PROGRESS OBERIKO BLOG

Sometimes we spend our whole lives trying to find our PURPOSE , PASSION , CAREER or hoping for a DREAM JOB , but we may just have been living out that purpose without knowing. This is inspiring! Whosever it is that may have put this camera on him is surely a fortune teller! Trust me he didn’t study PHOTOGRAPHY or ‘CAMEROLOGY’ in school; what he studied is HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY AND ANATOMY at the Cross River University. Tell me what’s the relationship between #education and #passion? When will parents start guiding their children towards actualizing and living out their potentials instead of imposing one on them? So many destinies have been altered by Parents knowingly or unknowingly. Yes! Because they watched us grow up, they discover our potentials before we do! But for some reason, try to make amends by imposing a more professional career on us, therefore causing us to live ‘their’ lives and not ours! Take a second look at the picture of the little boy, th...

Do you know anyone who wears this brooch on their clothes? You’ll find it on the president, Senators, Ministers and their aides, Security personnel,  Suya men, Cobblers, Traders, Secretaries, Hawkers, and road sellers. They all have this particular tag pinned to their shirts. Some wear it because they’ve seen some calibre of people wear it, But you know what?  Most unfortunately many are oblivious of what it truly represents.  This tag is symbolic in reminding us of the fallen heroes. The 15th day of January reminds us of the soldiers who lost their lives in wars, the ones who have died and have been forgotten. Even though January 15 commemorates the dead soldiers generally referred to as the FALLEN HEROES; I’m sure it’ll shock you to know that there are ‘fallen heroes’ who are still alive. Yes! Although they’re alive, forgive me when I say they’re as good as DEAD!  You know why? Because they have already been forgotten e...

It’s almost three months now since I shared his story with you all. And the past three months has recorded an enormous recovery for Chibuike. Remember the kid who had a distressing eye condition which resulted from particles of bottles which splashed into his eyes while he was running an errand, yeah that’s him!  click here to read So after removal of the bottles particles in Chibuike’s left eye, doctors reported that the injury left a major scar which may not permit it to function as the right eye. At first, one of the doctors opined that the injured left eye would have to be removed, so that the uninjured right eye does not end up sympathizing with it, resulting in a damage of both eyes, but after a major SCAN and further consultations, Dr. said removal will not be necessary. Chibuke during one of his appointments with the doctor So we were recommended to buy a series of prescribed drugs, and a combination of various eye drops back to back which were ad...

Don’t scroll pls, this is her story! I had placed my order and got served in her open roof ‘bole’ kiosk; Beans and bole (roasted plantain) plus roasted fish staring right at my face. I ate under a ramshackle umbrella which served as a shade for the kiosk, but the taste of her meal was nothing compared to the site of her kiosk. The taste is the difference and the difference is in the taste. lol. While she sat down to count the money she had made for the day, I heard her mention that she’d be leaving for the market to get yams for the next day’s business. In her soliloquy she added that “her business is simply based on turnover; sell today, spend immediately”. She tagged her business “from hand to mouth” - No room for saving or investment. I sat opposite her, as she nagged to herself; so I suggested: - “Madam instead of going to the market after everyday’s sales, e for beta make you buy the yams and plantains in bulk”. I advised. Her response extended our conversatio...

I'll be bias if I fail to appreciate you. You have been my only faithful companion in times of boredom, through thick and thin you have stayed by me. You get me busy typing when I'm inspired in my thoughts. I never knew you'd stand the test of time. No laptop, but you permit me to carry out the task of writing lengthy articles; even my keyboard knows my handwriting. You have proven to be that PC that never pisses me. No iPhone but your multitasking ability is amazing. Battery life don dey depreciate, yet you stand the test of time; even with 5percent I'm still jumping from instagram to facebook. Your memory space don hear ' Ween ' because I have stuffed you up with details, upon details, of everything I treasure. Pictures are flowing like streams of living water, my notepad is overwhelmed with stories yet untold. My gossip partner. I could be writing about someone next to me without him knowing. If to say you be human being, by now u for don ...

I thought police men were the most mean people in Nigeria until I witnessed the one they call “TASK FORCE”. They move around in trucks, most times with no uniform but casual wears like every other person. I dunno what really is their job description, but on several occasions I’ve seen them destroy traders goods or otherwise forcefully seize them, no matter the amount of begging from the owner of the goods.  One an occasion, one of these churlish nitwits overturned the basin of Garri of an old woman in the market. He poured the whole contents of Garri on the ground and threw the empty basin into the nearby gutter (drainage). Even as he grabbed the basin of Garri, she held on to his trousers and was begging him to let her have it back,  but as cold hearted as he was, this guy refused; as soon as he threw it away he started walking away, while the other traders scurried off to hide their goods.  The old woman threw herself on the ground so hard, rol...

If you’re a SECRETARY or PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER or PROTOCOL OFFICER or CUSTOMER CARE ASSISTANT or SECURITY PERSONNEL... or if you intend to become one of these; Then this is for you! Never look down on a person who has come to see your boss or to make enquiries. You know why? That person could be your boss someday. Some PAs and Secretaries have stood as a hinderance to people’s destiny, just because people have to pass through their desk before getting through to the boss, they take advantage of that privilege and frustrate people’s efforts. They’ll never smile with you. They begin to feel like an over bloated coward; raising shoulders, snubbing, and acting all cold and bossy when approached. Some will even take advantage and exploit the visitor either by sex or by cash. You bloody fools! You’ll not remain there forever remember? And even if you do, you’ll only be a servant all your life. Some important letters don’t get to the boss because of their SECRETARIES and ...

Those of you that’ll take a cab or Uber or public transport, and block your ears with earphones, seriously slamming music without paying attention to what is being discussed in the vehicle, calls made by the driver or signs along the journey- whether long or short; Be careful! That song you’re listening to, you have played it before, you can play it later when you get home. Don’t be carried away! Forming a tush guy or posh babe; Pressing your phone throughout the entire journey and chatting consistently is a risk itself. This life is too short for you to be shut out of your environment or be oblivious of what ought to be obvious! Things are happening my dear, take caution! Instead of listening to music with an earpiece, most times I explore other ways to enjoy my journey. Especially when it’s an Uber or a cab, where I’m alone with the driver - a total stranger! I rather initiate a chat, by first asking about his welfare or about work for the day, or his family. Say...

A big man do not approach a girl in the conventional way and use words like: “I like you”, “You’re very beautiful”, “I’d like to date you”, “I’d like you to be my girlfriend”, Or “Lemme give you sometime to think about it” For where! When they get your phone number, they start by calling once a day, some send airtime unsolicited. And when you respond with “Hello sir”, or “Thank you sir”, they be like:  “Don’t call me Sir”, I’m Donald. Most of them don’t even bother asking whether you’re in a relationship. E nor concern them. When they call you on phone they use endearments like: “Hello sweetheart”, “My dear”, “My darling” “My baby girl” “Hey beautiful”... etc Na so e take dey start o. From there they invite you for a sit out and chit chats. They make you chop anything you want and offer to drop you off. Even though they drop you off at your doorstep, they still give you Tfare - An amount which will make you want to see them again. Lol... Sometimes, whil...

SNIPER has been banned, but not these. Like unsolved arithmetic, I have no answer to it. It’s there in my head It has become my nightmare. Deep in my thoughts, there it is, seated with confidence! There’s absolutely no way out! What have I not done in this life? How unfair can life be? I act like it’s all okay, just to meet up with the life, but here I am, in the middle of nowhere fizzling away. I feel like God has blown me away like the beans shaft. I am dying inside. Yes, I have dreams, BIG DREAMS, but they remain mere dreams because life has conditioned them to remain so, they never wake up. My mates are already in University, I’m here "jambing" JAMB, and still being posted by the failures of Post-Ume exams. Some of my mates are done and dusted. Graduation and matriculation pictures overflowing on my timeline. And you say I should hold on? Hold on for what? It's too late for me already! ** ** *** My nudes leaked My reputation destroyed...

So it was in the season of “one chance” I took a cab. After normal negotiations, we agreed on price. Quickly dumped myself onto the front seat, as I was itching to get out of the scorching sun! Although I had my sunglasses on, the sun was capable of roasting a whole human being to ashes!  As I was trying to fix my seat belt, I greeted; - “Oga good afternoon o”. And he too responded - “Good afternoon madam’. But instead of beginning the journey, this man was just staring at  me... I paused myself to stare at the ‘starer’.  So to break the silence I asked: “Oga Watin happen na”?   Then he smiled, cleared his throat and adjusted himself; he looked uncomfortable, then he answered with an undertone of mild humor. - Eh..eh... Madam nor vex o, this one wey you cover your face like this so, I kon dey fear o; Before you go kon bring out gun ‘bell up’ me or kon kidnap me’.  I couldn’t hold it in, I burst out in laughter. lol But he co...

MAY-DAY! MAY-DAY !!! Africa my Africa! Fallen brothers! They sailed, suffered, and endured, Fought for each other, Had each other’s backs! Never was there strife, nor hate, nor scorn! But there came a time in their lives When the sword with which they fought battles, One picked and used on the other! 'We are one'..., thus goes the song! We are brothers, so we thought! Nigerians like thrash are thrown down from cliffs How has the high and mighty fallen! Artists beefing, Naija screaming, Women wailing, Bare breast cursing! My children are there! My brothers hustling, My sisters gasping for breath, Struggling for survival, But these cannibals slaughtering, Police standing-by, grinning end to end; Matchet rising, Blood dripping. Oh my! Oh! My poor Nigerians! Pouring down like raindrops from rooftops! No Mercy! Show them none! Thus they clamor! Forgetting the reverberating effect. Us Fighting us?...