2024 Resolutions: Beyond Cheque Mates and Scaling Your Smile

Ohhihello!

It's a New Year, yay! Welcome to 2024! I am glad you made it and are rooting for you to do something extraordinary this year. But remember to take it slow and be consistent while at it.

It's that time again where many people usually talk about New Year resolutions- and what they would do differently and achieve by the end of the year. 

It's a long read, but follow me therefore, as I enumerate some of the resolutions I have set out for myself. 

* Dental care: Wanna live long? Studies have shown that people who take proper care of their mouths tend to live longer. Taking care of your oral health determines the amount of toxicity and inflammation throughout your body. Caring for the mouth also help in resisting dementia as one ages.                                                                                             

I will advise that you include scaling and polishing in your New Year resolution. Having done this, twice in the previous year, I can attest that it does wonders for the mouth. Plus, other dental hygiene like, flossing, brushing twice daily, using fluoride toothpaste and drinking lots of water should be in you dental care plan. 

                                                        

                                                               

I have a suggestion. By having it done on auspicious days, you can make your scaling and polishing routine more celebratory. Events, such as birthday, Valentine's Day, a promotion or for excelling at something. How about you make it a Valentine's date this year? 

*Investment: Investing has many benefits to it, because it gives you more financial independence. How do I start investing, you may ask. You can start by having a saving plan. The money you have saved can then be used to invest. To start with, invest in low-risk investment and you can up the ante according to your ability or confidence. You can start with such low-risk investment as mutual funds, shares and federal government bonds. And the good thing, you can start with as low as 5,000 (NGN). Well, you can go higher if you wish. Another amazing thing is, you become more interested in the economy and financial health of the country by monitoring stock markets, economic policies, monetary policies and the activities of the company you have invested in. You also get to attend shareholders meeting. And that, my dears is how you build your economics and financial education. Oh! you also get to make connections. This shows that investment does not only help you build wealth, but it also educate you in the short and long run. 

To start with, you can research companies or stockbroking companies to get started. I have a suggestion of one such organisation. Stanbic IBTC bank shares regular updates on investment, such as shares, mutual funds and bonds. They also operate a stockbroking firm. Do look them up or any other financial organisations you know about. And please ask questions to be sure you understand what you are getting into.

Lest I forget, don't be too much in a hurry to want to "cash out". Investment take a bit of time to yield. Remember, start small, but most importantly, start today.

*Learn or teach a skill: Remember that saying "Jack of all trade, master of none"? Well, that is not applicable to this current time. In the time we are in now and the way the world is moving so fast, the more skills you have the higher your chances of survival. In other words, learning a new skill or upskilling is the way of the world and in a way, every new skill you learn, gives your life a meaning. Learning a new skill can be both in academics and non-academics, such as coding, data analysis, sewing, cooking, baking, knitting, researching, experimenting, star-gazing and forecasting, the list are endless. These skills always come in handy, whether in the now or in the future. 

However, to gain mastery of any new skill you learn, it is important to practice what you have learnt or by teaching it. Interestingly, the internet is full of knowledge that you can learn whatever it is you wish to. And if you have a skill to teach, please share your knowledge and experience- this is what drives the world: consumption and production. 

*Volunteering/Peer Knowledge: Someone once said; "what is the essence of your education if you don't share what you have learnt with others?". Think of something you would like to do for free- in your free time- as a way to give back to the society. Volunteering can give a sense of fulfilment, especially when you do it for people who appreciate it and cannot repay you. Albeit, it does not have to be every day or weekly. You can decide to volunteer for a cause during your annual leave, weekends, twice a month or anytime that favors you. The best part, you can do it anywhere. 

You can volunteer to teach the children in your neighbourhood, your church, your workplace. You can even teach your family members something you think they should know.

For peer knowledge, you can gather friends and acquaintance with similar values or experience to learn and share something. For instance, I like reading and have a friend who works in a literacy organisation. I love the opportunity to read and share insights with other people of like minds. It's usually an enlightening experience, each time. Err, there is always refreshments. You can look for AIFA Reading Society on all social media and follow to get regular updates. I saw my pictures in one of their newsletters, haha!

Think about these for New Year Resolution, okay? 

*Exercise /Well-being: Various studies have shown the importance of exercise. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), exercise boosts the bone strength and, by improving balance, cuts the risk of falls. By the way, well-being is a determinant or measurement of economic development. Now you know why WEF is interested in exercise.

There are various ways to care for your well-being, such as:

• Using the staircase instead of the elevator. I didn't say to use the staircase when going to the 20th floor. You know your capability, so go with what you can.

• Walk more to places that are trekkable. It doesn't have to be everyday but on most days, walk the distance for at least for 20-30 minutes. You can do this in the morning before the sun comes out or in the evening when the sun is down. 

• Enrolling for gym sessions is another way to boost your well-being, especially for those who work in a sedentary setting. Usually, most people have reasons for wanting to hit the gym, like staying in shape, lose belly-fat, make their body firm and so on. Whatever, your goal, I think going to the gym helps in relaxation and support, but of course, staying healthy. Some gyms have dance classes for those who like to dance like me. Maybe that's why I'm hitting the gym this year.

• I have found that tennis helps me to be more focus and strategic. This means that I play with every part of my body- including the seen and unseen parts of my body. I think tennis helps one to be shrewd in dealing with other, and so it builds confidence, empathy, camaraderie and individualism. In summary, playing tennis helps to build mental, emotional and physical well-being. It can serve as a catalyst to excel in other fields of human endeavours, ask Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic- read about them. Don't know where to start? I've got you covered. Search for Pitens Academy on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to get started today and thank me later. And oh, tennis starts with love for a reason! Chick magnet and everything in between. LOL. Click  here  to register your interest.

*Make time for loved ones: I know the world is moving at a fast pace these days; what with the "japa" syndrome that is "dividing" families and friends. As such, it can be difficult to have good time with loved ones. And if you have your loved ones close by, make a conscious effort to spend quality time together. I know it is not easy, especially with the way the economy is going now. This is where you plan meticulously in your relationship with others; the time and other commitment that also demands you attention. 

Spending time with loved ones does not necessarily have to be expensive. For someone like me, I like to cook meals for my family, especially on public holidays and set a time to visit the Lagoon Front at University of Lagos to have a picnic with them. It is an opportunity to learn new things about them and say some of the stuff we couldn't say over chats or calls. Being with loved ones doesn't have to be expensive. It's already expensive outside, so look for places or activities that won't require so much spending. That is not say you can do expensive. Oh, you can! After all you only live once, LOL. But have a plan and spend prudently. The central message is to spend time with the people that matters the most.

*Cook your meals: I have found that cooking help me relax, so it's a form of therapy to me. And I get this joy from cooking a hearty meal-for myself or for others. And hey, I've gotten compliments from colleagues at work for making delicious meals. News flash! I cooked the meal at my nephew's child dedication and at his one year birthday *takes a bow*. 

Some of the reasons I prefer to cook my own meals are:

• Cooking opens a wide array of possibilities whereby I can make my meals healthy, control portion of what goes into the food and choose healthier choices in spices and other things. As such, cooking my meals helps me to research more about what I consume and their health benefits.
• In this present economic realities, cooking at home help you save more, especially if you want to cook a super delicious and healthy meal. Sometimes, the amount you use to buy one meal can feed up to three people at home. Think about that. 
• Have you ever been praised or thanked for cooking a hearty meal? That is what cooking does, it creates a kind of connection between people. You can say it is a form of communication that is done to impress loved ones.

Aside being a way of mixing, combining and heating ingredients, cooking is an act of service and a survival skill. So, what are you waiting for? Learn a cooking skill today and wow yourself and loved ones.

Thank you for reading thus far. I have more to say, but these are the realistic goals I know I can achieve. I don't want to over-promise. And if you remember when I started, I said "some of the resolutions" LOL 

I hope you are ready to embrace new opportunities, new challenges, new perspectives in your personal and professional life. I am counting on you to live your best life and am rooting for you to excel.

Please share your New Year resolutions in the comment section, I will like to hear from you.

Happy New Year! All my love.

A Day at the National Museum in Lagos

Visiting the museum has always been on my bucket list of things to do. It was even more exciting because it was the opportunity for me to spend quality time with my nieces and little nephew. My neighbors' children were not left out. In all, we were nine that visited the National Museum.

The National Museum, Lagos is one of the oldest museums in Nigeria, located at Onikan. The museum has other exciting places surrounding it, such as the City Mall, Governor's office, Blue Line Rail amongst others.

The location of the museum is a good choice for a tourist attraction due to its proximities to other  places. Prior to the visit, I had earlier sent an email and some Whatsapp messages to inquire about the necessary details, such as fee, what can be brought in and so on. However, I only got a reply to my email about three weeks later, where I was instructed to write a letter to the Curator of the museum, the number of children I am bring and would pay 500 naira per child- the amount an adult would pay was not stated.
I wrote the letter for the visit to be fixed for that weekend, but never got a reply back. But I went with my crew all the same.

Saturday came, and in a flourishing and exciting mood, we trooped out in a cab to the National Museum. The children were all excited to be out, while I was silently pondering over the cost of entertaining toddlers, children, two others on the cusp of teenage hood, a teenager and two adults (including myself). We arrived late to the museum because the rain had earlier seized the day. After assuring ourselves that the weather would weathered down and not to kill the enthusiasm of the children lest, they label me as an adult that does not keep to her words.

Arriving at the museum, we were directed to the reception, where they were already expecting us. It was at that point, I was informed that adults are expected to pay a fee of 1,000 naira. I paid for all nine of us and thus our tour began.

Following the letter I wrote to the curator, we had the opportunity of getting a personalized tour of the museum and learnt of its history. My little nephew of one year was so excited to be out and was walking about "learning" alongside others. There was another tour group and together, we learnt about the artefacts and history and culture of a few tribes. We also saw the car former military head of states, General Muritala Muhammed was in when he was assassinated in 1976- they do not make those kind of cars anymore or maybe we just do not have it here. The curator also took us to the see how tie and dye and adire were being made. It was wonderful to see the fascination in the children's faces.

After the tour, we all trooped to the playground for the children to play on the swing and slides. And when it was closing time, the children were gathered again by the curator, who asked them a few questions about the tour he gave them. Earlier on, he had instructed them to take note of some important information which might be useful for them in the future.

It is important to note that if you want a personalized guide of the museum, you will making a booking via email inquiry and also pay the curator a separate fee, aside the one you are expected to pay to gain entry into the museum. Otherwise, you can visit the museum anytime within working hours.

To round up our visit to the museum, we strolled to the City Mall which was adjacent the National Museum. After some walkabout the mall, we book a ride back to the mainland to relish our visit to the museum and a week after, one of the toddlers, the children, the other two on the cusp of teenage hood, the teenager and one of the adults prepared to return back to school. The sponsor continued on with her life as an aunt, a beloved neighbor (I hope), a post-graduate student and a worker.

The visit to the museum was one of the activities I set out for my nephew and nieces to enjoy during the long holiday-just us. Before then, we had done a visit to the cinema and took a stroll in the mall. We also went to the park- the University of Lagos Lagoon Front where we had a picnic and finally, the visit to the museum.

The visit to the museum was suppose to be for my niblings and I. But I decided to include my neighbour's two children. The number increased because my neighbour's youngest in her wisdom told her two friends- boys - who were former neighbours by the way. And that was how I ended up taking seven children to the museum.

I hope you enjoy reading about our visit to the museum, and hope it serves as a reminder to do things for the most vulnerable in our families and within our community.

Finally, if you have visited any other museum, say in Europe, the US and some developed Asian countries, please do not use those to make comparison with the National Museum in Lagos and maybe Nigeria.

Thank you. Xoxo

Raising Money Masters: How to Teach Children Financial Literacy

As a parent or guardian - including aunt, uncle, and neighbour, we know the responsibilities and commitment that comes with caring for children, especially the financial aspect of it. How then do we ensure children -in their child-like state- are trained to be financially aware?

Children, by nature, are spenders. And that is why adults should be there to guide them to reduce such spending habits. While we would want for our young ones to enjoy the finer things of life, we need to guide them on being financially responsible. Nobody would like to hear about their child using his or her tuition fee to buy a new pair of shoes or wig instead.

Financial literacy is a key lesson all parents should give their children, as this will likely impact their well-being (in adulthood).

Getting Your Child Started on Financial Literacy

Once you have helped your child to identify money -cash, receipt, card or electronic transfer- help them understand the need for saving. Usually, when children see their parents with money, they tend to believe it is for spending. Make them see that money is for saving, as well. That way, you are instilling discipline and delayed gratification in them. Every child should have a piggy bank (or kolo if you like. LOL). And when they put in money, encourage them with words.

Help your child understand that they have to live within their means. Let your child understand that they may not have all they want anytime, some may require planning and savings and others are out rightly unnecessary or extravagant.

Teach your child financial literacy through giving. Involve your children in charity projects, by encouraging them to use a part of their savings towards a noble cause. As they grow older, it helps them to understand that money can be used to make the world a better place.

Image credit: todaysparent.com 

Make opportunities for your children to earn more. I remember when I was in primary school, I helped my older siblings to wash their socks, and they paid me afterwards. Parents can encourage their children to do more house chores and pay them (Nigerian mothers left the group chat). It does not have to be every time, it is just a way to encourage and appreciate your children.

Credit: Punch newspaper

While it is good to save, also teach your child about investing. Through their savings, children can contribute towards their trust fund (educational). Please open a bank account for them, and depending on your agreement on when the piggy bank should be opened (quarterly, annually), let your child accompany you to a bank to deposit their savings- I am sure they would also find some investing ads in the banking hall. Get them child-friendly financial books to get them started on investment.

Image credit: istockphoto

Finally, while you are teaching your child good financial behaviour, be a financial model yourself. Your children watch you, even while you are advising them. If you complain about how the economy is affecting your finances, but still decide to go on a shopping spree (YOLO), you would be confusing your child.

Additionally, while encouraging your children to do more chores, join them and engage them in conversations. They also learn teamwork in their knowledge of financial literacy.

Your children can make good money decisions when they see you doing the same. Mean what you say, and say what you mean- be consistent.

Beyond Trophies: Marrying Sports & Education for a Brighter Future

 In a matter of weeks, students in primary and secondary school would be resuming a new session in September. I can imagine the excitement to move higher in classes and a bit of uncertainty, especially for those going to a new school.

When I was going to secondary school, I remember feeling nervous and how new students in my new class would treat me. Although, I was hoping to do more physical activities like running and football. Personally, tennis would have been it for me, given my background- my brothers play tennis and I have the opportunity to play alongside them if I want to.

Alas, that would not be the case. If I choose to focus on tennis, then I believe my education would suffer. Plus I was more for education than sports anyway. So, I was not bothered when my school lacked sporting facilities.

Then another thing happened. I am becoming more aware of myself- puberty is happening to me. I remember a classmate talking loudly when she discovered I have started wearing a bra in JSS one- I was mortified. 

Back home, my friends and I understood the dynamics of our bodies, and we still engaged in sports and games without feeling overtly conscious of our bodies. I played football, I like running, and I enjoyed skipping and climbing trees.

I would later discover that my classmates were not opportune to grow up in the kind of environment I grew up in. I grew up in Railway Compound- spacious, with trees, fields, diverse people, flowers, plants and many other things. I used to imagine Railway Compound to be the Garden of Eden whenever I read my little children's bible then.

Source: etsy.com

Having realised the difference in background and development (puberty), I knew the problem was not from me, but I was still shy. A day came when the school decided they wanted to start students up on athletics. I was not interested. But I was compelled to take part in it.

I did but did not perform well. The games master somehow got to find out I was a good runner in primary school and he reported me to the vice-principal who decided I was stubborn and must ensure I take part and win. LOL. I still performed subpar. They eventually gave up on me.

Later on in life, I came to some realisation about my not taking part in games:

1. I am very aware of the changes in my body

2. In primary school, our games masters included male and female teachers who motivated us and gave us incentives -sweets and biscuits- that gingered us to want to do well

3. My primary school games masters advised us on what to wear for practice.

4. Our parents were informed and encouraged us to participate

5. Even as children, we were involved in planning activities. We were involved in marking the perimeter of the field and carrying kits

Many other factors encouraged me to take part in activities back in primary school. Those were lacking in secondary school.

On getting to secondary school, there was no community engagement nor monitoring and evaluation. The decision was made for everyone already. I mean this thing was not really in place before, but you decided to bring it up anyway and expect people to participate without taking some things into consideration. And when people do not participate- good ill as it is- it does not come to fruition, then beneficiaries seem as ungrateful for something that should benefit them.

Sports and games most recently are being celebrated around the world, particularly in Nigeria, following the performances of the Super Falcons at AFCON and athletes at the Commonwealth Games. It shows that with the right support, people would take part in sports and excel for themselves and their country.

However, with the current realities in Nigeria, most people would rather choose education over sports. Who says sports and education cannot be done side-by-side? 

Serena Williams recently announced her retirement and plan after the US Open and was met with much applause for record-breaking performances in her lawn tennis career. What is appealing about her announcement is her gradual transition to venture capital. Despite her stellar tennis career, the record breaker is already looking into something different. Another career footballer Wilfred Ndidi also announced he bagged a degree at De Monfort University while playing for Leicester. Yet again, former Super Falcon Ini-Abasi  Umotong also announced her retirement from football. Umotong is a graduate of Economics and has an MBA. We have also seen many players succeeding in sports and other fields, using skills and experience gained from participating in sports.

These people were able to succeed in their quest for education and sports. Given, not everyone might excel in school or sports at the same time, people should be allowed to know that they can actually do well in school and creative activities simultaneously. We can also take advantage of the fitness craze among adults to key into sports and games.

As school resumes in September, government, policymakers, sports officials, social entrepreneurs in the sports sector, counsellors, health practitioners, parents, beneficiaries, teachers and relevant stakeholders should look into how schooling and games can be married together to create more opportunities for children and students in the future; while taking into cognizance diversity, representation and inclusion. Sports and play have been touted to prompt quality education, Australia is a good example. As such, we must localise our sports policy to conform with the international standard which must not only be formulated but implemented and possibly backed by legislation for posterity's sake.

Source: shapeamerica.org

Our children should go back to school to see more innovation and hope for the future. And the creative sector promises a bright future for all if we decide to start now.

LBS July 2022 Breakfast Session: How Inflation is Forcing Us to Rethink Everything

In light of the high cost of living vis-a-vis inflation affecting virtually every country of the world, people are being forced to make lifestyle changes to reflect this new reality.

Citizens are now paying more attention to the economic or fiscal policies of the government. And experts in economics have given their opinions on how to slow down inflation. Nigeria, which is almost solely dependent on crude oil is faced with one of the worst inflation in Africa.

At the Lagos Business School (LBS) Breakfast Session, the economic outlook for July 2022 was analysed, and I outlined them below:

• Inflation keeps rising and the cost of production is passed on to the consumer through increased prices of goods/services. Hence, CBN tries to control inflation by increasing the interest rate to 14% in July 2022

• The multiple exchange rates of the naira, it has made the naira quite volatile to the dollar. Eliminating multiple exchange rates and increasing fx inflow would strengthen the naira

• Telecoms and FMCGs are likely to gain by August end. Banking and financial institutions are not so likely

• Transportation has reduced somewhat-the Kaduna-Abuja rail bombing and kidnappings on roads have affected the industry. Aviation is also grappling with safety issues (Dana), temporary closure, etc. In global aviation, Africa recorded 135% despite the surge in aviation. This does not portend well for Nigeria, as it likely means that investors are not coming. Europe tops the continents with 477%.

• Elections would play a big role in 2023. Nigerians need to ensure the next president has extensive knowledge of economics. Since 1999, the present administration has had the worst economic outcomes-reserve without debt is at-0.82

• With a fiscal deficit at 3.09trn and an unsustainable debt, Nigeria is approaching a fiscal cliff

• Apapa Port is still the busiest in Nigeria but quite slow due to the ongoing railroad construction in Apapa. Other ports are underutilised, and as such, these are affecting ship berthing

• NIP transfer has the highest record of transaction value at 29.2bn in July (June was 31.7bn, even though there was a sharp decline in transaction value. POS transaction was the only one that gained in July at 724bn as against 666bn in June. Cheque continues losing its value at 244bn in July as against 277bn in June 2022

Really, no one wants to hear the story of Cheques bouncing back. Haha!

Find the full report here

So, what life-changing decision have you made in the course of this inflation?

Image credit: shutterstock.com