The Great Foundations: What Have We Done With Them (Part 1)

Protocols: 

I salute you all especially the organizers of this great occasion. I want to particularly thank Professor B. C. Ozumba who I am sure nominated me for this great assignment. It is an indication of his special confidence in me. In a way too, for me, it is like coming home to an Institution that invested so much in me so that by this role which I am playing today, I am enjoying the privilege of being part of this University’s effort as it tries to establish this chair in honour of one of its greatest professors who has passed on to the great beyond.

Professor Kessandu Ogan was the founding Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gyneacology in this College of Medicine which has produced over six thousand (6000) Doctors since its inception. Pioneers often grapple with a myriad of problems. They assemble pioneer staff, procure first sets of equipment, handle accreditation matters and interpret approved curriculum as well as implement them so that over time they set standards which are supposed to compare with best practices locally and internationally. When the pioneer’s visions are clear and when he diligently sets out to lay enduring foundations he ends up crafting a system that stands firm no matter the intensity of tectonic forces that buffet the foundations the pioneer lays. Products from this medical school are creating waves all over the world in the practice of medicine, which to me, is an indication of the solidity or impregnability of the foundations on which the Medical School of our University of Nigeria was built by the pioneers who laid the foundations on which it stands today. One of those who took pain in establishing this College on sound, very sound foundations, is our elder brother Professor Kesandu Ogan who is being honoured today.

Is This The Right Attitude For You?

Discipline is the process of training oneself in obedience, self control, skill, etc. The controlled, ordered behavior results from such training. Discipline is the basis of the whole universe.

The solar system is governed by certain laws to maintain perfect harmony and beauty. Without this order, there would be utter chaos. Discipline is a basic requirement of a civilized society. Citizens of a disciplined nation work with a spirit of cooperation and unity. Aristotle has rightly said, "Discipline is obedience to rules formed by the society for the good of all.

Discipline should be inculcated from a very young age. Talent and genius alone are not enough to achieve success. Discipline has an equally important role to play. Talents blossom in a disciplined person.

Liberty is highly cherished and mush valued privilege in our society. But absolute liberty is not possible. Discipline involves a restraint on liberty, which is necessary for the interest of society. Discipline has been found necessary for both individual and social welfare. Discipline and restraint were deemed essential in prehistoric time also and as society has become more and more complex, the urgency and importance of discipline has been felt all the more.

Discipline is not only desirable but indispensable. Wherever discipline and regulation of human conduct are absent, moral and material deterioration has set in. Absence of discipline means decay. To prevent decay, discipline has to be imposed in the common interest and for the common good.

Amazingly It Is Called Mindset

A friend visited an Asian country and was totally amazed at what he saw ... this he eventually learnt was the process of taming elephant.

As my friend was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at any time, break away from the ropes they were tied to but for some reason, they did not.

My friend saw a trainer nearby and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away.  "Well," he said, "when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size of rope to tie them and, at that age, it's enough to hold them.  As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away.

This way, the elephants come to believe that the rope can still hold them (irrespective of their size as it did when they were smaller), so they never try to break free." My friend was amazed". These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn't, they were stuck right where they were.

Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? So make an attempt to grow further.... Why shouldn't we try it again?

Your attempt may fail, but never fail to make an attempt.  CHOOSE not to accept the false boundaries and limitations created by the past... because it is called mindset.

Surprise, Jesus Christ Had A 13th Disciple

For all those who have at one time or the other attended Church services or should I say Sunday School classes will agree with me that Jesus' disciples on record were twelve!

But a close look at the account in the scriptures reveal that Jesus actually invited a 13th disciple who got vexed, depressed, overwhelmed etc with the conditions for discipleship and in the words of the scriptures:

                    '... looked sad and went away sorrowful ...'. (Mark 10:22)

This situation brings to our mind the fundamental importance of purpose in life. (click read more to continue)
Purpose is: a resolution, determination, intention or something one is set out to attain in life. Our character (Jesus' 13th disciple) in Mark 10 had obeyed all the commandments and his heart yearned for more in the pursuit of excellence and service to God.  In the pursuit of this deeper quest he encountered Jesus Christ who gave him the simple remedy to the yearning of his heart. The remedy was that he should go and:

          -   maintain the statuesque (his present spiritual perception and altitude);
          -   sell everything that he has and
          -   come and follow me (Jesus Christ)

Amazingly he backed out on this demand not because he was rich, educated, influential etc but because he did not understand the purpose for his existence - which was actually to fear God and live for him. With this ignorance of purpose came the lack of understanding of the fact that God is capable of giving him back all that He was asked to give to the poor. Remember also the scriptures: 'When you give to the poor, it is like lending to the Lord, and the Lord will pay you back' (Proverbs 19:17) and ultimately the natural law of sowing and reaping will always run its course: '.. what a man sows, he will reap..' (Gal. 6:7).

If he had understood this, he would have willingly given out what he had knowing that the person asking for it (God), will give it back to him (Mark 10:29 - 30); and maybe we would have been celebrating the thirteen disciples of Christ and not twelve. Read Mark 10:17 - 31 for the details of this 13th disciple.

The lessons for us here is:

Except we understand the purpose of our existence, there are certain things that we will keep struggling with. The struggle is not because doing these things are difficult but because we need a paradigm shift (from where we are presently) in order to understand we need to do them.  Also there are some mistakes we eventually make in life not because we are not on the right path but because our purpose is not defined (remember that when purpose is not known or defined, abuse is inevitable).

Ask yourself: 'what have I lost because my purpose in life was not defined?'  If you sincerely answer that, I want to announce to you that Jesus Christ is very willing to give you a second chance to make it up for your loses.  That is if you will be willing to allow His spirit guide you through it. Do not miss this opportunity of leaving a legacy that posterity with identify with.

That 13th disciple could be you!

Secrets Of A Purpose Driven Life

Introduction: By way of introduction it will be important you read the scriptures (Mark 10:17 - 31). Let us now define the following words from our topic:

  •  Youth: The definition of the word ‘youth’ is relative as there is no clear cut definition to it. Here are some of the definitions rendered to it:

- ‘The time of life when a person is young’ (when one is not yet old).

- ‘One within the ages of puberty and 45years old.

   •  Life: This is defined by the advanced Learners dictionary as the quality to breathe, grow, reproduce etc.

•   Purpose: The intention, aim or intention of a thing.

From the foregoing therefore a ‘Purpose driven life’ simply means a life that is literally lived on purpose economically, Psychologically, socially, politically, emotionally, educationally, career pursuit etc (that is a live that is lived with an aim, intention, reason, principle etc). The question here then is: “What is the purpose of your existence?” To understand the purpose of a product, you must work at understand first the product (anything that can be offered to a market to satisfy a want or a need – it could be a physical good or service). Let us x-ray the Christian as a product: