Today is 12th of october 2006. Oh whaat a day. I should have done this long ago but i just didn't decide on time. I thought its not necessary at first but i later changed my mind as it will make me feel good. 1986 0f this same day was a memorable day for me. Even though i was very small, i could still remember everything that happened. Men, mothers are trying. I was asleep and i was woken up by her cry. why is she crying? i dont know. All i knew was that i saw my dad just standing and watching her cry and he couldnot say a word. It was on a sunday. Later, neighbours came in and i they took my dad out. Mmmmm. And that was it. That was the last time i saw my dad. He never came back. He died of Asthma. And today marks 20years since he left us. That was i said mothers are trying at first. Do you know the pain, agony, stress and all she faced in the hands of her inlaws (my dads relatives)? And of all she didn't remarry. She bared all the cross alone.
20YEARS without a companion, lover and friend except God can be fraustrating. I wonder why she didn't leave us and go for another man. I LOVE YOU MUM.
I love my dad so much that i felt sick for more than two years when it dawn on me that i'll never see him again, atleast not now. He loved me more than much that i was the apple of his eyes and he would do anything for me. And today been the 20th years he left this sinful world, me, my mum (his lovely wife), my brother and my sisters remember him.
I wish i could turn back the hands of time. I LOVE YOU DAD. REST IN PERFECT PEACE.

Hopehouse Youth Empowerment Initiative is the name of my organisation which has been in use for about two years now. Last year december, i decided to register with the corporate affairs commision (C.A.C) for a more stronger operation. We filed in the name and it was approved. Some weeks later while the processing continued, they said the name has no meaning and we cannot use it again as it was approved "IN ERROR" the first place. I couldn't believe it when the lawyer in charge told me. I told the guy its not possible that he should keep forwarding the name. After months of delay and nothing happened, the guy told me to look for another name instead. I didn't want to change it as the name has been known everywhere. I later said okay while i taught of something.
I later came out with YOUTH VISION INITIATIVE. We filed in the name and it was approved again and we went for the newspaper publication which is suppose to last for two weeks in case of any objection from the public. After that, the lawyer went on with other processing. Just at the last stage of getting the certificate, they said that the name as NO MEANING and that it was approved "IN ERROR" AGAIN.
At this stage, i think i dont know what to do again. Can anybody tell me whats going on? Please, if you know anybody in C.A.C, kindly help me out. I think there's a problem with thier system because i can't just comprehend. I need answers please.

This is to inform all TIG members that my organisation, HOPEHOUSE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE is going through a general restructuring and in the cause of these we've seen the need to change name. The new name now will be YOUTH VISION INITIATIVE. Note also that the change in name doesnot meant change in course or action. Its still an organisation by the youth and also for the youth.
We hereby want everybody to take note. We shall inform you as soon as this new name takes effect.
Thanks.

THE TRUTH BEHIND THE DISEASE

With the rate at which HIV/AIDS is going globally, it looks as if there would never be a cure for the disease. I don’t want to be pessimistic but the truth is that nothing seems to be working. Many agencies, bodies, organizations from different countries have introduced different approaches on how to curb the deadly disease. The rate of HIV/AIDS in Africa is alarming. One will think that the disease emanated from Africa.

The issue at hand now is not where it emanated from but to critically look at the rate at which the virus is increasing in Africa compared to other continent. The question now is how come the virus is on the increase in Africa? Is it that Africans don’t really adhere to simple instructions or do we get false statistics of HIV/AIDS affected victims?

While writing this piece, I look at it that people might think I’m going back to issues that might have been discussed in the past. The issue remains that we cannot fight H.I.V/A.I.D.S without getting those questions answered. We need to know the reason why the disease is on the increase and in Africa.

Is it that after all meetings, conferences, summits held in different countries of the world, with all the expensive adverts we place on electronic and print media about the epidemic, we still have it on the increase? Why the increase? Have we really achieved anything? If we have, is the ratio not going to be like ratio 5:7000 comparing our achievement to the whole lot of people dying of the disease?

Going to the issue of statistics, are we really getting the actual figure of HIV/AIDS victims? Is it not been inflated so we can all get a lot of grants from donor countries to help fight the epidemic? Are we sure that those adverts are really getting to where it should? Is the issue been preached the way it should? Although, we cannot get the actual number of infected people. We can only give a rough estimation but is our estimated figure not been inflated?

In order not to deceive ourselves thinking that we’re achieving something, we should really call a spade a spade and fight this deadly disease to the end. In my own view, let’s all admit we’ve failed in arresting this situation and look for another techniques and strategies in curbing the virus. Just look around and you’ll see that people are still dying day in day out, especially young people. How can we save those innocent children from dying of what they know nothing about? If we did pass a bill now or come up with another strategy on how to curb the spread, let’s also look at the outcome and know if we are doing well. We don’t need to relent. We need to push on.

I will not conclude on this topic now because I know we have a lot of intellects that would love to discuss this topic further. Then, maybe somebody somewhere will understand me better. Let’s stop the spread now. It’s really getting wider by the day.

I want to commend those people that have been in the race for a long time now but we can not stop now until it’s over. More grease to your elbow.

i dont know if this case i want point out happens everywhere but i think i see happening around me and i wonder why. when we talk about youth empowerment, youth this, youth that,we only focus our attention, resources only on youth in urban and sub-urban area , and you wnat to wonder why.
Infact, it seems we've all fotgotten that the people in the rural areas too have youths living with them? Again, when we talk about education,basic ammenities of life,and getting information, they suffer more because they dont have those things within thier reach. And nobody cares.
These youths in question have resources at thier reach to empower themselve only if there's someone to tell them about it.
Maybe is time we all remember that they are also youth and we should find a way to reach them. We should find a way to let them join group of youths actively involve in strong nation building.