Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa yesterday appealed to the management of Savannah Sugar Company in Numan to re-open the company. Nyako made the appeal when he received members of state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) who paid him Christm...
Kinsmen of the late former national security adviser, General Andrew Azazi, yesterday registered their protest against the Bayelsa State government’s plan to bury him in Yenagoa, the state capital, saying it is against the culture and tradition o...
Former head of state and presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 elections, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday gave out her daughter, Halima in marriage to Alhaji Babagana Muhammed Sherriff. The Emir of Bornu, Alha...
My parents are…my mum is a homemaker, housewife and a disciplinarian. There was a lot of love and at the same time a lot of firmness. As the eldest daughter, I wasn’t taken lightly by my parents. I had to adhere strictly to all duties given to me, because I have other siblings to watch-over.
The household I grew up in… my dad was a banker, so we did a lot travelling. We moved along together and I think that created the kind of bond we had. It gave us an avenue to interact with other cultures and understand different people.
When I was a child I wanted to… I’ve always wanted to become an artist. I was good with my hands. My mum taught me how to play the shantu instrument very early. It was a creative time growing up. There were a lot of things I did with my hands – I did crochet, knitting and many things – so I always felt that could lead me to a career.
One statement I will never forget… my school career counselor said it will be a shame if I don’t become a professional artist.
If I could change one thing about myself… It would be my inability to keep in touch with my friends and loved ones these days and to be honest, I’m not proud of that.
You can call it my strength… I see good in a lot of things; I take time to analyse things without being rigid to a particular thing.
I wouldn’t call it a challenge… hurdles in life are like a challenge; if you look at them and call them regrets, it’s like saying you don’t appreciate the lessons they bring.
You may need to know… I am on the quiet side and I'm observant. I like to study a situation before giving my verdict.
Looking at the mirror… I see someone who has achieved some of her set goals. I see someone who wants to impact positively on the society; especially the female folks.
Looking back to yesterday… my fine arts prize from Queens College Lagos is my most cherished prize.
I’m not a big reader… however, I enjoy seeing the book I read dramatised like in “Things Fall Apart”.
I see movies a lot … I like movies of real life stories; movies with historical values like ‘Cleopatra’. On a lighter note, I like Nigerian movies that remind us of our rich cultural heritage.
As an artist… seeing our various diversities spurs my inspiration. Like one of my paintings – The Water Fetchers – has its inspiration drawn from the rural women who go to the stream to fetch water.
In five years time… to see that my work impacts positively on the people both locally and internationally. Being a good ambassador of whom I am and my country.
My future plan for women… I think women are very strong and they need role models along the way. So, whatever little I can impact on them from my work to enable them achieve their professional dreams and keep their home I will offer.
My life in eight words… humble, content, hopeful, generous daughter, mother and friend.
A LIFE IN BRIEF
Kaltume Bulama Gana is the younger sister of Nigeria Ambassador to Malawi, Amb. Mohammed Lawan Gana. She had her primary, secondary and tertiary education in Nigeria.
She did extensive studies in Islamic Arts at Mimar Sisan University, Istanbul, Turkey. One of her notable works is the painting of ‘Queen Amina’ for Zumunta Association Washington DC, USA. She was married and the marriage was blessed with a child.
As the year 2012 rolls by, Nigerians will be counting their blessings or bemoaning the state of the sector under President Goodluck Jonathan. Based on the abundance of talents in all nooks and crannies of the country, Nigeria should be to be among top ...
Today will see the last round of English Premier League fixtures for 2012. Arsenal which was aiming to make it to the top four before the year runs out will come up against Newcastle. The Gunners had their Boxing day clash against West Ham postponed du...
The 2012 tennis season proved to be a breakthrough campaign for Andy Murray, who ended Great Britain’s 76-year wait for a male Grand Slam singles champion with a famous victory in New York, as well as winning Olympic gold. There was also British ...
Nigeria captain, Joseph Yobo has advised West Bromwich Albion striker, Peter Osaze Odemwingie to grow up instead continue be disrespectful. Odemwingie since Sunday has been attacking the Super Eagles’ head coach, Stephen Keshi, Yobo, the Nigeria ...
With doubts over the release of Newcastle United striker, Shola Ameobi for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi is reportedly considering send late invitation to Levante forward, Obafemi Martins. A top official of the Niger...
Despite the billions of naira spent on security by the Jonathan administration, the adverse effects of bombings in the North as well as kidnapping in the South East and South South geo-political zones respectively have continued unabated. In this piece...
Taraba State Commissioner of Information, Honorable Emmanuel Bello, was in Abuja recently for the National Council on Information conference. He fielded questions from LOUIS ACHI and clarified some of the controversies surrounding the air crash involvi...
Even as the smoke smouldered at the scene of the firecracker explosions at the Jankara Market in Lagos Island, the state government has issued a 21-day ultimatum to residents of Ojo Giwa and Okoya streets to submit their buildings to integrity test. Th...
General Norman Schwarzkopf, who commanded the United States (US)-led coalition that drove the late Saddam Hussein’s forces out of Kuwait in the 1991 Gulf War, is dead. The 78-year-old died on Thursday at his home in Tampa, Florida, where he retir...
Thirty-one persons lost their lives and property worth N226.9 million were destroyed in 162 fire incidents in Osun between January and December. The Director of the State Fire Service, Mr Timothy Ogunje, disclosed this yesterday in an interview with th...
Praise the Lord! I’m glad to bring you the very last edition of this column for the year 2012. I am grateful to my readers for keeping faith with this column throughout the year. I am particularly grateful to God for all the messages published in the year, especially the blessing that this column has been to many readers –the impact on people’s lives.
This year ends on Monday, and it is just right to focus your mind on giving thanks to God in the remaining hours of this year. This is because giving thanks is the will of God. 1 Thess 5:18 says, “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (NLT).
The Bible also says you should give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 5:20). And in Col 3:17, the Bible says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (NKJV).
Whatever you’ve received from the Lord this year is not a right; it is a privilege – you don’t deserve it. It’s not because of your holiness, your goodness or your prayer and fasting. “It is not by force, nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty” (Zech 4:6 NLT). It is because of the faithfulness of God to His Word and to you.
On the other hand, you may have suffered some shocking disappointments in the year, some frustrations, some unrealised goals, some unmet expectations etc. These are not enough reasons not to give thanks to God.The psalmist said,“Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember your kindness…” (Ps 42:6 NLT). This should be your attitude. Give thanks to God in spite of any negative condition you may be in now, or you may have gone through in the year.
Don’t be ungrateful
The Bible tells us the story of nine ungrateful lepers (Luke 17:12-19). Jesus healed them but their healing manifested on their way to show themselves to the priest as required by the law. While nine of the lepers went away without returning to Jesus, even if just to confirm to him that their healing had manifested, only one leper came back to thank him for the healing.
And it is instructive that the Bible remarks that the leper who came back to show gratitude was a foreigner. The New Living Translation renders the word “foreigner” as Samaritan.
Samaritans were despised by Jews, yet the despised Samaritan was the one who had the courtesy to come back to thank Jesus. And to him Jesus said, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” The American Standard Version renders the latter part thus: “Arise, and go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” That comment of Jesus suggests that the other nine lepers were only healed but not made whole or made well. Showing gratitude to God for His mercies, His kindness will make you whole, your home, your marriage etc.
The nine lepers that didn’t return to thank Jesus for his healing were most probably Jews because they were not foreigners.
They must have seen Jesus as one of them. They took him for granted. That’s what a lot of people do. Hit and run! But you should never take God for granted at this time of the year and always. God does not owe you anything. Don’t become too familiar with his goodness.
The Book of Psalm severally underscored the need to give thanks to God for all his goodness and kindness. We are told to come before his presence with thanksgiving.