The very hardest part of economic development is getting the first foothold on the ladder. Household and countries at the very bottom of the world's income distribution, in extreme poverty, tend to be stuck. Countries already on the ladder of development, such as Bangladesh and India, are generally making progress,even if it is uneven and sometimes painfully slow. Our generation's challenge is to help the poorest of the poor to escape the misery of extreme poverty so that they may begin their own ascent up the ladder of economic development. The end of poverty, in this sense, is not only the end of extreme suffering but also the beginning of economic progress and of the hope and security that accompany economic development.

OUR GENERATION's CHALLENGE

The very hardest part of economic development is getting the first foothold on the ladder. Household and countries at the very bottom of the world's income distribution, in extreme poverty, tend to be stuck. Countries already on the ladder of development, such as Bangladesh and India, are generally making progress,even if it is uneven and sometimes painfully slow. Our generation's challenge is to help the poorest of the poor to escape the misery of extreme poverty so that they may begin their own ascent up the ladder of economic development. The end of poverty, in this sense, is not only the end of extreme suffering but also the beginning of economic progress and of the hope and security that accompany economic development.

GREETINGS...

GOOD morning this morning!

MARRIAGE TIPS!

Young people, I want to share my heart with you this day. Please take time to understand me. I am not claiming to know more than you do, I just feel my thoughts will benefit you tonight. I know the society has not helped many of you. You have not been taught the right values from Day One and many of you have seen bad examples among the elderly enough to corrupt your thinking for a lifetime. Some of you have been taught that it is only the present that matters and that what is seen and immediately beneficial is more important than what is not seen now but holds a promise for the future. By this reverse thinking pattern, many have expended their energy in things that will not add lasting value and have spent their young lives pursuing shadows. They only discover the truth when it is much late. One of the issues on my mind is the attitude of many young people to the institution of marriage. It seems many of you do not realise how important your preparation for marriage is and thus give little attention to it. Many young people seem to confuse the one-day wedding ceremony with the life-long marriage life. Many go to great lengths to prepare for wedding days when they have not prepared at all for the marriage life. And so after much money is spent on a wedding ceremony, the married couple discover themselves to be strange bedfellows in the same house. Marriage now becomes like a besieged city... Those outside want to come in while those inside want to come out. Some now see the greatest emblem of love - the wedding ring - as the smallest handcuff ever made! God did not intend marriage to be so from the beginning. Some have made wrong choices in marriage because they set wrong parameters. They wanted their partners to be perfect while they never saw anything imperfect in their lives worth working on. Some chose to marry based on social status, while others consider economic and political connections. Still others make choices based on their academic attainments not knowing that the average person likes to use others for personal gain. Some others have been pushed into unfulfilling marriages because they were counting years while their years were not counting. They measured themselves by the calendars of others and once they think they are getting old, they become desperate to marry and in most cases, they do not have any joy more than the excitement of the wedding day. It is strange that people compare themselves to flowers that easily fade. Maybe tonight you are about getting married... It is possible you have concluded plans and you are about to sign the dotted lines and concede your independence and liberty to another. You feel you are late after-all all your classmates and age-mates are married. You have abandoned the person you began with because you met someone who appears to be ready to settle down while your old friend is still struggling to find his feet. I urge you to look at this issue critically and sincerely ask yourself how prepared you are for the marriage life. If you are in a courtship, will the "court" justify you or condemn you eventually? What is the endpoint of your relationship. Have you really examined yourself? Are you preparing only for the wedding ceremony that people will come for and leave after some hours? Or you are preparing to leave and cleave with your spouse for a lifetime? I hope the Lord will shed more light in your hearts... BERNARD OLUWAFEMI JEMILOHUN

LEISURE...

Ist Man: The Governor of Lagos State has blamed the country's woe on our leaders' poor education 2nd Man: I quite agree with him 1st Man: Really? 2nd Man: Yes, of course! 1st Man: Okay! Is a person with a PhD well educated or not? Yes or No? 2nd Man: Well, yes and no. 1st Man: How? 2nd Man: PhD plus common sense is good education while PhD minus common sense is poor education. The PUNCH

LEISURE...

CONFIDENCE!

As I write these words, I feel very excited for you. I truly believe it will be a life-changing for many of you who read it. It may be a good reminder for some of you, but for others it will help you step out onto the path of your true life. The life that has been waiting for you since the beginning of time----and the one you may have been missing due to fear and intimidation. Confidence!..what does it mean? I believe confidence is all about being positive concerning what you can do---and not worrying over things you can't do. Confident people? They do not concentrate on their weaknesses; they develop and maximize their strength! Just because ordinary people take steps to accomplish extraordinary things does not mean that they do not feel fear. It's important to note that you can't just sit around and wait for fear to go away. You'll have to feel the fear and take action anyway. Fear is a dangerous virus, because a fearful person has no confidence and can never reach her potential in life. Our confidence, our belief that we can succeed, gets us started and helps us finish every challenge we tackle in life. Confident people will face life with boldness, openness and honesty. They'll live without worry and feel safe. The world is not hungry for mediocrity. So, rise up today!..come out of your shell, take that bold step to live confidently!

SHOULDERS OF THE PRESIDENT

Powerful rulers have ruled over kingdoms but they have passed into oblivion. We learn of Stalin in USSR and Mussolini in Italy. When men behave as if they are all in all they forget that they are mortal and will soon pass away.....
You can't have two people driving a car at the same time wrestling over the steering wheel and competing for the brake panel. By necessity, one person has to occupy the driver's seat------THE PRESIDENT!
The responsibility of securing the Nation's safety rests squarely on the shoulders of the President. It is therefore great to have someone in the car who can sense when we're lost and isn't too proud to stop and ask for directions!
Put away the selfish ones off your shoulder to make you 'walk' easy.....
Hey! am referring to YOU...the destiny of this great nation lies solely on your shoulders....
REMEMBER....you are like a silhouette of the stars which will definitely be forgotten and flicker out!
Make a good impact.

SHOULDERS OF THE PRESIDENT

Powerful rulers have ruled over kingdoms but they have passed into oblivion. We learn of Stalin in USSR and Mussolini in Italy. When men behave as if they are all in all they forget that they are mortal and will soon pass away.....
You can't have two people driving a car at the same time wrestling over the steering wheel and competing for the brake panel. By necessity, one person has to occupy the driver's seat------THE PRESIDENT!
The responsibility of securing the Nation's safety rests squarely on the shoulders of the President. It is therefore great to have someone in the car who can sense when we're lost and isn't too proud to stop and ask for directions!
Put away the selfish ones off your shoulder to make you 'walk' easy.....
Hey! am referring to YOU...the destiny of this great nation lies solely on your shoulders....
REMEMBER....you are like a silhouette of the stars which will definitely be forgotten and flicker out!
Make a good impact.