A Few Good Men

Earlier today, I watched a preacher on television talk about the distinction between GREATNESS and GOODNESS. He drew my attention to the fact that all you needed to be great was to achieve some level of success and fame and the World system would call you great. On the other hand, if your life has gone a step further to touch humanity positively, then you have shown goodness.

I learnt something valuable that it is better to be a good man than a great one, though there is absolutely nothing wrong in being both. A lot of the great men we have around are not good men. That is also a fact.

Same day, I had to take my niece back to boarding school and we got talking about the charity work her school's proprietress does and I got to know she was the founder of an orphanage I had visited a few times somewhere in Abuja called Gishiri. Now, I was privy to the fact that she had an orphanage hitherto but I never imagined it was the same Hope for Survival Orphanage I knew. My heart melted.

This woman treats these kids as very privileged children affording all of them 100% scholarships at her schools spread across Abuja and Nasarawa State, both in the Northern-Middle Belt. And by the way, her group of schools has very good standards. My niece told me that over 50% of the students at the school she is enrolled in are from the orphanage. This woman even makes sure  these kids go ahead to have tertiary education.

The first time I went to The Hope for Survival Orphanage in February this year with a few friends, we all left there almost in tears, tears as the children there was quite a number and we imagined where they would have been if they weren't in a foster facility.

This night, I want to thank all those who run such facilities round Nigeria and beyond. I also want to thank all those who donate fund and supplies to these homes. Pioneers in this sector would be Rev. Mrs Dele George of The Strong Tower Mission / Little Saints Orphanage, The Pacelli School for the Blind, The SOS Children Village, and several others.

Nigeria needs a few good men to change this country. We have too many great men as it is but a lot of them are no good.

Tonight, you Mrs Ruth Ibrahim are a perfect example of one good person with a great soul. I have never met you in person but I can tell that you are one good person, and a great one at that.



Thank you ma.


Daniel Omizu-Ojadua

twitter: @dannyomizu

Robin Has Kept Me Pondering

It's 12.39a.m Nigerian Local time and I just got the news of Robin Williams passing on. Under normal circumstances, I would be celebrating his transition because he was a great man who had achieved a lot but not now because of the tragic end to such a fine mind. Suicide is never an end in itself.

There are lots of questions many of us would've loved to ask Uncle Robin if we could but alas he is gone.

I am broken as I write and a lot is going through my bleeding mind. Robin, how could you allow the devil push you to the brink? Do you not know how much joy you have brought to the world around you? Oh! yes, you had a problem with the bottle, so what? We would have kept on loving the man you are. You were not just one of Hollywood's finest but you had a fine soul.

The world as you knew it would never forget you in a hurry. To your widow and three kids, GOD grant them the fortitude and grace to bear your passing.

Lights out!


Daniel Omizu-Ojadua

twitter: @dannyomizu

The Man With No face!

The story of Jose Mestre really touched me. As we step into the new year, we should remember the importance of family and how much they mean to us. Jose was remarkably lucky to have a wonderful sister in his life and a few other friends who kept him on his journey to recovery.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/man-lost-face-tumor-lifesaving-surgery-chicago-doctor/story?id=12943815

Click on the link above to read his full story.

GOD bless you all.

Daniel Omizu-Ojadua
twitter: @dannyomizu

And So The Year Wraps Up!

My good people, we all made it. In a few hours (precisely three), we shall be wishing each other happy new year.

To all who have taken time out of their busy schedules to visit my blog, my friends and family, colleagues, and those who have helped me on my literal journey, I say a big thank you. GOD bless you.

One of my last acts this year was to get a facebook fan page. Please like and follow my page on facebook Daniel Omizu-Ojadua. You never know, you just might get an autographed copy of my book in your mailbox.

Happy New Year!!

Daniel Omizu-Ojadua

Happy Yuletide Folks!

Wishing all my friends and readers a lovely festive season. In the spirit of Christmas, we should endeavor to be of good to our fellow man. Go out there today, touch someone's life positively, share with someone and put a smile on their faces. That's what Christmas is all about - sacrifice and giving.

Here are links to some of my articles for Eky's Corner. Hope you enjoy reading.

Happy holidays!

http://ekyshirley.blogspot.com/2013/07/pidgin-english-tory-for-una.html

http://ekyshirley.blogspot.com/2013/08/pidgin-tory-for-una-part-2.html

http://ekyshirley.blogspot.com/2013/07/pidgin-english-satire-on.html

http://ekyshirley.blogspot.com/2013/07/my-people-satire-on-retrogression.html

Adding Zest to My Writing Career!

And so, I have been up to lots lately. Recently became a contributor to the lifestyle blog known as Eky's Corner. You should check them out - http://ekyshirley.blogspot.com

The blogger has made me do stuff in Pidgin English, all in the bid to encourage reading amongst our youths (ofcourse the translations follows most times).  Just yesterday, we got a new contributor. Her name is Itohan and she writes in pidgin as good as I do. Her first post could be found at http://ekyshirley.blogspot.com/2013/08/pidgin-tory-for-una-from-our-newest.html.

Hope you enjoy reading. Do find time to go through my other stuff there.

You are blessed for life!

Daniel Omizu-Ojadua
Twitter: @dannyomizu

Children in Solitude!

I have been thinking alot lately about a grave injustice thriving in the land especially in certain parts of the Niger-Delta where kids who are accused of witchcraft and demon-possession are put through very excruciating conditions all in the name of reprisal.

Just two days ago, my friend Dupe who works at the Population Commission was out on duty to a children's home somewhere in Akwa Ibom and wat she saw was mind boggling. Some kid had been bathed in acid because they made  a confession.Another was lacerated. - And several others too. Heard of a little girl aged 5 who was confirmed a witch by a prophet and the dad locked her in a bare room to starve and die. She was rescued by neighbours after almost 2 weeks. At this time, you can imagine her condition - She was almost gone.

I think the time has come for us as a people to overcome certain myths and live like normal humans who have value for life. For heaven's sake, these kids are our future. One of them could be the president tomorrow. Hasn't it crossed the minds of the tormentors that the evil spirits actually wants to terminate these kids' lives and future and that they (tormentors) are willing tools and accomplices?

What even irks me the most is that some of these so-called 'prophets' who are supposed to be a rat of hope and good tidings would be the ones to allow this death sentence on innocent wards. This is a wake-up call. What these kids need is deliverance and re-integration into the larger society.

I shall continually write. Please spread the word and save our future generation.

Yours truly,

Daniel Omizu-Ojadua