Oluyomi Ola-David Insights

In desires for more They sold heritage In searching beyond nature They fell into traps In hunger for journey They went into exile In eating beyond nature They became slaves In thirst for sweet They loathed water In craving beyond nature They found gravel In pursuit of light  They acquired lies In reading beyond nature They became blind  In race for fame They walked lame In dreaming beyond nature They saw wishes In quest for answers They bore burdens In asking beyond nature They became noise In climbing for fruits They discovered leaves  In pruning beyond nature They harvest weeds In battle for victory  They crowned folly In hunt beyond nature They became deserts In pursuit of plenty They found greed In happiness beyond nature They drowned treasure In digging for life They mounted dust In living beyond nature They became garments In market for praise They bought shame In labour beyond nature They became goods In speaking for rights They grew silent In calling beyond nature They became w

Where there is  Corruption We will need a new Breed without greed Where there is  No dream We will need new Architects without walls Where there is  Mediocrity We will need new Teachers void of ignorance Where there is  Hatred We will need a new Nation without prejudice  Where there is no  Knowledge We will need new Thinkers without masters Where there is  Injustice  We will need new Judges without bias Where there is Error We will need new Speakers without guile Where there is no Safety We will need new Soldiers without interests Where there is Collapse We will need new Engineers without fault Where there is Hunger We will need new Grainfields without boundary Where there is  No vision We will need new Leaders without myopia Where there is Time We will need new Agents without ceasing ... Photo credit: Oluyomi Ola-David

Lockdown enterprise And release her crime Open the air And restore her dignity Lockdown creativity And release her craving Open her womb And restore her posterity Lockdown energy And release her corruption Open her doors And restore her market Lockdown culture And release her falsehood Open the truth And restore her sanity Lockdown price And release her debt Open her stream And restore her progress Lockdown time And release her slavery Open her space And restore her freedom Lockdown ladder And release her anxiety Open the skies And restore her flight Lockdown identity And release her insecurity Open her diversity And restore her unity Lockdown vision And release her chaos Open her eyes And restore her peace Lockdown talent And release her idleness Open the gates And restore her products  Lockdown palace And release her destruction Open her tent And restore her adventure Lockdown speech And release her noise Open her practice And restore her voice ... Photo credit:  BBC

I am rare I am wholesome I am matter I am valued I am worthy of trust I always do mankind good I seek raw material I willingly work I am like a trader I am loaded with offerings I bring from a distance I am loaded, and so are mine I come from a depth I walk on knowledge seas  I rise in busts I shine at night I provide nourishment I am a house holder I provide portions I serve attendants I am a steward I am attended to I consider one field I purchase one field I am profit-in-person I don't seek what I already am I plant My fruits are life-giving I gird myself I am surrounded with strength I strengthen my arms I know my tools I am perceptive My offerings are good I am full of fuel I am empty of pride My energy is secure, clean, sustainable, and renewable. I stretch I am global I locally hold I handle with skill I extend and expand I reach out I know my audience I love my territory I guard my air I am clothed I am settled and so are mine I am fearless I am sorted and so are mine. I ha

This is how I love I supplicate and celebrate And I think good of you That's just my way This is how I live I give you room And just cheer you on That's just my way This is how I care I look forward to share And keep you satisfied That's just my way This is how I love I leave you alone And trust God to be near That's just my way This is how I teach I show you the way And hope you take the hint That's just my way This is how I help I reveal your ignorance And light up your mind That's just my way This is how I love I accept your humanity And display my divinity That's just my way This is how I travel I go on my narrow lane  And learn from other tracks That's just my way This is how I greet I speak peace to you And hope you are peaceful That's just my way This is how I love I accept my strengths And pray poverty away That's just my way This is how I party I create my own fun And pop my corn on the stove That's just my way  This is how I change 

As I think through this Yoruba proverb 'olówó ĺó lòwò', I am humbled at how three words have sufficient substance to make a thousand speeches and fill a million lines. This proverb literally means "it is the rich that owns the trade", whatever trade that is. Can we cross-examine the verity of this simply stated fact? Which countries dominate global trade? See the figure on world trade statistics, facts speak for themselves. Doesn't the rich control the time of the poor. Every human is endowed with a 24-hour day. Nevertheless, the rich tend to wield adequate economic power required to buy up more hours to their productive advantage. Many poor people can only sell their time to survive.  Isn't it the rich that can create enough time to think, strategise, and flood our bookshelves? Who are those sane enough to want read whatever the poor may have to say, because they know it is instructive? The rich own large estates and living spaces that the working poor dream

This week, while looking through shelves to pick out some pre-searched books in development economics and macroeconomics from a University Library, I came by a title on the role of religious organisations in African development. At that instant, I was reminded that I had once thought out the inevitable role of piety in the development of religious Africa. In order to design appropriate and effective interventions for Africa, it is necessary to study the culture and structure of the average African personality. In recent history, economic agents, who seek to take advantage of the fearful, insecure and superstitious African, have been observed to design appropriate media messages, methods, and materials that perpetrate their trade. Using fundamental brainwashing tactics, religious extremists reck a lot of havoc on the minds and perspectives of adherents. The monumental damages to human lives and infrastructure, engineered by such religious devotees can be observed throughout Africa. Furt