Oluyomi Ola-David Insights

Resource is surplus Then, some may be idle Others may be useful Few may be relevant  Resource is scarce Then, some may be saved Others may be welcome None may be idle Door is open Then, some may be entering Others may be leaving Few may be resident Door is shut Then, some may be knocking Others may be yelling Few may be waiting Mountain is high Then, some may be ascending Others may be descending Few may be mid air Mountain is low Then, some may be running Others may be strolling Few may be crawling Ocean is deep Then, fish may be monstrous Others may be golden Few may be medium River is shallow Then, fish may be tiny Others may be little Few may be large First is predetermined  Then, some may go second  Others may go in between Few may be last First is uncertain  Then, some may seek preeminence Others may be optional Few may be out of place Now is focus Then, some may be used Others may be dumped Few may be idle Future is focus Then, some may be sown Others may be raised Few may be se

Ever baked in a cold oven? Ever found a simple pride? Ever heard a busy ant? Ever held a hot drop of rain? Ever seen a gentle wind? Ever beaten a listening heart?  Ever greeted a doormat? Ever traced the ocean's path? Ever mended a broken glass?  Ever bought a beggar's cloak? Ever read an empty book? Ever walked a lonely street?

Why do those with idle resources stir needless conflict? Why waste human resources that could be useful for global development? Why seek more territory when you really need less? Why disturb the airwaves just to assert superior might? Why act against the ideals of UN Charter? War always sets back the clock of development. Crisis troubles the business climate. Insecurity damages social trust. Invasion endangers human lives. Dialogue is the choice of wise agitation. Peace can heal the wounds. Global citizens build partnerships.  Those who are truly rich take pity on the poor. The goal of diplomacy is mutual understanding.  The history of conflict teaches a struggle for control. Climate-friendly and peace-loving conversations may be cheap but can save lives. Those who are truly strong protect the weak. Let us build back better with a balance of power. In diversity we can unite for peace and progress. #Russianinvasion #Ukraine #ceasefire  #savethepeace  #buildpartnerships  #savetheplanet 

Once I was starring alone Then I got matched Now I am fixing the puzzle And taking hope orders Once I was driving Then I got fired Now I am enduring behind wheels And hailing the windy wings Once I was schooled Then I got one certificate Now I am learning And living the creed Once I worked for self Then I got hired Now I am routing for us And choosing sovereign will Once I was important  Then I got a mission Now I am a royal soldier And grace daily occasion Once I sought friends Then I got lost  Now I am building on rock And managing a guest list Once I was exhausted Then I got good wine Now I am energy in motion And lighting up streets Once I could read Then I became a subject Now I am keeping the gate  And thinking through every entry Once I was crippled Then I got healed Now I am walking And minding my lane Once I was a teacher Then I got a case study Now I am a student And sift through every answer Once I took a theatre seat Then I got displaced Now I am standing And doing only the

When we tag a price We seek value When it is free as air We seek volume When we mystify things We seek significance When it is simplified We seek understanding When we race through lanes We seek rewards When it is slow and steady We seek sustainability When we reel the proofs We seek recognition When it is utterly truth and reason We seek depth When we grace the stage We seek a crowd When it is enclosed  closet  We seek supreme approval When we blow the trumpet We seek an applause When it is covered up We seek love When we rely on strength  We seek vain glory When it is never by power We seek heavenly grace When we dance with a crowd We seek human approval When it is a different song We seek sovereign seal When we settle on sea shore We seek comfort  When it is a voyage on deep sea We seek worthwhile adventures When we speak in blocked ears We seek folly's crown  When it is all action and not words We seek ready pupils When we drink from polluted waters We seek a disease When it is

Poverty is a robber Stealing treasures of time And sinking gold in oceans deep Wealth is a dreamer Sleeping out the day And thinking through the night Patience is a sickler Attending regular examinations  And grateful for the nurses Hurry is a depressed bug Stinging every passerby And keeping up with joneses  Folly is a shoddy builder Founding towers on sand And ķilling unsuspecting allies Wisdom is a traveller Packed with all little essentials And following through ancient paths Sloth is a boastful buyer Despising the good price And choosing the bad ones Diligence is a steady sun Lighting the open day And returning for evening rest Revenge is a dark alley Accommodating wild and crazy beasts Digging pits that drown themselves Mercy is a beggar Pleading only for token kindness And giving bottomless smiles Falsehood is a windstorm Sinking weak ship sterns And wasting precious lives Truth is a loaf Feeding many hungry poor  And opening blind eyes ... Photo credit: Oluyomi Ola-David

As I reminisce on the brain drain Nigeria has suffered during the last five years, I am reminded of the  ancient Yoruba proverb that says "ewúré ilé k'òmo iyì ode, ajogún èwù k'òmo iyì agbádá nla".  The proverb literally means that the household-owned goat does not appreciate the kindness of the hunter and the one who inherited an expensive festival cloak on a platter does not appreciate its worth. Its English alternative would be: familiarity breeds contempt. A nation's stock of human resources is its most valuable capital, not necessarily its mineral resources. From resource curse arguments, we can observe how abundance of natural and mineral resources may translate to little or no economic development whenever underlying institutional frameworks are growth-inhibiting. This can be clearly seen in the dilapidated economies of resource-rich countries that pay limited attention to human capital development and living standards improvement.  While natural resources

Decoupling rapid growth in goods from increasing environmental bads is the current challenge of development managers. A stream of innovation that can reduce the resource-intensity of production activity in all economic units is imperative.  Strategic thinking and thought leadership moves beyond SWOT analysis. It processes the conversion of threats into opportunities and weaknesses into unique selling points. #innovation #leadership #strategy #finance #transformation #Policy #planet #economy #peace #Sustainability ... Photo credit:  Oluyomi Ola-David 

The simple fact that we pick up our mother tongue effortlessly signals the importance of secure motherhood in the construction of our identity. With #family-friendly policies, we can empower mothers to build social cohesion and mentally #healthy communities.  #MotherLanguageDay Photo credit: Oluyomi Ola-David

Justice is the umpire of peace Impunity nurtures violence Mercy is the school of nature Unity can rally our strength Freedom is accountable! Yes it is! ... Pause and calmly think about that!  #Peace #Justice #Sharedprosperity #SDGs #WorldDayOfSocialJustice #unity #planet #people  Photo credit: Oluyomi Ola-David 

Nature is just Let us all eat a humble pie Be still and learn from nature Nature is a silent instructor #Education #SocialJusticeDay #WorldDayOfSocialJustice #Nature #Gender #SDG5 #SDGs  Photo credit: Oluyomi Ola-David 

Destiny calls can be: ✔️ Slow; ✔️ Steady; ✔️ Sure; ✔️ Urgent and; ✔️ Critical Here is a toast to social justice! Frankly speaking, only the rich can work for social justice. 

When the climate is changing We should learn to adapt When the climate is warm We should be more circular Let us go circular together. Yes, we can. #Climatechange #Climateaction #Businessclimate #SDG13 #Savetheplanet #Compact #Sustainability #Partnerships #SDGs #circulareconomy  ... Photo Credit: Oluyomi Ola-David

Truth divides. With chances come preferences. With preferences come choices. With choices come consequences. A thorough cost-benefit analysis is always useful in economic decision-making. Think responsibly. #choice #EducationForAll #Truth #Education #Religion #mentalhealth

In a #COVID19 recovery era, we can digitise and prioritise #safety, efficiency and #inclusion in our electoral process. Yes we should, and we can. Historically, home-bound caregivers form part of the most disenfranchised categories during general elections.  Remote voting facilitated by mobile telephony techologies can aid #inclusion in voting outcomes. Let us #LeaveNoOneBehind. #Votetech #2023Elections #fintech #Finance  Safevoting #Inclusivevoting #Remotevoting #SocialDistancing  #Efficiency #LeaveNoOneBehind #Nigeria #Votefromhome #Digitaleconomy

Only completely free basic #education can be made compulsory. When there are still price tags to the end users, then the target of universal basic education may continue to elude us. Child labour can only be effectively stalled when the #poor is free to #school and thrive.

A steady stream of wholesome #voices advocating #partnerships and #capacity building, #peace and #security, #inclusion and shared prosperity and urgent #climateaction is good for #sustainable development and #SDGs. #WorldRadioDay #ClimateActionNow #Savetheplanet  #Circulareconomy

When the climate is tough We should build #resilience When the climate is friendly We should mind the boundaries ... Pause & calmly think about that #SDGs #circulareconomy Photo credit: Oluyomi Ola-David 

The world we occupy is vast and fascinating. The paths we walk are framed and mostly mapped. The questions we ask have detours and answers. The future we need is possible and discoverable. Ideas and words that matter are borne through human bodies. Complementary actions of all human actors, male and female, can unravel the unknowns and tame our collective wild for the good of the planet. United as one, male and female, we can study nature and its silent language. Together as one, we can #save the planet. #WomeninScienceDay #International Day of Women and Girls in Science #savetheplanet Photo credit: Oluyomi Ola-David

The #income and wealth gap between rich and poor people in the global #economy may likely grow wider, if the thought flow of the poor does not shift from blame games to solutions thinking. If there are many problems, then there are opportunities to create many viable #solutions.  In problems lay opportunities, in solutions ĺay rewards. ... Photo credit: Oluyomi Ola-David 

History teaches many lessons Only the meek can seep them all in Physical slavery may be time-bound Mental slavery is timeless Knowlegdge can pacify Only truth that is deeply seated can save #Blackhistorymonth2022 #slavery #mentalhealth #knowledge 

Timing is strategic, so are wise #decisions. The eagle soaring high Must know when to roost The workhorse galloping tirelessly Must know back-to-barn time The orator of many speeches Must know when to keep mute Pause and calmly #think about that! #Timeless #Politics #Strategy Photo credit: Oluyomi Ola-David

The world we occupy is vast and fascinating. Paths we walk are framed and mostly mapped. Many questions we ask have detours and answers. The future we need is possible and discoverable. Ideas and words that matter are borne through #human bodies. #financialinclusion #SDGs Photo credit: Oluyomi Ola-David 

#Resilience is needed in every #climate In peace we brace up for #conflict In conflict we warm up for #peace In #health we prepare for wealth In wealth we protect the weak Let us prioritise resilience in our domestic and global #environment.  Yes we can. ... #SDGs #Governance 

Falsehood sinks the arrogant Truth saves the humble Hatred spares its child Discipline embraces his soul  Arrogance Is always right Change Can see through a mirror Speed Is always reckless Process Can wait through every check  Mercy on a mission Is never in a hurry Profit on a cliff Can slip through the cracks Pride may speak but is deaf It is always blind Selfless in the woods Is better than palace-greedy ... Photo credit: Oluyomi Ola-David 

Valentine's Day is just another peak business, sales, and shopping season after yuletide. It is an occasion for peddlers in goods, gifts, and allied services to claim they have got your back.  The season may rapidly sell cakes and chocolate bars, candies and wines, teddy bears and red roses, rings and clothes, dinner tables and games, cinema tickets and music shows, tours and rooms, popcorn and ice-cream, baskets and fruits, scented candles and blue lights, lies and half-truths.  Just about anything that appeals to consumers' rational appetite for more and the childish section of the human brain may sell during Valentine. In the run up to Valentine's Day, comedy skits and newspaper cartoons may showcase a stingy or broke 'lover' who chooses Valentine as an opportune time to pick a serious and nagging fight, in a ploy to save on or avoid the tax of gift buying. Against such backgrounds, popular appeal to keep up with the joneses may prompt individuals to plan and pos

They are enslaved And you want them to think They are bees Yet you want them to soothe They are blind And you want them to see They are poor Yet you want them to buy  They are lame Yet you want them to run They are weak And you want them to win They are wounded And you want them to smile They are hunters Yet you want them to tend They are dumb And you want them to speak They are soldiers Yet you want them to live They are stamps And you want them to move They are grass Yet you want them to bud They are caged And you want them to fly They are ignorant  Yet you want them to know They are young And you want them to stay They are old Yet you want them to go They are rich And you want them to serve They are rods Yet you want them to walk They are worried And you want them to listen They are full Yet you want them to eat They are ponds And you want them to flow They are fruits Yet you want them to yield They are dark And you want them to shine They are tools Yet you want them to rule ... Pho

They built to last Now we want a copy So we build to show Now they want to fail They sang to teach Now we want a copy So we sing to sell Now they want to buy They crawled to move Now we want a copy So we live to run Now they want to fly They ate to work Now we want a copy So we work to eat Now they want to play They dreamt to see Now we want a copy So we gaze to see Now they want to jump They swam to fish Now we want a copy So we fish to swim Now they want to float They had to dress Now we want a copy So we dress to have Now they want to open They thought to live Now we want a copy So we live to read Now they want to watch They stood to fight Now we want a copy So we fight to stand Now they want to surrender They sold to learn Now we want a copy So we learn to trade Now they want to coach They sat to talk Now we want a copy So we talk to lounge Now they want to bolt They married to love Now we want a copy So we love to marry Now they want to separate  ... Photo credit: Oluyomi Ola-Davi

Formed in the womb Born in a home Raised in the stead Seen on the streets First in a flash Next in a thought Then in the word Seen on the stage Waiting by the shore Then in a stream Set in the deep Seen on the sail Formed in the jungle Training in a wild Now in the race Seen on the tracks Once in the fruit Placed in a field Growing in the ground Seen in the forest Lost in the valley Lilies in a garden Blooming in the secret Seen in the palace Formed in the mud Casting in a coin Lifting in the wounded Seen in the clean slate Sorry in the minute Up in a moment Fighting in the box Seen on the victor's lane Once in the story Subject in a matter Trusting in the truth Seen on the shelf Formed in the wind Blowing dust in a pan Soaring in the air Seen on the mountain Tried in the oven Burning in a fan Sifting chaff in the tray Seen on the throne  Living in the day Wailing in a night Sleeping in the storm Seen on the road ... Photo credit: Oluyomi Ola-David