Alina Barbu is a graduate of the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, from the University of Bucharest, Romania, with a major in English and a minor in French. She has been working in higher education for more than 20 years. She is the author of 11 books with a focus on ESP (English for Special Purposes) and comparative literature. She is a Ph.D. holder in comparative poetry and her thesis was acclaimed by Romanian critics, being awarded a prize for literary debut in 2009. Ever since 2013, she has been teaching maritime English with Constanta Maritime University where she had the wonderful opportunity to teach a lot of 110 African students. This experience was extremely enriching for both teacher and students and the educational outcome was very fruitful. The exchanges of linguistic knowledge led to the improvement of students’ intellectual skills and cognitive strategies.
*Crowing of an African Queen* On 25 July 2016, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/70/293, proclaiming 2016-2025 as the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (IDDA III). In proclaiming this Decade, the international community is recognizing that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected. Around 200 million people identifying themselves as being of African descent live in the Americas. Many millions more live in other parts of the world, outside of the African continent. As proclaimed by the General Assembly, the theme for the International Decade is “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development.” Saturday, 21/08/2021 at the Ambassador Bloomsbury Hotel, London saw the crowing of Ms Esther N. Osakwe being recognised as the MISS COMMONWEALTH AFRICA 2021/2022 at the MISS COMMONWEALTH INTERNATIONAL PAGEANT. Following Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II warm acknowledgement with appreciation of our introduction of the concept of Miss Commonwealth to her in July 2002, the Miss Commonwealth Pageant Organising Committee (MCPOC) had developed the 4-part ‘Miss Commonwealth Pageant 2003 programme.The Commonwealth International is a unique culture and charity beauty pageant where beauty is ageless and age is no barrier to participation because the organisation’s mission is delivered by real people of all ages as a life-long objective.We have an effective programme to building bridges, promoting community cohesion and working across religious and cultural divides. We also work to encourage these elements of the programme through the Miss Commonwealth Beauty Pageant readily obvious in the Style, objectives and activities.Working together by their respective national cultural charity queens and ambassadors, Commonwealth nations in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Euro-Atlantic and the Caribbean employ the Commonwealth International Cultural and Charity Evening TV-Special Showcase (CICCETSS) as a platform for the celebration of cultural diversity and promotion of the engagement of people from all cultural backgrounds in the pursuit of the common values of promoting the Quality of Life Improvement. Queen Esther (35), who represented Nigeria in the finals had this to say ‘ Winning this title has brought many things into perspective for me, such as the importance of using your platform for good. I intend to focus on nation building, welfare and wellbeing reforms as well as being an advocate for the unheard voice of the young ones. Queen Esther, is also a seasoned artist, author, Speaker & Well-being Consultant. She resides in England with her 3 children and pet rabbit. To get in touch please email her – lifeimprovedconsults@gmail.com For more information kindly visit https://misscommonwealthpageant.org/about/ https://www.un.org/en/observances/decade-people-african-descent— Osakwe Nonyelum Esther (HRH)Educator and ConsultantMental Health, Well-being & Fitness Coach. Tel: 01274 787072Mobile: 07597372302https://life-improvement-consults.business.site/
The power of the alternative path by Livy-Elcon Emereonye
In an emergency, the value of the ‘exit route’ which is an alternative path would be appreciated by anyone who found and used it. This same value can also be discovered and appreciated when any alternative path is put into use – maximum use.
An alternative primarily is a possibility of choice between at least two things or courses of action. A path is a way or track laid down for walking or made by continual treading. It can mean the course or direction in which a person or thing is moving; a course of action or way of achieving a specified result. In this context, other words for path include route, track, or way. In a simple term, the alternative path is an existing path that is not regularly used because there is a more accepted path or another easier route that is commonly used. It can be left to waste away or depreciate in value – and it may not be used unless the other better path gets bad or closed.
At every point in time and indeed in every place, there are many alternative paths in our lives that have neither been discovered nor used because we are very comfortable in our comfort zones. We tend to use the popular highway, following the crowd and doing what every other person is doing. To look good and be endorsed by others, we love to conform to the status quo. But conformists rarely beat history. To do something new and make an impact, there may be the need to do what others are not doing, and this may include treading the path not popularly used. There are opportunities – many great ones – before us that lay waste because we refused to look around and see things differently. We dread change and love not to dare but until we dare, we may not know our might – and without stretching our might we will not get different better results. It is by trying that we can succeed and set new records. Therefore, dare to be different. The life of exploration, with its inherent dangers, opens the doors of adventure and discovery, and every discovery has ways of designing a glorious destiny especially if it is something that has great value and touches the lives of many people. Developing the ability to see things differently would harness the capacity to change things for better. Whatever the calling and the circumstance, nature has a way of pushing us out, sometimes to experience harsh realities and to taste the other side of life that we move in search of a greener pasture even in a desert. When the inevitable happens, we look for ways to be more resourceful and productive. In the process, we may stumble into something new that if properly explored can bring about a total turn around with great outcome. You will see different colours of different intensity when you look deep even at a dot. Great preservation factors are discovered through a critical pry and probe. Rare discoveries are often made when all hope seems to have gone and there is no alternative to choose from. But the beauty of survival is that when pushed to the wall and there seems to be no exit route, we must discover a way of escape!
The world is not only big enough for all to operate optimally without silly competition but it is indeed full of opportunities which only those that earnestly task themselves searching for them can see. However, to make a mark, what is seen or discovered must be put into maximum use for optimal results. Task your senses and get value from your discovery. Just the same way necessity becomes the mother of invention, scarcity promotes prudence. The hard way is valued most at hard times. Those in tight conditions have ways of doing the unimaginable that can question the laws of nature.
When faced with challenges – tough challenges – we have ways of getting the best of ourselves. Yes, harsh realities somehow come along with the power to harness our potential. Even a tongue of a dimmed light is appreciated the most in the midst of deep darkness. Every solution is valued when faced with an insurmountable problem. The flickers of hope seem loudest with anticipation of a feasible, workable solution that comes with the exploration of the alternative route.
One of the things that define human beings is the experience of problems, and there is strength and excitement that come along with problem solving. In an attempt to solve problems, many options could be discovered and such discovery if harnessed can bring about uncommon breakthroughs. A sudden crash, an unexpected problem with inherent pains can lead to sudden or accidental life changing discovery.
At your spare time, probably a quiet time, probe into what can cause one to look for and use the alternative route. If you are at that point now, what alternative route will you use? What are the advantages of this alternative path?
Commercial commuters know the importance of alternative routes very well. During gridlock or heavy traffic jams they seek and use alternative routes to meet targets. They can stop at nothing to use any available route to get to their destination even if it entails putting up with deliberate threats and dangers. What matters most to them is results – timely results. When it seems that every other thing has been lost and life gets devastated, the alternative path can come to the rescue with new ideas and hope and properly used, such can be one of the greatest opportunities of a lifetime. Just develop the courage and the thick skin to persevere and you will discover at the end that the alternative path is indeed a special path for greatness.
Yes, when one door closes, another one will open so don’t be afraid to start all over again. Use the alternative path and continue the journey. Learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others and move on. What you encounter where you are coming from, if put into good use, will help you a lot to get to where you are going in time without many flaws and falls but where they are inevitable, rise up, and continue. It is not over until the last breath. The most inspiring stories come from those who saw failure as a factor for success and thereafter embraced all odds to excel in their chosen endeavours. People can as well read your story and learn from it if you choose to because the ball is in your court. The determinant factor is the willingness not to give up no matter the challenge and the determination to succeed – and succeed real good – at all cost. Pay the price and you will get the prize.
Born in Kinshasa, I have lived in the United Kingdom since the age of 14 years ago where I have completed all my education, with recent accomplishment being the achievement of master’s degree in project management at the university of Westminster London.
In 2016, I gave a TEDx Talk entitled “Living On The Edge” which summed up the multi-facet of my life. From juggling motherhood and family life, full time career, to establishing a non-profit organisation and business with a social mission and everything else in between.
Although, it may appear easy from a bird’s eye view, nothing in life is easy but I believe all things are possible with the help of God and the I – can – do – it attitude coupled with great organisation skills, passion and determination to succeed no matter how many times you fail.
I am Roger Okewole and 9ja Pop Art is a peek into my imagination!
INSPIRATIONS: More than Dali, Rembrandt, Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Picasso, Roy Lichtenstein is my main artistic inspiration. I couldn’t have been older than eight when Mom was showing me Lichtenstein’s works in World Book Encyclopedia.
BEGINNINGS: My parents bought a few of those thick coffee table art books with photos of the great paintings by Old Masters, alongside Greek and Roman sculptures. I was studying anatomy and perspective from those books from a very early age. My folks also bought me every age-appropriate comic book they could find, which truly unlocked my imagination.
I first exhibited in a gallery when I was about 11 years old. I was designing costumes and banners for carnivals in Nigeria when I was in my early teens. I was 16 when I got my first graphics job with an advertising agency in Lagos.
I worked as a graphic artist while at college in Nigeria and the USA. I did all this without a single day in art school. My folks insisted I follow the “responsible eldest son” path and I got a Civil Engineering degree and an MBA.
Then things changed…After about a 10-year hiatus spent climbing the corporate ladder, I formed 9ja Pop Art to bring my artistic side back to life.
MEDIA: I mostly use pencils, inks, watercolor pencils and computer graphics; I like to mix it up and my creative impulses tend to go in very different directions. The only thing I never do is photobashing
I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I have!!!
My art business has been designated as a “Trusted Art Seller” with The Art Storefronts Organization, which means you can shop with confidence, and know that I stand behind the quality and value of my products.
THIS SATURDAY Music & poetry With Tanzanite events
Please SHARE, SHARE & SHARE this flyer with your Friends, Family, Neighbours and Colleagues, invite them all to celebrate; African Culture, African creativity, African art, African talent and entertainment with us here @ Tanzanite_events.We look forward to seeing you all there.
Music & poetry 
With Tanzanite events
TONY TOKUNBO ETEKA FERNANDEZ 