Oluyomi Ola-David Insights

Any one Has visions Whether clear Or simply blur It divides a line Any eye May look Whether open Or simply shut It divides a line Any one Has ears Whether listening Or simply bouncy It divides a line Any tree May bud Whether watered Or simply thirsty It divides a line  Any one Has feet Whether mobile Or simply lame It divides a line Any house May stand Whether united Or simply apart It divides a line  Any one Has flags Whether flying Or simply lying It divides a line Any bulb May shine Whether brightly Or simply dull It divides a line  Any one Has songs Whether classic Or simply jazzy It divides a line Any skin May feel Whether spiky Or simply smooth It divides a line Any one Has times Whether now Or simply later It divides a line Any mouth May speak Whether silent Or simply loud It divides a line Any one Has hairs Whether curly Or simply straight It divides a line Any hand May carve Whether gold Or simply dust It divides a line Any one Has nostrils Whether sniffy Or simply offensive I

Observe chocolates We like them crunchy And many times chewy Belgium’s closet tends to pack them best   Observe top fashions We like them classy And many times tailored Italy’s closet tends to craft them best   Observe watches We like them ticking And many times blinging Switzerland’s closet tends to trade them best   Observe citrus fruits We like them juicy And many times fresh Israel’s closet tends to prune them best   Observe software We like them proprietary And many times rated USA’s closet tends to code them best   Observe vegetables We like them green And many times organic Mexico’s closet tends to grow them best   Observe cars We like them fast And many times functional Japan’s closet tends to assemble them best   Observe cuisines We like them continental And many times local France’s closet tends to serve them best   Observe manufactures We like them sundry And many times cheap China’s closet

Soak me In water And I shall rise up Drenched Soak me In books And I shall rise up Knowing Soak me  In poverty And I shall rise up Faithful Soak me In trade And I shall rise up Selling Soak me In nature And I shall rise up Natural Soak me In life And I shall rise up  Living Soak me  In proclamation And I shall rise up Spoken Soak me In visions And I shall rise up Seeing Soak me In truth And I shall rise up  True Soak me In colours And I shall rise up  Framed Soak me In wind And I shall rise up  Soaring Soak me In numbers And I shall rise up Numbered Soak me In dens And I shall rise up Roaring Soak me In friends And I shall rise up Present Soak me  In oceans And I shall rise up Deepening Soak me In mud And I shall rise up Diamond Soak me In bricks And I shall rise up Building Soak me In wombs And I shall rise up  Born Soak me  In setbacks  And I shall rise up Coming back Soak me  In Christ And I shall rise up Christian Soak me In peace And I shall rise up Conquering Soak me In service A

In an economy full of events Some occasional  Others regular Comperes are in demand Do you supply? In a world full of sickness Some occasional Others regular Health is in demand Do you supply? In an economy full of hunger Some occasional Others regular Groceries are in demand Do you supply? In a world full of darkness Some occasional Others regular Light energy is in demand Do you supply? In an economy full of unemployment Some occasional Others regular Employers are in demand Do you supply? In a world full of despair Some occasional  Others regular Hope is in demand Do you supply? In an economy full of bads Some occasional Others regular Goods are in demand Do you supply? In a world full of distractions Some occasional Others regular Focus is in demand Do you supply? In an economy full of speed Some occasional  Others regular Brake pedals are in demand Do you supply? In a world full of prejudice Some occasional Others regular Justice is in demand Do you supply? In an economy full of s

Examinations are regular in a University's academic calender, just as scheduled lectures. While invigilating examinations, one has the opportunity to move round a venue and keep an investigative eye on rows of candidates.  During one of such exercises, I looked over the heads of all the candidates who sat an exam and observed differences in hair styling and presentation. Male candidates wore low haircuts which looked somewhat uniform, however on females, there were a variety of hairstyle presentations with and without hair extensions. While I walked along a aisle during a particular invigilation assignment, I noticed a female candidate who had taken out a wig she had on and placed it on her writing table, thereby revealing unkempt cornrows. With a prompt low-tone reprimand, I made her realise that it was unacceptable to have such an exhibit, other than her writing materials on the examination desk. She could either keep the heated wig on or find a place for it in her bag located in

They may never break  On your headlines They may not make up  Your popular statistic Still they are accounts They may never be Your major inclination They may not qualify  For your minority list Still they are priority They may never sit  On your greedy boards They may not speak up In a remote porch Still they are essence They may never fly In your field They may not glean Sufficient handfuls for home Still they are roots They may never stand On your platform They may not meet up With your mediocre scales Still they are standards They may never showcase Like you presume  They may not straighten up With your lines Still they are lesson curves They may never qualify On luscious streams They may not dress up To follow your blind party  Still they are valuable guests They may never sing With your street bands They may not dance In your club steps Still they are sweet melody They may never lead Your public opinion They may not agree With your hogwash  Still they are checkers They may never

This week I was delighted to sit in, listen and observe, as my work Department played host to one of its brainy alumna, in an academia-industry (otherwise called town-gown interaction) seminar. The first-class graduate of Economics had gone on to carve out a social impact niche in education for children of the poor. While theories seek to explain economic and social behaviour as well as provide some yardsticks for predictability, carefully crafted stories rather seek to appeal to the soul, reason, will and emotions of economic agents. Overall, the  Speaker sought to convince her audience, using case stories, that finding purpose should precede the quest to fill one's purse with ready gains. First-rate graduates who hail from middle-class families, which naturally value education and the pursuit of a steady career path, often find it challenging to convince their investing parents and guardians, that following a silver spoon-to-grassroots pathway to fulfilment is a worthy cause. Sti

Sometimes, I may move into open air spaces, classroom spaces, and street park seats whenever the workspace provided for me becomes unbearable. The openness of a workspace to air may supply fresh stimulants for creative thought and observation. Oftentimes well meaning colleagues, who sight me working out of an open classroom or space, stop to check on me. Why would you leave the comfort of a cosy cubicle to cleave to the exposure and potential disturbance posed by such a busy intersection? Whenever the questioner is patient enough to receive an answer, I simply retort that my office is not conducive. Otherwise, all that a quizzically looking passerby may get is a signature smile. Truth be told, working from a relatively poorly-lit and poorly-ventilated cubicle, with trapped air simply processed by air conditioning units may not be ideal for an idea generator. In addition to recycled air, scents and odours, noise and chatter are trapped in such office spaces. Reacting to the need for utm

It is indeed a pessimistic fact that Africa may have 90% of the world's poor by 2030. However, lessons from history point to an optimistic future. Our colonial masters thought out a system of education that churns out experts and managers for established business systems, political order, and constricted economic structures. Here is our 21st century outcome: a teeming population of entitled 'educated unemployed' people with nothing more than certificates to brandish. Moreover, with Africa's ever growing population and relatively stagnant absorptive and industrial capacity, our rising unemployment and poverty rates should not be surprising.  My stance is that Africa and its development thinkers can forge and institute sustainable systems of re-orientation, critical and creative thought, and balanced education that can release empowered nation-builders and wealth creators.  Africa has all the creative, human, and natural resources it needs to minimise its incidence of pov