Haidar's Corner

Roughly 4 months ago, we lost a unique, irreplaceable person in our lives: Baba (Alh. Sanusi Adamu). He was so many things to so many people and he remains the ideal of what an individual should be to his community. Indeed, Baba was a father to me and many others like me. The one who took a small boy, welcomed him into his home and guided him to become what he is today. Alhamdulillah, I have always considered myself to be eternally blessed with 3 fathers like Baba who have given me the optimal and balanced upbringing I needed in life, giving me advantages in life. This fact is one I can never forget and will always honor in my memory as well as in action. So while I send prayers for Allah's continuous and unending blessings and mercy  on Baba's soul, I equally enjoin all  to emulate Baba and forever ensure he lives on in us, our children and the community at large so far those ideals he was known for are continually embodied by us. Selflessness, humility, sincerity and goo...

As the world continues to evolve, e-commerce sites like Fiverr/Upwork/  Mechanical Turk are going to get more and more chunks of business as the world economy evolves from products to services. Essentially, E-commerce is concerned with any exchange of GOODS and/or SERVICES using the medium of the Internet. Fiverr/Upwork/ Mechanical Turk are all e-marketplaces just like the already popular Amazon/Alibaba/Konga/Jumia just that while the latter deal in goods, the former deal with services. The key to the new economy is upskilling yourself to get those skills that are in high demand which are usually IT based both because they are in vogue and because they don't need you to be physically present. Examples are Web Development/Design, User Interface, Mobile apps, Data mining are some areas that are in-demand. Advisedly these are some of the areas where skill-acquisition needs to tilt especially as 8-5 jobs keep disappearing and at the same time become incapable of 'making ends t...

"Youths are the leaders of tomorrow!" The above is a common saying that is regularly repeated to the upcoming generations as a motivation to work hard and succeed in life endeavors. Alas, it seems to have become an empty saying for many who grew up hearing it and even now have started repeating it to the next generation - though in a manner - that is clearly lacking in conviction. And the reason is essentially because leadership is not something that is given, but rather earned. In other words you are not recognized as a leader on a platter of gold except that you have been able to prove yourself capable of being a leader. It is therefore instructive that the youth need to realize that they need to step up and seek solutions to the myriad of problems that are facing them in their communities and the Nigerian society as a whole. No one is in a better position to tackle these issues facing us than we ourselves who are seen as youth and we cannot continue to wait for 'l...

Some people think change is an overnight thing...something that will happen with a snap of the fingers and voila things start to take shape! . They complain that all they see people doing is talk and talk but no action. Alas! Change is not a hundred meter sprint but a long arduous relay cross-country marathon with each individual taking a step before handing over the baton to the next person and the next and hopefully it will cross the finish line! . That you feel frustrated and see a seeming lack of effort on the part of people is not proof that nothing is happening. The problems facing us are the consequences of years of derailment and it will equally take a while before a tipping point is created to reverse the process. This is the law of systems. . But for sure things will change for the better. So long as you do your part in that small corner of the world you can influence. Keep inspiring hope and positivity despite the tightening rope of negativity that threatens like a noo...

Lucky you ladies and gents! Yours truly is reading textbooks and lecture notes in preparation for exams over the weekend. . But on Monday... Can't wait to get my hands on my 'To Be Read' pack. I have promised to read 7 more books before the year runs out in fulfillment of my 2018 target while the rest will be carried forward Insha-Allah! The following is my 7-book list: 1. The Eden Prophecy by Graham Brown 2. The President is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson 3. The 80/20 And Other Powerful Laws of Nature by Richard Koch 4. Sufism: A path towards internalization of faith by Osma  Nûri Topbas 5. Barking Up the Wrong Tree by Eric Barker 6. This Side of the Dead by Isaac Attah Ogezi 7. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

As the rain drops upon the rooftops, I'm reminded of how my heart beats for you. The way the sky changes color, enveloped by the smoldering clouds is how my breast fills with overwhelming emotions whenever I think of you. I stare at the rain ferociously falling, fleeing the fury of the blasting gust of winds. I see the sizzling streak of lightening dancing across the skies just before its thundering beat and roar. And then as if by magic, all slowly calms down except for the trickling patter of raindrops running along. Soon the faint sound of rolling thunder recedes into the background overplayed by the twittering, chirping and cooing of birds after a storm. . Haidarwali 201811290828hrs

Why is it, that I cannot move beyond these walls; that I have caged myself within; these bars that hem me in... . Why is it, that the air seems thin; and I am barely breathing, gasping; almost suffocating... . When will this caked earth be wetted; with showers and downpours... . When will succour come, when will dawn arrive; with tidings of Sunrise's approach... . I spend each moment like a lifetime; not knowing whether what I await, is on the other side of approaching dawn. Haidarwali 201903021118hrs

I woke up thinking about you, about us... is this how it feels to be lonely in a crowd like sand in a scorching desert insignificantly nothing to a passerby like one of the thousand specks in the nightsky abandoned amidst a throng I searched for even a wisp alas you eloped when ovation slipped you a smile that made you blush that smile that makes my heart-beat like a thump then, before it froze in time all else became illusion disappearing like smoke leaving me breathing short but deep for the sight of your face reminds me of how wonderful it is to be alive even though my soul is lost in dreamland and I cannot awake until I have found you, my love . Haidarwali 201810061820hrs

Life is too short for me not to smile, and say hello before I go to bed... When I lay my head, upon my pillow to rest, many a thought pass and I remember the best, of what I had, what I got and what I gave, were the smiles I shared with others, they were the best... The laughter that rang in ears of souls I met along this place called earth, priceless and fulfilling more than a treasure chest... I've hoped for more than I deserved, yet got a thousand-fold as recompense, paid in heart's content and honor of enjoying, fair minds' company who've made my sojourn a delight. So thus my heart remains aglow, because of souls like yours, who've made serenity flow and found peace in being none other than themselves. So be you, be happy and ever true, as life will surely remain blessed...for you, for me and all of ours! Haidarwali 201810082048hrs

Between whispers and shouts it happens in dead of night when all have forgotten what happened at noon . it happens in a blink called eternity when 'lashes flutter signaling beginning of forever . it happens in a heartbeat when losing a loved one is like pindrop's silence or cancer's unending suspense . it happens... but once beginning with presence ending with absence. . Haidarwali 201806251823hrs

Feelings like loneliness and sadness overwhelm threatening to drown many with no outlet in sight suffering like 'silence of the lambs' emotions' release is healthy relief like a stream full of flying fish better than filled up tin of ' dead' sardine . we each deserve listening ear that judges naught worth much more than thousand words sympathy lacking empathy's warmth. . Haidarwali 201806240741hrs

Feelings like loneliness and sadness overwhelm threatening to drown many with no outlet in sight suffering like 'silence of the lambs' emotions' release is healthy relief like a stream full of flying fish better than filled up tin of cooked sardine . we each deserve listening ear that judges naught worth much more than thousand words sympathy lacking empathy's warmth. . Haidarwali 201806240741hrs

You see when it starts to rain, the soul that luvs the rain lights up with an electric fervor! . I close my eyes and listen to the musical lyrics of raindrops drumming upon the rooftop, which pours down the drains. . I sit against the windows and watch countless slates slash against the pane and flashes of lightening streak across the reddened midnight sky. And then... . POW! CRACKOW! A blasting blare of thunder makes me shudder, almost jumping out of fright. . And then gradually the rumbling rolls away like a cartwheel leaving me with the sound of dripping raindrops like a collection of pattering feet tapdancing. . A cool breeze sifts in carrying with it the scent of wettened earth and the promise of a sweet and sound night's sleep. . Haidarwali 201805250053hrs

I sit here reminiscing In quiet solitude Chewing the cud Of fond and treasured memories Tucked away in deep recess I'm still enamored by the soul That has taken hold My eyes replay scenes Frozen in waiting To be or not Whichever it is I smile ecstatically For the gift of meeting you. Haidarwali 201705082101hrs

There is so much to know Yet time is not my friend A thousand glances Leaves me lost Amidst this blooming desert Of leaves, of stems and branches For foliage of knowledge Is a desert to this novice Still a chew Upon this humble morsel For sake of sustenance. Haidarwali 201805071554hrs

Emotions like 'grief' are a very painful thing to experience. When we suffer something such as loss, and we don't express ourselves, it eats at us bit by bit scraping at our soul and with no outlet to channel the grief, the longing - to fill the void created - it can and will destabilize a person. Emotions (of whatever kind) are supposed to be expressed and not suppressed. Expression (channeling) of 'negative' emotions is like the opening of a tap so that the 'dirty' water flows out after which 'clean' water will flow. On the other hand, suppression is similar to 'damming' water. Depending on how strong the dam is, the water will gradually build up pressure until that point when the dam will burst! Usually, the aftermath is unpredictable and not always positive. Internalizing negative emotions might initially seem okay - like not allowing yourself to cry when grieving.  Yet at a point it begins to take a toll and might lead to a psychologi...

I love the way the rain dances on the rooftop reminding me of how Michael Jackson used to move on the dance floor. I also adore how the same rain slashing against the window leaving droplets dripping away. One of my best alone times is watching the rain fall, sometimes even feeling it caressing my skin with the scent of rain-soaked earth filling my nostrils. No wonder amongst Maria's favorite things are raindrops on roses! Haidarwali 201804222056hrs

Many people go through life with no clear plan and purpose and this happens mostly due to two main reasons. The first is a clear absence of purpose in life and how they intend to pursue anything they think to achieve. And without a purpose - an articulate one - they end up living by chance! Unfortunately,  a fulfilled life - like any serious endeavour - cannot be achieved without well-laid plan(s) which is what guarantees success. The second thing that leads to planlessness is a wrong interpretation of issues of predestination and individual's destiny. Many people accept God as a One who controls everything and how things eventually turn out. However, they usually forget to add another component - that of the willpower God has granted to us humans. And it is as a complement to the willpower that He gifted us the most magnificent tool - The Brain! Thus with the brain, mankind has been able to bea Vicegerent on Earth - wielding everything for the benefit of man and all creation. ...

Sau dayawa zakaga mutune suna rayuwa ne ba tare da lissafi ba. Wannan dabi'a ta samu tushe ne daga abu biyu. Na farko shine rashin tunani akan manufar rayuwa da tunanin tsarin da za'a dora rayuwa akai. Wannan shi ke sa mutane suyi rayuwa kara-zube. Ita kuma rayuwa, kamar yarda duk wani abu mai muhimmanci yake bukatar tsari, haka itama take bukatar ayi mata shimfida mai kyau sa'annnan a tsara yarda za'a tafii da ita wanda shi ne zai kai mutum ga gachi. Abu na biyu kuma shi ne gurguwar fassara da ake yima 'qaddara'. Sau dayawa zaka ga babban abun da ke hana mutane su tsara rayuwarsu shi ne tunanin cewa komai a hannun Allah yake. Tabbas wannan batu haka yake babu ja. Sai dai batun kuma yanada bangaren da ake bari ba'a qarasawa. Duk da Ubangiji Mahaliccinmu shi ke rike da komai, amman sai ya bawa mu yan Adam wani yanki na ikon zartar da harkokin rayuwarmu. Tare da wannnan ikon ne ya haliccemu da kwakwalwa wacce take ta sha banban da duk wani bangare na jiki....

In life pursuits, there will be hiccups and there will be temporary setbacks.  There will be moments when it will seem like it will only get worse, or at best things will stagnate where they are. And it is at such times it might seem that the best thing would be to throw in the towel! YET, we must persevere and keep our eyes fixed on our target. We must keep faith in our ability to pull through. Even detours we take, we must see as opportunities for us to build our arsenal and fortify the bulwark for what lies ahead. We must always remember that we have a store of capacity and resilience that we can call upon to refuel and march on. Victory beckons and the nearer we get, the harder it will seem which is why the best runners always reserve a burst for the final lap. May we all make it to the finish line! Ameen. Haidarwali 201804210619hrs

Press Release . "It is now very clear that the blunt Presidential missive (aka 'missiles') thrown from far away UK have triggered a miasma of vituperations that confirm what we have been soliliquizing afore now. . Suffice it to say that such infantile responses to our proclamations only prove to exculpate us on our refusal to entrust power to such specimen of jejune and babyish tendencies. . Imagine any one of such seedlings handling Foreign Affairs or Interior! The cataclismic meltdown can best not be imagined. . Therefore, we will continue to guide the Nigerian ship so that we steer away from the deep-end where these children want us to head for we all know that playing by the deep-end is dangerous and ill-advised. . I will therefore expect all those lethargic pseudo-adults who have been whining and dialing 0800-WAILING to cast the toga of self-importance they are ensconced within and those appurtenances of self-deception and instead, squarely face their anteri...

B (If I Should Have a Daughter) Instead of “Mom”, she’s gonna call me “Point B.” Because that way, she knows that no matter what happens, at least she can always find her way to me. And I’m going to paint the solar system on the back of her hands so that she has to learn the entire universe before she can say “Oh, I know that like the back of my hand.” She’s gonna learn that this life will hit you, hard, in the face, wait for you to get back up so it can kick you in the stomach. But getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air. There is hurt, here, that cannot be fixed by band-aids or poetry, so the first time she realizes that Wonder-woman isn’t coming, I’ll make sure she knows she doesn’t have to wear the cape all by herself. Because no matter how wide you stretch your fingers, your hands will always be too small to catch all the pain you want to h...

Warning! Warning!  Italians on rampage! The Roman Empire is making a comeback. The Catalan Armada has been annihilated! Recomendation: Park the bus! Park the bus! Take no chances! But ensure that the Portuguese explorer is deployed. Ditto the French Arabian and the Welsh runner! P.S. Use all and any weapons available but avoid a case of 'empty Arsenal'. Also ensure you introduce running reserves as a 'later' option.

The words do not flow, for the heart seeks solace amidst raging tussle in the mind's caldron. I searched everywhere, but my exertions have turned up naught but heaps of arid sand. Many a night, has the soul tossed and turned on its bedding, seeking release from troment of crushing waves, that threaten to drown it in sea of thoughts. Life's vicissitudes play pranks upon a weary body whose frame droops and wrinkles with each passing year. I cannot imagine what awaits in the vastness of the unknown ocean that is hastily rushing to swallow us all. The shoreline recedes into mirage that lures and lulls into deep reverie of forgetfulness. The lush and luxurious charms we slave and covet are no better than a hand and mouthful of dust. Unquenching and utterly unsatiating. Haidarwali 201803220036hrs

Love is just inexplicable! . If not, why do you think people continue to fall into it's trappings and repeatedly return to be served a dessert of dissapointments? . Why does it imprison and render the most intelligent 'dumbstruck'? . Why are its victims blinded and euphorically transported to 'alternate realities' where anything seems possible and they end up sacrificing anything and everything inexplicably?   . No, to say love is overrated is to 'underate' this formidable persona at one's own peril. For it savors to attack the ones who underate it. . Like I once was, and now, I am its prisoner! . Haidarwali 201802281152hrs

Pen in hand We stare At these blank pages of life That continuously flip by So I say to you and I Write a wonderful story For we know not Which page is the last Write with zeal and determination And do not be afraid To be brave is to stare into Fear's eyes For Fear's Achilles is to be faced Write each moment gloriously Like a final battle That wins the war Even if it be your last. Haidarwali 201802270749hrs

"Our attention has been drawn to the brazen and shameless attempt to accuse we the members of the animal kingdom, of masterminding recents heists across the span and breadth of the Niger-area. . We are hereby categorically and emphatically denouncing such and demand an immediate retraction of all such falsities being propagated. . It is disturbing that despite our collective acquiescence to provide humans with all the necessary support for them to thrive even at the expense of our endangerment, we are still being targeted in a systematically covert putsch, seeking to dislodge our great leaders Their 'Highnesses' Sirs Lion and Elephant. . Let it be known that we will not succumb to any form of blackmail or attempt at whitewashing, when we know that the grass is not greener on the other side. Not all roses are red but since sunflowers are yellow, then the sky should be blue. Sorry, I digress. . So as I was saying,  we will not take it lying low,  for this is a matter...

Dear Soon-to-be-fellow-prisoner Masha-Allah! We are going to get another fellow behind the bars of matrimony. You will soon find out that this prison is sweet. This testimony is coming from a 'lifer' who's clocking ten this November! It seems like there's always apprehension on their part when the 'shaving is close to the forehead'... They wonder whether the stay will be endurable. Well I guess it depends on how far the fellow's ready to go to make things comfy. As a life prisoner you get to accept that you're not gonna be released because once you're captured in the net of love, your 'sin' demands that you be sentenced to the gallows of love. But many are lucky to escape 'death' and their sentence is commuted to a life of matrimonial service. So as you prepare to enter, remember that your Warder sacrificed everything to be with you in the prison. She was your defense counsel in the court of Cupid and she did everything short of d...

Once a person becomes self-conscious the basic and underlying issue that comes to the fore is to seek for meaning in their life. Whether it be as individuals or as a part of a group, we all seek to know the answer to the question: Who am I? The Self asks this question and it comes to define the rest of the self-conscious human's pursuits for the rest of their life - for it is what defines and spurs thought and action as well as the legacy they leave behind. So to all who are traveling on this same journey - though of differing paths - I say: trudge on! -Seek answers and ask the difficult questions? -Hold thyself to lofty ideals and standards. -Push your limits to rub shoulders with the giants, and -Keep the fiery zeal for learning always burning within your ribs. For knowledge, leads you to 'home'. Haidarwali 201802072127hrs

Do not think I have forgotten Or ever will Except if I forget to breathe Majeamin 201702041642

ever since the sun set I have been in dark sadness drowning in a well of tears I now take solace in soothing silence which lulls me to sleep my dreams erase my sorrows and fill this empty void your departure bored into my soul I have tried to drain all feelings till now I bleed no more for my blood has turned white like frozen snow. . Haidarwali 201801302140hrs

Do you know the color of happiness? It's as beautiful as a scenty fragrance that takes you on a journey with the freshness of early morning breeze caressing your cheeks like a melody tingling your ears with the sweetness of honey, as if drop is placed upon your tongue and you feel it permeating all over your mouth as you take it all in...