Jewel Publishers

07/10/2024

Who is My Neighbour?

I’m not entirely sure I gave the most appropriate answer to my son this morning after our devotion.

During our devotion, we discussed the 'Who is my neighbour?' theme based on Luke 10:25-27.

In summary, while trying to explain to the lawyer who wanted to appear clever, Jesus told the story of a man who was attacked and left wounded by robbers on a certain road. A Priest and a Levite passed by and saw the man but did nothing to help. Eventually, a Samaritan stopped, offered first aid, and even took the man to an inn for proper care.

At the end of the story, Jesus explained to the lawyer that your neighbour isn't just the person who lives next door, your colleague at work, or even your fellow Christian or Muslim. Your neighbour is everyone you encounter, as everyone needs compassion.

After I finished explaining, my son, Papi, had a question. He said, “Once at school, the food I brought with me went sour, so I couldn’t eat it. By break time, I was so hungry that my stomach started aching. My classmates had compassion on me and wanted to help. Almost all of them offered me some food from their lunch packs, but I refused to take it because Mummy said we shouldn’t take food from others. I was almost fainting from hunger. So tell me, Daddy, should I have refused the compassion from my friends, who were clearly being good neighbours?”

Hmmm, my response was, "You should know when to make exceptions to certain rules we give as parents. Mummy wasn’t wrong, but in that case, it would have been fine to accept something small to stabilise yourself."

I decided to share this because I’m not entirely sure if my answer was the best for him. What do you think?

Remember, everyone you meet deserves your compassion. Be a good neighbour. The world remains beautiful through your kind gestures.

Have a blessed week!

04/10/2024

In one of his sermons, T.D. Jakes expressed concerns about how ex-convicts are reintegrated into society after spending years in prison.

His concern stemmed from the limited work opportunities available for ex-convicts. Employers often hesitate to offer them jobs, fearing they may be dangerous. With few options, many are forced to return to the same crimes that led to their conviction.

But a teacher can make all the difference. As we saw with Cuba in the movie excerpt from Life of a King, who turned Tahime's life around, or teacher Katende in Queen of Katwe (2016), who mentored Phiona from the streets to success—teachers change lives.

Around the world, great teachers are the foundation of our beautiful world. They nurture doctors, lawyers, engineers, linguists, and countless other professionals.

From nursery to university, and for some, throughout our lives, teachers guide and shape us. I owe endless gratitude to teachers for what they have made of me, my children, and future generations.

No wonder the world can never fully reward them. In Nigeria, we often say, "A teacher's reward is in heaven," because only God can truly reward their sacrifices.

Celebrate a teacher today—a text message, WhatsApp, phone credits, cash, or small gifts will do.

Happy Teachers’ Day from Team Jewel Publishers and me.

Shalom.



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01/10/2024

The first lecture I attended at D**e Chukwumerije's Centre during the Patriot's Connect Fellowship was titled “The Path of Reconciliation: Healing the Wounds of 1966.”

Many will agree that silence is often the method applied when dealing with conflicts. Oftentimes, we hope that with time, wounds will heal, but forget that as long as we have memories, yesterday remains and time has got two faces—sometimes it heals, and sometimes it festers.

Recently, videos from the CONFAB tribunal have been surfacing, stirring heated debates about the conversations that took place. These revelations have sparked fresh outrage, and many, like me, wonder why these stories weren't told earlier. Why do we bury our history instead of confronting it, resolving the issues, and charting a new course for a nation where men and women, regardless of tribe or religion, can live progressively until their last breath?

That evening, D**e highlighted three significant periods in our nation’s history:

1. The politics of our founding fathers.
2. The events of 1966.
3. The Nigerian Civil War.

These events still echo in our national unity today, and the only way to overcome them is through forgiveness and a shared vision for a great Nigeria. Only then will the light shine on us once more.

In 1966, the Igbos were blamed for the coup, and in retaliation, Northerners slaughtered innocent men and children from the East—many of whom had no knowledge of what was happening in the military at the time.

It would be wrong to say that the North had no reason for their anger, but equally wrong to justify the senseless killings of innocent Easterners, many of whom would never return home.

This isn’t about pointing fingers. We’ve learned that an eye for an eye heals no wrongs.

If dialogue is needed, let’s talk. If we must cry, let’s cry. But we must face our conflicts and agree on a way forward because no nation progresses without unity.

When we achieve true unity, we can proudly sing ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee,’ knowing we are no longer bound by the wounds of an event that began 58 years ago in 1966.

Please reflect.

Happy Independence Day.
May Nigeria be great again.
Shalom.

16/09/2024

Last year, I began learning the game of Lawn Tennis with two guys, Nonso and Ike, who have since become good friends.

As we progressed, I realised something important—according to the Goldilocks Rule, we wouldn’t improve unless we played with opponents more skilled than ourselves. However, I also understood that constantly facing much stronger players could be discouraging, as we would just end up being added to the list of those beaten 6-0 each time.

To avoid this demotivation and ensure we didn't plateau, I found a tennis court we could use every Sunday at 5 p.m., and invited my friends to join. Additionally, I arranged for a coach, sought out players slightly more advanced than us, and invited a few others who shared our level of proficiency.

The excitement during our Sunday evening sessions has been incredible ever since! Sometimes, we even play until past 9 p.m., wishing the next day were work-free.

What my friends don’t realise is that their game has improved almost magically. This is because they’re playing with peers, slightly better players, and even top-level coaches—all in one balanced environment.

The Goldilocks Rule suggests that "humans experience peak motivation when working on tasks that are right on the edge of their current abilities. Not too hard. Not too easy. Just right."

So, the next time you wonder why you don’t feel motivated to play tennis or chess with a four-year-old, it’s likely because their skill level isn’t yet enough to challenge you. And when they fall asleep while you’re trying to teach them something, it’s because their cognitive level isn’t aligned with yours.

Take a leaf from my experience in tennis and keep yourself and your team motivated by aligning challenges with the right level of capability. With enough experimentation, you’ll find what works!

I learned this from reading Atomic Habits. If you’re in Abuja, get yourself a copy from Jewel Bookshop and Services —you’ll be glad you did.

Wishing you a blessed week ahead.

03/09/2024

Child labour is a crisis that affects many, yet it often goes unnoticed. Recently, the Brekete Family exposed a troubling case where two young girls, just 9 and 13, were taken as domestic staff and made to travel alone from Jos to Abuja. In a country plagued by insecurity, this is not only illegal but deeply concerning.

Caritas Nigeria, one of our esteemed clients, committed to challenging these injustices understands that sometimes, what you wear and how you present yourself can speak louder than any speech.

jewelpublishersnigeria is proud to support Caritas Nigeria in spreading its vital message through carefully crafted promotional items we produce.

Contact Jewel Publishers at +2348033615992 to start your journey with us today to transform your brand and communicate those thoughts in the most effective ways.

02/09/2024

At my church, the third Sunday of each month has been set aside for general Catechism. On these Sundays, our priests teach to help parishioners understand why certain practices are followed in the Catholic Church and to deepen our faith in the choices we have made —first as Christians, and then as Catholics.

On one of these teaching Sundays, the priest corrected us on the response we gave after the Gospel reading. After the priest says, "This is the Gospel of the Lord," the congregation should respond with, "Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ." However, we had been saying, "Praise be to You, Lord Jesus Christ," which is incorrect. Although it might seem like a small detail, the priest explained that including the word 'be' was wrong.

However, the priests who taught us this have since been transferred, and I am not proud to say that 95% of the congregation has reverted to saying, "Praise be to You, Lord Jesus Christ."

When my children ask why the congregation has returned to the incorrect response, I simply explain, "It’s the power of habit over us. The habit is even stronger because the 5% of us who consistently say the correct response do not dare to ask the new priest to re-announce the correct response, knowing that repetition aids learning."

In Atomic Habits, James Clear discusses the cardinal rule for behaviour change: "What is immediately rewarded is repeated. What is immediately punished is avoided."

I completely agree with him. In one of the parishes I attended, parishioners now stay until the end of Mass instead of walking out early because, on one occasion, the priest called out those leaving during Mass as rude and disrespectful. Since then, no one has dared to walk out boldly.

Unfortunately, James Clear’s words are only evident in rare cases. What we often see are bad behaviours being immediately rewarded, while good behaviours are delayed, causing us to repeat the wrong actions that ultimately harm our world.

If just 5% of my church insisted on that correction immediately, we would be done with the mistaken response.

Building good habits is difficult when bad habits have been the norm, but it’s possible.

Perhaps some bad habits have been the reason for our underperformance at work and business. We have another chance this month to improve those scorecards.

You can learn how to do it by grabbing a copy of Atomic Habits or by waiting for my next post.

If you are in Abuja and want a copy, you can order from Jewels Bookshop via WhatsApp at 08141331517.

Shalom.

24/06/2024

One of the reasons I enjoy working at Jewel Publishers is the privilege of interpreting the creative visions of our clients.

Hauwa is a warrior, and we have been friends since our time as course mates at the University of Abuja. Honestly, there were times I pitied her, especially when she missed lectures due to health crises.

I sometimes wondered what kept her going, as every time she showed up, she never seemed to have missed a thing. She was phenomenal then, and she still is.

Recently, she contacted us at Jewel Publishers about a planner she believed would help other warriors better manage their health. This planner is designed to aid in tracking vital signs, eating habits, water intake, medications, doctor appointments, personal goals, and overall wellness.

Her request was unique because her focus was on helping warriors like her enjoy life to the fullest, despite their health challenges.

There was some back and forth, but Hauwa’s great intentions kept us committed to the project. Jewel Publishers delivered, and the result was outstanding.

At the moment, it is my favourite project of the year because its purpose is to improve humanity.

As they say, only the broken know how to help the broken, and only the strong know how to save the strong.

I hope NGOs like the Institute of Human Virology, Caritas Nigeria, FHI, and others will take a look at the incredible work Hauwa has done and consider how they can improve patient care using this health planner and journal.

Check out what Hauwa had to say in one of the Photos attached.

Contact us to handle your next print project: +2348033615992, [email protected]

24/06/2024

I finished reading the Bible in April by using the Bible in 1 Year Plan on the YouVersion app.

I had always preferred books like Daniel and all of Saint Paul's letters, but this time, the book of Nehemiah caught my attention.

The book began by telling us Nehemiah held a prominent position in the Persian kingdom as Cup Bearer to the King. However, when he heard about the situation and conditions in Jerusalem, he became sad and broken. He cried, mourned, fasted, and prayed but did not let the deep sadness frustrate him or make him feel hopeless.

Noticing his grief for Jerusalem, the King did not hesitate a moment to grant him permission and support with the resources needed to embark on the journey of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. As highlighted in one of the discourses I read recently, "It is not enough to have pity on bad situations people experience; ACTIONS must be taken to salvage those situations."

There are many good Christians, Muslims, and people from other religions who believe in the fundamentals of humanity and understand the current deplorable state of Nigeria but have decided to stay aloof, merely shaking their heads in pity for the Nigerian state and perhaps just praying that God will help us.

I am not God, but I know He has heard those prayers. However, they do not seem to manifest because good men and women have not moved their muscles to possess the answers to those prayers.

We have been blessed to bless; we have been created to bear one another's burdens. If Nigeria is sweet today, it will not be for just one tribe, religion, or class of people—it will be good for everyone.

With all our faith and brilliance, what do you think we should do next?

Think about these things as you have a great week at work.

Shalom.

03/06/2024

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Take advantage of our special offer: get 3 branded (front prints only) quality kids' size tees for just 15k or 1 t-shirt for 8k. Hurry, this offer ends on Wednesday, 5th June at 5pm. Don't miss out on this chance to empower your child through what they wear.

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What design do you prefer?

believe in starting early at Jewel Publishers and Services

01/06/2024

The chants of "Thank God it's Friday" echoed throughout our office complex. Yesterday's chorus sounded different—perhaps because it was the last day of the month and salaries were assured, or maybe due to the usual eagerness to escape the office and enjoy a work-free weekend.

Despite the excitement on many faces, I noticed the not-so-smiling expressions of some bosses, who I imagine felt the weight of their obligation to pay salaries, regardless of the company's performance.

In light of this, a few words from Dan Kennedy might be worthwhile during our reflective moments over the weekend. Here they are:

"There is a Last Time to Everything.
When you go out to a job, be thankful you have one. Tomorrow, thousands will lose their job and maybe wish they had done things differently there.
Tomorrow, a thousand entrepreneurs will close their business doors and then wonder what might have happened if they'd advertised more creatively or sold more aggressively.
There is a last time for everything, so whatever you do today, give it your best, and take from it the best you can."

Let’s strive for an even better June 2024.

26/03/2024

In Nigeria, the fluctuating cost of items often leads to concerns about finding suitable souvenirs for milestone celebrations. At Jewel Publishers, we understand these challenges and pride ourselves on offering affordable and practical solutions for our clients.

Recently, we had the pleasure of celebrating the remarkable Dr. Mrs. Perpetua Uhomoibhi, who celebrated her 60th birthday and retired from her role as the National Coordinator for the National Malaria Elimination Programme.

For Dr Mrs Perpetua's celebration, we curated a selection of thoughtful items:

1. Umbrellas: With the rainy season approaching, a sturdy umbrella is always a practical choice.
2. Towels: A fresh set of towels is a luxurious yet practical gift that everyone can appreciate.
3. Mugs: As the weather cools down, there's nothing better than a warm cup of tea to stay cosy.
4. Notepads: Our stylish and compact notepads are perfect for slipping into purses or laptop bags, ensuring your guests always have a handy way to jot down notes or ideas.

Whether it's for corporate events, personal celebrations, or any other occasion, Jewel Publishers is here to help you find the perfect souvenirs. Let us take the stress out of souvenir planning and ensure your guests leave with a memorable token of appreciation.

Contact us today to discuss your souvenir needs and let us make your next event truly special.

20/03/2024

In one of my posts, I briefly mentioned how documenting our plans has enabled us to deliver our services within a week, even with a 2-week lead time, based on our client's requests.

What I didn't delve into were the details: to adhere to these documented plans, we often find ourselves spending nights at our printing press or on the road when delivering items to different states. We run shifts and do whatever it takes to ensure we meet our agreed deadlines.

On several occasions when emergencies arise, and we need to work late into the night with other vendors, I've found many of them sleeping when I walked in unannounced. Initially, I would feel upset, perhaps due to my high expectations that work should continue even in my absence.

Years ago, I came across something shocking from Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, about the secret to building a great business. He said, "LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS AND WORK HARDER."

Reflecting on this advice, I had to agree. Often, when I expected quotations or deliveries to be ready before I went to sleep, there were excuses for why they hadn't happened.

To address these shortcomings, I started learning to lower my expectations. When we have urgent jobs with tight deadlines, everyone, including myself, jumps into action. I simply call home and say, "I won't be coming home for a few days because we need to deliver items to our clients."

During these times and nights, hardly anyone expected to be on those shifts sleeps, perhaps because I was present. There is music, laughter, food, and drinks, all contributing to making the work enjoyable until we deliver.

I suppose I'm speaking to fellow process heads, urging them to forget about titles and focus on delivering results, no matter the cost.

At Jewel Publishers and Services and RELL, we are mindful of this approach, and I invite you to join those organisations enjoying what I would refer to as premium service.

Shalom.

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