Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for. Socrates.

I am a man blessed by the writings and wisdom of other writers. 

On this day and around this time, my darling wife had just presented Palm wine to me to drink, signaling her choosing me as her husband before our families and friends right there in her father's compound  in Aguluezechukwu, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra state. 

It was the concluding part of an hour long negotiation on the bride's list and I remember my friends saying that I have used my "grammar" to marry my bride. 

I have shared several stories of how I met my wife through my University Alumni Association. You see, If there was ever one venture that helped me ignore the many stones that were hurled at me in all my years of living in God's planet earth, it was reading. I have repeatedly said that  I took to reading as a way to get back at the world for its consistent discrimination on my skin colour. It is a project I don't intend ending until God calls me into His beatific Vision.

The journey of life cannot be measured in miles and kilometers, it is one which we must strive at all times to avoid the pitfalls, dodging the stones and making the best of obstacles and difficult situations.  Sachin Tendulkar best captures this wholly when he said , "people throw stones at you and you convert them into milestones."

 In 2010 during my project defense for my  Bachelor's degree in Political Science at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

I am proud to have been supervised by the highly cerebral Nkolika Obianyo. My project focused on the African Union and Conflict Resolution in Africa: A Case study of Darfur. This topic spurred me to further pursue an Msc in Peace and Conflict Resolution and, to be an active participant in Model United Nations. 

September 2009 - June 2010 was one of the most engaging moments of my life. Months of research, reading and writing. Then it was my turn to appear before the panel and after the preliminary questions, I was waiting for the main *gbim* of the session. My supervisor was also waiting, my heart was racing... Then Dr. Frank Collins Nnamdi now Professor of Political Science at Nnamdi Azikiwe University asked the question that almost ripped my heart apart.

In his words

"So tell us Chimezie, did you go to Sudan?"

I almost died! 

It wasn't the kind of question you would expect at an Academic Defense at least not at that stage. I had reviewed my work cover to cover in anticipation of any question but definitely not this. But God put an answer in my heart and after the momentary 10 Seconds freeze, I gave a reply that shocked the entire panel and even me.

My response

"Sir, physically I did not go to Sudan; but technologically and textually I did."

They all looked at me, shook their heads in amazement and told me that would be all. I got a B in the venture.

It was the same "grammar" that made my wife notice me in September 2017 during the Anti Depression organized by the Lagos Chapter of my University Alumni Association. She was impressed by how this "onyeocha" handled the microphone, moderating the sesiso with finesse. Someone noticed her admiration and came to inform me.

During lunch, I walked up to her, asked her three questions, she answered and I concluded there and then she was the woman I wanted to marry even though she laughed at me for "daring", the rest as they say is now history. 

In 2026 my dear friends, travel to other climes, learn new cultures, embrace new learnings; you can achieve this more when you read!

It is a strategic approach to attaining that quantum leap! 

To know more about me, Babe had to go read the entire #dearfuturewife series. It was worth her while. Can't believe it's been five year already. 

In your journey towards success, focus is key; and in as much as there is virtue in orderliness, there is wisdom in acting swift when the need calls for it. While the Blacksmith must patiently wait for his designs to cool off and produce his beautiful work, he must be swift if he wants perfect malleability. Hence, focus on your focus. 

Dear friends, as you walk the path of success in 2026, you must attract yourself to the stones that life will throw at you. Oh yes it must come for there is no Crown without a Cross, no pain no gain. Let the pains of the stones steer you towards the beauty of cornerstones and, the pleasures of milestones.

Person wey dey cry dey see road, after all, tears cleanses the soul. So while the stones hurt, after the pains, take them and set them up to become your stepping stones to greatness.

That's the attitude of Champions. 

Embrace your stones, step unto greatness!

Study to show thyself approved!

If you see Ìyàwó Oga, tell her "taaaaaaaaaaanchu" for choosing me. 

Stay Jiggy 

Jisi 

On this day in 2019 at the wedding ceremony between Chuba and Kene Obi- Okaro in Awka Anambra State of Nigeria, after more than 50 letters of serenading and professing my love for her, I asked Ìyàwó Oga to marry me and she said yes and we danced to Lucky Dube's "I've Got You Babe" to shouts and ululations of guests at the wedding. And yes, they did spray some naira notes (the first time of me witnessing that). 

In May this year, we will mark five years of being married together It was a major step and I have never regretted it. Being together, we have recovered some Leaps, most especially from being just married couples to becoming parents to our wonderful Eugene. 

It is day 2 and the year is already taking shape, someone had joked about the crawling nature of the clock. Personally, I believe this January will move like that of last year, swiftly. This year is pregnant with many expectations.

Anne Frank had once written "earning happiness means doing good and working, not speculating and being lazy. Laziness may look inviting, but only work gives you true satisfaction." 

2026 presents us with an another opportunity to  align right, collaborate well, build proper relationships and strengthen partnerships that will lead to us thriving and eventually Multiplying. These are the key ingredients necessary for you to make that desired quantum leap. 

As you begin the next chapter of your life, you should be confident of the words that would be written because you know the author. Few weeks after popping the question to her, I lost my job, got depressed for nearly a year which made me live with a friend of mine. I came back towards the end of year, we had our introduction in February 2020 then Covid struck and we had to push wedding plans to 2021.

 You see, as Vincent Van Gogh once wrote "Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together."  For quantum leaps to occur there must be small movements that lead to spirited sprints towards your goal. 

Many of us wait for the big miracles, the big bang; the "blow!" We are fixated on gbam or is it gbim. Every success starts with the the small steps; it is imperative that you think big but it is most wise to start small.

A little reminder:

Those we celebrate today are people who have excelled in little tasks. They are the ones who can cope with the big spotlight. Discard the useless majority and focus on the useful minority. Despise not the days of humble beginnings.

Greatness begins with little efforts which we must be very enthusiastic about. When you look at the big Picture, think of the many small steps it would take to get you there. That's the most important part of the vision. After all, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. 

As you take those steps, may the odds always be in your favor.

Fare thee well!

Stay Jiggy 

Jisi 

Ndị Nkem, 

I have loved the Yoruba Hymn Ọdún yí a yabo  not for its sweetness in terms of how beautifully crafted it is nor its musical arrangement, but; for its deep philosophical attributes. 

These words are quite poignant and when juxtaposed with the Divine instruction by God to Moses, commanding him to say to Aaron give the Israelites the Priestly Blessings in Numbers 6:22-26, you will understand the even more the richness of this Hymn. 

According to Babatunde Popoola, when translated and interpreted, it connotes the following;

 

This is where the inspiration for the theme of the year Quantum Leaps emanates from. 

Now I am sure in 2025 you noticed that people change, love hurts, friends leave, things go wrong and people moved on. My dear friend, remember life goes on! That is why it is called a phase and you  are passing through; some say close your eyes to them but I say, if you close your eyes to evils, how would you see the good when it comes? 

By virtue of my Baptism in Christ which makes me Priest, Prophet and King and, as Head of my Home and Priest of family, I pronounce these Priestly Blessings blessings upon you and yours as it is contained in Numbers 6:22-26. 

On behalf my household, I bless you in this year 2026 which marks a major milestone for me many thanks to God;

On this first day of the year, as God himself has given his word that once we invoke this blessings, he will bless us, I place you, your family, business, career, academic, spirituality, marriage, relationships, finances plans, dreams and aspirations under the divine unction of the words of the passage above. His blessings which maketh rich and addeth no sorrow shall catapult you into quantum leaps. 

As you make your plans for the year, please make some room for God to be God.

Welcome to your new season of excellent accomplishments through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

As Always,

Stay Jiggy 

Jisi