EDITOR’S NOTE
THE BIG PICTURE OLABISI USIDAME Recently on a weekday, while on a drive out of the house, my daughter asked, “Mum, do you have your seat belt on?” I nodded. After driving for a while in traffic, she said again, “Mum, the people in that car don’t have their seat belts on. I told her they had their belts on, but she couldn’t see it. For a while, she kept insisting they were disobeying traffic rules. I then told her that she could not see the whole picture from where she was. “How do you mean, Mum?” she asked. I realised it was an opportunity to teach her a life lesson. “You can’t always see the whole
picture from outside”. When God says take a step, go ahead and do just that. Do not ever forget God has plans for you and you must take a step forward to see what next He has for you. Stop asking, “Where do I go next, Lord?” Instead, ask Him, “Lord, what was the last instruction?” You may even need to take a step backward to progress. May God lead you in the way that you should go, you will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21 NKJV). Do not rule yourself out of a blessing or promotion if God has
TEAM Publisher Godman Akinlabi
Graphic Designer Opeyemi Araba
Editor-in-Chief Tunde Usidame
Contributors Rita Ifidon Bola Akinlabi Oluwabiyi Isaac Chidinma Iwe Matthew Mancha ‘Kayode Olayemi Seun Olanipekun Chinonso Anyadike Adeola Adewoye Lynda Omerekpe
Communications Chinny Ugoji Chioma Enwereji Publications Lanre Babalola Editor ‘Bisi Usidame
not ruled you out. Ease yourself closer to your breakthrough with an action, confession, prayer or seed. Follow His instruction. Shalom.
Bisi
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Singlehood: Inviting yourself
Di’s Diary
PAGE 4
PAGE 5
Year End Finacial Checkup
Rise of the Machines
PAGE 11
PAGE 12
When the office is the only place
Family Traditions
Do you really want more?
Book Review
PAGE 17
PAGE 13
PAGE 8
PAGE 14
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SINGLEHOOD Inviting Yourself Over For Christmas RITA IFIDON
Christmas is generally a time to be merry with so much emphasis on spending time with family Christmas can be tricky when you’re single. While everyone around seem to be having the time of their lives with their significant other, singles are perceived to be lonely, unsure of how to celebrate and sometimes just invited over to perform some social/physical tasks during the holiday. Well, not anymore! My future does not begin once I find a “significant other”. It is happening now. Singlehood is not practice for real life; in fact, real life began yesterday. God’s grand purpose for my life is that I conform to the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ, and I can achieve purpose whether I’m single or married so I will not allow the society tell me otherwise. Just as marriage is a gift, the season of singlehood is a gift and like all of God’s gifts, this time is meant
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to be enjoyed and used wisely. It may not be a long season or an eternal season but nevertheless, it is a gift meant to be enjoyed. I am my own person and if I cannot enjoy being with me, how can I enjoy being with someone else? YES, I am single and YES, I still dream of having my own family someday; But NO, I am not going to brood about how this wish has passed me by yet again this year, I’d rather enjoy my singlehood. I’d enjoy taking as long as I want to get dressed without having someone yell the time at me, pressing the tooth-paste from whatever angle I want, the fizzy anticipation of going out and meeting great people, keeping my home at whatever temperature I want, having all the closet space to myself, controlling the remote to watch telemundo, real housewives, the bachelor or whatever I want without being judged,
Spending the money I’d have used for bae’s gift on more important things like Pizza & Ice cream! So this Christmas, you may be alone like me but you surely do not have to be lonely or depressed. You may spend time with family & friends if you enjoy the company – not just because you cannot enjoy time alone. Here are some tips for inviting yourself to a 3-course Christmas treat! Appetizer Send yourself an invitation for
Entrée Treat yourself: Do something fun and special – Have a spa session, go to the movie, take that trip or get dressed and enjoy an uber ride to a nice restaurant for dinner or lunch. Dessert Get some ‘me’ time: Do not feel like you have to constantly be participating in activities – Take up calming activities and spend some time meditating, take a long walk, listen to good music from your couch and if yoga is your thing, why not? Just flex your right to do whatever you please and enjoy every moment! Don’t forget to take a selfie – even if you spend Christmas lazing in bed!
Christmas: Take quality time off work
What is your plan for Christmas? Share your ideas with us elev8@ elevationng.org with the subject #MySinglehood
Di’s Diary An Old Childhood Friend JADESOLA CAMPBELL
Dear Diary, I almost doubled over the minute i saw that face. It was a face i could never forget. Tade’s thirteen year old face was forever etched in my mind like a tattoo. He was my first major crush, even though that was fourteen years ago. We had grown up on the same street, given our lives to Christ at the same time and had gone to the kiddies and teens bible study classes I walked briskly across the room at Shubby’s dinner party to where he stood with a group of people. The closer i got, the more it dawned on me how different he looked. His beautiful ebony complexion stood him out in the room full of young people. One thing hadn’t changed though, his perfectly placed dimples. I couldn’t believe it was the same nerdy kid i used to know and wondered if his personality had changed as well; I decided to say hi anyway. I beckoned at him from a little behind where the group stood, it seemed he almost doubled over too. Tearing himself away from them, he came over and gave the biggest and tightest hug I’d gotten in a while. ‘Omg! It’s been ages!’ he burst out ‘And damn! Do you look good?’ I immediately felt uncomfortable. I brushed it off with a compliment back, ‘Oh stop! You look
great yourself Tade!’ We got talking about how much time had passed, and then i brought up God and how we used to go for bible study together. He immediately seemed nonchalant. He stroked his beard and laughed deeply. ‘Oh you still believe in that stuff?’ ‘Nah, all that God stuff isn’t for me’. ‘You don’t?’ I asked. We delved into a 45 minute conversation on the subject. Hesitant at first, he eventually opened up to on how his mum had passed, when he was 17. He had begged and begged God, fasted for days even. All to no avail. Since then, he hadn’t seen the sense in all of it. ‘Why waste your time with something that doesn’t exist?’ I felt his pain. Yet, i had no doubt that though he was an upwardly mobile Investment Banker now who seemed to have all the good things in life, he must feel some emptiness. I decided to talk a bit about Christ and how real he is and he seemed to soften for a split second but the walls came right back up. Oh well, it may not be today, but I strongly know that Tade will find his way back to Jesus. No matter how long it takes. Till next time, diary! XO, Di.
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If Christmas is about joy and giving, we cannot ignore those who may need our help. Thinking of a good way to do some charitable giving this season? Partner with us on any of our outreaches! Elevate 200 (E200) This is one of our outreach ministries to the less-privileged. We provide skill acquisition trainings, scholarships and medical interventions while sharing the gospel. At Christmas, we throw the children a party, give them gifts and provide their parents with foodstuff, clothes, shoes and so much more. We also make boxing day count through our soup kitchen and medical outreach. It’s such a warm feeling to see their joy. Prison Ministry Through this ministry, we reach out to inmates
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with the gospel of Jesus, while providing them with medical supplies toiletries and provisions. We have countless salavation testimonies. Back2School Outreach The beginning of school season can be tough on some parents. We make this easier by giving the children adequate school supplies like backpacks, staionery and assistance with school fees. If you would like to partner with us, please send an email to info@ elevationng.org. Your donations are welcome.
Boxing Day Soup Kitchen.
Scenes from our last E200 Christmas party
WHEN THE OFFICE IS THE ONLY PLACE LYNDA OMEREKPE Living in Lagos Metropolis is pretty amazing as the city is perfused with the luxury of influence and affluence. It offers its residents good job opportunities, the best entertainment options and exciting sites of attraction. As a young & vibrant single lady or guy, it is exciting to soak up all the goodness of the city; enjoy the fun times and grow your network and net worth; - with the hope of meeting that special someone who will eventually become the ‘highlight’ of your life. Sadly, this feat has been daunting for some of us who work in the professional industry with a typical 9 to 5 white collar job (or in some cases, 7 to 7 depending on the traffic situation) Your lifestyle is occupied with more work activities and less social life; even the weekends are usually reserved for trainings and quality review
sessions! Finding ‘the one’ becomes an arduous task, especially with the restrictions on dating in most workplace which may cost you your job. Considering the constraints of a timeconsuming work and the possibility of losing your job, how does a single lady or guy build a lasting relationship when work is the only place? The following tips might be helpful:
colleagues, but don’t let the cat out of the bag. It is good to keep things professional in front of others, so you both don’t lose credibility if the relationship fails. If you must discuss your relationship issues, only discuss with friends who have no connection to the office. Keep the sweet talk outside the office and try to stay in touch without using work e-mail or phone.
Have an open mind If you spend majority of your time at work, you’re likely to meet your spouse in the office. Sometimes the compatibility arises because of a shared passion for the things you’re working on together in your team. Go with the flow; little sparks can blossom into shooting stars.
Find a common ground Spend time getting to know one another more broadly and find out what other interests, beliefs, views, etc., you share. At this point, getting to know one another better is vital for the long-term health of your relationship.
Be discreet Keep your thoughts about that hunk or hottie discreet. Yes, ask casual questions from
Be positive The best move, if you fancy a colleague, is to ask them out on a date. Let them know it’s a social thing too else they might be unsure whether it’s a meeting to discuss
business or an ongoing project. Don’t wear a look like you are going to commit suicide if they say no. Trust me, you will face rejection every now and again and it will not be the end of the world! Be light in tone but clear about your intentions and stay positive in your conversations. Take it slow It is wise not to rush into anything that you want to last for a long time. Since you work together, you need to strengthen your bond of friendship outside the office first before taking the relationship further. For example, choose going to the cinema after work instead of going to his/her house for a drink. Early intimacy will alter your perspective of one another and ruin your personal and professional relationship. The bottom line is, “if love happens to strike at work, don’t make a conscious effort to fight it”.
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FAMILY
TRADITIONS OLUWABIYI ISAAC & CHIDINMA IWE
Traditions often tell a story about a family. A contemporary definition of family tradition, also called family culture is the aggregate of attitudes, ideas and ideals, and environment, which a person inherits from his/her parents and ancestors. Sometimes we do not question why we do certain things in a particular way, and at other times, people can see a pattern of behaviour in us (or our family) especially in seasons of joy or mourning. Some family traditions are expressed as daily activities like bedtime stories, family meals, or prayer times. Some others are expressed as weekly, monthly or yearly activities. A few examples would be special family
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dinners, camping trips, and thanksgiving celebrations. Every family has a culture or tradition even though some families may be oblivious of the culture they reinforce on a daily basis. Today, our world has become very connected by social media applications with a world of information to share. Families are spending aggregates of over 12 hours online each day (and lesser time with each other), thus losing that bond and deep family connection. Creating a positive family tradition requires intentional behaviour especially by parents making a conscious effort to infuse values into the activities that form part of their family traditions.
Research has shown that family culture plays a more important role in shaping a child than parenting styles, and the culture of a family has a strong link to their overall happiness. Children often develop a healthy sense of selfworth from positive family traditions as family traditions have been known to foster warmth, a sense of unity, happiness and security. It may not be the tradition in themselves that guarantee these benefits but the quality of exchanges, interactions and learning opportunities that these traditions provide on a consistent basis. It is common knowledge especially in Africa that those children who spend considerable amount
of time with parents and grandparents tend to demonstrate greater wisdom and emotional sensitivity.   5 REASONS FOR DEVELOPING FAMILY TRADITIONS There are so many reasons having family traditions are important. These days, particularly in cosmopolitan cities like Lagos, families are finding it much difficult to spend quality time together. Between work, school, clubs, church meetings and more, only a few families get to have a meal together more than once a week. Also, as time goes and the children grow
older, school and life in general could take them to different places. It is the valuable memories that we create through our various traditions and practices that linger. Here are five reasons it’s important to maintain and encourage family traditions: Fosters Unity and Love It is becoming increasingly difficult to get together as a family due to the fast-paced nature of the world we currently live in. Parents and kids get up early to set out for work and school respectively and get back home late at night. Spending quality time together as a family will increase unity and love within
the family as there are opportunities for faceto-face interaction which will trigger happy moments that foster love. Gives A Sense Of Belonging We live in a society where “mind your business” syndrome has eaten deep into the fabric of our daily lives. No one cares to know the difficulties you have at work or in school. Sticking to family traditions gives all family members a sense of belonging. This creates a bond that comes from the feeling of being part of something unique and special. This helps kids especially, to know their self-worth and build healthy self-esteem.
Help to Nip Bad Behaviours in the Bud It is easy to detect bad behaviours in kids when parents interact with them regularly. As kids grow up, they can be influenced easily either for good or bad and family traditions help to instill good behaviour in them. Behaviours such as whining, tantrums, etc. can be detected easily and corrected. Teaches Values Moral and Christian values can be taught and picked easily by kids during family traditions. The importance of belief and trust in God is taught daily prayers, value of education and importance of reading is instilled through night bed time reading, the importance of clean
rooms and environment is taught during family cleaning day. Creates Positive Lasting Memories The gathering of extended Family during Christmas or New Year celebrations can leave a child with nostalgia for several years after such events. These memories are sometimes cherished for life especially when there’s no opportunity to see some of the family members again. A tradition of taking family pictures every year can create long wonderful memories when such pictures are viewed in the future.
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IDEAS FOR CREATING FAMILY TRADITIONS Family traditions don’t have to be expensive or intense. They can be as simple as having a movie night every Friday or discussing national issues around the dinner table every evening. What’s important is the anticipation and repetition. Family traditions are often structured around holidays and special ceremonies or celebrations, but they
can be anytime and as frequent as one desires. However, care should be taken that it doesn’t occur too often that it becomes mundane. Also, while there are a thousand and one possible traditions you could have in your family, you should aim for a moderate number. Below are some interesting examples: Weekly family night In a busy city like Lagos, where most families
struggle to spend quality time together, you could try starting a family night once a week. Go out to the movies or even sit in at home – order pizza, watch a movie or play games. This way, family time is regular, creative and also fun. Family song This is a particular tune that represents your family. You could choose a song of thanksgiving or praise, which you sing at the dinner table or family events. You could sing it in a style that is unique to your family. Annual family picture This is quite simple, whether in your PJs or special costumes, strike a pose with every member of your family. Take the picture at the same location every year and label accordingly. This would create good memories and you all can see how everyone has grown. Letters to Jesus So before you open your gifts or dive into your Christmas meal, write
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‘thank-you’ letters to Jesus, collect them and add new letters annually. When each person reads their ‘thank -you’ letters from years past you remember all the good and wonderful things God has done for you. 12 Days of giving This isn’t just a tradition, it’s also a way to teach your children to appreciate giving. So on the 12 days of Christmas, beginning December 25 and ending January 5, make handy care packages in Ziploc bags that can be randomly distributed. The list is endless and there are no rules. The important thing is to take the initiative and get creative in developing your family traditions. The close bond that it engenders in your family is priceless. What is your favorite family tradition? What new family traditions would you be creating? Please share with us at elev8@elevationng. org using the subject #familytraditions.
YEAR-END FINANCIAL CHECKUP ‘KAYODE OLAYEMI
Ah, what a year it has been. I guess it’s okay to keep it at that without rehashing all that is glaring about the state of the economy. It’s that time of the year again and the bells will jingle. Among the many things this time of year brings, it is a good time to take stock of your financial goals for the year (if you had any), and access how far you went in achieving them. It’s a good time to prepare for the New Year – put your finances in order and set goals. We may not know in what shape the economy would be next year but we have a fair idea what obligations we would have to meet. As such, the importance of yearend financial review and budgeting cannot be overemphasized. Once you are able to clear your goals, you would be able to consider all the options – saving more, cutting expense,
investing appropriately as well as seeking insurance protection. Here are a few suggestions on things you could do to make sure your finances are in good shape for the New Year: Check your accounts This is a good exercise to do at the end of the year. Check your various accounts to make sure everything is in order and to get a sense of the value of your net asset. Review your spending Take a look back into the year to see areas where your money went to. Did you acquire any assets? What proportion of income did you spend/ save/give? This would help identify likely areas of waste. Check your emergency fund Experts encourage that we have sufficient cash to cover 3 to 6 month worth of expenses in a
back account. You should check this and make adjustments for inflation, changes in family size etc. Organize your taxes As a result of the drop in the government revenue from crude oil, there’s an increased focus filling the gap with taxes. It would be prudent to ensure your tax returns are in order. Review you pension account Did you know that you can boost your retirement savings by making an additional voluntary contribution (AVC) to your Retirement Savings Account (RSA)? The law allows withdrawals from the AVC at any time and a tax-free withdrawal applies after 5 years.
in this season to provoke blessings from above. However, there’s the need for discretion which would entail outlining and planning a giving budget and plan for the year. Evaluate your portfolio Take out time to review your investments and rebalance your portfolio. Due to market movements, the idea is to make sure your portfolio maintains the right asset allocation mix whilst also considering investments that should be sold.
Plan your giving We should not stop giving because finances are tight. Instead we should look to give more
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THE RISE OF THE
MACHINES ‘KAYODE OLAYEMI
When director, Paul Verhoeven, released the sci-fi movie RoboCop in 1987, even he probably could not have predicted the future that is now upon us. Small weaponized drones have become a reality. From self-driving cars to selfcheckout machines at the grocery store, machines to microbots that scrape plaque from arteries, robots and computer software are increasingly taking the place of humans in the workplace. This is not the first time machines have taken human jobs. From the first industrial revolution in the 18th century, machines have been replacing humans in the workplace. The only difference is the breadth and pace at which this is occurring. Before now, automation mostly impacted lowskilled blue-collar jobs but this wave of the machines is also upending highly
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skilled white-collar jobs. I mean travel agents, bank tellers, stockbrokers and accountants are already being replaced with e-banking as well as online trading and accounting applications. Even your last transatlantic flight was probably guided and landed robotically with the pilots mostly watching. That said, it’s not all doom and gloom.
Like the 1 s t
through to the 3rd industrial revolution which didn’t eliminate all working class jobs, this will not. While the machines will displace some jobs, technology has historically been a net creator of jobs. However, one thing is certain; the way we work will change forever. According to serial entrepreneur Jerry Kaplan, “If your job involves a very narrow, welldefined set of duties, then your
employment is at risk.” However, for the time being at least, there are some tasks where the human perspective would remain valuable. Such as setting goals, expressing sympathy, providing companionship, or making a connection with someone. So, to remain relevant, you must constantly assess the future of your industry, go for that training, enroll for that degree program, develop those soft skills, build those relationships and be prepared to reinvent yourself. In most of the developed world, they are facing an ageing population, resulting in a shortfall in labour. As such, there is an imperative to maintain production levels. So if you are still nursing any doubts, clear them. If the bots are yet to get into your line of work, given the pace of advancement, it’s only a matter of time. The machines are coming!
DO YOU REALLY WANT MORE? BOLA AKINLABI Has anyone ever told you not to be Oliver Twist? I got that a lot growing up. I got it from teachers, peers and even from well-meaning friends who wanted to protect me from the disappointment that comes from “wanting too much”. But Oliver Twist in Charles Dickens’ story wasn’t being greedy; he was simply hungry in a place that had conditioned him to never ask for more. What about you, what burden of conditioning are you living under? Who spoke words of limitation into your life? Who said you couldn’t aspire to more than your current level? I believe that as Christians and even moreso as women, we are in a time when we need to aspire; whether as a career woman, student,
enterpreneur, lady boss, wife or mother, there is a place of promise for you called “MORE”. After all, we are heirs according to His promise. Galatians 3:28-29. The question though is, what does “more” mean to you? What defines your next level? For the daughters of Zelophehad, they knew what “more” represented and they were willing to press their case. Numbers 26:33, 27:3 and Joshua 17 tell the story of these sisters who challenged the status quo and received their inheritance in a society that only considered male children as heirs. We need to: • Take our eyes off people. Ask God first, before you ask any third party for what you feel is due to you. God is a jealous God and
we need to regard Him, rather than our paycheck, father or husband, as our primary source. •
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Be audacious and expect that there will be opposition but be ready to press forward. God wants you to ASK! And to ask for the right things. James 4:2b-3.
Walk in obedience. Some of the answers we receive will have specific instructions. Zelophehad’s daughters had to marry within their tribe to enforce their inheritance. Maybe for you to go higher in your business God may be saying don’t associate with so and so, or maybe draw closer to so and so. Listen for your own instruction from
your Father and whatever He says to you, do it. Finally, my “more” must find alignment with God’s plans and agenda. Don’t leave your femininity behind in the pursuit of more. You will be secure in your Father’s love when you understand deep down that He calls you beautiful and that you were His own idea. He isn’t embarrassed or intimidated by the desires of your heart. He wants you to be whole. You were made for more love, beauty, grace, favour, anointing, fulfillment, accomplishments, laughter, growth and abundance and for a closer walk with Him. So step into immeasurably more!
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‘SEUN OLANIPEKUN The richest man in Babylon is a classic on personal financial management. The book was originally published in the early 1900’s, as a series of pamphlets written in parables.
The award-winning bestseller contains inspirational lessons on thrift, financial planning, and personal wealth. It reveals timeless secrets on wealth creation and wealth preservation. The book was set in the ancient city of Babylon around 4000 years ago. The stories are centered on 3 characters; Bansir who was a chariot builder, Kobbi who was a musician and their childhood friend, Arkad who in contrast, had amassed fortunes under the guidance of his mentor, Algamish. Arkad teaches the people how to become rich in a series of lectures in which he describes the seven cures to a lean purse: Start thy purse fattening Pay yourselves first and foremost before you
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spend any of the money you have earned. The book recommends that you pay yourself at least 10% of all that you earn. Control thy expenditures Keep your expenditures down and below your means. The book advises that you should not confuse necessary expenses with desires and you should budget your expenses so that you can meet your needs without spending more than eight-tenths (after your tithe) of your earnings. Make thy gold multiply The lesson it expounds here is the need to invest the money you have saved to earn a steady income stream while taking advantage of compound interest.
Guard thy treasures from loss This speaks to the need to seek counsel from those experienced in profitable deployment of savings; thus, protecting yourself from unsafe investments. Make of thy dwelling a profitable investment This encourages people to own their own homes. He points out that if you pay rent to a landlord all your life, at the end of your life you’ll have nothing to show for it. But if you can instead pay a mortgage on a house, at the end of your life you’ll have a house to show for it. Insure your future income This talks to the need to have a retirement plan. It also touches on the importance of buying
a life insurance for the protection of your family in the event of demise. Increase thy ability to earn The advice here is, invest in deepening your knowledge and broadening your competencies. If you want to increase your income, you must increase your ability to earn. If you have read the book prior to now, what was the biggest lesson(s) you learned? Share with us at elev8@elevationng. org with the subject #Bookreview
HALL OF HUMOUR MATTHEW MANCHA All Dolled Up A husband and wife had been married for 60 years and had no secrets except for one: The woman kept in her closet a shoe box that she forbade her husband from ever opening. But when she was on her deathbed—and with her blessing—he opened the box and found a crocheted doll and $95,000 in cash. “My mother told me that the secret to a happy marriage was to never argue,” she explained. “Instead, I should keep quiet and crochet a doll.” Her husband was touched. Only one doll was in the box—that meant she’d been angry with him only once in 60 years. “But what about all this money?” he asked. “Oh,” she said, “That’s the money I made from selling the dolls.”
Might Be The Wine Talking… A couple was sitting in their living room, sipping wine. Out of the blue, the wife says, “I love you.”. “Is that you or the wine talking?” asks the husband. “It’s me,” says the wife, “Talking to the wine.” In Your Dreams On the morning of her birthday, a woman told her husband, “I just dreamed that you gave me a diamond necklace. What do you think it means?” “Maybe you’ll find out tonight,” he said. That evening, the man came home with a small package and gave it to his wife. She ripped off the wrapping paper and found a book titled ‘The Meaning of Dreams’.
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