#WorldHeartDay

Today marks International Heart Day, which happens to be World Heart’s Federation platform for raising awareness about cardiovascular disease (CVD).It’s a day to ponder on our health and reassess the choices we make.

To mark the day here in Naija, our own very decorated football player in the whole of Africa, Kanu Nwankwo led some people in conjunction with his Kanu Heart Foundation for a 3KM Walk For Life Event, which held today at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. A notable celebrity, AY, as well as the first recipient of the Heart Foundation, joined him in the walk.

I’m really a huge fan of Kanu Nwankwo, especially when he was at Arsenal (I’m an ardent Gunner, no apology) hehe… even though I followed his career right from Ajax Fc. When he was diagnosed with a heart defect shortly after Super Eagles of Nigeria’s victory at the Alanta’96 Olympics where they took the gold medal, it almost cut short his career. I was sad and he was in our prayers. With his unwavering faith in God, he underwent the heart surgery successfully in Cleveland Hospital, Ohio, USA.

I’m pretty sure he was overwhelmed with the public show of concern for his health when he was in rehabilitation, guess it gave him the push to found the charitable organisation, which was meant to serve the African continent. He was determined to ensure that five KHF hospitals to ease the problem of undetected heart disease and corrective surgery were built in Africa.

We should all bear in mind that our hearts are at the center of our health, we have to take good care of it and improve our well-being, by cutting down on alcohol, eating right, and quitting nicotine intake. It is also of interest to note that due to the nature of the environment; there is a rising rate of heart disease, which stems from pollution from smoking vehicles of generators, vehicles and heavy machinery, saturated fats, refined carbohydrates, salty diets and the likes.

Health is wealth people, guard your hearts diligently!

Additional credits: http://www.kanuheartfoundationng.com, http://www.onlinenigeria.com

Kanu

#WorldTourismDaySept’27

Today, 27th September is World Tourism Day. This year’s theme is ”Tourism for All – promoting universal accessibility”.

At its Twelfth Session in Istanbul, Turkey, in October 1997, the UNWTO General Assembly decided to designate a host country each year to act as the Organization’s partner in the celebration of World Tourism Day. At its Fifteenth Session in Beijing, China, in October 2003, the Assembly decided the following geographic order to be followed for World Tourism Day celebrations: 2006 in Europe; 2007 in South Asia; 2008 in the Americas; 2009 in Africa and 2011 in the Middle East….Wikipeadia.

Raising/ fostering awareness on the impact of tourism amongst the global communities and its importance on the political, cultural, economical and social values globally is the aim of this day.

 

Interestingly, I found out that a Nigerian, the late Ignatius Amaduwa Atigbi was the proponent of the idea behind the celebration of World Tourism Day every September 27th. In 2009, he was recognised finally for his contribution. There are great Nigerians doing the nation proud everywhere.

So, citizens of our dear world, you are called upon to experience the beauty and rich diversity of the world we call ours.

Sources: un.org; google search.

#InternationalDayOfPeace

21 September is observed annually as the International Day of Peace, a.k.a. World Peace Day. 2016 theme is -The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace.

”It is dedicated to world peace, and specifically the absence of war and violence, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone for humanitarian aid access. The day was first celebrated in 1982, and is kept by many nations, political groups, military groups, and peoples. In 2013, for the first time, the Day was dedicated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to peace education, the key preventive means to reduce war sustainably.” Wikipedia.

”On 16 September 2016, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., the Secretary-General celebrated the Day in the Peace Garden at United Nations Headquarters by ringing the Peace Bell and observing a minute of silence. Women Nobel Peace Prize laureates and the United Nations Messengers of Peace were invited to participate in the ceremony. The United Nations Education Outreach Section held a global student videoconference on the same day, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., also at United Nations Headquarters.” http://www.un.org

This reminds me of our Naija elegant stallion in the person of Ms. Onyeka Onwenu, whose peace song I knew from childhood days always ring in my heart; it goes thus ‘Peace in our hearts, peace in our homes, peace in our nation everywhere, ha haa’.

In Nigeria and most parts of the world, challenges such as hunger, insecurity (chiefly Boko Haram), corruption, racism, tribalism, poverty, water scarcity, social inequality, threat to the environment, diseases, corruption, among others, have adverse effect to peace and give room for conflict.

We all have a stake and contributions to make in the global structure for peace. This year’s theme of sustainable development goals in building block for peace is very vital, we should implement means of making them happen via financial resources, technological advancement and knowledge sharing.

As a huge believer in Christ Jesus, I leave you with a passage from Apostle Paul in the book of Philippians chapter 4, verse 7 to comfort us all….”And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” Amen.

Additional sources: KJV, http://www.un.org, Google search.

 

#WorldOzoneDay

Today marks the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. It’s celebrated each year on the 16th of September to commemorate the day the Montreal Protocol was signed back in 1997, by the UN General Assembly.

This year’s theme is ” Ozone and climate: Restored by a world united.”

The day’s main intention is to create and spread awareness of the depletion of the Ozone Layer and the quest for concrete solutions in its preservation; not with the corrosive emission of toxic waste in the air, which gets to the Ozone Layer, which in turn affects the human race and the environment.

”The phaseout of controlled uses of ozone depleting substances and the related reductions have not only helped protect the ozone layer for this and future generations, but have also contributed significantly to global efforts to address climate change; furthermore, it has protected human health and ecosystems by limiting the harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching the earth.”…. http://www.un.org

Let’s join hands in working to preserve the Ozone Layer and encourage everyone to recycle.

Source: Google search;www.daysoftheyear.com

 

 

 

#HappyInternationalDayofDemocracy

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in September 1997, adopted a Universal Declaration on Democracy. It affirms the principles of democracy, the international scope of democracy, the elements and exercise of democratic government.

It was resolved by the United Nations General Assembly to observe 15th September as the International Day of Democracy in 2007. The purpose of which was to promote and uphold the principles of democracy. All member states and organisations were invited to commemorate the day in appropriate manner that contributes to raising public awareness.

The preamble of the resolution was “while democracies share fommon features, there is no single model of democracy and that democracy does not belong to any country or region…. democracy is an universal value based on the freely-expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems, amd their full participation in all aspects of life”.

Growing up, democracy as I was taught in school meant “government of the people, by the people and for the people”. I chuckle whenever I remember that now because what we have in Nigeria is a government of the very select few, by them and for them. The entire people it was meant for are cut off. 😞😒

I give kudos to the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, he was a pioneer of democracy in Nigeria. Sadly though, not sure that is what is being practised in this our Naija, ever since military rule ended. Our leaders are nothing short of a Shakespearean tale of comedians, who are selfish and take the masses for fools….story for another day…😶😤

We should let our voices be heard and cast our votes wisely to choose credible leaders and vote out unscrupulous entities.

Oh well….Happy International Day of Democracy to everyone in the universe.

Additional sources…Wikipedia and Google search.

#LAGGS’98SetReunion

Hallos…

I went down memory lane last Sunday when I visited my Alma Mater, Lagos Anglican Girls’Grammar School (LAGGS), in Surulere, Lagos, for the 1998 set reunion.

The school slogan, “Our Best In Everything’, gives me this pride that I could be the best in whatever I do or wherever I find myself.

I met with old friends who made High School fun, mischievous, challenging, et al… We all have grown into beautiful ladies with some married with kids and making impacts in various sectors of the economy.

As we walked around the school premises, I was smiling as I remember when everyone in my class in Senior Class, was asked to stay behind after the morning assembly. We waited under the sun for hours as a form of punishment, and when it was time for us to go back to our class, we were asked to crawl from the assembly ground to our class. It was one of the worst times for me… I equally remember Monday mornings before the assembly activity when we recap romance series we watched the previous Sunday night, (The Rich Also Cry, The Lady of The Rose amongst other. ..The lovely Chinelo Ogbunugafor, who became our Head girl in SS 3 and also one of the ‘efikos’, was my main story recap partner).

Days of reading Mills and Boon, which started to bore me when I got to JS 3, and I switched to crime, thriller, and legal literature ( Jame Hardely Chase and Robert Ludlum were my favourites). The competition back then to finish 700 to 1000 pages in three days minimum and one week maximum was high among us. You just have to meet up  else one would be labelled a slow reader or ‘olodo’ (dullard), yours truly was among the fastest readers…😀. My love for books was second to none, I just got everyone and myself wondering why I decided to take Geography class and not Literature, peer pressure I suppose. English language and Biology were my best subjects, while Mathematics was a challenge for me; Chinelo, Moe and my amiable brother helped me with Maths (made P7 in WAEC…I’sha’ didn’t have an F9 😊)

There was and still a huge building called Kilimanjaro, which house the SS 1 classes, biology/chemistry laboratories and where we mostly have our science practicals. Taking the stairs to my class then was pure torture because of the flight of stairs. It was also used as a form of punishment for the junior students.

I remembered the physical education exercise classes on the field, drama rehearsals at the main hall (can never forget Omowunmi Oyediran, she was a gifted drummer back then, who plays the drum during rehearsals), sounding off the morning assembly bell, inter-house sports, my years of being the Subject Captain (both in Junior and Senior class), debate competition (I was a member of the Literary and Debate Society) and so on and so forth..😊

Our principal then was Mrs. Olabode, a no-nonsense lady, who always have this mantra “chest out, tummy in, walk on your toes”. She made me know the meaning of self-esteem, when she gave us an assignment which topic was Self Esteem, it was some sort of punishment if memory serves me correctly. She addressed us that day we submitted the assignment, and since that day on, I had my self esteem in tact, not afraid to say my mind, keep my head up high and believe in myself. She was one lady a lot of us looked up to. Whenever some of us became unruly, she usually says that they are from Mushin (Mushin being a ghetto area…I grew up there though)…lolz.

All in all, it was a wonderful reunion. We swapped stories of our teachers, the good, the bad and the not-so-good. We came up with an idea/ project as a way of giving back to the school, I shall give update when we carry out the project. We also planned to be having such reunion on a quarterly basis.

Sis, even though you didn’t finish High School in LAGGS, I’m pretty sure you have some memories of this great school. Below are pictures to take you down your own memory lane.

Xoxo…
Tee..

 

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Sisi,

I am so happy you got to experience this wonderful reunion. Reading your tale actually brought tears of joy to my eyes. Although, short lived as you mentioned, my 2 years at LAGGS, were some of my fondest memory of school in Nigeria.

You are correct about our principal. Because of her, I still walk with authority and pride. That goes a long way when you are a young immigrant woman in a big world full of foreigners (to you…to them, you are the foreigner…lol…vantage point).

And of course, I remember our long journeys from Mafoluku to Surulere, everyday, rain or shine. Remember the day we were caught in a huge storm on our way back home and we got soaked?? And I got so sick?! Remember going to LUTH for WAEC tutoring? I still remember the smell of the grass in LUTH. I have a weakness for a particular grass smell because of LUTH. And you remember that your friend who was posing and your tutor called her out? Where you mamma from? Abia. Your pappa ko? Abia. LMAO!!! Not sure if you remember that event Lol. I can never forget.

As for me, I was so prideful in school. Being in Purple Class without even trying was something to brag about. I remember one of my classmates who could rap any Puff Daddy/Mase song on the spot. And the older girls who got left behind but seemed so cool because they were older and knew how to dress. When my set finally came the year after me (because I skipped a year), I got to catch up with ol friends. It was all in all a short but awesome 2 years. I still miss all those people til today! And gosh, I can’t forget when I was kicked out of the choir for my awful voice and farming the school grounds was so fun!

Anyway, I hope to attend one of the future reunions with you. Until then, I proudly sing:

Purple and brown is everything I’m wearing. Purple and brown, my only wear shall be. Why I should I always dress myself in purple? Why I should I always dress myself in brown? Because I’m a student of Anglican Girls’ School!

Thank you for sharing these fond memories with me. I love you!!

XOXO

WUNMI

#InternationalDayofCharity

September 5th is observed annually as United Nation’s International Day of Charity, it was declared in 2012 by the United Nation’s General Assembly, and was first celebrated in 2013. It was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Theresa of Calcutta of blessed memory (who has been made a Saint by Pope Francis), who received the Nobel Peace Price in 1979, ”for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress which also constitute a threat to peace”.

This day promotes charitable efforts made to alleviate poverty worldwide, raise awareness and provide a common platform for charity related activities for individuals, philanthropic and volunteer organisations, for their own purposes on the local, national, regional and international level all over the world.

In years past, events slated for this day included fund raising, restaurants donating profits from sales of the day, Ice Bucket Challenge, blanket distributions, etc.

So, folks out there, just as we are lending a hand, let’s also remember to be charitable. the Holy Book also enjoined us to do so.

Have a charitable day!

Additional source: World Heritage Encyclopedia; pinterest.com

 

 

#HappySeptember

It is a new day and a new dawn…welcome to the month of September.

How time flies! We are in the last quarter of the year 2016. I heard that there was a prediction of an eclipse which would happen today, fingers crossed. The last time I experienced that was several years ago when I was in High School.

To everyone born in this beautiful month, I’m wishing you all a wonderful happy birthday. May this month bring you joy and fulfilled dreams. To the rest of us, September will be peaceful and blessed for us.

God be with each and everyone of us.

Hello September, surprise me!

Tee..

Pics credit: Google search