Another reason to laugh

Oluwakorede Asuni March 17, 2009 No Comments

Not laugh for joy or relief. But to laugh at yet another attempt to call white black, and on a grand scale. The situation is best described by this story: He is from avery rich background, loved by all and the envy of many. His neck is adorned with necklaces made of gold and his feet slippons made from exotic and rare animal skin. Affluence merely describes him. He was plundered and left desolate by conniving and envious travelling (and trading) foriegners, who took away his ability to trust and love again. Cheating, lying and sin became the lot of his world. He is possessed by vanity and has no place for value. And suddenly, without consideration for his physical and mental well being, his friends (children and relatives) decided to rehabilitate him – and what do they do? They went the way of others and bought him new cloths. I ask, will new cloths solve his problems? Will those put food on his table, drive commerce ( the sam,e bait with which he was attracted at first and plundered, but neccessary for continued physical and mental health – at least that is what we believe) and help him well on his way to self sustainance? Will a new cloth do the magic? Yes they say, but time will tell.

Read More »

This is wordpress…

Oluwakorede Asuni March 17, 2009 No Comments

Yes brand new wordpress and it is indeed more than a blog tool. I am already thinking up possibilities…let’s go there (9ice).

Read More »

Marketing Communications…

Oluwakorede Asuni March 14, 2009 No Comments

I love marketing communications. I love the practioners too. I am sure my friend Lekan Oshunkoya will be amazed at my sudden love for this human endeavor. I love to hear it right and succinctly and to pass it on as same (that may be the reason I am considering a few weeks of internship somewhere filling a corporate communications vacancy-yes, I know there are differences between this branches of communications). Take a look at adverts on TV (very well produced-clear pictures, good audio, succint message), outdoor billboards and the variants (graphically exciting and clearly pass on messages), radio jingles (you never believe so much has been packed into 60 secs, it still beats my imagination and I give it to these guys, they are great). But does the promise always match the delivery? In all my experience no! My love for marketing communication especially as practised here in Nigeria stems from the fact that practioners clearly help keep hope alive. They tell us what it can become -the service or product they are selling- and not what it is (that is my disgust). Look at the telecos in Nigeria for example…I carry four mobile phones until recently, not because I love the gadgets that much, but because I could not avoid to be let off the communication grid and at one time or the order some devil goes up and messes a network’s system hampering service delivery for hours ( and sometimes days) and then you the subscriber cannt

Read More »

Vanguard online:First public high school web portal for Niger State

Oluwakorede Asuni March 4, 2009 No Comments

By Emeka Aginam   (04 March 2009) Originally posted here.  A batch A 2008 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Mr. Oluwakorede Asuni   has successfully launched the first public high school web portal in Niger State – www.GovernmentSecondarySchoolMX.org.  The system, which was created for the Government Secondary School Minna Niger State, where Mr. Asuni is completing his primary community service assignment, will serve a number of purposes for not only the staff and students of the school, but also the general public and a broader worldwide audience. These purposes include:  •    An online billboard – making the school accessible to a worldwide audience; •    A means of internal communications (for staff and students) – allowing teachers to leave home work for their students, for example; •    A central source of information for internal and external use _ divided into two major sections: public or general area and member area which requires registration; •    And a custom email system.  At the launch event on Thursday 19th February 2009, the school management, led by the Rev. Fr. J. D. O’Connell (MFR) was positive about the project, which he described as something long in the making. He thanked Mr. Asuni for taking time out to design, implement and train teachers and students to manage the system, which will be in place well after he has completed his one year community service as a part of the NYSC.  Jummai Umar_Ajijola, Citizenship Manager for Microsoft Nigeria who was represented at the

Read More »

Discovering Abuja without a guide

Oluwakorede Asuni February 28, 2009 No Comments

  Its’ been twenty four hours (or thereabout) since I arrived for a brief meeting in Abuja and I am discovering the beautiful city without my usual guide. Abuja reminds me of J’bourg which is about the only other national capital in Africa I have seen and walked. I love the scenery and organisation. Oh my…people waited their turn at traffic lights and this in Nigeria. Leaving this wonderful city-whose market (Wuse market) I spent a few hours at window shopping off-course and admiring the cleanliness –Tejuosho market anybody?-tomorrow seem a burden,now. My guide, who knows the city well and has been VERY helpful in the past, deserted me under a very silly guise yesterday. He has always put up very funny acts in the past and I have always known he cannot be fully trusted. He has quarrelled with everybody I know him with or have met through him at some point or the other and bad enough he also has a way of blaming others for his shortcomings – men I have seen him do this many times! Anyways I have no regrets…I am enjoying my stay! Ah…the good part: I got something free in Nigeria…yes free! Maybe not exactly free though. Internet access at an eatery :)! All I had to do was buy something (that is why it is not free otherwise it is) and trust me I buy a cold bottle (plastic actually) of my favourite drink and while I read my mails and write

Read More »

Official Release

Oluwakorede Asuni February 18, 2009 No Comments

Official Release:   www.OluwakoredeAsuni.com Youth Corp Member Conceived, Designed and Transfers First Public School Web-portal in Niger State, Nigeria Oluwakorede Asuni, a batch A 2008 youth corp member completing his primary assignment at the Government Secondary School, Minna, Niger State has completed the design and implementation of a school web portal for Government Secondary School, Minna. The portal will be officially commissioned by the Niger State Commissioner for Science and Technology, under the distinguished Chairmanship of the Chairman, House Committee on Education Niger State House of Assembly at 11:30 am  on Thursday 19th February, 2009 at the Government Secondary School, Minna computer laboratory. You can take a sneak peek here: www.GovernmentSecondarySchooMX.org/index.php. The system will be available at:  www.GovernmentSecondarySchooMX.org as from the 19th of February when it will be officially unveiled and presented to the public. The feature rich system has amongst others the following: ·         Home page/Welcome screen—welcomes the visitor to the website site and introduces available resources. The home page also features news on current activities in the school or that the students and staff of the school are involved in at any given time; Staff list; School Calendar; Teaching and Examination Time Tables; eMail: Customised email accounts for all principal staff of the school and the school’s senior prefect; Videos and Pictures gallery: A repository of selected pictures and videos from school events; External links to students support resources; Newsletter subscription and delivery system for serving monthly school magazine; It rides on a deployment of the Joomla! CMS and

Read More »

Do you have a good grasp of issues of REPRESENTATION?

Oluwakorede Asuni February 9, 2009 No Comments

What ever your response is, attending the The 4th Global Youth Conference 2009 tagged “Understanding Representation: Legislative, people, power and participation”  scheduled to hold between the 2nd and the 3rd of March 2009 at the British Council Abuja, will sure shore up your knowledge base and set you apart to effect and support change! Please read on: Understanding Representation: Legislative, people, power and participation  ———————————– The 4th Global Youth Conference 2009 tagged “Understanding Representation: Legislative, people, power and participation”  is scheduled to hold between the 2nd and the 3rd of March 2009 at the British Council Abuja.   The 4th Edition is proudly being organized in conjunction with Young People We Care, Ghana. Young People We Care (YPWC) is a youth led and youth focused organization that is headquartered in Ghana and has satellite offies in the UK, USA and Canada. The organization is operated by young people (ages 15–30) and adult allies working on youth and development related issues worldwide. Further details on YPWC can be found on www.ypwc.org   Youth for Transparency International (YTI), the 2008 CIVICUS Nelson Mandela-Graca Machel innovation awards winner, is the major organizer of the event after three successful hosting of the previous editions. YTI is an international non-governmental, non – profit organization established in January 1998 by Theodore Ogbonna.   YTI is dedicated to contributing innovatively to the task of nation building through promoting democracy, good governance, rule of law, human rights, equitable sustainable development, ICT education, human capital development, and ethics in corporate

Read More »

Every day as dawn breaks…

Oluwakorede Asuni January 30, 2009 No Comments

I rise with the reality that I must make a difference today. And I must move a day’s distance in the directions of my goals in life. Each passing hour, thoughts like: ‘…are my on course?’ courses through my mind and most times I am not, I am jolted back into reality and tugged – deliberately-back on track. As the day runs to a close for me sometimes in the early hours of the next day, ‘I ask myself what have I achieved today? ‘ If any of these will pay off I am yet to find out, but what I know is that in Africa each morning a gazelle wakes up and notes, I must live through today ‘I must outrun the lions…else I will end up in their soup pot’ and as the lion rises, he concludes ‘…if I must not go hungry today and if I must provide for my family then I must outrun at least a gazelle’. Both must run in the direction of their dreams daily else both will die from the consequences of their inaction. My dream is to impact lives, to call attention to the inherent abilities and capabilities of the human mind. And this I do every day as I help young people navigate the tricky waters of mathematics, I thrown in the occasional life quip that points in the direction of the perfection of man’s mind. I am determined to ensure that as far as it depends on those of

Read More »

Back to School!

Oluwakorede Asuni January 20, 2009 No Comments

Originally penned on Thursday 5th June, 2008 I returned to the classroom as a student earlier today- though I made an earlier return a few days back, as teacher at the Government Secondary School, Minna where I am carrying out my primary assignment as a Youth Corps member. Now I have experienced firsthand what ‘Gbenga Sesan – one of mentors – felt when he had to return to the classroom in April at the Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. For me returning to the classroom nearly two years after I left it – as student – is a commitment to one of the prongs in my multiple prongs approach to improving self – body, soul and spirit. I resolved at the commencement of the National Youth Service Year for me to maximize the opportunities the period will afford and I have decided on the following: Serve God: Really Return to the Roots. I should have taken a cue when in Januart ‘Gbenga, One of my mentors and the same mentioned above declared in a meeting January that this year was his year of returning to the roots, I had laughed and wished the best thinking to myself that I have all he is missing and do not need to go back to any roots or retrace any steps. Today however, everything around me points at the emptiness I feel deep within and the need for me to go back to God – seek him out, learn his ways again

Read More »

An Obama America?

Oluwakorede Asuni January 20, 2009 No Comments

Also written sometime ago :), please Enjoy! America is so so far away and like a friend of mine remarked recently “does not concern me!” However, I  am interested in an Obama America which from all indication will ensure the world is a more peaceful place to live ….. I have been involved with the campaign here in Nigeria. Though aware that Nigerians can not vote in the American elections, I have joined several others to raise awareness regarding the possibilities and benefits of an Obama America to the America, Africa and the world at large. I support Obama, though I like Mrs. Clinto for hersupport of her husband i his arrowing hour at the white house and for helping stead the tide of the Clinton White House scandal by not deciding to divorce a lying and cheating husband. However my loyalty lies with Obama who has come  to represent change, confidence and a fearlessness of sorts. He has dared to challenge the status quo, beaten cowardice to attempt defying the odds. Either win or loose Obama is My heroe.

Read More »

My Resignation…

Oluwakorede Asuni January 20, 2009 No Comments

Originally posted by my friend, Biola Akinyemi here “My Resignation…”br /br /I am hereby officially tendering my resignation as an adult. I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities of an 8 year-old. I want to go to Mr Biggs and think that it’s a four star restaurant. I want to sail paper boats across a fresh muddy stream after a rain and make a sidewalk with rocks. I want to think delicious Gogo sweets are better than money because you can eat them. I want to lie under a big almond tree and run around with nearly no clothes on with my friends on a hot, sunny day. I want to return to a time when life was simple; When all you knew were colors, multiplication tables, and nursery rhymes, but that didn’t bother you, because you didn’t know what you didn’t know and you didn’t care. All you knew was to be happy because you were blissfully unaware of all the things that should make you worried or upset. I want to think the world is fair. That everyone is honest and good. I want to believe that anything is possible. I want to be oblivious to the complexities of life and be overly excited by the little things again. I want to live simple again. I don’t want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of office work, projects, depressing news, how to survive more days in the month than there is money in

Read More »

I am an Hustler

Oluwakorede Asuni January 20, 2009 No Comments

Really thougt I lost this post (originally written sometime in July,2008), only to find it recently in my drafts. Silly me :). Enjoy! Remember an Harvard graduate friend of mine remark to me last August in Johannesburg …I am a hustler She was reffering to her exploits to making things happen and her never say die spirit and I listened with rapt attention cum fascination when she described having to spend the night in a bus…a cold night it was…blah… blah… blah… I was a living witness to her actions and negotiations which saw us have a succesful 4 or so days meeting at the Gordon’s Institute of Bussiness Science (GIBS) facility in Johannesburg the beautiful South African capital where I hope to visit again soon –maybe go see the world cup in 2010. I was amazed when earlier today my mind described as an hustler. The moment was shortly after I completed my work at one of my duty post where I teach extra mural classes to the children of a Proffesor friend who I met a few weeks back and who I teach compueter appreciation. My mind in its usual frolick of assesment perused the last few days…no weeks since I settled down to share room three flat 16 Gwari Estate, Minna with Mr. Oladejo and four other youth corpers–more on my housemates and I n facebook–and shrieked at the schedules I have had to keep in order to 1. Keep body and soul together, 2. Gain a

Read More »

Today, me and Ugo

Oluwakorede Asuni January 14, 2009 No Comments

What a title… Hung out most of the day with my buddy Ugochukwu Nwosu and realised how much I miss working at PIN (www.pinigeria.org) and especially with Ugo and the man we all call Gs and respect so much (though sometimes he jokes we do not). I travelled with him to Ajegunle where he met with the managers of the local government’s education agency and I was a privileged observer. I was so happy to note that the Ajegunle.org project is eventually enjoying the patronage of the local government and they can now own the project as has been intended from inception. Ajegunle.org, the project which forms part of the strong grounds for Ugo’s nomination for the future awards 2009, aims at reaching and helping to transform the lives and livelihood systems of young people from Ajegunle a rundown community otherwise known as a slum popular for both notoriety and for producing some celebrities in many areas of human endeavour including entertainment, sports and business. The training includes basic computer skills acquisition and entrepreneurship session. Noting the poor presentation abilities of most applicants for the training program which is intended to run quarterly, Ugo informed me that there will be a focus on soft skills development especially those relating directly to presentation skills. Ajegunle.org (www.Ajegunle.org) enjoys the patronage of the UK deputy high commission for trade and investment (UKTI) and many UK company and has once hosted the UK High Commissioner to Nigeria in one of its many interactive sessions.

Read More »

Does your Laptop(mobile PC) battery go off at critical times, mine always do :)

Oluwakorede Asuni January 5, 2009 1 Comment

I have always felt constrained running on batteries on my computer (and I always have to  run on auxillary/battery power because the public power utility company is a mess and power constantly fails) and have sought ways of reducing my feeling of constraint. I came across this in my Windows vista help and think I should share with you all. Thank you. ‘Korede Get the most from a single charge Ever run out of battery power in the middle of a meeting? Has the urgent beep of your mobile PC’s battery alarm made you the center of attention during an executive presentation? Even with recent advancements in battery cell technology and in software that makes efficient use of power, you can do only so much work on a single charge. The trick is to get the most out of the power that’s available. Chances are, you already have ways to make sure your mobile PC has power no matter where you are. Maybe you always carry the power cord or an extra battery for times when AC power isn’t available. Those strategies work, but do you know how to get the most out of the battery you’ll be using during your next five-hour flight? Here are a few easy tips that can help you stretch your battery’s power: Choose a power plan that saves power. A power plan is a collection of hardware and system settings that control how your mobile PC manages power. These settings include power-saving measures, such as switching

Read More »

Exeperiences and mussings of a classroom teacher*

Oluwakorede Asuni January 3, 2009 1 Comment

I teach Mathematics at the Government Secondary School Minna. It has been for me a mixed experience, but by and large I enjoy my work. Seeing the curious faces of these young men who form two groups of people I interact with daily in the class room for most of the passing year, light up in understanding makes me happy. Thus I go to great lengths to ensure I understand the material to be considered in class well ahead using several sources of information including: What I remember of the topic, what the school approved text book(s) says of the topic and what some online sources say about it. I put all these together and try as much as possible to hit the issue from all angles and sometimes going to the classroom with personally sourced teaching aids to help with my delivery and help this boys understand the material – one motivation for this was my poor foundation in mathematics thus my fear for the subject thus my poor performances in the subject most of my life…and then suddenly realising  in my dying days as an undergraduate that mathematics like physics is just principles and applications without many exemptions to the rule as is with English Language – ‘use of’ and all its other renditions  ( which I loved and always passed well) and Chemistry (which I never really liked but also passed anyways) and can be passed—oh my God I wished I could go back and improve my

Read More »

A concerned youth’s reaction to the murder of 3 youth corps members in Plateau State

Oluwakorede Asuni January 2, 2009 1 Comment

Originally penned by Oluwakorede Asuni on the 4th of December, 2008 The callousness of the murder of three young Nigerians in cold blood while completing the compulsory national assignment (National Youth Service)in Jos, is a general testimony to the cruelty of man and the particular crudeness of our polity in Nigeria – politics of bitterness. Youths, giving a year of their life to the improvement of the country murdered in cold blood for o justifiable reason except that they accepted to serve their fatherland in Plateau State? Or perhaps come from another ethnic group or hold values of a certain religion. When has it become a sin to be a Nigerian from another part of the country? When has it become wrong to practise a religion of one’s choice? Is it not national integration and harmony one of the cardinal goals of the National Youth Service scheme which recently celebrated 35 years of excellence amidst pomp and pageantry nationwide? Isn’t it time to rethink the entire policy thrust of the program to determine if it is a necessary evil that we all should continue to tolerate? Granted the entire crisis is an unfortunate incident, which should not have been allowed to happen noting our prior knowledge that such only leaves blood, pain and mourning in its wake as the many ethno religious crisis of the past have shown. But given the greedy nature of the political criminals in whose hands lie the mandate of leadership across the nation, many such

Read More »

Happy New Year

Oluwakorede Asuni December 31, 2008 No Comments

I write to wish all my friends and associates who have supported my dreams in years past a very happy and successful 2009. Thank you all. ‘Korede

Read More »

My path

Oluwakorede Asuni December 2, 2008 No Comments

  I guess I have to move on In the face of challenges and the struggles to be and make be In the face of unsung successes and heroic actions Moving on is the only route I know Moving on is the path I choose 

Read More »

JAMB is 30, will she survive another thirty?

Oluwakorede Asuni November 28, 2008 3 Comments

A few days ago the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) the examination body conducting entry examinations into tertiary institutions in Nigeria (except for the NDA-Nigeria Defence Academy) struck thirty years. Thirty years of mixed achievements. In the thirty years of her existence she had moved from organising the most ‘cheated in’ tests to one that is most feared by students and parents and wished by many to go away. I don’t have access to a TV here in Minna and I am sure to have missed the pomp and pageantry at the celebrations which must have taken the dimensions of a national celebration. But I witnessed the sensitization campaign part of the activities marking the institution’s anniversary when the Minna train hit my school, Government Secondary School, Minna.  Led by her state Director Mallam A. G. Abubakar, the team enjoined students to prepare well for the exams stressing that the tests were designed to be passed, and all went well until the director and his train struck a low point by declaring of the one million plus expected to write the Universities Matriculation Exam this year only a tenth will eventually secure admission. The factors responsible for this will the subject of a future blog post. That JAMB celebrated thirty years of existence is considered by many as a miracle borne out of unchanging policies in the education sector of this country. That it will mark another thirty is an issue of great speculation at best and worst a

Read More »

Duties of students

Oluwakorede Asuni November 17, 2008 No Comments

This excerpt is taken from chapter 59 of the Guanzi, a book on statecraft by legalist philosopher Guan Zhong. It is one of the earliest discussions of education in China. From Guanzi “Duties of the Student” Attributed to Guan Zhong The teacher presents his teachings; students take them as their standards. By being docile and reverential, and keeping their minds completely open, their learning is maximized. On seeing goodness, they follow it; on hearing of righteousness, they submit to it. Docile and compliant, filial and respectful toward their elders, they never display arrogance or resort to physical force. Never false or depraved in purpose, their conduct is certain to be correct and straightforward. Observing constant standards whether abroad or at home, they are certain to seek out those who are virtuous. Their features being well composed, their inner thoughts are certain to be exemplary in their correctness. Though they awaken early and go to bed late, their dress is certain to be tidy. Mornings being devoted to enhancing their learning and evenings to practicing what they have learned, they are ever cautious of doing anything wrong. Being ever diligent in concentrating on these things, such are the standards for study. Young students in rendering service are late to bed and early to rise. When sweeping the floor in front of the teaching mat, washing their hands, and rinsing their mouths, they conduct themselves in a respectful manner. Once they have finished dressing and prepared the wash-basin for the teacher, he

Read More »
On Trend

Most Popular Stories

Explore more

Making tariffs great again

Yesterday, I told the barista politely that I am going to do something about our trade deficit. The back story: I buy coffee from her,

Reflections on work and being busy?

Do we do work for the sake of it and its direct benefits (ability to buy things and by a stretch the ability to create wealth) or as a means to live a fulfilled life (where each is free to define fulfilment)? A position I might have maintained given “my confusion” is to maintain a hybrid view of work. I seize or attempt to seize every opportunity to create something that brings me fulfilment (I have been known to go as far as crossing boundaries of organisational hierarchy to get stuff done and apologise afterwards rather than wait endlessly for permission) and sometimes, too, I simply toe the line – in the hope that something great emerges – especially one that does emerge despite our efforts to the contrary.

About

OluwakoredeAsuni.com, is a self-named website which serves as the central hub and connecting tissue for  ALL of Oluwakorede Asuni’s digital content. 

For the latest in the work Oluwakorede Asuni is busy with and his reflection on matters always start here. 

Resume

Coming soon!

Stay Connected

Linkedin Youtube Twitter Facebook-f

Contact

mailme@oluwakoredeasuni.com