Ahmed Salim Jn

  Home is good, home is sweet. Filled with love, sincere and real. Sometimes, one wishes not to go away and stray. One's wish is never to leave. "Oh Lord My God," from my heart, I plead for no end to this. For this is nothing but pure Bliss . Yet, oftentimes, we go out of our comfort zones when we seek. Man was placed in Eden to work it and take care of it. Then he is banished to work the ground from which he was taken. Here comes I; my goal my dream. Never to give up on my chase. In love and compassion, I was raised.  Walking in innocence, honesty, unstained.  My moral values , I must retain. God Almighty remains the ultimate gain. And He alone fills my mind.  ® Ahmed Salim Jn ✍️  #Uloko

  A lot of times, we see images like this, circulating on social media. It depict African children labelled as 'Upcoming Yahoo Boys' and white children as 'Upcoming Clients'. It troubles me to imagine how lowly some of us think of ourselves, it is deeply troubling. But, beyond the discomfort they evoke, these kinds of captions reflect a dangerous normalization of stereotypes that undermine the dignity, intelligence, and future of African youths, particularly Nigerians. What makes this more painful is that these narratives are often amplified by our very own people. Nigeria as a nation, has never been short of history, intellect, or civilization. Our cultures span hundreds, even thousands of years, rooted in systems of governance, philosophy, medicine, trade, and art long before colonial contact. And even today, in the modern world, we still continue to excel globally; producing scholars, engineers, doctors, innovators, artists, entrepreneurs, and scientists of remarkabl...

  Smokers are liable to die young. But smokable substances are everywhere, easily accessible, and readily available. Óméwétuna'jo y'éni oñu lé atula (A chick is burning in the fire, yet it claims it undergoes rendering). RENDERING is a local procedure we use in extracting fats from animals or even insects like crickets , it is done by subjecting them to a reasonable amount of heat which causes the fats to drip off. The tragedy of this procedure is that the animal eventually dies.  Smokers are liable to die young. This warning is boldly written on cigarette packs, impossible to miss, deliberately frightening.  The images of a healthy and an unhealthy lung are openly displayed on the packs respectively. Yet, for many users, it has become just background noise. it is seen but not heard, read but not believed. Addiction has a strange way of dulling fear. It convinces the mind that danger is exaggerated, distant, or meant for others. Some smokers live long lives, and this r...

  It is said that Hippocrates idea is ' medicus curat, natura sanat ' (Latin): The Physicians treat, Nature heals. However, as a religious people, we adapt that, Physicians treat, and God Heals. And this reminds me of Benedict Cumberbatch who played the role of a Neurosurgeon as Dr. Stephen Strange in the MCU movie, he replied to a question saying; that they (antibiotics) are not solely responsible for healing, but they provide a conducive environment for the process. Cells heal by reconstituting themselves in the body. In my Momma's tongue, we say; Ójóchogwumi tak'ogwu chójé óga. God is my healing medicine , before the medicine even became suitable food for my ailment. The development of orthodox medicine , as taught in the history of medicine , reveals a long and layered journey shaped by culture, philosophy, religion, and empirical observation. From the ancient period before 500 CE, medical knowledge was deeply intertwined with belief systems.  The Ebers and Edwi...

  Abékékpé le ichéñu kéman'uchobo n ? I don't mind being a local champion It's true I'm not posh, I don't deny not being "classy" (in your opinion) but for sure, I am not crassly. It's true I'm not fresh like those who wears designers. I don't feign big achievements, it's true I can't afford so many things for now. Yeah I know my mates who are much more ahead of me in life, but hey life is not a competition between me and you, we all move at our own respective pace. Just because I speak against ills and vices in our society, you think and say I'm a local champion? I don't drag travelling to many places with you, and yes travelling is part of education, so also is being well read.  And I checked the meaning of being a local champion and was rather not displeased to know it describes a person who is highly respected, admired, and successful in his/her local circle. He/she is seen by many as a leader, as an icon, even as an emulata...

  Ényó kabakpa che, oñu ajéñu ójó ékéjóñu kó (The good deeds that a Muslim does while alive, fuel-crowd his rememberance day). Life, from its very beginning, has always been a long chain of struggles wrapped in quiet miracles. Before we even take form, we fight through the unpredictable chance of existence, one tiny sperm among millions, pushing through chaos to meet an egg that never sends an invitation(Life can be a lottery in this sense). That struggle is our first victory, though we never remember it. Birth itself is another. A child entering the world comes  through pain, pressure, uncertainty, and yet emerge crying, breathing, and SURVIVING. It’s as if life starts by whispering a truth we only understand much later 'nothing worth becoming comes without effort'. And as we open our eyes to the world, clueless, hapless and helpless, the next battles begin, one by one, shaping us long before we learn the word 'struggle'. Growing up is another long curriculum of challe...

  Óna k'ówó oge dé yadu bejuñu ma Many (not all) Students usually find themselves negotiating the thin line between comfort and survival, especially when it comes to feeding. The restaurants within the environment proudly serve good food, they have clean spaces, better hygiene , more variety, and the reassurance that comes with eating in a regulated environment. But that quality comes with prices that many students simply cannot keep up with, especially students from middle class homes . A plate that looks ordinary suddenly becomes a luxury when multiplied across weeks and months. So while nobody denies the standard of these cafeterias , the real question is whether that standard aligns with the financial realities of the (majority) of the people they are supposed to serve. For many students, the answer is quietly but clearly a NO. Once you step outside the gate, a different economy appears, an economy that speaks the language many students understand. Affordability . The food migh...

  # Uloko : why so much effort just to see me fall? #Ógachékó: what do you speak of, my brother? #Uloko:😢 It's never been easy, and I  have always stayed true to myself  #Ógachékó: You speak in riddles, what do you speak of?  #Uloko: It's better to face this challenge than to chicken out. Even those who barely have my time now discourage me, I'm upset! #Ógachékó: We all face challenges. #Uloko: I choose to stand by my convictions and ideals; and I represent what I believe, if these be the road to the end, so be it. #Ógachékó:That is an ideal mindset, and mind you, the end is not decided by you, remain positive. But what bothers you my brother? #Uloko: Fear!  #Ógachékó: Fear? Fear of what? #Uloko: The unknown ! For I am in the heart of the wilderness, with no true shade, provisions nor shelter. Purpose keeps me alive. #Ógachékó: An ideal man faces his obstacles and triumphs. A man with purpose is a man of worth. #Uloko: Now I refuse to be cowed, I refuse to be p...

  Magwunyi ayuloko no (yafó) Alhamdulillah, he finally crossed the gate into medical college after years that felt longer than they should have been. Nights with open books and half-closed eyes. Days that asked too many questions and offered too few answers. He is not the loudest genius in the room, not the kind that recites pages from memory. He is simply a boy who refused to quit, and that, it turns out, is a form of intelligence the classroom does not always measure. A week into resumption, ailment came like an uninvited guest. The body weakened just when the dream was supposed to rise. Discomfort taught him new lessons, pain gave him unfamiliar lectures, and the bed tried to turn into a prison. But he stood up anyway. He dressed, carried his books, and walked into class with a body that protested and a spirit that did not. He chose attendance over absence, hope over excuse. He listened even when his head threatened to split. He trecked when his legs felt heavy. He showed up con...

  Yes, I got better. I got better from that little boy with torn uniforms, not because moma never cared, but because he was too stubborn to slow down. Two weeks was enough to rip a shirt apart, buttons lost like fallen soldiers (no mockery intended). Like Jean-Claude Van Damme , Sylvester Stallone and those heroes he saw in Hollywood movies , he loved to walk bare-chested, feeling strong in borrowed greatness. He fought through every break time, friends and mates are intimidated by his presence, but hey, he's no monster. He stopped asking for his sandals to be mended as long as Santana leather could still hold them together. And yes, I got better. That boy with catarrh all year round, it stopped being an illness and became a signature, one could easily say to any random person in the environment; have you seen the pupil with runny nose? The catarrh became a part of his identity, don't blame him for that, he was just a boy. He wore it like a badge of stubborn honor. The one w...

  It is true, we all are in a general state of unrest, we are scared of the unknown and uncertainties that comes with the next moment. Still, fear should not be the only thing we hold on to. Moments like this require clarity, responsibility, and a willingness to act at every level of society. National security is too big for one group alone. Everyone, individuals, households, communities, state governments, and the federal government has a role to play, and none of these roles is negligible. As a community, we carry the strongest moral and practical power. A united community is often harder to infiltrate, not because it has weapons, but because it has eyes, ears, and a sense of duty to one another. When people communicate, when neighbors actually notice unfamiliar patterns, when local leaders stay engaged, insecurity finds fewer openings. Even simple communal awareness has a way of discouraging those who depend on silence and disconnection to operate. We as a community don't need t...

 A lot of tension in my beloved state, but the truth is; insecurity in Nigeria is not a simple story. It’s a tangled web of ethnic tensions, Ignorant, arrogant and wicked people hiding under the veil of religious fanatism, economic hardship, weak intelligence systems, porous borders, corruption, ungoverned spaces, and a general erosion of trust between citizens and the government. The situation in our dear state, whether rumor or reality, sits on top of this complex national foundation. What makes it worse is that fear spreads faster than fact. And in a country where information channels are shaky, rumors often travel farther than official reports. People are anxious not because they love panic, but because lived experience has taught them that dismissing early signs can be costly. As a common people and community, we must: Establish simple emergency plans (who to call, what routes are safest, where to gather if separated). Keep essential communication tools charged and accessible....

  There is a certain heaviness that settles on a community when uncertainty becomes part of the daily weather. In Nigeria today, insecurity is not an abstract national issue, it has crept into conversations at bus parks, markets, classrooms, and even the quiet corners of our homes. And now, with the recent confirmed/unconfirmed rumors of armed bandits moving in large numbers toward our beloved state, that familiar heaviness has once again returned. People are afraid, and rightly so. When safety is not guaranteed, it becomes harder to breathe normally, let alone sleep with both eyes closed. In times like this, we must all ensure to; Avoid unnecessary late-night movements. Let someone know where we’re going and when we will return. Learn to quietly observe our surroundings. Report strange movements instead of assuming “it’s nothing.” We may not carry weapons, but we can carry awareness. Nigeria is our country and home, I, and many of you have no other country or home apart from Niger...

 Because of the hatred of the cockroach , the mosquitoes voted for the insecticide but when it came, it killed both the cockroach and the mosquitoes including the fly that never voted. You can choose to be the mosquito , the cockroach or the fly ? The bottom line is, We all have a thing to loose. The bad eggs must be dealt with, irrespective of religious, ideological or ethnical affiliation without mercy.  Peace must be achieved. Unity must be achieved. I stand with my country. ® Ahmed Salim Jn ✍️  #Uloko

    Alhamdulillah, it has been an incredible journey and I am happy to mark a significant milestone, a full year I transitioned from being a Community Health Student to being a Registered and Licensed Community Health Practitioner . Over the past twelve months, I have dedicated my voice, thoughts, and pen to one consistent cause, the recognition, revitalization, and reform of community health practice in Nigeria . It has been a journey of truth-telling, a journey of drawing attention to both the visible and silent struggles of the practitioners who serve as the first line of defense in our healthcare system i.e the Community Health Practitioners . Even though, I had to decide for myself, the path I'll continue which may not be entirely the same with the Community Health Program. In my numerous reflections, I have written on their roles and significance, how they are the heart of primary health care (PHC) delivery in both rural and urban settings ; how they are the bridge b...

  ASSALAMU ALAYKUM WARAHMATULLAHI WABARAKATUH   Praise be to ALlāh , and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of ALlāh: The ‘holding fast” that is mentioned in the Qur’an is of two types: holding fast to ALlāh, and holding fast to the rope of ALlāh. ALlāh, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “And hold firmly to the rope of ALlāh all together and do not become divided” [ Al ‘Imran 3:103 ] “and hold fast to ALlāh. He is your protector; and excellent is the protector, and excellent is the helper” [ Al-Hajj 22:78 ]. Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may ALlāh have mercy on him) said: I‘tisaam (holding fast) means adhering to that which will protect you and will ward off from you that which you dread and fear. ‘Ismah means protection and i‘tisaam means seeking protection. Hence fortresses are called ‘awaasim (sing. ‘aasimah) because they give protection and safety. Well-being and happiness in this world and the hereafter are based on holding fast to ALlāh and holding...

  Ómékpé Oñuak’oji'ye Ékpé Childhood was bliss. It was always rosy, especially for those of us who grew up listening to the optimistic tales of our teachers. We were taught through a poem that our parents should listen to us, their children, because we are the supposed leaders of tomorrow . Of course, we were supposed to lead tomorrow. But as I grew older, I decided to check the possible meanings of the English word tomorrow. One of its interpretations is “at some point in the future; later on.” Now, here lies the challenge, there are many points in the future. So, which of these points were we actually told we would lead? Tomorrow as “the day after today” feels obscure. It never truly comes, because we are always in today, and today will always have its own tomorrow. More importantly, I think the elders should listen to the cry of the young , for the young of today, are the elders of tomorrow . A good tree bears good fruit, and so does a bad one. But you don’t expect a tree to mir...

  They say it’s not about how far one has gone, but how well he's come. True as that may be, I’ve come to believe that no matter how well, it is never truly well enough until one dares to go farther, until one stretches beyond the familiar and reaches for the farthest possible. I know farthest is subjective, from the subject's stand point and scope field. Like many innocent children, I once dreamt of becoming a doctor, not the kind with a PhD , but a medical doctor, one that has earned an MBBS . It was a dream that glowed in my young heart. But as I grew older, reality began to say something different, wake up from your sleep and face me (so said, reality). I looked around, and not a single person in my environment reflected my dream. There was no example to follow, no one to say, “Yes, it can be done.” Having a dream is one thing, but seeing it come alive is another. And when one finally does, it becomes one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences in life. In the abse...

  ASSALAMU ALAYKUM WARAHMATULLAHI WABARAKATUH   Praise be to ALlāh , and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of ALlāh. Firstly: The Muslim should spend his life always trying his best to do righteous deeds and make the most of his time to increase in good deeds and prepare for the Day of Resurrection , in obedience to the words of ALlāh, may He be Exalted: {And hasten towards forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as vast as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous} [ Al `Imran 3:133 ].  It was narrated that `Abdullah ibn `Umar (may ALlāh be pleased with him) said: the Messenger of ALlāh (blessings and peace of ALlāh be upon him) took hold of my shoulder and said: “Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a wayfarer.” Ibn `Umar used to say: “When evening comes, do not expect to see the morning, and when morning comes, do not expect to see the evening, and take from your health for your sickness, and (take) from your life for your death.” Narrated by...