be different.
There are many ways to understand oneself. You can understand yourself by staying silent, reflecting about, and observing your life. These acts will help you to practice self-awareness which will ultimately help you to look inward and enable you to understand your feelings, emotions, and your personality. Self knowledge will enable you to know your values, interests, temperament, life mission, and activities to engage in.
As human beings, one thing we should constantly engage in is learning new things about ourselves on a daily basis. Knowing oneself takes time. However, due to desperation, most people don’t practice the art of stillness. When you take time to understand what’s involved in a particular work, it will be easy to solve it in a more efficient and effective manner. There is a story told of a philosopher, who fell into a ditch in front of him because he was too busy to see what was ahead of him.
Again, let’s take the case of Japan with about one hundred and twenty-five million people, which is one of the most industrialized countries on the planet, yet it maintains a level of calm despite the busy nature of the country.
The benefits of knowing oneself is priceless. It will make you confident which will ultimately eliminate self-doubt. It will help you build better and healthy health relationships by attracting the people you need and eliminating people you don’t need. You will be less stressed because you will focus on what’s important as opposed to irrelevant things which will keep your temperament and mindset in good shape.
Self discovery will help you to know your self-worth because no one will price you cheap when you know your value, and you will feel happier.
Furthermore, self knowledge will help you in decision making. When you know yourself, you will be able to make better choices about everything, from minor decisions to major decisions. Your temperament and personality type will be better managed as a leader or rational being.
Self control: When you know yourself, you will better manage yourself. If you can’t manage yourself, it will be hard to manage other people. When you know yourself, you understand what motivates you to resist bad habits and develop good ones. Knowing your strengths is one of the foundations of self confidence.
Resistance to social pressure. Self knowledge helps you to focus on what’s beneficial to you as opposed to other people. According to Bill Cosby, “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everyone. When you are grounded in your values and preferences, you are less likely to say “yes” when you want to say “no.”
In conclusion, take time and reflect on this question, who am I? This is one of the most important questions you will answer in your entire life. When you answer this question, you have solved 50% of your life challenges. If you can’t answer this question, and need assistance, you can use the email below to reach out for assistance.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate and creative writer Design Your Destiny and Unleash Your Destiny. He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
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