To our viewers...

We truly appreciate the time you take out to go through our posts, and we would like to be personally in touch with you all, on this note, please we encourage that you don't just 'pass by', but feel free to drop a comment each time you do. In response to the mails from some of you concerning what PROMISING NIGERIA INITIATIVE (PNI) is all about, we've drafted out a synopsis to give you a heads up. We trust this would shed the light you need about us:

The Promising Nigeria Initiative justification stands on the following premise;

PROBLEM STATEMENT

• Erosion of values amongst young adults due to incessant promotion of Harmful media content.
• Low performance in academics and lack of responsibility-driven lifestyles.
• High rate of School crime and Teenage pregnancy
• Spread of HIV/AIDS among young people due to careless lifestyles.
• The dangerous impact of the get-rich-quick mentality

NEEDS IDENTIFICATION

• Provide them with mentors and role models in different spheres of society.
• Available Mentors who can train and disciple these young adults to become all they possibly can.
• To be engaged in worthy-societal courses.
• Provide a powerful alternative to ill-morals the media promotes.
• Equipped with life skills for employability and entrepreneurship.

PROPOSED APPROACH
Our strategy to solve these problems is to encourage early participation of these young adults in Nation building through community development services, leadership development, and entrepreneurship.

The book, ‘THE PROMISE’, which has been fully written, is the first material to be promoted by Promising Nigeria Initiative, and serves as the first phase of the project. We are of the assertion as stated by the Reading Association of Nigeria that “Reading maketh a man”, yet we do not fail to take into cognizance the poor reading culture that exist amongst youth today, hence there are powerful incentives to encourage students in reading the books, and enclosed in each book is an engaging interactive CD that students can listen to.  This is why the PNI Project is creatively distinct and tailored to empower the youths totally; these materials will not only add quality to the lives of these young adults, but brings to live the rich values contained in the National pledge, and inspire in them to believe in and work for the good of our Nation.
The book distribution will be supported by;

HYPE IN COLLABORATION WITH V2F
HYPE Foundation is a non-governmental organization established primarily to foster early participation of young people in community and national development. While achieving this feat, we do not place negligence to the tireless efforts of other social entrepreneurs and non-governmental bodies to empower the young people.
Our network covers different territories in the north, south, east and west. This gives us leverage to serve, train and attain maximum impact across the regions with respect to their individual and cultural challenges. References to our previous events since 2007, including training and supervisory activities show a promotion in behavioural change in their social self, educational self, moral self, leadership/career self etc.

VISION-2-FRUITION is a body of training consultants whose focus is on empowering the youth as leaders of the future. This is achieved by offering lifelong trainings and mentorship to young adults in the areas of ethics and values, career guidance, personal transformation and entrepreneurship.
Together, we have decided to pedal higher to facilitate a self-sustaining training process in the secondary schools through our purposed project which will involve additional care and support plan to create a most favourable environment for our target group, to equip them and position them to be an agent of change in their sphere of influence. We have a vision to see the Nigerian youths transformed into patriots of high moral and social standards.

BENEFICIARIES
The Target group for this project is secondary school students and freshmen undergraduates across the federation, with FCT Abuja, Lagos, Port-harcourt, Imo and Anambra state as pilot states for the execution of the project. Over the long haul, families, instructors in various schools, employers, the society and Nation at large profits from the wealth of values these young adults possess, through their empowered, morally sound lives.

 Contact us via e-mail: promisingnigeria@gmail.com

 sound lives.

WHY DO WE MAKE PROMISES?

Every national progress begins with a national promise, a fulfilled national promise.
Every form of progress, for that matter, is sustained by fulfilled promises
So wherever progress is noted, a promise was fulfilled.

'The Promise', an insightful book that richly and deeply explores our Nigerian Pledge and the truths in it if which imbibed will lead to a national transformation.
It is guaranteed to shape the mindsets of both generations present and to come concerning our National Pledge.

This book is a must-get! stay tuned!

I observed, I reflect and so, I write...

Sunday, the 3rd day of June, 2012 would probably go down in the Nigerian history as the 'blackest Sunday'; a Dana air craft crashes in a populated town, claiming the lives of over 160 individuals.
As Nigeria mourns this gory waste of lives and human resources, as embittered individuals cry for their loved ones and as countless more rage for justice, a quiet lesson sort of meanders past all the grief and ache in my chest, surfaces unobtrusively  in my consciousness: the more people that depend on me, the more important keeping my promises become.
Think of all those people who promised their friends and family they would be with them within the hour but never got to keep their promises -- because an airline failed to keep it's own promise. Over 150 promises made in one form or the other could not be kept because one entity failed to keep its promise.
"To be recognized and respected as Nigeria's most reliable and customer- friendly airline" is the noble, lofty mission statement of Dana Air. This is the promise they made to Nigerians, to customers who expect them to live up to their promise to be reliable and customer friendly. But they failed, for some reason.
This gets me thinking soberly and I realize: a promise, a given word-no matter how small- is never a thing to be taken lightly. It can mean the difference between life and death.
 

Man's word is God in man - Tennyson

More thoughts: www.danielokolic.wordpress.com

WHAT DO WE TRULY VALUE?

Does human life mean anything to us? With what can we measure the value of a life? Are we putting profits before people? Or are we most interested in getting ahead at any cost no matter whose head goes for it? The echoes of the cries of wasted lives from ethnic clashes, careless economic or technical issues can’t be suddenly drowned.

 

Daily we hear diverse tales about the Boko Haram sect, that they are a different group of Muslims, are not particularly Nigerians but hail from the brink of Africa - Niger to be precise, and all what not; but truth remains that there are top countrymen in the know of who these people are, where their next attack would be, and who actually sponsor their activities.

It was a black weekend for the country on Sunday, 3 June 2012, as the plane crash claims the lives of everyone on board, with serious damages to some residents in Iju, Lagos state, leaving many families in grieve. Report has it that the plane has been under repairs for several weeks and the authorities who insisted it could be put to use were well aware of this. Where is the love for human beings in all these? Nothing is worth giving up for a man just like you. As long as we don’t have value for human lives, we can’t become a developed Nation.

Whether you are strong or weak, termed among the masses or in the corridors of might, we all have the opportunity to save a life, to care for the other man like we would for ourselves, to make a difference in another’s life daily – by saying the right words that would build and not destroy; by being content with the resources you have or have not yet amassed; by being committed to the terms of your leadership or position, by ‘wearing’ the shoes of others. Think about it, when it comes to that defining moment called death, nothing matters anymore, not the wrong that was done to you, not the money you have stashed somewhere, not the mind-blowing plans yet to be accomplished, but the works you have done and what you would be remembered for; so why don’t we make the best of life we’ve got, while we can?

This is a call for each one of us to go beyond ourselves; be concerned with the welfare of others. At this time the caution of Julius Berger on road safety comes to mind, “Drive like it is your family in the other car” and the foundation of the law which the good book emphasizes, “Love your neighbour as you love yourself”… for whoever your actions or decisions would affect is your neighbour, and family. 

God bless you, God bless Nigeria and her citizenry!

VALUES, VALUE & VALUATION I

Values, our broad preferences that determine the appropriate course of action we’d take in a given circumstance. Your values reveal what you believe in, they are your moral compass – what guides the way you behave. Values are your most fundamental asset. Whether conscious of it or not, I, you, and every individual has a core set of values by which our lives are guided by. Values can range from the supposed inconsequential, devotion, to weightier, conspicuous belief like integrity, but no matter what value you choose to uphold, the outcome is outstanding.

Values are not solely individuals-based, organizations, industries and institutions also subscribe to values. A close examination of any successful company that exist today in the country will reveal one or more values that are a key to its success. What organization or industry in Nigeria comes to mind as successful to you? What business value do you think is the key to its success?

The key point to keep in mind about values is that for an individual, It influences attitude, and likewise, when organizations and institutions adopt values, employees, customers, everything and everyone else associated with it becomes energized. By identifying the values that are important to us, we can develop strategies to implement them, and when we discipline ourselves to follow through on implementing these values, we are certain that success would be the inevitable result.

I am of the opinion that our political parties and ministries should subscribe to certain core values, which will help them fulfill the course for which they were formed in the first place, making government responsive and efficient, engendering unity, peace and progress. What is your opinion?

Identify the values that are most important to you now, and start the journey of building a life that is totally aimed for success! Here's a comprehensive list of important personal and corporate values: www.stevepavlina.com

On My Honor...: Grow within, Shine without!

www.facebook.com/i-promise-nigeriaOn My Honor...: Grow within, Shine without!

Grow within, Shine without!

No man can single-handedly build a Nation, he needs resources in the way of men, methods and materials. But how can he get others if he doesn't understand the principle of networking? How can he apply the right methods if he doesn't even know what to do? Or how can he gather relevant materials that would enhance nation building if he isn't enlightened?... It then boils down to this, the man that would build the nation must first build himself. I love to put it this way, "Make the man, make the nation".

Growth is not an automatic process, if you will make yourself better, then you must make the decision to pursue growth and experience improvement.

To make something out of yourself, you need to be willing to change, for without change there can be no growth. hence, Personal development is requires only one price – the price of discipline; its reward far outweighs its cost.

While studying animal husbandry in school, I was taught that certain species of fish will grow according to the size of their environment, put them in a tiny aquarium and they remain small even at adulthood, release them into a huge natural body of water and they grow to their intended size. The capacity of human beings are a lot similar - you can become all that you want to be if you will go all out to develop yourself. Make it your goal to grow in some way everyday. Deliberately surround yourself with a ‘growth environment’ - Attend seminars, apply for professional courses, listen to good teachings, read a book or two monthly, spend time with credible people inspire you and can help you grow, and most importantly, apply what you learn. The final test of any learning is in its application.

The more you learn, the more you grow.  Nigeria needs you to shine out!

How much can a promise accomplish?

At exactly 14:45pm. my phone beeps, clicked on my instant message icon, and I read, "If you suspect movements or you see unusual activities around your area, place of work, or place of worship, the emergency numbers to call are 767 and 112. Both toll free from any network. Please broadcast this information."

This is a message that is broadcasted on bbm and I smile, thinking: Nigerians are finally getting it. We are not helpless after all. We can influence the changes we want to see in our society by helping the authorities fulfill their promises to us.

Often these days, for instance, we receive messages about bomb threats from terrorists which serves to hold a spell of terror and dreadful anticipation over the citizenry. A powerful key to thwarting the influence of such negative forces in the society is by sabotaging their bid to fulfill their promises. Not focusing on wiping out the terrorist group but sabotaging their efforts to carry out their baleful promises eventually strips them of power or influence. It's a natural principle: power gravitates from a person who fails to meet up with his/her promises to the person who does.
As requested, If you suspect movements or you see unusual activities around your area, place of work, place of worship... Make a report... Pray to your God... Help spread useful news concerning threats... In playing that role,you'd be fulfilling your role as an effective citizen.

Together, we can stop this menace, for you are not helpless; we are not helpless.