GOOD PEOPLE, GREAT NATION.

‘Nigeria, good people, great nation’, I had exclaimed and someone quickly reminds me that you cannot market a bad product. Much more painful is the fact that this opinion is constantly echoed every time. How have we fallen so far? I ask ‘what is Nigeria?’ As far as I am concerned, Nigeria is the sum of its individual citizens, and to call Nigeria a bad product is to call each and every Nigerian a bad person.

My question is how long shall we continue like this? I like the line of thought of this re-branding slogan, because it begins with the people i.e. you and me. Our nation is only as great as we are good. So to label us a bad product is to inadvertently say that we are all bad people. I strongly disagree.

We all like to complain about what the government is doing or not doing? But ask yourself too, what am I doing? I do not deny that there are bad people in this country, but tell me one country in this world where they are not. Much more, I believe that there are more good people than bad ones in Nigeria; the problem is simply that we have lost our voices and are sitting on our hands. We chant the slogan of the defeated – ‘if you cannot beat them, join them’.

It has been said that all it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing, which is why we have come to gain a reputation as a ‘bad product’. But no more! Of what use is a mind if it does not think, of what use is a voice if it is not heard, of what use is being good if you just sit and do nothing?

Let every one of us (good people) who belong to this blessed and most populous black nation in the world begin to use our minds and think of how to make this land better. Let us lift our voice and drown the chorus of ‘bad product’. Talk is cheap, so they say, and like my friend will say, ‘You can think as long as you like and there’s nothing wrong with that, but only one thing counts – RESULT!’

I challenge us to dream again, to tell the world of our dreams of a great nation, but most importantly to act. Douglas Everett said ‘there are some people who live in dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.’ As we become the latter, we would hear the world join in this awesome refrain – ‘Nigeria, good people, great nation’.

I still believe in green, white and green… do you?

Online courtship scams woman of $47,000

A college student in Nigeria has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for scamming an Australian woman out of $47,000 online by pretending to be a widowed white businessman desperately in love with her.

A court in Ikeja in southwest Nigeria ruled that Lawal Adekunie Nurudeen will also have to pay back the 56-year-old woman, even if it meant selling the two plots of land and the Honda Prelude he bought with her money.

Nurudeen was an engineering student when he met the woman online in 2007, said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigeria's anti-corruption police.

The woman lamented that she was looking for a husband but had been disappointed in the men she had met.

"The convict, who is married with three children, instantly applied and told the victim that she had met Mr. Right," the commission said in a statement.

Nurudeen pretended to be a 57-year-old British engineer working with a multinational company in Nigeria. He told her his wife and only child had died in a road accident in Lagos, the former capital of the country.

"He sent the picture of a white man to the victim to foreclose any suspicions," police said. The woman agreed to marry him.

A few weeks later, Nurudeen called the woman pretending to be a doctor. He told her that her fiance had been in an accident and needed money for treatment.

The woman obliged, the commission said.

Nurudeen let two weeks pass. He then called the woman again, thanking her profusely for her kindness and telling her that he would like to visit her in Australia. He asked her for airfare, cash for customs clearance and other incidentals, police said.

Authorities did not say how Nurudeen was caught. But he duped the woman of $47,000 before his arrest, the commission said.

Scammers in Nigeria have gained a reputation for using the Internet to con foreign nationals out of money. Some of the scams have earned the name "419" after the clause in the Nigerian criminal code that deals with obtaining property under false pretense

Do you prefer a male or female boss?

Who is better as a boss, a woman or man?

Bosses' gender may affect your level of stress at work, although it is not clear how or why.
In a recent study published in the September issue of the Journal of Health and Social Behavior, only men who worked for a mixed-gender pair seemed to have fewer mental and physical symptoms of distress as compared to any other group. The discussion argues that women who act like their male counterparts in leadership positions are more prone to being disliked and cause stressful situations at work.

What is your view on this?

Love, Issues, Relationships and Religion

Pop quiz (this is my favorite saying): is religion an important factor in relationships?

I got this friend of mine who recently got a job with one of Nigeria's top banks about 5 months ago.During one of the training sessions one of his classmates asked the instructor this question: "Is religion important in a relationship?" Everyone waited with bated breath as the instructor paused before answering.

She then said, "I don't think so.Because religion involves a relationship between man and his Creator, not between two couples." (I'm not quoting verbatim though,but something along those lines)..I thought to myself, hey.....she just might be right.I mean,honestly speaking, it should not be a deciding factor for one to spend the rest of his life with another person...but these days, people make it such a big deal. For instance, I know someone who goes to redeemed and would not date a catholic, not even if her life depended on it. On the other hand i know a number of people who can marry anyone from anywhere, as long as they are in LOVE and are determined to make it WORK.

See, that's just it...Love is a key factor.People always miss this valuable point because at the end of the day, if you are really in love with each other, obstacles can and will be overcome. The thing is, one's orientation, personal pride and overall belief systems always get in the way.

We need to challenge our belief system.Why do we believe what we believe? It's a question we must ask ourselves so that we don't throw something beautiful away all in the name of religion...

What's your take?

Hottest New Fragrances

Vera Wang LOOK

The bold, modern, captivating scent of Vera Wang LOOK embraces a woman's confidence and creates a seductive effect through complex textures and layers of fragrance notes.

DKNY Be Delicious
DKNY Be Delicious is a fragrance of a free-spirited and refreshing individuals. DKNY Be Delicious is a juicy fragrance that combines the scent of apple with a sophisticated blend of exotic flowers and sensual woods.

Mariah Carey's Luscious Pink
Mariah Carey's Luscious Pink, a sparkling and intoxicating new fragrance that captures the pure radiance of Mariah Carey. Luminous and sensual, Luscious Pink embraces Mariah's ever-captivating presence and playfully seductive personality, translating these qualities into an exquisite and effervescent fragrance that reflects Mariah's aura of femininity.

Incanto Bliss Ferragamo

Incanto Bliss is a new edition by Salvatore Ferragamo, which appeared in January 2009. The perfume was presented as a joyful and sparkling floral-fruity edition introducing yuzu, cumquat, apple, freesia, lotus, rose, musk and woody accords. Creator of this edition is Beatrice Piquet, and the perfume is available as 30, 50 and 100ml edt. The flacon was designed by Sylvie de France, and it reflects the fragrant composition with sea motives – underwater fantasy decorated with bubbles, corals and starfish.

Very Pretty by Micheal Kors
Very Pretty is a vibrant interpretation of the multi-faceted Michael Kors woman.
Intense sparkling citrus top notes bring sophistication while a heart of sheer white florals adds a touch of femininity. A rich, textured dry down creates balance for a luxurious and modern experience.

L'eau D'issey
L'eau D'issey (issey Miyake) Perfume by perfume Issey Miyake, Launched By The Design care House Of Issey Miyake In 1992, beauty L\'eau D\'issey Is Classified As A product Sharp, Aquatic Fragrance. This Feminine Scent perfume Possesses A Blend Of Fresh Water care Florals Including Lily.

Euphoria Spring Temptation
Euphoria Spring Temptation is a spring edition by the house of Calvin Klein, created of pear blossom, guava leaves and waterfall accords in top notes, with a heart of pink lily, freesia petals and dewy violets placed on a base of white sandalwood, clear frozen musk and amber. The perfume was developed by Loc Dong and Carlos Benaim, and it will arrive on the market in March 2009, as 30 and 50ml edp.

Jean Paul Gaultier Ma Dame

The perfume MA DAME was imagined and created as a fresh, floral one, and all merits for it go to perfumer Francis Kurkdjian (Takasago), who also created the famous Le Male and Fragile, just to remind you.
MA DAME includes sporty notes of rose, grenadine, musk and cedar. The bottle was designed as a transparent block of glass, coloured in pink, with an engraved sculpture of the legendary Classique. The outer package is white, with pink and black print. It is available as 30, 50 and 100 ml edt, with an accompanying perfumed body care collection.

Idaho man charged again for knowingly spreading HIV

The first person ever convicted in Idaho of knowingly spreading the HIV virus is facing new charges for the same offense, authorities said Thursday.

An Ada County, Idaho, grand jury on Tuesday returned an indictment charging Kerry Thomas, 45, with seven counts of knowingly transferring the HIV virus, Jean Fisher, Ada County deputy prosecutor, told CNN.

In 1990, Thomas was charged with four counts of HIV transmission and two counts of statutory rape, Fisher said. As part of a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty only to the rape charges.

According to Fisher, Thomas received a 12-year sentence and had to serve three years before being eligible for parole. He was later granted early release.

In 1996, however, Thomas was again charged with one count of HIV transmission, and a jury convicted him, Fisher said. He received a 15-year sentence with a seven-year minimum.

Now out on parole, Thomas faces possible life in prison on the new charges because prosecutors are seeking his designation as a "persistent violator."

It was not immediately known whether Thomas was in custody Thursday. He was not listed online among the inmates in the Ada County Jail.

Asked why Thomas would continue to spread the virus, which causes AIDS, Fisher said, "That's the $64,000 question, for a person who has been to prison twice."

Oprah Winfrey: my Rihanna, Chris Brown show 'a huge, teachable moment'

Oprah Winfrey's live show about "dating violence" and Chris Brown's alleged beating of Rihanna was one of those TV moments when Oprah
becomes a nationwide town meeting, in which Winfrey uses her extraordinary outreach and influence on America to try and shed light and counsel on a cultural issue. Dedicating the hour to "all the Rihannas in the world, and all the young men who would think of hitting a woman," Winfrey didn't shy away from arguing with young members of the audience who expressed sympathy for the male violence of which Brown is accused.

After a report from Entertainment Tonight correspondent Kevin Frazier that Rihanna and Brown are recording a duet and may write a book together about domestic violence, Winfrey told one teen her take on the Rihanna-Brown situation: "If you go back to a man who hit you, you don't think you're worthy of being with a man who won't."

At Winfrey's side was Tyra Banks, who'd given over her own talk show to the same topic earlier in the day, and repeated a sentiment she used there: "There's no excuse for a man to put his hands on a woman, ever, ever, ever." She also talked about a relationship she'd been in, in which she felt herself a victim of "emotional abuse." Banks intruded too often into the interviews Winfrey conducted, it seemed to me, but she did make a valuable point when one teen expressed disappointment that Rihanna apparently hasn't abandonded Brown and therefore wasn't a "role model." Banks reminded the audience that Rihanna is "a girl... an entertainer," not a role model, and shouldn't have to bear this added pressure.

Winfrey's presentation was most interesting when interviewing teens in pre-taped moments and live via remote locations such as Boise, Idaho, and Charlotte, North Carolina. Declaring her show a "huge, teachable moment" for America, Winfrey also interviewed a pregnant young woman, Britney, whose boyfriend, the father of her child, was in jail for attacking her. This interview was at once electrifying and queasy-making.

The hour skipped around a lot, with Winfrey showing a clip from a 1993 show she did about a girl whose boyfriend killed her, and then brought the mother of that girl onstage to talk with Britney and her parents. This seemed a stretch, since this woman, not identified as any sort of professional and speaking as she put it, based on "what little I know about this situation," couldn't offer much in the way of useful advice. As always, Winfrey was sincere, careful with her facts, and offered a lot of websites and phone numbers for viewers in similarly troubled or dangerous situations to contact. She concluded by calling out, "God bless, Rihanna, Chris!"

Did you watch? Do you think Oprah is a useful forum for the discussion of these issues?

The World's Billionaires

It's been a tough year for the richest people in the world. Last year there were 1,125 billionaires. This year there are just 793 people rich enough to make our list.

The world has become a wealth wasteland. Like the rest of us, the richest people in the world have endured a financial disaster over the past year. Today there are 793 people on our list of the World's Billionaires, a 30% decline from a year ago.

Of the 1,125 billionaires who made last year's ranking, 373 fell off the list--355 from declining fortunes and 18 who died. There are 38 newcomers, plus three moguls who returned to the list after regaining their 10-figure fortunes. It is the first time since 2003 that the world has had a net loss in the number of billionaires.

It was hard to avoid the carnage, whether you were in stocks, commodities, real estate or currencies. Even people running fine businesses could have been killed by frozen credit markets, weak consumer spending or fraud.

"It's going to get worse," says David Geffen, who watched his net worth fall 25% to $4.5 billion as real estate and art prices softened. "I don't think we've hit the bottom. It wouldn't surprise me if the Dow fell below 6000. Unemployment is now 8.1%, which means it's really 13.1% after you add 5% for part-time workers and people who are no longer on the employment rolls. I think it will reach 15% or 16% by the end of the year."

Geffen claims he pulled his investments out of the market in 2006 and has sold off a third of his multibillion-dollar art collection. "It seemed that it was awfully easy to make money," he says. "There's something seriously wrong when it isn't extremely difficult to make a great deal of money. There were billionaires who could not qualify for The Forbes 400. That was one of many warning signs for me to get out."

The biggest loser in the world this year, by dollars, was last year's biggest gainer. India's Anil Ambani lost $31.9 billion--76% of his fortune--as shares of his Reliance Communications, Reliance Power and Reliance Capital all collapsed. Ambani is one of 24 Indian billionaires, all but one of whom are poorer than a year ago. Another 29 Indians lost their billionaire status entirely. India's stock market has fallen 44% in a year, global equity prices 39%.

Donald Trump, we estimate, has seen nearly half of his net worth disappear. His casino company is in bankruptcy--again. His $1 billion hotel and condo tower in Chicago hasn't closed enough previously agreed-to sales and can't find new buyers. Evidently having some difficulty making timely repayments of $640 million in unguaranteed construction loans from Deutsche Bank, he sued the lender last fall (but recently took the lawsuit off the table). As cranes stand idle above half-built residential real estate projects around the world, Trump's ability to profit from licensing his name and marketing expertise to other developers has become impossible to gauge--despite his popularity. "We're not going down; we're going up," says Trump. "We're buying things we couldn't have dreamed of buying two years ago. And we have a lot of cash."

The Donald always makes a few shrewd moves. Last May Trump sold a Palm Beach, Fla. house to Russian tycoon Dmitry Rybolovlev, who was worth $12.8 billion last year, for $100 million. In the months that followed, shares of the new homeowner's publicly traded fertilizer outfit, Uralkali, cratered, erasing three-quarters of his fortune. Trump dumped some of the cash he made into a few golf courses put on the block by their cash-strapped owners.

Rybolovlev was one of the lucky Russians who kept their billionaire status. Russia became the epicenter of the world's commodities bust, dropping 55 billionaires. Among them: Dmitry Pumpyansky, an industrialist from the resource-rich Ural mountain region, who lost $5 billion as shares of his pipe producer, TMK, sank 84%.

Last year Moscow overtook New York as the billionaire capital of the world, with 74 tycoons to New York's 71. Today there are 27 in Moscow and 55 in New York.

Read the full gist from Forbes

Lagos Is Worst Place To Work!

A survey report just released this morning by CNN revealed that Lagos is the Worst Place to Work on Earth.

Can u Beat That???

What hope do we have on our Currency?

How feasible can our naira gain ground against other currencies in the nearest future?

Best Comedian In Nigeria

Who Is The Best Comedian In Nigeria?
Ali baba, Julius Agwu, I go die, basketmouth?

Your comment is highly welcomed.