In March 2015, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan made one of those courageous and insightful decisions when he stepped forward to acknowledge he had lost his re-election bid. Through that single stroke, President Jonathan raised the bar on office holders in his country and across Africa. This publication is a compilation of President Goodluck Jonathan's leadership prowess at the helm. It is also a vivid testimony of yet another real life lesson to office holders across this continent of budding democracies-there is life after state House!
-Dr. CHRISTOPHER FOMUNUNYOH, Senior Associate
for Africa, National Democratic Institute
(NDI), USA
President Jonathan did the Unthinkable in 2015 - he called the opposition candidate to concede an election whose final results had not been announced. He had the capacity to foment trouble., for whatever reason, but chose the path of peace. In this book, he has, in his characteristic simplicity, told a compelling story of his five-year tenure, including his footprints in various sectors of the economy. It is the story of pains and gains, tenacity in the face of adversity, and grass and grace. This undroppable book delivers inspiration from chapter to chapter.
- SImon Kolawale, Nigerian Journalist and Columnist.
In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African-American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.
In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms.
Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.
Pete Banning was Clanton, Mississippi's favorite son--a decorated World War II hero, the patriarch of a prominent family, a farmer, father, neighbor, and a faithful member of the Methodist church. Then one cool October morning he rose early, drove into town, walked into the church, and calmly shot and killed his pastor and friend, the Reverend Dexter Bell. As if the murder weren't shocking enough, it was even more baffling that Pete's only statement about it--to the sheriff, to his lawyers, to the judge, to the jury, and to his family--was: "I have nothing to say." He was not afraid of death and was willing to take his motive to the grave.
In a major novel unlike anything he has written before, John Grisham takes us on an incredible journey, from the Jim Crow South to the jungles of the Philippines during World War II; from an insane asylum filled with secrets to the Clanton courtroom where Pete's defense attorney tries desperately to save him.
Reminiscent of the finest tradition of Southern Gothic storytelling, The Reckoning would not be complete without Grisham's signature layers of legal suspense, and he delivers on every page.
With an ever increasing number of young Africans diving into the unknown each year, in search of a better life abroad, Segun Adeniyi's From Frying Pan to Fire could not have come at a better time.
Through their often heart-rending tales of woe, Adeniyi weaves a powerful and compelling narrative, made all the more intense by the poignant, personal account of one of these dream seekers, the author's own younger brother.
From Frying Pan to Fire, brings to bear on a subject that has become a scourge of our time, well deserved attention as well as a sense of urgency.
This slim but essential book is emotionally wrenching and powerfully affecting. It beams light on a shameful dimension of Nigeria's – nay Africa's – current reality, exposing the harrowing adventures undertaken by hordes of hapless youth who risk everything, including enslavement, brutal sexual exploitation, and the loss of their lives, in search of an increasingly illusory bliss in Europe or North America. The book should be required reading for those who run or ruin Africa – and for the rest of us, victims, enablers, or abettors of misrule.
– Okey Ndibe
author of Never Look an American in the Eye (a memoir),
Foreign gods, Inc. and Arrows of Rain
This timely book is a long meditation on the predicament of Africans caught in the net of irregular migration. It is a stern warning against betting on the mirage of chance and an eye opener on the many subtle lures laid by human traffickers. I hope that policy makers, intellectuals and the public at large engage with the thoughts of the author within Africa and beyond.
– Tade Ipadeola
author of The Sahara Testaments and winner of the Nigeria Prize for Literature
This book adds a new and refreshing dimension to efforts by Africans to reflect on the scandalous crisis of young people risking their lives in pursuit of better life through migration. Blending personal narratives and policy-based analyses, Adeniyi writes in an engaging style that his readers have come to expect.
–Akin Adesokan
author of Roots in the Sky
Born a Crime is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story of that young man’s relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother—his teammate, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life.
Here is a special collector’s edition of Ms. Adichie's body of work- beginning with Purple Hibiscus, her collection of short stories- The Thing Around Your Neck, continuing through Half of a Yellow Sun and Americanah, and her non-fiction books, We Should All Be Feminists and Dear Ijeawele.
Risk and Return is the story of one man’s return to Africa—a journey that begins with a search for self-fulfillment, which then evolves into an entrepreneurial adventure filled with tribulations, triumphs and many life lessons that will keep readers engaged from start to finish. In a casual conversational voice, the author–Yomi Jemibewon, gives an honest, often hilarious and sometimes sobering account of what it feels like to chase a dream under highly uncertain circumstances. His anecdotes and reflections about navigating an unfamiliar, sometimes unforgiving, African business environment — as an idealistic returnee, an eager entrepreneur, or a young family man — will help readers navigate the challenging and sometimes terrifying times that a person experiences when embarking on a big life change. For those readers with a special passion for Africa, his story just might inspire action to join the wave of people collaborating to galvanize positive change in Africa.
In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African-American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.
In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms.
Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.
In Fighting Corruption Is Dangerous, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has written a primer for those working to root out corruption and disrupt vested interests. Drawing on her experience as Nigeria's finance minister and that of her team, she describes dangers, pitfalls, and successes in fighting corruption. She provides practical lessons learned and tells how anti-corruption advocates need to equip themselves. Okonjo-Iweala details the numerous ways in which corruption can divert resources away from development, rewarding the unscrupulous and depriving poor people of services.
A Story of Heroes and Epics: The History of Football in Nigeria tells the hugely significant story of the rise of football in colonial Nigeria as a unifying cultural force in the country. The origins of the game in Nigeria, the history of organised football, the institutions that produced the early football stars, the first Nigerian players to play abroad, Nigeria’s first international matches, the earliest rivalries and narratives on football’s incursion into the southern and northern regions, are some of the subjects that form the basis of this incredible social history of Nigeria.
Lucid, entertaining and insightful, the writer introduces you to key historical characters ranging from the colonial officers, western missionaries and school principals to the Nigerian political leaders and founding fathers who influenced the rise of football as both a popular pastime and a unifying force for the country.
After undertaking the difficult task of researching Nigeria’s colonial era, conducting dozens of primary interviews, and collating documented history on the roots of football in the country from local and foreign archives, Dr. Wiebe Boer came up with a fabulous book that is destined to become an essential read for understanding Nigeria’s intriguing relationship with football and how the game has played such an important role in the construction of Nigeria's national identity.
The road to success is rarely linear and never easy. Despite countless setbacks, Jim Ovia, founder of Zenith Bank, was able to achieve the unthinkable. Africa Rise and Shine is the story of Ovia's business and banking success and how he was able to create one of Africa's largest banks. Spanning decades of both world and Nigerian history, Africa Rise and Shine dives deep into the events that led to Ovia's triumph. Drawing upon his educational experiences and relentless determination, Ovia was able to overcome every hurdle that stood in the way of his bank becoming the national icon that it is today. Africa Rise and Shine outlines the tough, yet necessary business decisions that were essential to Zenith's prolonged success and is filled with valuable takeaways for every businessperson. Learn from one of the best in banking what it takes to truly be successful.
In March 2015, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan made one of those courageous and insightful decisions when he stepped forward to acknowledge he had lost his re-election bid. Through that single stroke, President Jonathan raised the bar on office holders in his country and across Africa. This publication is a compilation of President Goodluck Jonathan's leadership prowess at the helm. It is also a vivid testimony of yet another real life lesson to office holders across this continent of budding democracies-there is life after state House!
-Dr. CHRISTOPHER FOMUNUNYOH, Senior Associate
for Africa, National Democratic Institute
(NDI), USA
President Jonathan did the Unthinkable in 2015 - he called the opposition candidate to concede an election whose final results had not been announced. He had the capacity to foment trouble., for whatever reason, but chose the path of peace. In this book, he has, in his characteristic simplicity, told a compelling story of his five-year tenure, including his footprints in various sectors of the economy. It is the story of pains and gains, tenacity in the face of adversity, and grass and grace. This undroppable book delivers inspiration from chapter to chapter.
- SImon Kolawale, Nigerian Journalist and Columnist.
Yejide is hoping for a miracle, for a child. It is all her husband wants, all her mother-in-law wants, and she has tried everything - arduous pilgrimages, medical consultations, appeals to God. But when her relatives insist upon a new wife, it is too much for Yejide to bear. It will lead to jealousy, betrayal and despair.
With four starred reviews, Tomi Adeyemi’s West African-inspired fantasy debut, and instant #1 New York Times Bestseller, conjures a world of magic and danger, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sabaa Tahir.
They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.
Now we rise.
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.
But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.
Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.
Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.
Go Global With Opportunities is one-of-a-kind and deals on a subject matter that is new, rarely discussed yet largely sought-after by many, especially young people. It draws on ideas from the author’s personal experiences, work with opportunitydesk.org, conversations with several people and years of research. It targets young people everywhere who are hungry for opportunities and aims to prepare them to go from local to global influencers and champions.
Strictlyspeaking- Pronunciation Made Easy', is designed to aid non-native speakers of English -students and professional alike- who wish to improve their speech and gain mastery of the English language. In this book, the author covers a robust range of concepts linked to the study of the English language which includes stress patterns, pronunciations, phonetics and the phonetic symbols, English expressions as well an in depth insight into what she termed as 'Nigerian English'. Also attached to the book is an audio CD which acts as a practical tool for readers and aspiring communicators.
“Don’t you know you are a girl?”
Nkiru Olumide-Ojo sets out, in this book, to respond to that question, and in the process, subvert its hidden “restraining” intent.
Career Handbook for Kids is a simplified, colorful and exciting compilation of 30 careers/professions written for kids between the ages of 8 and 13. The thrust is to provide rudimentary but factual resource that will open the minds of kids to various careers. A very soft approach but laying the foundation for kids to keep dreaming, however, supported with relevant facts about careers in their everyday language.
A Fatherless People: The Secret Story of How the Nigerians Missed the Road to the Promised Land tells the story of Nigeria, from its early conceptualization by British colonialists in the aftermath of the abolition of the slave trade, up to the present day.
"A good mother does not run from her child’s home. She always stays and fights.”
Titilope Ojo left Nigeria for the United States over a decade ago, but her mother’s words remain fresh in her mind. Titilope is married to Tomide, a handsome and charismatic man who she is afraid of. She spends each day anticipating his moods and lives in fear of offending him. She takes great care to try and love him just the way he wants, but will it ever be enough? As life continues to spiral out of control, Titilope finds herself alone at a crossroad where she must choose between duty and survival.
29-year-old Edikan has lived her whole life in abject poverty. When she departs her hometown in Ikot Ansa for Lagos, her expectations are high.
A roof over her head, a high paying job and a man she can finally call her own tops her priority. Months after, she is forced to grapple with the reality that the city of her dream sis not all that.
Published in 1960, twelve years after it was written, the Passport of Mallam Ilia appeals to young readers. It is a story of Mallam Ilia who spent a greater part of his life seeking revenge for wrong done to him by one Usman. Though he was able to avenge the wrong done to him, it came at a very high price. This novel explores themes of trust, betrayal and revenge.
The Passport of Mallam Ilia is an important classic for both young and old.
Jagua Nana, no longer young but still irresistible, lives a life of hedonism in Lagos: men, parties, fights, wild nights in the Tropicana with her handsome young boyfriend Freddie. Rushing from one experience to the next in search of something she can't quite grasp, Jagua finds herself embroiled in shady politics, caught up in village feuds and a source of drama wherever she goes. In this vivid depiction of 1960s Nigeria, everyone is hustling and everyone is on the make - and a woman like Jagua must find her own unconventional path to fulfilment.
The novel takes place in a post-apocalyptic future version of Sudan, where the light-skinned Nuru oppress the dark-skinned Okeke. The protagonist, Onyesonwu (Igbo for "who fears death"), is an Ewu, i.e. the child of an Okeke woman raped by a Nuru man. On reaching maturity, she goes on a quest to defeat her sorcerous father Daib using her magical powers.
My Motivation for writing the book: Most authors write books for lenders or practitioners in the financial sector, hence you can hardly see any book written to educate borrowers or aspiring borrowers in Nigeria and indeed Sub-Saharan Africa. Borrowing Made Easy was conceived and written to educate people in the simplest form on how to borrow successfully and what it requires to get the best deals and manage loan wisely without stress. I attempt to unravel the perceived mystery around credit and put the consumer at the driving seat. It is a tool for financial planning and seeks to change the narrative in personal and business financial education. Target Audience: The target audience are individuals, entrepreneurs or business owners who wish to borrow, have borrowed before or aspire to borrow money for personal or businesses purpose. They include working class professionals, self-employed professionals, start-ups, entrepreneurs, small business owners in various fields including agribusiness, traders, logistics, manufacturing, hospitality, healthcare, education services, energy, technology, media, distributors, service providers, other mid-size corporates, as well as students who may also have this as a financial planning guide. Introduction Many books have been written on how banks and other financial institutions can lend money and apply best practices while ensuring a quality loan book and sustainable profit. However, not much has been written on how individuals, entrepreneurs, micro & small business owners and other corporate entities can borrow wisely and manage debt from the array of options available, which include commercial banks, microfinance banks, finance houses, thrift & co-operative societies, loan sharks, friends and family. The introduction dwelt on my background and early years in Isolo, a Lagos suburb and my early foray to borrowing while working in the family grocery business, which includes bread depot, vegetable oil distribution, food stuff retailing and supply. Looking back, there is nothing I learnt in modern day academics and business practice that wasn’t revealed from the education I got on the street and while in the family trading business. From Return on Asset, to Return on Investment, Velocity of Asset, Breakeven Analysis, Cost, Expense, Profit Margin, etc. There was always something to learn daily and apply. These and some other insights formed the perfect background and introduction to the book. CHAPTER 1 A Person in Need of Cash: This chapter built on the introduction and provided insights about the need for cash and how to separate want from need, and also determine the real need for cash coupled with exact funding requirement at any given time. It also emphasized the essence of credit in our personal and business pursuit and how the fortune of an individual or business can be impacted, as well as the advantages and shortcomings of taking out a loan. How to determine your need for extra cash? As individuals or businesses, we constantly worry about money, how to get it, where to get it, when to get it, how to manage it, pay back and how best to stay ahead. This chapter further educate the reader on how to determine the exact funding gap and how much you need to borrow, noting that under-borrowing may lead to shortfall and inability to meet the desired goal while excess loans is an invitation for wastage and future cash problem from being over-leverage and burdened with too much loan to repay. Benefits of borrowing: * Immediate financing *The need to take advantage of opportunities *To meet pressing financial need *It allows for ease of repayment *Start a business *Debt is usually less expensive than giving up equity, etc. The unpleasant side of taking out a loan: *Loan Interest repayment burden *Possible loss of asset at loan default *Inability to borrow in future in event of unpaid loan(s) *The borrowing application process *The need to make full disclosure of your reasons, etc. The chapter ends with a summary, key learnings and questions for the reader to answer sincerely. CHAPTER 2 Types of Loans: During the early introduction of credit cards in the Nigerian economy, I observed with keen interest and amazement the manner in which some of my friends used their credit cards to pay off auto loans, so that they could collect their vehicle documents and be ‘free’ from the debt on their cars. This was rather unfortunate as they were using an expensive and recurring debt to pay off a cheaper one and fixed term loan. This chapter provides clarity on the types of loans, their benefits and insights on why each of them is preferred at specific periods based on the purpose. The chapter describes Secure and Unsecured borrowing, Formal and Informal Loans and made reference to key players such as commercial banks, co-operative societies, moneylenders, Fintechs, mobile lenders, credit unions, corner shops, etc. Loan sharks was a major highlight based on the issue associated with them. Type of Loans explained with features, terms, benefits, challenges and when required: Personal Loans | Payday loan | Credit Card | Charge Card Term Loans | Overdraft | Mortgages | Distributorship Finance Purchase Order Finance | Invoice Discounting Finance | Export Finance Facility | Import Finance Facility Education Loan | Agribusiness Loan . Key Takeaway; One key learning here is that the idea of borrowing should come with an understanding of your need, how best to meet it and at what cost to you now and in the future. CHAPTER 3: How you can borrow as an individual & Business: In the course of my interactions across several platforms and associations over the years, I have come across various people who just want to borrow and do something. Some do not even know what to do with the money, while others have a dream without a foundation. The common issue among most of these individuals and businesses is that they do not even understand how to borrow. In this chapter, I explained loans available to individual, entrepreneurs and other corporate concerns. There are some loans available to different categories of consumers depending on identity, legal status, demographics, locations, income, employment status, profession, type of business, circle of influence, credit history, credit score, loan performance prediction, social status, among others. I also provided clear details on what individuals, entrepreneurs, groups, all categories of peoples irrespective of skilled level, vocations and associations requires to borrow successfully. For businesses, you need to check the company registration status, business location, revenue, potential for revenue, scalability, promoter, etc. Key Takeaway; One thing I can relate with for most borrowers is that one or more of the conditions mentioned in the chapter has been a stumbling block. I asked sincere questions on such conditions and what readers who fall within such category plan to do about it. Now that I know that readers might have gathered momentum and ready to take on credit or revisit the lender, I introduced additional security or comfort popularly called collateral for better understanding in the next chapter. CHAPTER 4; Understanding Collateral in a Borrowing Relationship: Simply put, collateral is something you pledge as security for repayment of a loan, to be forfeited or lost in the event of your inability to repay the loan. It can be physical or non-physical, while some consider it as tangible or non-tangible. In this chapter, I unraveled the mystery surrounding collateral and showed readers and aspiring borrowers why collateral is important as a comfort to lenders. I reiterated that the most important thing to financial institutions and most serious lenders is the ability for the borrowers or their businesses to generate constant cash flow to meet repayment obligations and remain a going concern. I explained types of collateral, implications and how best to enter into a loan relationship using collateral and what the lenders expects from the borrower. One other key issue here is for the borrower to fully understand the terms and conditions before signing the offer, either electronically or manually. Legal mortgage, Cash, Debentures, guarantees and other types of collaterals were properly explained for better understanding and ease of application by the borrower. Key Takeaway; Now that readers have been able to breakdown the myth surrounding collateral, the different forms they are presented and why lenders request for it when they want to borrow in some cases. They will be able to fulfill a transaction and apply the perfect fit for desired loans. Having sorted this, borrowers may need to check a few tips in the next chapter before accepting that offer. CHAPTER 5; Now that you want to borrow: Having counselled many individuals and businesses on borrowing and mediated in debt management and credit repair through the provision of financial planning techniques for several years, I know that debt is good when collected for the appropriate purpose, from the right institution or lender and utilized with guidance and common sense. While I have witnessed how loans moved some individuals from small business owners / entrepreneurs to millionaires and billionaires, I have also seen how reckless borrowers or those that do not seek guidance fall by the way side to the agony of uncontrolled debt. To support borrowers or aspiring borrowers, I shared 50 bonus tips on how to borrow. Some of which are; 1. Ensure that your account does not fall into debit position or fail a repayment on a cheque you issued earlier or direct debit standing order. 2. Avoid borrowing to fund a regulated business without having the requisite certification, e.g., borrowing to set up a pharmaceutical store without the required registration and certification. 3. Never look at the pricing of a loan from the interest rate at the first glance. Ensure you compare the cost of loan with other financial institutions. 4. Never pay a bribe to get a loan. You may be scammed. 5. If any of these answers are ‘no’, that debt is likely to be bad. Have I shopped around to get the best deal? Am I borrowing this money as cheaply as possible? Will I be able to cope should interest rates rise in the future? Will I comfortably be able to afford the monthly repayments? Will borrowing this money improve my finances in the long run? Do I understand the risks and what could happen if things go wrong? Etc. After sharing the tips, I gave further insights into types of financial institutions and how borrowers can easily identify those that can meet their need at any point in time. Oftentimes, people confuse the responsibilities of different financial institutions when they need money to meet personal or business objectives. For instance, I have come across a lot of people blaming commercial banks for not investing in their start-ups or not extending loans for them to engage in speculative businesses. It is important to have a better understanding of financial institutions and the need they are expected to meet and how they can support you. Some of the financial institutions are commercial banks, credit union, microfinance banks (some FINTECHS come in here), venture capital, development banks, etc. The chapter also highlight Development Banks as a support institution and the role government play in providing access to finance for startups, SMEs, and large corporates. Some of the examples mentioned where the Central Bank Intervention funds, The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund loan program, Anchor borrowers program, Trader moni, etc in Nigeria ----------------------End of Chapter 5-------------------------- My closing words. I hope this book has been informative? However, this may be coming to you rather late, considering that you might have taken the loan, signed an unpleasant offer letter, lost an asset or perhaps, you have been a guru and enjoyed the loan with unprecedented returns or you have not even touched a loan, but presently considering taking up one. An African proverb says, “Anytime we wake up is considered our morning.” This means that it is not too late to start, seek guidance, collaboration, wisdom and solution to make our lives better and comfortable. When we keep hope alive, a loan is just cash mentioned in numbers while our refreshed minds can count the numbers again and again, with smiles and the determination to make the best of what we have and also help others. Thank you