GOTNI Leaders Forum February 16th in Abuja: Photos Speak

The Leaders Forum Abuja held yesterday, February 16, 2015 at GOTNI office complex. The inspiring session featured Networking session, SMILE campaign presentation, Video discussion session on " A Leader as a Mobilizer" and questions were tackled. The main teaching for the day was inspired by Desiderious Erasmus who lived in the 14th century, titled "The Art of Peace" and  Linus Okorie taught the topic impactfully.

Watch out for the video of this teaching on www.gotni.org/videos and follow us on Facebook and Twitter via (@gotning).

See pictures below

GOTNI Releases Disclaimer on Omololu Omotosho Facebook Photo claim

Our attention has been drawn to a post by Omololu Omotosho on February 8th, 2015 alleging that President Goodluck Jonathan sent GOTNI president, Linus Okorie to him in Texas. His words exactly were:

"I would rather not do this. But there is nothing wrong in setting the record straight. This is the gentleman, Linus Okorie, that President Goodluck Jonathan sent to meet with me here in Texas. Mr. Okorie came from Nigeria and lives there. It is God that has the power. I get nasty messages in my inbox from Nigerians living in Nigeria. It is time for me to change the settings on my Facebook pertaining to who can send me messages. What they do not know is that the more they attack me, the more I wanna fight......I fight with my pen and pad obviously. I have met with them twice: My first meeting with President Jonathan's people was in 2013. At that time they refused a picture when I asked for one. Some people think I am stupid. But I am not..... I may be looking at you like I don't know what is going on.....but I am not stupid. I just let you do you........."

However, we want to state categorically that the young man Omololu Omotosho took the attached photo with Linus Okorie when he visited Linus Okorie in Houston during one of Linus’ official trips by Guardians Of The Nation International (GOTNI) in August 2014.

Nigerian Youths Stand Up to Stop Mediocrity In Leadership: GOTNI Launches SMILE

Nigeria over the years has encountered the malaise of poor leadership and a weak democratic state. Rather than citizens’ vote count, the Nigerian society has experienced corruption, forgery, victimization and in extreme cases, murder of innocent citizens in her electoral process. After the 2011 elections rated as by the International community as relatively free and fair, was marred by several deaths of some electoral officers (mainly Youth Corps members), the situation have rendered many Nigerians (especially young Nigerians) hopeless in believing their votes will count in the recent 2015 election which has been at the crux of the present tension.

It is on this basis, that the SMILE campaign was initiated in 2011 and finally unveiled on February 2, 2015. The Social Media Advocacy begins from February 3 to March 30th, 2015 in two phases- The awareness phase 'I AM #Ready2SMILE' which holds from Feb. 3-13th and the Opinion phase #SMILE and 'Opinion'  from Feb. 14 -March 30th, 2015.

This Stop Mediocrity in leadership (SMILE) campaign was unveiled during the Brand awareness session of the GOTNI Leaders Forum,  on Monday, February 2, 2015 at Reiz Continental Hotel Abuja.

Feel the fear – Yes I can: by Felix Iziomoh

“Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.”- Roger Crawford

Challenges are an everyday part of life, Yes, I can do it is a phrase we hear all the time, and these are words that keep us going strong. A few years ago, I had to find a way to cope with financial and family issues which could have ruined my life. Before I was admitted into the University, it was a tough one for me; when I was admitted into the University, I faced other tough challenges. Often, when we face challenges in our daily lives, our stumbling blocks seem very small in comparison to what many others face. The impossible can be realised with persistence and determination, no matter the unusual. Even the most far away dream can be realised with persistence and determination. I continually review the decisions I made in past years and see that I had to believe in myself and never give up the struggle for my survival.

I strongly believe that my Yes, I can attitude really empowered me to always go for what I wanted. During my sad moments, I found strength in my ability to survive by respecting the power within me. This is the same power which is in us all. I always try to accept life's challenges as an opportunity to explore new things. With persistence and determination, you can overcome challenges. We are familiar with persistence and determination; they are the words of achieving victory. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence and determination. You may have heard the story of Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, and believe he is the stuff of which real leaders are made. Knowing his story, it is easy for us to think about this leader as someone who belongs to a particular cultural tradition, empowered by some extraordinary qualities that smooth his path towards inevitable success. His is the story of a man who has faced significant legal challenges; he fought a long legal battle over allegations of racketeering, corruption, money laundering and fraud. In December 2005, Zuma was charged with raping a 31-year old woman. On 6 April 2009, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) dropped all charges against him. He won the election on 6 May 2009 and was sworn in as president of South Africa on 9 May 2009. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

 Some have believed in the past that leaders are marked out for leadership early in their lives, and if you are not a leader, there's little that you can do to become one. Fortunately, that is not the way we see it now and research supports this. The modern view is that through patience, persistence, determination and hard work, one can become a highly effective leader. Every organization or collection of people, from large to small, requires devoted and skilled leaders. It is said that everything rises and falls on leadership, and it is true. Every group, be it families, towns, churches, organizations and even nations, fulfils its purposes and potential based on the leadership they have shown.

Email: flelixi@yahoo.com

The Big dreamer, Tomorrow's Leader - Somto Mbelu

Before a house is built, there must be a prototype of that particular building on paper. Were the idea has being conceived already. For one to lead effectively. One has to be able to see into the future. He has to be able to think and reason forward. When one thinks and plans towards the future. The actions and way he lives every day. Must work in connection to what he wants to become or achieve in the future. Nothing happens by chance. Some of the inventions which are in use now. Has being conceived by inventors a long time ago.

 I remember very well several years ago. Then I was a teenager, there once lived an old man. This old man had provided virtually all the answers to every question that were ever asked or brought to him. One day two young men decided to prove the old man wrong for the first time.

Somtochukwu Mbelu

They caught two birds and went straight to the old man with their hands closed tight with birds. They said old man! You have always provided answer to all questions ever asked in this village. So now, tell us these birds we got in our hands are they life birds or dead birds. The old man was astonished to hear this strange question for the first time.

The two young men had decided beforehand that if the old man answers the question by saying “the birds are dead ‘they will release the birds from their hands and let the birds fly away but if the old man on the other one says ‘the birds are alive’, they will quickly squeeze the birds in their hands to death to prove the old man wrong so either way the old man would be wrong. Even the old man knew this and decided not attempt that dreaded question. But concluded by telling them that, it all depends on them to decide whether the birds are alive or not.

You see, friends. The poorest man in the world is the man without a dream. The most frustrated man in the world is the man with dream that never become a reality. I am sure that everyone, no matter the race, culture, nationality or socio-economic status; no matter how rich or poor we are, weather we were born in the bush, village or amidst marble floors, we all dream.

 Everything depends on our decision on how we want to carry on in this life. It all depends on the big picture we see or conceive within us. If you can think it, you can do. Whatever God can do for you is what your mind has failed to think. As far as your mind can think anything it can achieve it. That is why we must strive to feel our mind with positive thoughts. Cause everything comes from within.

Dreams are a bit parts of our lives and you must do whatever it takes to make them a reality by the plans you make, the cause you take and things you do. Don’t dwell on the past mistakes: Leave yesterday behind along with its problems, worries and doubts. Realize you can’t change the past but you can start a new tomorrow. Don’t try to do everything at once take a step at a time.

Stay strong, start something new. Dream big cause there no limitation to what you can dream and achieve. So dream on and get set to lead the future.

Somtochukwu Mbelu.

"The Art of Mentorship" by Linus Okorie

 "The Art of Mentorship" was an inspiring topic which was taught by Linus Okorie- President of Guardians of the Nation International, at the Leadership Forum which held last night at the GOTNI premises.

The meeting which started by 6:30pm had over 30 change makers in attendance with the zeal to be mentored.

Mr. Okorie shared his experience with his mentors, as a learning process which was not all smooth but because he wanted to make a difference, he had to be patient and consciously make up his mind to be groomed, which according to him most people don't have the patience to do. He says that for a learning process to take place, you have to first of all UNLEARN the negative to RE-LEARN the positive.

Make it a date with us next week as it promises to be even more educative and interactive.

LINUS OKORIE CONDEMNS THE EMAB PLAZA BOMB BLAST

Hello great people of Nigerians, as we mourn the souls of the departed at the recent bomb blast at Emab plaza in Abuja, i would like to remind us that we are in a critical moment and we all need each other if we want to win this fight against terrorism.

As Guardians of this Nation, let us in one voice pray for the peace of our country, God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.