The Pen Creative World

Build Your Brand

Ways in building a business brand Effectively
A brand is a guarantee of a specific encounter that has been created through the aggregate of different elements including the logo, slogan and the brand personality. Your brand is the manner by which individuals perceive you at whatever point they associate with your business which includes the impressions you can control and the ones you cant.
At the point its been put into consideration, people possess individual brands as well unique names, a face , an identity, a style and with all these qualities, we establish various connections with different individuals. Similarly business have names, products, logo, colors, text styles ,voices and notoriety that make up what they are and influences how they are seen.
Your brand ought to be at the focal point of your business, simultaneously influencing and at the same time mirroring the entirety of all your actions and decisions.
Brand Building
Truly branding is one of the most remarkable ways a business can differentiate itself, its products or administrations from its rivals. Not exclusively will a solid brand cause clients to pay attention, however it will permit its rivals, build customers loyalty, drive sales and accelerate products differently in the market.
As businesses turn progressively threatening, obviously solid brand-building aptitudes are needed for survival and prosperity. Successful business personnels have found the importance of branding as a strategic assets and an organization essential wellspring of competitive advantage.
A brand isn’t only a conspicuous name and logo that distinguishes you in a crowded market, its your professional services firm’s most valuable assets. If this is valid , then building up a more standard and stronger brand is the most significant task.
Building your own brand essential boils down to five steps
>> Research your target audience and your rivals/competitors.
>> Pick your concentration and personality.
>> Compose your trademark.
>> Choose your business name.
>> Apply your branding across your business.
Brand development defined: This can simply be explained as the process of creating, reinforcing your professional services brand which is best understood as your firm’s reputation and its visibility in the market place as reputation X visibility of your brand and as well as its relevancy to the target client audience.
A strong well differentiated brand will make firm’s growth much easier. You cannot develop a brand without being reliable and maintaining that level of consistency as you extend your brand to all aspects of the business is very mandatory.

How to create a brand
Brand creation is an aspect of business and economy development that requires team of intellectuals passionate about change and value creation. Below are the steps necessary in brand creation;
Specialty creation: This is the initial step required in brand creation; it assists with management and fills in as a compass in brand situating. It assists with intensifying brand personality. Niche creation is just discovering specialization in a specific industry. Footwear creation, style planning, adornments promoting and others are altogether branches. In the fashion business ,specialty creation requests that a brand represents considerable authority in one significant part of this branches. It isn’t prudent for a brand to serve the market from all branches.
Brand situating: This viewpoint can be best characterized when a brand analyzes the market it serves, it is significant for a brand to know the purchaser of her items and their recognition, this will assist the brand with working better on the worth it serves her clients and how to situate itself in the market for clients to get to. It is significant for a brand to recognize what clients are anticipating from it.
Advertising and sourcing of materials : This is a critical aspect in brand creation, a brand must be prepared to serve clients/customer with no type of dissatisfaction or disappointment. Marketing is basically grabbing of audience, a successful marketing campaign is only achieved when the attention of audiences are grabbed. Brands ought to deliberately work on getting their products before clients.

You Are Not Alone!

You are not alone!
I know how difficult it is to get a place over your head, I know
I know how unbearable it is to earn a living each waking day, I know
I know how hard it is to put food on the table, I know
I know that feeling of failure when despite all your efforts, nothing works, I know
I know how easy it is for people to ignore, neglect and look down on you when no results is in view, I know
I know how tough it could be to have no one to talk to and reason with, I know
I know how it kills having loads of debts around your neck to pay off, I know

BUT;

No matter what it is now, you are not alone!
It may be hard but it is not impossible
People may not believe in you, but I believe in you.
It may be all dark now but there is light at the end of the tunnel
You may have come this far and be tired of going further but you are closer to the finish line than you think
Hear the voices of the generation gone past and those coming behind you cheering you on
You can’t give up now!
It is too soon to let go!
Hold on, the wait is almost over
You are the hope of generations to come
They believe in you, they trust in you
You can’t fail them
For the sake of your pains, don’t give up
For the sake of years of labor, don’t give up
For the sake of your secret tears, don’t give up
For the sake of your past failures, don’t give up

People may desert you, but know that you are not alone
You are not alone, your years of trying and failing are your companion, urging you not to let go
You are not alone, your days of hunger is right beside you to testify soon of how you remained steadfast
You are not alone, your nights of sleeping in the cold is right beside you to tell the world how your dreams refused to be frozen
You are not alone, your weeks of earning little or nothing stands with you to share the story of how your vision refused to lack provision
You are not alone, your months of loneliness desires to tell of how your discomfort became your closest companion that will never let you give up!

You have come this far to go further
It may be lonely but you are still not alone!
Keep striving, you’ll soon arrive at the finish line!
I know how it feels right now, I know
But you are not alone!

Integrity: The Cure To Mediocrity

In a generation of high civilisation and deepened technological advancement, there is a simultaneous decline in the level of moral ethics and principles held by people. This is alarming. Years ago, education was not just about schooling in a four walled building, but about building the whole man which includes inculcating the right set of virtues in people to direct their behavior and actions in the society both now and future. These set of very important right virtues helped to instill in people the desire to be outstanding in all they do! Role models we’re not people with questionable character while excelling in the various fields but they were people who were balanced on all sides. This brought a level of sanity to the society and strengthened the resolve of people to succeed and do so in the right manner. Education today on the other hand is all about school work and nothing about virtues and values of each individual. The role of civilisation and technological advancement can’t be underemphasized as it has made life easier and reduced the burden with which certain processes are carried out, yet at the same time, it is proving destructive to the human life it seeks to help, because mindset has been unconsciously made to believe once technology is settled, all other aspect of life is settled!
In a generation where our leaders have become mediocre in their thinking, and care less about the ordinary man on the street whose vote helped in securing the position of leadership, we need to raise another generation whose actions are sponsored by the set of beliefs and values they strongly hold on to. The root cause of corruption in our society today is lacking integrity, when people do not care about their name nor the human life, all they care about is lining their pockets with gold belonging to the generality of people. When leaders are without integrity, the result of their leadership ends in Mediocrity. Out of the box and effective thinking that could benefit mankind is lost when integrity is lacking. Students would rely on ‘expo’, external help to succeed in their exam, because they can’t belief in their ability to read, remember and pass. Their moral code has been weakened and mediocrity birthed. Police officer would rely on the roadside bribe to survive and not believe in his ability to produce more wealth without being corrupt outside of the government’s monthly stipend paid. Young men and women will solely depend on scamming people and prostitution before they believe they can succeed, despite the level of governmental failure and recession in the nation, it doesn’t limit the ability of each individual to succeed. We have seen great business outfits arise out of great austerity and recession with just the resolve not to compromise but to remain true and succeed the right way no matter the cost! This kind of moral code is needed to be restored if we are to witness true growth, development and freedom. Austerity is not a call for mediocrity.

What beliefs make up who you are! Or are you the type that says anything goes? Whoever lives life anyhow will see life treat him anyhow! There must be certain set of beliefs, virtues, ideologies that define you. Certain moral code that makes you stand out from the crowd! Men of integrity are scarce and the society is searching for such, will you be one! Beyond words can describe is the reward of a man of integrity! We can build our nation again, but let’s start with our individual selves, enough of blaming government and our leaders, let’s look inward and reshape our mindset to stop thinking mediocre thoughts and start thinking developmentally.

The Virgin Ghostess Chapter 10

Julius and Julia walk home hand-in-hand, just soaking in giddiness. He says that even with the most delicious food, if you eat it too fast, you’ll get indigestion. He doesn’t want them to get indigestion of the heart by going too fast.

Julia asks a little wistfully, “What if there isn’t much time?” and he scoffs that it’s not like she’s going to die tomorrow. She’s so happy to just sit there holding his hand that she insists on one minute longer.

Julius mom arrives with pastries for him, and they jump up in alarm, barely managing to unlock their hands before she comes up to the roof. She wonders what Kate was doing here so late, and julius awkwardly invents an errand she was here for and sends her home.

Julius mom catches on right away and comments on kate’s level and size, and warns him not to even try foot-acting in front of her. She knows they’re dating and calls him out on it, but he shoves a pastry in his mouth and ignores her.

Julius insists that there’s nothing going on with him and Kate , and she says he can call it whatever he wants, just as long as he’s using condoms. He groans and asks if she really wants to be talking about this stuff with her son, but she says it’s better than him making babies by accident. Truth. Listen to your
mother!

She finally leaves, and julius rushes to text Julia that it’s safe to come back. She’s relieved to hear that it went okay, and pouts when he says they should head inside. She mentions getting enough sleep earlier at the motel, and he gets all fired up again at the mention of the motel, and bans the word altogether.

In the middle of the night, Julia sneaks out of kate’s room and into julius’s, to watch him sleep. She lies down next to him and is actually able to touch his face, and she sighs, “You’re a ghost—how can you like him for real? What are you going to do? You’re crazy.”
She tells herself that it’s okay because she’s just enjoying the feeling of being in a relationship, though she doesn’t sound convinced.

Kate comes outside to get a glass of water and runs into Julia as she’s coming out of julius room. Julia quickly says she was just wandering about because she was bored, and feels awkward when kate sweetly calls her aunty.

In the morning, julius is the one sending Julia little signals in front of the others, as he winks at her to meet him in the locker room. He feeds her herbs to keep her healthy in the sweltering heat, and she presses his hand to her face, calling that her best medicine.

Felix interrupts them to tell Julia about a phone call for her, and looks curiously over at julius , who’s doing a terrible job of acting natural. She picks up the phone and doesn’t realize that it’s julius’s mom on the line, and when she asks for her birthdate, she accidentally answers with her own, not kate’s.

Not knowing this, Mrs Jane reads the fortune at her request, and says that this girl is already dead. Mom says that can’t be and tells her about catching Julia and Kate together last night, and Mrs Jane realizes that she’s talking about Julia . She gets hopeful to hear that they were together late at night, but deflates to hear that they were simply talking.
**********

Officer John drops Lisa off at the restaurant and waits to greet julius , and happens to hear Julia humming a familiar tune. He remembers her singing the same song at her Dad’s restaurant years ago, and the way she’d smile to greet him.

Kate does the same now, and it makes him eerily fixated on her. It continues to bother him when he’s at work, as he remembers Dad’s shoelaces tied in Julia’s special way, and he looks up Kate’s information on the computer.

That night, John opens up his drawer and takes out the cracked cell phone that was hidden away.
He contemplates the phone and then takes out a suitcase that’s filled with scary serial kidnapping and/or murder gear and broken security cameras, and tosses the phone inside too.
********

On their way home from Julia’s dad restaurant whom they both ran into at the market earlier that day after julia had introduced him to her dad as a friend.

Julius squirms like a big baby when Julia gets ready to prick his finger to relieve his indigestion, and she asks why he ate two whole bowls of rice. He says that it was the polite thing to do in front of an elder, and he felt bad for the him(Julia’s dad) , who had such sad eyes when he talked about his daughter passing away.

He’s feeling better by the walk back, so she requests more handholding. He’s only happy to oblige, and looks a little sad when she breaks contact to run over to a playground. He chases her around, and then makes a big fuss when she trips and falls.

He sits her down to check her foot and treats her so tenderly that she swoons all over again. He wonders why she’s staring, and she replies, “Because I like you. I like you so, so much.” There’s a long pause as they look at each other without saying a word, and then they sit on the swings together, holding hands.

She says that she was too busy to do anything but work, and she thanks him so sincerely for all her new experiences that he darts up and declares that they’ll go on an overnight trip.

She asks why he changed his mind when he was so against her trying to jump him before, and he half-mumbles an admission: “I changed my mind. I want to go on a trip with you. I’m not going to hold back anymore, so you’ve been warned.” It’s her turn to be stunned silent.

Meanwhile, Julia is in a very different mood on the other side of the wall, and leaves kate’s body to go visit Mrs Jane in the middle of the night. She terrifies her awake, of course, being a ghost and all, and tells her about the trip with julius.

She thinks that’s good news, but wonders why Julia looks so sad about it. She doesn’t understand it either—tomorrow she could get what she’s been wanting all this time and finally resolve her grudge and move on…

Julia finally declared that she is not happy and she liked julius so much. The things he says to me, the way he looks at me, the way it feels when he holds my hand—they’re all things I’ve never felt before when I was alive. They’re so warm, and I feel like my heart is softening.”

Mrs cuts her off in a grave tone: “Get it together. Do you know what the most dangerous thing is to a ghost? It’s feelings. You think you’re a person and hurt and feel sad, and happy. And that’s where greed comes from—the greed to remain among the living, even as a malevolent ghost!”

She warns her that malevolent ghosts are not the same as her—they never disappear and wander forever, stuck amongst the worst of people, causing evil. She clasps Julia’s hands and begs her to steel herself and resolve her grudge, and move on to a better place. Tears fall as she nods, knowing that Mrs Jane is right about what she has to do. Mrs Jane comforts her and hugs her close, and she cries into her shoulder.

Julia is subdued at work the next day, even when julius whispers his plans to get them out of here as early as possible today. Mike chooses today of all days to insist on a staff night out, and julius has to say no so many times that he ends up snapping at him.

Julia takes the morning to go see her Dad, thinking that it’s her last day here as a ghost. She shows him how to do stuff more efficiently in the restaurant, and he picks up on the fact that she’s acting like they won’t see each other for a long time.

She tamps down her tears and says that she just might be busy for a while and can’t come as often, and he promises to do as she instructs. She thinks to herself that she might never see him again, and Dad should stop thinking about her and be healthy and happy with Alex now.

Julius makes sure to close early and tells Julia to pack and meet upstairs. He notes that she seems quiet, and when he guesses that she’s just so excited that she can’t express it, she goes with that.
But she looks sad when she’s alone, and has to pep-talk herself into packing and going on the trip. She knows she has to stick to her original plan and go, but she wars with herself for wanting to stay just a little longer.

Julius gets delayed when his Mom calls him drunk, and he asks Julia to meet him at the train station. She sits on the rooftop thinking back to all the things she’s experienced with julius , from their first kiss to their first handhold, and decides to put one foot in front of the other.

John watches as she leaves and then creeps up to the roof, where the dog barks at him aggressively. If he IS possessed and dogs can see ghosts.

He roots around Kate’s room and finds all of her ghost-warding paraphernalia, from scythe to strings of garlic, crosses, talismans, and ghost-warding beans. He throws them angrily, perhaps having connected all the dots between Julia and kate.

Julius arrives at the bar to pick his Mom up, only to find her totally sober. It’s not even a surprise anymore that she lied about that, but then Bella arrives too, and his mom invents an excuse to leave them alone.

Bella suggests a walk on their old college campus, and tells julius that she actually saw him first when they were in school, but he seemed so uninterested in her. She wonders if maybe they were so comfortable around each other and so used to each other that she didn’t know her own feelings.

He tries to cut her off, but she asks to speak first, knowing that she might not be able to get it out. But he cuts her off anyway since his news has to come first, and tells her that he has someone special in his life.
She can guess that it’s Kate without having to be told, and gets embarrassed at the rejection, wondering how she’s going to face him from now on.

Julius takes a moment to call Julia because he’s late to meet her at the train station, but she doesn’t answer. She’s actually still sitting in the playground in their neighborhood, purposely ignoring the call because she thinks he’s at the station looking for her.

She stares down at her phone and apologizes for not going: “But today isn’t the day. I can’t go like this. I know it’s selfish, but just a little longer… a little longer.”

She comes back home and calls out to julius , ready for him to be mad at her, but then he arrives behind her and starts apologizing profusely for not showing up. He assumes that she left her phone behind and waited for him, and she doesn’t bother explaining that she didn’t go either.

He makes it up to her by cooking her a fancy dinner, and tells her that he’ll always cook whatever she wants to eat. She says that what she really wants is fried intestines, and he cringes, but agrees to do it if she’ll forgive him for tonight.

Julia is surprised, and he admits that he’s been dragged around by those feelings for a really long time, and letting go feels like a relief. He turns to her and adds, “What I’m saying is, you have to take responsibility for me. You’re dead if you abandon me.”
She reaches out to touch his face, and he brings her hand up to his lips to kiss her gently. He kisses her softly on the lips before leaning them down into the tent, where he lies down on top of her and starts to unbutton his shirt. He reaches down to unbutton hers, and she squeezes her eyes shut nervously.

Protest; Warfare for Normalcy. Nigeria A fallen Empire

One of the reason that reveals successful country or nation is security. it goes a long way in an economy of a country. but the moment it got tampered, intimidated and bastardized then all sort of constraints, consequences and break down would surface which makes a nation to lose her sovereignty, legitimacy, democracy, decency, science and power. a country like Nigeria, wherby the government has lost sovereignty and power unless sanction is taken which worked but erupted mayhem,chaos and insecurity for some period. nigerians are not subjected to government absolute power anymore amid how the political system is structured. The Mass #EndSars has exposed, revealed the true identity of their leaders. what could caused leader of a country to resign from office if things are not working properly. The love for money and power tussle has eaten the conscience of nigerian leaders to have a mentality ‘power is possessed forever’ and would made them not to do that. In advanced countries, where insecurity ravaged the state the possible option for a leader of such country is to honourably resign. A scenario of such occured a month ago when Peru interim president Manuel merino solemnly resigned as a result of two protesters who are killed by police forces. As a result of protest tunisians were able to make their voices heard calling for a step down in power 2011 on Zine El Abadine ben Ali who has been the leader since the country gained independence. Chile a protest erupted as a result of petrol hike in an unstable economy and has led to a new constitution reformation since 2019 and the country is quite good for the moment. In 2012-2013 Egyptians had a protest against outbursted President Mohamed Morsi on 22 November 2012. millions of protesters began the demonstration after hiaa government announced a temporary constitutional declaration that in effect granted the president unlimited powers which led to his outburst led by incumbent president El sisi fatteh took over the Mantle. In 2017 former president yahya jammeh who went on exile as a repercussion of his annulment of general presidential result which his opponent won comfortably the development led to region and foreign intervention.it was Nigerian president Muhammadu buhari that took charge of Ecowas intervention.

The system of government we practised is ‘Federalism’ which to an average nigerian is not been practised, what the system of government looks like is ‘authoritarian’ system wherby citizens are expected to submit obediently to the authority of the ruler. The citizens are ordered not to make peaceful demonstration or protest quite similar to system that governed Germany under the adminstration of Adolf hitler. Protest has become an indispensable tool for Revolution in the modern world.it bothers my mind the mentality nigerian government had for protest shows the level of mediocrity, sycophancy and and how hypocrite they are. United Nations (UN) constitution even Universal Declaration Right (UDR) supported that citizens are entitled to peaceful protest as enshrined by the constitution of the country. in Chile a protest erupted as a result of petrol hike in an unstable economy which resulted to referendum wherby a new constitution reformation has took effect since 2019 and the country is quite good for the moment. protest is a weapon a citizen of a country can ever possessed, which makes to react in an uncultured attitude because they get scared of the repercussion. The battle of Waterloo is near and Nigeria shall be great once more. Together we could make it happen. #Aluta Continua

Loyalty, A Major Pillar Of Love

Do you think love is enough? Or we need other ingredients?

My name is Janet, but I prefer the sleek version, Jane. After graduating from the prestigious Harvard Business School, worked in my chosen field for more than three years, and seem to be having the time of my life. Mom reminded me that I am yet to “perfect” my life with marriage.

Not that I don’t wanna date or marry, but love, to me–both in a dating relationship or just friendship– should be mutual and each member should be committed and loyal to each other. The problem I had was the one-sided loyalty and commitment.

I once had a boyfriend who used and dumped me. Initially, I knew he didn’t love and obviously wasn’t loyal to me, but because I wanted to have a man to call “my man, ” I forced myself on him. He would cheat on me, steal from me, beat me, and still claim to love me. When he finished with me, he broke up with me and left the state.

From that moment, I concluded that in a relationship “the respect, love, feeling, loyalty, and care is meant to be two-sided.” Never, ever will I ignore the red flags that might signify that someone does not love me back.

I often find it unsettling when I see young people fall in love with people that do not even care about them. They tend to develop tingly feelings for the other person while that same person has little or no feelings for them. This usually leads to a height of emotional suffering and sometimes depression.

My coach once wrote something on his WhatsApp status. He wrote and I quote:
“Don’t love me, be loyal to me because loyalty births love and respect.”

Don’t conclude that someone loves you until they prove they are loyal to you, until they have proven to you that they love you for who and what you are. That doesn’t mean you should be something or someone bad.

Never overlook the importance of loyalty in a relationship. Loyalty is what makes your partner committed to the relationship and what makes you both keep the flame of your love burning.

The Story Of A Molested Teenage Girl

After a tiring day, just as I was about to retire to bed. My daughter who just celebrated her thirteenth birthday earlier that day knocked on my door, I felt so reluctant to open for her because I already knew what she came for. I made a promise to her when she celebrated her twelfth birthday the previous year. I promised to tell her about my teen years when she clocked thirteen. I can’t believe she remembered that, she has come for that and I know my daughter won’t let me rest if I ignore her, so without any further delay, I managed to opt out of bed and made it to the door to open it.

Mom! She called out to me, I answered her call. First she thanked me for throwing a big birthday party for her and promised to always be a good girl then I kissed her on her fore head. There was silence in the room after that but she finally broke the silence after five minute saying “mom have you forgotten”? I acted like I didn’t have a clue on what she was trying to say. I replied with “forgetten what eyinju mi”? meaning the apple of my eyes, as I love to call her that. She protested with her annoyance saying “mom you promised to tell me about your teen years when I clock thirteen, I can’t believe you can’t remember a promise you made just a year ago.

Then it was done on me that I had no choice than to tell her after trying to buy more time to tell her the story the next day but all efforts prooves abortive.

Eyinju, it all started when I was five years old after the demise of my dad. My mom had to remarry the monster I called my step-father since she only gave birth to me and she was still young. ( I sighed).

As I was about to continue, I paused thinking was I actually doing the right thing by telling this story to my daughter but something pushed me to continue. Eyinju! after my mom remarried, I spent most night with my step dad since my mom was always away at work. I didn’t have a better understanding of things happening with me then since I was still very young to understand things like that. My step dad would always come to my room at night molesting me, it started with him always kissing and always putting his hands into my private parts. As an innocent child I don’t understand what he was doing to me, I just remain motionless and helpless.

I remember I tried telling my mom about this but she never had the time to listen to me since she is always busy with her work. This continued every night my mom is away at work, I despise the night so much, I always cursed God for creating the night. I became traumatised, I was so scared of the night, I always wished that the day never end.

As I was about to continue, the wall clock alarm rang, Holy crap it was 12 a.m in the morning. Eyinju you have to go to bed now, don’t forget it’s Monday tomorrow and you have to be in school. Without protesting, my daughter stood up and stormed out to her room biding me good night as she leaves.

The next morning, I was very tired to get off from bed and it took me about thirty minutes before I could get myself together. I rushed to the kitchen to prepare my daughter’s breakfast while I checked my schedule for the day. Thankfully, I have nothing important aside taking my baby to the school and picking her up in the afternoon.

Just as I was about to call out to my daughter to meet me in the car, she hugged me from behind saying good morning mom as she does that. Hurry up young lady you are late already.

We headed to the door, then to the car in few minutes we arrived at her school. I waved her goodbye as I watch her join her friends. I took a U- turn and head back home.

When I got home, I remembered I hadn’t spoken to my husband in twelve hours, I picked up my phone and dialled his number. After exchanging pleasantries, the first question he asked me was “have you started telling her the story you promised to”? My reply was that I can’t believe you are also waiting for this day to come, well I started last night but couldn’t go farther though I promised to continue with her when she returns from school. After having few more conversation I ended up the call. Then sets to do the house chores.

First I had to sweep the entire house, dust all the furnitures, wash the dishes before doing the laundry. When I looked at the time it was already 2 p.m Oh! Guess I would have to branch the eatery to get our launch when I pick up my girl from school. Then I took a nap for thirty minutes.

After waking up, I quickly ran my shower and put on some light cloth because of the hot weather. In few minutes I arrived at my daughter’s school, I met her waiting for me at the gate. She hopped into the vehicle then we started our journey back home.

Before we got home, we branched to an eatery where we had our launch. By the time we got back home its late already. I quickly helped her with her school work before settling down to continue with my story from where I stopped last night.

Yea! Shall we? I asked my daughter with a smile on my face then she replied with “yes we can ” smiling back at me revealing her cute dimples.

As I was saying yesterday, I never got the chance to tell my mom all what I was passing through whenever she is away from home because she is just too busy with her work, a career woman to the core. So, her constant absence from home gave my monster step father the room to molest me more. He continued with the kissing and putting his fingers into my vagina mostly three times in a week until I became a young teenager at the age of thirteen when the worst started happening to me.

At thirteen, I would say have become a fully grown up woman since I appeared more bigger than my age.

On the night of my thirteenth birthday, I’ve been the only one at home throughout the day. So I decided to take a shower before going to bed. As I was taking my bath in the bathroom, I heard my step father’s voice who just returned and from his utterances I knew he was drunk. He called my name Tinuke, i answered from the bathroom. I stepped out from the bathroom not quite long naked with the mindset that I locked the door to my room. Just as I was about to put on my night wear, he opened the door and before I could put on my cloth he was already on me on my bed, (in a sober voice) I tried to fight back but he overpowers me until I gave up with the fight, he raped, I cried, I screamed but no one could here my voice. I remembered he lasted for thirty minutes. When he was done with me, I guess his eyes were opened, though he apologised but what can his apology do after ruining my life? My step father raped me and snatched my flower from him.

Well! It’s my fate, I accepted his apology thinking he won’t try it again just as he promised but I was wrong.

He keep on coming and coming whenever my mom is not at home. I remembered him giving me some pills back then but I don’t know the work of the pills just that I never get pregnant.

When I couldn’t take this any longer, I told my mom I would like to go to the boarding house leaving this cage I called home where no one could hear my voice but she turned me down that she can’t waste her money since I have just one year to finish from high school. This gives the monster more time to continue his fiendish escapade. I was trapped in my step father’s cage for a very long time waiting for my freedom, I tried Commiting suicide on different occasions but something always stopped me from doing so, at times my late father’s voice, his words rings in my ear then I would remember him telling me when I was four that “Tinuke you have a dream to live for” guess I have a dream and a story to tell and that’s why am still alive today.

I was about to continue when my daughter told me that we should call it a day saying she is feeling sleepy. I kissed her goodnight as she leaves to her room.

When she left, I remembered I had to be in a girls high school the following day giving the girls lecture about sex. Ó quickly boot my laptop and search for related articles for my presentation. I studied the article before going to bed, though it wasn’t easy since all I do is nodding my head against the table.

The following day after dropping my daughter at her school, I drove to the Queens Girls High School where I am to deliver my speech. Have been an advocate for child abuse when I got my admission to the University because I wouldn’t want a girl child to experience what I experienced as a girl child.

I am to talk to the girls on common problems they face as a girl child and how to overcome it, am glad parents were also invited to the program. Since I already made my research online already with the help of Google and that made it easier for me.

I begin by telling them that. like every coin with two sides, this wonderful phase comes with a lot of challenges too. You might find your teenage girl facing plethora of problems. Teenage is a time that is filled with confusion and small matters seem really big. As a parent, you need to extend help to your girl in facing these teenage girl behavioural problems. Below is the list of teenage girls issues, read on to know more.”

After saying this I begin to give them a comprehensive list and solutions to problems faced by teenage girls.

1. APPEARANCE :This probably features as the number one problem on every teenage girl’s problem list. This is the time when her body is constantly changing and she has to cope with it. To top it, she keeps seeing and hearing about these figure-perfect bodies. Media and peer pressure also play havoc.

Solution:

*Monitor your teenager very closely.

*Discuss how these ‘looks’ are more of fads.

*See to it that your young girl doesn’t adapt unhealthy eating habits.

*Ensure the people she spends time with do not act in an adverse manner.

2. EDUCATION: This is a time when your teenage girl has to constantly prove her mettle by scoring high, doing well in exams and on other educational fronts. This creates immense pressure on your young girl and leads to stress and undue pressure.

Solution:

*Make your teenage girl understand that she should study well and score good marks, but that grades are no way of judging someone. Low grades do not make anyone less educated or less talented. There is always another test she can prove herself in.

*Encourage her to take up extra-curricular activities that she likes. This will help her unwind while building more focus and concentration power.

3. DATING: Teenage already comes with a lot of problems and challenges. The sudden increased flow of sex hormones inside the body makes it even worse. You might find your girl falling for her first crush and vulnerable to romantic liaisons. A lot of teenage girls experience healthy crushes and early-age love too. However, peer pressure, changing times and the advancement of media has sort of associated sex to such teenage romantic relationships. This makes your teenager girl feel that sex it but natural in romantic relations even at an early age. Also, this is an extremely confusing time for her, in terms of precautions, safe sex and how much involvement is okay and by choice.

Solution:

*Tell her it is perfectly alright to say no to sex.

*Educate her on the sex front. It is very important for you to pass all relevant information about sex as and when she grows. Be open and discuss sex with her, it is not a taboo.

*Teach her how to be safe and all about precaution too, as you may not always be able to control her relationships.

5. BULLYING: Bullying is one of the another teenage girl issues which bothers them a lot. This starts affecting their personality and behavior. Your teenage girl might also feel depressed and react strangely by keeping to herself.

Solution:

*Make sure your teenage girl discusses everything with you.

*If you feel she is being bullied, advise her on how to face it and stand up against it.

*Teach her how she can come out of such situations and how you too were bullied sometimes when young. Children should know that they are not the only ones who face such problems. This eases them out a bit.

5. Friendship:

Teenage makes every relation seem complex. Even the beautiful bond of friendship often meets shaky grounds. This is because as a teenager, your child is developing social skills. Your daughter might love her best friend one moment and might pick an ugly fight the next. This may result in aggression and mood swings.

Solution:

*Teach your teenage girl that it is alright to fight with friends. But fights don’t make any friend bad.

*It is alright to have problems and difference of opinions. Even her best friend might not always agree with her on something.

*The best way is to discuss these problems and then forget about them.

*Monitor the kind of friends she makes.

*Ensure she is in the right company.

*Teach her that it is okay to apologize when wrong.

6. Self-Esteem: Teenage girls have this habit of comparing themselves, their body and their appearance to other girls of their age. This unconsciously creates a pressure on them. The changes in your teenage girl’s body might make her doubt herself. She might get extremely conscious about everything she does, wears or even talks about. This might adversely affect her self-esteem.

Solution:

*Make sure she doesn’t idolize models and actresses.

*Patiently explain to her that everybody is different from each other. We all are unique and we all have our own set of positives and negatives.

*Encourage her to indulge in her favourite activities and hone her skills instead.

7. Peer Pressure: Peer pressure forces teenage girls to behave a certain way that gives them a sense of belongingness. By giving into peer pressure they feel one with their peers. This even leads them to take up habits that they otherwise aren’t supposed to or are interested in.

Solution:

*Explain to your daughter what peer pressure is to help her identify it.

×Tell her that she is unique in her own way and may choose to like a certain band that her peers might not approve of. She can choose to be a certain way without feeling any detachment from her peers.

*Her opinions, views, choices, hobbies, fashion sense and even eating habits make her entirely what she is. She need not give in to any peer pressure just to make her peers feel good.

8. Substance Use:

This is a major problem that most teenagers, girls and boys, face across the world today. In most cases, peer pressure introduces teenage girls to this dangerous habit. Teenage girls retort to substance use to ease their stress, feel secure and assured from within.

Solution:

*Talk to your young girl about the bad side effects and detrimental effects of substance use.

*Explain how these give temporary good feeling while ruining her system, body, mind and soul from within.

*If she wants to try a hand at drinking, make her do it in your presence. Let her experience everything but only under your supervision and in your presence.

9. Menstruation:

This is the time your teenage girl will enter her menstruation phase for the first time. She might develop a lot of misconceptions and queries too in regard to her menstruation cycle.

Solution:

*Clear all her doubts first.

*Make her accept the fact that this process is natural. Tell her how every girl goes through this in her life and that it is part of leading a normal life.

*Teach her how to deal with emergency situations. Tell her to always carry an extra pair of underwear and tampons or sanitary napkins in her bag.

*She must also keep few medicines with her always, in case she suffers from headache or bad menstrual cramps.

*Teach her how to track her monthly periods and talk to her about pms-ing too.

10. Depression: Teenage girls can get affected by any random thing. When things don’t go their way, or when they don’t meet the standards that their peers have maintained, they feel pressurized and go into depression. Low grades, break ups, high parental expectations, weight gain, substance use, these are some of the many factors that trigger depression and are the major teen girl issues.

Solution:

*Look for signs of depression in your teenage girl.

*If you think she is losing interest suddenly in everything she does, talk to her about it.

*See to it that she behaves normally, remains happy and occupied in various activities that she enjoys.

*Excess desire to sleep or total sleep deprivation is also a sign of depression.

* Also look for signs like if she talks suddenly about death, suicide etc. Seek professional help immediately.

I rounded up after sharing a bit from my story and telling the teachers and parents that “One of the best ways to ensure you are aware of what your teenage girl is going through is by keeping an open communication.” I was applauded as I stepped out of the hall. I checked my time, I was ten minutes late to the time I have to pick my daughter from school. Without wasting more time I drove to her school to pick her up then head back home. On getting home I told her to do her assignment and prepare something for dinner that I need to rest before continuing my story where I stopped.

After having some rest, I called my daughter to my room to continue with my story.

I continued. With all this habit of my step father I always pray to God to free me from this cage I was trapped but I kept on receiving this molestation from my step father. On one occasion after a weekly fellowship from the church I attended then, there is this brother James who I decided to tell things to. I didn’t go straight with him, I just told him that I always have this dream of my step father having sex with me every night. I lied to hide my shame before him. He told me that it’s a very bad dream that am going to need a deliverance that we should go to his house since the church has been locked. Without no other choice I followed him to his house for the deliverance. When we were praying, he started caressing my breast with his hand I thought it was part of his deliverance until he pulled me up and started to unbotton my dress then it was dawn on me what he was trying to do with me. He raped covering my mouth with his hand so I won’t be able to scream. When he was done, he apologised saying its the devil’s work that I should keep it a secret between us. I left his room angrily and returned back home. When I got home, I started thinking why all this were happening to me, whether am the only girl child in the world experiencing this. Am not saved at home and I couldn’t find shelter in the church either, I wept bitterly, I cried out my souls to God to please free me from all the mess I was trapped in.

When I was in Ss3 as well I also got the same molestation from my maths teacher in the name of private tutoring.

The story changed when I finally got my admission. All thanks to my first boyfriend. I remembered the day we met in one of our lectures when our lecturer asked us a question, we both turned the hall into a court room because we both struggled in arguing with each others view but I can’t help it but to give up and let him have the day. After the lecture, he walked up to me and thanked me for saving his honor earlier. I smiled and that’s how we became friends. After few weeks he asked me out, I can’t help it but to say yes to him and I told him everything about my past then he assures me thar he will never brkng up my past.

Since I met him, all I experienced was joy. We got married after we both completed our NYSC then we were gifted by you of course.

This was all I experienced as a teenage, I was trapped for a very long time but I finally breakthrough. I want you to remember that not everyone can be so furtunate. And if you find yourself in a difficult situation never hesitate to raise your voice. I said this to my daughter as I end my story and we both said goodnight as she stand up to leave to her room.

The End

Survival Strategies in the Face of Economic Recession in Nigeria

The current global economic issues occasioned by the ravaging Corona Virus Disease which started in late 2019 (COVID-19), have generated a lot of concern among the inhabitants of the world. Many economies are now feeble, porous, and in dire crisis. Specifically, the current economic recession in Nigeria has significant negative implications on the citizens of the country generally. The contributing factor to this is that the nation has a mono-product economy I.e the economy concentrates only on the production of crude oil.

Are there ways of surviving in this situation?

The following are, therefore, valuable strategies that can be adopted to deal decisively with the challenges:

1. Every Nigerian need to figure out what the future holds. They ought to work out a modality for achieving something substantial on the aspect of skill acquisition. They need to exploit areas of interest and skills to their advantage. Enough of being docile in the face of the present economic realities. Every Nigerian need to think through and come up with an action plan for the future to make headway.

2. Surviving in these harsh economic conditions calls for being inventive, creative, and innovative because this is one of the major ways to weather the storms of the economic situations facing Nigeria. The youth, especially, need to be strategic in their thinking, methodical in their reasoning, and logical in their decision-making process.

3. Another strategy is diligence.

This is necessary at this juncture. Work should be done with all sense of responsibility. Taking responsibility or self-provision is key on this note. No Nigerian should expect anybody to provide for them, apart from the major dependants. Nigerians should be economically intelligent enough to fend for themselves as they should be engaged in one venture or the other.

It is high time every Nigerian began to seek assistance in terms of information, counsel and direction on how to run their own business or trade from relevant individuals who have achieved success in that regard. Running private businesses is one of the key strategies in order to translate from scarcity to economic prosperity.

Saving for Christmas and How we helped Tabu Pay Dowry

Last Friday I walked into our Cane Cutter Association offices, the one I told you we use some stones as seats, yes that one. This story is not about stones and offices.

You see we are nearing end of the year and you know if it is end year those lousy groupings calling themselves CBO, SHG, CBC or whatever break in the name of Kufunga (Closing) by sharing all the money each have been saving with the treasurer until January. I say lousy because any informal community grouping we call here (Chama) and which has no bank account and doesn’t save money for investment but only to share out during such times should be banned and all member jailed. I think this too should be put in the constitutions of every African country. There was even one where I was invited to join as the 60th member and its main objective was to visit parents of the members after every month. Imagine visitation after every months meaning if they were to reach me it would be be 60 moth. FIVES GOOD YEARS OF OUR LORD while caughing Ksh 2000 each month! I still remember the enthusiasm of the top four ladies who were trying to talk me into it. Sensing the lie from far I just politely declined the offer.First I don’t have parents , second I told them I would come back to them…last time I checked they visited only five members and the group broke up after the first and second failed to contribute or attend visitations for the others after them. Before I was given a lesser duty of being co-coordinator a, post that doesn’t even exist in our chama constitution, I had insisted that we save money and invest in a long time project. Hower some members of the group led by Otis, and chairperson Bazuu…his real name is Barasa but now he calls himself Bazuu after listening to some useless skiza tune on phone. They caimed I was an enely of development thus trying to trick them into losing money in an investment that was not going to make returns faster. They even gave an example using another of the lousy Chamas which dot our villages from Achego Republic to Chelegeth Market. I had told them that we could open an account save money then talk with the bank to finance part of the money to buy a tractor for ploughing and employ Justo as it driver and manager, we then would reap big by ploughing for other farmers.Sadly even Justo I was trying to get a permanent job for given cane cutting seems to not to be is cup of tea, never saw the sense in it. It is after this that Bazuu rallied his friends to demote me after Tabu took them down the river near kwa mama Lukas and made got them drunk with jericans of Changaa the illicit brew.

That is how I lost treasurer’s position in a voting by makele(voting through shouting) and in my place they voted in Tabu. Tabu is the current Treasurer…or was, until yesterday. Tabu had managed to convince the lot to vote him in since as is known in our village, Tabu, also owns those things they call mini- Markets; the kind of that you when walk in and make three steps inside you are at it’s furthest end. So other cane Cutters reasoned that being a mini market and ‘biggest’ Mpesa outlet owner the only kind in Tamu, he could be trusted instead of me with a lofty idea.Why on earth would grown ups like Cane Cutter still trust someone like Tabu with their money to keep for them beats me, but since earth is earth I lost and resigned myself to let Tabu keep my money for Christmas for one year. Stupidity galore!So when last Friday we converged to share out our saving, that is minus airtime expenses for the ‘executives (This was also introduced after I was demoted), there was money for the chama members.

The able Treasurer Tabu Informed the members about the sad story of what befell him recently. He narrated to the attentive members, your truly also present that being a businessman he had thought it wise to ‘save’ the members savings in his mobile money business-MPesa so that it doesn’t get lost. Then on Wednesday someone called his wife from safaricom to inform her that his Till Number had been blocked from doing business, they said the Till had done reauthorized transaction and that he Tabu was to travel their offices in in Nairobi to sort the matter. In short Tabu told members he had money for them. Do not ask me how the meeting ended but by the time we left, Otis who was on the front line celebrating my demotion was was tearing like a PP1. But today words doing the rounds since morning is that Tabu had used our money to pay dowry for his wife and that the safaricom issue is just a story. Ironically we the gullible Cane Cutter Association members had also escorted Tabu to that Uthoni last month, little did we know that were escorting out money away. I still remember how Kip (Kiplangat) and I danced away our money in that ceremony.

Ever since I have been nursing my loss in the homestead but I can’t help sympathise with with other fellow Kenyans whose year would also end in tears when their treasurers switch off their phones when needed. Meanwhile Tabu has gone MIA with his wife and all their phones switched off.

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Life in An African Elementary School

One thing we all agree on is that when it comes to schools africa, there is just one word to describe some of the experiences we all get in there: Crazy.

You really have not been to an African elementary or Primary school especially public ones if you never went through the following:

Your first day in school, was just to escort others. You had no book, no pen only tagging along, to go and play an cry when hungry (it is called taking yourself to school) because they could not leave you alone at home. Cane cutter’s age was ,measured by putting his hand over his head. I failed and was dismissed pronto, only for me to go to school the following day..and a female Mgasa, accepted me…thanks to that teacher.

Worst still your classroom had stones for desks.

2.You were the class monitor (Today they use class rep- many disliked the word monitor for the others often called you monitor lizard) then you got sent for the duster and you ended up roaming all the classes in search of a duster(Still wonder who really steal dusters). Woe unto you you if you were from a lower class and you ended up in the upper class. the look from them itself was enough to send you fleeing.

You were just about to go home and started singing the farewell song of the day….then you heard the bell running and never bothered , that the teacher was still in class or wasted your time to know where the door was for you any place including the windows could do. Then you reached home only to realise you left all your belongings in school, upon being asked.

Or You left school at 12.30pm but ended up reaching home at 6.00pm. all what you did was plying along the way from the time you left school with your gang only moving fifty meters after every hour. Those in upper classes would come pass you as you are plying and even meet you as they went back for afternoon clause only for you to now walk with them late in the evening as they left school for the day. But the catch was here: Your home was always the last among all your fellow rascals, no matter which route you took..so you would then stride in like a Ninja, that is when it hits you that you are all alone going to explain where you were all that time. Merceline Omollo, Asha, Polycarp, Benja, Eva Weda and all my old time gang members I still remember you’re.

You had that teacher who no mater where she/he was or you were, they would always identify and call you by your name, even when you are behind a wall and they could not see, you, they still knew you by name. Mrs. Omoro, Mr Odeny, Mrs Tado, Mr. Raburu (Put your tie properly).
You had that teacher whom whenever he opened his/her mouth to speak in the assembly, you would all be yearning to look for those bombastic words in the dictionary. Mr Okoth Okoth, especially the first assembly to introduce female teachers on duty, Jesus! He would start with a vocabulary and end with one and wen you were still there wondering about what he just said, he would add,
‘Why are you staring at me lugubriously?’
You had that teacher who would come to class, give one example then leave you assignments from the text book. The following day, he he would come and tell you to exchange your books and mark, he would proceed to write answers on the board then leave without uttering another word. or the the other who would come explain things then tell you to go make your own notes from page 10-32. Mr. Obote. weee!
You left school late in the evening having done all the assignments only to reach school the following morning to find their entire two boards in two classes filled with assignments especially maths and science, and you still remember you had not finished the ones you went home with the previous evening. Thank you madam Onunga, you were very patients with us doing maths even during your Home Science lessons.
You had that teacher who would stand in front and starts speaking and you would be wondering.
‘Is he/she inside a thermos flask?

His/her words could not just reach you. worst still they are they kind who would come to class and chose one sport and teach from their for 40 minutes without changing position. CRE teachers most likely who used to read notes from the text book word by word.

You happened to be the class prefect and be given the ‘disk’ to give to those who speak in vernacular, only to end up not giving anyone. The day you are given the disk , everyone else practised social distance from you. They neither sneezed, coughed or even greeted you; you would think they were masked. And because no one came near, you ended up being quarantined all day long in class for people would ran away whenever they see approaching Or still you were a class prefect yet the noisiest people in class were your friends or the class teacher’s’ children. In class 4 Cane Cutter reported twins who were his desk mates to the class teacher. The class teacher was the mother, only for them to come back and mock me more since the mother just told them to go back to class and keep quiet.
You were listed for the first time to speak in the debate before the whole school, You either disappeared from school that Friday afternoon or you prepared the whole day only for your brain to stop working the moment you stepped in front to speak.

I said ‘Thank you Mr. speaker madam’ five times then went back and sat down. Talking of the speaker, in Africa, we often never relate what we see with what is in our minds and tongues. In front is sitting a female speaker, but your brain and tongue often conspire to say
‘Madam Speaker Sir.’ Or ‘Mr. Speaker.’
It is something that is happening in our National Parliaments and senates today.

That Radio lesson just sounded Greek and by the end of the lesson , you had not written a thing only date. The Late Agao Patrobas, Elizabeth Omollo;the English these two spoke in that small box wacha tu.
You happened to have had a subject teacher who was also from the same village as you were. Worst still if family was poor, you would be the bat of her/his jokes in class.
You were all shepherded to go and weed in a teacher’s farm in the name of she/he would pay the activity fees for the whole class and all you got was porridge or strong tea with Githeri which had beans you could even count with your fingers.
There was that one teacher who never gave you time to play. Each time she/he saw you, it was time to send you to the market to buy him/her food. There you would your parent. I still believe teachers especially male teacher should not send students on personal errands more so to buy them food.
There was that malignant boil on the buttocks that just could not let you sit properly or play more so on the very day your were to chosen the striker for your class 6 vs class 8 soccer. then you told the class teacher about it, only to be called to the staff room and all teacher starts would burst into laughter while looking at you. He/she told them just in good faith not to cane that part of your body, but teacher being teachers..hmmm.
16 Going home was sliding in the mud you thus constantly had birds nest on your short behind. Tamu Primary school Kids, you people were mad.
You participated in group love letter writings or replies (This one I will tell more on another day). Talking of love letters, you were a loner if you never received on every Mondays, Friday or after an outing.
You joined CU (Christian Union) to escape the cross country activity. In form one they were they only people allowed not to go for cross county.
You got bullied in form one to the point you started missing you missing your class 8 colleagues. Still on this if no one ever ‘closed or opened especially closed with you,’ then you never went to a Kenya school. Or still you had to give way for the tall class 8 pupils to pass when they were called. those day, pupils in class 8 were ‘small adults,’ I tell you.
Your head teacher (Then there were no Principals) whose speeches went this way:
‘This is not a feeding camp like some of you think, but place of learning……….’

‘Look at this one going round like the cows his father sold to bring him here….’

‘Some of you think this a place where they were brought just to add years and get national IDS, you are cheating yourselves….’

Or he/She would order you to follow him to the office, then turns abruptly on seeing you after him shout at you,.
Stop following me!’ Mr. Adu oooo

Twitter:@CaneCutter2, Facebook: Reflection of Cane Cutter