Just 4 Rubies

This little girl is Miss Morufat Lawal, a pupil of AUD Basic  School in Fiditi Afijio Local Govt of Oyo State. Fiditi, by all standards is a rural area dominated by farmers. I may not be able to prove it but her parents may not be rich or educated-- in Nigeria, the rich children attend private schools as against government-owned schools LET ME SHOCK YOU ! Morufat is the overall winner of the National Mathematics Competition in Abuja, Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory 2015 beating all contestants from both the Public and Private schools in Nigeria. I celebrate this genius who against all odds remains excellent. She apparently wasn't attending well equipped school, had no access to best resources, didn't get best of meals, parents couldn't afford best of clothings, yet she conquered everyone! For her brilliant performance, she was awarded a N6 million scholarship by the National Mathematical Centre (NMC), Abuja. Morufat now attends International Model Science Aca...

Jedidah Moses is by all standards an achiever. Yes, she is an amazing an upward-mobile lady whose story continues to inspire hope, courage, strength, determination and faith to pull through whatever obstacle and attain uncommon success. In this edition, Jedidah shares the story of her journey from primary to tertiary institution; but it’s not just the story of the hurdles, poverty, threats, sickness and failure: It’s also that of victory, healing, provision, divine intervention, favour and A-Status Success. Excerpts- The reason I decided to share the story of my life is to encourage everyone that will read it. Obviously, I have not reached to my zenith; but I am moving steadily on a journey to the fulfillment of my dream. My father lost his job when I was seven years old and in Primary 4. There was really no hope of furthering my education at the time because my parents used their resources on a house they were building before daddy’s loss of job. Somehow, help c...

Victory at Last ; President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo receives 21 freed Chibok Schoolgirls!

Imagine a teenage girl playing games with her friends, only to be cornered by some old men/women, dragged down and subjected to some severe cuttings in her private part. And while she is groaning in pains and bleeding, the perpetrators and family members begin to wine and dine. A woman once narrated her ordeal. “I was seven months pregnant when my mother insisted I be circumcised. I refused, but she and other older women persuaded me, saying it to widen my vagina orifice and make delivery easier. They also said that if the head of a baby touches the clitoris, he will die. I obliged and by the time they were through, I felt really horrible. In fact, I lay in a pool of blood for some time. I later realised that I should have conserved enough blood for childbirth. How sad that when it was time for me to deliver, I ended up in hospital where I had to be transfused with blood before I could recover strength. I escaped death narrowly.” The question is, if male circumcision is m...

Beatrice Rumaga (not real name) is in every respect a dignified lady. She hails from Benue State, a minority base in the middle belt area of Nigeria. Tall, slim and elegant, she is an epitome of beauty, much to be desired by men. But she is bitter against her people; she is aggrieved with a tradition, which compelled her to be circumcised at the age of 16. Her story: “At 16, a lady is considered ripe for marriage, and just before she is given out to a man, she is expected to go through circumcision. And so when the community elders came to make this demand, I objected and told them I was not interested. But my parents would have none of such eccentric behaviour. ‘It is forbidden’ my father thundered. My mother cried and pleaded that I consent to it so as to uphold the communal tradition and also prevent my family from being ostracized. I could not help but oblige.” And what happened afterward? “Two old men dragged me down on top of some banana leaves and cut off my clito...

The birth of a baby is a noble experience for every mother. It is one rapturous feeling that we all look forward to. Yes! A new born baby is often regarded as a bundle of joy; hence the act of cuddling such comes with unexplainable peace and happiness. It does not matter what the sex of the baby is; No, it does not matter if the tiny life is a boy or girl. What matters most is the tranquillity, the peace, the glow and the hope that the arrival of the baby brings. Unfortunately however, despite the many years of advancement in science and technology, there are still strong indications to believe that the female gender is somewhat doomed to be a part of the human race. The story of creation that we learnt as little children said God first created the man, then the woman: not for the woman to be subservient but for her to be a suitable helper to the man; and for both of them to fulfil specific roles in the human family. There is also a popular saying that while the man is th...