Oluyomi Ola-David Insights

There are names That ring a bell But there is a name That makes the difference  There are thoughts That make us think But there is a thought That transforms the mind There are people That come and leave But there is a person That abides still There are words That fizzle with the wind But there is a word That sounds every time There are places That we like to tour But there is a place That is worthy habitat There are trees That yield juicy fruits But there is a tree  That breathes out life There are books That need revision But there is a book That is ever true There are ideas That win the game But there is an idea That creates the stage There are stars That shine at night But there is a star That rules every day There are visions That sound high and lofty But there is a vision That heals scaly eyes There are mountains That we like to conquer But there is a mountain That seeks to conquer us There are kings That reign to live But there is a king Who lives to reign ... Photo credit: Nord

They have been born They ask for help And receive correction I am fully subscribed They have been born They look up And avoid looking around I am fully convinced  They have been born They trust like children And live like harmless serpents I am fully persuaded They have been born  They know they know nothing And learn from anything  I am fully literate They have been born  They inspire others And calm the storms I am fully awake They have been born  They look in the mirror And adjust what they should I am fully aware They have been born  They speak to create And build to last I am fully certain They have been born  They love like rain And hate every evil I am fully watchful  They have been born  They prepare for winter And smell the roses I am fully informed They have been born They are not showy And they are seamless I am fully converted They have been born  They know their talent And they buy just one field I am fully cognizant They have been born  They shine like stars And fear no d

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 

On the stage  They need to convince  On the floor We need convictions On the board They need to prevail In the street We need to travail On the sea They need to swim On the shore We need to coast On the mountain They need to enlighten In the valley We need to spring On the ladder They need to climb On the track We need to trek On the field They need to play On the stands We need to assess On the table They need to plan In the chair We need to discern On the shelves They need to sell On the lanes We need to test On the highway They need to speed On the trail We need to endure On the platform They need to showcase In the bar We need to know On the stove They need to boil On the counter We need to melt On the broadway They need to throng On the lonely path We need to press ... Photo credit: Konga

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

I recently combed the list of top eleven thinkers in development economics. Only an African made the list. Her introductory thought, Dead Aid, was focused on Africa. Now she thinks more on the globe and the West, which is now home to her. I salute the efforts and resilience of Dambisa Moyo in the thinking space. Here is the list I found: 1. Jeffrey D. Sachs 2. Esther Duflo 3. Abhijit Banerjee 4. Amartya Sen 5. Bill Easterly 6. Dambisa Moyo  7. Angus Deaton 8. Joseph Stiglitz 9. Paul Collier 10. Daron Acemoglu 11. James Robinson Frankly, are Africans truly bothered about what bothers Africa? How do we approach our problems: live with them, leave them alone, or  solve them? The space in the thinking skies seems largely underutilised, why? Should the so-called 'rich' be more concerned about the so-called 'poor', than the so-called 'poor' or 'in-betweens' themselves? Who and what does the so-called rich work for while the so-called 'poor' work for ev

Where lies the glory Of blind guides Inglorious is The temple with corrupt gates Where lies the savour  Of tasteless salt Inglorious is The meal with neutral seasoning Where lies the brightness  Of hidden light Inglorious is The lamp with retired flame Where lies the beauty  Of ugly spirit Inglorious is The pretty with empty heart Where lies the victory  Of weary soldiers Inglorious is The battle with little strength  Where lies the wealth Of working poor  Inglorious is The lowly with prideful look Where lies the goodness  Of ill wind Inglorious is The gift with no love Where lies the profit  Of busy ant Inglorious is The winter with meagre store  Where lies the path  Of tactless sea Inglorious is The voyage with sleepy sailor Where lies the future  Of ignorant youth Inglorious is The book with little history Where lies the vision  Of blurry eyes Inglorious is The zeal with little knowledge Where lies the wisdom  Of miry clay Inglorious is The speech with empty words ... Photo credit:

You call them  Employers of labour But I call them Demanders of time You call them Labour force But I call them Time-and-skill suppliers You call them  Parents and caregivers  But I call them  Caretakers and trustees You call them Children But I call them Growing seed You call them Workaholics But I call them Anxious company You call them Lazy But I call them Selective workers You call them  Aged But I called them  Experienced You call them  Young But I call them Energy needing direction You call them Leaders But I call them Thinkers You call them Students But I call them Followers You call them Goods But I call them Products You call them Great But I call them Work-in-progress ... Photo credit: Smartbrief

I am grateful for the gift of true friends. True friendships last throughout a lifetime, through thick and thin, sunshine and rain. Friendships that end never really started. In life's journey, distance may be necessary, but true friends maintain a heart full of goodwill throughout a lifetime. I am always learning to be better at all I am. ... I am grateful for the precious gift of family. Family is the first compulsory school the Governor of life admitted us into. I am grateful for the invaluable tutors appointed for me, who simply and seamlessly live out their lesson notes. I am grateful for my first house mates and co-learners.  In siblings we tend to encounter every kind of character or attitude we may experience later in wider society. I am grateful for the privilege of being loved and catered for without having to earn it.  If I once felt entitled, now I feel more responsible to be family-friendly, even in my outlook, research, and advocacy. I am also grateful for friends who

Now, there are teachers everywhere Speakers in every place And trainers on every hill So, I am always learning Now, there are sages everywhere Guides in every field And stars on every stage So, I am always learning Now, there are shepherds everywhere Wolves in every garment And hunters in every forest  So, I am getting learned Now, there are history lines everywhere Tales on every tongue And trophies in every glass So, I am always learning Now, there are facts everywhere News in every club And ancients words on every table So, I am always learning Now, there are leaders everywhere Sales in every shop And selfish ravens on every lane So, I am getting learned Now, there are animals everywhere Nature in every air And systems in every habitat So, I am always learning Now, there are mountains everywhere  Lilies in every valley And thorns on every rose So, I am always learning Now, there are grasses everywhere Scorpions lying in every sand And snakes on every apple stand So, I am getting lea

It is a progressive path It is a steady walk It is that rough road That leads you there It is a hungry belly It is a thirsty throat It is that longing heart  That leads you there It is a narrow lane It is a lonely street It is that moving wind That leads you there It is a boisterous boat It is a stormy wind It is that wavy stream That leads you there It is a clear nose  It is a sharp sight It is that open ear That leads you there It is a humble mind It is a focused gaze It is that fruitful hand That leads you there It is a bed of thorns It is a swampy grass It is that teary gland That leads you there It is a silent whisper It is a patient shepherd It is that speaking book That leads you there It is a daily clock It is a hourly step It is that second chance That leads you there It is a necessary turn It is a true way It is that uncommon route That leads you there It is a dose of faith It is a capsule of hope It is that surgery of love That leads you there It is a long walk It is a deep

The journey Of a thousand miles Begins with little steps The meal Of a healthy sort Cooks on slow stove The thought Of a great depth Broods for seven rounds The sprinter On a marathon trail Endures through the trek The house Of a stable height Leans on solid rock The wealth Of a thousand generations Shuns fleeting allures of gold The spirit Of an enterprising life Lurks in green pastures The life Of a tiny seed Blooms in deep and dirty soil The sun Of every passing day Rises with its own heat The castle Of a million kings Hangs on sturdy values The star On an expanse of lofty skies Shines best in its own room The eagle  In flight to the mountain top Glides with the seamless wind .... Photo credit: Covenant University, Nigeria