To all Great Ife students

From My Heart to Every Great Ife Student: The Stilled Sun.

by Tolulope Moody on Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 5:46pm

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‘Aluta Continua; Victoria has scattered’ or what was that new version I heard someone say recently. I remember when a former SUG President, Idowu Olanrewaju (Diamond), came up with what he called Scientific Aluta, a political philosophy that he rode on to a landslide victory in 2006, everybody felt they had had ‘enough’ with the closures. Eleven months, three months, indefinite… We felt we needed something new and so this ‘new breed’ that promised not to loose the tradition of ‘Aluta’, but to do it with a ‘Scientific’ approach, an approach that was based on maturity and proper calculations before violence, won an unprecedented landslide victory, with a lot of support especially coming from the ‘church’ (some persons then insisted the campus church had evolved into a political party by the name, UJCP)

 

But few years down the line, it has largely remained same ol’ same ol’.  Faces have changed, issues are different, but the school gates are again shut. The resumption speculations are again flying around… next week, next month, after elections, September… next year… authentic source… VC’s brother told me, a top admin staff… My friend’s neighbor is Minister of Education’s girlfriend and she told her… bla bla bla! I’m sure you can relate to a lot of those.

 

I remember being welcomed to Ife in 2004 with a three month break. I was yet to even get a matric number and I was already back home answering silly questions. Had waited thirteen months for resumption, then after just a few weeks, I was walking road one at 5 am. But for three months of my precious life back then, I sat thinking delay, not opportunity. My frustrations rose, a lot of personal failures persisted and I suffered a lot of loss. I think I understand the hurt.  Then in my Year two, there was the most embarrassing break I ever experienced, when we had what was called a ‘mojo break’. Please don’t ask me what that was about!  But there were two other major breaks later on that shaped a lot about my life. I think that’s why I’m writing this.

 

My intention in writing this is not to join in any pointless debate, but I feel my heart heavy for several young men and women standing on the brink of promising possibilities without even knowing it. Quite a few people have been in touch with me asking me to ‘join in prayers and intercession’ for OAU to be reopened. Others have asked me to tell when God is saying OAU will reopen.  Hmmm…

 

I read an interesting article the other day. It raised a debate as to whether or not Pilate used any soap to wash his hands when he gave Jesus to be crucified. Intense research into Jewish culture, into the habits of leaders, into the effects of soap-usage, possible side effects, ten reasons why he might or might not have used soap, and so on, and all you have is a silly, silly research that keeps men’s minds busy but distracts their hearts from simply accepting Jesus.  The more important thing that happened was that Christ died and rose, not that Pilate washed his hands.

 

You’re probably wondering where I’m going with all this, but I’ll sure hit in a bit…

 

And yes, I know the education system in Nigeria is bad, and I know the VC should or shouldn’t have, and I know there are alot of issues and debates flying around, and I know you want to pray and bind and cast and loose the gates to open, but could it be that in the midst of all that, there’s a creepy little reality you’re loosing sight of?

 

You see, its not news that OAU is on a forced closure. I read a Scripture the other day in Judges 10, and I really felt God speak to my heart about stilled suns.

 

Israel was fighting a battle, and Joshua realized he couldn’t complete his victory within the time he had at hand. In a moment of brave audacious faith, he commanded the sun to ‘stand still’ till he had completed his victory.  So Israel witnessed a longer day, one of the most celebrated miracles in the Old Testament, a day in which the sun stayed and waited till the victory was completed.

 

I find it paradoxical that the miracle that birthed rejoicing in Israel is the very same thing Ife presently calls a mishap and moans over… A Stilled Sun.

 

“There’s a Victory to Complete!”

Without delving into any theological thinkings, I simply wish to suggest to you that your Sun is stilled as an indication of a victory to complete. The average student doesn’t realize that the pace ‘outside’ there is faster than he thinks, that there are real battles to fight and real issues to deal with. I don’t care how connected you think you are, you might soon realize that a good job doesn’t bring fulfillment, more than an expensive dress cant make an ugly lady beautiful!

 

There’s a victory to complete!

 

 

The Real Great Ife I attended

Today as I rushed off to work, I remembered to pin my ‘Great Ife’ Lapel pin, made and given to me by a great man I respect, Demola Ajayi. As I type, I glance at it hanging somewhere over my heart. I’m proud to say I hold a Degree from ‘Great Ife’.

 

But Great Ife today has an entirely different meaning to me.

 

I journeyed down to the Ancient historical Yoruba town, Ile-Ife, seeking to be trained for a Law degree some years ago. But looking back today, I realize I got more than the training, but not where I thought I would. The Great Ife I attended was too great to be within a Gate. No gate could close it. It was always open. Sometimes for three months it moved to my dad’s house, but it was always training me. In those four months away from the classrooms, the curriculum began teaching me that there was a life beyond certificates. I attended a school where I boasted four or more brea… no, IT’s- in a five session course. We had to learn on the job. We had to take practical life application classes. We had to be toughened. We had to learn that seeming delays were the working of perfect victories. We had to learn to trust that there was surely an end. We had to dig our heels in and dig deep. We came out with depth. The Great Ife I came to know was not OAU, Ife, but OAU, Universal… it was committed to making champions anywhere and everywhere, anytime and everytime. The Great ife that trained me was not just in Ile-Ife, it was also in my father’s house during closures. It was also in the decisions I was forced to take.

 

Its Still a Day!

If theres one revelation I really want you to get, its that because the sun has stood still, it’s a longer day, not two days, nor three! Your five year course is a longer 5 years, not 6 years, nor 7! Wow, that’s some revelation!

It means that if you walk in this, in your tomorrow, you’re not in anyway disadvantaged. You’re not behind time. Others may look to be running ahead, but the day hasn’t moved… God blessed you with a longer day to complete your victory!

 

“So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down…” Joshua 10:13 NKJV

I’m sorry, but hope you realize God isn’t in a hurry over this. If he was you would have spent only five minutes at home. Or maybe, none! He’s saying that I’m determined to make you. I’m determined to bring out possibilities. I want to birth dreams in you in this time, but till its complete I want this sun to stand still!

 

So you were asking when school would reopen? Don’t look to the sun, its waiting for you. Rather pursue and complete the victory. I wish I could speak in clearer terms, but to those to whom it is given, may God grant you revelation and understanding!

 

I believe you’re advantaged, blessed and favoured!

Looking Good, eyelashes

Everybody wants to look nice, everybody wants to experience that second look when you pass people. But sadly people apply stuffs that enhance their beauty forgetting those for the eyes.
The eyes is one major thing that makes the whole face shine, when applying makeup, especially the eyelash. When the eyelash is enhanced, O.M.Gosh, I bet it with you, you going to experience more than second looks. You could enhance the eyelash by using lash extensions, ones that won't come off with the rest of year makeup. They are available in hair salons and spas everywhere. But we have to be cvareful of the kind of glue used, it must always be eyelash glue, if not you wouldn't like your self at all i.e stinging of the eyes