Thinking Aloud Magazine: Apr-Jun 2022

ISSUE

18 APR - JUN 2022

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE publication of rehoboth dream solid foundation (rdsf)

CONTENTS

Cover Photo: Boma Alabi OON, SAN

Dr. Folasade Hunsu Department of English, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria

Mr. Patrick Edebor Editorial/publishing consultant. Owner, Patrick Edebor and Associates.

Mr. Akin Adejuwon Curator, Institute of Cultural Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Mr. Rotimi Lawuyi FCA Owner, RAMA Editors.

Dr. Mrs Olayinka Opadiya Senior Pastor, Every Nation Church Sydney Australia.

Mrs. Abimbola Komolafe Founder/Executive Director, Rehoboth Dream Solid Foundation.

Rear Admiral (Rtd) Oladeinde Joseph , Chairman, Board of Trustees Pharm. Samson Igbokwe Mrs Roseline Igbokwe Mrs Ronke Osikoya Ms Ketumi Alasa Pastor (Dr) Joshua Opadiya Dr (Mrs) Yinka Opadiya Mrs Abimbola Komolafe Rear Admiral (Rtd) K O Komolafe

Editor Bimbo Komolafe

Project Team

Publication & Design

Othniel Komolafe

Edison Egere

Benjamin Eze

Grace Adoga Celestina Osiki

Project Manager

Dorcas Adekunle

Tomi Olatunde-Idowu

Amarachi Uduma

@2022. Thinking Aloud Magazine, a publication of Rehoboth Dream Solid Foundation.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

THINKING ALOUD | APR - JUN 2022

| 2 |

R D S F

EDITORIAL

ISSUE

18

APR - JUN 2022

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the Q2, 2022 edition of Thinking Aloud (TA) magazine produced by Rehoboth Dream Solid Foundation (RDSF). I believe the second quarter of the year has been a fulfilling one for us all.

Our cover story for this edition features an interview with Boma Alabi OON, SAN, a Senior Partner with Primera Africa Legal (PAL) and the first female President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association. Boma has made impactful contributions to the legal sphere in Nigeria and beyond. In this interview, she takes us through her career journey, sharing many lessons from her experience.

The RSDF Success story in this edition features Damilola Ajibade, a graduate of History and International Relations from Tai Solarin University who tells the heart-warming story of how the RSDF Scholarship Scheme helped her achieve her dreams.

The Parenting Spotlight for Q2 is titled ‘Sports and The Growing Child: The Role of Parents’. In it, Shegun and Booky share with our readers how they used sports to harness, cultivate and develop innate qualities of their children for greater self-actualization.

Our Special Feature for this edition is Dr. Barney J. Wilson, an experienced educator with more than 30 years of leadership responsibilities in the United States and Nigeria. His article on Value-Based Education is enriched with useful information on what parents and schools can do to help enforce value-based education.

The Health and Fitness Columns are furnished with knowledge on maintaining wellness and keeping fit. This quarter the health article is on gastric cancer while our fitness article gives an in-depth knowledge on the benefits of physical exercise to mental health.

Our Guest writer for the ‘Finance and Business Column’ is Yomi Jemibewon, one of the founding partners of CardinalStone, a reputable Lagos-based asset management firm, and current Managing Partner of CardinalStone Capital Advisers Limited. He shares from his wealth of experience in an article titled ‘ 5 Lessons from my journey – for Entrepreneurs and change makers’. It is a must read for persons interested in growing their wealth.

Do have a pleasant reading experience and remember to show some love by sharing this magazine with your contacts and loved ones. On behalf of the TA magazine project team, I wish you a beautiful and successful second half of 2022.

Bimbo Komolafe Editor

R

connect with us on social media | thinkingaloudmagazine

D S F | 3 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

SPORTS AND THE GROWING CHILD: THE ROLE OF PARENTS

Every parent dreams of nurturing the next Einstein, the next Freud, the next Bill Gates and Elon Musk amongst other luminaries. Pertinently, the single unifying element in the dream is the child’s self-actualization in the spheres of academics and industry. While this article does not intend to make every parent an ardent believer in sports, it nevertheless seeks to open a vista for channelling of children’s bountiful energies through constructive engagement in sports that would build their physical fitness, team-building skills, moral fibre and goal orientation.

In this article, Shegun and Booky share with our readers how they used sports to harness, cultivate and develop innate qualities of their children for greater selfactualization.

Focus. Discipline. Determination. Commitment.

We’ve had a little sign showing these words up on our home office wall for years, and while we could easily attribute our kids’ achievements in sports to this, it’s only partly true. While it is true that we have taught and still continue teaching these principles to our kids, it’s only the first chapter in a book of many chapters.

To provide a bit of background to this article, we are a family of five including Dad, Mum and our three children – Israel (15), Rhema (12) and Faith (7). We live in the beautiful and multicultural city of Sydney in Australia.

While we as the parents were born in Nigeria and migrated to Australia some years ago, all our kids were born and raised in Australia.

As much as we would love to claim that our children got their sports talent genes from us, it’s simply not the case.

Well, my wife did have a stint in athletics up until high school and did fairly well in school sporting events. She also has a keen interest in football and this is not unusual THINKING ALOUD | APR - JUN 2022

for a Nigerian born person. On the other hand, I have had less foray into the world of sports. The occasional catchup on football games or athletics especially during the big events are more in line with how I interact with sports.

Our children’s journey into the world of sports was not a plan we had from the start. There was no specific strategy in choosing what sport they ventured into or when they started. This is particularly true for our older children – Israel and Rhema.

Our children’s journey into the world of sports was not a plan we had from the start. There was no specific strategy in choosing what sport they ventured into or when they started.

When we look back to how things have played out, of course we cannot help but be thankful to God but a bible verse that comes to mind is one from Proverbs 3:5-6, which says; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will direct your path.”

As mentioned earlier, we did not necessarily have any strategic plans or goals for sports for our children when they started. One thing we did realize early, was the importance of participating in outdoor activities/sports for children.

Little did we know this was going to pay off in ways that we certainly did not recognize from the start. However, our walk and trust in God as parents and our desire to guide our children according to the will of God played a massive role in the outcomes they have gone on to achieve. | 4 |

R D S F

Israel

In Australia, community soccer creates opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the sport by belonging and playing with a local Australian soccer club. It is designed for those who play the game casually and uses short, game-based sessions to introduce the sport of soccer to newcomers in an inclusive way.

Community soccer is quite common in Australia and it was not hard for us to find a local team for Israel to join within our local area. This was the beginning of his foray into ‘organized sports’.

Israel is our first child and he is 15 years old.

As our first child, it’s fair to say Israel’s journey into the world of sports was the most unplanned and spontaneous. The plan for him was to get him involved in some active outdoor activities from an early age. This especially made sense because he was such a ball of energy and we felt there was a need to help him channel that energy into something productive.

Perhaps due to our background as Nigerian born parents, it was a no brainer or the easiest choice to make was to have him enrolled in football. This started from around the age of four. I remember we had him placed in a football programme for children between the ages of 35 years and they had late afternoon 40 minute sessions 12 times a week.

The programme was mainly set up to be a fun one, where kids could run around kicking the ball coupled with very basic soccer skills. This was understandable because at that age, the fun element was very important for the kids or they lose interest.

At this point, we did not really have any specific plans as to what could happen beyond what we were doing at the time. We did notice that Israel enjoyed the activity and also found a better outlet for that ball of energy.

It then made sense that once he turned six and grew out of the early age football programme, we needed to look for another avenue for him to be able to continue in this path. This was how we discovered community soccer.

R D S F

In Australia, community soccer creates opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in the sport by belonging and playing with a local Australian soccer club.

It was at this point that we started noticing that he not only loved the sport but he also had a natural talent for it. It was therefore easy to spot his passion for the game and he always looked forward to the next one. It was also at this point that we realized that participating in community soccer during the weekend comes along with training during the week.

At that point in time, we started realising the importance of incorporating training into sports. This also meant that as parents we had to find a way to manage our work schedules to be able to make this happen.

We were very lucky too that the training location was quite close to where we live. We just had to make sure that we were available to take him there.

About two years later, Israel moved to another local soccer community club and this is where we started seeing that there was more to this for him than just kicking the ball around.

Something important also needs to be pointed out at this point. As parents, we have always strongly believed in the need to seek God’s face in all things, including when it comes to our children, and as a result of our strong trust in God, He has brought people across our way that would prove that God is indeed ordering our steps.

When Israel moved to the new community soccer team, he was blessed with a coach that was quickly able to identify that Israel has such a talent that needed to be nurtured and put to good use.

Having natural talent is good but having and surrounding yourself with the right support group is important in sports. From the moment Israel’s coach identified his natural talent for the game, he became a source of doing all in his power to make sure he had the right tools and resources needed.

It also helped that Israel had the passion and drive to want to become better and learn every step of the way. It was at this stage that his coach introduced us to potential opportunities for Israel in the Skill Acquisition Programme. Before this, we had no idea what it was all about. | 5 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

The Skill Acquisition Programme (SAP) is a professionally defined and delivered development opportunity for young footballers in the state of New South Wales in Australia which provides a pathway to the National Premier Leagues (NPL) NSW Men’s and Women’s competitions.

To be able to get a spot on a SAP team, you had to go through the trials and although there are opportunities for trial with different teams, it is a highly competitive exercise due to the high number of keen young soccer players looking for the opportunity.

So at the age of eleven Israel trialled for SAP but unfortunately did not get a spot. Whilst this was a very disappointing outcome for him and us as well, one thing that did not change was his sheer determination and focus on working harder to secure a spot in subsequent trials.

During this period. Israel was selected as one of the eleven children from all over Australia and New Zealand to represent each team in the Australian A-League as “Fanbassador”. Israel was picked to represent Sydney FC. The Fanbassador campaign was aimed at bridging the gap between the hundreds of thousands of children who play the game, and those who watch the A-League in an effort to grow more audience for the game.

he stayed and thrived within that environment.

Israel has since progressed into the National Premier Leagues (NPL) which is a national association football competition in Australia which acts as the second tier of the sport in the country, below the A-League. The NPL consists of the highest level state league in each statebased federation within Australia.

He has been playing and doing quite well as an NPL player for the past three years and is open to opportunities to progress to the highest level of soccer in Australia or perhaps internationally.

As an attestation to this, Israel was recently selected to be part of the Football Talent Support programme which identifies players who have shown outstanding ability and performances and is a pathway into future State and National representation.

We firmly believe that with the right foundation both spiritual and physical that he has, Israel is able to continue to explore higher possibilities in this field. As his parents, we have a continuous responsibility to help nurture his dreams by helping him focus on the right things and supporting him to the best of our abilities.

Rhema

After his stint as a Sydney FC Fanbassador, he continued working on improving his skills through playing community soccer and then decided to go for another SAP trial the next year. This time he secured a spot.

This perhaps marked the beginning of Israel’s journey into the professional youth soccer leagues. Now SAP required a lot more commitment in terms of having to train 3 times during the week and a game on the weekend. This placed a lot of demand on us as parents as well which required a lot of sacrifice on our part to make sure he gets to his training and games week in week out.

Since we understood and appreciated the benefits of doing this for Israel, we had to work out a way to ensure THINKING ALOUD | APR - JUN 2022

Rhema is our second child and she is twelve years old.

R

Like that of her brother, Rhema’s journey into the world D of athletics was not planned and there was certainly no plan to carve out some sort of pathway for her in this S field.

F | 6 |

By the time Rhema turned four, we had learnt the importance of getting kids involved in some sort of extracurricular activity especially in a society were it is not uncommon for kids to stray to the wrong path where parents were busy working round the clock to provide for their family.

The choice of athletics was a relatively easy one because there were programmes in our local community that provide a platform for kids in athletics. This programme is called Little Athletics.

Little Athletics is a uniquely Australian modified athletics programme for children from 5 to 15 years. As the name suggests, it is based upon the sport of athletics (track and field). There is a wide range of events from running, jumping, throwing and walking and events are modified to suit the age, developmental stage and ability of the children.

By the time Rhema turned four, we had learnt the importance of getting kids involved in some sort of extracurricular activity especially in a society were it is not uncommon for kids to stray to the wrong path where parents were busy working round the clock to provide for their family.

As a matter of fact we registered both Israel and Rhema in Little athletics. Israel was seven and Rhema was four.

However, by the time Israel got into SAP, he wanted to focus on soccer as that was his passion and he needed time to attend training during the week.

Rhema’s first five years in Little Athletics and Gymnastics was very much done on a casual basis. Our main focus at the time was for her to participate in some form of active sports and the fact that she liked it and had fun with it made things easier.

R

We noticed a marked change in her performance between the ages of nine and ten when she started training for hurdles. Because she was starting hurdles during the season that she would turn ten, we decided to register her for hurdles training since we realized the sport required a different set of skills to normal sprinting.

Getting her started on training made a lot of difference because we realized that when an athlete trains, they S learn to adopt certain values such as discipline and commitment.

F

D

Rhema took to these quickly and consistently trained during the week and took part in Little Athletics competitions on Saturdays.

In a way she made it easier for us as parents because most of the drive came from her. Our part was really to nurture the dream and passion that she already had. She of course had her big brother to look up to in terms of learning that, focus and consistency pay off. Add to that the fact that she grew up in a family that values these traits and principles.

With the amount of work and training she put in consistently in hurdles and Gymnastics training, this naturally progressed into other sprinting events such as the 100 and 200m.

We started seeing the outcome in her results in these events overtime and by the time she was ten, she started qualifying to participate in bigger events on the zone, regional and state levels.

One thing we noticed about Rhema is that, she is a silent achiever and the sheer focus and determination she has developed both as an athlete and as a person is one we believe will see her go a long way and hopefully the future Olympics to represent Australia.

Rhema thrives with competition. This means she uses it to push herself to achieve better results each time and this is evident in the number of personal bests she has achieved.

By the time she was ten, Rhema had won her first event at the state level as part of the under-10 girls 100m relay team. She then went on to win the hurdles event at the state championships at the age of eleven.

Even with such an achievement at a high level, we saw there was room for improvement in her other sprint events. The key here is that an athlete’s work is never done, they must always strife to improve on their previous results and work on those areas.

For Rhema, the combination of her natural talent and disciplined commitment to training in all her events paid | 7 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

off big time when she turned twelve and she went on to win all her three events at the 2022 state championships.

This saw her winning gold in 100m, 200m as well as gold and broke the state record in the hurdles.

that even at such a young age, she is hitting some milestones earlier than her sister did. For example, she is showing interest in training for sprints which she recently started and she is already seeing great results.

Rhema’s 2021/2022 was also capped off with Little Athletics awards as age champion and the junior athlete for the year as well as equalling the 100m Centre record that had been held since 1990.

Faith has been consistently excelling in her Little Athletics short sprint events, that is, 50m, 70m, 100m and 200m. She also recently won the 100 and 200m races in her first zone championships. Faith’s 2021/2022 was also capped off with Little Athletics awards as age champion for the year.

This same level of dedication and focus has seen Rhema also perform excellently in her school sports winning an award as the school athlete of the year in her age group in 2021 and recognition for her performance at the state athletics in 2022.

Rhema is an example of how far one can go with the right foundation, mindset and discipline in putting the work into whatever we do.

Faith

We are very much aware that our children even though they are siblings have different personalities and physiques. This we had to take into account for Faith as she does have her own unique athletic/sprinting style and it’s important to keep that in mind as we see her make progress in this sport.

Whilst it is still very early days, the plan is to lay the right foundation for her regarding cultivating the right attitude and work ethic in her sports to achieve the desired results.

Lessons Learnt – Focus. Discipline. Determination.

Commitment.

Over the years, being parents to athletics kids has not only been an exercise in teaching them lifelong lessons, we as parents have also been on this journey with them.

Ironically, it has not only been about us teaching them these lifelong lessons, we have also learnt a lot from them as we watch them overcome challenges and never lose focus on what they need to do to achieve results.

So for us as parents, it has also been a lesson on the importance of focus. discipline, determination, and commitment. As we navigate through our own personal and work lives, we are constantly reminded of and use our children as points of reference in how to overcome challenges.

Faith is our third child and she is seven years old.

Faith’s introduction into athletics was a more seamless one. It was easier to start her off in athletics because her older sister was already involved in the sports. Even though she’s just seven year of age, she also started athletics early on from the age of four. Whilst she’s still at the start of this journey, she has great role models to look up to in her elder brother and sister.

An advantage that we have as her parents is that we have been on a similar experience with her siblings so we know the right foundation to lay in her case and how to nurture her along this path. What we have also noticed is THINKING ALOUD | APR - JUN 2022

The journey into the world of sports is far from over for our children. It is something we will continue to navigate on a daily basis. In addition, the beauty of all this is that we will continue to learn and guide our children based on the principles we hold dear.

As a family unit and as individuals, we are still a work in progress but we profess and hold on to the word of our everlasting father which says – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Shegun and Booky Adelaja live in Sydney Australia with their children. Shegun has a background in Information Systems and Commerce and is also an Executive Pastor at Every Nation Church Sydney. Booky is a qualified Australian lawyer with experience in Knowledge Management and Conflict Analysis. | 8 |

R D S F

Here, I’d like to share with you 5 of the lessons from my journey, on entrepreneurship and embarking on a big change journey, that I often share with audiences:

5 LESSONS FROM MY JOURNEY FOR ENTREPRENEURS & CHANGE SEEKERS

1. Admit your fears & dare to share; you may have more to gain than you think you have to lose. When your heart tells you that something isn’t right, listen to it. Don’t convince yourself that you just need to toughen up. Don’t tell yourself that life is supposed to be hard and you are just being weak by being unhappy. Ask yourself why.

Ask yourself what you can do about it. And where possible, start taking steps towards improving or changing your situation. Pretending your fears or dissatisfactions don’t exist will not make them go away or allow you to conquer them. And why share? I recognize the possible risks and fears of sharing your fears, plans and ideas with others. But I have found there are typically three possible outcomes from sharing.

One, the person could have great advice for you. Two, they could have nothing to offer you except a “good luck.” Three, they could hate what you share with them, punch holes in it and tell you why or how it won’t work.

All three of those things are valuable. The first one is awesome. The second one is useful — who doesn’t need luck or encouragement? The third one seems bad, but it is sometimes the best of the three.

It helps you start thinking of ways to address the gaps the person mentioned and start figuring out how to troubleshoot the pitfalls they foresaw. Oh, there is a fourth outcome people always mention: “what if they steal my idea”. Well, if it is so easy to steal and implement by others, then maybe it isn’t that unique or differentiated of an idea to start with.

Fifteen years ago, despite many fears and insecurities, I decided to return to Nigeria after living in the U.S. for thirteen years. I took the plunge, moved back home, and began a life and entrepreneurial adventure that brought tribulations, triumphs and a lot of life lessons.

Through this journey, there were many times when I wished I could have picked up a book or two with information and anecdotes that would have prepared or strengthened me for several of the challenges I came to face. I didn’t find one. So, in 2018, eleven years after my journey began, I decided to write that book so others may learn from my experience.

The lessons from my book are relevant to many—the repatriate African seeking to return home to start a new business or that person who isn’t happy doing what she is R doing, or happy with where or how her life is unfolding.

D The lessons are for anyone of any race, any gender, any S age, any nationality, any profession, any educational level, and at any phase in their lives, who has woken up F one morning and said, “Something needs to change.”

2. The right collaborators may be as critical for success as your personal competencies; actively seek them out & be proactive about building good-will. All the education, professional experience or savings in the world will not lead to success in that new venture. You will need collaborators somewhere along the way, or more importantly, you will need supporters or ecosystem players to grant you the favour or push you need to make that first break, or to overcome some major roadblock.

As you embark on your venture, be thoughtful about the skills and resources required for success, which ones you have and which ones you need others for.

Seek out collaborators who share in your vision and values but bring complementing competencies and strengths to the table.

Partners, investors, board members or advisers, pioneer staff and counterparties are all collaborators of some form. And many times, the emotional quotient (“EQ”), and not intellectual quotient (“IQ”) with which you engage and interact with these potential collaborators is what leads to the likeability that will compel them to pitch their tent firmly in your corner in your support when things get tough. | 9 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

You will need collaborators somewhere along the way, or more importantly, you will need supporters or ecosystem players to grant you the favour or push you need to make that first break, or to overcome some major roadblock.

3. Don’t get carried away with the highs or scared off by the lows; entrepreneurship (and driving change) is a marathon and not a sprint. Most new ventures begin with a flurry of intense activities and a seesaw of emotions which get rewarded with little or no visible growth at the onset. Sometimes even a momentary or prolonged decline that could bring the new venture to an early end.

The venture may also experience momentary spikes.

The spikes, though short-lived, can be exhilarating and filled with hopes of an enterprise-defining breakthrough.

So, what does this mean for you? That you should prepare for the long-haul. The lows and the dips will come, so focus on survival and start with enough cushion to withstand these shocks. The highs will also come in due course, if your venture survives long enough to experience them.

But one must not get carried away with these highs either. Because the next challenge or dip will be lurking round the corner. Very few ventures get the kind of breakthrough that takes them into a stratosphere of exceptional success on day one. Most successful ventures we all read about are those that have repeatedly found ways to stay alive and relevant long enough to get to their successive break through moments.

They get a first bump that helps them reach the next level… beyond survival to “Okay you finally have a business now.” The cycle repeats itself and the business continues like this, each time a bump comes it unlocks the door to a new level of this game of ‘corporate survival.’

4. Find people to be accountable to; this will keep you honest at low times & grounded at high times. Sometimes the going will get tough, and it will be hard for you to remember what your original principles were. On your entrepreneurial or change journey, you will face many of these situations—moral and ethical dilemmas; opportunities to renege on a commitment or promise; outright illegal yet profitable offers; and more.

At times like these, having people around that you are accountable to or that you cannot afford to disappoint can help you make better decisions. These can come in different forms—your family & loved ones; your investors, board members and advisers; your employees, THINKING ALOUD | APR - JUN 2022

customers and counterparties. These are all people you can make part and parcel of your accountability network and mindset. Even if you are tempted to compromise your beliefs don’t forget about the feelings, sacrifices and reputations of others who have chosen to pitch their tent in your corner and what impact your actions may have on them.

5. Our participation is required to build the Nigeria (or Africa) we desire; we all must find a way to play our own part in driving the change we seek. Don’t just complain about it, do something about it. That something could be moving back to start a business, joining an action group or a political party, or donating your time, money or expertise to driving change from wherever you are in the world.

Your contribution could go a long way towards galvanising the change you desire — by inspiring and encouraging others or by amplifying their efforts. Either way, your action will undoubtedly impact more lives than you probably originally imagined. In the process, you may just discover a joy and purpose you didn’t know you’d find. In returning to Nigeria, I took a leap of faith despite my fears of the unknown. Along the way, I met others who took similar leaps for different reasons.

Together, we are all contributing to driving positive change in a part of the world we care about. In that, I have found my purpose. Maybe you can find yours that way as well.

If you found these nuggets valuable and want to hear more, visit http://www.riskandreturnafrica.com/ to learn more about my book and where you can grab yourself a copy. And good luck on your next venture or change journey.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Yomi Jemibewon is one of the founders of CardinalStone, a Lagos-based West Africa-focused asset management firm that currently manages over $300 million across various asset classes. Today, Yomi co-heads CardinalStone’s private equity business where he invests in and guides small-to-medium scale businesses towards positively transforming the West African economic landscape. Yomi is also the author of the book, “Risk and Return”; a book which chronicles his return to Nigeria and the entrepreneurial and life journey that ensued thereafter. | 10 |

R D S F

HOW CONTENT ARE YOU?

Growing up in Oko-Oba Agege with a struggling single mum of 3 children, I was very familiar with lack. I remember telling a loved one that I cannot properly discuss old cartoons or comics with my peers because we never had a television. My love for radio set off when I was little because that was all we could afford. But I never missed not having a television. I wouldn’t go to my neighbours' to watch their television. My mum didn’t just raise us that way.

But the funny thing about it was, we never saw it as lack. We had whatever my mum thought was needed at that particular time, and that was it. It was when I got into my late teens that it kind of dawned on me that “oh maybe we really could have been better off with this or that but hey, I still do not miss those things.”

My mum made me realize early on in life that there would be people in life with more than you - could be in beauty, academics, career success, or wealth; that’s life. This shaped my outlook to life very early.

Saying I am a very content person doesn’t mean I’m the happiest person on earth, nor the best human being ever. But, being a content person has genuinely helped me in a lot of ways.

Being content and satisfied with where you are or what you have doesn’t mean you cannot be ambitious, it doesn’t mean you can’t want more from life, it simply means finding happiness and safety in whatever you have at the moment.

Human needs or wants are insatiable; we will always desire more things in life, but the reality is, if you’re not content with what you have, you’re unlikely to be content when whatever you’re looking for comes.

You’ve always wanted that Highlander SUV? Wait until you have it parked in your house. You’d start asking yourself “so this is it? On to the next one!” Or you’ve always wanted to get married? Hahahaha wait R until it happens.

I am no coach but I’d like to share a few tips on how to be content in life.

1. You’re in the middle: Whether it’s beauty, career success, wealth or connections; there is someone ahead of you and there’s someone behind you, you’re in the middle. You can’t have more than certain people and you will always have more than some. So, enjoy what you have.

2. Be grateful: Let’s do a small class work. Pick up a paper and a pen. Write down your prayer points in the last 5 years on your left, write down your current prayer points on your right. Now let’s compare. Are you still asking for the same things? I strongly doubt it. So what does that mean? It means your prayers are being answered. Stay grateful.

3. Detox from social media: social media has contributed immensely to how badly we compare ourselves to others simply because everyone comes online with filtered lives. Everyone earns well over there, everyone is beautiful on social media, everyone has a great marriage etc. Listen, everything looks beautiful when you’re looking through rose coloured glasses; take them off. Take a break off your favourite social media app (e.g. IG, Twitter or Facebook) and watch how peaceful you would feel after.

4.Volunteer: This sounds foreign to most of us living in Nigeria but please try it. Your church is having a programme for widows or the less privileged?

Volunteer. Visit an orphanage and volunteer to help maybe twice a month. Visit a special needs school and volunteer to help maybe 4 times a month. You get to see life through the lenses of other people this way.

5.Avoid comparing yourself to others: comparison is the thief of joy, stop comparing yourself. I always say to my younger friends that when you tell yourself that “look at what my mates are doing, Nneka just got a job with Meta, Dotun just changed his car - the second one in three years, but look at me, are they not my mates?” Well…..maybe they aren’t your mates after all.

Focus on your focus. Your own will come. Comparison will never allow you enjoy your joy. Avoid it.

I pray you enjoy what is in your hand right now and that it brings you peace. The more you desire from life will come your way but in the meantime, be happy and safe with what you have. I love you for reading!

Adenike O. Lanlehin is a Broadcaster and Event Comperé resident in Lagos.

Contact her on Instagram @adenikeradio.

D We are all so focused on so much in life that we forget S to appreciate the present bird in our hands. It’s always “More! More! And more!!” and we never take a minute F to appreciate the enough that is staring us in the face. | 11 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

Thinking Aloud magazine reaches a diverse readership around the world including Nigeria, Zambia, United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Canada and the Philippines. Advertise in the magazine today and experience Growth in your enterprise.

Send your advert enquiries to: thinkingaloudpublication@gmail.com

INTERVIEW WITH BOMA ALABI OON, SAN

| 13 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

Q1. Thank you for accepting to share your story with our readers. Tell us a bit about your childhood - family, educational background etc I grew up in Port Harcourt surrounded by a large and doting family of uncles and aunties and my maternal grandmother, Sisi Molly, who could not do enough for us. My parents were a loving and devoted couple who spent fifty years together before Daddy transitioned to glory in 2002.

I am the eighth of ten children, although we are now seven.

All my early education was in Port Harcourt: Port Harcourt Primary School, Holy Rosary Girls School, Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls School and Federal Government Girls College, Abuloma from where I was admitted to the Rivers State University to study law. I am a Port Harcourt girl.

My father watched over us with eagle eyes, particularly his daughters. As I look back over my childhood and policies my parents put in place to protect us, I realise how fortunate we were to be brought up by parents who were once teachers and vocational teachers at that. So, for instance, relatives and friends were welcome and encouraged to visit us at home whilst we in turn were discouraged from visiting except with our parents and under their strict supervision.

We were not permitted to eat outside of our home except at our grandmother’s house. On the academic side, I was a voracious reader as a child, and my father encouraged this by buying me books to devour.

I had read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica at least twice before the age of ten, all the works of Shakespeare in simplified form, Greek mythology, countless classics including African stories authored by Cyprian Ekwensi, Chinua Achebe, Ola Rotimi and others.

Much as they tried to protect and educate us, they also believed in having fun and being active as a family together. I have fond memories of my entire family, parents, siblings, and resident cousins packing up large coolers of food and drinks, piling into several vehicles and driving off to the countryside or beach for a picnic.

We generally started the day on Saturdays sitting round the table with my Dad telling jokes and making us all laugh our heads off over a delicious breakfast of combined Nigerian and English fare from eggy French bread, sausages and baked beans to “moi-moi” and custard.

THINKING ALOUD | APR - JUN 2022

My childhood memories make me smile and I am so grateful to God for the privilege.

We generally started the day on Saturdays sitting round the table with my Dad telling jokes and making us all laugh our heads off over a delicious breakfast of combined Nigerian and English fare from eggy French bread, sausages and baked beans to “moi-moi” and custard.

Q2. Can you walk us through your career journey?

Why did you choose to study law?

As a child, I was the one always chosen by my siblings to persuade our father, when we wanted something we knew he might not want to give us.

So, I learnt advocacy at a very young age. I did not know at the time I was already doing the work of a lawyer.

My conscious desire to become a lawyer was ignited by one of my favourite uncles, Stanley Allagoa, who was at the time in private practise as a barrister in Port Harcourt. He often came to visit after court and would be dressed in dashing black and dazzling white. I decided I would become a lawyer so I could dress as smartly as my uncle. I was even more enamoured to the profession when I realized you did not have to be good in mathematics to be a lawyer. Maths, as you can now tell, was not my favourite subject!

Q3. Did your career choice meet your expectations?

That is a difficult question as my career is still a work in progress. At the initial stage, I was learning and exploring so I did not have much expectation.

I knew what I did not want, but was unsure of much else! I knew for instance that I was not cut out for the bench and did not want to be a judge at all. I also knew that I did not particularly want to teach law in a professional capacity.

In the later years, I realised that the profession can R be a powerful tool for social justice and positive D impact and I began to build my career with that in mind. So far, so good, the journey is ongoing and I S have many more milestones ahead.

F | 14 |

Q4. You are currently a Senior Partner of Primera Africa Legal (PAL), leading PAL’s Corporate Governance and Compliance Practice – what principles would you say have guided you so far?

My mother always said, “hardwork doesn’t kill!” It is true and I have adopted it. Another guiding principle is lifelong learning. I actively seek knowledge. There’s a quote from one of the holy books that I really like. “Seek knowledge as far as China”. Select your team strictly on merit. And finally, this principle was reinforced by my son, who was in secondary school at the time. I asked who his favourite teacher was and why, he named a teacher and said simply, “because she is fair”.

Q5. Congratulations on your appointment as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Why are there only few female Senior Advocates of Nigeria?

There are many reasons but ultimately, it boils down to the nature of our work. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria is exactly that. In order to achieve the rank and gain admission to the inner bar, I had to appear in Courts from Abia to Zamfara, figuratively speaking. There is a lot of traveling involved in the day to day life of an advocate and if you do not have a supportive husband, it will be well nigh impossible to achieve and still maintain harmony at home.

In addition, one has to have a robust and trusted support system as a mother, because you will have to delegate much of the daily tasks such as the school runs and cooking. This makes it quite daunting for many female lawyers as it requires such huge sacrifice on their part because of our traditions and societal expectations.

It is a different kettle of fish for our male colleagues and they have the advantage of it being a man’s world, at least for now. Hence the number of female Senior Advocates is still below 5% of the total number in my estimation.

Q6. What advice would you give to a young girl who wishes to reach the top of her chosen career?

Do not allow your gender get in the way of your career aspirations. What do I mean? In the workspace, your gender should be of no consequence and you must not allow anyone to make it so.

For example, in meetings with male colleagues, you may find that when it is time for refreshments they expect you to serve them or supervise the waiters whilst food is being served. Sit back and do not get involved except your career is in catering and this is relevant to your work.

Secondly and equally importantly, there is no substitute for hard-work and there are no short cuts to career success. Whatever you do in the workspace, you are building a reputation. Much better to build a reputation of consistency, dependability and integrity.

This will stand you in good stead in the long run and push open the doors of opportunity as you progress. Every team leader wants to lead the winning team so they will select the best. Make sure you position yourself by delivering good work every time and you are well on your way to the top of your chosen career.

Q7. We hear so much about corruption in the Judiciary in Nigeria, what has been your experience with this? How have you handled this and how can we improve the system?

The Nigerian Judiciary has been given a bad name by those who are supposed to protect them, that is, members of the bar. By convention, judges are not supposed to be out there on social media or in the press or television speaking for themselves, which is why, they are quiet in the face of the constant accusations of corruption.

My experience in advocating my cases in the Nigerian Courts has been very different from the rumours. When we are instructed by clients, the first thing we do is to give a prognosis.

If you have a poor case, we advise you to settle. If you have a good case, we pursue your claim. I can assure you that at this stage, we do not know which court our case will eventually be assigned to.

R D S F

All we know is the facts the person has given us and the law, which is generally quite predictable. In 95% of our cases, the outcome has been as predicted. What that says is the Judge has not been influenced by anything but the evidence adduced before the Court. | 15 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

Q8. Justice delayed is justice denied. Do we really have access to justice in Nigeria?

I totally agree! Justice delayed is justice denied, and to that extent, we cannot claim to have access to justice in Nigeria, both for the winner and the loser in commercial cases. It generally takes between three to six years to pursue a commercial claim in Lagos State which is the commercial capital of the country.

That is far too long and invariably means that justice is denied. God help you if you are the defendant in a criminal case. Our prisons are over flowing with awaiting trial detainees. Some have been there for over ten years. After so many years in detention, many are then acquitted. Where is the justice?

Our prisons are over flowing with awaiting trial detainees. Some have been there for over ten years.

After so many years in detention, many are then acquitted. Where is the justice?

Q9. You are a former President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (2011-2013), the first female President in the history of the Association.

What will you say is the highlight of your tenure and did you face any challenge being the first woman to lead the association?

I had an excellent working relationship with the Executive Committee, our Secretariat and other Bar Leaders from the 54 Countries that made up my constituency. My gender was quite irrelevant most of the time except in a very positive way, as many female lawyers told me how pleased they were to see a female President for the first time.

The highlight of my tenure was our very successful conference in Cape Town. It was the first time we were hosting a conference in South Africa as the CLA obviously was part of the boycott during apartheid. We were glad to be meeting in the rainbow nation and a number of our senior colleagues were coming home for the first time after a long period in exile.

Q10. Will we be correct to say you are an advocate against domestic and sexual violence?

Absolutely 100 percent. I reiterate the fact that every domestic violence incident is a potential homicide. I advocate zero tolerance of domestic THINKING ALOUD | APR - JUN 2022

violence for that same reason. The victims are mostly women but it can also be a man. Don’t take the risk of dying in silence because of societal expectations. Leave and live!

As for sexual violence such as rape and defilement, these crimes equate to bestiality in my mind and such individuals should be locked away for life as they do not belong in society.

Q11. How can we effectively combat domestic and sexual violence through judicial action and activism?

Combating these issues takes a wholistic approach and I am glad to say that Lagos State has been very proactive in providing support and ensuring perpetrators are brought to book.

Q12. You have won many awards and recognitions, many which recognize your service to the legal profession. In 2007, you won the Women Entrepreneur of the Year given by the London Borough of Southwark. In 2012 you won two awards; the Distinguished Trail Blazers Award 2012 by the NBA Women’s Forum’s and the Award for Distinguished Service to the Legal Profession 2012 by the- NBA Lagos Branch. The most recent honour was the distinguished national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) awarded to you in year 2014. We congratulate you for all these recognitions.

Do you think women are sufficiently recognized for their work? How will the national honour or OON impact your work?

I am so grateful to God that my peers and community considered me worthy of these awards and recognition. The National honour in particular is a truly humbling recognition and has spurred me to do more.

Q13. Mentors vs sponsors? Which do you think is more important to have while navigating one’s career?

Both are equally important. We need mentors to look up to, learn from, and be encouraged by. We also need someone to speak for us in that room when that crucial decision is tabled, because you are usually not in the room.

Q14. Do you have a deliberate mentoring approach or you tend to mentor young people who gravitate towards you for one reason or the other?

I do both. I have served on the advisory board of WISCAR (Women in Successful Careers), a not for profit, structured mentoring organisation, for fourteen years and continue to serve. I also organize an annual mentoring day at the Nigerian Law School Lagos campus. Informally, I try to guide and | 16 |

R D S F

mentor any young persons that come into my orbit as well. Some actively seek my input, and for the others, I just play the busy body and get involved because I believe it will be beneficial to the young person in the long run.

Q15. Failure is more often than not always a part of every success story; can you highlight one of those instances where things did not go as planned for you; how did you get past it to keep forging ahead?

In the early days of my career, I was over worked and under paid. When I had the temerity to ask for a pay rise, I was sacked. I was not expecting it and did not have a plan B. I started sending out CVs again but some of the clients I dealt with in my place of employment had been given my home number by the office in the course of my work, and they began to call and instruct me to do work for them. After a while, I realized I was slowly building up a clientele of my own and the rest as they say is history.

In the early days of my career, I was over worked and under paid.

When I had the temerity to ask for a pay rise, I was sacked. I was not expecting it and did not have a plan B. Q16. You relocated to the United Kingdom for over 20 years and chose to return to Nigeria. Why did you return?

I guess the answer lies in the reason I left in the first place. Nigeria was under a military dictatorship in those days and I had a couple of close shaves with military personnel who felt I was not respectful enough, whilst I on the other hand was resentful of their entitled behaviour in a country where I am a citizen and the uniform should be a symbol of protection not oppression.

I wanted to return to Nigeria and began to plan my return once we transited to democracy in 1999. My career path in England reflected this as I stayed very close to Nigeria through the High Commission and eventually Nigerians In Diaspora Europe (NIDOE) a unifying diaspora organisation made up of Nigerians living abroad.

R Q17. What advice would you give to Nigerians D abroad who wish to return home?

S I would advise any Nigerian wishing to relocate to F start visiting Nigeria regularly as a first step. Don ’t

just up sticks and return as you are likely to have a negative experience and probably return to your host country poorer and entirely disillusioned.

Do your market research and gather reliable intelligence on whatever you have in mind to do when you relocate.

Be prepared to live in a different part of Nigeria from your familiar turf depending on what you wish to do.

I grew up in Port Harcourt and my instinct was to return to my home city and comfort zone, but my research showed that the place to set up a commercial law firm was Lagos, so, here I am.

I would advise any Nigerian wishing to relocate to start visiting Nigeria regularly as a first step. Don’t just up sticks and return as you are likely to have a negative experience and probably return to your host country poorer and entirely disillusioned.

Q18. What advice do you have for Nigerians in diaspora?

The same advice I have always given. Give your children a balanced view of Nigeria and stop talking about the negative side only. Many diaspora parents threaten their children with Nigeria as if it is a dungeon.

For instance, “If you fail your exams I will send you to Nigeria to go and suffer” is a common threat amongst diaspora parents, and then they are surprised when they want to retire to Nigeria and their now grown up children want nothing to do with the Country.

Q19. In hindsight, what advice would you give your 25 year old self?

I would advise my 25 year old self to be more intentional and deliberate in planning and building a career. Young ladies of that age tend to be more interested in meeting prince charming and living happily ever after. I would also advise my younger self to listen more patiently to the stories of the elders. We have an African culture of oral tradition and the stories of the elders fill the gaps in your family history and lineage which you will not find in any books. | 17 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

Q20. What would you do differently if you could wind back the clock.

I probably would have tried to spend more time in Nigeria in the years I was living abroad. I took it for granted that I was Nigerian and therefore would automatically come home and just be. I did not realize quite how much impact your environment makes on your personality and identity until I returned and tried to fit into our culture. I did not understand much of the non-verbal communication and the nuances in the verbal exchanges initially and even now, I miss some things which might be blindly obvious to someone more culturally attuned.

promise at the start of every new day to seize every chance that comes my way to lift someone’s spirit up. It can be as simple as smiling and saying “hello”. Giving is not always about material things, in fact, that is the least of it.

My life has not been a bed of roses. I have lost loved ones, I have lost money, I have had many trials and tribulations on this journey called life, and yet, I am genuinely happy almost all of the time and through it all.

Q21. How do you maintain a good work-life balance with your hectic work schedule? What do you get up to when you are not working?

The second principle is responsible for this state of mind. I learnt it from my father very early in life and apply it on a daily basis. He used to say to us as children, and I have found it to be true, that, “you cannot always control what happens to you, but you can control your reaction.”

Family remains my first social circle even now. We really enjoy each other’s company and spend a lot of time sitting around a table, eating and cracking jokes, carrying on the family tradition. I am also a sailor so I spend my weekends sailing or on the beach.

Happiness for me, is not a mood, it is a deliberate choice as to my state of mind. And how do I readily induce happiness? By counting my blessings all the time. There is always something to be grateful for, if you really dwell on it. Gratitude brings joy and serenity. That’s the key to my happiness.

Q22. How do you stay healthy and remain fit? Please share your fitness regime.

The third and final principle can be captured in the old adage. “Procrastination is the thief of time.”

Our time here is finite. If one is extremely lucky, one may have sixty to seventy productive years on this side of the divide. I am very conscious of this.

I have a personal trainer. We set my personal fitness goals and work together to achieve it. I don ’t like the gym so that is completely wasted on me.

Fortunately, I like dancing and take every opportunity to do so and that helps me keep fit and makes me happy too. I think the secret is to find a physical activity you enjoy and do it regularly. The chances of sticking with it is much higher if it is a joy rather than a chore.

Q23. On a final note, you are often lively, happy and eager to help people around you. What motivates you to stay happy and be kind and helpful?

So, I grab every opportunity with both hands and indeed actively seek ways of making a positive difference in the lives of the people around me. I have to add that with time, I found extra motivation in the goodwill of people around me. You cannot give and not receive. It is simply how it works. You may not receive from the same source as you gave but you will certainly receive far more than you have given. Try it, and thank me later.

Well, thank you firstly for such kind words! I am really touched. There are three key principles that guide my daily interaction with everyone I meet. I believe that our impact in life is not what we achieve for ourselves but what we do for others.

If I reach the apex of my profession and make all the money in the world but make no positive difference in anyone’s life, my life is worthless to everyone else but me.

A stream does not drink its own water, neither does the mango tree eat mangoes, similarly with us human beings. Do we want to be the barren fig tree that gave no fruit and ended up being cursed or do we want to give at every opportunity? I chose the latter and I make a conscious and deliberate THINKING ALOUD | APR - JUN 2022

R D S F | 18 |

RDSF TRUSTEES CORNER

in that direction, was the way to go. I shared that with my brother, Brother Kehinde Komolafe.

My two prayer partners and myself decided to start by ministering to the street hawkers and beggars.

Every Sunday afternoon, we gather them, feed them and minister the word of God to them. After a short while, Brother Kehinde Komolafe shared the RDSF vision with me.

I immediately knew it was the will of God to use this avenue to bring help to young people in our community who would otherwise never have the opportunity to get good education.

As a Christian, it got to a point in my Christian life when I felt that God wasn’t going to come down physically to help people. It is people he will use and he will use those that are willing.

1. Tell us a bit about your background – childhood, family & educational background. Is there anyway your upbringing has influenced your choice of charity? Are there other charity organizations you volunteer for?

I am from Auchi in Edo State. I studied Computer Science. My father was big on charity. I believe that must have influenced my desire to help others, though unconsciously.

Helping those whom I consider less endowed comes to me naturally.

Apart from RDSF, I serve on the board of an organization that caters for widows (International Widows Fellowship). I believe that most people will realize their divine potential if given the opportunity. I also believe that someone who was helped will be motivated to also extend a helping hand to another. That way the world becomes a better place for everyone.

2. You are one of the pioneer Trustees to serve on the board of trustees of the RDSF, can you share with us what influenced your decision to join the board despite it being a pro bono service?

As a Christian, it got to a point in my Christian life when I felt that God wasn’t going to come down physically to help people. It is people he will use and he will use those that are willing. I decided that just praying for others was not enough but helping them to meet their needs by allowing God to use me THINKING ALOUD | APR - JUN 2022

3. Kindly tell us how the success in your career has been instrumental in your engagement at the board of the RDSF and other NGOs you have served?

Frankly speaking, with a successful IT career and now an entrepreneur, I feel specially blessed by God. This feeling of gratitude motivates me to function in RDSF and other NGOs I am part of.

4. The RDSF focusses on economic empowerment through charity activities in education, mentoring and skills acquisition. In your opinion, what is the most challenging problem confronted with the educational system of Nigeria?

The most challenging issues confronting the educational system in Nigeria are corruption and the inability of the various governments to see the importance of good education in the development of a nation. This has resulted in many anomalies including non-payment of teachers’ salaries, school strikes, dilapidated school infrastructures and cultism which have all culminated in production of half-baked graduates from our tertiary institutions.

The most challenging issues confronting the educational system in Nigeria are corruption and the inability of the various governments to see the importance of good education in the development of a nation. | 20 |

R D S F

5. What additional areas will you like the foundation to pay more attention to?

I think we should focus on our current scope for now.

6. What project executed by the Foundation do you consider yourself most attached to?

I am most attached to the scholarships.

9. Apart from supporting RDSF, what other activities keep you busy in retirement?

In addition to managing an interior decoration retail business and engaging in real estate management, I am fully engaged as a licensed Canadian Immigration Consultant (Assisting those who want to come to Canada to live, study or visit).

7. Based on your experience, what would be your advice to a Nigerian interested in joining the board of an NGO or seeking to setup one?

Have a focus and work your focus.

10. You are an ardent golf player. What started your passion for golf and has this slowed down with age?

My passion for golf was triggered by the mental challenge it exerts on someone. I am still playing as actively as I did when I was younger.

8. You took early retirement from Shell Nigeria.

How prepared were you and what will be your advice to our readers on preparing for life in retirement?

This is a great question. I took an early retirement when my post retirement plans were in place and operational.

11. On a final note, what advice do you have for our readers on keeping fit and ensuring work – life balance?

My advice is that everyone should engage actively in one form of exercise or the other. Build exercise and leisure into your regular work schedule.

My first advise would be to start addressing the issue of retirement from the point when you are matured enough to understand what life is about.

Develop a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthy and sensibly. Carry out annual medical check-ups. Have a heart of gratitude.

R As you are planning what you want to become in life, also start thinking of how you want to be when D you retire. Keep shaping that vision as you travel S through different phases of life.

F Identify God fearing role models and watch them.

Thank you ma, for honouring the TA magazine and for sharing your valuable experience with our readers. On behalf of the beneficiaries of the RDSF, we say thank you for your dedication to the RDSF Vision. | 21 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

RDSF scholarship support is tied to her mentoring support program thereby ensuring that our beneficiaries also receive some vital soft skills aimed at personal development.

This year, RDSF has received applications from a total of 484 applicants currently being screened by the scholarship committee for consideration for RDSF Scholarships.

LATEST UPDATES FROM RDSF

In 2021, two of RDSF beneficiaries were inducted into the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, while another graduated with a first class in Law and got admitted into the Nigeria Law School.

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE REHOBOTH DREAM SOLID FOUNDATION The Rehoboth Dream Solid Foundation (RDSF) is a non-profit and non-governmental organization whose mission is to engage in charity activities that will enhance the social and economic wellbeing of the less privileged through education support, mentoring and skills acquisition programs. The Foundation which was founded in September 2009 started its operation in January 2011. The goal of the Founders is to ensure that the Foundation becomes a veritable channel through which kindhearted people and organizations around the world can support indigent students in Nigeria, with the assurance and confidence that their financial support will achieve the desired objective.

UPDATE ON THE RDSF EDUCATION SUPPORT PROGRAM One of the core programs of the Foundation is its scholarship program. This program which started in 2011 has supported over 250 indigent students across the country with positive academic results by the beneficiaries.

R D S F

In 2021, two of RDSF beneficiaries were inducted into the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, while another graduated with a first class in Law and got admitted into the Nigeria Law School.

Three of RDSF past beneficiaries are currently working to complete their doctorate programs in Mathematics and Chemistry in the United States of America.

Dr. Uzuegbunam Chidera

Dr. Falade Oluwabukola

COLLABORATION WITH OTHER FOUNDATIONS The Rehoboth Dream Solid Foundation has collaborated with the Feet of Grace Foundation since 2016 to support amputees in primary, secondary and tertiary schools. In 2021, three of these amputees completed their secondary school programs.

RDSF also partnered with other NGOs which include the ‘Windows Development Support Service’ (to sponsor children of indigent windows), Calvary Arrows College in Gboko Benue State (to support children of missionaries) and the Isrina School in Ajegunle Lagos (to bring succor to children living in the slum area of Ajegunle).

RDSF SKILLS AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS One of the core values of the Foundation is the promotion of relevant skills amongst young people.

We believe that the acquisition of relevant skills would enhance personal and career development which in return will enhance the employability of our target audience and promote entrepreneurship in Nigeria. | 23 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

Since the maiden edition of our skills acquisition program in August 2015 where we sponsored 13 people to a capacity building workshop at the Workplace Centre in Lagos, the Foundation has empowered over 1,000 people by sponsoring or organizing relevant ICT and soft skills trainings targeted at young Nigerians. These trainings have been delivered through physical or virtual programs.

In 2021, we held three webinars and had follow-on sessions for two of the webinars.

The aim of the webinar is to introduce data science/analytics to participants and reveal to them the opportunities that are embedded in such skill.

Profile of the Lead Facilitator at the Artificial Intelligence webinar

The first webinar on Fundamentals of Digital Marketing held on the 8th of April 2021 and had a follow-on session where RDSF further trained 50 persons.

The second webinar (Entrepreneurial skills: a bailout for unemployment) was followed by a 2week Business Mentorship class for 70 persons on how to manage small and medium businesses. The Business Mentorship training was accompanied with an opportunity to apply for business grants, where one person was awarded N200,000 (two hundred thousand naira only) and two persons were each given N100,000 (One hundred thousand naira only).

The third webinar was targeted at parents and secondary school teachers and had the theme (The role of positive parent-teacher communication in teaching).

The recording is available on our YouTube channel (Rehoboth Dream Solid Foundation) and we encourage parents, teachers and school proprietors to find time to listen to the lessons in the valuable session.

UPCOMING PROGRAM On the 25th of June 2022, RDSF will hold a virtual master class for young people on Artificial Intelligence. The foundation will build on the successes recorded from past webinars and ensure the webinar adds value to her numerous mentees.

The aim of the webinar is to introduce data science/ analytics to participants and reveal to them the opportunities that are embedded in such skill.

Opeoluwa Iwashokun is a passionate data scientist with vast industry experience from basic through mid-level senior roles in IT, Oil & Gas services and Finance Sector. She has worked with various forms of data and has technical expertise on many enterprise-wide projects.

Her career kicked-off as a software developer with keen interest in back-end operations and system functionality which led to her discovery and embrace of data science, even as the subject matter gained popularity.

In recent times, she founded Data Intelligence Lab (DIL) for training and consulting services in data science. This is geared towards providing a clear explanation of data science in the real world through an initial free introductory training on YouTube.

She holds a certification in DASCA as a Senior Big Data Analytics and is currently a graduate researcher in Artificial Intelligence at the Department of Applied Information Systems, University of Johannesburg.

After the webinar, RDSF will select 30 participants for further hands-on training. Some of the modules to be taught include Artificial Intelligence and Mobile Computing, Data Science and Python.

WAYS TO SUPPORT THE RDSF MISSION

After the training, participants will be required to complete a mini project which will qualify them to enter a competition where some cash prizes will be awarded.

Support received from partners and volunteers has D kept RDSF focused on her mission and made the foundation more determined to make impact in the S targeted communities.

F

THINKING ALOUD | APR - JUN 2022

The Trustees of RDSF sincerely appreciate her partners who have contributed to the success stories of RDSF beneficiaries since inception.

| 24 |

R

The following are various ways to partner with the Foundation: 1. Adopt a student scheme Under this scheme, the Foundation will recommend indigent students who will be adopted and sponsored for their full academic program. The sponsor can choose to be anonymous or meet the beneficiaries. Here the sponsor will also be provided with a periodic statement of the beneficiary's academic performance.

2. Sponsor a Workshop/ Training/ Event Prospective partners can also choose to sponsor any of RDSF programs like the Annual Lecture, Thinking Aloud Magazine and Teachers’ Excellence Award. They can also support the skills acquisition programs organized for indigent undergraduates in various tertiary institutions to equip them with ICT and soft skills relevant to career success.

3. One Time Donation Partners can give a one-time donation through a transfer to the Foundation's account or donate online through a secured donation link on our website.

4. Pledge Sponsors can also make a pledge to give some money to the Foundation on a regular basis (weekly, monthly, quarterly, biannually, or annually). Such sponsor will send an email with R details of the pledge and credit the Foundation's account.

D S 5. Workplace Giving and Matching Gifts Matching gifts are charitable workplace donations F made by corporate entities that match the

employee’s donations to eligible nonprofit organizations. It is a way to show their employees that they are mindful of their social needs and support the causes they are most passionate about; by empowering them to donate to any nonprofit of their choice.

Different organizations have different matching policies and some international corporations match as much as double of your donations or more. What this means is that if a staff should donate $100 to an NGO through a matching gift channel or work place giving, an organization with a 2:1 matching policy will donate additional $200 on behalf of that employee; making it $300 donation.

Many employees are not taking advantage of this platform and some are not even aware of the various workplace giving opportunities opened to them in their organizations; especially multinational corporations. As a donor, you can increase your impact by simply donating through a matching gift platform like Benevity.

The process is very simple and it is automated in most organizations. To do this, simply find out about your organization’s workplace giving policies from your HR department. If you would like to get RDSF listed or registered for your organization’s workplace giving program, kindly send us an email through rehobothdream@gmail.com and we will be happy to work with you.

6. Volunteer You can volunteer your time and expertise by joining the RDSF team to carry out its daily operations and execute various projects across Nigeria. Most of these voluntary services can be done remotely. | 25 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

A REHOBOTH DREAM SOLID FOUNDATION SUCCESS STORY

never got better. She then took a job to offer cleaning services to homes and taking care of the elderly who had health or physical challenges; all in the cause of providing for me who had moved from primary to secondary school.

My name is Damilola Toyosi Ajibade, the only child of my late father and the first of my mum. I am from Ikorodu in Lagos State and a graduate of history and international relations from Tai Solarin University.

Schooling in Maryland from Kosofe requires a lot of money, yet my grandmother didn’t stop me. I recall times she would give me all the money she had so I could go to school while she trekked quite a distance to work.

I currently work as a personal assistant to the Chief Responsibility Officer of Widows and Development Services. I also make and sell different kind of native fabric called Aso-Oke. I am in my mid-20s.

I finished from secondary school when I turned 16years old and from then, I began to work to support my grandmother. Thanks to my grandmother’s teaching that were in line with the scripture, I was hardworking in everything my hands can do. I worked as a sales girl while staying with my aunt and stopped when she and her family relocated.

I was 2months old when I started staying with my grandmother because my mother at the time was overwhelmed with the reality of losing my father at a young age and she despised me. Although she remarried but still couldn’t take responsibility of me.

My grandmother is a strong and hardworking woman who could do anything to ensure I was well taken care of. There wasn’t much though; we lived in a room with shared facilities with my aunt who was schooling at the time. My grandmother was a trader, she sells cassava grains (garri) at the market and was able to cater for my needs as a child.

The dark days of my life started when my grandmother and I had an accident in the year 2003.

While I had no scratch, she remained unconscious for days. Meanwhile, there was no one to go to her place of sales, her shop was locked due to reasons I couldn’t understand. She regained consciousness after days that I lost count of. After she left the hospital, to get back to work became an issue.

She moved from selling yam powder to selling provisions in front of the house; but the situation THINKING ALOUD | APR - JUN 2022

Thanks to my grandmother’s teaching that were in line with the scripture, I was hardworking in everything my hands can do. I worked as a sales girl while staying with my aunt and stopped when she and her family relocated.

I then moved to my mom’s place to work in my step -father’s shop where he sells different kinds of doors and paints. He promised to pay me annually but I stopped after realizing it wasn’t adding any value to me.

R

I moved backed to my grandmother’s place and D started learning decoration and event planning.

S While I was doing this, I mingled with some people that changed my orientation.

F | 26 |

Although my living condition wasn’t too pleasant at my grandmother’s place but I was at liberty to make decisions. I was also able to also cater for my needs from what I earned.

I wrote JAMB after much encouragement from friends and colleagues with little or no preparation.

I sat for this exam in 2014, had a good score but couldn’t pursue admission because I knew there was no means to finance a tertiary education. Fortune smiled on me when I took a job offered on referral to work as a sales representative to a cement distributor.

At this stage I was quite comfortable with what I earn. One day, my boss asked what my educational plans were and I told him I had none because there was no sponsor. He met with my grandmother and decided to support me financially. I was able to gain admission that year and also continued working while in school. It was a tough task to combine work with school because my physical presence was often needed at the sites but the earnings were motivating.

R My joy was short-lived when my boss wanted to start taking advantage of me; like the popular D saying ‘nothing goes for nothing’. I refused and he S threatened to stop paying my fees. I informed my grandmother about my predicament and she had to F go in search of help.

We never saw that coming and for this time, we needed a miracle.

We never saw that coming and for this time, we needed a miracle. Some money was lent while part was donated and eventually the fees for that session was paid. This situation eventually led me to my current boss – Mrs Williams who introduced me to the Rehoboth Dream Solid Foundation.

I was guided through the application process by Mrs Williams and I eventually got the scholarship.

When my former boss realized that I didn’t drop out of school, he then began to send me money once a while.

It hasn’t been a smooth and easy journey so far but I kept moving on; days without food hoping for a new morning, disappointment from direct family members but I kept moving on.

I believe there are many people out there in similar or worse situation but my advice to them will be not to give up.

I would like to appreciate the Rehoboth Dream Solid Foundation, my spiritual parents, my sweet grandmother, Mrs Williams and everyone that has contributed to my success story.

May God Almighty bless and reward you all. | 27 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

CANCER OF THE STOMACH

Introduction Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, affects both males and females worldwide. Age, diet, gene and environmental factors can impact the risk of developing gastric cancer. It is difficult to cure because most patients present in late stage of the disease. However, if the disease is diagnosed early, usually by incidental finding, screening or routine endoscopy, cure is achievable.

Though gastric cancer is regarded as a single entity, it is anatomically classified as the cardia (upper stomach) and noncardia (lower stomach). These two entities differ in terms of epidemiological pattern, risk factors and carcinogenesis. Chronic H. pyori infection is considered the principal risk factor for the noncardia type while excessive body weight and gastroesophageal reflux are more linked to the cardia type.

Pathologically, the adenocarcinoma is classified into two: the intestinal type and the diffuse type. The former is more common in the elderly while the latter is commoner in the younger age group and those with blood type A. Epidemiology

Anatomy of the stomach The stomach is a J-shape muscular sac in the upper abdomen between the esophagus and the small intestine. It helps in the storage and digestion of foods. It has five layers; mucosa, submucosa, muscuiaris, subserosa and serosa from the innermost layer to the outermost layer respectively. Most of the malignant tumors of the stomach originate from the glandular cells of the inner lining, the mucosa, of the stomach and are referred to as adenocarcinoma.

The stomach is divided into five regions; the cardia (the part that communicates with the esophagus), fundus, body, antrum and pylorus ( the part that communicates with the small intestine). It has rich blood supply and lymphatic drainage making it easier for cancers to spread to nearby and distant organs of the body.

Types of Gastric Cancer R D S F

Adenocarcinoma is the commonest malignant tumor of the stomach, accounting for about 95% of all malignant gastric tumors. In fact, gastric cancer simply refers to adeno carcinoma. Others are gastrointestinal stroma tumors (GIST), Sarcoma, Carcinoid tumors and Lymphoma.

Gastric cancer is an important cancer worldwide as it is one of the most common cancers in the world.

Gastric cancer used to be the leading cause of cancer death until in the 1980s when it was overtaken by the cancer of the lungs. In the last few decades, the incidence has declined rapidly worldwide though the incidence in the young age has increased in some countries like in the United States, UK, Sweden and Ecuador.

The reason for the decline may be due to the recognition of some risk factors such as H. pylori infection and other dietary and environmental risks. It is also hypothesized that the popularization of Refrigerators marks a pivotal point in the decline of the cancer as it reduces the bacterial and fungal contamination of foods, decreased the use of salt-base preservation of foods and makes fresh foods and vegetables readily available.

These fresh food and vegetables are vital sources of antioxidants which help in cancer prevention. In 2020, there were over one million new cases of gastric cancer and an estimated 769,000 deaths equating to one in every 13 deaths globally. It is the fifth most common cancer and the fourth commonest cause of cancer deaths globally. It is twice as common in men as in | 29 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

women and the most commonly diagnosed and leading cause of cancer deaths in men in some countries like Iran, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. The incidence rates are highest in Eastern Asia and Eastern Europe with Japan and Mongolia having the highest incidence rates in men and women respectively. In Northern America and Northern Europe, the rates are generally low similar to what occurs in the African regions.

Risk Factors Some of the risk factors are modifiable while others are not. Risks such as age, gender, and ethnicity are non modifiable while H. pylori infection, obesity, diet, smoking, alcohol etc. can be modified.

Helicobacter pylori (the bacterium that causes gastric and duodenal ulcers) infection is the principal risk factor for gastric cancer with almost all noncrdia cases attributed to it. Overall, it is responsible for more than 70% of all gastric cancers. The eradication of this bacterium would have been the best option for gastric cancer prevention but that has posed serious challenge over time. H. pylori infects up to 50% of the world’s population but only <5% eventually result in gastric cancer suggesting an interplay between the bacterium, the host’s genetics and environmental factors.

•

Diet: Increase fibre, fresh fruits and vegetable consumption significantly reduces the risk of gastric cancer while consumption of refined carbohydrates, processed meat, highly salted or barbecued meat and fish increases the risk.

•

Smoking: Studies have shown that smokers are more at risk of developing gastric cancers than non smokers.

•

Obesity: Excess body weight is associated with increased risk.

Other risk factors are family history of gastric cancer, type A blood, age, gender, pernicious anaemia etc.

be achieved because most early diseases do not show any symptoms. Early diagnosis reduces mortality significantly if appropriately treated. Countries with high incidence rates like Japan who have rigorously applied screening for gastric cancer have achieved more than 50% reduction in mortality from gastric cancers. Upper GI endoscopy is the gold standard for diagnosis and early detection. It allows for biopsy of any suspicious area for tissue diagnosis. Other diagnostic modalities for gastric cancers are imaging such as Barium swallow, CT scan, etc.

Treatment Treatment depends on the stage, size and location of the tumor and the physical condition of the patient.

Early stage gastric cancer is curable with 5 year survival of > 95%. Surgery is the main treatment especially for the early stage of the disease. Other treatment modalities are chemotherapy, Radiotherapy and Immunotherapy.

Prevention •

The risks can be reduced by:

•

Maintaining healthy body weight.

•

Regular exercise.

•

Quit smoking.

•

Less consumption of salted or smoked meat.

Conclusion Gastric or stomach cancer is very common and has high mortality rate. Both genetic and environmental factors especially infection with H.pylori bacterium are risk factors for developing gastric cancer. If detected early, gastric cancers are curable with up 50% reduction in mortality achieved already by some countries that have active screening programmes for gastric cancers. Preventions are dependent on avoidance of modifiable risk factors.

Symptoms Most times, gastric cancers don’t show symptoms at early stage. By the time symptoms are manifesting, the cancer is already at the advanced stge. Common symptoms are: Indigestion, stomach discomfort, heartburn, Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, Epigastric (upper abdominal) pain especially after meal, weight loss, excessive fatigue and passage of dark colour stool.

Diagnosis/Detection One of the main challenges of cancer management is early detection. Most gastric cancers are detected at advanced stage when curative treatment can no longer THINKING ALOUD | APR - JUN 2022

Dr S.A. Onjefu is presently a Senior Registrar in General Surgery at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin Nigeria. He is currently working on chemotherapy – induced nausea and vomiting (the most dreaded side effects of chemotherapy) in patients with breast cancer. | 30 |

R D S F

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND ITS BENEFITS ON MENTAL HEALTH

studies have however shown that physical activity wards off various mental health problems even before they begin. It has been confirmed over the years that exercise reduces and eventually nullifies the symptoms of many existing mental illnesses.

There are various reasons why physical activity is important for the body. These include having a healthy heart and improved mobility via the muscular and skeletal system. Do you know however, that physical activity is very beneficial for your mental wellbeing?

There needs to be a change in the way Nigerians see physical activity and exercise. We should no longer perceive physical activity as a “task” that we all “have to” do or “ought to” do for our health, instead we need to see it as something we “love to” do because of its value to our overall wellbeing.

WHAT IS WELLBEING? Wellbeing is simply defined as the process of having a “positive” physical, social and mental state. For all intents and purposes, our main focus is on mental wellbeing. There is no universal definition of mental wellbeing but it includes the following elements: •

Having a sense of purpose.

•

Having a feeling of being valued.

•

The feeling of being able to connect to our environment and surroundings.

•

Embracing true freedom, feeling good about oneself, and the ability to function in pristine conditions either individually or in a group.

•

The zeal and drive to deal with life’s ups and downs. i.e., dealing with the challenges and making the most of every opportunity to succeed.

WHAT IS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY? Physical activity simply means the movement of your body with the use of your muscles that expends energy. Physical activity has endless variants; there is always an activity to fit almost everyone. It is recommended that adults should undertake between 60 to 200 minutes of exercise each week.

It can be walking, jogging, running, riding a bike or even hiking. It can also be weightlifting or sprints, as long as the body moves and you are able to break a sweat and burn some calories. Any physical activity that raises the heart rate, makes breathing faster and makes your body temperature warm counts as good exercise.

Mental wellbeing does not mean being happy all the time and it does not necessarily mean we do not go through negative emotions and painful experiences.

Negative emotions like loss and grief, disappointment heartbreak, trauma, etc.,. Being physically active helps you make better and more healthy lifestyle choices.

BENEFITS 1. Helps deal with Anxiety and Depression

R Exercise plays a vital role in mental wellbeing and also D helps in relieving symptoms of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. While the S physical benefits of exercise are discussed frequently, the psychological benefits are rarely touched upon, F

Physical activity and exercise are scientifically proven to be a mood booster, reducing the symptoms of both anxiety and depression. Exercise raises the level of endorphins, the infamous “feel good” chemical which produces the feeling of euphoria and happiness. | 31 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

Physical activity is often used in treating depression or in combination with medication and psychological therapy.

2. Stress Reduction Physical exercise uplifts the mind, body and soul, increases cardiovascular strength, reversing stress induced brain damage by simulating the production of neurohormones such as norepinephrine and decreases stress hormones like cortisol.

3. Increased Self Confidence and Self Esteem Physical exercise promotes improved level of endurance, weight loss and increase in muscle tone.

There is no shortage of benefits that come from physical activity and exercise.

Psychologically, these benefits can lead to an immense increase of self-esteem and higher levels of confidence which come from prioritizing your mental health and overall wellbeing.

4. Improved Sleep Pattern and Duration: Physical activity and exercise will definitely improve your quality of sleep, the duration and positively affect the sleep patterns, especially if you have trouble enjoying some resting time, a good night’s sleep or even a power nap. Physical activity increases the body temperature which calms the mind and body leading to much effective sleep in the long term.

Exercise also regulates your “circadian rhythm”, which is the body’s alarm clock that controls the feelings of both alertness and tiredness and.

Here are some tips on how to start and maintain your exercise plan: Seek medical advice Before you adopt a lifestyle that involves physical activity, it is important to consult a physician. This is to determine the best types of exercise and the intensity for your physical condition. Your medical history, current medication and diagnosed conditions can also play a major role in your ability to exercise.

If you know that you have a mental illness or you are being treated by a mental health professional, do ask about how you can incorporate exercise into your treatment. Create an effective exercise plan and follow through diligently to gain the desired results.

Exercise with a friend If you struggle to get out of bed in the morning for a pre-work gym session, or come up with every excuse possible to avoid exercise after work, find a “gym buddy”. By going with a friend, you can have more motivation and can even have a laugh in the process.

You’re less likely to get bored when you have a workout buddy, especially a friend. While you’re catching up, having a laugh, encouraging each other, you’re also getting healthier which is a win-win for everyone involved.

Join a Fitness class Break away from the gym and try something new. Join a class in your local area, such as Yoga, Pilates, aqua aerobics, dancing, spinning, kickboxing, or Zumba.

Not only could you have fun, but you will make new friends in the process.

5. Brain Boost Physical activity boosts brain power by building intelligence to strengthening retentive memory in general. Studies indicate that cardiovascular exercise creates new brain cells, this process is called “neurogenesis” and it improves overall performance of the brain.

It also prevents memory loss and decline in cognitive brain functionality by fortifying the hippocampus, the part of the brain that is responsible for memory and learning. Research also proves that physical activity boosts creativity and upgrades the mental energy of humans as we grow older.

Therefore, if you have the need to be inspired, all you need is some good exercise, maybe a brisk walk or a light jog, even a quick run.

THINKING ALOUD | APR - JUN 2022

Exercise is more fun when you share the highs and lows with others. From pushing through those extra push-ups, a conspiratorial eye-roll with your exerciseneighbour when the going gets tough, to high-fiving when the class is done, having training buddies makes you feel good. And that feeling of belonging is what will motivate you to keep going back. Research shows that when exercising, people gravitate towards the behaviour of those around them – if the class is pumping with energy, you will too!

Do not overtrain yourself It is important not to push yourself too hard especially at the beginning stages of your exercise plan, this may lead to injury. Always remember to take things slow and steady, control the pace till you are comfortable enough to increase the intensity and volume of the exercise, according to the plan. | 32 |

R D S F

Make a commitment to the exercise and set realistic goals to be achieved within a time period Whatever your job may be, the fact remains that everyone is somehow busy with one thing or the other.

Therefore creating time to exercise means that you have made your physical and mental wellbeing a top priority in your life. It will take some time to notice improvements. Do not worry or panic , to achieve the best results, you have to remain consistent and patient. The results will come as long as you are willing to put in the work.

If you strongly feel the gym is not your cup of tea, get outside and take in some vitamin D. Find somewhere new to go for a walk, enjoy a long cycle ride, take a trip to the beach, or find a swimming pool near you. If you have any health issues, talk to your doctor before starting an outdoor fitness programme, and ask any questions you have about upping the intensity of your fitness routine or jumping back into fitness if you’ve been inactive for a while. Outdoor exercise can be adapted to anyone's level of fitness.

CONCLUSION

Play games and download fitness apps Who says exercise has to be lifting weights or running on a treadmill? Consider fun alternatives such as Wii Sport and Wii Fit games which are great ways to have fun and exercise, either alone or with friends. One minute you could be playing golf or fishing, the next, snowboarding or competing at Wimbledon.

In Conclusion, when you decide to take a bold step to get active, you have to understand that greatness takes time, trust in the process and believe in yourself.

Sign up to a Fitness Event Targets can easily be unattained when you don’t have any end goal. So get online and look up some local events nearby. There may be charity fun runs, sponsored walks, or something more adventurous. Not only can you get fit, you can have fun in the process and may meet other people you can train with.

Go outside for long walks, jogs and sprints Outdoor exercise can help ward off Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), depression and anxiety because D sunshine naturally increases serotonin, a hormone that affects your mood. And exercise itself produces S endorphins, another feel-good hormone that boosts F your mood and reduces pain.

R

Olukoya Olusegun Ajayi is the CEO of Silverback Lifestyle and Wellness Services, an avid fitness enthusiast and athlete who plays for EKO TRINITY of the Nigerian Rugby League, he is also the COO of Florence John Energy. Olukoya has an M.A in TV and Film Production from Sunderland University, United Kingdom and is a creative content writer, an aspiring Media Mogul, he is on a mission in ensuring that the next generation of Nigerians adopt fitness in their everyday living. | 33 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

FITNESS SPOTLIGHT

Q6. Do you consider exercise something only for the rich and educated?

Exercise is important for everyone. It’s benefits cut across all levels of the economic class and there is always some exercise available irrespective of financial status.

Q1. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule for this interview. Kindly introduce yourself to our readers?

I am Oladipupo Ojo, a Wealth Manager with over 14 years’ experience and a cycling enthusiast. I am also a part time poet and football lover.

Q7. How often do you work out and what is your workout routine like?

I walk between 3 to 5 times weekly, and I ride my bicycle between 50km to 100km weekly.

Q2. You are very concerned about staying fit. When did exercise become a routine for you?

I took exercising more seriously when the Covid lock down began. I started serious exercises out of a need to find a positive distraction from the lock- down.

Q3. You are a busy executive in your place of work. What advice do you have for busy executives struggling to juggle fitness with their busy schedule?

One thing I have discovered is that we will always have time for the things we deem important, so the first step is to see whatever activity one chooses as being important and from there it stays in the subconscious.

There will always be time for the things you consider important.

Q4. How can corporate entities/organizations help employees pay more attention to health and fitness?

Organizations can encourage breaks at intervals for employees to stretch their feet, have a constant campaign to sensitize members of staff.

They can also register or pay for gym membership and annual subscriptions for fitness clubs for staff.

R Q5. How important is the use of electronic trackers in staying fit? What electronic trackers do you use? Fitbit or D Apple?

As with all things, accountability is always important to S measure performance so does electronic trackers. I use F fitbit or any smart wristwatch.

Q8. Can you share three essential tips that make your workout routine effective?

In order for your exercise regime to be effective, Accountability (Strava), having partners, and setting fitness goals are three important things to focus on.

Q9. How do you get your wife and family involved in staying fit?

I encourage her and share my experiences. I also carry her along on some of my activities.

Q10. Sir, how important is the choice of food in your fitness journey? How do you balance eating healthy and working out?

Diet contributes more than 60% to fitness. What you eat and when you eat are very essential. It is good to consult a dietician as you will get better results with professional support.

Thank you for your time and best wishes as you continue to stay fit. | 35 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

FROM MOPPING UP TO TURNING OFF THE TAP #OnlyOneEarth 1700 and one-third of commercial fish species are overexploited. Food systems are responsible for 80% of biodiversity loss. Pollution is responsible for about 9 million premature deaths per year, corresponding to one in six deaths worldwide and major losses in global economic output.

5 June is United Nations World Environment Day and the theme for this year is “Only One Earth” 8 June is World Oceans Day, the theme for this year is

‘’One Ocean, One Climate, One Future - Together’’ Our #OnlyOneEarth is facing triple planetary threats ranging from global warming, in which the climate is heating up too quickly for people and nature to adapt; habitat loss and other pressures mean an estimated 1 million species are threatened with extinction; and pollution that continues to poison our air, land and water.

Earth’s climate has already warmed by about 1°C since pre-industrial times. In 2010-2019 average annual global greenhouse gas emissions were at their highest levels in human history. As a result, seasons are shifting and storms are intensifying; floods, droughts, heatwaves and wildfires are becoming more frequent and devastating.

Every year, we lose ecosystem services worth more than 10% of our global economic output. Around onethird of the world’s farmland is degraded, about 87% of inland wetlands worldwide have disappeared since THINKING ALOUD | APR - JUN 2022

Nine out of 10 people breathe unclean air. Air pollution is entwined with climate change because the emissions driving both problems come largely from the same sources (e.g. burning of fossil fuel). Deaths from modern forms of pollution viz. ambient air pollution and toxic chemical (lead) pollution have risen by over 66% since 2000.

Chemicals have become widely disseminated in the global environment through irresponsible waste disposal, unsound recycling of lead–acid batteries and ewaste without pollution controls; lead in paint and other consumer products etc. (see The Lancet Commission report on pollution and health).

One of the biggest man-made global environmental problems of this century is marine litter, 60-90% of which are plastics. It is estimated that up to 13 million metric tons of plastic ends up in the ocean each year— the equivalent of one garbage truck load dumped into the ocean every minute.

80% of all marine pollution is caused by land-based activities by man. Plastics take about 500 – 1000 years to fully decompose but some of them break down much quicker into tiny particles. It contains lead, cadmium, and mercury that are toxic to humans. These pass through the food chain to ultimately reach humans.

More than 90% of all birds and fish are reported to have plastic particles in their stomach!

Humans living sustainably in harmony with Nature

R

We can restore and create a more sustainable planet D by changing the way we produce and consume, and more broadly interact with nature and its resources. S The IPCC 6th Assessment Report on Climate Change F | 36 |

shows that sustainable lifestyles and behaviours could reduce our emissions by 40–70% by 2050. Key actions to ‘turn off the tap and not continue mopping up the water’ include: •

R D S F

Becoming advocates. The more we raise our voices, emphasize what needs to be done and point out who is responsible, calling out players who are moving too slowly or not living up to their commitments the faster change will come. Sign the petition for world leaders to protect at least 30% of planet’s lands, waters, and ocean by 2030 (30 X 30) for a healthy ocean with abundant wildlife and to stabilize the climate => sign

•

Walking the talk and reducing personal carbon footprint through daily green choices e.g. Limit your consumption, generate less waste and recycle materials to keep them out of landfill. Avoid single use plastics and unnecessary plastic products. Use energy efficient appliances. Trek short trips. Buy sustainable products etc.

•

Governments putting in place regulations to tackle pollution (see here) and policies to incentivize energy efficiency e.g. Create sustainable and efficient public transportation, safe routes for pedestrians and cyclists, promote sustainable agriculture, embark on ecosystem restoration and establish green corridors to provide habitat for biodiversity (Watch video => Why is Africa building a Great Green Wall?)

•

Businesses putting in place policies and infrastructures for sustainable living e.g. investment in renewable energy, climate-friendly production processes, measurable commitments to achieve net -zero emissions by 2050 etc.

‘’Look after the Earth and the Earth will look after you’’ This clarion call, in commemoration of the 2022 World Environment Day and World Ocean Day is produced by: B. Adetoun Mustapha PhD, DIC, MPH E-mail: adetoun.mustapha03@alumni.imperial.ac.uk

Dr. Adetoun Mustapha is a multi-talented leader who can shape agendas from complex inputs and sustain Alignment with multi stakeholders. She has over 26 years work experience in the energy industry spanning Health, Safety and Environment, Technical Planning, Petroleum Economics, Continuous Improvement, Transformation, Strategy and Leadership. She is the Chair of ISEE Africa Chapter and Vice President of Chevening Alumni Association of Nigeria. She is a graduate of University of Lagos, Cardiff University and Imperial College London. | 37 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

SPECIAL FEATURES

Some have anxiety while others suffer from poor mental well-being and are in need of help. It’s as if they were robbed of their childhood.

Coming out of COVID-19 period, parents might have to create a village of teachers, church leaders, family members and friends to reinforce good values in their children. The aftermath of this global disruptor has left its destructive wake on the community, businesses, houses of worship and schools. Few families will emerge unscathed.

Some families will even find it hard to stay intact. The numbers of divorces are skyrocketing. Some parents have turned to drinking, drugs, pornography and other vices as coping mechanisms to counteract their new economic reality.

To make matters worse, rising fuel prices, inconsistent access to healthcare, Internet connection challenges, dirty water and the rise in the prices of goods and services, have brought on an increase in local violence and a civic unrest. Now more than ever, parents and society have turned to the “village” concept to regain a semblance of order.

During the COVID lockdown, families spent more time in the house. Children got to know their parents at a deeper level. Some parents made the most of the time and maintained the respect of their wards by giving them the proper amount of attention and organized activities to keep them busy.

In other families, children saw and heard too much.

Children witnessed their parents arguing, fighting, D abusing liquor, etc. . Some children spent countless hours alone, unsupervised and with unfiltered access S to the Internet and social media. The net effect is that F many children now are showing signs of this neglect.

R

Some parents made the most of the time and maintained the respect of their wards by giving them the proper amount of attention and organized activities to keep them busy.

What Schools Can Do Schools need to be intentional about providing” values -based education”. Teachers must be intentional while carrying out in “loco parentis” duties. Teachers have to step fully into the role of parents to the children that are in their care. Schools need to be anchored in a belief system (ex. Christianity, Islamic, etc.).

These values and pillars must be taught to students and must be enforced by the school. A code of Conduct must be created not only for the students, but also for parents. Teachers now need to be intentional in teaching good manners, etiquette and values.

Students need to be corrected when they go astray.

Unfortunately, suspensions and expulsions will increase while new levels of civility are established.

When teachers and students see something odd in the learning environment, they must say something.

Everyone must be on the look-out for odd behaviour and must report it to the leadership team at school.

Once reported, Administrators must take appropriate actions to address these infractions. School leaders will need to be more firm in their deliberations and handle bad behaviour occurrences as teachable moments for the purveyors of bad deeds. Likewise, teachers must create positive behaviour interventions systems to acknowledge and reward students’ good behaviour. | 39 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

What Parents Can Do Parents will need to be more active, aware and engaged in their children’s lives. This will require parents to intrude on their child’s privacy, without overdoing it. Measures that can help include: 

Creating and maintaining communication.



Insisting that the child leaves his/her bedroom door open.



Popping into the child’s room unannounced more often.



Staying in the child’s personal space longer.



Becoming an active snoop by taking a deeper looks at what the child is doing on his/her phone and computer. Knowing the apps and social media platforms that the child frequents.



Parents need to put their own technology and work down and give their child more time and attention.



Parents should not say to a child; “Why are you disturbing me? Can’t you see that I am busy?”



Children want to talk when they really need to talk. Most of the time, it’s at times that are most inconvenient for the parent.



Establish bed time hours and restrict access to social media and the internet.

an

open

line

of

There are key people that parents need to keep in close contact with and include in their ”values-based education village. The first is the child’s classroom teacher. Teachers observe things in children’s behaviour that parents sometimes miss. Parents THINKING ALOUD | APR - JUN 2022

should have a working relationship with the school’s counsellor and medical staff. Both counsellors and nurses have great insight into school children’s well being. Parents should include Church Youth leaders in the support village. Sports coaches should be included on the support team. It takes a village to raise a child.

Prayerfully, the adults in the village will be good people who are passionate about Value-Based Education. At times it might be easier for a child to talk to an adult that a parent trust, rather than talking to the parent(s). It helps when parents interact with these key people in non-defensive ways and when they are open to the input that they will receive. Children are multidimensional and very dynamic. Very few are perfect angels.

Dr. Barney J. Wilson is an experienced educator with more than 30 years of leadership responsibilities in the United States and Nigeria. He currently serves as the Deputy Director of Education at Greensprings School, Lagos, Nigeria.

He has a Doctoral Degree in Urban Educational Leadership and Community College Leadership from Morgan State University, USA and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Carnegie Mellon University, USA. He also has a Bachelors of Science Degrees in Electrical Engineering, Economics and Mathematics from Carnegie Mellon University, USA. | 40 |

R D S F

WHO AM I?

I am a woman Created by God Born of a woman Born with a purpose.

I am a woman Created by God Born of a Woman Born with a purpose

I am a woman Begotten of God Filled with His Spirit Strengthened by Grace.

I am a woman A human I cry, I laugh I sing, and I dance.

I do not wish to be anything less I do not wish to be anyone else I want to be who I am A woman, a daughter of Zion.

Do not judge me when I cry Do not call me weak or manipulative When my eyes water And tears stream down my face It could be that I am happy That joy has filled my heart

I am a woman, I am wonderfully made I am not defined by my size or height I could be tall, short, dark, or light-skinned But I am beautiful I am a woman and I am beautiful My beauty does not come from the clothes I wear My hairstyle Or the shoes on my feet

Great Joy that words cannot express I cry in expression And not in depression To express the words That words fail to express.

I cry when I’m sad Not just when I’m glad I cry when I’m hurt or let down

My beauty does not come from my shape; Curvy, hourglass, or pear For through my lifetime My shape will go through various phases of indecisive conflicts; Slim, fat, heavy, robust R D S

I am a woman and I am beautiful My beauty comes from within My beauty comes from my heart My heart, the place where love resides.

Overwhelmed with pain Struggling to stay sane Pressed on every side With no place to hide I cry in expression And not in depression Knowing weeping endures but for a night And my joy comes in the morning.

F | 41 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

I am a woman A human I cry, I laugh I sing, I dance.

Do not be envious when you see me laugh Do not call me insensitive or inhuman When I laugh It’s not because everything around me is a rainbow My world may be upside down, Inside out Black, dark, breaking apart But I laugh I laugh at my challenges, my storms My failures, my shortcomings I laugh because I am pressed but not crushed Persecuted, not abandoned Struck down but not destroyed I laugh because I know Him who holds my tomorrow He who says His thoughts towards me are of good and not evil Giving me an expected end A glorious future Glory Halleluya!

I am a woman A human I cry, I laugh I sing, I dance.

And the seas roar Yet will I praise Him I will praise Him in a Dance My feet will move to the beat My body will dance to the rhythm I dance because my God is faithful Faithful, Gracious, Full of Mercy I dance because faithful is He Faithful is He who has promised I dance because I am confident of this one thing That He who has called me is too faithful to fail I am a woman Created by God Born of a Woman Born with a purpose I am Wonderfully Made Overwhelmingly blessed Moulded by the Potter Adorned by Grace Naturally beautiful.

I AM A WOMAN THAT IS WHO I AM! I do not wish to be anything less I do not wish to be anyone else I want to be who I am A woman A daughter of the Most High God.

Do not wonder when you hear me sing.

Do not call me unrealistic and unsympathetic When I sing It’s not because my voice is perfect It’s not because I’m going to a concert I sing because I see the future I sing my future into my present Calling those things that are not Calling them as though they are Songs inspired, not retired Words of God, His Promises to me Coming alive in the songs I sing.

I am a woman A human I cry, I laugh I sing, I dance.

Do not be angry when you see me dance Do not call me unconcerned or unkind When I dance It’s not because I’ve got the steps It’s not because I’ve learned a move I dance because my God is good Though the mountains rage THINKING ALOUD | APR - JUN 2022

Abimbola Lawuyi is multi-disciplined and loves to express her gifts in diverse ways. A graduate of Industrial Microbiology, she holds a Diploma in Montessori Education from Modern Montessori International (London).

Abimbola is a school administrator, Montessori trainer, and is the Manager of T3 Consult, a Teacher Training Agency.

A Creative person, who believes in giving each project, her all, to achieve it. She is a co-author of the book ‘40 Pearls of wisdom’ a book with inspiring stories as told by 40 women who share intimate details of the wisdom they have gained from life’s experiences. She is married to Rotimi Lawuyi, blessed with two beautiful girls, and resides in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. | 42 |

R D S F

the rehoboth dream solid foundation board of trustees Rear Admiral Oladeinde (‘Deinde) Olusoga Joseph was born at AraMoko, Ekiti State into the humble family of late Mr. Joseph Owolabi and late Mrs. Ajibabi Owolabi on the 9th of May 1948.

He enlisted into the Nigerian Navy in July 1967 and later graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna and was commissioned as a Sub -Lieutenant in July 1971 in India. He received professional training as a naval officer in India, United Kingdom and the United States of America. Rear Admiral Joseph is a graduate of the Nigeria Command and Staff College Jaji and the prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru.

As a professional naval officer, he went through all the ranks in the Navy until he was promoted to the full Rear Admiral rank in 1998. While in the Navy, he had 4 sea commands, which included that of NNS Aradu (the Navy’s flag ship), 2 Training bases and 2 Operational bases. He had 2 tours at Jaji Staff College as Chief Instructor and Director of the Naval Faculty. He was also the Military Governor of Ogun State between 1990 and 1992. His last job was Chief of Navy Personnel at Naval Headquarters until he retired in June 1999.

Married to Mrs. Katherine Lolade Joseph since April 1975, Rear Admiral ‘Deinde Joseph is blessed with 3 children; Toyin (now Mrs. Borisade), and the boys Seyi and Jide, all University graduates.

His hobbies are photography, reading and he is a handicap 9 golfer. A practicing Christian of Methodist Church of the Trinity, Tinubu since 1967, he has a passion to help the less privileged in the society. Rear Admiral Joseph is a recipient of the National Honour of the Commander of the Order Of the Niger (CON), and brings his experience and goodwill to the Foundation as the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Rehoboth Dream Solid Foundation.

Ms. Ketumi Alasa studied Computer Science in the then Sheffield City Polytechnic now known as Hallam University, Sheffield, England. Worked in various capacities as an IT professional in leading multinational Oil and Gas, Insurance and Iron and Steel companies in Nigeria for 28 years cumulatively.

After a successful and rewarding career in the corporate arena, she took an early retirement and launched out to fulfil her entrepreneurial dream in real estate and retail management. As a real estate entrepreneur, she has made remarkable progress in development and management of properties. On the retail front, she runs a chain of interior decoration shops.

She is a practicing licensed Canadian Immigration Consultant and a certified Canadian Education Consultant and Foreign Student Recruiter for Canadian schools.

She is the CEO of Canada Outreach Immigration and Academic Consultancy, Managing Director of J-Three Sixteen Associates and Managing Director of Kay Kay Enterprise Interiors. She also serves on the Boards of a couple of christian and philanthropic organizations.

Blessed with five children, she enjoys playing the game of Golf. She served as a Lady Captain of IBB Golf and Country Club.

She is a Christian with a deep passion and commitment to supporting Missions work and the under privileged. Ms Ketumi Alasa is also a Trustee of the Rehoboth Dream Solid Foundation.

| 43 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

Deacon Samson Madu Igbokwe is a 1983 B.Pharm Graduate of Pharmacy from the former University of Ife (Unife), now known as Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). In addition, he gained a Masters in Business Administration Degree (MBA) from the University of Lagos (Unilag) in 2000. He also acquired a Certificate of Proficiency in Information Systems Management (CPISM).

Shortly after his Youth Service Corp at Military Hospital Lagos, he set up his own pharmacy business at S.W. Ikoyi, Lagos in 1985 which he has been running as Chairman/Managing Director till date. This is a company that supplies and distributes pharmaceuticals to its community and hospitals in Lagos State.

A devout and practicing Christian, he gave his life to Christ on March 31, 1991 in The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Akoka. Since then, he has served in various capacities in TREM as House Fellowship Centre Leader, Zonal Leader, Assistant Area Co-coordinator and Financial Secretary/Treasurer of Caleb Group of the Christian Men Fellowship.

He is currently serving as the Chairman Hospital Visitation Ministry in TREM. He is a member of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and a Treasurer at Ikoyi Pharmacy Community Zone. He has passion for contributing to his community, and often assists in reaching out to orphans, the fatherless and widows in the community.

Periodically, he visits in a group and prays for the sick in hospitals in Lagos, ministering to their spiritual, physical and material needs. He is happily married to his amiable wife Mrs. Roseline Igbokwe and they have 5 children. Deacon Samson Igbokwe is a Trustee of the Rehoboth Dream Solid Foundation.

Deaconess Roseline Igbokwe was born on November 2, 1965 in Ikoyi, Lagos, and is married to Pharmacist Samson M. Igbokwe.

She is an alumna of Sikkim Manipal University (SMU), Gangtok, India and the University of Lagos (UNILAG); Bsc. in Applied Information Technology, Business Administration and Masters in Business Administration(MBA) from the same institution.

She holds a Certificate of Proficiency in Information Systems Management (CPISM), Advanced Diploma in Systems Engineering (ADSE), Certificate in Strategies for Managing and Collecting Data (LBS) and Certificate in Core Sales Skills (LCT). She worked with Texaco Nigeria Plc as well as Chevron Oil Nigeria Plc as Food Mart Supervisor, Senior Retail Business Consultant, South, and then MRS Oil Nigeria Plc as District Sales Manager, Southwest Nigeria, Credit Control Manager for Nigeria, Aviation Commercial, Retail Sales Manager for Southeast/Southwest Nigeria and Head, Sales & Marketing. Nigeria.

A hard worker with enthusiasm for excellence, in 2006 she won the ‘African Pakistan Global Downstream 2006 Cultural Award, of Customer Facing and Market Focused’ in Chevron, having executed superior and consistent execution and sales implementation of all programs, processes and systems. She had focused the department’s organization around achieving the best business financial targets through an agreed set of Profit & Loss control measures in all MRS Oil Nigeria Plc service stations in Nigeria.

She is an ordained minister with The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM): and at various times has held the following positions: Assistant Secretary, Young Women Fellowship; Assistant Secretary, Christian Women Fellowship and Chairman Disciplinary Committee of the Evangel Voices Choir and Team Lead with the Christian Women Fellowship. Deaconess Roseline Igbokwe is also a Trustee of the Rehoboth Dream Solid Foundation. She is blessed with (5) five children.

THINKING ALOUD | APR - JUN 2022

| 44 |

Pastor (Dr.) Joshua Gbadebo Opadiya is the Senior Pastor of Every Nation Church Sydney, Australia, a worldwide family of churches and ministries.

He is currently serving as the Hub Leader of the Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, Papa New Guinea and Fiji) overseeing the ‘Every Nation churches and ministries in the Oceania region.

Pastor (Dr.) Opadiya previously lectured in the Lagos State University, Nigeria for 6 years, before moving with his family to Innsbruck in Austria where he lived for almost 6 years. Thereafter, the family moved to Sydney Australia in 1999 where together with his wife, Dr. Mrs. Opadiya started the ‘Every Nation Church.

He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the reputable University of Ibadan in Nigeria and holds a doctorate degree in Ecotoxicology from the Technical University, Innsbruck, Austria.

Pastor (Dr.) Opadiya has a burden to raise godly leaders and see the nations return to Jesus Christ.

He has travelled and ministered in several nations worldwide.

Pastor (Dr.) Opadiya's passion is to connect with young adults and adults alike who are leaders, peacemakers and bridge builders in their colleges, universities and in their communities. His life has been dedicated to this cause, reaching out, equipping, counseling and mentoring. He is also the dean of Every Nation Leadership Institute, a part-time program that is purposefully designed to provide discipleship training and biblical teaching for people from all walks of life. Pastor (Dr.) Opadiya and his wife have been married for 31 years. They are blessed with children. He is a Trustee of the Rehoboth Dream Solid Foundation.

Dr. (Mrs.) Yinka Opadiya is a senior pastor with Every Nation Churches and Ministries. Alongside her husband Pastor (Dr) Joshua Opadiya, she oversees the multi-congregational Church organization in Sydney, Australia – a church with members from diverse cultures, age groups and professions.

She is a teacher and motivational speaker with a passion for teaching about God's love and His purpose for humanity. She is also passionate about women and youth ministry; and is committed to mentoring women and young girls.

Her heart-cry is to see ‘the Church’ respond to the Great Commission of ‘making disciples’ and transforming nations. A graduate of the prestigious Universities of Ife and Ibadan in Nigeria, she also holds a Doctorate degree in French (Women Literature) from the University of Innsbruck in Austria. She had worked as a French Lecturer in the Lagos State University and in various schools in Sydney Australia. Dr. (Mrs.) Yinka Opadiya been married for 31 years. They are blessed with children. She is a Trustee of the Rehoboth Dream Solid Foundation.

Mrs. Ronke Osikoya holds a law degree (LLB) from the University of Lagos and an MBA (1988) from the same University. She is a Certified Trainer for the Commonwealth Association on Corporate Governance and has facilitated on the Directors course on Corporate Governance. She is a Management Consultant that co-runs a management consulting firm, Pedion Partnership Limited.

Her values are strongly shaped by her Christian faith and she believes very passionately in supporting the under-privileged, particularly children, which accounts for her involvement with the Foundation.

Mrs. Osikoya is a Trustee of the Rehoboth Dream Solid Foundation and lives with her husband and 2 sons in Lagos, Nigeria.

| 45 |

A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

Mrs. Abimbola Komolafe is a devout Christian who was ordained as a Deaconess of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in the year 2000 and as an Assistant Pastor in August 2013. She served as a Coordinator in the Teens ministry of the Resurrection Parish of the RCCG in Lagos where her passion for supporting the education of the less privileged was birthed .

She is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Banker and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. Mrs. Bimbo Komolafe has taken various management, Leadership and professional courses, within and outside Nigeria and is an Alumna of the Lagos Business School. She worked for 9 years in a reputable Merchant Bank in Nigeria and thereafter worked for 20 years with one of the leading Oil and Gas companies in Nigeria. She currently works as a Principal Consultant for Threshold of Trust Nigeria Limited.

Married to Rear Admiral Kehinde Komolafe (Rtd) who is also an Ordained Pastor of the RCCG Nigeria, they are blessed with 3 children. Together with her husband, they are committed to providing financial support to as many less privileged students as they can accommodate. Mrs Bimbo Komolafe is the founder and Executive Secretary of the Rehoboth Dream Solid Foundation.

Rear Admiral Kehinde Komolafe (Rtd), is a highly revered and distinguished military officer who served meritoriously with impeccable records in the Nigerian Navy. He graduated from the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1980 and was commissioned as a Naval Officer a year after. Due to his quest for knowledge and passion for competence, he proceeded to study at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he graduated in 1985 with a B.Sc. Degree in Accountancy. He attended several courses nationally and overseas and witnessed consistent career growth during his active years in the military.

Rear Admiral Komolafe is a change agent with a commitment to providing transformational leadership and ensuring realignment of processes, operations, resource and people on various integrated fronts for optimum value creation. He held various sensitive positions in the Navy before his voluntarily retirement from the Service after 35 years of meritorious service. He presently sits on the Board of many prestigious organizations. Beyond his Military career, Rear Admiral Kehinde Komolafe (Rtd.) is a lover of God and a Pastor. He is married to Mrs. Abimbola Komolafe and they are blessed with 3 children.

Charity to the less priviledged

Skills Acquisition programmes

THINKING ALOUD | APR - JUN 2022

Raise funds for the needy

| 46 |

Supporting the poor

We appreciate every support over the years and your continued support and commitment that has made it possible for us to continue to provide succor to the less privileged in our society. We pray that God will bless you and grant you success in all your endeavors.

Donations: You can make your donations online at: https://www.rehobothdreamsolidfoundation.org/donations