Minerals for the Mind by Ernest Tsifodze; a book to nourish your mind and inspire action
Minerals for the Mind! 5 stars! I’ve read a lot of Ernest’s daily motivational quotes widely shared on his social media. So I’ll say I had an idea of his writing style before I read Minerals for the Mind. But I was amazed by the clear examples and insightful quotes Ernest used to drive home the central theme of the book. The quotes and the life experiences shared were my favourite part of reading the book. The author shared unique minerals needed to live an intentional and purposeful life in all ten sections of the book. At the beginning of each chapter, I looked forward with excitement to discover the names of each mineral of the mind and their meanings. For example, did you know: “Ametrine is a mineral of the mind that helps you find clarity, make decisions, and move forward powerfully?” The thought-provoking first chapter of the book ends with these inspiring words: “It doesn’t matter who is saying what you can or cannot do. What matters is being intentional about your future and putting your best in everyday to yield the best outcome. Once you start doing your best, you will attract people who will help you”. By the final chapter, Ernest arms the reader with ten key Minerals for the Mind needed to live a purposeful and victorious life starting from a well-nourished mind. This book is like an extension of the author’s widely shared daily motivational quotes, but with added illustrations and life experiences. I read Minerals for the Mind when it was launched in May 2021. I read it again in April this year and it was like a whole new experience for me as I discovered new ideas from the book. This is Ernest’s second book and I hope many more young people get access to it to enrich their lives. Great book. Totally worth reading again and again. If you are on a journey of self-discovery to live a purposeful life, you should read Minerals of the Mind once each year. Get a copy via https://tsifodzeernest.com/shop/
Nigeria students exempt from submitting English proficiency tests before admission to the University of Alberta; Meet the man who made it happen
After completing basic, high school and first degree studies in Africa, many students from Africa often seek for study abroad opportunities. Many successful and unsuccessful applicants have described the process to secure admissions to graduate schools in Europe and America as time consuming, expensive and emotionally draining. Despite studying English-taught programs right from the basic to the tertiary level, universities in Europe and America still require English proficiency tests as part of documents needed for study abroad applocations. For years, many Africans in academia have kicked against this practice, however, just a few have taken action against it. One of such persons is Nigeria’s Dr Olumuyiwa Igbalajobi who recently petitioned the graduate school of the University of Alberta, Canada requesting them to exclude Nigeria from the list of countries whose students are required to present IELTS and other English proficiency tests before admission. University of Alberta, Canada has granted his request! Sharing the good news with his Linkedin followers, the Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Olumuyiwa Igbalajobi wrote: “About 2 weeks ago, I initiated a request via email, Linkedin and Twitter to the graduate school of the University of Alberta asking that applicants from Nigeria should be exempt from submitting English proficiency tests. I followed up with a reminder on Monday and as of today, I am happy to inform you that Nigeria has been added to the list of countries in which English is the official language of instruction.” Since seeing the news, prospective applicants from other Anglophone countries have called on Graduate schools in Europe to exclude English proficiency tests as compulsory requirements for admission. Congratulations Dr Olumuyiwa Igbalajobi for your efforts in making education accessible to all!
Meet Kunle Adeyanju, the Nigerian who cycled from London to Lagos to fundraise for charity
Motivational Speaker, Author and Adventurer Kunle Adeyanju has travelled over 12,000 kilometers from London to Lagos to raise funds in support of the ‘End Polio Now in Africa’ campaign. The journey which started in London on 19th April, 2022 took him through thirteen (13) countries and 38 cities till his final destination in Lagos, Nigeria after 41 days. Rotarian Kunle Adeyanju who says his London to Lagos journey is in support of the less privileged in society, said his 41-days motor cycle ride helped him raise awareness to debunk some myths around polio vaccines. He also raised funds to make polio vaccines available towards the eradication of polio. Kunle Adeyanju said his key highlight from this journey was, “the discovery of the true African story”, which is a diverse land of hospitable, honest and generous people. The motor cycle Kunle used on this bold journey has been named ‘Eagle’ and is currently on display for public viewing in Ikeja, Nigeria. Kunle is also compiling his bold journey in a book and will be selling soon on Apple, Amazon & Google Books. Kunle’s inspiring motor ride has received congratulatory messages from many people across the globe including CEO of Twitter, Parag Agrawal and Bill Gates. This was indeed a journey of a lion heart.
Meet Christabel Azure, University of Ghana alumna who has been appointed Prudential Africa’s Projects Coordinator for West and South Africa
Young Ghanaian lady, Christabel Azure has been appointed Prudential Africa’s Projects Coordinator for West and South Africa. Christabel first joined Prudential Life Insurance Ghana after she graduated from the University of Ghana in 2017. After her first role working in the Recruitment and Training Unit, Distribution as a National Service Person, Christabel was later assigned to Telesales in 2018. She was later assigned to work as the Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer of PLIG in 2019, a role she occupied until her recent appointment. As the Projects Coordinator for Prudential Africa’s West and Southern Africa regions, Christabel will be responsible for coordinating projects for the Regional Chief Executive Officer’s Office. Christabel is an old girl of Mfantsiman Girls Senior High School located in the Central Region of Ghana. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Ghana and a Diploma in Insurance from the Chartered Insurance Institute, UK. Congratulations Christabel Azure!
Meet the Burkinabé architect who is the first African to win the Pritker Architecture Prize
Burkinabé architect and educator, Diébédo Francis Kéré, founder of Kéré Foundation and Kéré Architecture has been named winner of the 2022 Pritzker Architecture Prize, an award recognized as the architect’s highest honor. Known for the Kéré Foundation, an NGO he founded to fundraise and advocate for children’s rights to comfortable classrooms, he built the Gando Primary School in Burkina Faso in 2001, a project under his NGO that later won him the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2004. In 2005, Diébédo Francis Kéré who is a dual citizen of Burkina Faso and Germany founded Kéré Architecture in Berlin to expand his works in primary, secondary, post secondary and medical. This has helped him fulfill his dream of providing vocational skills and jobs for young people while addressing the problem of sustainable housing and design. Born on 10th April 1965 in Gando, Burkina Faso, Diébédo Francis Kéré studied and graduated with an advanced degree in architecture from the Technical University of Berlin in 2004. In addition to winning the 2022 Pritzker Architecture Prize, Diébédo Francis Kéré has several recognitions including the BSI Swiss Architectural Award in 2010, the Global Holcim Awards Gold in 2012, the Schelling Architecture Award in 2014, the Arnold W. Brunner Memorial Prize in Architecture from the American Academy of Arts & Letters in 2017 and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Architecture in 2021. Architect Diébédo Francis Kéré is a visiting Professor at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and the Yale School of Architecture.
From Bricklayer to Medical Doctor: Meet Dr. Ronald Olum
Dream, dare, persevere, achieve and inspire. This sums up the success story of Dr. Ronald Olum, a Nigerian man who just graduated from medical school after working as a bricklayer while in medical school to fund school fees. After gaining admission to the University of Makerere in 2016, he worked as a bricklayer during school holidays to save money to fund his medical education. But this did not prevent him from excelling in his studies as the young man recently received the Overall Distinguished Student (Male) award by the 2022 class of Makerere University College of Health Sciences This is what Dr. Ronald Olum shared about his journey: Congratulations Dr. Ronald Olum!
Lawyer Francis-Xavier Sosu Saves UPSA Student from being Falsely Convicted in Court
Lawyer Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu, Member of Parliament for the Madina Constituency, and Human Rights lawyer has shared an inspiring story of how he saved Lawrence Selorm Attipoe from being wrongly punished by the court after he was falsely accused of robbery, indecent assault, and defrauding by false pretenses. Sharing the inspiring story with his Facebook followers, the MP and Human Rights lawyer, who is also the founder of Youth For Human Rights, Africa an organization promoting human rights education on fundamental rights and liberties of citizens in Ghana and other African Countries, wrote: “In 2016, I met Lawrence Selorm Attipoe who was then a 19 year old Level 200 student at UPSA. We met at Circuit Court 1, where he had been accused of robbery, indecent assault, and defrauding by false pretenses. He looked very innocent but so afraid. He had no lawyer and asked me “what should I say when I am called?” I answered “Not guilty of course, unless you agree to all the charges leveled against you.” His dad, now deceased, asked me out and begged if I could represent his son. I was moved by compassion when he told me all that happened and I agreed to do so “pro bono”. I introduced myself as a friend of the Court and forcefully argued for his bail but never saw him again since I was not actively engaged as substantive lawyer for him. Last week, Selorm sent me a mail which read “I am one of the beneficiaries of your pro bono services and want to thank you. I was in Court for about six (6) months and later got acquitted and discharged of all the charges, because they were false. I endured the humiliation, deferred my course, and later went back to school to graduate with Honors. I did my National Service with GRA and after Service, I am currently with my mother doing food business.” His story brought tears to my eyes and reinforces the fact that little acts of kindness can change many lives. This is a story that must be shared to encourage every young person that setbacks are natural but temporal: Everyone can rise above his or her challenges to become an achiever. Today, as a 24year old graduate, Selorm is desirous of changing the narrative of his life and the life of others with his story, a story of which I am pleased to have been a part of. Selorm’s food business is “Ghana 5 Star Food” There are many falsely accused and convicted persons like Selorm who were not financially capable to hire the services of a lawyer, neither were they fortunate enough to enjoy the benevolence of “pro bono” services from Lawyers like Francis- Xavier Sosu (Esq).
Seloart CEO provides free accommodation for staff
Transportation is every worker’s nightmare. Try speaking to ten workers in Ghana and you may get about seven lamenting about the cost and inconvenience of daily transportation to work. But for employees of Seloart Group-The Sign Company, transportation will no longer be a bane as their CEO has dared to provide a lasting solution to this challenge. Meet Selorm Betepe, the Ghanaian entrepreneur providing free accommodation for his employees. The workers hostel under construction which is only 5 minutes walk to the Seloart factory has come as good news for both employees of Seloart and other workers, many of whom have described the act as kind and innovative. Sharing the news on his Facebook page, CEO of Seloart said: “This year, I am celebrating my colleagues at Seloart. This is my gift to them. This is a 30 bed workers hostel, fully furnished with electricity and water supply for field workers and factory hands for free. The initiative is to reduce the cost of transportation for workers. Some team members commute almost 4 to 5 hours to work daily and it was affecting productivity.” Established in 2005, Seloart Group-The Sign Company has provided sign writing, design and general branding works for their over 200 clients worldwide. The commissioning of the workers’ hostel is proposed for the end of May 2022.
Dr. Kwame Anyane-Yeboa: Meet the Ghanaian Doctor named among top 100 Doctors in America
Dr. Kwame Anyane-Yeboa, M.D., a Ghanaian Professor of Pediatrics and Physician working with the Department of Pediatrics at the Columbia University Medical Center has been named among top 100 doctors in America. With specialties in pediatrics, clinical genetics and genomics, Dr. Yeboa is both Professor of Pediatrics and Physician at the Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Yeboa is an alumni of Prempeh College, Kumasi. After he graduated from the University of Ghana Medical School in 1972, Dr. Kwame Anyane-Yeboa, M.D. proceeded to Harlem Hospital where he completed his pediatric residency training in 1977. He later received his fellowship training in clinical genetics from New York-Presbyterian/ Columbia University Medical Center. Making the announcement in a tweet, Dr. Yeboa’s daughter, Dr. Adjoa Anyane-Yeboa, MD MPH wrote: “My dad was selected as one of the top 100 doctors in America! So proud of his accomplishments. He is also incredibly humble – if I didn’t share this he probably wouldn’t have told anyone.” Formerly Director of the medical genetics fellowship program at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Dr. Yeboa has professional affiliations with the American Society of Human Genetics, the American Medical Association, and the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics.
Ɔdadeɛ, Human Models of the Great Baobab Tree
Rev. Nicholas Timothy Clerk, the first Synod Clerk of the Presbyterian Church of the Gold Coast, advocated for the establishment of Presbyterian Boys Senior High School which was opened on 1st February 1938. The 84 year old all-male school which enrolled female students in its early years started with 16 students and 4 teachers at Odumase Krobo in the Eastern Region of Ghana and later relocated to its present location at Legon in 1968. The multiple award winning school is 6 time champions of the National Science & Maths Quiz, and have picked up awards in prestigious competitions like the National Constitution Quiz, International Science Contest in 2010, Rise Robotic Competition, Coca Cola Music Competition, SPRITE Basketball Championship, National Finance Quiz Competition and many more. The motto of the Blue Magicians is “In Lumine Tuo Videbimus Lumen”, meaning “In Thy Light We Shall See Light”. Students of the School, referred to as the Blue Magicians are trained to be knowledgeable, resourceful and resilient. This is why the school has a unified alumni body popularly called Ɔdadeɛ meaning “the baobab tree” which is a Ghanaian symbol of knowledge, resourcefulness and strength. The first location of the school in Odumase Krobo has a giant baobab tree called Father Ɔdadeɛ. Here are 5 well-known Ghanaians who were once students of PRESEC, Legon: 1. Lucy Quist – Managing Director at Morgan Stanley 2. Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye -Speaker of the 7th Parliament of the 4th Republic 3. Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa – Member of Parliament – North Tongu and former Deputy Minister of Education (2013–2016) 4.Ernest Aryeetey – Vice Chancellor of University of Ghana – Legon (2010–2016) 5. Kwaku Sintim-Misa (KSM) – Ghanaian actor, political satirist
