Sunday 28 June 2020
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BDSUNDAY 19
TheWorshipper Inspiration With Rev. Yomi Kasali
info@yomikasali.com
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had a beautiful time on my Instagram Live program over the weekend and shared my thoughts on the subject of Internet Fraud, most of my followers share my sentiments on the subject and we actually agreed that it is something that shouldn’t be discussed within the church walls because it’s simply a ‘no brainer.’ However, I noticed that the conversation strayed into Money and Morals which my associates and I
Battle of the giants; morals and money ruminated over the two issues and concurred without debate that these Two are Giants today battling for the Control of humans. Sadly, it looks like One is Winning the battle and the other losing grounds daily without hope of recovery except something is done fast. Let me Inspire you today with the very popular scripture on Money and Morals; many of us haven’t seen this passage in that light but that’s actually what Apostle Paul was trying to drive into Timothy’s mind and spirit, I will paraphrase the scripture to make sense in our today’s language below; ‘for the love of money is the root of all evil...’ – (1 Tim 6 v 10) ‘It’s the love of money that is the cause of all moral issues in this world...’ (Yomi Kasali’s Version) ‘d love of moni na im dey mek pesin chuk hand inside all kain of yama yama tins’ – (Pidgin) The above says a lot between Money and Morals. I’ll be doing a sermon series on the Battle between these Giants controlling and influencing humanity in the coming month but let me briefly share my thoughts on what we can do to get our morals
NEWS MTN, Netng partner to create awareness on drug, substance abuse SEYI JOHN SALAU
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TN Nigeria , the telecommunications company, has announced a partnership agreement with Netng and some media outfits seen at creating awareness against substance abuse in commemorating the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking with an unfiltered conversation about the increasing prevalence of drug abuse among Nigerian youth. MTN partnered with MTV Base, BusinessDay, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to host a Drug Convos on Thursday, 26 June, 2020. With the current restriction on movement, MTN leveraged its digital platform across spectrum for an online Drug Convos to discuss everything around drug abuse, from addiction to how firsttime users get hooked. A statement from the telecommunication company said the collaboration with
Netng was based on its status as a leading voice in Nigerian pop culture and the number one source of entertainment for young people, hence the partnership to reach youth with this important message in a language they can understand via various digital media channels. MTN’s Anti Substance Abuse Programme (ASAP) was launched in December 2018 as a multi-stakeholder intervention aimed at creating awareness about drug and substance abuse, and discouraging first time users from taking the first step to possible addiction. A 2018 survey by NOIPolls concluded that marijuana, codeine, and alcohol are the most abused substances in Nigeria, “particularly amongst teenagers and young adults aged between 15 – 29 years.” However, in 2019, MTN through ASAP visited secondary schools to have open discussions about the dangerous effects of substance abuse among young people who fall into the most affected demography.
back on track. We must rebuild the Moral Institutions in our society like in every other society. These Institutions have been destroyed by Money and those who are on the side of Money have thrown Morals out of their lives because of the Love of Money. There are at least 5 very powerful Moral Institutions that have been destroyed in Nigeria and until we rebuild them, we may struggle to have a country where Merit is King, Character is Honoured, Competence is Embraced, Corruption is Loathed, Evil is Condemned, Crime is Reduced, Lives are Protected and Women are not Abused. 5 Moral institutions to rebuild Home: We cannot over emphasizetheplaceofHome Training in the moral development of a child. I first learnt
not to lie from home, my parents slammed me when I stole, I was taught not to fight from home, I learnt Respecting elders from home, etc. It is sad that parents have failed their children and have left their home training responsibilities. Money talks not Morals in most homes today. School: Immediately after we leave our homes, we go to school and the teachers not only taught us academics but also Moral Education. They drove it into us through songs in local languages, teachers used to ‘cane’ us for coming to school late, we didn’t cheat during exams, we didn’t take another person’s pen and writing materials, we observed what was called ‘punishment’ in those days in school. However, today, our parents pay for ‘special centres’ for their children and ladies give sex for grades; boys are all cultists etc.
Traditional institutions: Our kings, Obas and Ezes were custodians of our traditions and cultures, but the English man came and told us to throw them all away, some weak and feeble leaders that had inferiority complex embraced western culture for local culture. That is why our young people put their pants way below their waste; they wear gold chains like gangsters; they use the F word as if it’s okay to do so; they have imported a different culture in the name of civilization and some ladies are even trying out Ultra-feminism in the name of Civilization. Shame on us! Religious institution: This is the point where I weep always, because even if all others fail, those who are closer to God and teach us God’s word should never let Money also corrupt their values and weaken their Morals. The church has also failed us all, since we stared preaching prosperity messages in a bid to compete with businessmen (whose work is profit driven and ours isn’t) by buying private jets and living outlandish lifestyles. The church is supposed to be the biggest Moral Institution,
but it has become a Business Enterprise where they teach you how to make money. POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE: This is where the West are far better than us; they see those in political leadership over them as Moral Leaders hence when one is found wanting, the Media will pile pressure on such until he resigns. The standards are very high for them but ours is a Comedy House of Shame; politics without values, and the people love it so. Let me stop here and get feedbacks from you. If you have been Inspired, kindly drop me a note and I hope to reply you once I get it. Drop me a note of acknowledgment and encouragement and also follow me on my Social media handles below: Instagram: @yomi_kasali Twitter: @yomi_kasali Facebook: www.facebook. com/revyomikasali Youtube: www.youtube.com/ revyomikasali Be Inspired! Rev Yomi Kasali is Senior Pastor, Foundation of Truth Assembly (FOTA), Surulere, Lagos.
How Coca-Cola $17m intervention help salvaged COVID-19 response across Africa SEYI JOHN SALAU
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n helping the most vulnerable and preventing the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) towards contributing to the recovery of local economies, the CocaCola System and the CocaCola Foundation, under the ‘In this Together’ initiative has so far commited approximately $17m across Africa in response to COVID-19. Across Africa and in partnership with NGOs, Coca-Cola in Africa, and its bottling partners (the “Coca-Cola System”) and The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF), have been deploying
a range of resources, including capabilities, funds and products to support governments, communities and local economies in their urgent efforts to contain the spread and impact of the Coronavirus since its outbreak on the continent. The Coca-Cola System is committing US$13million to support the continent through the various phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF) has given grant amounting to about $4 million to international and local NGOs, such as the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Amref Health to procure
and distribute personal protective equipment (PPEs) and other critical needs for frontline workers and to help fund ICU-enabled ambulances in places like Mauritius and Madagascar. The Coca-Cola system also donated to National Solidarity Funds in South Africa, Morocco and Djibouti while additional funds were allocated to boost awareness and mobilization to help stem infections in vulnerable communities across Africa. In addition to suspending all commercial advertising of its brands and deploying its marketing and trade assets, including social media channels, product labels and point-of-sale materials,
to amplify COVID-19 messaging; the Coca-Cola System is providing funding and other forms of support to help bolster the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the retail, hospitality and recycling sectors,whohavebeenamong the hardest hit businesses across the continent. The Coca-Cola company is also working with some NGOs and social enterprises, including Givefood.ng in Nigeria, Gift of the Givers in South Africa and National Di s a s t e r Ma n a g e m e n t agencies to provide food parcels for vulnerable families whose livelihood has been disrupted by the lockdown and other restrictions.
Kwara govt embraces tree planting initiative SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin
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h e Kw a r a St a t e Government has endorsed the tree planting initiative to protect and sustain the environment as well as boost the economy. Th e s t a t e De p u t y Governor, Kayode Alabi made this known during a tree-planting ceremony at the Bundies Therapeutic Garden,
General Hospital, Ilorin. Alabi advised residents of the state to be environmental and health-conscious, just as he emphasised the importance of tree planting to making the community green and clean. Alabi had while assuring the determination of the government to make the environment habitable for all, he reminded everyone to be conscious of Covid-19 pandemic.
Ea r l i e r, Mu h a m m a d Saifudeen the Commissioner o f En v i r o n m e n t s a i d the state government through the Ministry of Environmentwouldembrace environmental-friendly ideas capable of improving the environment and the state. Saifudden added that the ministry had read the riot act to perpetrators of tree felling for charcoal production, dumping of refuse in gutters and rivers and littering of the
environment. He, therefore, called on all to jealously protect the environment as the government will clamp down on violators. Acting Chief Medical Director, General Hospital, Ilorin, Bola Abdulkadir appreciated the innovation of Bundies Care saying, the Therapeutic Garden would not only help the patients and their relatives recuperate, but it will also help the staff relax.