It’s the 27th day of December, 2009. It’s a day dedicated to the Biggest Street Party in the whole of Africa, the Calabar Carnival. Only in it’s 4th edition, the Calabar Carnival has grown bigger, better and more innovative since inception and keeps attracting tourists from all over the world, to the Africa’a Premier Tourist Destination, the ancient city of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.

Let’s take a look at a couple of pictures from previous editions:

For more pictures and videos, CLICK HERE

I read the following article somewhere and thought I could share it with you. I believe it will be of immense help and impact to you. Happy Reading!

Innovation is the capacity to think beyond the known, defy the norm, and believe in one’s ability to solve problems. I remain positive because I am convinced that no problem is unsolvable. You do not have to throw in the towel, commit suicide, or quit because every problem has a solution. No matter what happens in this current economic crisis, you can solve it.

There are ways to rise above crisis. You have to think innovatively. What you need is on the inside of you. You have to initiate solutions. Do not wait for things to happen to you. Take control, and decide what happens. You have to place demands on your potential. Your answers may be found in a talent or ability that you least expect could be used. There is a way to rise above.

In order to rise above crisis, you have to believe in your ability to solve problems.

Look at what you have. Study your environment, your experience, and your relationships. You never know who has the rest of your puzzle. As it pertains to visionary leadership, you always have a piece of the vision for your life, and there are other people around you and in the world that have the rest of what you need.

Additionally, you also have to see the potential of resources. Understand the true nature of resources. Study your resources. Then act. You have to have the attitude of a Kingdom innovator. You must believe that nothing is impossible. You must also believe that there is no one way to solve a problem. For example, you may have been taught that there are only two ways to cross water—by boat or swim. However, God told Moses, “No. I will open the water, and you walk on dry land” (Ex 14:16). Also, Jesus demonstrated another way to cross water; He walked on it (Matt 14:25).

In these critical times, you need to find new ways to solve old problems. For example, Jesus performed miracles, using diverse methods. He healed several blind men but all in different ways. He touched two, put mud on the eyes of another, and just spoke to another (Matt 9:29; Jn 9:6; Lk 18:42). Therefore, though you may be in a financial crisis, there is more than one way to earn money. Do not think that you have to get a job in order to earn a salary. God may be saying, “I am not going to remove this crisis until you think differently.”

Finally, never surrender to limitations. Crisis is the time to break barriers. Do not be afraid to fail.

You will never succeed greatly until you are willing to fail greatly.

This factor is a benefit of crisis. It pushes you in ways that you have never been before. Be willing to try anything at least once. It is better to have tried and failed than to not have tried and never know you could have succeeded.

Perhaps, let me share with you a clear example of innovation which I witnessed with my very eyes. I come from a state that is generally regarded as a “civil servants” state in Nigeria – Cross River State. That is because, over 70% of the inhabitants are civil servants, working for one government parastatal or the other. Nobody wanted to do business in Calabar, because the city was not in any way a business-hub and civil servants were considered amongst the poorest of the working class.

In fact, ours was a city and a state in crisis (financial crisis that is) until along came a man of passion and innovation. A young man by the name of Donald Duke, who turned around the crisis-ridden state and created other ways of income for the people. Between 1999 – 2007 as Governor, he embarked on what many considered “white-elephant projects”, establishing the TINAPA, Obudu Cattle Ranch, The International Obudu Range Mountain Race, Marina Resort and Calabar Carnival, amongst others, creating a Tourism Industry that ranks the best in Nigeria. Today, Calabar is the place to be especially during the Yuletide season, as hundreds of thousands of people travel from all across the world to participate in the 31-day Celebrations and watch the 2-day Carnival Float. I was in Calabar a couple of weeks ago, and almost everywhere I turned, businesses had sprung up, especially Hotels, Guest Houses and the likes. Indeed, the people must be grateful for the change in their fortunes.

So, my friend, whatever crisis you may be facing right now, look critically inside and find the Innovative You waiting to emerge.

Compliments of the Season!

Today is a very special date that carries many memories, memories that were more often than not, unpleasant. Today is the 11th Day of November, the 11th month. What’s so special about the date, you may want to ask. Here it is; in my secondary school days in the great Hope Waddell Training Institution (HOWAD, for short), an all-male school founded in 1895 in the ancient city of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, 11-11 was the most dreaded of all days for any new student. It was popularly called “Foxes’ Day”, a day in which the “foxes” were formerly initiated into the school community by having their tails cut off. Who were the foxes? Another good question – simply, the just admitted Junior Secondary School(JSS) 1 students, who were usually about 2-3 months old in the secondary school system as at this date.

At exactly 11.00am Nigerian time, the Senior Secondary School (SSS) 3 students would troop enmasse to the classroom blocks of the JSS1 students and bring them all out for the initiation ceremony – “the cutting of the foxes tail”. “Cutting off the foxes tail” could entail any kind of punishment that the SSS 3 students dimmed fit to be meted out to the poor little chaps. Traditionally, the ceremony began by attaching a long piece of tissue paper to the shorts of the students – to depict a tail – and then flogging the foxes until the tails cut off. Other punishments ranged from frog jumping, lying in the gutter to bizarre acts such as being drenched in urine. I’m serious – I witnessed this in my very first year in school, 1992. It didn’t matter what day 11-11 fell on. If it was going to be a weekend, then the Friday before or Monday after, the ceremony was held. Every set had it’s ardent executors of the Foxes Day.

I still remember my saving grace that very year when I was a fox, 11-11-1992. I was in my class, JSS 1P (we were that many, we even had JSS 1W, each class filled with no less than 30 students) and the ceremonies were just about getting started when an SS3 student, Mr. Godwin Inyang, a dear family friend, came and picked me out of the class. As we took a stroll together, I could see my colleagues who were getting the beating of their lives; I clung unto Godwin’s arm even closer. It wasn’t a pleasurable sight, to be sincere.

As the years went by, the foxes day became an even more dreadful day, not just for the JSS1 students, but every class below SS3. I clearly remember that the worst beating I got in school was on 11-11-1996, when I was in ss2A. Our class was suddenly invaded by the most Senior Students and we got the beating of our lives from every Tom, Dick and Harry. This tradition had become enshrined into the school system such that it more or less became a norm and there was absolutely nothing the school authorities could do about it. Well, nothing anyone could do until a new administration came on board, an administration that choose to be it’s brother’s keeper instead of tormentor.

First, sometime in the early part of 1997, a new principal was posted to HOWAD, then Elder Nsa E. Eyo now Revd. Nsa E. Eyo. Then, against all odds, after a rigorous screening exercise, I became the 102nd Senior School Prefect of HOWAD, leading a team of over 40 prefects and a population of over 4000 male students. We were so many I’m sure I didn’t really get to know all the prefects working with me until we left. Don’t ask me how the tenure went; I believe others will have a better assessment. But, I must say, I did enjoy myself and much of the leadership skills I learned from my experience still guide me till today.

Well, a couple of days to 11-11-97, we had started considering what to do to reverse the trend. Our thoughts fell just in line with those of the Principal, who summoned us to an urgent meeting to discuss how we could break the 11-11 jinx. In the meeting, he explained to us how disturbing the whole tradition was and charged us to find a workable plan to stop the “menace”.

So, therein lies Step #1 to breaking the jinx – Appreciating the Problem. This first step is very vital if you must find a solution to any problem you are encountering. You must appreciate that there is a problem, in the first place; otherwise, why look for a solution? Many people usually turn a blind eye to the fact that an unfavourable and recurring situation in their lives is a deep-rooted problem. In fact, sometimes they become so comfortable with the situation that the abnormal becomes a norm. That’s when you start hearing statements like “that’s the way it used to be”; “it’s been like this for years, you cannot change it” etc.

Back to our story. So, we had an in-house emergency meeting and did some serious brainstorming on how we could turn 11-11 to a happy day. I still remember some suggestions that were made including one that we should assemble the JSS1 students, in particular, in the Assembly Hall and have them entertain themselves. I think we jettisoned that idea because it left the rest of the classes (JS2 – SS2) still vulnerable to attack. After a long session, we finally arrived at a technique we thought would work.

So, Step #2 – Brainstorm on the Problem and possible solutions. It has been said that “two good heads are better than one”. Well, in recent times, it’s been modified to “two good heads are better than one”. When faced with a difficult task, do yourself some good by gathering a team of persons you think can help you brainstorm. You’ll find out that the solution will come out much easier than if you tried to do it yourself.

Here was our plan and here’s exactly how it turned out on D-day. At exactly 11am on 11-11-97, the big bell was rung as a signal to all students to remain in their classrooms. It was a “No-Loitering-Allowed Day”. Any student that was outside his class a minute after the bell was doing so at his own risk. Then, we stationed prefects at every block of classrooms to ensure that none of our classmates got close to those classes. The school authority, on her part, led by the Vice Principal (Admin), the tough Mr. Ugbaja, stationed teachers beneath the SS3 block (popularly called the Aso Rock), making sure that not even the senior students could step out. It was a strategy that worked far beyond our wildest imaginations. About 30 minutes after D-hour, I stood with the Principal and his vice and viewed the classroom blocks around the big field. We could hardly see a single student outside. It was a sight to behold and I’ll never forget the feeling of accomplishment that ran through my spine. We had done the impossible. We had broken the 11-11 jinx!

Step #3 – Work out a plan and follow it to the letter. It is important that when you put together a plan, you must do your best to work out and walk through the plan. Many people sometimes leave their plans half-way because it may not seem to be working out initially. You have to learn to give something a try first, before looking for the perfect touch.

Today, as we mark yet another 11-11, I can’t say what’s going on in HOWAD but I really do hope that some good kind-hearted leaders can follow our example and make it a most memorable day for all the students.

I’ll like to sign off this article with our usual shout-out in those heydays. HOWAD Wee!!!! Waaaa!!!!

GLORIOUS