I SAW MY GRANDMA TÚRN INTO A CÁT AT NIGHT

My name is Kpokuechukwu. I'm the only son of my father. Or rather, I'm the only product of an intertribal union of an Igbo man and a Yoruba woman. According to my mother, she'd been childless for 8 years and had experienced 3 m¡scarriages before I was finally born. So she called my name Oluwasindara .

My parents and I used to live in the faraway city of Lagos. But one December when I was just six years old, we traveled down East to celebrate Christmas with grandma… And that was it, we didn't return to the city

Before we embarked on that journey, there was this particular dream I usually have, of a cr££py old woman scaring me. Sometimes she will throw me into a stream, thr£atening to drown me, other times she will be chasing me around a forest with either a long knife or a tongue of fire. Such a night, I will wake up sweating and crying. My mom would be there to comfort me. She would apply some ointment on my forehead, muttering silent prayers. It's as a result of these repeated occurrences that I started sleeping in my parents room. . This story belongs to Joy Ifunanya.

One Thursday evening in October, mummy was helping me do my homework in the dining room when dad walked in and told her to start making preparations.

“We shall be celebrating Christmas in the East this season”. He announced.

I was overwhelmed with excitement. I'd only heard about the village, but never really visited it. During holidays, mom usually takes me down to Badagry to stay with her elder sister who had 4 grown-up children. Although I do enjoy my times with them because there, everyone pampers me, I think traveling to the village will be more fun.

I have heard fascinating stories about the rural areas from my friends at school who were privileged to visit their hometown every holiday season. They won't stop talking about how they swim in their village streams all day long, how they go out to watch masquerade, how they go palm kernel hunting, snail hunting, crab hunting and a lot of other adventures. More interesting was how children would gather round the fireplace at night to listen to interesting folktales from the elderly women. I have been hoping to have such an experience one day.

So when dad made that announcement that evening, I couldn't control myself. I lifted my hands in the air..

“Yeah, I'm going to see grandma!”. I

Daddy smiled and patted my back. However, mummy didn't seem nearly as excited. In fact, she looked rather apprehensive.

“Dave, I'm not going to the village with you”. She asked.

Daddy frowned at her.

“Why? We haven't been to the village for ages” He asked.

“Are you asking me why? How do you even want me to travel all the way to the East in this condition?” She quarreled.

At that time, I wasn't aware that she was weeks pregnant.

“I know, dear. But trust me, you will be safe. Nothing will go wrong, I promise”. He said.

“I am still not going. I won't be traveling like this”. She insisted.

“Wuraola, I am traveling this December, I missed my mother, it's been five years. Don't you understand?”. Daddy said.

“But I'm not stopping you. I just said I am not going. That doesn't mean you can't go and see your mother”. She argued.

Daddy heaved a sigh, sat down on the chair close to her and held her hand. He then lowered his voice and began to talk to her. Though I didn't understand what he was saying because he was speaking Igbo language (I was only fluent in Yoruba language), I knew he was trying to persuade her, to make her see the reason she should embark on that journey. I watched them, my heart filled with silent.prayers that she should concur because if Mummy won't be traveling to the village, I won't be traveling either. I'm sure of that.

It was during the weekend when Mom and I were visiting her sister in Badagry that I discovered her major reason for not wanting to travel with us.

Her sister and her friends were gisting in the living room by the time we came. When Mummy announced about the intending journey to the East, her sister's reaction was intense. She seemed really upset.

“What is wrong with your husband?”. She raged. And in order to carry her friends along, she began to recount the events that transpired long before I was born.

Since no one asked me to escused them, I sat there in their midst, listening attentively and watching their lips move.

I learnt that my grandma never liked my mom. She had wanted to be the one to choose a wife for her son, HER ONLY SON, from amongst our people. But my daddy did not only reject Mama's choice, but went ahead to bring home a woman from a different ethnic background.

“Mama, this is the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. Her name is Wuraola”. Daddy had said the first day he brought mum home.

“Eka aso, Mami”. My mummy had greeted, prostrating before Grandma.

Grandma's eyes turned red with rage.

“Over my dead body would my only son marry onye ofe mmanu”. Grandma had responded. She couldn't even hide her feelings.

NOTE:. OFE MMANU IS THE IGBO MAN'S NAME FOR YORUBA’S OMI OBE AND EWEDU SOUP. NO OFFENSE

But despite his mum's disapproval, daddy went ahead to marry my mom. Nobody in my father's family agreed to see reason with her. This made her h@tred of mom very strongly. So strong that she was absent during their introduction and traditional marriage ceremony.

A few weeks before their wedding, dad and mum traveled to the village to make peace with her. They knelt before her and apologized for getting married without her blessings.

She accepted their apology, and promised to attend their wedding, but with a strict condition.

“Your wife will stay back here with me for some time after the wedding”. She had told my dad.

“Hmmm, it won't be possible”. Dad said.

They returned to the city 2 days later and did their wedding without her. But barely two weeks later, they found themselves back in the village… Dad's business has collapsed.

“Nwanyi ofe mmanu bû bádluck bia n' uloa(This Yoruba woman came with bádluck)”. Grandma would taunt dad.

But dad didn't take her word to heart. Even when Mom started having a series of m!scarriages, and grandma wouldn't stop bothering him to take a new wife, he refused to give up on mum.

“You're my only son, Onyekachi. The nwanyi ofe mmanu you married is bárren! Why don't you marry Akuabata, and start giving me children. I'm not getting any younger”. Grandma would always tell him.

It wouldn't end there, she would go ahead to bring the akuabata home to do chores for her. The lady would be parading the compound in a skimpy skirt or gown. Grandma finds pleasure in making mum shed tears. She neither eats her food nor allows her to touch her belongings. Once she returned from the farm and noticed that mom was cooking soup with her pot, she got really angry, stormed into the kitchen, set the pot down from the fire, and threw the soup on the ground.

“Ahh! Mami?”. Mummy exclaimed.

“Mami micha gi onu there! Ekwensu!”. Grandma cμrsed.

With that, she went inside and came out again with a hammer and nails with which she pierced the pot in several places before flinging it into the bush.

Morning and night, mom would cry, but my dad would always be there to comfort her. It was after six wásted years that uncle Tunde, my mummy's elder brother who resided abroad, remembered his sister.

It was him who sponsored them financially. They left the village, back to Lagos, and started afresh. With time, things began to normalize, and that was when I came into the picture. Mom's pregnancy journey wasn't easy, she was hospitalized thrice due to threatened m¡scarriages. However, with Divine intervention I was brought into this world, a year after they returned to the city.
**********”*******

Though I feel sorry for her, hearing all these stories about mom's mystery didn't deter me from wanting to visit the village. In fact, my excitement only grew stronger. I was still eager to experience village life and make new memories. I couldn't wait shåre my own village experience with my friends. Thankfully, at last, Mummy agreed to the journey.

Then came D-Day. It was on December 20th. Very early in the morning, we set out for the East in my dad's car. Myself and my parents, with one woman and her infant son. The journey was tiring. I didn't imagine it was going to be so.I sleep and wake up occasionally and still find ourselves on the road. At one point, I began to cry.

“The masquerades in the village will b!te you if they see tears in your eyes”. Mom said.

I stopped crying instantly and wiped my tears. As the evening drew in, we continued driving until the woman and her son dropped off at a junction. We then turned onto an untarred road, which seemed to stretch on forever. This story belongs to Joy Ifunanya.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we drove into a wide compound and halted in front of a thatched-roofed bungalow. An old woman was sitting by the side of the wall, picking something from a calabash on the ground in front of her.

“Here we are!” Daddy announced.

“Village?” I asked, excitement building inside of me.

“Yeah! Grandma is here”. Daddy said, pointing towards the old woman.

By now, the woman had looked up from the calabash and was staring at our car.

“Grandma!”. I screamed out excitedly, and without waiting, I threw open the car door and leaped out

“Grandma, grandma!”. I chanted as I ran towards her.

But as I drew closer enough to behold her face, my feet seemed to freeze of their own accord. A chill rippled through my body, raising goosebumps on my skin.

Grandma was the same woman who had haμnted my dreams….

Typing 2………..

Please, shåre

#Story from Joy Ifunanya's story room.

ANGRY MOB KILLS FOOTBALL REFEREE, BODY SET ABLAZE


Bukavu, a city already scarred by years of instability, was rocked this week by the horrific lynching of respected football referee Patrick Ngalamulume, who was beaten and set ablaze by a mob following an unproven accusation of theft.

The 36-year-old official, affectionately known as “Ngalas,” was killed in the early hours of May 6 in Bukavu’s Irambo neighborhood. Eyewitnesses say a false rumor triggered a deadly chain of events, as enraged residents took the law into their own hands and carried out a gruesome public execution.

Ngalamulume was widely known in Bukavu’s football community for his fairness, integrity, and calm approach on the pitch. He officiated under the Bukavu Urban Football Association (EUFBUK) and was a familiar face across local tournaments. Friends and colleagues described him as “a man of discipline and peace.”

The attack unfolded overnight, as a baseless accusation rapidly turned into mob violence. “There was no investigation, no police involvement. Just rage,” said a local resident who witnessed the violence but asked not to be named. “They beat him like he was nothing—and then set him on fire.”

Emergency services failed to intervene in time. The slow response has sparked outrage among civil society groups and sports officials who blame weak state institutions for enabling lawlessness. “This is what happens when the justice system fails completely,” said a spokesperson for a local human rights coalition.

The killing has drawn condemnation nationwide. In a statement, EUFBUK called for an urgent and impartial investigation, describing the attack as “a barbaric act that must not go unpunished.” They urged authorities to arrest all those involved and restore order in Bukavu and its surroundings.

Eastern Congo has long been plagued by insecurity, exacerbated by the presence of armed groups and a faltering state presence. In the vacuum of authority, extrajudicial killings and mob justice have become tragically common. Activists say Ngalamulume’s death is a chilling reminder of how low public trust has sunk.

“This isn’t just about one man,” said civil society leader Mireille Baguma. “It’s about a country where people no longer believe the police will protect them or that courts will deliver justice.”

Local officials have promised a crackdown and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. But skepticism remains high among residents who have heard similar promises in the past. “We want action, not speeches,” said a youth football coach in Bukavu.

As the city mourns the brutal loss of one of its own, Patrick Ngalamulume’s death has become more than a personal tragedy—it is a national wake-up call. His memory now stands as a symbol of both the beauty of the game he served and the urgent need for justice in a broken system.

#NEWS
#SPORTS

MANAGEMENT

Management is the process of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling the resources of an organization in order to achieve specific goals efficiently and effectively. It is about making the best use of people, time, money, and materials to accomplish tasks and reach targets.

DISCUSSION OF MANAGEMENT

Management is essential in every human setting, whether in a home, school, church, government, or business. Without good management, even abundant resources can be wasted. Management involves directing efforts toward a common goal by coordinating people and activities. The four key functions of management are: planning (deciding what to do), organizing (arranging resources and tasks), leading (guiding and motivating people), and controlling (checking performance and correcting deviations). A good manager ensures that the organization works smoothly, resources are not wasted, people are motivated, and goals are achieved.

100 FUNDAMENTALS OF MANAGEMENT EXPLAINED

1. SET CLEAR GOALS – A manager must define what the team or organization wants to achieve. Clear goals guide actions and measure progress.

2. PLAN BEFORE ACTING – Good management involves thinking ahead and preparing for the future instead of acting carelessly.

3. ORGANIZE RESOURCES WISELY – Resources like people, money, and tools must be arranged in the best way to avoid waste and delays.

4. DELEGATE TASKS PROPERLY – A manager should share duties with others according to their strengths to ensure work is done efficiently.

5. COMMUNICATE CLEARLY – Effective communication helps everyone understand their role, tasks, and expectations.

6. LEAD BY EXAMPLE – Managers should act the way they expect others to act. Their behavior sets the tone for the team.

7. CONTROL PROGRESS REGULARLY – A good manager checks the progress of work regularly to ensure things are going well.

8. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY – Managers must take the blame when things go wrong and not pass it to others unfairly.

9. MAKE DECISIONS PROMPTLY – Delayed decisions can cause confusion and missed opportunities.

10. SOLVE PROBLEMS QUICKLY – Problems should not be ignored. A manager must act fast to fix them before they grow.

11. AVOID WASTAGE – Wasting time, money, or materials reduces the success of any organization.

12. USE TIME WISELY – Time is a valuable resource and should be managed properly to increase productivity.

13. SET PRIORITIES – Not all tasks are equally important. Managers should focus on the most important tasks first.

14. MOTIVATE TEAM MEMBERS – Managers should encourage and inspire workers to do their best at all times.

15. BE CONSISTENT – Changing rules and decisions too often confuses workers and weakens trust.

16. BE FAIR AND JUST – Treating people equally builds unity and avoids conflict.

17. BUILD TRUST – Trust is earned through honesty, integrity, and reliability in leadership.

18. ENCOURAGE TEAMWORK – A manager must help workers to cooperate and not compete against each other negatively.

19. LISTEN ACTIVELY – Listening to workers helps managers to understand problems and improve decision-making.

20. BE OPEN TO FEEDBACK – Managers must welcome suggestions and corrections from others to improve performance.

21. EVALUATE PERFORMANCE – Managers must regularly check how well individuals and teams are doing their jobs.

22. REWARD GOOD WORK – Recognizing and rewarding good performance encourages others to work harder.

23. CORRECT MISTAKES KINDLY – Corrections should be firm but done with respect and not humiliation.

24. AVOID FAVORITISM – Treating some people better than others without reason weakens morale and teamwork.

25. DEVELOP YOURSELF – A manager must keep learning to improve their leadership and technical skills.

26. TRAIN OTHERS – Managers must help others grow by sharing knowledge and giving learning opportunities.

27. HANDLE CONFLICT PEACEFULLY – Disagreements should be settled with wisdom and respect, not anger.

28. BE FLEXIBLE – A manager must adjust to changes and new situations without becoming frustrated.

29. ADAPT TO CHANGE – The world is constantly changing, and managers must learn to move with it.

30. MANAGE STRESS – Managers should remain calm under pressure to lead others effectively.

31. KEEP RECORDS – Proper documentation helps in planning, accountability, and legal protection.

32. MAINTAIN DISCIPLINE – Rules and guidelines must be followed to avoid disorder and delay.

33. USE TECHNOLOGY – Technology improves speed, accuracy, and communication in management.

34. RESPECT OTHERS – Respect builds healthy working relationships and increases team cooperation.

35. MAINTAIN ETHICS – Managers must always do what is morally right, even if no one is watching.

36. ENCOURAGE INNOVATION – Managers should allow and support new ideas that can improve work.

37. BE RESULT-ORIENTED – The focus should always be on achieving results, not just doing activities.

38. BALANCE WORK AND LIFE – A healthy manager balances professional duties and personal life to stay effective.

39. PREVENT RISKS – Managers should look ahead to avoid possible dangers and prepare safety plans.

40. LEARN FROM FAILURE – Mistakes should not bring shame but should teach lessons for the future.

41. THINK AHEAD – Managers should always look forward and plan for the future, not just the present.

42. STAY FOCUSED – A manager must avoid distractions and concentrate on key objectives.

43. BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS – Good relations with staff, clients, and partners improve teamwork and loyalty.

44. SHARE INFORMATION – Hiding important information can lead to errors and distrust.

45. RESPECT DEADLINES – Keeping to time shows seriousness and respect for others.

46. MONITOR PROGRESS – Regular checks help to keep the team on track and identify areas for improvement.

47. IMPROVE PROCESSES – Systems should always be reviewed and improved for better results.

48. PROMOTE QUALITY – Managers must ensure that work is not just fast but also of high quality.

49. AVOID SHORTCUTS – Taking shortcuts can lead to poor results and future problems.

50. ENCOURAGE LOYALTY – Loyal workers are more committed and trustworthy.

51. PROTECT RESOURCES – Resources must be used carefully and protected from damage or theft.

52. AVOID LAZINESS – A lazy manager sets a bad example and weakens team energy.

53. KEEP PROMISES – Fulfilling promises builds credibility and respect.

54. ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY – Everyone should take responsibility for their actions and results.

55. VALUE EVERY WORKER – Every worker, no matter their level, deserves respect and fair treatment.

56. BE TRANSPARENT – Transparency builds trust and avoids suspicion.

57. SHOW APPRECIATION – Saying thank you encourages repeated good behavior.

58. SET A GOOD EXAMPLE – Managers are role models; their actions speak louder than words.

59. WORK HARD – A hardworking manager inspires others to also work hard.

60. USE FEEDBACK WISELY – Not all feedback is correct, but a good manager uses it to improve.

61. SET CLEAR ROLES – Workers must know their duties to avoid confusion.

62. ENCOURAGE GROWTH – A manager should create chances for others to develop their skills and careers.

63. USE MONEY WISELY – Money must be budgeted, tracked, and spent carefully.

64. REVIEW REGULARLY – Managers should always evaluate methods and results to improve.

65. AVOID CONFLICT OF INTEREST – Personal interests should not affect work decisions.

66. AVOID MICROMANAGEMENT – Managers should trust their team and not control every small detail.

67. PROMOTE HONESTY – Telling the truth, even when hard, builds a culture of trust.

68. USE AUTHORITY GENTLY – Authority must be used to serve, not to intimidate.

69. CONTROL EXPENSES – Cutting unnecessary spending helps the organization grow stronger.

70. VALUE TIME – Time wasted is opportunity lost. A manager must plan every minute.

71. HANDLE PRESSURE WELL – Under pressure, managers must stay calm and make wise decisions.

72. FOLLOW POLICIES – Rules and procedures should be obeyed to ensure fairness and order.

73. IMPROVE DAILY – Every day is a chance to do better than yesterday.

74. THINK CRITICALLY – Managers should question ideas and make decisions based on facts.

75. BE PROACTIVE – Act early, don’t wait until problems appear.

76. SEEK KNOWLEDGE – A good manager is always learning new things.

77. EMBRACE DIVERSITY – Different people bring different strengths that improve teamwork.

78. BE INCLUSIVE – Everyone should feel valued and included in the team.

79. EMPOWER OTHERS – Give others the chance to make decisions and grow.

80. AVOID GOSSIP – Gossip damages trust and relationships.

81. PROTECT THE IMAGE OF THE ORGANIZATION – Always act in a way that brings respect to the organization.

82. RESPECT RULES – Rules provide order and should be obeyed.

83. DO THE RIGHT THING – Even when it’s hard, doing right brings long-term success.

84. BE FIRM AND KIND – A manager must correct with authority but not with cruelty.

85. AVOID CONFUSION – Clarity in words and actions prevents misunderstanding.

86. KEEP LEARNING – There is always room to grow and know more.

87. ENCOURAGE SUGGESTIONS – Workers often have good ideas; allow them to share.

88. USE DATA IN DECISION-MAKING – Decisions should be based on facts, not feelings.

89. REVIEW STRATEGIES – What worked yesterday may not work today; plans must be updated.

90. THINK LONG-TERM – Don’t only focus on today; prepare for tomorrow.

91. ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBILITY – Everyone should take ownership of their duties.

92. SUPPORT WEAK MEMBERS – Help struggling team members improve instead of condemning them.

93. BALANCE AUTHORITY AND HUMILITY – A great manager uses power with humility and respect.

94. PROMOTE RESPECT AMONG WORKERS – Make sure people treat each other with dignity.

95. REDUCE NOISE AND DISTRACTION – Create a work environment that supports focus.

96. WATCH YOUR WORDS – Words can build or destroy; speak wisely.

97. BE RELIABLE – People must be able to count on you.

98. RESPECT HIGHER AUTHORITIES – A good manager also submits to those above him.

99. STAY HUMBLE – Success should not lead to pride. Stay grounded.

100. KEEP IMPROVING – Management is a journey. Never stop growing.

Good day my beloved brethren. I trust you are doing great , Praise God!

TODAY'S WORD OF GOD:

"For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them. Ecclesiastes 9:12"

Mankind was created to live in the present. The Lord Almighty is the only one who has the ability to live in the past, present, and the future because He is the creator of the times, seasons, and events therein.
As children of God, we can only plan for the future and hope in the Lord that the future will be great.
It is good to be aware that there are good times and evil times; it is our duty to pray for good times and acknowledge them, use them, and thank God when they come.
It is also our duty to pray against the evil times and be fully prepared so that when they come, we can endure them, thank God for grace, and continue to praise Him for giving us life.

Dearly beloved, what do you do during evil times? Complaining during evil times only make them worse. Remember, all things work together for good to them that love God. 1Thes 5:18. And also, in all things, give thanks to God for that might just be His will concerning you at that time. Romans 8:28.
What do you do in good times? do you behave like the foolish rich man described in the bible? Luke 12:16-21
May God give us insight to know the times and seasons of our lives, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! Be time conscious!
Hope you enjoyed your worship service experience with the King of kings today? Glory to God!
Happy new week. SHALOM!

DEPRRSSION AND DISORDERS -part 2 continue

Let's dive deeper into depression and mood disorders:

Causes and Risk Factors
1. *Genetics*: Family history can play a role in the development of mood disorders.
2. *Brain chemistry*: Imbalances in neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine can contribute to depression.
3. *Life events*: Traumatic experiences, stress, and significant life changes can trigger depression.
4. *Medical conditions*: Certain medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders or chronic pain, can increase the risk of depression.

Symptoms and Diagnosis
1. *Persistent feelings*: Sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness that lasts for weeks or months.
2. *Loss of interest*: Decreased interest in activities, hobbies, or social interactions.
3. *Physical symptoms*: Changes in appetite, sleep patterns, or energy levels.
4. *Cognitive symptoms*: Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering things.

Treatment Approaches
1. *Medications*: Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, or antipsychotics can help manage symptoms.
2. *Therapy*: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), or psychodynamic therapy can help individuals develop coping strategies.
3. *Lifestyle changes*: Regular exercise, healthy diet, social support, and stress management can also be beneficial.

Support and Resources
1. *Mental health professionals*: Psychiatrists, therapists, or counselors can provide diagnosis, treatment, and support.
2. *Support groups*: Online or in-person groups can provide a sense of community and connection.
3. *Hotlines and helplines*: Confidential support and resources are available 24/7.

If you're struggling with depression or mood disorders, remember that you're not alone, and there is help available.

*Life is a journey and you must enjoy the ride.* Life is all about the things happening as we watch the passage of time and how we respond to *those events creates our character.*

*No matter where you are on the ladder of success,* you have something to offer. Not all struggles are worth the effort because some are time wasters, *while some are opportunities for growth.*

*Do not be afraid to make mistakes* but learn from them to make better choices in the future. Life is a struggle, *so pick something worth struggling for.* Do not let your time be consumed by things that are not beneficial.

*The Lord said, your life is like the morning fog.* So always be with people who are with you for the right reasons for *unhappy people are toxic.*

Good morning Family

THE HARDEST PART OF MARRIAGE YOU WON'T BE TOLD

Marriage is sweet when you examine it from afar, of those who have successful marriage or the lovey-dovey of newlyweds, but when you enter into, you will discover that what is behind number six is more than number seven.

Many prepare so well for the romantic aspects of marriage, but very few groom themselves for the realities in marriage. Do you know that the hardest part of marriage plays a dominant role in marriage than the romantic moments?

However, what breaks marriage isn't the lack of romance, but the couple's inability to withstand the hardest part of marriage.

There are some hard things about marriage that you are not likely to be told, but I will only share 5 of them with you.

1. Staying faithful

It's easy to abstain from sex as singles if you have not tasted how sweet sex is, but it's very difficult to stay faithful in marriage when you are denied sex for no just reason.

The temptation to commit adultery is greater than the temptation to fornicate as singles.

Because you now know how sex taste, seduction would come from those who are willing to give you or have a fling with you. In some cases, when your spouse becomes cold on sex matters, there are several others who want to give you a hot and sizzling sex.

You need more discipline to stay faithful in marriage to your spouse emotionally, and sexually especially in this age when cheating has become a norm.

If you have not been faithful to stay sexually pure now that you are single, it will be very difficult for you to master it when you are married.

Marriage doesn't cure adultery, self control does!

2. Sexual Issues

See, it is wise that you keep yourself sexually pure till marriage - purity in thoughts, action and word. All those who are deceiving you that who virginity epp only want to destroy you.

One of the hardest part about marriage which many cannot come by is on the issue of sex. One partner is a novice while the other is an Emeritus professor in lovemaking; one has a high sexual libido while the other can stay for months without it and still feel sane.

Virginity helps you to be sexually discipline, it prevents you from undue and ungodly exposure to sex that could either make you hate it with perfect hatred or make you a maniac in it.

3. Money matters

Since it's said that money answers all things, money also destroys many things. As money can spice up love in marriages, it can also ruin it.

What is your perception about money?

Can you pull your purse together or separately?

As a woman, do you have the warped mentality of my money is my money, but your money is our money?

As a man, are you ready to work and earn a living or you want to live on your wife's income while dictating how the money will be spent without bringing anything to the table?

Can you open up to your partner about your financial life without secretly building an estate in the village while you feed on his or her money like a parasite?

Until you two resolve this before marriage and in marriage, it is hard enough to crack the nut of your marital bliss.

4. Unmet expectations

If you have been dreaming of having her remain a slim shady, but eventually after pregnancy, she became a size 15, how would you cope?

If he had been the romantic and available man, but after marriage, the quest for green pasture took him miles away, can you survive this?

It is wise and better to prepare for the toughest part of marriage so that you can cope with them when they come, surely they will come. As much as you prepare for sunshine, don't forget to prepare for storms when they come before rain falls.

5. Handling differences

Whether you agree or not, handling differences is one of the leading causes of divorce in marriage. Many marriages fail due to irreconcilable differences.

How do you plan to reconcile your differences in marriage should they come?

If he presses the toothpaste from the middle, and she had been raised to be meticulous by pressing it neatly from the base, can you tolerate this?

If she likes the food cold or warm, and you prefer it hot with steaming heat, can you adjust?

These and many others are the toughest part of marriage that you must brace up for. Wedding is just a day or two event but marriage is a lifetime journey.

More than the excitement of the married life, more than the grandeur wedding ceremony, have you been transformed by the renewing of your mind to face any challenge in marriage when they come?

Delay in child bearing, loss of job, relocation, in law issues, financial crisis, trying times or spiritual issues may come; you need to be prepared for whichever one life throws at you so you don't chicken out when they come.

Marriage is hard, I'm not scaring you; it's just one of those truths you might not likely be told or you don't want to hear. Finding the right person to marry is hard, but staying married is the hardest in the face of life's realities.

You are the sum of who you surround yourself with.

I never want to be the smartest person in the room.

Events like this put me in my place as I'm surrounded by killers!

Drinking water provides numerous benefits for the body, including aiding digestion, boosting energy, improving brain function, and promoting healthy skin. It helps regulate body temperature, lubricates joints, and transports nutrients and oxygen to cells.

Key benefits of drinking water:
Digestion:

Water helps break down food, aids in nutrient absorption, and prevents constipation.

Energy:

Proper hydration can boost energy levels and cognitive function by preventing dehydration-related fatigue and brain fog.

Brain Health:

Water is essential for brain function, including memory, focus, and mood regulation.

Skin Health:

Adequate hydration helps keep skin moisturized and can improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Temperature Regulation:

Water helps regulate body temperature by facilitating sweating and heat dissipation.

Joint Lubrication:

Water helps lubricate joints, reducing friction and pain.

Nutrient Transport:

Water transports nutrients and oxygen to cells throughout the body.

Waste Removal:

Water helps the body eliminate waste products through urination, perspiration, and bowel movements.

Weight Management:

Drinking water can increase satiety, boost metabolism, and support weight loss efforts.

Kidney Function:

Proper hydration helps prevent kidney stones and supports overall kidney health.

I don’t like Nigerian’s because of this usele$$ attitude of always comparing people and event. Why are we now comparing Davido and Priscillia’s Wedding? Are they of the same level? The kind of people the both of them row with are totally different. Davido is a self-made artist and musician who is known globally for his great work in the Afrobeat industry while Priscillia is the daughter of a Nollywood actress who have made name for herself in the industry. Do you see now; they are not of the same status.

I h@te it when I see Nigerians comparing this kind of events. Please let’s do better by just supporting them and not all this unreasonable comparison.

- Nkechi Blessing

SHE HAD A ONE NIGHT STAND WITH A BILLIONAIRE THEN THIS HAPPENED ……

Episode 2

And then she saw two bold pink lines. Positive.
Joy froze.
Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment she thought she might pass out. She was pregnant. She pressed a hand to her stomach trying to make sense of it.
A life was growing inside her. Lawrence Johnson's child.
Tears welled in her eyes.
What was she going to do? For the next few days, Joy couldn't sleep. Her mind kept racing with one question. Should she tell him? She didn't even have his phone number.
The only way to reach him was through his company, Johnson Group. After struggling with the decision, she finally gathered the courage to go to his office.
The Johnson Group building in Leosville was a towering glass structure that seemed to touch the sky.
Inside, everything was sleek and polished, filled with expensive suits and the sound of heels clicking on marble floors. Joy felt small. She approached the front desk, her hands clenched into fists.
I need to see Mr. Lawrence Johnson, she said trying to keep her voice steady. The receptionist, a tall woman with a tight bun and an even tighter expression, gave her a disbelieving look.
Do you have an appointment? Joy hesitated.
No, but it's important. Please, I just need a few minutes. The receptionist sighed loudly, tapping on her keyboard.
Mr. Johnson doesn't meet people without an appointment. If you'd like to book one, the earliest available date is three months from now. Joy's heart sank.
Three months? By then, she would already be showing.
There's no way to see him sooner? She asked, desperate. The woman gave her a sharp look.
Ma'am, Mr. Johnson is not someone you can just walk in and see. If you don't have an appointment, I suggest you leave. Joy stared at her, feeling a lump form in her throat.
So this was how it was. She had been nothing to him that night, and now she couldn't even get five minutes of his time. She turned away slowly, feeling defeated.
But as she reached the door, another thought hit her.
Even if she did manage to tell Lawrence, what would he think? That she was trying to trap him. That she wanted his money.

Joy's stomach twisted. She had already seen what he thought of women like her. He left her money on the nightstand like she was a prostitute.
He would never believe she wasn't trying to use this pregnancy against him. And honestly, she didn't want anything from him. She didn't need his money.
She didn't need his name. She would raise this baby on her own. Taking a deep breath, Joy walked out of Johnson Group, her decision made.
She would never reach out to him again. He would never know about this child. She would be both mother and father.
She didn't need him. She never had. And so, Joy disappeared from Lawrence's world, taking their child with her.

After much thought joy had to resign from her work inorder to take care of herself and her unborn son .
It was a really tough moment for her as she didn’t have any single money to even feed .
At a time she considered committing an Abortion but her conscience wouldn’t let her

The only person she could confined in was her old mother who accepted her whole heartedly and tried to ease the burden from her shoulders .
Her mother despite her old age still took extreme care of her daughter and her unborn child .

Joy and her mother would normally sit outside under the mango tree every evening to gist and talk about past events of the day but one day joy decided to bring up the idea of aborting the child
her mother looked at her sternly ,Joy ,joy joy how many times did I call you
Don’t make the mistake of terminating the blessing that God had sent you
After saying this she stood up and went into her room to sleep leaving joy thinking to herself .

She finally concluded within her not to terminate the child as it could be what God has destined .

One day as joy was sweeping the front yard of their hut ,she started to feel a sharp pain at her abdomen region , she screamed in pain as her mother rushed out
Her mother quickly called some men to help her and they rushed joy to the nearest hospital

Push !! Push !!, The doctors voice was heard from the labour room
Her mother just sat in the waiting room praying silently to herself

30 minutes later the doctor came out with a wide smile on his face
He looked at joy’s mother and said happily
Congratulations mama ,your daughter has just given birth to a bouncing baby boy
Joy’s mother had tears of joy running down her cheeks as she rushed in to see her daughter smiling at her while holding her son
She couldn’t hold back her tears as she hugged her daughter graciously
Mama ,Joy called out ,meet Noah your grandson who is going to wipe both your tears and mine away .

FIVE YEARS LATER
The streets of Leosville bustled with life, filled with the sound of honking cars, people bargaining in open-air markets, and the distant hum of construction sites. The city had grown, just as Noah had.
At just five years old, Noah Daniels was a ball of energy.
His bright eyes shone with curiosity and his laughter was contagious. He was the reason Joy Daniels kept pushing forward every single day.
She had worked hard over the years, climbing her way up in the interior design industry.

Though she didn't have her own company yet, she had made a name for herself.
Clients admired her work, and she was proud that she had built a stable life for Noah without anyone's help.
She didn't need Lawrence Johnson. She had erased him from her life. But fate had other plans.

It was a warm afternoon, and Joy had promised Noah a trip to Royal Crest Mall, one of the most luxurious shopping centres in Leosville. The mall was owned by none other than Johnson Group. But Joy didn't think much of that.
She had long stopped worrying about Lawrence crossing paths with her. He probably wouldn't even remember her, so what were the chances? Noah ran ahead excitedly, tugging on Joy's hand as they passed through the mall's food court.
Mommy, can I have ice cream? he asked, his big brown eyes filled with hope.
Joy smiled. Okay, okay. Just one scoop.

She led him to a small ice cream stand, waiting as the vendors scooped vanilla into a cup. Noah grinned, happily digging in as they continued walking.
It was supposed to be just another normal day.

Until she heard a voice. A voice that made her entire body freeze.
Across the mall, standing in front of a row of luxury stores, Lawrence Johnson stood with a men in suits.

He was doing his routine property inspection, something he rarely had time for, but today he had decided to visit the mall personally with his management staff.
As he listened to his assistant discuss sales figures, his gaze casually swept across the food court. And then he saw the child.
A small boy. Dark curly hair. A sharp jawline.
A face that looked almost exactly like his own. Lawrence stopped breathing.
The resemblance was too strong to ignore.
His heart pounded as he watched the boy take a bite of his ice cream, laughing as his mother wiped a smudge off his cheek. And then, his eyes shifted to the woman holding the boy's hand. Something flickered in his mind, a vague sense of familiarity, but he couldn't place her.

Where had he seen her before? Who was she?
And why did her son look exactly like him? Before he knew what he was doing, Lawrence started
walking toward them. Joy was laughing at something Noah had said when she felt a presence behind her.
A dark, powerful presence.
She turned, and her heart dropped.

TBC….

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