OUR LEGEND OF THE WEEK #3

“(I had to) sleep on studio floors all across Lagos, worked at different studios, worked without pay, I’ve been out on the road, out on the streets, doing my thing. I had to convince people that I could do it- I had sessions that were cancelled because they weren’t sure I could deliver either because they thought I was too young or maybe as a blind person.  ‘how do we trust our music which is our future and investment?”- Cobhams.

Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo is an award-winning Nigerian musician, producer, and songwriter who started his professional training as a lawyer; but, later dropped out of school and branched into music full-time to fulfill a lifelong desire. He was born in 1981 to a military family of six children and raised in the downside of a military barracks. Born like other normal children, Cobhams seemed perfectly normal until about three months after when his very observant mother began noticing his awkwardness. She quickly took him to the University Teaching Hospital in Ibadan from where they were referred to a hospital in Kano. There, her worst fears were confirmed; her son had been blind from the womb and nothing could be done to restore his sight. Rather than cry and blame God for her seeming ill fate, Mrs Asuquo, who was a clerical officer in the army, resigned to take care of her son and prepare him for a future she knew had to be great. “It wasn’t easy watching Cobhams do chores around the house and run errands like my other children but I resolved to make him as independent and capable of achieving anything he sets his mind to do”, the winner, celebrity edition of Supermom (a reality TV Show centered on Mothers and the sacrifices they undergo to build their homes), said.

In 2005, Cobhams signed on to Sony ATV London as a songwriter. After working as Head of Audio Productions at a local label, Questionmark Entertainment, he set up his own recording facility in 2006. He is CEO/ Head of Productions of CAMP (Cobhams Asuquo Music Productions), an all-encompassing entertainment company that discovers, nurtures and exposes great talents. He has worked with artistes like Banky W, Omawunmi, Tuface, MI, Sound Sultan, Dare Art-Alade, Segun Obe, Tosin Martins, among others. On 2 December 2010, Cobhams Emmanuel Asuquo got married to Ojuolape Veronica Olukanni.

Cobhams has won multiple local and international awards for his creative and entrepreneurial contributions to the Nigerian music industry. He is so great that the World Economic Forum awarded him ‘Young Global Award’ in 2013. So impressive that CNN interviews him, and he is sought after as a speaker in high and lofty gatherings globally. Today, he is known for producing some of the finest artistes in Nigeria. Noteworthy among these artistes is the Nigerian soul-singing sensation, Asa, whose 2007 debut album became an international hit. His voice training classes has indeed revolutionized the Nigerian Music Industry. COBHAMS EMMANUEL ASUQUO has shown the whole world that Nigerians can make things happen in their chosen careers. He deleted the prefix- DIS and coined ABILITY out of DISABILITY in a grand style. He is forever a living LEGEND!

    If COBHAMS can do it despite his visual impairment, YOU can do it better!

              E-mail: hrfnigeria@gmail.com         Phone No: 08148327860

           

WHAT CHOICE HAVE YOU MADE?

 Dr Ben Carson

Part One

Widely speaking, there are two categories of people in the world.

1.      Those who rule their world

2.      Those who are ruled by their world

Let’s consider those in the first category. Those in this category rule their world because they have discovered that they are in possession of WEAPONS with which they can subdue their world. What are these weapons? They are called talents. To some, they are gifts, endowments. And to others, they are called potentials. Irrespective of the names given to them, they are all weapons. Those that rule their world discovered, nourished, refined, established and utilized these weapons effectively. I want you to know that all the above processes do not take place in a single day; it’s a lifetime project. How soon all these processes can be carried out depends on YOU. Did you just say “ME”? Yes. I’m talking to YOU. It all depends on your level of Readiness, Self-determination, Diligence and Faith. Remember, we were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

                                                                               

                           

                                           Cobhams Asuquo

In the world of music, Cobhams Asuquo, Bob Marley, Bukola Elemide (Asha), P Square are well known for their exceptional competence. Nigerians are very proud of Basketmouth, Seyi Law, Alfa Sule crew in the comedy industry. Lionel Messi, Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps are wizards in sports. Olu Jacob is no doubt an all-time Nollywood icon. We can’t forget the world renowned giant writers- Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Chimamanda Adichie. Myles Munroe, Fela Durotoye, Sam Adeyemi motivate generations and talk people to success. Dr Ben Carson’s name is well engraved on the adorable rock of history as far as modern medicine is concerned. In the fashion world, Tara Fela-Durotoye rules conveniently.
                                  

                                              Tara Fela-Durotoye
Those who rule their world have a COMMON ATTRIBUTE and this singles them out from others. What is this attribute? It is called uniqueness i.e. an ability to do things in a way it has never been done in the past. If you must make a difference in whatever career you have chosen, then, you must try as much as possible to be unique. To be unique, you must be able to overcome impossibilities, mediocrity, fear, apathy, and failure amongst others so that you can rule your world and therefore not ruled by your world.

Do you want to rule your world or you want to be ruled by your world? The choice is YOURS. Keep the hope alive!

                                                                                                                      ……….to be continued
                   hrfnigeria@gmail.com                    08148327860

OUR LEGEND OF THE WEEK #2

 

 CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE  

“I have hope in the future of Nigeria, mostly because we have not yet made a real, conscious effort to begin creating a nation (We could start, for example, by not merely teaching Maths and English in primary schools, but also teaching idealism and citizenship.)”- Chimamanda Adichie.

She is a famous Nigerian writer with international recognition. Born on 15^th September, 1977 in the town of Enugu, Adichie grew up in the university town of Nsukka in southeastern Nigeria, where the University of Nigeria is situated. Adichie studied medicine and pharmacy at the University of Nigeria for a year and a half. At the age of 19, she left Nigeria and moved to the United States for college. In 2001, she graduated “with highest distinction” from Eastern Connecticut State University after studying communications and political science at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

In 2003, she completed a master's degree in creative writing at Johns Hopkins University. In 2008, she received a Master of Arts in African studies from Yale University. At 26, Adichie published her first novel, PURPLE HIBISCUS (2003), which received wide critical acclaim and was awarded the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book (2005). Her second novel, HALF OF A YELLOW SUN was awarded the 2007 Orange Prize for Fiction.

The recipient of the 2008 Future Awards (Young Person of the Year category) has no doubt shown that Africans and indeed Nigerians can rule the world with their natural endowments. At 35, she has achieved what many could not achieve throughout their life time. And she is even hungry for more. Her third novel AMERICANAH has been awarded the 2013 Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize for fiction and nominated for the Future Awards Africa Young Person of the Year 2013. Adichie shares the view that the future of Nigeria depends on YOU; she teaches writing workshops in Nigeria. YOU are not too young to write the name of NIGERIA in gold (in your chosen career) anywhere in the world.

              What do you want to be known for? THINK ABOUT THIS.

                           hrfnigeria@gmail.com                 08148327860       

2013 SPELLING BEE COSTEST

Hope Rising Foundation (HRF) Nigeria is set to organize the maiden edition of its spelling bee contest among secondary schools in Osun State. This was made available by the coordinator of the Human Development/Education Unit of the organization, Mr Oyesoro Tunde after their general meeting on Sunday, July14, 2013. According to him, the contest will involve 15 secondary schools (both private and public) across the state. "The contest will be in 3 stages: Preliminary, Semi Final and Final. It is to challenge the students and make them work harder". He said. The contest is expected to take place later in the year. More details later.

"YOU CANNOT FOOL THE JAR OF LIFE"

Part One

“I am a firm believer in this philosophy. It only remains for me to add that I also believe that the essence of this philosophy is applicable to political or economic organization as it is to an individual”- Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Take a jar, put in it small beans as well as big beans, making sure that each of the big beans is heavier in weight than each of the small beans. Put the big beans at the bottom of the jar and the small beans at the top; shake the jar and, behold! The small beans rattle to the bottom and the big beans shake to the top. Repeat the process as often as you wish, and the result will be the same. Now, the world is like a mighty jar, and all of us in it, in our different theatres of operation, are like beans with varying sizes and weights. In normal circumstances, each of us is where he is because of his size and weight. By means of favouritism and nepotism, or of some other deliberate and iniquitous tinkering with the contents of the jar, some beans which are small in size and weight may get to the top and stay there for a time, but they are sure to rattle to the bottom sooner or later. The sine qua non for anyone who wants to get to the top, therefore, is to increase his size and weight in his particular calling- that is mentally, professionally, morally, and spiritually. Getting to the top is one thing and remaining there is another. To maintain your place at the top you must make sure that you do not at any time shrink in size or lose in weight. But evaporation as well as wear and tear takes place all the time; and unless these are constantly replaced, the man who gets to the top by dint of his own specific size and weight is also sure to rattle.

            Everybody wants to go up. But everybody is not willing to pay the price by first growing ‘bigger’ so that he can shake higher. So, many want to be boosted up. And if they get boosted higher than their size would take them, they rattle back! Nobody can fool the Jar of Life. Endeavour to add value to every area of your life and this will give you the much-deserved genuine GREATNESS. Keep the HOPE ALIVE!

                                                                                                                           ...….To be continued

              E-mail Add: hrfnigeria@gmail.com        Phone No: 08148327860