Diary of Ige

25 November is the International Day to End Violence against Women & the 🌎 is turning orange 🧡 to show that #GenerationEquality stands against gender-based violence.  Let’s kick off the #16Days of Activism with UN Women & #orangetheworld! Remember, you are not alone.  For more information,please click on the link below: https://www.un.org/en/observances/ending-violence-against-women-day #spreadtheword

Logged out of work and remained at the table with nothing other than mini stollen bites and chilled Baileys Irish Cream on my mind! I've been thinking of how to make this Christmas one to remember (…yeah I know what’s going on, I haven’t just crawled out from under a rock!) just as the whole year 2020 will be unforgettable.....do I hear an Amen?! Having a Christmas devoid of a proper school nativity, Christmas panto, carol services where you are belting out songs at the top of your lungs (now, I’d be panic stricken if someone decides to sing near me!) or going to a Christmas Market teeming with loads of people while you work your way through each stall, munching on warm delicious macaroons or giant churros dripping with warm chocolate syrup! I refuse to feel depressed about anything and instead make this 2020 Christmas a memorable one as God will allow! I had a white Christmas tree delivered weeks ago and I already have my theme in my head. Never had a white tree before, alwa...

Autumn never was a season I would say I embraced, probably because of the mess I thought it made, with all the dead leaves falling to the ground and the additional job of having to tidy your garden! My kids have always loved it, they love kicking their feet through the pile of leaves and grabbing a fistful of it and throwing it up in the air (with me holding my breath and praying they weren't grabbing dog poo with it!) I have now come to see it differently, more appreciative of how nature and things around us respond to these changes in seasons. I don't see dry and dead leaves again but beautiful autumn shades. I don't see a mess again but an autumn inspired beautifully decorated carpet. It gives us time too, time to prepare for a harsher season, winter. This got me thinking of how God has a strategy to all He does, there is absolutely no chaos to anything He does. That is why we can use our intelligence to unravel things and find solutions to several issues. Some m...

Education has a great role to play in all this mayhem in Nigeria. Is quality education being wielded as a weapon against the less privileged? This protest has unveiled a lot to the world or should I say it confirms nothing has changed with the education system except for a rise in private schools which majority of families in Nigeria simply can’t afford. This generation is too 'woke' as they call it and are beginning to see through all the lies and deceit they are being fed. Public Schools in Nigeria is a mockery and I wonder if they think it’s every family that can afford to send their kids to private schools. Why must the less privileged always be left behind? They have been failed in healthcare and in education, two vital provisions of every responsible government to it's citizens. Don’t forget that if you do not train children as you should, they will train themselves as they see fit and God help you when that happens, it's Proverbs 22 vs 6 that says: Point ...

Still watching the news with much sadness as there are still so much atrocities being committed against peaceful protesters.I'm however gladdened by the way the youths are coming together and demonstrating how resourceful they can be, they have rallied around each other, covering all bases: medical attention for the injured, raising funds to keep the momentum, providing legal services to victims and their families and a host of other exemplary actions. What this government and past ones have failed to do in decades, the youths have achieved within days. These politicians keep recycling themselves and their incompetence in elections just for the sole purpose of lining their pockets. I wonder how and when the country’s resources become a national cake that is to be shared amongst a select few! My prayer is for the youths out on the streets protesting justly and demanding for their basic rights, of which at the fore front is the basic right to life, to live a rich and full life,...

These past few days have been emotionally draining for me, I've just been taken aback by the stories of sheer callousness of the Nigerian Police and it is absolutely a must they hear the voices of those demanding for change. It's just so heartbreaking that it's coming at a time when we are all dealing with this global pandemic but there has to be a change, this brutality should not be tolerated or accepted as a normal. Anyone reading this may or may not have any family or friends in Nigeria but for those of us who do, we are now more than ever checking and ensuring they are safe. I've been advising the men in my family to not wear dreadlocks or sport anything fancy as it might make them stand out as "possible criminals" ( those words sound so silly but it's a fact) even though they are well educated and upright citizens like those I have seen on the news articulately pleading their case while protesting peacefully on the streets of Nigeria! The citiz...

So, I have gone through every emotion you can think of, with this dreadful lockdown. When you feel like things are taking a turn for the better, you get a rude shock! Even as I acknowledge these terrible times we are in, the fear and uncertainty that creeps in at times, like Joshua and Caleb, I continuously choose to see the other side of this where God’s mercy has prevailed over us all. (Bible Reference: Numbers 13) Ok, as much as I would hate to admit it, I have been feeling entitled of late. I am usually the one to reach out to others to check on them and make sure they are doing ok but recently, I find myself hesitating to do so, telling myself that they should be the ones reaching out to me and counting how long it’s been since this or that person checked on me and that I just couldn’t be bothered. I have since overcome that negative feeling, but it made me realize how easy one could find themselves on this slippery path of having this ‘entitlement mentality’ which could a...

Still here full of gratitude for life and trusting that this Covid-19 too shall pass. I have had my rants over these past weeks and scares as well but also ventured into the city after months of hiding away. I was even brave enough to stop for lunch at a fast food restaurant which looking back on, I probably shouldn’t have. I have learnt a lot over these past few months, I think having time on your hands forces you to reflect on a lot of things: family, relationship, life, God and most importantly yourself. I have found myself carefully considering a lot of my past decisions and if I would have done anything differently. The answer to that for me was: ‘possibly’ and that came with no bitterness as I know almost everyone of us would love to have a time machine that could help us take a trip back to the past to change a few things. I have learnt to embrace every past decision and action as it has sculpted the person I am today. Failure teaches you how to succeed. I’ve seen a lo...

Happy Sunday everyone! Listening to a message this morning reminded me of a little story I had written a few months back for my kids to help them learn to pray and trust God for healing. I thought to share it this beautiful Sunday morning. 😊 Nana Flo : Why the sad face Toby? Toby : Nana Flo, I was going to go over to play on the PS4 with Ben next door, he is not feeling so well again and can’t even play with me! Toby sobbed. Nana Flo: That's a pity, I hope he feels much better. Would you like us to hold hands and pray for him? Toby: Would that work Nana Flo? I really want him to feel better, he is one of my nicest friends! Nana Flo: Of course! Oh Toby! See let me tell you something, as children of God, when anything troubles us we can always take it to God in prayer, we can communicate with him freely, anywhere, anytime having faith that he listens, that’s the key thing, choosing to trust in His plan for us. See, let me tell you the story of Lazarus: Lazarus lived in ...

Oatie Breakfast Cookies: My kids would remind me over and over again how much they disliked porridge oats but since I started making them into these cookies, they have asked for it most mornings for breakfast. It takes approximately 45mins to prepare and bake in the oven. Ingredients 100g Rolled Oats 100g Plain Flour 100g Slightly Salted Butter 50g Brown Sugar 2 Tablespoon Golden Syrup 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon Powder 1 Large Egg 1/2 Cup Semi Skimmed Milk Directions Heat your oven to 170C Fan Melt the butter in hot water (not boiling) and set aside Pour all the dry ingredients (Oats, Flour, Cinnamon and Sugar) into a mixing bowl and mix together Make a well in the middle of the dry mix and add the egg, milk, syrup and melted butter **At this stage, you can add milk chocolate chunks or Blueberries if you desire** Mix in gradually with a wooden spoon (preferably) till a thick paste is formed Use your wooden spoon to scoop small portions unto the baking tray (line tray with...