True meaning of Easter (Happy Easter)

Easter is here again, yes it is. The words ‘Happy Easter’ is muttered by almost everyone, everywhere around the world. Sadly enough, I am mostly indifferent about these greetings. What is in Easter to be happy about, or what exactly is the true meaning of Easter, I ask myself (just as I asked ‘what is good about Good Friday’)? Perhaps, you reason as I do. Has Easter lost its true meaning?

Rising Stars -"...I started with nothing, absolutely nothing"

So after about three weeks of scheduling and rescheduling, I finally met the very beautiful and busy person behind Teaze Couture. 25 years old Ayotunde Omitogun, our star for the month of May, is a young fashion enthusiast who is gradually carving a niche for herself in the complex world of fashion.

 At a time where an average young Nigerian looks forward to getting a good paying job in the unsteady ‘favor’ market after graduation, Tunde (as I like to call her) decides to chart her own course and in turn create jobs in the process.

Tunde’s tenacity in living her dream is very inspiring and the humility of her persona is simply enchanting (she is so ‘camera shy’, she hardly takes pictures of herself). 

In this interview with Seun of FreshHouse (FH), Ayotunde talks about her love for fashion and how she has managed so far in the fashion business. Excerpts:

Rising Stars: the intro

     first of all...introduction...ahh..introduction...first of all...na me write...(lol..u sef don dey dance abi..lol..i just love that Olamide's tune) **clears throat**  oya back to business!

I am officially introducing this new feature on my blog titled “Rising Stars” but before I continue on what rising stars is about, I will like to say a big thank you for taking time out to read my last post on Easter Sunday. I was overwhelmed at the total number of views the post got. Thanks again and a happy new month to you.

I need a Job

"if you can't find a Job, create one!"

So it has been a while I posted something on my blog. Checking out my last post, I realized say one year don waka sharparly –just like that!  Well, e no kuku be my fault. Na NYSC cause am. Yes, I have been away serving my country Nigeria, under the rain and in the sun, somewhere in a land called Osun.  There was a lot of experience to share and write about but somehow, I just didn’t find the urge to lift my pen or strike my keyboard. I am back now, back to Lagos, the center of excellence and my story is a different one.  

I never really thought I would find myself in this shape. I always thought I had it figured out. After graduation, get a job (of course I did, before NYSC came calling), go for National service, get a job again, start a second degree, and the dream goes on. The problem now is; it seems the dream has taken a pause and all my effort to press play for the past one month isn’t responding. 

With the two digit percent unemployment rate in Nigeria, I fear I don’t get caught up in the unemployment storm. The hustle to get gainfully employed in this country is maddening. What else can a fresh graduate with honors from a reputable institution do to get a job? CV has been carefully drafted and distributed to potential employers yet, no word from them. Honestly, sending out resumes bores me.

Five weeks without any constructive thing to do except patiently waiting for God’s favor to locate you no be easy something o. You are wondering why I am mentioning God here, right? Every average Nigerian is a believer of some sort. Right now, I pray my Oga at the Top favors me, lol.

Although I pray my adventure in the job market is short-lived, I think it is time to start looking beyond paid employment. What if my job search tarries, will I be staying at home doing nothing? Of course not! 

I recently fell in love with Graphics design and photography, so I guess that is what I will be using to fill in. I might even start posting some of my works, so watch out.  As I write this, a little voice in my head is saying “if you can’t find jobs, why not create one?” 

Perhaps you are reading this and you are in my shoes, I guess it is time you search yourself for possible things you can do or enjoy doing without necessarily wasting time on job hustling. After all, great businesses today were started by people who had no jobs. If the job comes, fine; if it doesn’t, the better.  Like the movie #3idiots, I conclude by saying “All iz well”.                       [To be continued next week]

Going For Nysc? Read this!

hey guys, in preparation of our orientation camp and service year, i have decided to share with you this article written by a nairalander "Riff-Raff". Am sure you are all going to find this piece helpful and useful. You can as well read the main article on (see attached link).


Seun, FreshHouse Nigeria. 


Enjoy!

It’s about that time when u go and serve your country, hopefully In a week or 2 u will know which of the state u are going for your NYSC orientation. I have taken the liberty to interview some of my friends to learn their camping experience; I have also scouted blogs, dairies, journals and other archives in,  a bid to get as much info as possible about the three weeks of camp.

For those of you that are scared cuz it’s the first time you are leaving your family for such a long time, don’t worry you are not alone. It is that anxiety that lead me to this research; hearing people recount their camping experience has put me a little bit at ease. According to most people it is the best 3 weeks of their lives. “u wouldn’t want to leave”. Well, i will be the judge of that after my own experience. I decided to get a comprehensive list of the things we might need to make life at the camp a more palatable experience. Below is the list of things you will likely need:

My Sojourn

Weary i turned
from the wind's travails
A place to be
where peace travails,

So I set on a journey
with a friend to see the goddess.
On the long black snake
we went through the green forest,
to reach the land
of the river goddess.

I questioned worshipers
where are my people -people of Osun!
Have they departed the yeye?

The royal sandal had kicked
the bucket i heard
from a whisper.

Oh! Am at peace now
for I know mother goddess will grief too.

If she does, why me?

-2010 Osun festival

I call it love

This thing i feel for you is the greatest.

Yet so subtle, i can't seem to control.
I call it love.

Like a smile...like a good song, I always yearn for more.

Each and every day, my heart always loves you.

Look into my eyes and listen;
I love you with all my heart 'cos you are the only reason my heart smiles.
Am giving you my heart this day and I hope you let it beat with yours always.
-to the love of my life

Born Again

The endless journey
comes to an end yet again;
Only to begin again.
Nine whole months
Birthed yet another journey.
My time in the womb
is but a time to ponder.

mmm..let me speak
what I've seen,
Let me say
what I felt,
Let me write
what i did,
for I know the next time,
I will be born again.

A Ray of Hope

When we lose and can't find
to be consoled is sweet to the mind
I want to know how to do it!
Must i wait to feel the heat?

My love, my heart!
Your mind is heavy
-yes, i can feel it.
'Cos our worlds have come to match

Your voice shakes,
From the terror of the bland rogues.
Soon you'll climb the ropes,
Of what life brings to bring you hope.

Everything for a reason,
this you should know.
Just like a season,
times like this will blow
-and the sun will shine again.