Ask Chuka

  When Princess Anita was born, the king ordered his guards to abandon her in the forest because he wanted a son, not a baby girl. Luckily, the princess did not die. A mother bear found her, took her to its cave, and raised her alongside its cubs. Anita grew up strong in the forest, learning to do anything a man could do. When she turned sixteen, after her father died, her mother searched the forest and brought her back to the palace. Anita blossomed into a beautiful lady, the desire of every prince from neighbouring towns, all asking for her hand in marriage. She decided to set up a competition to choose wisely, as they all seemed worthy. Her demands were supposedly simple: Any prince who could beat her in a race would become her husband. As expected, since she was a woman, they all thought it would be easy, but none could outrun her. One day, a very handsome prince from a distant land arrived and accepted the challenge. As they raced, realising he would lose given her remarkable ...

 When my daughter started attending Anglican Girls Grammar School (AGGS), Abuja , I was so impressed with her progress that I began to openly share and recommend the school to other parents looking for a solid boarding school for their girls. Soon after, I received a number of private messages from interested parents asking for more details. I was happy to share and highlight the aspects that made the school stand out, because I’ve chosen to be intentional about my children’s education. Then one morning, I woke up to a direct message on Facebook: "You’re Catholic and you’re promoting an Anglican school. How much are they paying you for all this publicity? Why have you never shared anything negative about the school, are you trying to make it look perfect? You need to stop before you mislead innocent parents who find you credible." I was shocked. For a moment, I wondered why she didn’t just ignore the post if it didn’t serve her. I simply replied, “Thank you for your feedb...

  Even though I’ve read about the journey of the Israelites to the Promised Land many times, it remains fascinating to me whether I hear it in church or stumble across it during my annual Bible reading plan. What strikes me most is how an 11 day journey turned into a 40 year delay, all because the Israelites developed a wilderness mentality. They gave in to fear, discouragement, grumbling, and unbelief. These were people who stood just 11 days away from a land God Himself promised, but they were too afraid of the giants they saw when they surveyed the land. They had expected the Promised Land to be an empty gift, a peaceful paradise waiting to be occupied, with no fight required. But they forgot that every progress they had made so far came through contests and battles they won, not gifts they were handed. Recently, I watched a film on Netflix titled Mad Unicorn. I’ve seen other inspiring stories like The Underdog Millionaire showcasing profiles of men like Grant Cardone, but I’ve ...

  In Homer’s Odyssey, I read about the Sirens; three mysterious women whose sonorous voices lured sailors to a tragic end. As ships passed, the Sirens would sing from the cliffs, tempting sailors until they steered too close and were wrecked on the rocks below. Well aware of the danger but still curious, Odysseus instructed his men to tie him tightly to the mast as they approached the island, and to block their own ears with beeswax. As expected, when he heard the enchanting voices, he begged to be untied. But his crew, committed to the mission, bound him even tighter, and only released him when the danger had passed. That story still echoes in my mind. Because like Odysseus, many of us are drawn toward choices we know can destroy us, in life, in business, in relationships. And sometimes, the only thing that saves us is a good team. Without the backing of my team at Jewel Publishers and Rapid Express Logistics, I may have made more costly mistakes than I care to imagine. Their coll...

  Growing up, our parents were protective, perhaps even too protective, keeping a close eye on the kinds of friends we kept. I remember many times when my dad would pull me aside to question me about someone he saw me talking with. He would ask, “Who’s that boy? Who are his parents? Where do they live? Does he go to school? What was his position last term?” If I really valued the friendship, I sometimes painted the person in such a bright light that my overly impressed father would begin his own investigations. But when my information didn’t add up, the verdict was swift: “I never want to see you with that guy again.” And just like that, I had to ignore someone I liked, no questions asked. Fast forward to today, I’m a father now, and somehow, without seeking permission, that same protective spirit has taken over me. One morning, while dropping off my boys at school, his class teacher complained that he and his friend Abubakar (not real name) were disturbing the class with football ...

  With Timothy, all you need to do is assign the task and say when you want it delivered. No follow-ups, no hand-holding, just the confidence that the job will be done on or before the deadline. Simple and dependable. Simon, on the other hand, though often considered more skilled, required constant supervision. If a task was due by close of business, I had to check in almost hourly to ensure progress. The work would eventually get done, yes, but at the cost of time and mental energy. While wrapping up my supply chain consulting engagement at Fredo Associates (not the real name), I recommended Timothy as the team lead for the supply chain unit backed by strong reasons. Management was surprised, as Simon appeared to have more skill. But for me, leadership is about more than skill, it’s about delivering results when they matter most. As expected, Simon wasn’t happy. He reached out with veiled accusations, saying he contributed significantly to the success of my work and that I paid hi...

A few years ago, I listened to a message by Bishop T.D. Jakes where he spoke about the high likelihood of ex-convicts returning to prison. This, he said, was largely due to the difficulty they face reintegrating into society. One major challenge is public acceptance. Many employers don’t want individuals with criminal records associated with their brand. Others fear that the ex-convict might relapse into old behaviours, potentially causing harm or bringing trouble to their organisation. While these concerns are understandable, Bishop Jakes advocated for meaningful reform during incarceration. He suggested that churches, manufacturers, and other businesses should create training programmes for inmates—equipping them with skills that will help them survive once they are released. The goal? To reduce the temptation to return to crime. A few days ago, while scrolling through social media, I came across a photo with a caption that caught my attention: President Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina F...

  The book opened with the story of a tech executive who made a lot of money and lived a lavish lifestyle. At a hotel, he accidentally broke a lamp. When told to pay $500, he felt insulted and paid $5,000 instead, declaring boldly that he wasn’t poor. But how long do you think that lifestyle lasted? Still in the introduction of The Psychology of Money , Morgan Housel tells the story of Ronald James Read, a man who fixed cars for 38 years and swept floors for 17. When he died, he left: $8 million to his stepchildren $6 million to his local hospital and library No lottery. No inheritance. Just quiet, deliberate saving and investing, one small decision at a time. That story changed me. The main lesson that struck my heart is this: “The end of a thing is better than its beginning.” It doesn’t matter how you start. What matters is how you finish. One of my biggest goals in life is to leave an inheritance for my children’s children, not one built on stolen wealth or envy, but on trut...

  I had the biggest laugh at work recently while talking to a colleague about some of the things I felt he wasn’t doing so well. He apologised and promised to put measures in place to improve — adding that working solo on those tasks was the main reason his deliveries had been inconsistent. Curious about helping him get better, I asked: “Name one person you’d like to work with. Someone detailed, knowledgeable, and reliable enough to ensure those indicator sheets are always ticked at the end of each task.” Omoooo! I was flabbergasted when he said Zion. I couldn’t hide my shock. Zion?! The same guy who sometimes forgets his own name? 😄 He’s good at his job, no doubt. But I’ve learnt to never speak to him without a pen and notepad in his hand — and even that’s no guarantee. So why Zion? After a bit of probing, the truth came out. Zion buys him shawarma all the time. He wasn’t picked based on capability — but on edibility. 😂 Let’s just say I didn’t approve that pairing. I suggested s...