A good percentage of mature and successful men have two kinds of women in their lives: the wife and the whore. The wife may remain constant but the whore varies. They gain pleasant time and pleasurable memories from the whore but the wife remains the pain bearing and frustrated possessive being.
-Gbemi Orims.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Virtues versus Dreams
All you need is determination to achieve your dreams.
Calm down, you will surely get to where you are going if you are well determined.
Never trade your virtues for your dreams. They are more important than your dreams. Never let your dreams steal your virtues from you, because your virtues buy you intergrity always.
In case you have not defined what virtues are to you; suspend everything you are doing now and define virtue.
A good name is better than gold and precious than diamonds. Suna yafi kudi...
Gbemi Orims.
Calm down, you will surely get to where you are going if you are well determined.
Never trade your virtues for your dreams. They are more important than your dreams. Never let your dreams steal your virtues from you, because your virtues buy you intergrity always.
In case you have not defined what virtues are to you; suspend everything you are doing now and define virtue.
A good name is better than gold and precious than diamonds. Suna yafi kudi...
Gbemi Orims.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Literature
Literature is the representation of life in words with truth and beauty.
Literature is characterized by its artistic, suggestive and permanent nature.
Literature is very important because of its preservative flavor.
Behind a book, there is a man, behind the man, there is a race, behind the race, there is an environment. Literature marries all these together.
History is good but literature is better. History tells of the deeds while Literature says the dream behind the deeds. This means that Literature makes History meaningful.
Literature could have its essence in giving pleasure or for analytical purposes. Literature is great!
Literature is characterized by its artistic, suggestive and permanent nature.
Literature is very important because of its preservative flavor.
Behind a book, there is a man, behind the man, there is a race, behind the race, there is an environment. Literature marries all these together.
History is good but literature is better. History tells of the deeds while Literature says the dream behind the deeds. This means that Literature makes History meaningful.
Literature could have its essence in giving pleasure or for analytical purposes. Literature is great!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Personal Hygiene
Cleanliness is next to godliness. For both male and female, personal hygiene is very important. Especially for people in love relationships, when you share your body with someone else, endeavor to keep clean always.
Keeping clean takes a conscious effort from individuals. A lazy man or woman cannot be clean. Cleanliness requires hardwork. It is good for both men and women to change their clothes and under-wears daily because they would have sweat on it by the time they wear it once. Everyone feels good when they put on a clean and well ironed cloth. It makes you feel good and smell nice.
For a lady, you don't need to have all the money in the world to be clean. If you can afford to buy 7pants and 7bras, then you can wear a bra and pant per day. Also, if you have few cloths to change you can wear your cloth just once and wash.
The bedroom should be well kept. Your room should look appealing at all times. The entire house must be clean. The bedroom will be attractive with well laid bed spreads, clean floor,and tidy surroundings.
Do not keep too much properties. If you live in a small apartment, just get the necessary things for survival and maintain a spacious, airy and clean environment. Empty the waste baskets daily, ensure the sink is free of plates at all times, and sweep after every activity in the kitchen. Ensure you change your plates, cutlery and cups regularly, this will make eating exciting, and your family members will always expect new things from you, thereby, making your home interesting.
The toilet and bathroom should be kept clean as well. Use air-freshener in the rooms to ensure the air is not stale at any time. Everybody feels good when they are in a neat environment.
Sex keeps a marital relationship. Cleanliness will enhance your sexual life. Good body fragrance aids sexual excitement. Well laid bed spread makes the bed appealing and the body relaxed for sexual activity. Your under garment should be appealing and neat. It is common among ladies to wash their face at every opportunity they have, but they care less about washing their private part which is equally important.
Equally important is a woman's attitude. A positive attitude will go a long way in helping a woman keep relationships. In keeping a man for long, a good attitude will help you. Even if you are not so hot in giving sex, a positive attitude will help you get better, and it will make your man find a helpmate, soul-mate, mind-mate and play-mate in you. A positive attitude makes you know the love language of your man. If a woman seeks to know what she can offer a man to make him better, why bother over the fear of disappointments?
Cheers!
Keeping clean takes a conscious effort from individuals. A lazy man or woman cannot be clean. Cleanliness requires hardwork. It is good for both men and women to change their clothes and under-wears daily because they would have sweat on it by the time they wear it once. Everyone feels good when they put on a clean and well ironed cloth. It makes you feel good and smell nice.
For a lady, you don't need to have all the money in the world to be clean. If you can afford to buy 7pants and 7bras, then you can wear a bra and pant per day. Also, if you have few cloths to change you can wear your cloth just once and wash.
The bedroom should be well kept. Your room should look appealing at all times. The entire house must be clean. The bedroom will be attractive with well laid bed spreads, clean floor,and tidy surroundings.
Do not keep too much properties. If you live in a small apartment, just get the necessary things for survival and maintain a spacious, airy and clean environment. Empty the waste baskets daily, ensure the sink is free of plates at all times, and sweep after every activity in the kitchen. Ensure you change your plates, cutlery and cups regularly, this will make eating exciting, and your family members will always expect new things from you, thereby, making your home interesting.
The toilet and bathroom should be kept clean as well. Use air-freshener in the rooms to ensure the air is not stale at any time. Everybody feels good when they are in a neat environment.
Sex keeps a marital relationship. Cleanliness will enhance your sexual life. Good body fragrance aids sexual excitement. Well laid bed spread makes the bed appealing and the body relaxed for sexual activity. Your under garment should be appealing and neat. It is common among ladies to wash their face at every opportunity they have, but they care less about washing their private part which is equally important.
Equally important is a woman's attitude. A positive attitude will go a long way in helping a woman keep relationships. In keeping a man for long, a good attitude will help you. Even if you are not so hot in giving sex, a positive attitude will help you get better, and it will make your man find a helpmate, soul-mate, mind-mate and play-mate in you. A positive attitude makes you know the love language of your man. If a woman seeks to know what she can offer a man to make him better, why bother over the fear of disappointments?
Cheers!
Friday, November 19, 2010
There is Wisdom in the Sand Pile of the Kindergarten Days
There is Wisdom in the Sand Pile of the Kindergarten Days.
The kindergarten is a children’s place which serves as a transition from home to the commencement of formal education. Depending on the local custom, children attend kindergarten between the ages of 2 and 7 which are the formative years.
Life time virtues are taught in the kindergarten in a playful way to children whose hearts are open to acquiring knowledge. There is wisdom in the sand pile at the kindergarten. Indeed, all we really need to know in life about how to live, and what to do are the key lessons of the kindergarten.
I remember my kindergarten days, we were taught to share with one another, play fair, not to take what is not ours, to say sorry when we hurt others, do one thing at a time, wash our hands before and after eating, take a nap every afternoon amongst other things.
More so, the kindergarten is the period where a child is in his or her natural state, that is, very innocent; the child care less about what people think about him or her. Instead, a child is inquisitive and pays attention to details. There is no burden, no cause for alarm, no undue haste, no holding of grudges. The heart of a child is open to friendship, he or she cries immediately when hurt to let out emotions and when petted, he or she forgives and forgets. One will always see that innocent smile on a child. This is the salient period for every child; the best time for picking good habits and learning participation.
Every child needs a good coach at this period of their life. The coach could be a neighbour, uncle, aunt, brother, sister, father, mother, or a teacher. The coach should have a strong value system and the interest of the child at heart. A coach is meant to guide the child through life. He or she is meant to be there for the child at all times. The words of a coach should always linger in the mind of a child at every critical moment.
As we grow out of the kindergarten, life challenges may hold us so tight and steal all the kindergarten values from us if not careful, but an active coach will give his or her seasonal guide that will bring us back on track. The kindergarten lessons enable us to live in love and be at our best at all times. When we do things that we are passionate about, we give it our all; not minding who is watching. When we lost a loved one, we cry passionately like a baby. When we have wonderful surprises, we get remarkably excited. All these experiences can be compared to the kindergarten days of openness and innocence. I can imagine the detailed manner in which a child prays with all innocence at meal time.
Patience and creativity are part of the virtues taught at the kindergarten. I have the story of a man, who was so much in a hurry, he ran and fell. He got injured and realized that he could have been a little more patient with himself. He was delayed than he would have been if he was careful and patient. Creatively, one could see an unpalatable situation in a positive light. Patience warned him, some people at that point will grab the lesson while some other people will wait for a harder experience to learn from. Patience is a virtue learned at the kindergarten. Children are taught to take their time in all exercises. What requires more patience than having fun by making a sand pile?
The kindergarten is a period when we know all unknowingly. Only if we know that we know all, there will be an availability of the internal motivation that guides to the sweet end of self actualization. The wisdom in the sand pile is making meaning out of what is supposedly meaningless, having a fresh breathe in creativity and appreciating God’s works. It is a subtle kindergarten experience!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Lemonade Relief
The lack of chairs for students to sit on in our primary and secondary schools is not an excuse for lack of vision or poor performance. It is true that, what we see in schools these days are: uncompleted buildings, rooms without asbestos, no sufficient tables, students sitting on windows and the floor, students many times walk about aimlessly around due to an overcrowded classroom. Teachers that are not motivated because they feel they are not well paid. Things just seem not to be in place. Then I thought of the ‘Lemonade Relief’.
Once upon a time, I felt like drinking an Orange juice but all I had around me was lemon not even an Orange. I felt terrible because of my great thirst for an orange juice. Blessed are the great thinkers. If you can think, you will conquer your world. I started playing around the lemon till I got to the critical point where I realized I can make lemonade from those lemons. What a relief!
This I will say of most of the challenging situation in which we find ourselves, there is always a way out only if we can think and implement. I asked my students why they have a dirty environment. There response was that nothing is beautiful about their classrooms. These students can tap into the lemonade relief by ensuring their old and unattractive classrooms are clean at all times, creating a conducive environment for themselves, which is actually a thing of the mind. If government cannot provide a whiteboard, they should make the most of the chalkboard they have by darkening the board, to help not only their teachers in writing smoothly but to see clearly without straining their eyes.
The MDGs goal two, ‘Universal Basic Education’, where are we? The aim is that by 2015, every child on the street should be in school and that every individual that exist should at least have a minimum of a primary school leaving certificate. In my own view, we are getting there. There is a great probability that Nigeria can achieve the goal of universal basic education. The awareness is massive, there are schools everywhere, even if the quality is not what is expected, we should always remember the ‘Lemonade Relief’. There are Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and churches that offer education aid especially at the primary school level. Youths of different qualification and expertise have come together to assist teachers in teachers in teaching and improving the quality of education given at the primary school level. I know of the covenant education aid here in Lagos whereby education experts are gathered with the sole aim of teaching the pupils in the primary school how to read and write effectively which is key. The foundation on reading matters and this will go a long way with their academics even in the tertiary institution.
Though we still have a low percentage of ignorant parents, who deny their children to enjoy the free education or subsidized education. As the awareness continues, their percentage reduces. There is that understanding that poverty can deprive a child of attaining education, while education is a means of eliminating or alleviating poverty. The will should be there on the part of the parents to encourage their children to school and stand by them through school. People complain they do not get quality education from the government. The lemonade Relief will enable us change the mentality and make do with what we have.
Universal basic education will go a long way to help I achieving other goals of the MDGs aimed at solving the economics problems especially in the third world countries. Education will help alleviate poverty. Education brings about confidence and good thinking ability resulting in creative ideas. Good ideas rule the world. Education will make any system work. Knowledgeable leaders in government, community, home, etc. will encourage the education of the younger generation because they know the value. Also, education brings about gender equality. It brings out the best in women and confidence to say no to suppression. Good education enables the men folk to understand the essence and know the worth of a woman.
More so, education makes the health system function well. Education leads to having well experienced doctors and other health workers who can adequately give medical advice. Thereby reducing infant mortality and cases of mismanagement in the labour ward will be at its minimum. In fact, when there are qualified hands , people will have the confidence to go to hospitals and health centers without fear of having the wrong prescription or an expired injection. Education brings about improved maternal health. Pregnant women will know the need for ante-natal and post-natal care.
Education is simply invaluable. Sex education in school has reduced the rate of teenage pregnancy. Teenage girls are more focused and their male counterparts can now see the big picture and work towards having an excellent future. HIV, AIDS, Malaria,etc. campaign is vibrant. People are no more ignorant. Superstitions are disappearing and people are gradually coming to the reality that malaria kills infants and adults, the superstition of ‘still born’ or ‘Abiku’ is dying. ‘Going and coming of the Abiku’ is no more the slogan but ‘Use treated mosquito net to combat malaria’, ‘Zip up’, ‘Sex is worth waiting for’,etc. The need for immunization to fight against the killer diseases is emphasized; genotype and blood group awareness is vibrant. Education is doing wonders in making this world a better place.
In conclusion, education is the best legacy that can be passed on to generations born and unborn. Quality education will solve the world problems. The lemonade relief will make education work, no matter how insufficient the resources may appear. We can always make the best of every challenging situation. Quality education can only be achieved when all hands are on deck. While the government is doing her part, the students are not left out in maximizing every opportunity that they have. The parents/guardian must contribute their own quota to make it work. Only if we can go the extra mile, if teachers can work like it is their calling, teaching with all the passion, only if students will count education as a great privilege, if everyone will see the fulfillment/success which is the end product of chastisement or challenges, if only people know that there is no shame in tears, if everyone can see the satisfaction that comes with hard-earned money, if everyone will admit there mistake and consider constructive criticism, then education will work for us as a nation. We will cease to have educated fellows that display barbaric style of life. The lemonade relief will make education work more than we can imagine.
ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF NIGERIA (AMCON): THE GENESIS AND PROSPECTS
Abstract
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria signed to law the incorporation of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) on the 19th of July 2010, with the hope that it will bring about the revival of the banking sector, increase employment, promote higher output and enhance a rapid economic recovery. This paper studies the genesis of this new development, the expectations, the funding model and the prospects.
The Genesis
The idea of having a state owned Asset Management Company in Nigeria was first raised by the immediate past CBN governor, Professor Charles Soludo in 2004 as part of his 13-point reform agenda of the banking sector during his tenure as the CBN governor. It was an idea that was not brought too reality.
The global economic recession that came to the forefront of business and media world in September, 2008 has its impact on the Nigerian economy. This recession led to a collapse in the prices of commodities and securities, as the price of crude oil, which is the major source of government revenue dropped from $147 per barrel to $35 per barrel within 120days. There was a decline in the prices of equities, and an exposure of the mismanagement in the banking sector. There was the unraveling of the weak risk management structure and a weak corporate governance in the banking industry at the period. As a result of growth in equities before the decline, banks gave out margin loans and other loans collaterized with shares and some loans issued without collateral based on personal interest without anticipating the steep decline that occurred. The illiquidity of this shares constrained borrowers from meeting up with their obligation.
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,a risk management and control expert was appointed the CBN governor by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua in June 2009, which was in the middle of the crunch. Sanusi had a strict bank examination, came up with the banking sector reforms in August 2009, which led to the further exposure of the weak corporate governance and inadequate risk management measures in the banking industry. Eight banks were affected while six bank managing directors parted with their jobs and N620 billion was injected into the system to recapitalize these banks and avoid a close down. The CBN governor adopted the following measures as part of his bail out reform to ensure a better and trust banking system in Nigeria:
· A common financial year end
· Prudential guidelines
· Fixed tenure of CEOs and Directors
· Setting up the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria(AMCON)
· And good rules on governance, transparency and accountability.
A proposal for the AMCON was made and at the last MPC meeting held on the 5th of July, 2010, the governor of CBN hoped that the harmonized AMCON would be passed to law and kick off sometimes in September as a tool to the perfection of the reforms that was embarked upon to promote stability in the industry and enhance a rapid economic recovery. The president signed the bill to law earlier than anticipated, meaning that the door to the final phase of the banking sector reforms has been opened. The banking sector awaits a credible monetary regime with this positive step.
The Expectations
The signing to law of AMCON is a reflection of the Federal government’s commitment in safeguarding the interest of depositors, creditors and other operators in the financial system. The sole aim of AMCON is to ensure stability in the financial sector and enhance economic recovery.
The route to the attainment of this objective is in the expectation placed on AMCON to boost the liquidity in the troubled banks by buying their non-performing loans, help in the recapitalization of the affected banks that CBN has embarked upon and increase access to of restructuring opportunities to borrowers.
AMCON is expected to ease the liquidity crunch in the financial sector, clean up the banks’ balance sheet, bring confidence to the banking industry and the capital market, prevent loss of jobs in the banking industry, increase Nigeria’s credit and risk rating, higher economic output, increase in demand for shares and appreciation of market indices, encourage lending to grow the real sector of the economy and enhance job creation.
The Funding Model
The reality of AMCON is a joint effort of the ministry of finance, CBN, SEC, NDIC, NSE and the Ministry of Justice. The CBN and the ministry of finance are to raise the authorized capital of N10billion for the start up on a 50:50 or an equal ratio. The next step as proclaimed by the minister of finance is to appoint the management team.
Also, the banks are to contribute 0.3% of their balance sheet worth into the sinking fund to support course of AMCON, starting from 31st December, 2010. This was agreed at the just concluded bankers’ committee meeting held on the 21st of July, 2010 and it is to run for the next 10years. The fund will be invested in a zero coupon and serve as a standby pool to make up for any funding shortfall from the model CBN has put in place for the corporation. The step taken by the banks will reduce the fiscal burden the corporation may impose on the government.
Nigerian Deposit Insurance Company (NDIC) will also contribute to the funding from its dividend. NDIC is considering the reduction of the premium every bank pays yearly which is about 1% of the value of its deposit as an insurance premium to the corporation.
The corporation is expecting N500billion from CBN to be paid in tranches for the next 10years, 0.3% of banks’ balance sheet worth which may amount to N1trillion at the end of the 10years AMCON is to run for and a substantial amount from NDIC. This reveals that AMCON is expecting over N1.5trillion to secure a risk free banking system in Nigeria.
The Prospects
The setting up of a state owned asset management corporation is an ideal way to tackle credit crisis in the financial system of any economy. Managing bad asset is a central activity in the financial sector restructuring. CBN, NDIC, SEC which are the regulators believe having an AMCON will solve the problem of Non Performing Loans (NPL) and create a risk free banking system. The government unanimously signed the harmonized bill to law while the banks believe in AMCON to be the messiah; this led to the banks bearing of the major capital share of AMCON.
The government of the East Asian countries adopted the idea of a state owned asset management company during the financial crisis in their region in the late 1990s and it worked out well in attaining economic stability, the AMC bought the banks’ Non Performing Loans and led the economy of these nations to what we have today as emerging economies. We had in Czech republic, Central Asset Management Company (Konsolidation bank); in France, Consortium de Realisation(CDR); in Indonesia, Indonesian Restructuring Agency; Thailand, Thailand Asset Management Company(TAMC); and Korea Asset Management(KAMCO).
Factors that will Enhance the Success of a State Owned Asset Management Corporation
· A strong political will
· An explicit government financial support
· An effective legal backing: A good legal regime with bankruptcy and foreclosure laws will aid quick attainment of purpose
· Clear AMC mandate: The objectives and mode of operation must be well stated.
· A well defined life span: the tenure of an AMC must not be too long
· Adequate governance: An AMC must have a good internal control system with an external body supervising its actions
· Good transparency: An AMC must periodically disclose the result of its operations and audit performance.
· Speedy resolution: An AMC should not hold on to acquired asset for so long. Waiting for an economic turnaround to increase recovery often leads to slower resolution and larger losses.
Conclusion
The setting up of an Asset management corporation of Nigeria is a welcomed development aimed at buying the banks’ Non Performing Loans(NPL) and ensure stability in the financial sector.
If the AMCON will be managed by people that are accountable and committed to the objectives following the acceptable guidelines for setting up and operating a state owned Asset Management Company, then a progress in economic activities will be attained. Analysts are of the view that AMCON will provide a basis for a meaningful mergers and acquisition talks and eventual reconciliation of the banking sector as we proceed into the third quarter of the year.
References
Ben Fung et al (2004), Occasional Paper No3, ‘Public Asset Management Company in East Asia.’
Dominic Salvatore,(2001) ‘The Financial Crisis : Causes, Effects, Policies, Reforms, and Invesment Strategies’
http://www.leadershipnigeria.org/: ‘One Year of Banking Reforms: sanusi’s milestone, Achievements, and Challenges.’
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