Randoms

At the Olympics to Mark Attendance

Jilomes

It is no longer news that thanks to Nigeria failing to win any medal at the Paris Olympics, the world was deprived of the privilege of hearing Nigeria’s freshly authorised old anthem. Whereas some would say that we redeemed ourselves at the Paralympics which held right after the Olympics, one might ask how many viewers worldwide would have been privileged to hear the extolling rhythm of our brotherhood when Onyinyechi Mark and Folashade Oluwafemiayo broke world records back-to-back on their backs. But at the Olympics, we floundered.

Continue reading “At the Olympics to Mark Attendance” →
Randoms

Jilomes.com: Ten Years Later

Jilomes

On October the First, 2014, while Nigeria marked 54 Years of Independence, I was somewhere in Osogbo in Nigeria’s South-West when I posted the first article on this blog. “Ibosa – Welcome” was the first of more than 340 articles that I have posted here. In the intervening decade, I have managed this site from different cities in about ten countries, taking my writing with me as I explore life. I have gone from writing on paper to typing everything directly as the thoughts are parsed through my neurons.

Continue reading “Jilomes.com: Ten Years Later” →
Change, Energy

A Different Kind of Petrol Subsidy for Nigeria

Jilomes

Recently, in a think-tank of sorts ensconced within a WhatsApp group, the issue of petrol subsidies came into play. Clearly, in Nigeria today, the issue of petrol subsidies, whether they are needed or not, whether they exist or not, is a serious discourse set within the context of a struggling economy. When someone suggested addressing the subsidy issue by digitising purchases tied to NIN, I had an eureka moment with an idea that could be seen as silly and unimplementable or provide a solution to a serious socioeconomic challenge.

Continue reading “A Different Kind of Petrol Subsidy for Nigeria” →
Inspiration

A Desperate Search for Peace

Jilomes

Literally all of us, including the famous “Ọmọ get inside” squad would remember a time when we had no care in the world. As children, we had no reason to worry about paying bills or whether Sister Amaka thought our armpits stank, or Brother Paul thought our blouse had one loose stitch. In our carefree world, we believed we could be anything. That belief was what Jesus alluded to when he said that we need to be like children to enter God’s Kingdom.

Continue reading “A Desperate Search for Peace” →
Change

Favouring the Poor Oppressor

Jilomes

“Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.”

(Leviticus 19:15, NLT)

If you were to have a random discussion with 100 persons about injustice in our society, you are sure to get sustained lamentations about the perversion of justice by wealthy persons who are able to bribe their way out of being punished for their crimes or have “connections” to get a judge to declare that white is actually black because both have five characters. What you are unlikely to hear is any complaint about injustice that favours the poor or powerless.

Continue reading “Favouring the Poor Oppressor” →
Change

An Anthem Better Than a Silver Bullet

Jilomes

Very few persons will ever have the privilege of witnessing surreal ingenuity as magnificent as the silver bullet to national malformation. Jodi Picoult, the American wannabe pessimist once claimed that “…There are no silver bullets in life, there’s just the long, messy climb out of the pit you’ve dug yourself.” But even Auntie Jodi would be enthralled to live in the same era as the wise men in two chambers who have discovered Nigeria’s short walk to freedom.

Continue reading “An Anthem Better Than a Silver Bullet” →
Inspiration

The Land is Green; Or Not

Jilomes

The Nigerian singer, TY Bello, sang a hit song asserting that “the land is green!” Interestingly, not a few Nigerians would argue otherwise because as it is commonly said, “the land appears greener on the other side”. Maybe we can say that all parties are both right and wrong, or as some cool Nigerians would say, “1:0; goalless draw!”

Continue reading “The Land is Green; Or Not” →
Inspiration

Uncle Wigwe and the Fickleness of Life

Jilomes

“For, All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall”

1 Peter 1:24 (NIV)

On 9 February 2024, news suddenly filtered through that a helicopter had crashed in the distant United States, bringing down with it a Nigerian famous enough to have people worrying and hoping he was not on board the chopper. Sadly, the news was confirmed; Herbert Wigwe, banking juggernaut, had died alongside his wife and their son. Alongside the Wigwes, Nigeria also lost another corporate juggernaut, Abimbola Ogunbanjo. For days, Wigwe was trending on social media platforms, but as certain as life is, people have moved on.

Continue reading “Uncle Wigwe and the Fickleness of Life” →
Inspiration

Of Life, Expectations, and Hopes for 2024

Jilomes

In primary school, we used to sing a marching song: “The day is bright; it’s bright and fair; oh happy day; the day of joy; … mama jollof rice!” Of course the “mama jollof rice” part was arguably not in the original rendering, but it was a testament to the joy that filled the hearts of the singers. Today, those singers are now adults, and for many, the joy has left. But with a whole year ahead of us, being joyful could be the recipe for staying sane.

Continue reading “Of Life, Expectations, and Hopes for 2024” →