WHAT DO PEOPLE KNOW YOU FOR?

The impact you make in people's life is the best you can do for them, how much impact (positive and negative) do you make where ever you find yourself? what do people know you for? are you known for good or bad? whichever you want to be known for, let people know you for something, stop constituting unnecessary nuisance in the life of people, try as much as possible to make impact in people's life. What you do in the life of people matters a lot, you might not be financially buoyant, but your kind gesture might be the  highest currency you can spend in the life of people. Have it at the back of your mind that your negativity somewhere is the positive change some people some where are longing for. let people  know you for something, either negative or positive but I will advice you have positive impact in people's life, let people remember you and long for your presence and not the other way round.

DRAMATIC ART IS NOT BAD!!!

My interviewer sometimes around early part one days met the shock of his life when he asked me – “what department would you have been if not International Relations?” without thinking twice, I told him straight from my heart with all enthusiasm that I would have gladly been in Dramatic Art department, of course he expressed his disappointment but I never considered his expression to avoid further unnecessary questions like “why of all departments?” and so on.

I’ve met a lot of talented people and younger generations that are so passionate about studying dramatic arts but have been denied the privilege due to the bad image and mentality the society at large have created as regards studying dramatic arts as a field of study. I could vividly remember my mommy’s statement when I told her about my passion for dramatic arts, she exclaimed and said “olorun mi o ni je” and with this mixed feeling I just walked away, of course after so much discouraging words about the field. I have heard about people that joyfully scored high marks in Joint Admission Matriculation Board but were advised to change the course to law and other “lucrative” courses aside dramatic arts, believe me, if I start mentioning incidences of people who have sadly and “frustrtedly” withdraw from dramatic art because of the bad image constructed for it by the society at large, I won’t end this article.

But the question I have always asked myself is “what really went wrong?” what has really happened to the only field of study interested in bringing out the originality  in people and not just pouring on them theories that the postulators have even forgotten they propounded? What has suddenly happened to the only field of study that projects what our culture looks like to the public, the field of study that takes it apprentice through rigours of training, mostly rehearsals to bring to the public what is now known as entertainment? What has really gone wrong with the academic field of study where you don’t have to  theoretically be a genius but practically offer what skills you’ve got, the only field of study that is capable of making you go outside your boundary and limitations? I can go on and on but, to all of these questions I have no concrete answers, but that dramatic art as a field of study, most especially in our environment is what it is today because of what the society has made of it. The society at large, (if not all) has seen in dramatic arts, rascals, academic louts, indecency and so on. But my question to our parents (the major actors) and all other excellent discouragers involved is, WHAT PRACTICAL STEPS HAVE YOU TAKEN TO REDEEM THE IMAGE INSTEAD OF CRITICIZING IT? The society is not bad because it is full of bad people, but it in the state of “badness” because the good people present have decided to be and remain dormant watching things terribly ‘decay’ and go bad.

Dear sirs and mas, it is high time you removed the veil of the bad image you have created for Dramatic Arts and see through the lens of the numerous good things embedded in the field of study. You complained daily of how rotten the entertainment industry in Nigeria is becoming, especially the Music and movie industries, probably if your own well trained sons and daughters that have passion for acting, directing, script writing, singing, dancing, costuming and producing have been given the chance and your blessings to be there, it will be better, or maybe if you have willingly joined hands with the stakeholders (which is not yet late) to project a better side of dramatic arts, we will have well trained, competent and professionals up there and not just some set of individuals that can go to any length to do anything for money.

To my fellow students that are not in the field but can say all sort of things about the field, e kare, some will even be like “If I had been in dramatic art, I would have been a first class student,” please come back to your senses and wake up from your slumber of ignorance and realize that the people there are not playing but working, while you are reading for the same 3 units course examination you will write with them in the comfort of your reading place, they are at the theartre rehearsing and creating what you would later come back to watch for relaxation after your exams.

DRAMATIC ART IS NOT BAD!!!

Abiola Oluwasola Elisha ABSOL

Part 2 International Relations, OAU.

CHIDIMMA

On the 9th of March, 2017, like seriously? It was a day that Heavens cannot forget and the earth will forever remember. It happened to be the day POL206 test was held, the test was as technical as anything, only praying to God that I don’t get below what is needed to pass, the technicality of the test made me loose balance at first but then encouraged myself and moved on with my day trying to survive and at the same time waiting for IRS208 lectures with one of my favorite lecturers. After enjoying the boredom of the interesting class I proceeded to pursue one of my careers - car wash. I went to wash another favourite lecturer of mine’s car which took some quality time from my time, although not for free because I collected my money (#500). 

After the washing of the car, I ended up in my room in preparation for ECN202 test which I’ve not been reading but just have to read it like never before, but fatigue and its entourage will not make me concentrate, so I decided to rest from the stress of the day so as to regain some strength before the test of time begins. When I woke up around 7:30pm with a massive musical display outside my room, I decided to vacate the room and go to AUD1 which happens to be the venue for my 7:00am test the next day, after packing all the necessities, I decided to visit the CRADLE of OAU QUEENS to say good night to a friend of mine who might come looking for me in my room.

I was about leaving for my destination with the escort of my friend when we met two pretty ladies outside waiting for motorcycle to take them to health centre, and as a well cultured OAU student and Yoruba boy, I decided to show sympathy as one of them was at the point of going on a journey of six feet (God forbid). In an attempt to make enquiries about what the problem was, as the fair of the two was about explaining the situation on ground the affected was already on the ground of course fainted, and so I met Chidimma.

Where the strength came from I had no idea, where the courage strayed from, I cannot explain, the next thing was that this girl started gasping for breath and shouting, I was confused because I have no idea about the situation on ground, she was in my arms and how I managed to put her on the bike with some other good Samaritans around I don’t know, for the first time that day, the thought of POL206 test left me and the burden of the fact that I’ve not read so well for ECN202 test faded away, all my mind could think of was the helpless girl in my arms, I lost vision of everyone around as I was shaking to the last toes on my feet, fortunately a bike man came to our rescue in an attempt to rush her to the death centre, oh sorry, health centre. This old bike man definitely had no idea of what it means to be an ambulance driver and so with a shout from me, he came back to his senses that it was an emergency case and so he sped as we took off to the destination.

Upon getting there, intecu users were so engrossed with their respective internet connections as it was glaring that they were outside this planet, but where the voice came from I don’t know, Chidimma was already giving up as she was damn helpless, with a shout of help!!! From me every living thing including mosquitoes at that point came to my rescue, we managed to rush her to the emergency section of our dear beloved health centre. But as usual, they’ve never disappointed me before they could render no help as we were referred immediately to OAUTHC.

I never knew her from Adam, CHIDIMMA! CHIDIMMA!! CHIDIMMA!!! Was the only chorus and verse in my mouth as we rushed her down to the Ambulance. With a top speed, (that driver must be a regular player of Need for Speed Most Wanted) and God saving our respective lives, we got to OAUTHC emergency section, Chidimma became NEPA light as we were journeying down to OAUTHC, with a lot of slaps and shouts from Mary, Emmanuel (Mary’s Boyfriend) and I, we were able to keep her mini revived.

While the nurse ran like a mad dog to get a stretcher, tears were already dropping from my eyes with every hope in my heart that Chidimma was not going to die, I managed to shout for the last time as they refused to at first attend to us, HELP!!!!!!!!, they came back to their senses that someone was actually dying just as the bike man and rally rounded us, Emmanuel and I were already shaking and Mary in fear, managed to rush her in and then a stretcher was provided and they started attending to her alongside the Hausa men wounded at the Sabo crisis. With the help of professional Doctors and Nurses on ground Chidimma was calmed with oxygen and came back to life after some 15 minutes. At exactly 10:30pm, Emmanuel, Mary and I were taken back to school by Chidimma’s grandfather, leaving Chidimma at the mercies of the Nurses and her Grandma, but she spoke to me before I left her - “please don’t go!” she said and with pity in my heart I said “all will be well, good bye”

I followed Chidimma’s health up by calling her grandma almost every day, but thank God for grandma, she was never tired of my calls and giving me information and updates on her health. March 17, 2017, Chidimma was finally discharged and she called me with her grandma’s number at around 5pm. It was then I realized how good, important, and paramount a good health is. Thanks to God, Chidimma is back to life.        

LOVE

Loving someone is not really the problem; in fact it is one of the best feelings ever, the feelings of being in love, the feelings of having someone you will see and naturally you just become happy. That special person that whenever you’re with him/her 5 hours seems like 5 minutes, it is a very good feeling but it becomes painful when the person loves you not, just as being in love is best feeling ever so is not being loved in return is the most painful feeling, after all your emotional investment you discover the other party has no use of you emotionally. If you’ve never experienced the bitter side of love, please maintain its sweetness and enjoy it while it last because I’ve had my share of the story.

Lastly, giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they’ll love you back, no, not at all, don’t always expect love in return, just wait for it to grow in his/her heart, it might take time but never say goodbye if you still want to try, never give up if you still feel you can go on, never say you don’t love a person anymore if you know you can’t let go but bros/sis, if over time it doesn’t grow in their (he/she) heart be contented it grew in yours.

    Hope you find the someone as it is growing in yours, it’s growing in theirs, so you don’t end up in the friend zone.

ABSOL

YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE

               Failure in life is not meant to discourage, demoralize or put a full stop to our lives; rather it is a stepping stone to achieving greater and better things in life, but unfortunately many people or even most people see failure the other way round.

That you failed today does not automatically make you a failure forever, I’m of the opinion/thought that your success is not yet completed without a taste of failure but how you handle the bitter taste of failure will determine how sweet your success will be.

 Have this at the back of your mind that if you’re going through any hard time now that seems you’re a failure, just know that it has not come to stay but rather it has come to pass. I believe you are not a failure! I strongly believe the fact that you’re meant to be successful, but the question now is, do you believe in yourself? Failing in life is not the full stop but a comma to reflect and get back on track.

In the valley of failure, see yourself as a success and let see if you’ll not be elevated, all you need to do first is to believe in yourself, tell yourself, “I CAN!” always tell yourself, if this person can be successful, if he/she can do it, the I CAN! And I WILL be much more successful because YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE!

ABSOL  

EDUCATION IN NIGERIAN ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY: NEGLIGENCE AND THE WAY FORWARD

Nigeria, the giant of Africa is not only giant in the aspect of Population rather in all ramifications out of which is the entertainment industry. Nigerian entertainment industry of no doubt is one of the fastest growing entertainment industries in Africa because it is crystal clear now as it is highly audible to the deaf and visible to the blind that other African entertainment industries now look forward to collaborating with the Nigerian entertainment industry to make their goods and services into the large market of Nigerian Population.

It is of no doubt that education has gradually become a necessity in every phase of life, to enter any part of the world in this present century, education is very vital but sadly the fast growing Nigerian entertainment industry has lost the value for education. Education is no longer a thing of relevance in the industry. Anybody from anywhere can just have their way into the industry and produce anything of their choice without any query. Most sadly is the fact that entertainment industry is the most sought-after industry all over the world presently, having impacts in the lives of both young and old and here we are in Nigeria where education is no longer reckoned with due to the negligence of the stakeholders in charge of the industry. Most unfortunately these set of illiterates that are now dominating if not all, most of the aspect of entertainment industry are in a great way corrupting the young minds out there, most have lost interest in education because it is now believed that anybody can have his or her way into the industry and do anything with the power of strong connection.

Entertainment is good but once education is taken out of anything in this life, such a thing becomes nothing but useless. I want to use this medium to challenge the core individuals in charge of steering the affairs of entertainment industry to please see to it that proper screening of talents are done before being projected to the generality of the public, it is not necessary for everybody to have B.sc or M.sc before having their way into the industry, let the stakeholders establish academies where some of these things such as Football, Music, Movies and so on can be taught alongside the basics of education, this way those that have no interest in proper education will not be illiterate but rather literate in their own field and put literacy into things being done in the industry.

 ABIOLA OLUWASOLA ELISHA ABSOL

PART 2 STUDENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

YOU AND YOUR WEAKNESS

There’s an African adage that says; “if the enemy within does not harm us the enemy without can do us no harm.” So many people put blame on one person or the other for their failure, your failure is not caused by an outsider, it started all the way from inside of you, it’s when you give space to the enemy outside that is when you’re attacked. The number one enemy to be dealt with is you! You’re your own enemy, I’m sure you’re wondering what is he even saying? Yeah!  You’re your own enemy and until you deal thoroughly with yourself, OYO is your case.

The enemy without looks for your area of weaknesses and take the advantage, but if you give no room for weakness in your life the enemy without cannot use anything against you. Your own area of weakness might  be women/ladies for men and the other way round for women, yours might be alcohol, might be home videos, some might be what they put in their mouth, supper sport channels might be some people’s weakness, African Magic is for some and while some for some, it’s that which they called their hobbies.

How to identify your weakness? It’s very simple, there will be something, it maybe one or two or many more, that once it is presented to you, no matter your mood, no matter what you might be doing, you lose concentration. Be observant enough to look for your own area of weakness and make yourself strong in that aspect  

ABSOL        

WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME?

I have always thought that there is something like "the right time" as elderly people have always said, but then I sat down, then I discovered that there is nothing like "the right time." The phrase "the right time" is only being used to give hope and courage to lazy people because as far as humanity is concerned, there's nothing "like the right" not because of anything but because of the fact that there will never be a point in your life when it is the right time to do a great thing, you know what you have to do? you have to create the perfect time, the perfect opportunity. Time has never been right, it will never be right, we are the one to make time right for ourselves with the help of God, because God has already created time and He has done His part, we are the one to key into it and make time right, as one of yoruba's adage will say, "omo ti o ba sipa ni iya re n gbe," it is when you make moves that God Himself will back you up, so stop waiting for the right time because it has always been there.

Break away from the shackles of "I will do it when is the right time" because it will never come, you are the one to make the first move and see how things will play out in your favour, you have to make things happen first, then God will do His own part, it is a simple principle of division of Labour.

ABSOL  

BE HAPPY

Being happy is something everybody wants, but it's so unfortunate that it's not everybody that's happy. Many have devices different means of staying happy yet they are not. Have you ever wondered why most people find it hard to maintain happiness? The simple truth is, for you to to be happy, it is all up to you, no one will make you happy if you cannot make yourself happy, Study yourself! Identify that which makes you happy and sad then make your choice. You can pay huge amount of money to be happy but until you have the happiness from within, you're not yet happy, no one will make you happy else you're happy yourself. Look around you, who do you see that makes you happy, what do you do that makes you happy, in whose company do you find yourself happy, what do you eat that makes you happy, identify all of them and keep them around you always because there is nothing as good as being happy. BE HAPPY!

HOPELESS SITUATION

Do you already doubt God and your ability? Are you already thinking it is over or you can’t make it again? It is high time you woke up from your dream of hopelessness. Many at times issues of life make us to lose hope and we tend to give up, but life worth more than giving up on it that is why you should live your life optimally when you still have life in your life.

That condition you are seeing as hopeless situation can turn around and be your best ever only if you make use of the hopeless situation to produce a life full of hopes. Will be showing you some ways by which you can actually turn a hopeless situation around for your own good.

Imagine the worse-case scenario in that situation you have found yourself, by doing so, turning a hopeless situation around for your good will be very easy but how do you go about it because I am sure you are wondering what is this guy saying? Your situation may be terribly tragic but believe it or not it could always be worse. Take for example a woman that lost her husband in a motor accident cannot imagine anything worse or a student that had Ds and Cs as a first semester result cannot imagine the situation being any worse, but you know what? It actually could have been worse, the woman that lost her husband in a motor accident could have been in the car with the husband together with their children and a whole family lost and the student that had Ds and Cs could have had Fs and little of Es which could have been disastrous. So you see, even the most tragic situation could be worse. By imagining your circumstances in the worst case scenario you will find that you still have every reason to be thankful and hopeful for a better story because the woman can marry again and move on with her life alongside her children and the student with Ds and Cs can still have As and Bs and turn out a 1^st class student.

Lastly look for lessons in each situation because there is no situation in life that doesn’t have one lesson or the other to teach, but your ability to learn from your own mistakes and make amendments will determine how far and wide you will move and always be positive about the future.

ABSOL

WOMEN; WONDERFUL CREATURES

Women! Delicate creatures in the best of times. They are moved by their desires unknown by men that put trust in them.  Either you like it or not they remain the most powerful up till times to come. They don’t fight with weapons neither do they know how to handle any, yet, they are capable of destroying lives, ruining Nations without the lift of any weapon. Any live they support is not only supported by men of this world but by the hosts of “invincibles,” their weakness can be the most powerful support of such.

Behind every man they say is a woman yet behind every failed man as well, if well investigated is a woman he has failed, jilted, dumped, used, at a point in his life. With every woman lies the road to heaven, hell, success and failure. If she allows you to pass through the road joyfully, you’re blessed beyond description, if you forcefully pass through the road without her consent, I strongly doubt your making it in life.

Never force her to do anything not out of her will because such will lead to if not partial failure, total failure. Never underestimate the power of  a woman because with her lies life and death, success and failure, joy and sadness.

Never argue with her because every word you speak shall be used against you either for good or the other way round. If she hates you, just go your way because it takes the gods to make her like you and so is it the other way round, if she willingly loves you, she can go to any length to please, satisfy and maintain you, but if you break her heart, OYO is your case bro.

Never shout on her unnecessarily else you want to see erosion of tears on her cheeks, she might not actually shed it in your presence but deep in her closet all tissue paper available at that time have suffered.

If well educated, they can be the most brilliant, if not, they can be and remain the dullest, use not money to play with them because you cannot and can never win such a game.

RESPECT EVERY WOMAN YOU SEE AROUND YOU BECAUSE THEY ARE SPECIAL AND DELICATE BEINGS.

INSPIRED BY ALL MY FEMALE FRIENDS AND DEDICATED TO YOU ALL.

ABSOL