Friday, November 16, 2012

An overdose of Lagos.

A couple of weeks ago while returning home from work i boarded a bus from Mile 2 to Alakija a peep came into the bus and sat beside me a few minutes afterwards.

He then called the attention of a young guy selling sachets of water popularly called pure water in Nigeria which is sold for N10. He wanted to buy a sachet of water  but had N20 so the pure water seller said there was no change and that peep prompted me to take the second one but i refused to.

After some prolonged argument between the pure water seller and the peep. I decided what the heck may be I should take the water so I could get some peace and quite so I thought.

I drank the water around Mile 2 by the time I got to Agboju, which was less than 5 minutes drive traffic permitting, I had fallen into a very deep sleep this was because the water I had taken had been intentionally drugged.

Tests done later revealed that the substance was meant to induce dehydration by drying up water in the body of the victim and hence knocking the person unconscious. Apparently the pure water seller and the other young man had been working together to execute a sinister plan.

No wonder the guy sitting beside me who paid for the water refused to pay before i did he wanted to know exactly where i would be alighting so that he could rearrange his plans against that. When paying the fare he told the conductor he would alight at Dantata which was immediately after Alakija and had already gained notoriety as a haven for robbers & their likes. The conductor refuted and said the man must alight at Alakija.

If not for the Holy Ghost who came to my aid what would i have said!

From hindsight what I could only ascribe to divine intervention happened; i woke up exactly at Alakija the bus stop where I was meant to alight.

My head was very heavy and I was walking about like a drunken man moving gracefully like a pendulum.

Some of the details of that day I could no longer recall. I could only tell that i finally crossed over took a bike and went home. Someone had to help me get to the house after which i slept off for a whole day.

I was walking like a drunk person stumbling into people. Really it wasn't funny.

I believe the culprits wanted to steal my belongings while I was asleep. But they couldn't because my belongings  were hidden deep in my bag and I happened to have slept on the bag.

From similar reports I heard later on they would often times wake the victim at another bus stop and take him down (since the victim would be unconscious) and then do unto them whatever they wished.

The desperation in the country has reached a very low ebb and some people find it OK to stoop so low as to drug a fellow human being with strange substances just because they want to make some dough or whatever. Not even giving a thought to the effect their actions would have on their victims.

The lesson from this is for you to take care and be on guard. It is obvious that some people are willing to go to any length to make money.

Trust wisely and think twice in all situations.

If possible if you have to purchase any drink or food when in transit it's best to do so at a shop which can be traced in the event of any undesirable occurrence.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

If you ever get stuck while installing Zabbix. You would need this.

seventwoseven: Zabbix configure errors under Ubuntu 9.10: ./configure --enable-server --enable-agent --with-mysql --with-net-snmp --with-libcurl Here's some errors I had while compiling zabbix o...

Friday, May 27, 2011

CloudCampLagos

Cloud Computing enthusiasts would be gathering together in Lagos, Nigeria at an unconference scheduled for tomorrow May 28, 2011 at the city mall cinema hall opposite the muson center. It sure promises to be an exciting time. Register for the unconference at http://www.cloudcamp.org/lagos

You can also follow @CloudCampLagos
The hash tag is #cloudcamplagos

Monday, October 4, 2010

THE PLATFORM (Stirring the Intellectual grassroots of a Nation )



Below are excerpts from the platform held on the 2nd of October 2010.



Pastor Poju

TOPIC: Building Community Organization

Don't think you can live for yourself alone and not participate in the development of your nation because no matter the level of your success, unless in exceptional circumstances, you will ultimately be defined by our collective (Nigerian) identity whenever you leave the shores of this country.

Whoever will go into office must have turned 10 from 10 (citing the parable of the dollars.)

Once you succeed as an entrepreneur the next level is solving social problems; That is where the greatest fulfilment lies.

There are two types of people in this world, they are not the haves and the have-nots but the have some and the want mores; So find what you have.

Have a heart of gratitude because gratitude is the great multiplier.

For our nation to change it has to be from the bottom up. Community organisations such as Organising for America, The tea party movement have proved that this is possible.

Building Community Organizations
1. Find out why I want to do this; That becomes your story.
2. Call people that can give capital(cash,expertise etc) to that project to join you.






Prof. Yemi Osibajo, (SAN)

TOPIC: Laws that make nations great.

These were the laws that the puritans (16th & 17th century English protestants) used in creating the successful nations in Europe, America and which the Japanese got from the Iwakura mission 1871.

1. Hard work and Creativity
2. Integrity
3. Respect for credit and obligation
4. Frugality
5. Rule of Law & Maintenance of Law and Order
6. Payment of taxes and dues
7. Altruism


People in Government must be picked by merit.

Recognition of diligence is the first law of greatness.

Time is the factor within which we have been given to attain greatness. So we must take it seriously; your work ethic, timeliness, not allowing visitors during work hours. Most things are measured in time.

The average Chinese worker is nine times more productive than the average Nigerian worker (Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala)


Trust is the most important currency in the world today. We need a person whose word is his bond.

Every great society has successfully developed a system where credit (Obligations & Promises) is respected.

Frugality is the careful use of resources, have an attitude of saving. Africans love to engage in invidious consumption, use resources for things that will benefit the others. Save for what is most important but enjoyment and entertainment is with the left over.

Policing has to be local and native to the environment.

Payment of tax ensures that the government is made accountable.

Altruism (& Patriotism) is the selfless concern for the welfare of others. What have you done for others lately?







Pastor Sam Adeyemi


TOPIC: Rise take up your bed and walk.

Jesus did what he could do; He healed the leper and told the leper to do what he could do; Rise up take up your bed and walk.

What will Nigeria's next 50 years look like?

You need to be grateful because in life everything doesn't fail at once in your life some things are working.

You have the power to change your life use that power!

God will never do for you what he has given you the power to do!

Prayer alone won't get things done e.g: prayer doesn't build roads or power stations. You need a combination of humanity and divinity to get things done in the world.

The most powerful form of government is self government.

The Key to self government is self discipline; Aligning yourself with principles brings order.

What principles and values are you living by?

The problem that Africa has been having is that, African culture does not value principles. Africans are mystical in their approach to life but this world is controlled by principles. God is a God of principles when you practice principles they become your values.

The greatest challenge Africa has is it's value system. No human being in Nigeria is More Important than the other. Leaders are just “primus inter pares” first among equals.


Where To Start.

1. Discover who you are. You are Created in Gods image; Whatever God doesn't deserve you don't deserve it.
2. You are not poor.
3. Have a dream and set plans to accomplish it.
4. What value are you offering.

Align your life with the principles.







Opeyemi Agbaje.

After all the planning comes the Strategy Execution; Acting to do that thing this is where most miss it.

Sequencing
Processes that guide execution
Systems&Technology(e.g. do you have a visitors book)
Structure
Measurement
Milestones
Review
Details/Tactical
Culture & People
Delegation & Empowerment
Incentives & Rewards
Feedback.

Competitive Advantage is the value you create that exceeds the cost of creating it. Value is what the buyer is willing to pay. You must be sure that you are creating superior value to what is being created.

Study Porters Generic Strategies.
Study Porters Value Chain Analysis.


A changing market context; Market context is dynamic.

Factors affect market context
1. Convergence
2. Global Lifestyle
3. Info Revolution

Blue Ocean Strategy. Looking for you own blue ocean.







Leke Alder.


There is a business model for small businesses and another for large businesses.

Applicable Knowledge; Wisdom is the principal thing. Return on knowledge = Return on capital

Take the initiative do something.

Presentation Matters. How can we take you serious if you are not serious about your idea.

Listen to the still small voice in your heart.

We are the Oct 2 generation its our time to correct that which the Oct 1 generation could not.

Great Leaders are molded by their difficulties.








Thelma Ekiyor


TOPIC: Philanthropy & Nation building


Philanthropy can be defined as private initiatives to promote public good.

Billionaires and millionaires in developed countries are always trying to use their money to create the kind of environment they wanted to see.

Nigeria lacks sufficient philanthropists, Foreign philanthropists contribute far more to the nation than their Nigerian counterparts do.

The developed nations have been successful in institutionalizing philanthropy.

When you are an advocate of change you will face opposition. During this time of opposite look for good company, people who share the same ideals, tell few people about your dreams.

The Same power available to God is available to you.

Philanthropy is like a virus. Let's spread the virus.







Professor Adebayo Olukoshi


TOPIC: Civic Culture; What has gone wrong in Nigeria?


We need to be comparing Nigeria's progress with its counterparts in East Asia (Malaysia,Vietnam,Singapore) and not with other African nations.

What is the legacy of the colonial era?

The Economist sometime ago released a publication tagged "Africa the Hopeless Nation."

In his book the bottom billion Paul Collier suggests some radical ideas for tackling Africa's problems.

Africa has become a burden to the western world every solution throw in to Africa has failed and the western world sometimes question Africa's ability for self prognosis. We need to start solving our problems now so that we are not systematically colonized all over again.

Good Leaders are people who seek to reconcile things in the society.

Be the change you want to see in the world.







Mrs Ibukun Awosika.


What truly changes our lives is what we do with today and tomorrow.

We(Nigerians) need to talk to ourselves what exactly do we want?

Nigerians are dynamic and resourceful. We create businesses out of nothing.

Nigerians where has our fire gone? In time past you dare not insult the intelligence of Nigerians. Have we forgotten who we are?

The future of Nigeria is in the hands of the young ones those under the age of 35 because they constitute approximately 70% of the population. It is how they vote that will determine where the elections will turn. Young Nigerians should vote for the Nigeria they would love to live in.

There is dignity in for fighting for what is right.

A nation gets built when it's people are ready to build.

A nation gets built when its citizenry decide it's time to build.

You cannot reap what you do not sow invest in praying for Nigeria. Deuteronomy 29:29

The choice to rebuild the nation is our choice. Its time to build from bottom up.

We need to engage the inductive effect; changing Nigeria one person at a time. To propagate change influence someone and let it spread on.

I AM BECAUSE WE ARE.

We need to understand the implications of our actions. We need to stop accepting what is wrong as right. We need to stop acting like a people without a right. Stop acting Like a people without a right!

Nigeria is bigger than you or I. Even if you are standing alone persevere for ultimately you will see others joining you very soon.



Links

http://theplatformnigeria.com/

http://enoughisenoughnigeria.com

http://governance500.org

http://enterprise500.com

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Coming Soon

Hello friends, Very sorry its been so long a time, Wondering how come i haven't blogged so far this year. Guess i have been too busy to do so. Would be doing a review of the new Ubuntu 10.10 which would be released on the special 10-10-10. Watch out for that exciting review.

Monday, October 19, 2009

LET THERE BE LIGHT; THIS IS THE DESIRE OF OUR HEARTS AND WE ARE EMBARKING ON THIS WALK TO EXPRESS THIS DESIRE.

We are tired of being spoon fed electricity. We want it for real always there and always available just like the air we breathe. I am not sure if there was any point in Nigeria's history when light had always been there without it being interrupted. For how long would we continue in such a deplorable state this is not acceptable and it is our duty to change the way things work. We have to be daring and have a sincere desire to change things. This is about everything in this nation the issue of power cuts across every sector and every strata of the society this is why it cannot be taken with levity. People have died because there was no power in the hospital to help sustain them, companies are closing down or moving to neighbouring countries because of this same issue taking away the jobs and the lively hood of people and we continue to watch and stare complaining in our homes but unable to speak out promptly and unequivocally. This is why we are embarking on this walk for light and with this virtual walk. Our desire is this that the government break the monopoly of PHCN in the distribution of power to allow for private sector involvement just as this was done in the telecommunications sector in the case of NITEL (remember then?) and the number of phone lines grew from a miserly 400000 lines to an African record of 67 million lines. we believe this is possible and is one of the very many solutions to the epileptic power supply this nation is grappling with. The issue of constant power supply is not strange, many nations around the world have done it and are living in the reality of it even our neighbouring country Ghana is far past celebrating 1 year of uninterrupted power supply. Please Nigeria be the giant that you truly are. Lets WALK the TALK.

Join us at http://lettherebelightng.org/#

http://www.lightupnigeria.org/2009/10/walk-for-light/


Thursday, June 4, 2009

JAUNTYBUNTU: THE NEW FACE OF UBUNTU

THE ULTIMATE UBUNTU 9.04 REVIEW

The Jaunty Jackalope has been released into the wild. The New Ubuntu 9.04 is as amazing in its new features as it is in it's ease of use. With every release Ubuntu keeps getting better and better.

Today I will take you through some of the interesting features in this new release.


1. Ubuntu 9.04 in all its glory.


THE NEW IMPROVED NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

The first and really one of the most interesting features is the new notification system, which was designed to reduce the clutter that often characterised the notification area and to also change the way we interact with notifications. The result is a notification system that does not get in your way and maximises the power of Compiz for a transparency effect that allows unusual interactivity. Other application developers would also be able to use the notification framework to build notifications into their own applications. Making the notification area much saner.


2. The New Notification System.

You can interact with windows or objects position underneath the notification. When you mouse over the notification fades away gently giving you the ability to either close, minimize, maximize or even shade the window. It also allows you to interact with the objects on desktop e.g. icons and widgets.


3. Notification gets out of the way

EXT4 FILESYSTEM

The exceptional ext4 filesystem finds it's way into the new Ubuntu. I have been using ext4 for over a year now and the performance can truly be described as breath taking. So you can have your Ubuntu running on ext4fs. Expect improved performance when it comes to file transfers, file retrievals and the like.


FASTER BOOT TIMES

My Ubuntu boots in less that 15 seconds even after a month of loading it with various stuff it still performs like the beast it truly is. No more waiting before you see your beloved desktop. The sweetest bit is that it's planned to even boot faster in the next release.


NEW THEMES

I have always been annoyed at the themes that accompanied the former Ubuntu releases. But the current one stands out of the pack with two fresh themes and wallpapers Ubuntu 9.04 is a delight to the eyes.

The new themes new wave and dust; which will appeal to the fans of dark themes, are a bold step towards moving Ubuntu to the top of the eye candy charts.

4. The new themes: New Wave and Dust


5. Wallpaper goodness


THE OTHER GOODIES

The other goodies worth mentioning are Open-office 3.0, computer janitor, the usual sweetness of Compiz, Gnome 2.26, tabs in nautilus, the new boot screen, the new login screen and so much more. The server edition comes packed with utilities to help you get started with your own private cloud or on other clouds e.g. Amazons EC2, IBM 's blue cloud.

CONCLUSION

The new Ubuntu 9.04 is packed with so much promise and fulfilment, I've been using it for over a month now and it has left me in an utopian world of computing so go try it NOW!


Download Ubuntu: http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

Extend your Ubuntu: http://theindexer.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/to-do-list-after-installing-ubuntu-904-aka-jaunty-jackalope/