If there was one word to describe 2018, it would be ‘whirlwind’. 2018 was one roller-coaster of a year.
One day… we were easing into the cool
spring of March. The next, fast tumbling into the “gidi-gidi-gidi” of December celebrations. Christmas snuck up on us
all, without warning.
But this is not to say that interesting
things did not happen in the past year. One year is a long time for a lot of
things to have happened, and this review of the year 2018 just goes to show it.
World
Matters
At the start of this year, North Korea
and the United States - both presently governed by two of the most ego-stricken men that world has ever entertained – were threatening to blow us all to smithereens,
via competitive nuclear annihilation.
Ironically, in the course of 2018,
both countries straightened out their relationship, eventually culminating in a
joint summit in June at which their leaders met for the first time, and history
was made.
In 2018, North Korea and the USA
became BFFs.
Well… sort of, I’m not sure exactly. These
days, it’s a love-hate thing. (Relationships are sometimes confusing).
In an ironic turn of events, the Trump-led
administration simultaneously sparked a trade-war (and Twitter offensive)
against its longest time ally, next-door neighbour, and (quite inarguably) its
childhood friend: Canada.
*shocked face*
The row with Canada was made worse by
his degeneration into personal ridicule of the Prime Minister of Canada (a.k.a the handsomest man Prime
Minister that ever lived).
Well… that is all water under the
bridge. Thankfully, the ‘misunderstanding’ was resolved, and a new NAFTA deal
has been struck.
Highly commendable was the composure
and leadership of the Foreign Affairs Minister – Chrystia Freeland - in the
face of the drama from the US White House. Once again proving mankind wrong; that projections of
women’s inability to wield power due to their being emotional was all that it was:
Projections.
The never-ending-soap-opera that the
USA White House has become is nothing however compared to the chilling murder
of Saudi Arabian journalist, Jamal Khashoggi.
 |
| Jamal Khashoggi (Photo-Credit: Washington Post) |
Imagine going into one’s embassy for
a simple administrative matter, and not even having the privilege of one’s body
being taken out as a whole.
This is the stuff made up of Fredrick
Forsyth novels; things we read heart-racing in novels, and we scarily gulped
for air, all the while thankful that it was totally fictitious.
As I opined at the time on one of my
social media platforms, what if Khashoggi was not a prominent contributor to
Western media? Could people still be made to disappear randomly in this day and
age??
(Shudder!)
***
There were happy times in 2018.
For starters, we (FINALLY!) got to
see the long anticipated Marvel blockbuster; Black Panther.
And it was absolutely worth the wait.
We even did an article on it, which was featured on the Canadian Association of
Black Lawyers’ quarterly magazine.
(See
here “Why we love Black Panther”)
There was also the royal wedding of
our most favourite feminist, Megan Markle to Prince Harry.
(Deal with it 😛)
And after twenty years of feuding, Ethiopia and Eritrea finally hugged, kissed and made up.
(Yaaay!)
But one of the happiest news to a lot
of people in 2018: Cannabis was legalized in Canada!
Oh… don’t look at me like that!
Cannabis has many uses, other than for spiritual flying above the clouds.
For example, I have always feared for
the concoction my hair stylist mixed as my hair cream, to help in hair growth
and to restrain hair breakage. My nightmare had been mug shots, scattered across
CNN, for the police sniffing whatever was supposed to be in my hair, and
finding themselves in the clouds.
(*face palm*)
Thankfully, I can lay that nightmare
to rest, and finally ask my hair stylist for the exact recipe for whatever she
puts in my hair product. 😸
The
motherland - Nigeria
2018 will forever be remembered in
Nigerian history as the year the animals took back control.
First, there was that snake which ‘swallowed’ N36,000,000 (CAD 130,000), which
belonged to the body responsible for University admissions in Nigeria.
Then the monkey followed suit, ‘swallowing’ N70,000,000 (CAD 250,000) belonging to Senators from the northern part of the
country. (Wait… why was this amount of money just lying idle??)
Lol.
In 2018, despite assertions by the
Federal Government that the terror group Boko-Haram Had been “technically
defeated”, the group still kidnapped 110 school girls in February this year, of
which 4 died in custody,105 were released, and Leah Sharibu held back on the
basis of her refusal to denounce her Christian religion.
Despite pressure on the Federal
Government to secure her release and ensure her return to her heartbroken
parents, Leah is still at away from home.
Towards the end of the year (like a
people suddenly awaken from a trance) the Nigerian Government hastily embarked
on various ‘economic policies’ for select sections of the masses. Such as the distribution
of N10,000 each for traders in parts of
the country, under the “trader-moni” initiative.
While these initiatives have been
largely attacked by the opposition as indirect vote-buying, as they are made on
the heels of the Federal elections in February, I ask a simple question:
Why did you have to wait till just
now?
(Sigh)
The present political climate in
Nigeria is eerily reminiscent of the eve of the 2015 elections, where the
people felt caught between an incumbent they feel disappointed by, and an
unappealing majority opposition leader whom they distrusted his intentions and
his capabilities.
Whoever wins the next elections, I
have one piece of advice: HIT THE GROUND RUNNING!
Do not waste the people’s goodwill in
spending 6 months scouting for cabinet members… only to reel out names the populace
is bored of hearing about.
***
But 2018 had its positives for
Nigeria as well.
#MeToo found prominence in Nigeria in
a rather creative way, when the “sex for marks lecturer” – Mr. Richard Akindele
- was nabbed, thanks to the fearlessness of Ms. Monica Osagie, who recorded and
published his conversation with her requesting for sexual gratification to
enable her pass her exams.
Thankfully, Justice Oyetenu rejected the plea bargain for a suspended sentence, and gave him two years in jail.
Thankfully, Justice Oyetenu rejected the plea bargain for a suspended sentence, and gave him two years in jail.
Also, in what will forever remain
etched in history as bravery by Nigerian women, a group of women (and supporting men) led a March in
the notorious Yaba market, against harassment of women in the name of forcing
them to patronize their wares.
This is not to say that it will be
eradicated suddenly. But these are little drops of water, to consciously
introduce a shift to what had hitherto been accepted as “custom”. Touching
women (and even men) against their will should NEVER be allowed to continue to
be accepted.
This is just the beginning.
In 2018, Nigerians put Nigeria on the
global map for good things. For the first time, Nigeria had representatives in
the Winter Olympics.
 |
| Seun, Ngozi and Akuoma representing Nigeria's bobsled team |
No, they did not win any medals. But
this is a good start.
Davido and Tiwa also brought global music
awards back to the motherland. Davido, for the best International Act at the
BET Awards, and Tiwa for the Best African Act at the MTV European Music Awards.
And a Nigerian lady took shaku-shaku to the world during her call
to the Bar in Ontario.
Oh wait… that just happened to be me 😃
(Why do I have a feeling that from
the next ceremony, there will be a HUGE sign at the entrance of the stage
saying: “No dancing whatsoever!”? 😂😂😂)
You
Right back to you. (Yes you!)
How was your 2018? Did you
consciously live in the year… or did it whizz by you in a blur?
Were you just all about you, or did
you do a little to help others?
Did you mind your business in 2018…
or did you get your nose stuck in holes they had no business poking, and
inherit battles you had no business fighting?
Did you get into legit business? Was
it successful… or not? Is it flailing? Did you get to read… or did Social Media
take away all your time??
Well… there is good news for you. As
long as you are alive, you can always rewrite your story. If not this year, then
next year.
Me
2018 was a CRAZY year for me. When
there were highs, they were 20,000 feet, world-wide highs.
When there were lows, there were
heart-rate-dropping, isolating, clouds-drowning lows.
Many times, I found myself
questioning my career choices. Even as I kept writing exams, networking, and
keeping the faith.
In the end… it was all worth it o. And
I am glad I stayed true to course.
In 2018, I got profiled by Canadian
award-winning legal blogger Erin Cowling on her blog.
I was scared of being profiled, as I did not consider myself “leading” in law at that particular time. If anything, I was buried under a pile of study materials, and embroiled in the struggle to break the fresh barriers.
I was scared of being profiled, as I did not consider myself “leading” in law at that particular time. If anything, I was buried under a pile of study materials, and embroiled in the struggle to break the fresh barriers.
But I obliged, when she pointed how I was taking the bull by the horns in staying true to my first love, despite the challenges with changing jurisdictions as a lawyer. The fact that my story could be someone else’s candle in the darkness was all the Ted Talk I needed.
I practiced better deliberate living
this year. Not as much as I probably should have. But I lived consciously,
always weighing matters, before I threw my strength in, and walking away from toxicity as much as I could.
I succeeded in writing three books
chapters of just one book. That same one I promised you since 2016 😟 This was far
below the personal goals I had set for myself.
I have to be better.
2019??
For starters… I got a fresh gig!
(Yaay!!)
My first goal for 2019 is pouring
myself into this new thing, sponging up as much as I can, honing my skills, and
just kicking a$$!
I did a lot of “leisurely” writing in
2018. In 2019, I intend to do more of professional (and maybe academic?)
writing. I also would love to do more of reading. Not studying… but actual
reading. To develop self and mind more, and to grow my depth.
I also look forward to being a bit
more introspective in 2018, and withdrawing a bit from social media.
“What
does this mean?” you are thinking.
Things will get much quieter around
here. While I enjoy leisurely writing, there is a need for me to continue to
build the substance of who I want to be, even if this means reducing the
frequency of my blog posts.
But not to worry. There'll always be more than enough here to keep your mind engaged. 😊
Oh... one more thing:
I WILL learn a new language, finally adding one more to my Engligh, Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, and West-african Creole (a.k.a Pigin). 😁
Appreciation
But not to worry. There'll always be more than enough here to keep your mind engaged. 😊
Oh... one more thing:
I WILL learn a new language, finally adding one more to my Engligh, Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, and West-african Creole (a.k.a Pigin). 😁
Appreciation
Thank you for being an AMAZING part
of my 2018. For all of the support, the comments, words of encouragement, the clicks on the
following button, for laughing when I laughed, and laughing when I cried too. 😂
And I do not do this alone. There are
amazing people in the background too, who see all your support. We all
appreciate you.
For now, let’s all hold hands, and
saunter into the New Year expectantly.
2019… let’s do THIS!!
Love, Peace, and Best Wishes
Meg.
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5. www.cowlinglegal.com
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