Customer Service Excellence

I was to travel to Johannesburg in November 2017 and l was mandated to quickly write an article on Customer Service Excellence in the Travel and Tourism sectors. It is gratifying to consider this as an evergreen content.

Customer service is defined as the total of what an organisation does to meet customer expectations and produce customer satisfaction. The customer decides what good customer service is. Driven by the fact that the Travel and Tourism Sectors are part of the bubbling sectors of the economy, promotion of customer service excellence becomes inevitable. Whether someone is travelling for business or pleasure, the level of customer service he/she receives on the trip will determine if he/she comes back for anothet visit or warns his/her friends to avoid the tour group. Travellers, particularly those on vacation trips want memories they can look back on and smile. When it comes to hotels and tourist destinations, guest expect staff members to be courteous, helpful and friendly. They also want staff members to be knowledgeable about the area and attractions, this will help travellers build those memories they crave.
It is noteworthy that it costs five times as much to win a new customer as it does to keep an existing one. Excellent customer service begins and end with smiling staff members, positive attitude and helpful friendly tones. Their cheerful attitude will greatly influence the joy guests take in their visit. The oldest adage in customer service is that “The customer is always right, even if he is 100% wrong.” Complaints are golden opportunities. This is not just about making customers happy and keeping them from visiting your competitors it is also an opportunity to learn what shortcomings your business might have. Courteously helping a guest solve a problem often creates a loyal patron more willing to return in future.
Customer services are directly related to tourism because travel industry is based on money and without customer, there is no income. Good customer service is required at every part of tourism either hotel or travel agency. Regardless of how rude and demanding the customer can be, it is more important to keep positive attitude and be friendly with the customer. Tourism is the industry in which passengers contact to get what he/she dreams of for their holiday.
Bad feedback about customer service can be extremely damaging. If enough guests have bad experiences with your business, news will spread rapidly thereby throwing customers at one’s competitors. Positive attitude apathy, complacency and employees who complain in front of guests or travellers can sour the image of the sector forever. Contrastively, good service helps to turn customers into ambassadors of one’s business.
Tourism is the industry that helps a country to get economical stability. Tourists generate business in a country and plays a key role in achieving the socio-economic goals of development plans of the nation. Good customer service ensures more opportunities for business for the service providers. Customer care is the fulcrum of any industry and its growth. It helps to develop a loyal customer base and improve customer relationships. Tourism is such a wide industry and customers have many alternatives available for their requirement. The modern customer is well informed and needs full value for his money. For loyal customers to come back again and again which promotes the business through words of mouth, it all goes with a good and strong customer support. By building a long term customer base, the sectors can reduce the cost of looking out for new customers.
To promote customer service excellence, one has to understand customer’s need. There is a visible difference between “knowing” a customer’s need and ” understanding” the need. An excellent customer service is only achieved when a customer’s need is fully understood and solved completely. Having understood the customer’s need, it is mandatory to make him/her feel special. First impression from the employers are crucial as meeting with customers is an everyday situation you have to involve yourself in when it has to do with the Travel and Tourism Sector. Employees are to present themselves in the most appropriate manner to customers as this affects an organisation’s image.
In the travel industry, there are certain steps that have to be followed to create a positive image for the company such as: loyalty to the organisation, following organisational procedures, respect the building and equipment and views of others, friendly attitude towards customers and also customer service training. This training should always include skill of fast and accurate services which are: excellent organisational skills, keyboard skills, negotiation and assertiveness skills, research skill, product knowledge, etc.
Each customer should be treated like a rarebreed irrespective of their appearance, property, stature, gender, etc. as no one really knows the exact customer who would recognise, acknowledge and advertise the excellent customer service and vice-versa.
Conclusively, customer care is the backbone of Travel and Tourism industry and will continually play a vital role in the growth of these sectors.

A Groom That Grooms

It’s been 364 days since your last birthday and I’m still blank regarding putting words together just to describe how amazing you’ve been in the last one year🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️Could this be one of the demerits of marriage or a manifestation of the famous saying that “familiarity breeds contempt?” My hands seem tied, hence, my inability to speedily put words together as usual but my heart isn’t. The one who makes my heart skip without a rope is a year older today. My lips may be closed but I’m not expected to keep calm.

It’s been you in my world for about four years now and I’ve got to do this for you. Love got a unique meaning the very moment l met you physically. You’re one of the strongest creatures l know and l am bewildered at how you made loving you effortless….My Goodman

Like Bernice’s biscuits, l saw homes crumble and this got me skeptical about the whole marriage thing. You wouldn’t blame a teenager who had her formative years in an environment that payed no attention to healthy unions as one of the criteria of a child’s future. Little wonder you are a workaholic because everything works with you. You are that portion of sweetness that purges not. It interests me how we sometimes get to have heated argument and we know the right moment the heat has to take to its heels.

Though our marriage is different from what we planned, it has its roots in God’s plan for us. I will call our love story a “bildungsroman.” You are my rock and for that I am forever grateful. We have not been together for so long; I can barely remember life before you — and that makes me smile. Nowadays, I can read your silence. Our love is much stronger, deeper and pure.

Walking on the difficult path with you seems like a cakewalk. I am so blessed to have an amazing husband who I can always count on no matter what. You are a proof that not all heroes wear capes.

This last year has not been the smoothest or easiest. I’m so proud of the work you have put into your life this year.

Mi Todo😍

I do not know how this sounds but everything makes sense including our fights. As we know they do not get to see the light of day. Fire boo😍😍 my lover and lover of good things. Thanks for not holding back when it comes to our welfare. The girls and l are glad to have you as the only Spiderman in our lives.

Thanks for the good times. You should appreciate me for the bad ones😂 make your head a bit soft this year, e too strong. And please take my health issues seriously this year, I am your wife…just so you know🥰

You are my irreplaceable pillow talk mate and the endless vacation l crave. Happy birthday, Mi Todo 🥰 l need not to mention that I love you.

Baby A To Review❣️

Dear Baby A,

I need to quickly bring to your notice that your dad and I spoke discussed “my virginity loss” hilariously few nights before penning down this article. Please remind me to share in details when you read this.💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌💌

Lately, l have found myself staring into space trying to see if l could catch a glimpse of what you look like. After several futile attempts, l feel my request was declined because l asked for too much😔 So, l humbly plead that the creator just shows me your side view. At least I’ll make do with that till you arrive in our arms🙏. Up till thiis moment, l wonder what gives me this firm assurance you would be a pulchritudinous infant🤔🤔maybe because your sperm donor remains the most fascinating soul on earth.

>>>>>>>>BLAST FROM PAST. Several occurrences preceded your conception that further buttress your uniqueness, gumdrop. Many were the afflictions of the righteous but God fufilled his promise of deliverance. The bottom line l am ever grateful to God for is being with the sweetest heart you have to call “Dad.” Though blunt in nature, he is the best l can offer you and your siblings. It is erroneous to subtract the fact that he’s got good looks too. I mean: •He is God fearing. •He does not mince words. •His lips are pinker than mine👄 •He has flesh unlike me😔 •His hair grows speedily. •Most importantly, he is a lover of good things and for all l care, l am a typical example of a good thing that comes with favour from the Lord.

Baby A in me💞

I was about exploring daddy’s naughty attitude in this article when l bumped into him spying😂🤣😂. I caught this man reading this manuscript. Baby A, l have always known my first child would be a female and l can’t wait for you to prove me right thereby making your dad face reality😜. Meanwhile, l don’t know why it keeps crossing my mind that you two may share a striking resemblance. Let’s hope my jealousy won’t see the light of day. It will be the gender for me though 💃🏻💃🏻💃🏻

^^^^^^^^^PRESENT. Kikiopeoluwa 💙 Thirty days with you hasn’t been dirty. Adventure and thanksgiving has been the order of each day. Thanks to the Almighty for sparing our lives through it all. The proudly humble Ondo lndigene you call “Dad” decided your pregnancy must be kept against all odds. His decision though nonsense at the genesis now makes sense. Who am l not to give thanks??

Tiaraoluwa💖 In the past one month, you have made us further understand what it feels like watching, bathing, feeding, dressing, and rocking a part of the body of God. Though the vigils seem so stressful, you’re worth beyond a thousand reasons for them, my love. How possible is shutting one’s eyes against those smiles of yours?

Onyinyechukwu💛As it is now, l wonder less why our landlady visited and gave you the name even before your christening. I am yet to meet a better “gift from God.” Permit me to say- to knack is human, to conceive is divine.

Bernice🤎Victor bringer mi. Thanks for helping me conquer nausea, salivation that seemed endless, business stress(lagos lsland saga) though l still visited at 39weeks. I’m indebted to God for giving a girlchild who is strong enough to share some strength with her feeble mum🙏🙏. Thanks for preparing my tiny self for your 4kg self. My guarantor and l spent 9months together and he eventually sent a symbol in form of a sweet soul.

MotirireJesu🤍 Your father and l will be ungrateful souls if we claim that we are yet to see the goodness of God in the land of the living. The last two trimesters shook our faith but here we are basking in the manifestation of God’s love towards us and more to come.

My bundles of joy and l❣️

In our lives, you are the sun that never fades and the moon that never wanes. You are a star and our lives have changed so much for the better since you came along. You and your siblings are our biggest achievement. A quick one before l drop my pen✍🏼✍🏼✍🏼. Kiki, do your siblings look like me??🤔🤔

#Aridunnu

#Gumdrop

#kiks

#Taraboo

A Letter To Mr A💞

To him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we may ask or think did I raise my spec-like voice to. I am damn sure the Ocean Divider must have laughed while he listened to me, not because of my comic approach but because what he had in stock for me exceeded my wishes. I choose to call you “a goodly heritage” simply because your arrival into my life has made lines fall for me in pleasant places.
The part of my life that features you in an affirmation of the claim that “Man proposes, God disposes.” All I wanted was a dark man that will treat me well. I mean, a Yoruba demon😜. I had absolutely no idea about Yoruba Angels 🤗🤗 God gave me you, the exact fair man to treat me fairly.

Hey Mr A

To some, you must have looked like a bus stop, hence fell into the category of an X. I document this piece with an unrivaled elation as I inform you that ever since your first message-HELLO hit my DM that year, you have always shared a striking resemblance with my destination. Thank heavens other ladies alighted. Now that you’re gradually turning into my Z, I can’t but put a stop to wondering Y your X didn’t stay. You are a completion of not only the alphabets but all that concerns me.
Of all the publications on this space, this is the only one that got my hands tied. That moment you have to drop your pen simply because your heart is no longer with you. It got missing the moment you captured it.

Thanks for granting me the opportunity to share every and anything with you. Sharing is not the only thing that does the magic, the fact that even complicated issues lose their complications with you does. I have once been in a relationship where I had my laughter was subjected to timing so I need to appreciate a man who does not mind me signing an ambassadorial contract with Close-Up.
I can not just imagine we even cracked so much jokes concerning the proposal, despite that, you still made it happen in such a unique way that I was caught unawares. Why on earth will marriage not be a bliss with such an intelligent individual like you?

An indescribable feeling💞💃

Thanks for pampering but not spoiling me.
While some ladies address their men as their mumu buttons, I choose to call you my reset button. You don’t consider keeping my sanity in check a herculean task. It has once crossed my mind that you must have been part of the first batch of those God created on the sixth day. Omo mehn, na merit list this man follow come oo no wonder Unilag had you placed on the same list for admission. Now I understand fully the reason Mr B got replaced just at the moment I almost settled for less.

Some felt I did too much during your birthday in June. As you know we all have eyes but our vision differs. Too much doesn’t exist in our love story because it has no boundaries, well opened up. My people, learn to celebrate your loved ones to the peak. It is only what God keeps that is kept. Kill that fear of losing him/her. A property that is not yours will definitely be lost-bitter truth🤔

Mr A, you reek of a flawless bliss. I mean, even the most trivial thing makes sense with you. Your kind of flavour is rare. My perfect package. The only one who asked me out frankly 3yrs ago and stylishly shyed away from a repetition in 2020 but came with a proposal instead. Better than I was, more than I am, and all of this happened by taking your hand. This wasn’t how I planned to fall in love. I didn’t even have time to plan. You captured my heart before I could resist. You made me fall in love just the perfect way. You are nothing short of my everything.

Ride or Die💖

There’s so much I want to say to you that my heart cannot contain. If my heart were a book, every page would be filled with your name, your virtue, your autograph. This story is what I would read to our children, about the man who swept me off my feet and made me the apple of his eye.
“Forever” became a verb with you, hun. Doing life with you is what I speedily look forward to. I
apologise for times I thought nothing serious could come from you. I’m elated I still gave u a chance to prove forever, hun. Thanks for bringing an additional meaning to my existence. I love you so much, babe. Because of you, my reality is better than my best dreams💝

#Eriifeoluwasimi

#Gumdrop

#Endlessvacation

#Love personified

#Akorede

#BecomingmrsA

BEST replaces LESS

It is often said that when you pray for the best, you shouldn’t be bewildered when God removes the rest, which mostly makes up the less. I say to people squarely that “the decision you make and onlookers subject your sanity to test bring about jaw dropping testimonies.” When too many people are carried along to the top, it reduces your pace.

My life is an affirmation of the claim that every disappointment is a blessing. 2years and 9months of my life helped me comprehend manual prayers, praying to God but doing the work in your own way. The past 7months is a definition of an undeserved favour, praying to God and leaving God to handle the miracle.

This article isn’t one that ushers one into boredom but further strengthens the need for the place of the supreme being in your life and the goodies attached.

I had a mental picture of my dream man as early at 15. Little did I know God was in the business of cleansing the filthy qualities documented in the slum book. Research has it that whatever is practised successfully for two weeks becomes a habit, how will they categorise one that lasted for over two years? I mean, two whole years! Two freaking years! Twelve months and more!

Adulthood is indeed a scam. Regardless of longetivity, relationships ought to be examined from a rare view. There are usually indicators of a broken home if we only we do the unusual. What do I mean by “unusual?” The unusual involves not playing the victim but acting like a total stranger. Take a back seat, view your relationship like you are not one of the duo. By so doing, you view things from an angle of a stranger. If viewed properly, a proper judgement is made. The only gain a liar has is being aware of his untruthfulness.

My definition of “Best”

It is no longer a news that perfect relationships do not exist but don’t you think the imperfections should be top notch???

Why are you in a relationship if the laughter you crave is shared with other friends?

Why are you in a relationship where thorough forgiveness holds no ground?

What brand of love tags all jokes “expensive?”

How will you describe what we share if grudges are made to see the light of day?

What is love if what we rare is each other’s insanity?

What version of a happy home is built with my laughter being tamed at an early stage?

What kind of home do we envisage if the only time you prove to be man is when it is my turn to have the blame and you dish out utterances at the highest realm of sectional anger with your muscles visible like leaf veins?

What kind of affection neglects dual decision making?

What kind of love embraces unadulterated dictatorship?

Grade A Playmate😜

100% scaling method makes grading difficult. Employ “the over 10” grading system to make things faster. Put your relationship on a scale of 10 with 6.5 as your pass mark. Fingers are not equal, don’t adopt a grading method that you know isn’t useful for you. Dear ladies, to carry his children in your BELLY, he necessarily doesn’t have to own a BENTLEY. No one is immune to life’s battles, always consider GOD FACTOR. He’s the only one who knows the end from the beginning. It is high time I brought back to our minds that God only crowns one’s efforts with success, not laziness.

After I thought Mr A was not meant to be, he got back this year and demanded an explanation of what I’ve been up to since 2017. It was with a childish elation I told him I now have a registered business of mine. All he needed to see to was branding. Poverty is not a respecter of persons. My people, na only hustle dey pay🙌

instagram.com//_peakfhub

All Nigerians are aware of the state of the economy and how uneasy and competitive it is to fall into the class of the gainfully employed. Laziness is not joblessness. They are distinct terms. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Irrespective of your gender, get something doing. You can as well feel the lameness present in a lazy girl’s plan to marry a rich man🙆🙆🙆🙆 such lady can only drain his riches. I advise ladies against dating one who doesn’t have a job and one who has an illegal source of income. No matter how little, pls earn.

It is credible to note that change is constant. No one has ever been awarded for enduring foolishly, WISE UP! No matter how slow you are in making a decision, the hallmark is your ability to leave a life to live a better one. A relationship that undermines your potential ought not to be.

In conclusion, the BEST and LESS do not coexist. One replaces the other. You have nothing to gain being a fence sitter. Say no to public showoffs, private sorrow. I have been there and trust me if I say to you that I know where your pain lies. Did I tell you my proposal took just 7months?? Awwn, await the next article

#D’best

#Mr A

#Mi Corazón

#Giftnmore

The Genesis

Mi Corazón💞

As a lady who is accustomed to putting others first, I considered it absolutely flawless recommending you to a friend I felt needed the warmth I perceived in you. With a sheepish smile that evening, I passed you over. My expectation of you two could be likened to that of pebbles on a wall but like my past you came calling.

You bluntly stated with the conviction of someone who has clairvoyance—Babe, you are the best and I won’t settle for less. I reminded you of the fact that I was in a relationship and you insisted on walking away calmly. I have met gentlemen but you granted me an opportunity to behold all Sean Tizzle described as attributes of a “Perfect Gentleman. ” Within me, I knew that if it has been predestined, nature will be willing to give me the honour of meeting you some other time.

My thoughts kept hovering around a unique young man who got NO for an answer and didn’t choke me, neither did he occupy the position of a pest (Mr A has been proud for a while now ooo😂😂😂).

During the succeeding conversation, you asked me about my aspirations. I shared them with you. You advised that I stayed focused until I reach the peak. You did not forget to inform me about your plans of getting things right with the right lady….hmmm😊😊

To the one I considered as a onetime Mr Right, I narrated all what transpired between Mr A and I. Then boom💥💥my honest disclosure became my undoing. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏A man without an iota of jealousy is one without testicles. (Lawson Peace 2020)

In order to bury the foreseen rift, I quickly reminded him about my distaste for fair men and he expressed a quiet arrogance. By love, I was stupefied.

All of these transpired between Mr A and I without catching a glimpse of what we looked like in reality. No physical meeting of any kind🤔. Thanks to Zuckerberg

#2017withMrA

#2018inabit

#BecomingMrsA

LOCAL CHAMPION

I have always heard from friends about the joy of having it in the restroom. Unraveling it from its coverage that undermines its potency was as simple as ABC. Despite its erection, it went straight into my oral cavity. What an impeccable aura!

I could barely speak due to its size but managed to text a friend in silence to know if I was really blowing the job. Before I knew it, even my hard palate was filled with the fluid from it. What the heck!

Just like a child who has just received a slap as a reset button from a Yoruba mum. I was not told before I settled for a mouthwash. No sooner had I settled for mouthwash, than I realised a crunchy part that wasn’t insipid. Like a female Jacob in the book of Genesis with the angel, I decided not to let go of the crunchy part unless it blesses me. I crunched it like I was going to lose my dentition the next second. No wonder marriage is highly placed!

Knock! Knock!! Knock!!!

I reached out for the handle and opened the door. Regrettably, the wrapper was generously decorated with its fluid. An open secret it was. Silence stretched between us. How on earth do we explain why we have been in together for about 7minutes?

Mum, while at the entrance wallowed in conspicuous disappointment as she looked into my eyes. My lashes failed me, my eyes were glued to the tiles. Without thinking twice, I put the blame on my aunt. Like a feather transported by a whirlwind that precedes a downpour, I found myself in my aunt’s room. Without moving my lips, my mouthpiece(mum) narrated the entire incident to her not doing away with timeline. Aunt was baffled. Her only unmarried niece has just been tagged a local champion. Regrettably, her temper grew worse when she realised the pack of “Snickers” she handed over to me the previous was the cause. In shame, I told her “I was a first time chocolate consumer.”

❤Perfect Match❤💕

Ella found herself in her Aunty’s kitchen in a quest for true love. It’s been over two months she heard about the “Perfect Match”. It dawned on her that she needed something more than love, a fascinating soul, a him that makes the hymn melodious. During her teenage years, she spent most of her time digesting the content of the Jungle Book where she learnt more about the king of the Jungle. This made her add “bravery” to the qualities of her Mr. Right.

Right in the kitchen, she picked a Match Box. In a twinkle of an eye, she got buried in the admiration of the resemblance of the Match Sticks. In addition to “bravery”, Ella concluded within herself that “Perfection” wouldn’t be bad along side “bravery”.

During the Love Feast held by the Youths in her Aunty’s church, she met Roland who embodied the qualities she booked in her book. Since they shared certain similarities, thorough examination lost its place between them. Roland had this jaw dropping smile that assured her of a joyous future they shared. His voice supersedes ” melodious “, it beats her fantasy. This she realised when he sang Atanda’s Agbeke. A song that gets every African lady head over heels, get yours here https://my.notjustok.com/track/381317/atanda-agbeke.

Little did she know he was her own Mourinho, until after 3 years of monthly depreciation like her menstrual cycle. It was discovered that Roland was the President of Unsaved Brothers Association (UBA) in Church and was rewarded hugely by other members of the association having completed their project on a first timer in church.

It was in an attempt to make a cup of tea in the same kitchen she had her quest for true love initially to break her lovely fasting session propelled by Roland’s action that she noticed the distinction between the match stick she lit and the others unused in the box. Helplessly, she tagged the distinction “A Change in shape”. A voice travelled through the window, it was her Aunt’s. She only made Ella realise that its shape changed after it has fulfilled its purpose. Moreover, it hasn’t led to a change of name as it still remains a match stick, though used. A “Perfect Match” is a “Match” that must have gone through processing to make it “Perfect”.

The Genuine Perfection we crave is birthed by growing into fullness. Ella thought perfection had its root in innocence, however they are two distinct terms. After a year of dedication to her purpose, she found Mr. Right. He’s been her Aunt’s neighbour whose kitchen was opposite theirs. What a fascinating proximity😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃

Unfortunately, his voice didn’t meet up to Roland’s. The good news is that he’s not here to rob her of her emotions. He’s an Alex Ferguson not a Mourinho.

Sometimes the right ones usually are around and we channel our efforts into futility.

The perfect ones are in “marriage”. This is so because it is only in marriage a glimpse of the supposed relationship perfection we all crave could be caught. The longer people stay together, the more time devoted to work on their imperfections👌👌

It will be time consuming and futile to seek perfection in a person you’re yet to know, don’t paint flawless pictures of Mr/Mrs Right. Imperfections are worked on to achieve desirable results, lets embrace them. Our challenges and past do not define us.

Make “Up” or Make “Over”

Jenny gets accustomed to committing all sort of atrocities. Whenever she does this with the love of her life, Jack, she finds it difficult to appear in front of her parents, siblings, mentor and most especially, her Pastor. When she’s among her friends, they ask in askance, why she has to panic every time she pleases her desires with someone she’s crazy about.

Jenny, wallowing in self guilt signs a contract with Mr. Up who informs her of his dexterity to patch her blemishes whenever she brings them to him .Just like the butt of a newly born babe, Jenny’s face gets so flawless each time Mr. Up lays his hands on her face. Her blemishes find a way of hiding with the effective use of a concealer by Mr. Up to conceal her supposed flaw.

She visits Mr. Up one morning before going to see Jude as usual but unfortunately, he has used up his concealer, foundation, eye pencil, and even his coloured powder. His kit was as good as empty. Jenny finds it difficult to believe her eyes simply because she can’t afford to pay her bills. Mr. Up advises her to settle for “Passion”, a white powder that he believes will help her put her old ways in extinction. She agrees but just as she dashed out to purchase it, she experience a change of heart. She concludes not to go see Jack till evening.

Just like a lullaby, the soft music played by her neighbour lured her to sleep. In her sleep, she meets Mr. Over who unlike Mr. Up promises to create a long lasting relationship with her. Mr. Over tells Jenny, he’s present everywhere and that she doesn’t need to bring her blemishes to him as he’s all-knowing. He provides her with instances that birthed his magnificence. He takes her through his profile, a miraculous one. There, she sees the cleansing he offered to the woman with the issue of blood, he completely makes her over. She sees how he made a man’s ear over.
The one that wows Jenny is when Mr. Over made 5 loaves over for the consumption of the 5,000. Jenny makes up her mind to cut short the services rendered by Mr. Up when Mr. Over says “acceptance” is the only payment required for a lifetime service🙏🙏.
In addition, calling upon him is to get him extra-attentive to her blemishes. He even bursts her brain when he extends the free service to her relatives without a limit of 5,000 like Zuckerberg.

The world is able to make you up but Jesus is the only perfect man for the make over job.
Surrender you life to him today.

#WCE😘😘
#JESUSBABY
#3RDTIMEAUNTY
#MZLAWSON
#JUSTCONNECT

WHEN THE WILL IS READY, THE FEET ARE LIGHT

My National Travel Essay Competition (NTEC) success story has its roots in the saying: “Great souls have wills, feeble ones only have wishes”. It is a story which has its first chapter documented as far back as the year 2011. The journey during secondary and tertiary levels have shown me that side of life that requires preparation, hardwork and learning from failure.

My joy knew no bounds the day I realised I could participate at the tertiary level because I knew it was the set time for success. Unfortunately, the peak of success I craved didn’t come my way until after four (4) straight trials. It is credible to note that “Success is only achieved in doing a task in diverse ways”. This was my propelling force and it made me participate in the competition for four consecutive years with positions 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st respectively.

Outgrowing the age of childhood rendered Children’s Day Celebration void to me not until May 27th 2017 that served as a massive turn around in my life. At about 3:25pm on that day, my name was called the Tertiary Category Winner of the 8th NTEC. Right on the podium, I could see myself in another world, awaiting the nap to be over in order to face reality. Surprisingly, the reality I faced was the one of cheering the same me with the song-“stand up for the Champion” in the background.

The pictures and congratulatory messages seemed endless that weekend. I went to church the following day with wings. While a part of me got swayed by the long awaited success I have achieved, I could still feel on the other part a call to more hardwork the whole triumph came with. MAY 2017 to MAY 2018 has been a year that added to me in positive ramifications. Firstly, I, alongside my partner in progress-Immaculata had to attend a Conference at the Hotel Renaissance and to address the Delegates. We were only able to cure tension after several meetings at the restroom.

Equally important are the sage words of our Guardian during the year of being an Ambassador, “My Champions, make sure you girls don’t disappoint me oh”. This has only helped us not to settle for less sir. During the conference, I met Dignitaries that I wouldn’t have met ordinarily. Their gestures when they got to know I was the Tertiary Ambassadors rendered me completely mute, so i used my smiles to convey my feelings. How on earth will I forget Mr. Yinka Adeoti, who extolled my will and reminded me that “Giving up is suicidal?”

The treatment I was given at the Hotel Renaissance suspended the thought of the trip to Johannesburg not until I got my VISA and visited South African Airways to appreciate them. What an amazing group of women they have over there. They were so elated we got our visas and quickly swung into the next line of action. The memorable moment with SAA for me is the way I feel whenever I get referred to as their daughter. I get to blush conspicuously whenever this is being said because it sounds as an affirmation of my success.

I believe in doing things only as at when due but on the other hand, Mr. Iroro strongly believes in preparing ahead of time in order to realise one’s shortcomings before the time due. This became so vivid on the day of departure when he ordered me to get to his office by 2pm for a flight scheduled for 10pm just to make sure things are in order. At about 8pm, Immaculata and I had to bid our parents goodbye. It was at this point it dawned on me that I was not just going to Johannesburg to represent the sector but also my family. I must say that the trip to Jo’burg was a peachy one. I spent over 5 hours on the plane seated beside the window, next to Mr. Iroro and behind Immaculata and her brother. I saw several movies, ate and drank satisfactorily till we touched down O.R. Tambo Airport. Out of anxiety, I woke up a few minutes before the plane landed just to see the beautiful South Africa through the window. However, the sight of the pink roof tops and the broad day light we experienced as early as 5am kept us in pure amazement for a long while. It took us about 20mins to finally walk out of the alluring structure called the O.R Tambo International Airport. While we were waiting to be dropped at Vanderbilj Park which was the conference Venue, Mr Iroro suggested we had a classic breakfast. Just like the beautiful Airport, the meal was sumptuous.

On getting to the Tsogo Sun Hotels, we checked into our rooms. Imma and I dropped our luggage and had to confirm we were the only two to use the room regarding the extreme comfortability we beheld in the room. Up till this moment, the hotel room is still the best I’ve ever seen.The conference started that evening with a Sun Downer Boat Cruise and a pool side dinner. The remarkable parts of the 2017 ABTA Conference were the Boat Cruise, Island Bomafire dinner, Veldschool, Court and Panel sessions where I represented my group and the Business Card Prize Draw where I was opportuned to be one of the winners and got a comfort bag full of goodies to myself. If there’s anything that got me intoxicated during the year, it should be the name given to the winning team each time we go out together which is-“Ewos and his girls”.

My trip to Jo’burg was a fun filled one. In the light of this, I’d like to appreciate the Miracle Worker who had designed all occurrences before they manifested in reality. Secondly, my immense appreciation goes to Mr. Ewos Iroro who’s the brain behind the competition that has brought me to limelight and given me the opportunity to be with such a gathering of distinguished personalities as yourselves in the Travel Industry, your Champion will never disappoint you Sir. Besides, those soul-lifting counsels I was able to pen down during the year won’t go unattended. Furthermore, my profound goes to South African Airways who offered me a flight ticket to South Africa and to ABTA founded by the highly esteemed Monique Swart for her support all through the year.

I will be forever to my family, Team Lawson has been amazing with you all in my life. Many thanks goes to all my loved ones, most especially Balogun Emmanuel and Bassey Blessing who supported me all through those hard times just to ensure I took the first place and every Corporate organisation that has been making this Annual Competition possible. To the competitors in the Tertiary category, whether you emerge as the winner or not, I beseech you to keep your nose to the grindstone bearing in mind that the world makes way for the man who knows where he’s going. To the one who’d be stepping into the shoes I occupied for 364 days (Mmesoma), I congratulate you for outshining other intellectuals as yourself. Note that the road ahead is just like the road behind.

It is my desire to see more corporate organisations partner up with Travel and Business News in order to tackle the problem of ageing workforce in the Aviation sector both on National and International scale
I thank you all for your warm disposition and kind attention. I’m Miss Lawson P.J

A LETTER TO YOU, SIR.

It is not an error that I am a female, neither is it an easy task building myself into what I have become….
What I am saying in essence is-“I have undergone some painstaking processes that are beyond narration.”
The only reason I have put this piece together is to fully get over this modern day evil enveloping our society. It is one of the factors that metamorphoses into prominent problems that get too hard to crack.
We all can only change our tomorrows, not our yesterdays!!!Due to the aforesaid, each person has the mandate to either be for or against positive reforms. Ladies, distinct females take out time, deny themselves of things on the list tagged “endless”, build themselves into sweetness doing away with previously encountered bitterness only for them to be wooed by those who have ended up with females who in one way or the other sidelined sacrifices to get to the marital top.
The setting does not involve pain but patience like that of one who wants to make a delicacy out of stone…If you want to end up satisfied with your spouse, you work your way around it during courtship. If he/she is not the right one for you, it is either you chill or change him/her rather than turning yourself into an unfaithful spouse.
It is completely void sliding into a lady’s DM as a married man and listing attributes you find in her but are absent in your wife, Sir. Sir, if you are in your right senses, you would know childbirth changes a woman in diverse ways….Not every woman makes up her mind not to add weight like I did when I turned 20. Meanwhile, you cannot compare the stature of a woman you deny peace of mind to that who has it in mass……Daddy, what is that na??In addition, we all are offspring of distinct parents..(fat, plum, slim et al) different compositions..
Regrettably, the next time you slide into my DM with sweet talk like that of the sugar your home lacks, I will make sure it gets to God and your family, Sir.
—-Sir, I speak sense and true definition of Quality Family Leadership into your lifespan.
—-Daddy won, you should build your family into what you have long desired through planning.—–Sir, you even went ahead to delete your wife’s picture from your Facebook account, so you would only be married offline. Are you in your right thinking faculty?
Some even fall into a different category oo called the “LEGIT SIRS”💪💪——A Sir that’s in this class will tell me he has a wife and she knows he is promiscuous…..in the same way your spirit knows you are empty-headed.——Sir, please invest your money into fruitfulness other than on a Man’s bride to be.
Am I the only one that feels “SEX” is the same process everywhere????The number of women involved does not still change its definition….Sir

Be a responsible daddy na….biko💁I pity your kids who boldly say their fathers are their “role models”….🙆🙆And ladies whose lives are ruined due to extramarital affairs…….brothers will now settle with them and keep fighting endless battles with their origins unknown to him…..
Father Lord, please send the Holy Spirit to deal with the Pastors who fall into this category🔥🔥… I pray for all Sirs to have a rethink…..Amen

Written by,

Lawson Peace Jesulayomi💕

Why South Africa??

I have always had a dream of visiting South Africa right from Secondary School when I got informed its the only African country with two capitals……the hope of seeing an African country with such a distinctive attribute grew in me but little did I know my hopes wouldn’t get crowned until 11years later…..

I was informed that the “Dual-capital” feature is just a tip of the iceberg. Below are the other features of the great African country I visited in November 2017:
The world’s biggest hospital is the Chris Hani – Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto.

South Africa is one of only 12 countries where tap water is safe to drink. Its tap water is rated the third best worldwide.

South Africa mines deeper than any other country in the world, up to depths of 2.5 miles at the Western Deep Levels Mine.

It has the largest hydro-electric tunnel system in the world at the Orange Fish Rivers Tunnel.

Electricity costs are the second lowest in the world.

The world’s two largest platinum mines are located near Rustenburg.

South Africa has the world’s second oldest air force, established 1920.

Currently, South Africa is the only country in the world which has voluntarily dismantled its nuclear arsenal.

While occupying 4% of Africa’s landmass, South Africa boasts more than 50% of the cars, phones, automatic bank tellers and industrial facilities on the continent.

It also has Africa’s biggest economy , three times larger than Nigeria or Egypt.

South Africa has the fourth largest coal reserves in the world. Its coal industry ranks sixth in the world in terms of output of hard coal and third in terms of seaborne international coal trade.

But forget it oo, that tap water stuff didn’t get into me until I found out they had cups in the restrooms….this one weak me🤔🤔but how come white people come full there like that na?????

Its also an African country biko🙋🙋🙋

But how come white people come full there like that na?????

Its also an African country biko🙋🙋🙋 I almost forgot to add the fact that their weather over there isn’t African oo😂😂no wonder the Whites are able to settle there, my cardigan and I did it all mehn😘

#IYAWO-MI TREND

     If there’s anything I wished I never experienced while I was growing and made me look up to adolescence, it was the “Iyawo Mi” every man called me as a child. My shy nature also complicated issues, it served as a catalyst for gathering more “Suitors” so to say. You know that moment they all go “My Wife” and I tilt my nose and neck in the same direction….. Wishing a force could just come to swipe the man in front of me away like a gallery on a slide show…..

     There was this particular man that said he loved me cos of the Yoruba I just didn’t  understand and couldn’t speak fluently, I felt very offended. My Yoruba level was about 10% then oo so you should understand why I can’t do without Yoruba songs while leading songs in church now. But how on earth did they expect a pupil of the University Of Lagos Staff School to speak Yoruba as a child—who does that na???? Or proceed to the International School to speak Yoruba…. Ko le work—–(Indispensable Alma Mata)

     My joy knew no bounds when I got to basic 5 and realised I’d be taking Yoruba as a subject . I knew it was time to understand all the comments the fake Suitors’ passed, My Jewel (Mum) translated some parts though but you know some Yoruba Idioms can render one’s use of English null and void. Mehn! Those days my pink lips were still intact unlike now that the upper one has turned black……

     My second prayer point while growing up was how to wait till my weight dropped drastically to avoid being the cynosure of all eyes. To make the situation more complex, puberty and I didn’t become friends until I was 15. This only made me prone to a longer period in the “Iyawo Mi Academy” with lots of gifts from Married Men and Uncles. There were awkward moments when I usually feel jealous whenever some girls in the neighbourhood are seen hanging around these fake Suitors oh, na war—l’d beef them and an auto-halt became the  story of our friendship if they persist.

     These are memories I sit to look back on and laugh hard at my “Innocent foolishness”-chai. Now I speak, write and even make use of diacritics professionally in Yoruba language oo, you won’t dare naw………..Issa Ijebu-Accra Babe.

Throwback to those days when the “Iyawo mi trend” came with cash Mum would tell me to keep in the savings box she also served as a signatory to (momma’s trick during Xmas na) but thank God she swallowed all that would have served as brideprice oo. One thing I can’t stand imagining is meeting those Suitors now as I don’t turn babe more so my bride price go dey reach millions oh. The so called Suitors are now those who didn’t even live up to expectations… Some don’t still speak English…..some aren’t on social platforms….some can’t remember my name….some would gimme straight face, u can imagine…. Some would still want to shine by asking if I know them…shior…some are still dry with their hopes high—-Happy hoping Brotherly…. Some are grandfathers having me in mind for their naughty sons—phew!!!

Meanwhile:

-Don’t make little cash of feign affection cloud your innocence

–Work on yourself daily

—Mr. Right will never pass you by, his presence will be felt

—-Communicate with the right set of people to avoid being misled

——Suitors aren’t smiling ooo….Uncles can be disastrous….we’ve got touchee touchee uncles ooo, don’t let them trick you

Don’t be shy to share your own “Iyawo Mi” trend if you have any…

Let’s all throwback oooo

Pentagonal Occurrence

He kept flipping through and giving the neat ones that would necessarily portray “neat affection” towards you. This continued until both of you lost counts, what a worthwhile adventure!

  On that cool Tuesday evening you ought to be facing reality alone with you and your God, all your brain could accommodate was meeting him in the hymn, so into his choice of words musically like one who’s a member of the backup choristers in church. He finally showed up around 7pm.

     The counts were what you were trying to calculate while seeing several names of companies that carry his name, the perfect picture of the perfected him is finally here—WAWU. Your feelings instantly changed like a staff of “bureau de change”, the line of action was twisted to naming all the names on the neat copies he dropped like out were present during his christening. 

     In no time you found out your friends have been listening and in order to shy away from their questions, you distributed the copies and said it was a group project you have to submit tomorrow morning to a lecturer as the group leader for “Group 5”. They were amazed at your new resolution towards group projects as they saw it as a turning point.

    Not knowing Group 5 will last for 5weeks, as 5 of her friends were with her when you were forced to share the open secret of the 5rounds he’s had with you in 5weeks and has just called 5seconds ago to call it all off. You’ve been in an endless trauma since then………

That awkward moment you mistake the amount of business cards for his amount of love for you…

A bulk of business cards ruined your life’s business……. 

What a memorable pentagonal experience!!

What an immense mental emptiness!!!
#sundayinspiration

#mzlawson

My Generation shall praise your name with or without it in the curriculum

For over 2 decades, l have learnt the easiest route to HELL is via lying and stealing. In the same vein, living a cautious life made up of constant checks that result to balance has been my way of life. These were instilled in me by  the Heads of my first social unit of life–(Family)… i.e my PARENTS.

     My educational journey started about 2yrs after my birth during which my TEACHERS just proved my parents right through Bible Knowledge now Christian Religious Knowledge. I got swayed by the the fact that lying was indeed unworthy as my parents said initially…. The subject didn’t make me know rather it reminded me of the inbuilt knowledge by my parents.

    The input of Christian Doctrine in me by my PARENTS was just like other  MORALS that makes up a trained offspring. Moreover, these were the only 2 valuable things they offered that made up the MZLAWSON we have today. I can’t imagine having a child who wldnt know the GREAT ONE who really did the great task of giving him/her to me, what we should do to always have him be on our part and also what we need do to avoid his anger.

     May l not have children that would fully belong to their TEACHERS. Raising children who would look up to us as ROLE MODELS for all those memories they crave is  key. Look into the link among Timothy, Eunice and Lois to know that CHRISTIANITY isn’t based on formal Education but EMULATION.

  To enhance Precision, permit my pen to be dropped at this point…

My Generation shall forever praise your reliable name…Lord

#justconnect

#mzlawson