In the depth of my heart
there lies my pain
the pains I get when
my emotions turn jagged
and my inside tight
Waiting with wide eyes
my heart hanging in my mouth
hoping for kindness
like a child I longed for
soothing
Instead I get balked
Pushing back against pain
for so long
medicating with friendship
yet returns in my weaker moment
and devastating my mind
I’ve come to realise
what endless pain would be
When I would wake up one morning
realising I was dead
buried and forgotten by those
who are dear and close to me
but alive and kicking to strangers;
people who don’t give a damn about me
I have known pain
when I go to sleep with it
every night and seeing myself
being lowered in my own grave
when I scream to those
mourning and burying me but
no one hears my scream and whimpers
I’ve never been a person
to hold a grudge instead
seeking to understand the
motives of another
It doesn’t mean there
is no scars
only that I have no
forgiveness of them
to forgive I must first resent
or at least that’s my understanding
Perhaps that’s how I heal so well
Anyhow, perhaps my scars
are my road map
maybe I’d be lost without them
It was a calm morning, the sun had already risen, and people were already at their various businesses, it was their market day in the Land of Ajiun. A typical African village buzzing with palm wine tappers showcasing their products for sale, and cassava farmers ready to sell their freshly harvested farm produce. It was a busy day and Adio was very involved with business, trying to make ends meet for his family. The other day, he had already told his friend who was an hunter to help him keep a bush meat for his family to have dinner with on the market day. Surely, it was going to be a busy day and he needed something to reward himself for all the stress he would go through. But little did he know what the day had planned for him differently.
Alamu, the first son of Adio was also busy. He is a palm wine tapper, and had gone early enough to tap some palm wine for market and for them to take at dinner also. Market has not been so favorable in recent times for him. It seemed as if people had given up the idea of drinking palm wine and would only prefer to take water. Nevertheless he still had hope and kept on giving his best, his father had assured him that once he kept on being consistent with what he does, a time will come that his effort will pay off. Akanni his junior brother has been learning the art of furniture making, getting perfect at his craft. Their father, Adio was a very popular and wealthy man in Ajiun, a cassava farmer who sells not only within the land of Ajiun but also exports his produce to lands beyond who deal more with processing the produce into gaari.
Adigun, the head of workers in Adio’s farm had been running in search of Adio. He got to market, he didn’t find him, again he ran to the house but never met him there, with the look on his face, it’s as if something very bad happened, he looked so sad and tensed. But where could Adio be? What could it be that is making Adigun run that way? It was unusual for him to be in that posture, once he looks for Adio in the market and couldn’t find him, he would have waited till when he is able to see him but this time was not to be so. It’s like a do or die affair. The Land of Ajiun is tensed. Rumours already spreading.
Dangote Cement Plc has announced the commencement of its share buy-back programme, under the approval granted by the Company’s shareholders at the Extraordinary General Meeting of DCP, held on 21 January 2020.
This announcement was made in a notification issued this morning, the 21 December, before the opening of the stock market. This is also the first share buyback in Nigeria’s stock market history, according to Nairametrics checks.
According to the notification, the Share Buy-Back Programme is in line with the framework provided under Rule 398 (3)(xiv) of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) Rules and Regulations (as applicable) and in accordance with Rule 13.18 of the Rulebook of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (“The NSE”).
Key highlights from the notification
Based on the aforementioned shareholders’ approval, the number of shares to be repurchased under the Share Buy-Back Programme will not exceed 10% of DCP’s issued capital.
The Programme will be effected in tranches, as the first tranche under the Company’s share buy-back programme will commence on the 30th of December 2020, and will be completed on the 31st of December 2020.
During this period, the approved brokers of the company would purchase up to 85,202,537 fully paid-up ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each, representing 0.5% of the entire current issued shares of 17,040,507,404 ordinary shares.
The first tranche under the Company’s Share Buy-Back Programme will be executed by Meristem Stockbrokers Limited and Vetiva Securities Limited, the appointed stockbrokers of the Company under the programme. The stockbrokers will at their discretion purchase DCP shares in the open market between 30th and 31st December, subject to prevailing market conditions and under the current daily trading rules of the NSE.
The shares being bought back by the Company under the Share Buy-Back Programme will be held as treasury shares, and may subsequently be cancelled. Execution of this Tranche I is not expected to have any material impact on the Company’s financial position.
What you should know
Nairametrics reported a year ago that the Board of Directors of Dangote Cement Plc announced it would convene an extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM) of shareholders for January 22, 2020, in a bid to obtain shareholders’ approval to amend its Articles of Association, which would enable the Company to undertake a share buy-back of up to 10 percent of its issued shares, in line with the concluded arrangement.
What to expect
Shareholders seeking to participate in the first Tranche under the Share BuyBack Programme are hereby advised to contact their stockbrokers or any other independent professional adviser registered as a capital market operator by the SEC for further guidance on the submission of trades.
Dangote Cement will provide weekly updates on the progress of the First Tranche of the Programme on its website over the duration of this tranche.
However, the Company will continue to monitor the evolving business environment and market conditions, in making decisions on further tranches of the Share Buy-Back Programme.
Upon the completion of this programme, an announcement will be published on the website of the company and issued on the website of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, in line with the exchange and the company’s policy on full disclosure.
The Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria (SEC Nigeria) and Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Africa have announced the commencement of a joint review of Nigeria’s 10-year Capital Markets Master Plan (CMMP) in line with current realities. This is aimed at supporting the country’s economic growth amid the devastating effect of the COVID-19 crisis and fallen oil prices.
The synergy would enable SEC Nigeria to work with FSD Africa’s regulator support programme to develop a revised 10-year CMMP to strengthen Nigeria’s capital market and its capacity to mobilise funds. The CMMP provides a vision for Nigeria’s capital market, as well as a roadmap with objectives to meet it.
According to the Commission, the process will involve an assessment of progress made since the plan’s implementation to date and engagement with stakeholders for input.
This would also result in the introduction of more stringent tools to measure the plan’s progress against objectives and the inclusion of new challenges, opportunities and risks related to the current environment into the plan.
SEC explained that the review of the CMMP is in response to changes in the economic realities upon which the plan was anchored when it was launched in 2015.
The Director Capital Markets at FSD Africa, Evans Osano said: “This review will give market stakeholders in Nigeria a unique opportunity to not only take stock of the plan’s results so far but also grow and respond to previously unforeseen economic developments.
“As FSD Africa works to support and regulate financial markets in Sub-Saharan Africa, we are excited to be partnering with SEC Nigeria to enable them to strengthen the country’s capital markets during a time of immense upheaval.”
Director-General of the SEC, Lamido Yuguda said the implementation of the CMMP would deepen and improve the capital market’s contribution to the nation’s economy.
Happiness is and will always be the most sought after, yet most elusive, of all human desires. Day in and day out, many search for happiness, but end the day empty-handed. It isn’t something we have to have permission for or that a factor or a person has to determine before we have it. It’s free!
It is that feeling that comes over you when you know life is good and you can’t help but smile. It’s the opposite of sorrow or sadness. Happiness is a sense of well-being, joy, or contentment. When people are successful, or safe, or lucky, they feel happy. It is a state of mind created within you I.e in the mind that gives you a sense of satisfaction, emotional well-being, and physical well-being. It is a state of relaxation and pleasure. Happiness is free and a choice because, it does not necessarily mean that everything is perfect or that life is not good, sometimes, it is your choice to choose whether you want to be happy or remain sad and weighed down by the things that are going on in the society.
Two is that you have the power to love yourself and make things happen. Love who you are, love what you do, do what makes you happy, and eat what makes you healthy. Soon, you will find yourself happier in situations and happy enough to make the right choices.
I have noticed that doing what makes you happy, is a sure way of staying happy. Never let anyone talk down on your happiness. Anyone who does that should never be your friend, safeguard your happiness by looking for people who love you as you are.
Staying away from those who talk down on your happiness is a way of letting them know that your life is what you make it and should never be controlled by what people say but rather what makes you happy and what you want it to be. I can remember fighting with my elder brother who loves to constantly make choices for me but forgets to consider how I feel and what I like.
It’s unfair to not have control over your life and over who you are. Take control of your life, do things that make you happy and healthy! Because happiness is free and it is a choice.
Many people are stuck in the past, simply because they can’t let go of it. They imprisoned themselves in their horrible past experience. They fail to see beyond where they stand. We don’t have control over the past there are just times in our lives when we have to realize our past is precisely what it is, and we cannot change it. But we can change the story we tell ourselves about it, and by doing that, we can change the future.
The future will be the product of the action that is taken now but remember that now becomes then just as tomorrow becomes yesterday, the future will also become the the present then eventually becomes the past.
The past is gone, the future is yet to come you only have now, start building a better future. We don’t really own time, the time we own is now. Let’s begin to invest in it.
It would have been great if we could time travel, we go back to the past to correct our mistakes, then go to the future to see what it looks like so we can know how to live the time we have now but that’s not possible in real life it only happens in movies.
Funny enough, some people go back living in the past instead of moving to the future because they fail to spend their time wisely. Let me give you an instance, you were broke yesterday and today you earned $300, if you can’t spend the money wisely you will be broke again tomorrow. The way you live now will determine what your future would look like.
How our mind construct the past, present and future depends on our relationship with time.
Sometimes we can’t be present to the possibilities of our future until we navigate a peaceful path through the aftermath of our past. If you want to fly to the sky, you need to leave the earth. If you want to move forward, you need to let go the past that drags you down and the time to let go is now.
Let me share you a story;
“Once upon a time, there was a young man who was passionate, dynamic, and hopeful. He had dreams. He was certain he would make them come true. He met a young woman. They fell in love. She was also passionate and hopeful. She also had dreams. She was also certain. They dove into life, pursuing their dreams, everything was focused on the future. They made the sacrifices they thought they had to make. They gave up on present pleasures to pursue future hopes. They kept believing, even when it was difficult. Somewhere along the way, things changed. Things didn’t turn out the way they were supposed to. The things that were sacrificed stayed gone, but the things they were sacrificed for never really materialised. The passionate, hopeful young couple became disappointed, worn-down, middle-aged. Where did it all go wrong, and what do they do now? How can we be faithful to the future without losing the present?”
From the story, despite the couple having strong hopes towards the future they never got the future the dream of having. Didn’t they have a good relationship with time?
For most people, if not all, they are always concerned about what the future holds which is further compounded by the fact that the present does not look like what they had envisioned in the past. As a result, some tend to give up when after few trials, their present situation refuses to conform to the future they saw.
Like somebody said, the difference between ‘here’ and ‘there’ is ‘T’ which symbolises Time. In the same vein, the difference between Now and Future is Time.
Time is the allowance given to you most importantly to invest the kind of values and virtues that will translate into the kind of future you desire for you now! While you may be there grumbling and complaining about your present challenges and tough times, why not turn them into raw materials by putting your time into good use, equipping yourself, learning valuable skills, picking up lessons from your mistakes, forgiving yourself, moving on, growing and rising.
Understand, you can either spend time or invest time, the choice is yours. When you spend time, you have no assurance or hope of having it back but when time is invested, it returns to you as value! What makes some persons more valuable that others is the amount of time they’ve invested in adding value to themselves! Every great man you admire and wish to be like today didn’t reach their greatness all in one day, one week, one month or even one year. They kept growing silently but surely, and it came to a point where their success could no longer be hidden, they became sought after. Meanwhile during the period of dryness, where no one knew them or paid attention to them, they were not deterred but kept building up themselves.
If those great men could do it, then you can do it also. Keep at it. Between now and the future you desire is time, use it wisely: your life depends on it.
She has been keeping it in, Hard as it has been, The sword she wields against those tearing her apart, The cloak she uses to keep warm against the cold attacks.
She’s been keeping it safe and reassuring herself, A reminder that no matter what they say she’s not someone else, Her most priced and most valued fortune, One she handled with utmost caution.
In darkness and cold you appeared, Along with what she most feared. Without thought or remorse you ripped her cloak off, Even as she tried defending in fear and shock.
You took her fortune, feeling no rue Took her dignity and ran her through. Left her in the mud dejected and bitter, I’ve never seen sweet and innocence leave any faster.
Up she stood feeling the blood seep and flow, But, she will never let it show. Gently, she cleaned up and wore a smile, Wondering why the world was so hostile. She promised to only cry when she’s alone, She’ll only portray the image of a Queen on throne.
She never imagined the first time will be so cruel, But she’ll always wear her smile like the perfect jewel
Slave trade was abolished but that doesn’t make you a free man. Do you really think you are a free man? Or do you ever imagined you are still held as a slave? These are unanswered questions and you need to seek for their answers. This story will light your path to finding answers to the questions.
Many years ago, the whole of Africa nations were held as slaves. Some served as slaves in their motherlands while some served in the white men lands. Nigeria was one of those nations who lived as slaves for many decades all in the name of colonisation. Although, some parts in the country became victims as a result of the greediness of some traditional rulers and some as war victims.
It took many years before the slave trade ended and when it did, those who didn’t die were set free to go back to their countries. Some could trace their way back home while some couldn’t. Have you ever wondered why we have black people in America living as citizens? Like I said earlier, the Africans who lost their way back home occupied some parts in the European countries then they keep on increasing in numbers as a result of reproduction. They became the second largest racial group and third largest ethnic group in America. They are called Africa Americans also refferd to as BLACK AMERICANS OR AFRO AMERICANS. The so called black Americans are the descendants of the enslaved black people.
Like I said earlier, Nigeria was also among the enslaved nations but thanks to some good men who fought for our freedom. They started the nationalism movement and it became a success and that was how slave trade ended in Nigeria. It ended, but do you think it really ended? It’s the beginning of the end, the birth of a new era in slavery. The birth of the modern day slavery, “IT’S SLAVERY IN NEW APPAREL”
The modern day slavery is something we walked into on our own and our modern day slave masters took advantage of our ignorance unlike our forefathers who were forcibly put into slavery. They modern day slavery has penetrated into different nations in the world today but developed and developing nations.
Slavery continued to the present day after its abolishment many decades ago and the major factor that contributed to the growth of the modern day slavery is unemployment which resulted into poverty in some parts of the world today.
The modern day slavery is a by-product of poverty as a result of lack of education, the rule of law, anarchy and poor Societal structure which create an environment that fosters the acceptance and propagation of slavery.
In the ancient form of slavery, slave owners spent more on getting slaves. It was more difficult of them to be disposed of. The cost of keeping them healthy was considered a better invested than getting another slave to replace them. In modern slavery, people are easier to get at a lower price so replacing them when exploiters run into problem become easier.
The modern day slavery has taken various forms such as ;trafficking, sex slave, prison slavery, bounded, government labour etc. A common example of the modern day slavery can be seen between employers and employee, the workers work more but they are pay less, and when they complain they are fired and they will be replaced. The fear of becoming unemployed has rendered many no choice of voicing out, so to keep their job they have to keep quiet and keep on tolerating. Do you call this freedom when you still have the fear to speak up for yourself? There is no freedom anywhere, no independent. The truth is that, slavery has taken new forms. It’s slavery in new apparel.
We believe everyone, everywhere has the right to a life free from slavery. But right now, millions of children and adults are trapped in slavery in every single country in the world. Including yours.
Modern slavery is the severe exploitation of other people for personal or commercial gain. Modern slavery is all around us, but often just out of sight. People can become entrapped making our clothes, serving our food, picking our crops, working in factories, or working in houses as cooks, cleaners or nannies.
From the outside, it can look like a normal job. But people are being controlled – they can face violence or threats, be forced into inescapable debt, or have had their passport taken away and are being threatened with deportation. Many have fallen into this oppressive trap simply because they were trying to escape poverty or insecurity, improve their lives and support their families. Now, they can’t leave.
People end up trapped in modern slavery because they are vulnerable to being tricked, trapped and exploited, often as a result of poverty and exclusion. It is these external circumstances that push people into taking risky decisions in search of opportunities to provide for their families, or are simply pushed into jobs in exploitative conditions.
Happiness is and will always be the most sought after, yet most elusive, of all human desires. Day in and day out, many search for happiness, but end the day empty-handed. It isn’t something we have to have permission for or that a factor or a person has to determine before we have it. It’s free!
The Pen Creative World 