Welcome to April

As you step into this new month, let each day be a reminder to reflect on your actions and align your life with your core values. Embrace every challenge as an opportunity to grow in wisdom and strength. May you learn from past mistakes, cultivate compassion, and nurture the discipline needed to forge a path of integrity. Let self-awareness and honest introspection guide your decisions, transforming every setback into a stepping stone toward a better you.

In the spirit of progress and renewal, may this month be a call to commit to your personal journey of improvement. Seek out the lessons in every experience, and allow patience and perseverance to shape your actions. Let your heart remain open to change and your mind receptive to growth, knowing that each day offers a new chance to honor your true self and to uplift those around you.
Happy New Month

A youngster asked his grandfather -
"Grandpa! How did you people live before with -

No technology
No aeroplanes
No internet
No computers
No dramas
No TVs
No aircons
No cars
No mobile phones?"

Grandpa replied:
"Just like how your generation live today -

No prayers
No compassion
No honor
No respect
No character
No shame
No modesty"

We,
the people born between 1950-1970, or by extension 1977-1986.
are really the blessed ones ...

Our life is living proof.

While playing and riding "rented" bicycles in our youth,
we never wore helmets.

After school,
we played until dusk; we never watched TV.

We played with real friends,
not internet friends.

If we ever felt thirsty,
we drank public tap water not bottled water.

We never got ill sharing the same glass of juice with four friends.

We never gained weight eating plates of rice and eba everyday.

Nothing happened to our feet despite roaming barefoot.
Very few had shoes !.

We never used any vitamin supplements to keep ourselves healthy.

We used to create our own toys and play with them.

Most parents were not rich. They gave love .. not worldly material things.

We never had cellphones, DVDs, play station, XBox, video games, personal computers, internet, chat -
but we had real friends.

We visited our friend's home uninvited and enjoyed their meals with them.

We holidayed with relations & Relatives lived close by, so family time was enjoyed.

We may have been priviledged to appear in black and white photos but you can find colourful memories in those photographs.

We are a unique and most understanding generation,
because we may be the last generation who respected & listened to our own parents.

AND also the first generation who have to listen to their own children.

We are a LIMITED edition !
Enjoy us.
Learn from us.
Treasure us.

My mission in life is not merely to survive,but to thrive and to do so with some passion,some compassion,some humor, and some style....and that is the best way to live an honorable life.

Did you know this ?

A Painful Truth from Nature

After giving birth, a mother scorpion carries her babies on her back. But what’s heartbreaking is that these young scorpions begin to feed on the flesh of their own mother. Though she has the strength to resist, the mother stays silent, enduring the pain without complaint.
She becomes weaker day by day, unable to move, while her children grow stronger and eventually walk on their own. By the time they’re ready to survive alone, their mother has died—sacrificed completely so her offspring could live.
Sadly, many of us have become just like these scorpions. From the moment we are born, our parents sacrifice endlessly—working hard to provide us with education, food, clothing, and shelter. Yet when they grow old, many are left neglected, forgotten, or taken for granted.
We chase our own goals while forgetting those who made them possible.
But life comes full circle. One day, we too will be where our parents are now.
Let’s not wait until it’s too late to honor

JUST IN

FROM THE STABLE OF THE SENATE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, SEN.GodswillGodswill Obot Akpabio Akpabio,CON, TO HIS AMIABLE WIFE, MrsEkaette-Unoma Akpabio Akpabio ON THE OCCASION OF HER CONFERMENT WITH HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE IN PHILOSOPHY AT THE PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTION, UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR.


CELEBRATING A SPECIAL WOMAN;Dr(Mrs)Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio

To My Beloved Wife, Her Excellency, Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, As She Adds Another Gown To Her Crown.

My adviser, my counsellor, my steadfast companion
You have been the quiet strength and support behind every public triumph.

Today, the world celebrates what I have always known: that you are a woman of substance, service, and deep impact.

Congratulations on your well-deserved Honorary Doctorate.!

You wear this honour with the same elegance, dignity, and purpose with which you wear the crown of my heart.

With all my love,
Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON
President Of The Senate

Hi fam! Let me take you back to the days moonlight.

The Forbidden River of the Spirits

Long ago, in the village of Nsumba, there was a river so clear and beautiful that it shimmered like the morning sky. But no one dared go near it. The elders warned, “This is the River of the Spirits. Anyone who drinks from it will vanish forever.”

One day, a young hunter named Kofi grew tired of the long walks to fetch water from distant streams. He thought, Surely, the elders are just trying to scare us. Ignoring the warnings, he crept to the river at dusk, cupped his hands, and drank deeply. The water was sweeter than honey.

Just as he wiped his lips, a chilling wind howled through the trees. The ground trembled. A tall, shadowy figure with glowing eyes emerged from the water. It was Nyanza, the River Spirit.

“You have broken the sacred law, mortal,” the spirit’s voice rumbled like thunder. “Now, you belong to the river!”

Terrified, Kofi begged for mercy. The spirit, though powerful, was wise. “If you wish to be free, bring me the rarest fruit in the land—the Golden Baobab.”

No one had ever seen such a fruit, but Kofi set off on his journey. He climbed mountains, crossed deserts, and fought wild beasts. After many moons, he found the glowing fruit hanging from an ancient baobab tree. He plucked it and hurried back.

When he returned, Nyanza accepted the fruit and spared his life—but with a warning. “Tell your people: respect the spirits, for not all are as forgiving as I.”

From that day, the people of Nsumba honored the river, leaving offerings at its banks. And Kofi? He became the greatest storyteller, forever reminding his people of the power of respect and obedience.

Moral Lesson:
Respect traditions and the wisdom of elders, for there are forces beyond human understanding

18 COSTLY MISTAKES THAT HUSBANDS MAKE

1. WORKING SO HARD AT YOUR JOB/BUSINESS BUT NOT IN YOUR MARRIAGE
Men, your company, your career, and your business are growing and flourishing because you lead them; your marriage will grow and flourish when you lead it and dedicate time to it.

2. THINKING THAT FLIRTING WITH OTHER WOMEN IS NOT CHEATING
You may not physically sleep with other women, but emotionally cheating is also unfaithfulness. Receiving nude images and having phone intimacy with other women is also cheating. Talking suggestively and attracting temptations is also cheating. If you are a flirt, flirt with your wife. If you claim your wife is too rigid, treat her well, and she will respond to your kinky ways. She also wants intimate pleasure and to feel wanted.

3. BEING GENEROUS OUTSIDE AND STINGY AT HOME
Don't be the husband who quickly says yes when other people ask for help, for your time and your money, but stingy to your wife and child/children. Your family comes first. Don't go to harambees contributing large sums, helping out people because you want to have a good public image yet to your family you deprive and deny.

4. THINKING THAT SHOWING LOVE IS AN UNMANLY THING
When you were dating and courting, you were romantic and thoughtful; but now that you are married, you wrongly think showing love is beneath you. If you truly love your wife, tell her, she needs to hear it. Warm her heart. Romance her. Date your wife. Her being a wife doesn't mean she doesn't need to feel loved. Real men show their love. God is a loving God. If God doesn't find showing love as something beneath Him, who are you to shun showing affection yet you are created in the image of God?

5. THROWING MONEY AND GIFTS AT PROBLEMS
When your wife and kids get concerned about you spending much time away from home, when you are told you are not doing what you are supposed to; change, improve. Don't throw money and gifts at them to silence them. They want your time and presence, not lifeless things.

6. ADMIRING OTHER WOMEN MORE THAN YOUR WIFE
If you find other women better looking than your wife, work on your wife. Nourish her with compliments, buy her clothes you think she'd look good in, take her shopping, pamper her, love her up till she glows. Go to the gym with her. Jog with her.

7. WASTING YOUR FAMILY MONEY ON MEANINGLESS THINGS
Stop wasting your family money on alcohol, drugs, prostitutes, strippers, and addictions. Invest that money in your family, the future of your child/children. Even if you are a super wealthy man, you can find other ways to have fun that contributes positively to your family life. You can channel your money into more honorable things like supporting your parents, your siblings, the less fortunate, and the needs of society. You don't have to be unfaithful and reckless just because you have lots of money.

8. JUSTIFYING PORNOGRAPHY
Pornography is lusting after other women on videos and images. This is actually cheating because you are desiring other women, not your wife. This also lays the ground for future acts of unfaithfulness. Because you see no harm in desiring strange women on videos and pictures, soon you will see no harm in desiring women in the streets, at work, in your neighborhood; then you might actually sleep with another woman.

9. THINKING THAT BEING THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY MEANS BEING A DICTATOR
This is what makes some husbands beat up their wives, abuse them, sit on them, and hinder their progress. Your wife is not your junior but your partner, she is one with you. Hurting her is hurting you. She is not your competitor, celebrate her progress. Being head doesn't mean your word is law or that you treat your wife as a slave. In fact, because you are the head you should serve more, give more and humble yourself to make sure your wife and child/children are doing well.

10. IGNORING YOUR WIFE'S ADVICE
Don't hide things from your wife. Engage her in making family decisions, you are stronger when you move as a team. Your wife has sharp instincts and she will help you navigate through life's issues.

11. BEING TOO PROUD TO SAY SORRY OR TO LISTEN
You are capable of doing wrong, and when you do wrong, admit it. Problems don't get solved when you deny them. You are not perfect. Learn to say sorry to your wife and child/children. By refusing to say sorry, you are showing your wife you are insensitive and that will hurt her and damage the mood at home. Sometimes all a woman needs is for you to say, "I am sorry." Be open to learning and being corrected. Far too many men are ruining their homes because of pride.

12. ABANDONING YOUR SPIRITUAL ROLE
You are to lead your family, even spiritually. Don't neglect this role and leave it for your wife alone. Your wife needs your prayers, she needs you to walk with her in God. Your child/children need to see you living for God, praying, and teaching them about God. You say you want a Godly household, well, be an actively Godly husband and father.

13. TAKING YOUR JOB TITLE HOME
Whether you are a C.E.O, Manager, Director, or an award-winning professional, once you get home or are with your wife and family, put away your title. Play your role as husband and father. Don't treat your wife and children like subordinates, lording over them. The home is a place of love, not a place for orders, restrictions, pressure, and intimidation.

14. HIDING YOUR FAILURES
In case things don't go well, you get fired, you get retrenched, or you make a bad decision; share it with your wife, don't hide it trying to project a fake image of 'everything is alright'. Your wife is there for you, she will walk with you. Share with her your weaknesses and failures. Love will always win.

15. WORRYING MORE ABOUT WHAT YOUR MALE FRIENDS OR PARENTS THINK THAN PLEASING YOUR FAMILY
Don't let your friends or parents run your marriage. Don't let your friends negatively influence you by mocking you that you are being sat on by your wife or wrongly advise you to be tough on your wife just to prove you are man enough. A true friend is a friend to your marriage. Your parents might mean well but might drive a wedge between you and your wife. You left your father and mother to be one with your wife. Defend your home.

16. BEING INTIMATELY SELFISH
Your wife has intimate needs too. Don't just seek your own gratification and then sleep or leave her unsatisfied. Fulfill her physically. Kiss her, touch her, embrace her, massage her, stimulate her, explore her body, evoke her passion, make her tremble, give her every sensual pleasure. She is devoted to you, and no other can fulfill this role like you can. Make sure she's fulfilled, and she'll reciprocate. Your responsibility is to arouse her and satisfy her intimately. A passionately engaged wife is a content wife and fosters a harmonious home. Make love to her.

17. LETTING HER BE THE PARENT ALONE
When she gets pregnant, don't abandon her. Walk with her as she carries your child. After birth, be proactive in teaching, mentoring, and guiding your child/children. Stop the nonsense of when the child does wrong, the child is your wife's; when the child does well, you are a proud father.

18. FAILING TO PREPARE YOUR CHILD/CHILDREN FOR YOUR SUCCESSION
When you start a business, involve your child/children. Let your wife know of your properties, assets, and ventures. Prepare your children's future. Write a will. Share information, don't keep things in the dark. Too much unnecessary confusion plagues families because of lack of preparation in your marriage.

*FRIDAY, 21 MARCH*
*TEXT: EZRA 10:1-17*
*TOPIC: A GENUINE CONFESSION*

*EZRA 10:1-17 NIV*

1:While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly.

2:Then Shekaniah son of Jehiel, one of the descendants of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the peoples around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel.

3:Now let us make a covenant before our God to send away all these women and their children, in accordance with the counsel of my lord and of those who fear the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law.

4:Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.”

5:So Ezra rose up and put the leading priests and Levites and all Israel under oath to do what had been suggested. And they took the oath.

6:Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he was there, he ate no food and drank no water, because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.

7:A proclamation was then issued throughout Judah and Jerusalem for all the exiles to assemble in Jerusalem.

8:Anyone who failed to appear within three days would forfeit all his property, in accordance with the decision of the officials and elders, and would himself be expelled from the assembly of the exiles.

9:Within the three days, all the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered in Jerusalem. And on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the people were sitting in the square before the house of God, greatly distressed by the occasion and because of the rain.

10:Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful; you have married foreign women, adding to Israel’s guilt.

11:Now honor the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives.”

12:The whole assembly responded with a loud voice: “You are right! We must do as you say.

13:But there are many people here and it is the rainy season; so we cannot stand outside. Besides, this matter cannot be taken care of in a day or two, because we have sinned greatly in this thing.

14:Let our officials act for the whole assembly. Then let everyone in our towns who has married a foreign woman come at a set time, along with the elders and judges of each town, until the fierce anger of our God in this matter is turned away from us.”

15:Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, supported by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite, opposed this.

16:So the exiles did as was proposed. Ezra the priest selected men who were family heads, one from each family division, and all of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to investigate the cases,

17:and by the first day of the first month they finished dealing with all the men who had married foreign women.

*A GENUINE CONFESSION*

Due to over familiarity in our journey of faith, many believers no longer feel remorse over personal guilt and offences.

We see Ezra praying, confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before God's presence. This sincere confession led the Israelites to do the same.

There was a covenant to send away all foreign women and their children which they followed and it worked for them (vs. 16-17).

God is always willing to address a church's or community's atrocities if only they are willing to take the right steps towards making amends.

*QUESTION:* How sincere are you in turning away from your past?

*PRAYER:* Dear Lord, forgive us for always adding to our unfaithfulness. Help us to be bold in turning back from that sin, in Jesus' name. Amen.

*Food for the Day - 2025*

Your future self is watching—make choices that honor them. #BeIntentional

Your future self is watching—make choices that honor them. #BeIntentional

The way you treat your mother is the way life will treat you.

A mother is the heart of love and life itself. She embodies unconditional love—a love like no other. Do not judge her. Have you ever taken the time to sit with her, to truly listen to her stories, to understand the life she lived before you came along?

Perhaps she never told you about the struggles she endured, the silent battles she fought, or the scars she carries—scars that reopen every time memories resurface. She may have faced a painful childhood, a difficult youth, moments of loneliness, mistreatment, and hardship. Yet, she chose to keep her pain hidden, not wanting to burden you, not wanting you to see the shadows of her past.

Out of love, she remained silent. Maybe silence became her refuge, her way of protecting herself from reliving the suffering.

Honor her. Treasure her. Treat her with kindness, for she is a gift beyond measure. In doing so, you will invite blessings, peace, joy, stability, and a long, fulfilling life.

And remember, how you treat your mother will reflect in the way others treat you. The love and respect you show will shape the way the world responds to you.

There is only one mother. If you fail to cherish her now, regret may follow you in the years to come. And when sleepless nights come, it won’t be her presence keeping you awake—it will be the weight of your own neglect, the echoes of words unspoken, and the pain of missed chances that refuse to let you rest.

Alleged $968,000 Fraud: How Fake US Engineer Duped Me-Witness

The trial of Wawe Eseoghene Nelson, a.k.a James Andrew Shmit and Philip Bradley before Justice Aliyu Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja commenced on Thursday, March 14, 2025 with the presentation of the First Prosecution Witness, PW1, Kathleen Sharp by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Nelson, arraigned on February 11, 2025 is facing prosecution by the EFCC on 11 count-charges bordering on advance fee fraud, impersonation, conspiracy and obtaining under false pretence to the tune of $968,000 (Nine Hundred and Sixty-eight Thousand Dollars), allegedly obtained from two US victims, Sharp and Holly Stamm.

Count one of his charge reads: “That you, Wawe Esoghene Nelson (a.k.a James Andrew Smith) sometime in 2023 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of One Hundred and Fifty-Five Thousand Dollars ($155,000) from one Kathleen Sharp, living in the United States of America with Telephone Number +13025983826 through Chase Bank with account name Pearl and Allison Llc, account number 952177670, Routing 021000021, account address 35 Knollwood Dr Aptos CA 95003 with bank address at 1990 41st Avenue, Capitola, CA 95010 under the false pretence that you are James Andrew Smith, a Petroleum Engineer from United States of America that is into engineering project, relating to petroleum project which pretence you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

Count 11 reads: “That you Wawe Esoghene Nelson (a.k.a Philip Bradley) sometime in 2022 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Dollars ($120,000.00) from one Holly Stamm, a Citizen of United States of America with email address [email protected] through Bitcoin and under the false pretence that you are James Andrew Shmit a Petroleum Engineer from United States of America that is into engineering project relating to petroleum exploration and that the said sum will be used to secure a petroleum project which pretence you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a)of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him, prompting his trial.

Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Maryam Aminu Ahmed, the witness narrated how the defendant lured her via the social media into sending him money in the guise of financing a project and would repay her when the project yielded dividends upon completion.

“I was contacted by the Commission that they discovered that I was defrauded by one James Andrew Shmit via social media platform. We communicated over social media where he presented himself as an engineer working at BP Oil in the Gulf of Mexico. He started by asking for funds because he did not have access to his personal funds and the credit situation in connection with the project required a large amount of funds with the promise that it will be returned and he will avail the funds to me. The total funds are $183,000 (One Hundred and Eighty-three Thousand Dollars) through three instalments, one by wired certificate cheque, two instalments by wired transfer. The first one was for $45,500, (Forty-five Thousand Dollars), the second one was $131,000 (One Hundred and Thirty-one Dollars) and the third was $7000 (Seven Thousand Dollars) I wired. I have not been paid my money. After the third instalment, he pushed me to pay another $10,000 (Ten Thousand Dollars), but I did not pay. There was a picture on his profile, he has brown hair and white. I will like the refund of the investment and funds and he should be persecuted for his actions,” she said.

Justice Halilu adjourned to April 16, 2025 for cross examination of the witness.
Visit efcc.gov.ng for more stories.