Dearest Blogger.com,

I have been keeping secrets...

I recently moved to Wordpress and although I felt guilty to begin with, I am actually very happy!

I've never had the talent for infidelity. I was only going to test the waters, see if the grass was truly greener on the other side. An now here we are...I still miss the familiarity of you, the memories we made together, the time before I knew or understood the value of editing. I still miss all our good ol' days.

But my love, my first real attempt at honesty and vulnerability, it is imperative that I leave now. I am not a high school kid any more. I have wants and needs that I doubt you can fulfil now that I am 'all grown up'. I had been thinking about leaving for a while, but nostalgia had a firm grasp on me.

Now it's official; I'm gone. I love you dearly. I won't ever forget you, how could I? You've been so good to me for so many years. But this is evolution.

This isn't goodbye. I can't let it be. It simply has to be 'see you soon', if you'll still have me.

With a heavy heart and all my love,

@#!~@

PS

My new address: Freshly Bak'd Thoughts

It's not quite home yet, but it's getting there.

23 Things About 23

Hi guys!

So it's been a while since this darling old blog had a personal touch from yours truly. So I decided, on account of my 23rd birthday yesterday, to grace you laptops, desktops and other smart devices with this oddball.

1. I am no less stupid than I was 48-ish hours ago.
2. On the upside, that must mean I am also no less clever!
3. In fact, I am positive that I am more clever because you learn new things everyday right?
4. That doesn't mean I have stopped making mistakes though. 
5. I feel like I'm at a point in my life where everything is about to take off. 
6. I feel more ready that ever to begin something new. 
7. I'm probably just riding the birthday high.
8. Nothing is exactly the same, yet nothing has really changed.
9. I have many bad habits I wish to put a permanent stop to. 
10. I need to learn to be even more honest with myself.
11. I can now no longer use the excuse of being too young, not that I ever really did.
12. I think it's about time I started believing in myself. There are certain things I'm good at. There is no crime in admitting that.
13. I have come a long way. God has been beyond faithful. Nothing I can say or do is thanks enough.
14. The circle of life.
15. At 23, I had better learn to fight my own battles in my own clean way.
16. This next year of my life is about to be the mother of all learning curves, testing my patience, humility and common sense, hopefully with the potential of personal and promotional growth. Lord see me through. 
17. I'm learning day by day that God has not given me the spirit of fear and so I tread boldly. 
18. Opening myself up to love was the best decision I ever made. Though I was scared to begin with and I've been hurt, I have no regrets. 
19. More God, less social media...it's becoming rather problematic.
20. I need to learn to find God in every situation, quite frankly.
21. I'm really rather selfish.
22. I take for granted the fact that I have people around me who are willing to go 5 extra miles on my behalf if necessary.
23. The simple knowledge that I am loved will suffice for those days when things are just too difficult. 

My pledge for this 23rd year is simple: to leave people's lives better off than how it was when I was introduced into it, if only marginally. 

Thanks for indulging me as always!

David Zinyama | Putting the Personality Back Into Graphics.

David Zinyama

David Zinyama is an artist with a personality that he isn’t afraid to show in his work. His graphics design portfolio ranges from the creative and innovative to the comical and mildly disturbing. He is an explorative risk taker with a wild imagination who loves pushing the envelope. “I love to break rules, I’m sure all designers do. I would say life inspires me, people, even a book or article in the newspaper or online. I am easily inspired because I am always thinking and observing my surroundings.” It was during his A-levels in Business Studies, Sociology, Economics, English language, English Literature and Philosophy that David decided that graphics design was, in fact, his true calling. “I knew taking the academic route wasn’t for me and I decided to pursue my passion for design, which is something that has become a full time career as well as a business.” He was only 16 years old.

Quirky

With six A-levels to focus on, David didn’t have time for a formal graphics design education; he is self-taught. Yet, his short career spanning over 7 years has taken him from the city of Liverpool in North West England, to a portfolio of international clients and growing fame. He taught himself in true 21st Century style – through YouTube tutorials and reading up on his craft. His consistent practice helped him develop all he learnt into the magic we see today. But that wasn’t the beginning for David, who started as a MySpace era musician. “I used to produce and write my own music. So I would design my own CD covers. But I can say it all kicked off for me when my peers and those around me saw that I had some skill. Although I wasn’t that great, they still approached me. I would offer my services and charge a small fee. The more I designed, the better I got and the more clients I generated. People began taking interest. That was when I decided I would love to take it seriously, so I dropped music.” David took a risk, leaving something he was once passionate about for something in which, by his own admission, he was barely competent. He knew what he had to do to develop his skills and he did it. 

Although his career is only just truly beginning, it hasn’t been without incredible moments. “The invention of the social network Instagram has to have been the most remarkable turning point so far in my life and career. Being able to have the platform to show people what I can do as a digital artist has opened a lot of doors and opportunities for me, especially by growing my international clientele.” This year he was honoured with a TED Talks invitation, although he was unable to attend. “I have had the pleasure of working with the large organizations throughout the UK, as well as breaking through to other countries and getting recognition in the past year. This has expanded my business in so many ways.”

Shark bait

Relationships by David Zinyama

David’s manipulations have made him infamous with some entertainment bloggers. He has been known to Photoshop himself into the pictures of celebrities such as Nicki Minaj, Kim Kardashian and Michelle Obama, usually as their significant other. He believes that people who react adversely to these manipulations have misunderstood the motives behind his pieces. “As a manipulator, I have work that is serious and work that is just for fun. I’m sure the two can be distinguished. People have seen a side of me that they like, be that my original work or a celebrity image I have manipulated just for laughs. So I do not feel it will overshadow my work because I keep the balance between my original work and the work involving celebrities. Even if it does overshadow my work, it is not much of a concern for me because my celebrity manipulations will always lead back to my other work due to the viewer’s curiosity.” 

Bible-Pray by David Zinyama

Pray for Gaza by David Zinyama

But beyond his tongue in cheek manipulations, David has a serious side.  In regards to his social, political and religious consciousness he says that people have different views and perceptions, and he is no exception. “Sometimes in my work I like to show my love for God or put my religious thoughts forwards. At the end of the day it is what makes me who I am.” He believes that including these aspects of himself in his work allows viewers and fans to get to know him more as a person. “Everyone is different and I love to interact with viewers through my visuals. It is also a way of getting to know them as much as they already know me.”

Digital Eye by David Zinyama

 For more information on David Zinyama and his work find him on: 

Instagram: @davidzinyama

Twitter: @davidzinyama

Facebook: www.facebook.com/davidzinyamaofficial

Jazz Hands | On Music and Healing

Autism is, rather accurately, described by the young behavioural interventionist, Noddy Nweke, as “esoteric”, because although the neurodevelopmental disorder is known by the general public, it is still viewed as mysterious. “It is understood by few, and I guess I'm one of those people who seeks to understand it as much as possible”, she explains. But regardless of what you think you know-and what you most likely don’t-Noddy is providing you an opportunity to constructively help people on the autism spectrum through an event called Jazz Hands.

The First of the Jazz Hands Series in May 2014

Speaking on the inspiration behind what looks to be an exceptional series, she says: “the concept came to me when I met an individual named Ruben, while I was shadowing one of my colleagues at work. That day, they happened to have music class and Ruben made his way to the piano and began playing and singing some popular songs. He got the attention of the whole class and they joined him in singing. At that moment I thought, ‘why doesn't he have a place to display this talent?’ I decided that day, with the encouragement of my colleague Mikal, to start a program where talented individuals like Ruben could be seen and heard.”

There is no shortage of musically talented individuals in the world. Yet Noddy chose to focus her efforts on individuals on the autism spectrum, fulfilling a passion she has nurtured for over three years. “I had been searching for a way to combine autism and music. Music is incredibly powerful, yet undermined as a means of communication, therapy, etc. Music can move; music can heal; music can bridge gaps; music is a universal language.” The merger of music with autism was no happy accident. Although using music comes naturally to Noddy, who is a self-taught pianist and clarinet player, and has been writing and singing since childhood, she thoroughly researched the connection between autism and music before making her choice. “I have done a lot of personal research on the topic which has shown me that many individuals with autism have an overwhelmingly positive reaction to music.”

Credit Where Credit is Due: An Emotional Noddy During May's Jazz Hands Concert 

The first instalment of Jazz Hands happened earlier in May of this year. Reeling from the success of the first event, she met with her team and decided to produce Jazz Hands on a quarterly basis as part of a concert series. Part two will be here on September 13th 2014 from 2pm-4pm at the Electric Lodge in Venice, CA. “I'm very big on feelings, and it just feels like the right thing to do, honestly”, she says about her quick fire decision which was made easier by the unexpected and overwhelming response. “It literally brings tears to my eyes. I've received so much support from so many people. It's staggering. People are willing to donate their time to this project? That means so much to me because time is a very valuable and irretrievable entity”.

With one successful event under her belt, the entire journey has undoubtedly been an enjoyable experience and Noddy is ready to see things evolve steadily. “This process teaches me so many valuable lessons in discipline, planning and execution. The end result is elating, to see all the performers so happy and expressive on a stage that may previously have been unavailable to them. I have really big plans for Jazz Hands and the Jazz Hands Concert Series”.  Noddy plans to further expand the concert series by incorporating a consultation and socialisation aspect, among other things. “So stay tuned to find out!”

And remember to save the date.

The OPCs | Ozone Developers

Ozone Developers

It’s easy to believe, when looking from the outside in, that start-ups manifest in the blink of an eye and establish themselves without warning. I am learning that this is not the case.

“I was actually already an entrepreneur before getting into the university. I started building sites for businesses and individuals when I was 19. Then I got into the University of Bolton, failing horribly in my first semester, then pulling myself together and managing to graduate within the top 3 of my class. It's been a very humbling journey to say the least.” Even though Oche Charles Edache finished with a first class, he didn’t wait that long to make the business decisions that have now shaped his professional life.

The man himself.

Nor did he let a rough start determine the rest of his life. I think it’s fair to say that many people in his shoes would have played it safe after failing their first semester of university. But when he graduated he started Ozone Developers, the Online Presence Creators or OPCs as they like to be called, as opposed to working for someone else first. “The beauty of entrepreneurship lies in its individuality. It gives a person the choice to attempt to take their destiny into their own hands. Coupled with my slightly rebellious personality, it was a no brainer for me, especially after being unhappy with the bulk of traditional jobs I had worked in the past.” So he took the risk.

The OPCs

But running your own business is almost always about risk taking, an example of which is taking a chance on the right team of people to work with. It is a decision that can make or break your business and it’s one that many dread. As Oche himself explains, “it is common knowledge that start-ups suffer in their first year or two because of the inherent challenges found with an independent venture.” His dilemma wasn’t so much finding the right people as much as convincing them that Ozone Developers was the right place for them. “It’s hard to get people to believe in an idea when they have to start from scratch with a bare minimum salary. But if you do manage to find people that are willing to work with you and believe in the idea despite these challenges, then that is a team capable of any feat. I was fortunate to have met such people when the company was first founded and it's because of them that we've been able to get this far.”

Getting heard

Something else to consider is where you might be establishing your business and what that means. Although Nigeria has had the double honour of being declared a MINT country with the largest GDP in Africa, there are many other factors on the ground that can hinder the growth of your business if you aren’t prepared. “Age is a serious determinant to how well a deal can go. Coupled with the fact that respect must be shown to your elders even when conducting business, it makes being a young entrepreneur much more demanding.” Needless to say, it took Oche no time at all to realise that owning a start-up in Nigeria differs greatly from what he was used to as a young entrepreneur at the University of Bolton. “Social capital is essential to the success of business here. People are still wary of modern business marketing practices so while having an online and social media marketing campaign is very helpful, word of mouth and your wealth of social capital remains key to fully harnessing any given market, even in the IT sector.”

Coming Soon.

So far, Ozone Developers have had a lot of success working with clients such as GUUT Technologies Ltd., the Spellbound Spelling Bee competition and Abbi Books. Also the company will soon be introducing their Ozone Mobile services which is due to be launched next month.

As a business that boasts an understanding of the importance of brand image, it is no surprise that they rather creatively tagged themselves OPCs (Online Presence Creators), a name that has caught on since they were officially established in 2013. “The name came rather organically. We looked at what we were offering and thought to ourselves, we aren't just offering a service here. We're offering a package of services.” Their goal is to be the foremost OPCs in Nigeria and eventually Africa. “Cliché, I know. But we're determined.”

Brainstorming

One of the ways the OPCs plan to achieve this is through engaging with and giving back to their community. “There are over 160 million Nigerians in the country, out of which only about 10 million are actively engaged on the web and in IT. We want to help change that and we have started. For now we're developing an initiative to be launched in the near future where we teach design and web development techniques in easy and understandable language on our website every week. As the company grows we would like to reach out to those who do not have access to the web to provide these services for free. It’s a small start, but great things typically start that way.”

More recently they had the opportunity to fulfil the company’s vision of giving back by supporting SMIWAI, The St Mary Indigent Women Advancement Initiative, and their various empowerment initiatives.

Oche has taken Ozone Developers from a mere concept in his mind to a fully functional business since its 2013 debut. His bold step of running the business’ activities from micromanagement right down to IT on his own, for the most part, is paying off. The only way is up.

The result of hard work

For more information on Oche and the rest of the OPCs visit:

Website: http://ozonedeveloper.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ozone-Developers/229164710625016

New PHASE | What the job hunt has taught me...

To officially usher in the new, albeit slightly tedious, era of my post-uni life, I made a short-ish list of what I have learnt after a month-ish of job hunting in the great city of Dubai. I can hear people who have been unemployed for longer telling me to shut it already. Nevertheless I want to believe that all the crazy I have been feeling isn't restricted to me alone.

• There is a constant paradox between feeling like you have far too much time and no time at all. One moment the world is your oyster, the next minute your oyster is shrinking. 
• How to use what time I do have in a (kinda) productive way. Perhaps binge watching every anime from One Piece to Hunter x Hunter isn't productive, but then there is all the other stuff...like...things and what not...I have to be real this period of unemployment has been perfect for making concrete future plans and reading and writing books. 
• Not getting overly excited or attached. They emailed back! No they've already filled the vacancy. Another email! No, no, they have no vacancies. Interview time! Nope not what you're looking for. I'd be perfect for that!!! Never get a response. Basically stay calm until everything comes together. 
• Patience. Not my strongest suit, but I'm learning.
• Knowing what you want to know. It's not just about what they ask you but also about what you need to ask them, especially if you have a vision of the kind of place you'd like to work.
• The importance of a back up plan. (To be fair I always knew this one).
• Basic stuff like writing CVs, proposals, cover letters, selling yourself, how to earn money while hunting, saving etc. 
• The frustration of writer's block when it seems like you have all the time in the world to write.
• Early onset laziness and passiveness.
• The sheer flexibility of my body clock.
• The overwhelming feeling of 'freedom'.
• The even more overwhelming feeling of 'adulthood' that reminds you that your current freedom is a myth. 
• The panic and catharsis seesaw.
• The "I shoulda had fun at uni" pep talk on experience and how 2 years and 11 months worth is still not enough...I was really only in uni for 1 year and 6 months minus holidays. I have more work experience than university experience! 

I realise that all sounds rather pessimistic. But when I made this list last night before bed I had to laugh at myself. See the thing is I am strangely at peace. Even though I have moments of panic, they are swiftly followed by a calming of my spirit. Praise God. I have thoroughly enjoyed this brief window of quiet in my otherwise chaotic life, even though there are other things I would love to do at this point. I am thankful. I am happy. I am at peace. 

Compassionate Fatigue

Knowing the name for what it is that is wrong with you doesn't always make things easier, it seems.

It also seems like I'm about to fizzle out into oblivion like I always thought I wouldn't but feared I might, because the effects of media consumption have been made more manifest in my day to day life than all that I learned about in my 3 years of undergraduate studies.

Let me explain...

Between deadlines, other headlines and worrying about family and friends back home, I absentmindedly participated in online campaigns for the #BringBackOurGirls movement that seemed to seize social media near the end of April. Retweeting, reblogging, liking and sharing, but rarely ever engaging, barely discussing, hardly understanding, never questioning, not writing and knowing fully well that I'd be 'over it' soon. And so would the rest of the world.

Now as a Nigerian in diaspora, my first reaction was that it must be as a result of being removed from the situation. If I was back home, in the thick of it, perhaps I would have been more engaged with the situation. I had to cut short that train of thought, because though it rang true it provided no solutions for my current dilemma. So what if I am removed from the situation? It is the very nature of things that I'll find myself removed from much of what is considered breaking news at any given time. But as a journalist, in fact as global citizens, it is of utmost importance and with increasing urgency that we should find ways in which to engage with issues in our world, regardless of how otherly or remote they may seem. In reality these situations affect us all. Whether we choose to admit it or not doesn't change that simple fact.

Standing now at the precipice of the month and looking back, I realise that there is much I have failed to engage with, even though I was aware:

• Rumours of Edward Snowden's growing relationship with the Russian government
• The Russia-Ukraine 'conflict'
• The Thai Coup
• The US keeping tabs on North Korea and China via Japan with their trustee drones
• The South Korean ferry tragedy
• The Vietnam-China unrest
• Brazil's world cup woes
• The "honour killing" in Pakistan
• The Sudanese woman charged with apostasy because her estranged father was Muslim even though she was raised a Christian
• The current Egyptian elections
• The mentally ill misogynist killer

There are many more examples I could give of my attention deficiency. It isn't a recent phenom and I know it doesn't stop with me.

This is where 3 years of journalism and communications studies comes into play. I remember a tutor using the phrase 'compassionate fatigue' to describe the world's reaction to violence and bad news in the press. We have become so used to seeing all these things happen that we sort of switch off to it. This isn't merely suspension of disbelief. We know that it's real and it is happening. But it happened yesterday, and the day before that. It'll happen tomorrow again, maybe somewhere closer or further away. There is nothing new about the news anymore. On the rare occasion that something does capture our attention, we lose interest quickly and substitute reality with mind numbing television. Anything to escape the truth of the world around us.

Unfortunately globalisation is upon us and the world will suffocate you so snap out of it. There is no running away from reality. Our world is getting smaller and smaller for many different reasons.

So maybe you don't care about what's going on in Pakistan but the girl in your economics class does because those are her people. And maybe a bunch of missing girls don't bug you but your Nigerian boyfriend can't get them off his mind. Perhaps women's rights has never been a topic of interest, but your best friend could have been Elliot Rodger's victim. It might be that religion is something you'd rather not discuss or debate, yet Meriam Yahia Ibrahim had to give birth in jail. What do you care about protests in Brazil? You just want to see some football! You don't care, but your Brazilian neighbours just might.