Dignity of Labour by Samuel Abraham

SAMUEL ABRAHAM DIGNITY OF LABOUR
1
DIGNITY OF
LABOUR
a practical guide to winning
any day; any time
FOREWORD
by
Wale Elegbede
SAMUEL ABRAHAM
2
DIGNITY OF LABOUR
Copyright © Samuel Abraham. 2020
ISBN: 9798638297701
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced,

distributed, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted
in any form or by any means, including photocopying,
recording or other electronic or mechanical method,
without the prior written permission of the copyright
owner.
Cover Design by Canva app
https://www.canva.com
IMPORTANT NOTICE
The author of this masterpiece, Samuel Abraham,

formerly known as Samuel Evbayiro, wishes to inform
the reader to address him as the former.
Moreover, documentations attached to the latter

nomenclature still holds true as some pictures that
emphasizes the lessons shared on this book portrays.
Do have a great read.
3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DEDICATION................................................................................. 4
INTRODUCTION........................................................................... 4
FOREWORD................................................................................... 4
ENDORSEMENTS.......................................................................... 4
CHAPTER 1.................................................................................... 4
Sweet is Sweat.......................................................................4
CHAPTER 2.................................................................................... 4
Genesis of Work.....................................................................4
CHAPTER 3.................................................................................... 4
Purpose Sweat.......................................................................4
CHAPTER 4.................................................................................... 4
The Spiritual Cost...................................................................4
CHAPTER 5.................................................................................... 4
The Intellectual Cost...............................................................4
CHAPTER 6.................................................................................... 4
The Physical Cost....................................................................4
CHAPTER 7.................................................................................... 4
Get to Work............................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................. 4
Scriptural references................................................................. 4
Notes (Quotations)..................................................................... 4
ACRONYMS OF ORGANIZATIONS MENTIONED with web
address........................................................................................... 4
Others............................................................................................. 4
BONUS ARTICLE on Leadership..............................................4
ABOUT THE AUTHOR.................................................................4
CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR.........................................................4
4
DEDICATION
To the exceptional people who have worked so hard to
make this masterpiece a success, I say, Thank you.
To Amazon inc., for giving me and other author’s

around the world the privilege to self-publish from the
comfort of our home. Thank you.
I must commend every person and organizations that

have inspired me one way or the other through
conventional and non-conventional teachings, onsite
and online. Your support and commitment to making
me a better person is truly exceptional.
To the Principal, Pastor Felix Osaruonamen and

Proprietress, Mrs. Glory Osaruonamen of Zigma
International School (ZIS) for their love, support and
most importantly for inspiring me to put my teachings
on work into writing. I’m grateful.
My sincere gratitude to my students, your commitment

towards getting and acquiring superior counsel, wisdom
and knowledge above all other things, gives me every
reason to die empty.
To my Dad, Chief Dr. Godwin Ibieghakukhun Evbayiro,

my Mum, Ms. Elizabeth Ugiagbe, my siblings and
extended family members. Thank you so much for the
love, support and lessons needed for the journey thus
far.
This masterpiece is God's and I dedicate it to Him with

all my heart. I'm grateful to Him for using me as an
Oracle of His to put the insight he has given to me into
writing.
Indeed, GOD IS GREAT!
5
INTRODUCTION
Ever since I discovered my purpose in my third year at
college, I have committed myself to ensuring that every
person I come across finds; starts and enjoys a
purposeful life.
Judging from 2015 till present day 2020, my joy has

known no bound whenever I help someone find and
work on their purpose.
God has instructed me to put my learning’s and

experiences into a book which was guided by His
insight.
While I look forward to spreading the message of how

to find, start and live a fulfilled life to all corners of the
earth, I pray that this book will birth new dimensions
of favour, wisdom and divine provision in making the
rest of your life the best of your life.
Please study and practice the content of this book, it's

divinely guided. Take charge of this opportunity of a
lifetime in the lifetime of this opportunity.
Like my Role model, Sam Adeyemi will always say “It is

not what you know that counts, but what you do with
what you know”.
Read this book and get to work.
Samuel Abraham
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FOREWORD
Dignity of Labour, offers more than theories for
success, the author, a great and sterling leader explain
not only what labour is all about but also clearly shows
how labour can result in dignity, beauty, excellence and
success. From his wealth of life experiences, he cited
several practical examples that could guide the reader
on how to identify and fulfill his/her purpose in life.
I recommend this book to all, particularly those who

have the intention to make great impact in life, and to
all who aspires to be achievers, influencers and life
changers, those whose names will be indelible, readers
who intend to be great leaders. If you are one of those
who are satisfied with a little success, please do not
read this book. If you do, there will be a great mindset
shift.
This book is set aside for efficacious and extraordinary

readers whose aim is to improve in all facets of their
endeavors, and whose goal is to achieve everything
they envision. I therefore enjoin you to take your time
and make use of this great opportunity and enrich
yourself.
Wale Elegbede
Head of Business Development, Rescue

Technologies Limited
7
ENDORSEMENTS
A superb, deeply inspirational and motivational book.
Samuel Abraham, a Christian and Leadership scholar

is determined, compassionate, and incisive and
reminds us of how essential it is to explore Dignity of
Labour with a view of work.
This book through its honesty and strength will uplift,

edify and provide a rewarding experience for all who
reads it regardless of background.
Det. Okundia Imariabe (HID)
CEO, Imarikunz ventures
If you are looking to take charge of your life and make

decisions that will impact your future, then this book is
for you. The author carefully highlighted the steps you
can take in order to move higher in every aspect of life
using his own journey as an example.
Reading the “Dignity of Labour” by Samuel Abraham

will change your life for the better, trust me.
Ben-Orupete OrevaOghene
Content Creator/Professional Writer
The book Dignity of Labour is a book that explains

practical ways in which one can find and fulfill purpose.
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It’s one thing to read this work and another to apply

what’s written.
Don’t just read. Apply what you have read in your daily
activity and you will see the end result.
Livingstone Imonitie
Civil Engineer and Public Speaker
Dignity of Labour is a book that teaches, inspires and

offers direction to individuals from all circle of life on
how to live a purpose driven life.
A practical guide and the handbook that shows the

importance of working.
A must read!
Goodwill Ifeakachukwu Odilu
Sports Journalist and Professional Speaker
Samuel Abraham has written a must-read book for

everyone contemplating on given abilities……
Read this book, Dignity of Labour and learn from one

of the best.
Airuedomwinya Abigail
Foremost Journalist, Content creator and New

Media expert
9
Understanding purpose and work are very important

keys towards living a deliberate fulfilled life and
Samuel Abraham has done an excellent job in bringing
to light key ways to actualize this in a very compact
read.
Dignity of Labour is a must read especially for

students and young graduates.
Omangbon Osasu
Co-founder Afiya
In a world where messages of unrealistic expectations,

flamboyance and lavish living are peddled alongside
illegal trading, fraud and a variety of “get-rich-quick”
schemes, the younger population will invariably seek
out quicker ways to attain success. A troubling mindset
is thus developing as organic means to wealth creation
are being ignored for “quick fixes”. We therefore must
introspect; rid ourselves of impatience and
consequently embrace labour.
Samuel is a fresh, young voice in a society with a

growing young population seeking to make a mark.
With his experience working and relating with young
adults, he explores the hidden truth behind labour.
Samuel challenges us to get to work by providing
insights on finding purpose. “Everyone should find
dignity in labour, it is never too early, nor is it too late
to put developed skills to work”.
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It is imperative we constantly renew the mind, and

there’s no better way than with Samuel’s book,
Dignity of Labour. I recommend this book to anyone
seeking to make a positive impact on the society.
Engr. Tobilola Bamgbelu
Civil Engineer, Lagos State Government (LASG).
The book, Dignity of Labour, is a must read for

everyone. It provides a broad definition of what
success entails. There is a cost for success. The spiritual
cost, the intellectual cost and the physical cost.
Titi oyebade
Serial Entrepreneur
For those looking for a way to improve mentally,

physically, morally and spiritually, I recommend this
book, Dignity of Labour for you. It is a summary albeit
a sufficient tool for self-development. It is a booster for
growth in all spheres of life.
Rapheal Irene Esq.
Associate, Aelex Legal Practitioners and

Arbitrators
11
Dignity of labour is an indicator that growth is a

lifelong process and success is mountain after
mountains. It discourages what we bask in as “little
successes” and gives an insight on what leading a life of
service entails. This is a masterpiece, well-done
Samuel.
Scott Peters Itepu,
Founder, Talkactive Africa
Dignity of Labour is one book that will show you step

by step the principle of building an enviable life in
whatever capacity you choose to see success.
It is a little guide and masterpiece whose principles

shouldn’t only be read and memorized, but also
consistently applied for unequivocal rising.
The book shows the fundamental principles of all time

that have not only made champions but sustained them
in different fields.
By application of these principles you too, irrespective

of your present state can make a meaning and
difference out of your life.
I enjoin everyone (students, teachers, parents, and

entrepreneurs, corporate, religious and political leaders)
to sit down and devour the content of this masterpiece.
Iyayi Aibuedefe
Life Coach and Business Enthusiast
12
In a fast moving multi-faceted world where the love for

quick wealth has led to the misplacement of priorities
and God given potentials in the lives of many teenagers
and adults, the importance of this book, Dignity of
Labour, cannot be over emphasized.
The essence of this book is imperative at a time such as

this when the “get rich quick” mentality is dominant in
the lives of so many youth, of which has made most of
them deviate from their purpose in life. The book will
teach you not to just aspire to make a living but with all
of your might, strive to make a difference.
This book is a practical guide to success. It shows that

success is a product of your spiritual, physical and
intellectual building capacity. This book will create a
radical stir in your thought pattern and will transform
you from a mediocre to a purpose driven and vision
oriented person.
This book is a must read, as the author has put together

his 8 years wealth of experience with numerous track
record in the leadership and capacity building sector to
produce something beautiful, inspiring and relatable to
everyone in various facet of the society that aspire for a
better life in whatever career/path they have
envisaged.
13
You are sure to live a purposeful life after devouring

the contents of this book as you will learn the
rudiments of how to trade idleness for productivity.
Sit back and enjoy this masterpiece.
Desmond Erhabor
Professional Agricultural Economist and Foremost

Content creator
Dignity of labour is a blend of natural principles and

spiritual precept to success embellished with a slew of
experience from a 21st century change maker and
Author, Samuel Abraham.
In today’s world where labour is seen as a relic of the

past and the “get rich quick syndrome” is the current
craze; this piece comes to mind. It teaches practical
guide to all round success disproving the erroneous
belief about success.
I recommend this book to every youth and teenager

whose resilience for success and positive change is
insatiable and genuine. Indeed this book would prove
an indispensable tool and a guide to a successful
voyage.
Eguavoen Osamede (BDS in view)
Co-founder Greenfield Initiatives
SDG Advocate and Climate Activist
14
The book, Dignity of Labour by Samuel Abraham is a

must read and I tell you, you will not only be informed
but will be impacted to receive the grace to work.
There is dignity in labour as people don’t usually hold
you in high regard if you are either idle or not working.
The fundamental principles discussed in this book are

applicable in all areas of life and it will help you
determine your purpose towards becoming fulfilled
and dignified in your area of work.
Abdukadiri Muhammed (Bsc. In view)
Serial Entrepreneur
DIGNITY OF LABOUR is a lifelong experience put into

a book for the proper utilization of the reader. Samuel
Abraham makes a proper blend of practical day to day
reality with the scriptural reference to serve as a
proper package to get everyone into the act of working
and the dignity attached to work.
The book is highly recommended as it will give the

reader the push to get to work.
Uwanogho Ufuoma Godswill
Professional Social Worker and Plenipotentiary of

the Royal Ambassadors of Nigeria
As I read through the first to the last chapter of this

book, Dignity of Labour, I realized for sure that this
was an exposition of truth in its raw form.
15
I don’t know what inspired the author to write this, but

one sure thing I know is that this book is a cumulative
contribution from his journey through life experience
coupled with divine inspiration.
I got jinxed along the line because the words were too
powerful and simple to comprehend at the same time.
A true masterpiece.
Alfred Daniel Erowonsele
Convener, Mangullar Campaign Initiative
Dignity of labour is not just any book, it’s a timely call

to work and responsibility, and if I trust anybody to do
a thorough work on this topic, it’s my friend Samuel
Abraham, who has constantly and consistently applied
the principles highlighted in the book in his own life.
Trust me; this is a book that you should read. When
you're done reading, get it for your loved ones, and if
you have to, pay them to read it.
Osamu Ekhator
Freelance writer
We live in a world where process has been christened

punishment. The speedometer of the age has been set in
such a manner that we are comfortable with hurried
and half-baked results while shortchanging
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process – the very manual that stamps the continuity

and improvement across systems worldwide. This
book couldn’t have come at a better time.
Samuel Abraham’s “Dignity of Labour” is a complete,

well thought out and in-depth analysis of labour from a
tripartite stance; the spiritual, intellectual and physical,
translating to the hands, the spirit and the mind.
Worthy of note is the upheaval of values, chief of which

is patience, humility, and Godliness. These are virtues
which have proven to work even as the very air which
we breathe into our bodies. Masterpiece takes time and
this book takes you on a journey to “MANturity”.
I am certain that you have not just a book laced with

real-life experiences and beautiful stories in your
hands, but an arsenal; to unload, upload, reload and get
out in the open field of life; hunting game with dignity,
pride and poise.
Aigbokhaevbo Augustine
Compere and Convener; Youvelop.
17
Dignity of Labour is an awesome book. It’s a book I

wish I read 10 years ago.
It’s concise and precise as it focuses on the principles,

concepts and rewards of labour with a unique
dimension backed up with scriptures.
It’s a must have in your library.
Gabriel Evboumwan (Sir Gabe)
Lead Consultant, GHDC
Samuel’s insight through this masterpiece, Dignity of

Labour, will make you realize that success is not a
destination. It is a journey embarked on by man who
works, pay the cost and leverage on God’s Grace.
A must-read for everyone desiring and striving to

succeed and make long-term impact.
In summary, this masterpiece is small in size but

timeless in value.
Emmanuel Jemegbe
Lead Consultant, Rebrand Inc.
Samuel Abraham finds fulfillment in supporting

people and seeing them attain their fullest potentials
and he believes that hard work is the key to success.
18
This book is one of his several contributions to

actualizing this passion in his heart.
In this book, “Dignity of Labour”, Samuel Abraham

has put together a simple, yet compact discourse on the
subject of “hard work” and its impact on humanity.
I will strongly advise that as you read, you should also

meditate on each of the chapter and let your heart burn
until you are totally engulfed with all the lessons
shared in this book.
What you read and see you become.
Kenneth Obayuwana
MD, KrixtoBax Limited
Executive Director, Positive Impact Africa
Dignity of Labour is not just another book to be added

to the shelf. It is a practical manual for those who
desire to achieve results while they climb the rungs of
life’s ladder. There is no dilly dallying.
Samuel emphasizes costs to pay and how they all

culminate into taking you where you want to be.
This is a super-tool!
Mayowa Ajebeku
President, Take Charge Initiative (TCI)
19
Most people are not happy with where they are in life,
they are confused and always complaining about what
they want to achieve. If you really want to live a life of
complete success, happiness and fulfillment, then I
recommend this book, Dignity of Labour, for you.
This transformational book will help you make a

powerful decision about the direction of your life by
helping you discover your true purpose. This book will
really motivate you to take action.
Mr. Samuel Abraham has set out practical ways to

achieving this.
Daniel Chizaram (DC Mike)
Spoken word artist and Public Speaker
Samuel Abraham succeeded in using his wealth of

experience over the years to demystify beclouded
principles, well implemented through the connectivity
to spiritual, moral, physical and mental background to
give answers to the “WHYs” that can set you on track
for a purposeful living.
Dignity of labour is a book that has come handy as a

daily boost and balanced diet to fuel anyone who
devours it to take massive actions which will guarantee
tremendous results in every stage of one’s life.
Every paragraph of this book is a punch that makes you

ponder deeply and a spark of revelation to set you up
for success.
Zion Ulinfoh
Skin Therapist and Lifestyle Coach
20
I’m really not a “hyper” of things but this book has

created in me an intriguing and fascinating conduction
into realizing things beyond my initiatives. Dignity of
Labour by Samuel Abraham is a must read for all,
home and abroad and I therefore recommend it for all
irrespective of age consideration.
Charles Okpewho
B.A English and Literature, President Emeritus,

English and Literature Students Association,
University of Benin (2017/2018) session.
It’s amazing how Samuel has utilized biblical

principles as a foundation to critically explain the
essence of work and labour.
It’s a great read!
Insightful content for everyone seeking to make

positive advancements in diverse spheres of life.
There is indeed Dignity in Labour!
Kemi Ogunsanya
Convener, The Pristine Project.
21
The term “work” is perceived and interpreted

differently by people. For some, it is a means of
survival, and for others, it is a means of keeping the
wheels of the economy moving forward. Some,
however, see it as an act of service, as well as a medium
and platform to contribute and add meaning to the
lives of others.
Balanced with scriptural anecdotes and timely

principles, this brilliant piece shows the true essence of
what “work” truly means, and how through it we can
be a blessing to humanity and mankind.
For those who want to stand out in the marketplace of

life, this book is well recommended.
Oyindamola Johnson
Author, Speaker, Coach
In this book, Dignity of Labour, Samuel has carefully

curate pointers that if thoroughly followed will lead to
a great life of success.
Faith Ogedengbe
Finance & Investment Professional
The Dignity of Labour, is a book that has the ability to

get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our
highest ideals, and to fulfill purpose.
22
A practical guide and the handbook that shows the

importance of working.
Jocelyn Okhiku
Client Servive Representative
Dignity of Labour by Samuel Abraham is a

masterpiece, full of inspiring and straightforward guide
for everyone who really desire to be dignified.
It is highly reccommended for all who wants to know in

exact terms, what to do in order to stand out without
any ambiguity. The ideas flows in a manner that you
can’t drop it till you are done.
Parents, teachers, business leaders, please, read this

book and share it with your children, students and
staff. It’s for the good of your family, school, business
and ultimately your nation and the world at large.
The ideas are wrapped up with practical experiences

and applications.
Osayi Tres Omokaro
Father of Startups
Founder; Treskaro Systems & Solution, Ecoconnect

and Channels of Hope
23
The book, Dignity of Labour, stands out as an

exceptionally good read for anyone who is on a journey
of self-discovery, finding purpose; and is willing to pay
the sacrifices required. As an advocate for life long
learning, I believe strongly in continuous professional
development.
Samuel did not only highlight this in his book, but he

also depicts it as a strong recipe for success. What
strikes me more is his use of holy scriptures to buttress
his points.
Apart from the part that Samuel is a part of our

community of highly skilled and effective teachers at
Schoolinka, I have been following his passion and
commitment to professional development for some
years now.
Hence, the huge deposit of wisdom in this book came as

no surprise to me. I highly recommend it to everyone,
most especially every young person.
Oluwaseun Kayode
CEO/Founder, Schoolinka
24
Life isn't just a game of chance, but functions on a

ground rule of principles. My friend, Samuel Abraham
(Jagaban 001 as we fondly call him), has taken out time
to demystify a very practical truth known yet not
known, by many. Dignity of Labour is a rare
masterpiece that outlines step by step in graphic
details practical steps to being the best we could be in
life.
Don’t just go the extra mile,make sure you get a copy

for a friend as this would prove to be the best
investment you have made in their lives as a new era
comes for the world.
Ereyimwen Aisosa Joel
Professional Digital Marketer and Data Analyst.
Project and Communication Manager, AHON-ODE
25
Sweet is
Sweat
26
CHAPTER 1
Sweet is Sweat
All labour that uplifts humanity has dignity and

importance and should be undertaken with
painstaking excellence – Martin Luther king III
I want to count it a very awesome privilege to write on

this subject matter which is very dear to me. With my
almost 8 years’ experience in the development and
business space, I will be writing on account of
knowledge and experience.
Mind you, the principles discussed in this masterpiece

are applicable in all ramifications of life, be it in
personal life, business, academics, management, family,
workplace, politics, ministry or government
establishment and corporate leadership.
As you read this guide, I pray that you will not just be
informed, but you will as well be impacted to receive
the grace to work.
Honestly speaking, will you like to receive the grace to

work?
I enjoin you to come back and answer the above

question when you are done with this masterpiece.
27
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The grace to work
In reality, not many people like to receive the grace to

work as everybody wants to be associated and
identified with glamour and everything sweet, but as
Bishop David Abioye will say, “Behind everything sweet
is sweat”.
To prove the above assertion, when next you have the

opportunity, I encourage you to taste the sweat from
your face and you will be surprised how it will be
turned into sweet.
At the root of everything sweet is sweat!
As a believer, I have come to terms with the fact that

sweat only becomes a curse when it is not pioneered
by God. A whole chapter of this book is dedicated to the
preceding statement.
At the root of
everything sweet is sweat
Dignity in labour
It is mandatory for man to sweat and it will interest

you to know that every man's dignity is tied to his
work. Every man's dignity is tied to his labour.
Every man's respect is tied to his work and ability to

contribute progressively to a movement.
Even culturally speaking, next to your family is your

work.
When people exchange pleasantries with you, the first

thing they ask you is “How is your family?” and the next
thing is “How is work?”
29
The preceding statement or question becomes

necessary because even culturally speaking every man
is expected to have a place of work.
There is dignity in labour!
A man's true measure of responsibility is his work, that

is to say, people don't count you as responsible, and
people don't hold you in high regard if you are not
working.
It's impossible to rule out the respect, dignity and

fulfillment that come from being a worker. For every
working person is a dignified person.
culturally speaking every man is
expected to have a place of work
There is dignity in labour. The reality of you waking up

in the morning and you are known to be working
dignifies your life.
Realistically speaking, the opposite of work is idle and

you will agree with me that all idle men are guaranteed
to fail. They only gravitate towards success when they
trade their idleness for productivity.
Whosoever allows idleness in your life has introduced

you to slavery, because the portion of every idle man is
slavery - Bishop David Abioye.
Nothing works without works.
For every house is built by someone (Hebrews 3:4)
30
When you see any working situation, you shouldn't just

gravitate towards the idea of celebrating the
masterpiece.
You should spend enough time to find out the person

who is making it to work, because behind everything
working is a worker.
As a believer, and if you are one, you will understand

that a lot of believers these days place more emphasis
on getting access to God's grace than putting the grace
to work.
Truth is that, nothing works without work, not even the

grace of God.
The grace of God does not discriminate, it is common to

everyone (believers and unbelievers) in appearance
but it only works for workers. The grace of God
positions us to receive the blessings of the works of our
hands as God has directed it to be. A proof to my
assertion is clearly spelt out below.
The grace of God is common
to everyone in appearance
but it only works for workers
Paul the Apostle was recorded as the most successful

apostle of early Christianity and he's credited for
writing about half of the books of the New Testament,
he too knew of this landmark of his and he addressed
the situation in 1st Corinthians 15 verses 10 and I quote
31
"I am what I am and His grace toward me was not in

vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all"
Check out the successful people you know and try carry
out a dig on their peers or age group and you will find
out that the grace of God is common to them all, but
success is gravitated towards s/he that labours more
than the rest.
There is dignity in labour!
Establishing the grace of God
Paul’s statement above reminds me of my days in the

University of Benin, back then as the President of one of
the six accredited departments in the Faculty of
Agriculture; Animal science department precisely. Just
like every other departmental President’s, being
elected into office was the grace of God. But the grace
of God needed to be put to work.
Amongst the entire six Presidents, I was the smallest in

statue with little or no potential to succeed, but I
excelled more than them all, to the extent that I was
tagged the 'President of all presidents'. I commanded
respect from all departmental Presidents including the
Faculty President and the leadership of the faculty
student's association, because I laboured more than
them all
Yet not I; but the grace of God.
The grace of God starts you up and you continue the

journey with labour. The more you labour, the more
32
the grace and the more the grace you labour with the
more the grace to work and it continues to multiply.
If you want to see a man whom grace is working, look

for a man that is working - Bishop David Abioye
People have come to the conclusion after listening to

beautiful success and triumphant stories and upon
seeing material possessions that there is no other way
to describe it than the grace of God. Of course, that's
true; however, the grace of God is being put to work by
the hand of s/he who chose to work.
The grace of God must be established by the work of

your hands for it to work. Grace promotes the works of
those who chose to work. Disgrace is at all times the
portion of those who refuse to work.
If you want grace to work, then you must work. The

bible makes it clear to us that there is no substitute to
work not even divine guidance.
the grace of God
is being put to work
by the hand of s/he
who chose to work
Isaac’s story
Let's take into consideration a very important bible

story that illustrates the above assertion.
Isaac was described by the bible as the man God

blessed and in extension; he became “rich, and gained
more until he became very wealthy” (Genesis 26:13)
33
Look how this all panned out.
After Abraham’s demise, God commanded Isaac to stay

back in a community called 'Gerar', but staying back in
Gerar was not enough for Isaac to prosper.
The bible said, “Then Isaac sowed in that land” (Genesis

26:12). He went into work.
Even when you are guided by God; you do not have the
guarantee of being blessed, except you work in the
place where God has guided you.
The grace of God as I said earlier compliments and

promotes your effort, likewise divine guidance.
You have the grace of God?
You must work!
You have divine guidance?
You must work!
For work has no substitute.
34
Genesis of
Work
35
CHAPTER 2
Genesis of Work
Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by

the seeds that you plant – Robert Louis Stevenson
As a high school educator, most times I move round the

school premises and at all times I always see idleness
ranging from students loitering around, getting
engaged in unproductive discussions etc.
I always remind my students and those who care to

listen that there's no way an idle man can escape
failure, for failure is the end product of idleness and it’s
a universally accepted reality.
Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul

shall suffer hunger (Proverbs 19:15)
Things will get worse
If you don’t work
Remember; things only work for workers, for even work

began with God himself. Biblically speaking, God
showed to us that if you don't work, things will get
worse.
The only way to stop things from getting worse is to

work.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Another word for create is work.
36
Work simply means creating activity.
God created the heaven and the earth, the heaven and
the earth did not occur.
To be a creator, you must be a worker. Religious people

call God, the creator, because He is a worker.
In all probability, a worker today will be a creator

tomorrow.
The earth was without form and void and darkness was
upon the face of the deep, so the bible said, and the
spirit of God moved!
If I were to define work, I will define it as the Spiritual,

Intellectual and Physical movement towards
achieving your purpose in life.
Like the bible illustrated; “the spirit of God moved”,

working in order not to get the situation worse.
Wherever there is no movement, there cannot be

improvement - Bishop David Abioye
Jesus said, my father worketh hitherto, my father is a

worker.
And Jesus himself came and said “I must work the

works of him that sent me”
The above statement was His motto.
Jesus said, I must work, not I will work, not I wish to

work. To Jesus and God his father, work is mandatory.
37
Man’s election for greatness
It will also interest you to know that God recognizes

and chooses you on the account of your work.
Referencing the bible once again from the book of

Revelation 3:8, God said, “I know thy works.” He didn't
say, “I know thy face or I know thy dad.” He said “I
know thy works.”
As a believer in God, if you want to be recognized by

God, you must be a worker for He knows your work.
Just like Bishop Abioye said, “every man's election for

greatness is by the work of his hands”.
I know thy works,
God said.
If you observe in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation,

you will see that the people God used were picked at
their place of work.
Think about Moses.
God found Moses at his place of work were he led his

father-in-law’s cattle to the back side of the mountain.
God saw how diligent and faithful he was with his work
and God said to him, I know you will be a faithful
shepherd to my people.
From a cattle herder, God made him a pastor of almost

three million people.
38
Think about Elisha.
Elijah was an oracle of God on earth as explained by the

bible. While looking for a successor, he found Elisha in
the field, working, and he casted his mantle upon Elisha
and a new grace came upon him.
Think about David whom toiled day and night to

protect his father's sheep in the woods. God through
his prophet, Samuel, chose him to lead Israel in
absentia and he was anointed afterwards.
Think about Amos.
Think about Gideon and all other great men that God
elected in the Old Testament. It all explains the reality
that God elects workers and believe in them to carry
out His mandate.
To God, work is mandatory.
Now let’s take a look at the New Testament.
After Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, He set out

to make choices of whom and who will make up his
discipleship.
The bible makes us understand that Jesus went to the

workplace.
First, He went to the sea shore, stood there and saw the
way men were casting their nets. When He saw Peter,
His eyes couldn't leave him.
Diligence in your place of work,
creates room for open doors
He saw the expertise Peter brought to the trade and He

patiently waited for Peter to come out of the sea
39
and He said, Peter come follow me, I'll make you a fisher
of men.
Think about the other Apostles of Faith.
Think about Apostle Paul, he was busy killing and

persecuting believers and after Stephen's death, a need
for an Apostle arose and Jesus was very sure no other
person other than Saul of Tarsus will be a worthy
replacement.
Greatness is not what you wish for;
It is what you work into
Jesus saw how diligent he was in carrying out his

master's bidding and He knew that Saul will transfer
that diligence of his into the new assignment. That is
why He had to appear to him and give him the
mandate. And afterwards from Saul of Tarsus his name
was changed to Paul the Apostle (Acts 9).
If you are not a diligent worker, you cannot have a

place with God. God recognizes you by your works.
People who sit down in idleness wishing to become

great men never become one, because it's not enough
to wish.
The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but

the soul of the diligent shall be made fat (Proverbs 13:3)
Greatness is not what you wish for; it is what you work

into. You work into greatness.
The opportunity for greatness comes not from idleness

but consistency in work. Often times, I have been
elected in absentia to lead a cause, all because of my
diligence and it’s same for all successful men.
40
I can remember vividly how I was recommended and

subsequently elected into office as one of the 4
executives to lead about 2,000 college students
residing in the Aminu Kano Hall of Residence,
University of Benin; popularly known as Hall 3.
I did occupy the position of the Director of welfare,

howbeit, after I was found working in my lodge.
I positioned myself for that opportunity. In fact, that’s

what leaders do. They position themselves for
greatness at their place of work.
The more often they are found at their place of work,

the more often they are elected for greatness. Great
men became great at their place of work. You too can
become great if only you abide with the principles of
work.
For every worker today there is a bright future and as

you receive the grace to work your future will be very
bright.
41
Purpose
Sweat
42
CHAPTER 3
Purpose Sweat
If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your

passion. For your passion will lead you right into
your purpose – Bishop T.D. Jakes
At the root of everything sweet is sweat!
Often times we sweat in our areas of weakness and we

get minimum results or most times societal adjudged
maximum results with little or no joy and sense of
fulfillment.
Nelson Mandela said “there's no passion to be found

playing small and settling for a life that is less than the
one you are capable of living”.
Just because you are doing a lot more doesn't

necessarily mean you are getting a lot more done. Do
not confuse movement with progress, because you can
run in places all the time and never get anywhere.
You must make a powerful decision about the direction

of your life; in service and in profit.
you can run in places all the time
and never get anywhere
Decision making is the product of conviction, howbeit;

your conviction must be a product of superior counsel
so as to get real-time maximum results.
43
For, in the multitude of counsellors, purposes are

established.
When we sweat in our direction of strength, we

become stronger in our character and competence and
success becomes a reality.
Success as it is
Let me define success for you.
Success is the completion and the fulfillment of the

original intent of your purpose for your existence - Dr.
Myles Munroe
Suffix me to say that there's a connection between

success and purpose. Sweating out to actualize your
purpose creates an environment for your success.
Truth be told, everybody wants to succeed, I don't care

who you are, you want to succeed, even the criminals
want to succeed in their crime. Everybody has the
desire to succeed.
But success is dependent on the potential actualization

of purpose.
Every seed has a tree in it. The purpose of the seed is to

become a tree and as such the seed’s success is defined
in its ability to fulfill its purpose i.e. becoming a tree.
The assertion above applies equally to humans.

Everyone's purpose is trapped on the inside, just as
trees are trapped in their seed’s.
44
Your success is dependent on your potential to bring to

life that which is trapped in you.
Success is you discovering your purpose and fulfilling it

before you die. Success is you getting to the end of the
reason you were born.
Every tree is the end of the seed.
In short, success is purpose fulfilled.
The only person who knows how successful you really

are is you and God.
The purpose of the seed
is to become a tree
Success is not your ability to triumph over others, but

yourself. Success is not measured by what you've done
compared to what other's have done, you'll always
outclass people. Don't be deceived.
Success is measured only by what you've done

compared to what you should have done and what you
could have done.
My Experience
I have two personal experiences to back up the above

assertion.
Back then in junior high school, we were about 25 in

class and I was blazing hot, maintaining the first
45
position consecutively in class and it happened that I

came out first runner up in class in a particular term,
just a little point behind my colleague who took first
position. Since I topped over 20 of my colleagues, I took
my coming out first runner up in class to heart as
success.
While presenting my result sheet to my dad after

vacation, upon seeing my class position for the term,
my dad gave me that stern African parent look and I
believe it implied, ”you've worked so hard only to come
out last in class, it's not that you're smart, the other 20+
students are just dumber”.
That expression was deep. I must confess.
Another scenario happened back in college when my

colleagues gave me a real definition of social distancing
in academics. I wrongly measured my success in
comparison with theirs for two good years. Not until
my third year and my circle of friends coincidentally
became larger, did I begin to pay attention to fulfilling
my purpose. I began trading my sweat for my area of
strength (Leadership, Capacity building etc.) and the
rest is history.
Develop excellent people skills
and use it to
get people on your side
From the above experiences, I got to know that success

is not measured by how you are, compared to other
people, but how you compare with what you are
capable of doing yourself and that's what purpose
sweat should be about.
46
Knowledge of your inherent strength
To understand your area of strength,
1. Look out for the things you love doing.
2. Look out for the things that give you utmost

satisfaction.
3. Look out for things you can joyfully do even when

you're not paid to do it
4. Find out what you're passionate about
6. Build a career around it
6. Develop excellent people skills and use it to get

people on your side.
7. Get mentors and build competency in the choice

career at all cost
8. Pray hard and then sweat in purpose.
When you do the above, work hard, for working really

hard is what successful people do.
This is not rocket science for man's excitement has

always been tied to his/her purpose and area of
strength.
Your duty is to observe, know, grow and sweat it out.
47
Meeting Obstacles
Just so you know, whether you are just starting out

your career or trying to get your hands around
purposeful living, I guarantee that you'll meet obstacles
and failures along your path. These obstacles may come
in form of backlash, betrayals, denials, shame, people,
things, circumstances, unmet goals etc., but screw
falling back on anything, except your Faith.
The race is not to the swift, but to he that endureth.
I will share with you my personal affirmation that

strengthens my endurance.
"I will win some, I will lose some. But I will win so
much that my lost will not count."
You can adopt it, but do ensure to give me credit.
Now, to a very large extent, your success is tied to your

endurance in succeeding in your area of strength. Do
not be deterred by failures, it's just a part of the
process.
"I will win some,
I will lose some.
But I will win so much
that my lost will not count"
Every failed attempt is a step closer to success and

without consistency you won’t finish – Denzel
Washington
48
Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will

your future be (Job 8:7)
In Denzel Washington's words, “everyone have the

training and talent to succeed. The question is; do you
have the guts to fail?”
If you do not fail, you are not even trying and most
importantly, to get something you never had, you got to
do something you never did.
Give everything you've got, because it takes everything

to get everything and whenever you fall throughout
life, remember to fall forward.
Like I just said, restrain from falling back on anything,

at all times fall forward, at least you will be able to
figure out what you are going to hit.
I will illustrate my above assertion with two key

individuals who unanimously changed the world.
Fall forward
Mr. Thomas Edison, a foremost scientist and a record

setter in the development space conducted the light
bulb experiment a record 1,000 times. Starting from an
idea stage, he started with his first experiment to the
one thousandth and he kept failing.
This is the drill.
Mr. Edison could have fall back on another plan and

jettison the idea of the light bulb, but he was too wise
to know that a breakthrough for him will be a
breakthrough for his sweat.
49
History has it that when Mr. Edison’s light bulb

experiment succeeded in his one thousand and one
attempt, and with a first public demonstration of
electric light in December 31st 1879 with many
observers on hand, Edison lit up the streets and
buildings around his laboratory in Menlo park, New
jersey, a part of America and there was a loud shout
around that vicinity. That shout represented victory,
not just for Mr. Edison and his colleagues neither Menlo
Park nor the whole of America, but for Planet Earth.
Menlo park, New Jersey shouted, not just for them but
for the World.
For Edison, it was the beginning of series of

breakthroughs.
Definitely that experience was the awesomeness of

God; His grace to be precise. But His grace was being
put to work by the hand of the person who chose to work.
In this case it was Mr. Thomas Edison.
Fall forward!
You were created with a purpose
and for a purpose.
Nobody is a mistake
Let's take a quick look at Jack Ma's story of becoming; a

very different situation from Edison's.
In Jack’s entire attempt to become a person of value; in

service and in learning, he failed primary school twice
and middle school three times. He was rejected a
record three times by Harvard University, to being
50
the only rejected person from his Nation’s Police

service recruitment exercise at his time of application,
to being rejected by KFC and many more. Nevertheless,
he successfully started and has so far sustained one of
the largest e-commerce networks in the world, worth
billions of dollars by keeping to his purpose of service
to humanity.
Jack Ma's never give up attitude sold him off to succeed

at Alibaba.
The world had a taste of Edison's and Jack's purpose

sweat. Are we going to have a taste of yours? Are you
going to fall forward?
In-built functionality
God has placed in all men everything they need to

become what they're supposed to be; as far as I'm
concerned that's what manufacturers do.
You were created with a purpose and for a purpose.

Nobody is a mistake. The thing about purpose is that
it's so powerful that if you understand it, it becomes
personal.
You weren't merely born to make a living, keep a job,

replenish the earth and just die. You were born because
there is something God wanted done that required
your services.
God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty, and

firm in his purpose (Job 36:5).
However, God's purpose will prevail in your life only if
51
you humbly request for the manuals (I'll throw more

light on this in the succeeding chapter)
don't just aspire to make a living;
aspire to make a difference
Using Les Brown's analogy;
Imagine you are on your death bed and there are ghosts
hanging around your death bed representing ghosts of
your unfulfilled potentials, ghosts of the talents you
didn't use, ghosts of the ideas you never acted upon. And
they are there with you angry, disappointed and
upset.
They say;
“We came to you because you could have brought us to

life, serve us to the world and show forth our uniqueness
and now we have to go to the grave together.”
Now this is my question for you. How many ghosts are

going to be around your bed when your time comes?
The fundamental costs
In the next three chapters, I'm going to be teaching you

as I've learnt from Bishop David Oyedepo, the
fundamental principles/costs to maximizing your
potentials as you sweat in your area of purpose.
52
These fundamental costs are ingrained in my earlier

definition of work as the spiritual, intellectual and
physical drive towards achieving your purpose in
life.
Your purpose sweat will bring good tidings your way.

That's a universal law, however, in Denzel
Washington's words again, “don't just aspire to make a
living; aspire to make a difference”.
Norman Vincent Peale expressed it well when he said

that; “the man who lives for himself is a failure; the man
who lives for others has achieved true success.”
Everyone is making a living, what then will stand you

out?
Just so you know “money making is not the end, it’s just
a means to an expected end.”
Do well to sweat in your area of strength and there will

be no limit of God’s blessings in your life.
53
The Spiritual
Cost
54
CHAPTER 4
The Spiritual Cost
Spirituality is a brave search for the truth about

existence, fearlessly peering into the mysterious
nature of life – Elizabeth Lesser
The spiritual cost is the most important of all

principles.
Humanity didn't occur by mistake or by trials and

errors. It was created. And just as every single thing
created/manufactured on earth is tied to the
competency and knowledge of its maker, so is human.
This cost emphasizes on the need for we humans to

connect to our maker for relevant guidance and
direction on our journey of purpose.
Guides are tied
to all creations
Take a look at this.
When an electronic device is created, a manual is tied

to it, when a house, an estate or a nation is established,
a geographical map is tied to it; be it as a mental
picture or on paper.
This maps or manuals describe how to effectively get

the best out of those creations. If you disregard or
refuse to stick to the instructions that the manuals and
the maps provides, you'll spend the most
55
important parts of your life finding how to reap from

disobedience, and that renders you incompetent in the
long run.
The preceding assertion is what happens to humanity.

Days upon days, months upon months, years upon
years, men search for their purpose. Unfortunately,
these men have lost and most times disregarded their
manuals and maps that guarantees effectiveness and
the surest way back is to re-connect to their maker.
They're RE-connecting because they lost the initial

connection.
Your inheritance is delivered
to you through
the revelation of the truth
To fulfill your potential to the fullest, you must behave

like the biblical merchant man whom seeks godly
pearls and desires to break forth into a new realm and
when he's found one, one of great value, he went away
and sold everything he had and bought it.
Except the lord builds a house, they labour in vain that

build it (Psalm 127:1)
You need to be connected to your source for your

needed helps.
One needs to spend time with God to develop his or

herself spiritually. Because biblically speaking, your
inheritance is delivered to you through the revelation
of this truth.
God has giving to us all the things that we'll ever
56
require in our Education, Family and Business that

pertains to life and godliness but they're however
delivered to us through the knowledge of Him who has
called us unto glory and virtue.
Your delivery and capacity to ascertain your purpose

and concurrently receive God's blessings is a function
of Insight; your connection with the source who
happens to be God, your creator.
Vials
I shared with my colleague at work coincidentally some

moments before mounting the stage to talk on “the
fundamental costs to maximizing your potentials”
where I got the opportunity to speak. I said to him,
“every prayer we pray today is stored up in heaven for
our needs tomorrow”. Because, there are angels, whom
holds vials before the throne; a heavenly
representation of the prayers of the saints.
Your ability and preparedness to connect with your

source today will determine the positioning of your
tomorrow, just as the fragrance of your prayers today
will speak for you, tomorrow.
You need time with God!
Whether you like it or not, we are all spiritual beings.

There is more to our physicality.
Our thoughts are spiritual, flowing from generation

past and it will definitely continue to flow even after
our individual demise. As King Solomon said in
Ecclesiastes 1:9,”The thing that hath been, it is that
57
which shall be, and that which is done is that which shall
be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.”
After my executive was elected into office as the new

Animal Science department students political arm
leaders, I had problems with choosing a nomenclature
for our executive.
As a representation of God on earth, I cherish

excellence and I'm sure you do too. Like I was saying, I
prayed and prayed and connected with my source for
an executive name that will complement our excellence
and I got a revelation from my source right in the
shower, when I was preparing for our very first official
meeting.
The rest is history.
The Jagaban Executives became a household name in

the faculty of Agriculture from staff to college students
and it indeed complemented our excellence.
you sow a prayer,
you reap an idea
One personality
There's no point confusing your personality on earth

by saying, “You know; spirituality is different from
corporate work, studentship or government”.
That’s a big lie from the pit of hell
You're a spiritual man on duty, a spiritual man in school,

a spiritual man taking up leadership positions, and most
importantly, a spiritual man having a physical
experience.
58
You're an entity, not a separation of personalities.
Your connection with your source determines your

future direction. Your connection usually stems from
prayers. Your prayers start a process of delivery for
function in your life. It brings forth heavenly Insight in
its abundance.
Just like Dr. Robert Schuller affirmed of which I can't

agree more;
”When you sow a prayer, you reap an idea.”
To mitigate the confusion, another word for Insight is

Idea and another word for idea is insight.
The bible said, “The insight of job was his strength in his
days of trouble.” You need to connect to your spiritual
roots so you can keep bearing your fruits.
You need help from Heaven.
Insight
Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool

layeth open his folly (Proverbs 13:16)
If you're surrounded by fools, the tendency of you

making foolish decisions by default becomes very high;
depending on how many fools you've got around you
anyway.
You do not use a pressing iron manual to operate an

iPhone 11. If you do that, aren't you just a new
definition of folly?
59
This is one of the many reasons you should bring your

source into your space.
Most of the regrettable moves you made were

regrettable because they were not divinely guided, for
every divinely guided investment will at all times yield
maximum results.
When the lord is your shepherd, you shall not want,

goodness and mercies shall be following you all the days
of your life (Psalm 23: 1 and 6).
To be spiritually minded is life and to be carnally minded

is death (Romans 8:6).
To be manual-conscious is prosperity and to be

manual-detached is confusion and un-productivity in
its entirety.
Every divinely guided investment
will at all times
yield maximum results
The JC Penney story
Let me share a short story with you.
Between the 19th and 20th century, there lived an

American man named JC Penney, who was taught by
his mother from when he was young; to have a quality
walk with God.
At a point in time during his period of astounding

success in the business space, and as most backsliders',
he decided to disconnect with his spiritual source and
everything came crashing down, and until he came
back to his source, then God
60
restored back his glory in life and business.
His coming back to his source indicated his coming

back to the applications of the principles and
instructions of God for his life.
His deviation from his source was a deviation from the

manual and maps that works and when he got it right
with the manuals, he got it right with his life and
business and that was how his glory was restored.
Your manual does not need you for anything, you need it
for everything! God does not need you for anything, you
need Him for everything!
You must connect to your spiritual source for your

needed helps.
In latter chapters, I'll relate my personal experiences

and how they were all rooted in the understanding and
application of the spiritual cost.
61
The
Intellectual
Cost
62
CHAPTER 5
The Intellectual Cost
You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled

to your informed-opinion. No one is entitled to be
ignorant – Harlan Ellison
There's no joy in living small when you're very sure of

living better by applying the content generated by your
brain.
Intelligence is the core of productivity. If you want to

be productive in any venture, you must apply your
acquired intelligence in order to guarantee the success
of that venture.
Knowledge is power!
If you're informed, you'll be transformed, if you're not

informed, you'll be deformed.
As long as you have access to information, your

transformation is guaranteed, but the lack of
information is an audacious attack on the possibility of
your transformation and breakthrough.
it is information
that gives value
to every vision
As I'll always say, “deformation attacks he who has no

information”.
63
The more enlightened we are on any subject matter,

the greater the level of influence and command we
gain.
Men are condemned to poverty and lack when they

disregard knowledge.
Therefore my people are gone into captivity because

they have no knowledge (Isaiah 5:13)
As business majors and leaders, we must have a

working knowledge of every venture we're embarking
on. As parents, teachers and guides to children and
most especially teenagers, you must have a working
knowledge of parenting and the education space and as
students you must have a working knowledge of any
and every examination paper you are planning to write.
Information is the vehicle
with which every vision
is driven to its accomplishment
Every venture you're embarking on must be visualized.

It is vision that births ventures. However, it is
information that gives value to every vision.
It’s not just about having the vision, idea or insight

from God. It is having adequate information with which
to drive the vision.
So many people have a vision to carry out a venture,

they desire to be many things but they never become
any because they have no adequate information to
drive the vision.
64
Establishing the Intellectual cost
I had so much success as departmental President in

college because I paid dearly for the intellectual cost; I
attended leadership development workshops, seminars
and capacity building programs all in the bid to give the
very best of leadership to my departmental students
and staff alike.
You need information. You must pay the intellectual

cost to succeed.
Information is the vehicle with which every vision is

driven to its accomplishment - Bishop David Oyedepo
Let me share with you stories on how my consistent

and intentional pursuit of the intellectual cost brought
me great fortunes in status in the education space
where I basically operate.
Hult Prize Foundation experience
Back then in college, I was privileged to work for HULT

PRIZE FOUNDATION, an organization of HULT
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL based in the United
States of America and spearhead by the Mayor of
Impact; Ahmad Ashkar. The foundation is highly
supported by the United Nations (UN) and the 42nd
President of America; President Bill Clinton.
I did scale through the last interview stage through a

combination of Skype and Whatsapp call interview; as I
got a mail indicating my being selected to direct the
organizations activities in the University of Benin some
days later.
65
My duty as the Campus Director of the aforementioned

organization was to oversee the success of the on-
campus competition which involves getting as much
student business owners and entrepreneurs as
possible to come pitch their ideas and how they could
change the world with it.
A major priority was to get business majors and

industry leaders to come serve as Judge’s, my fantastic
people's skills got me through that anyways and the
Judge’s did a fantastic job in getting a winner (Team
Aurantico) for the campus competition. The winner did
get to the next stage away from the campus to the
regional phase and they did their best in trying to get
their hands on the highly coveted $1,000,000 USD prize
for the global finalist.
This is the drill, and I want you to pay crisp’s attention.
Together with my amazing team of volunteers we

created so much buzz about the event in our college;
however, we couldn't raise enough funds to make it a
reality.
I called my team mates and I told them that we have to

cancel the event and we painstakingly made publicity
about the new development, but I had a deep
conviction in my heart that this event will pull through.
I believed it, I sowed a prayer and I did reap an
idea/insight from my source on one fateful day at
about 3:00 AM in the morning.
where there is a will,
there is a way
Never in the history of Hult Prize Foundation has the

on-campus event being organized online/virtually.
66
I mailed the leadership of the foundation, gave a

perfect proposition, I told them how I was a virtual
student at Vantage Point Leadership Syndicate (a
knowledge-based academy spearheaded by Emmanuel
Iruobe; a foremost management consultant) learning
intensively on Leadership development and capacity
building for straight 9 weeks.
I ensured I told them how I emerged second runner up

in the best graduating student category upon
graduation from the academy despite my commitments
that period.
To cut the long story short, my proposition for an

online event was approved. We had three different
sessions for the selected student’s entrepreneurs. My
team and I oriented the selected college entrepreneurs
on everything that are expected of them, while running
a Q and A session concurrently on the first day, we got
some 21st century business mentors to mentor them
and give them clues on how to effectively pitch a
business idea onsite and online on the second day and
finally the event was hosted with over 250 attendance
recorded on the third day.
Wisdom and knowledge are
stabilizers of destiny
All these activities happened virtually and most

importantly the spiritual cost collaborated with the
intellectual cost and boom, history was made.
Indeed, where there is a will, there is a way.
I can't thank Pi Avendo and Zyan, both of Hult Prize

Foundation enough for their support during that phase
of my life.
67
The insight from God and my knowledge of the digital

space delivered my team and me from obscurity and
we were celebrated locally and globally by the Hult
Prize Foundation.
Again, Knowledge is power!
If you don't have it, you don't have it.
Benefits of applying the cost
It is at this juncture of intellectual cost that many

people (parents, business majors, government officials,
students, teenagers) crash today.
People are doing business, writing examinations and

carrying out activities they know nothing about.
The intellectual cost had been so ignored that many

families, business and examination scores are nothing
to write home about. Many businesses die before their
owners, families crash before their children come of
age, examination results come out with failures written
all over it all because there is no adequate information
with which to drive that vision of coming out in flying
colors.
(Isaiah 33:6) And Wisdom and knowledge shall be the

stability of thy times and strength of salvation.
Wisdom and knowledge are stabilizers of destiny. They

stabilize success, progress and most importantly, they
are stabilizers of good and perfect results.
68
Note this; every success is stabilized on wisdom and

success.
Room for improvement
My personal vision as a development expert is to create

a world where true leadership thrives and at all times I
focus my energy and strength towards that direction.
I can remember vividly when I was employed as a full

time teacher at Zigma Education Centre, now Zigma
International School (ZIS). Instantly, I was appalled by
the level of leadership capacity exhibited by the
students.
The largest room
In the world is
room for improvement
Lest I forget, I'm more passionate about working with

teenagers most especially high school students than
any other category of human being, because they are
the future and the only way forward is the future.
Immediately upon my appointment in ZIS, I showed my

contempt to the management about the poor level of
leadership in the student’s level and I proposed
immediate development of that part of the school
because I know for sure that the largest room in the
world is ‘room for improvement’. I volunteered
myself and in no distance time together with the help
of the management and staff of ZIS, the student
leadership was stabilized and I ensured I held
69
leadership development meetings with them every

week. Though the student leadership was a little above
average at that moment, the opportunity to effect
change was indeed a victory for "growth".
In that same high school academic session, while

supporting the formation of a student’s club that
speaks to the need of teenage girls from the backstage, I
started a Debate team, we held weekly meetings and in
two months we won the most coveted Edo State Debate
Competition organized by DLSO.
Subsequently, I was recognized as the ZIS Teacher of

the year with an ovation from the management, staff,
parents and lots of shout from the students signaling
their utmost approval at our annual graduation/prize
giving day ceremony.
Fast forward to the succeeding school session, I was

officially appointed as the Director and Coach, of ZIS
Department of Leadership Development and ZIS
Debate Team respectively.
All these preceding success was stabilized on Insight,

wisdom and strength.
Civic Engagement
Remember, I just told you about how my unabated

drive for intellectual cost brought me fortunes.
Another powerful one happened again in 2020 in

collaboration with my colleagues and with the
70
amazing support of ZIS management; I pulled off my

first project as the Director of the ZIS Department of
Leadership Development on the 24th day of January
2020.
On that historical day, under my guidance, the ZIS

students association simulated the Nigerian Electoral
system with so much success, with an eye on
establishing the Federal/Presidential system of
government in the school students association and at
same time enabling a room for
authentic/realistic/practical and hands on civic
engagement activities.
My experience from being trained by the Federal

Republic of Nigeria electoral arm; INEC
(Independent National Electoral Commission) for 3
days prior to the Edo State 2016 gubernatorial election
coupled with the fact that I was a core team member of
the electoral team for bini kparakpo union (NUBS) and
Faculty of Agriculture back then in college was very
helpful in ensuring our over three months plan came to
fruition.
Like I keep telling everyone, I'm very certain that the

learning experience the students got that day will
better prepare and position them for exploits in the
Nigerian/Global political space unlike the traditional
brick and mortal solutions in Africa where you only
have Head boy, Head girl and the likes.
In place of school prefects we now have Ministers and

we are looking forward to having Commissioners as the
school grows in size.
So far so good, I have been engaging the elected

student leaders and electoral committee members of
71
Zigma International School Students Association

(ZISSA) on intentional leadership development and
capacity building meetings every week with an eye on
global practice and there's nothing to describe the
awesomeness.
Intellectual cost
I had delivered stellar performances in the classroom

as a teacher and most importantly, I have enjoyed so
much success in leading my space in the education
sector this 2019/2020 session ever since I took my
'capacity to deliver' to the next level by applying and
getting selected for a two months-long teacher training
program that was organized by Schoolinka, a foremost
Education-firm based in Lagos, Nigeria.
I have been privileged to learn from a lot of seminars,

programs and teachings on leadership, but I'm more
grateful for the studentship I've enjoyed in leadership
development institutions both locally and
internationally.
January 2020 marked the completion of my one year

long leadership development program with KECTIL
(Knowles Education and Charitable Trust for
International Leadership) a United States of America
based organization with the goal of nurturing,
networking and mentoring youth in developing
countries with potential to be leaders and making a
difference in their communities, countries and the world
at large and recently in March 2020 I graduated from
the Ignitestartupx Academy in conjunction with
72
the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and

Development (CentreLSD) after an intensive 6 months
of learning from industry experts on Leadership,
Entrepreneurship and Development.
Any venture that you're embarking on
that is void of intellectual property
will yield
shameful results
I am also privileged to have been a selected Lagos state

participant at the 2018/2019 edition of the SOZO
Networks three days leadership development program
targeted at nonprofit leaders. My insight about
nonprofit management experienced a quantum leap
after those three days Master-class.
In 2018, I registered and completed a four weeks-long

CommonWealth100 online leadership programme (a
legacy programme of the Common Wealth) from
Common Purpose that equips the next generation with
21st century leadership skills. It’s one of the best
leadership development programs I have ever
participated in as the programme served as an
opportunity to gain practical skills for the future while
learning firsthand how to maximize my impact in both
professional and civic lives.
Upon completing the CW100 program, I was awarded

an Open Source Leadership Badge which sets me
apart from my contemporaries as a 21stcentury
leader.
All these and many more not mentioned are intellectual

costs and they improved my chances of success.
73
The intellectual cost establishes your purpose, for

without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the
multitude of counsellors they are established (Proverbs
15:23)
There is no mountain anywhere;
every man's ignorance
is his mountain
Any venture that you're embarking on that is void of

intellectual property will yield shameful results. Any
assessment/examinations that you're writing that is
void of adequate intellectual property is sure to bring
forth below par results.
Remember, the more enlightened we are on any subject

matter, the greater the level of command we gain.
Success and sustainable success is a product of access
to quality information. We must read and study what
pertains to our individual success in our respective
spaces of operations.
We must study to show our self-approved. A reader

today and a Leader tomorrow.
There’s no mountain anywhere
An empty head is a burden to the neck - Archbishop

Benson Idahosa
Just like the bible said, we are called to give attention to

readings, to exhortations and to doctrines, to give
ourselves wholly to these things that our profiting may
appear to all (1 Timothy 4:13-15).
74
It was Abraham Lincoln who said “you're same person

you're today in 5 years’ time except for two things; the
books you read and the friends you keep.”
I don't toy with those two variables. I select my friends

and the books I read, in fact my success thus far has
been a combination of superior counselors in friends
and distinguished authors who parade intellectual
properties in books.
Every month, I spend nothing less than 30% of my

earnings on a combination of capacity building
programs and great books of established authors. By
doing so, I'm intentionally climbing on the shoulders of
giants and that's what champions do.
Knowledge is power. Your lack of adequate intellectual

property is the reason for your poor results.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Isaiah

5:13)
This is God's directive: to give attention to readings, to

exhortations and to doctrines; to give ourselves wholly
to these things that our profiting may appear to all.
This is the good news; just as health is cheap so is

Knowledge.
If you think otherwise, try sickness and ignorance and

the combination of them both shall be your greatest
undoing.
There is no mountain anywhere; every man's ignorance

is his mountain - Bishop David Oyedepo
75
The Physical
Cost
76
CHAPTER 6
The Physical Cost
The only antidote to mental suffering is physical

pain – Karl Marx
Every success story is traceable to a high level

investment of time, energy and resources - Bishop David
Oyedepo
In this chapter, I'll lay more emphasis on the effective

utilization of energy.
History has always proved to us that hard workers are

high flyers. Truly, it takes hard work to fly high.
High elasticity, high energy; they're all time

requirements for high performance and productivity.
I must work the work of He that sent me, Christ said

(John 9:4)
Hard workers
are high flyers
High level accomplishment is a dividend of high level

energy. However, to gain maximum outputs, you must
dispose your inputs in the appropriate direction, your
energy utilization should at all times be directed to
your area of strength and purpose at all times.
Everybody wants to succeed but only a few percent

actually do.
77
Why?
78
Because, the successful few, work hard so they can fly

high.
Exercising your physical prowess
These days you see people and when you invite them to
labour for a good cause, you get responses like, “I'm
tired, I feel like resting, I feel like sleeping”.
Every time they are tired, always wanting to rest,

everyday of the week, they want to sleep.
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands

to sleep, so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth;
and thy want as an armed man (Proverbs 24:33-34).
You can equally replace poverty in the above context

with failure. Paraphrase it and find meaning.
Your physicality brings
your spirituality
to life
All successful men are stretched to succeed.
Jesus came and said, how am I straitened/stretched till

it be accomplished (Luke 12:50)
Every star is stretched to shine. Until you're stretched

enough you cannot spread effectively.
Your tendency for success begins when you understand

the need for the application of your God given
physicality. If you refuse to apply your physical
79
dimension of life, all your profits will be locked up in

the spiritual realm, you'll be heavenly successful but
earthly famished.
Your physicality brings your spirituality to life. So you

must activate it and work hard, it is not enough to wish
it, you have to work it, because in working it is the
profit.
It was Mohammed Ali (the greatest) who said

“Champions are not made in the boxing rings, they are
only recognized there”.
Consistent application of your physical cost in the

training ground of life cumulates to eventual success in
the ring of Life.
Whatever a man soweth,
that also
shall he reap
God is not mocked
In all labour there is profit but the talk of the lips

tendeth only to penury (Proverbs 14:23).
Labour is one of your vital keys into a great future -

Bishop David Oyedepo
For God is not mocked, whatever a man soweth, that also

shall he reap (Galatians 6:7)
Sow these fundamental costs and you'll reap

undisputed success. If you fail to sow these costs,
failure will attack you and not even a combination of
hot anointing will deliver you from that which has
attacked you by consent.
80
The sluggard shall not sow/plow by reason of the cold,

King Solomon said; therefore shall he beg in harvest and
have nothing (Proverbs 20:4)
Begging is the destination of lazy men; be it in

Business, Family and Education or in Government.
That's why today, you see Nations begging Nations for
loans, all because they refused to sow.
These Nations begging for loans are subsequently

signing outrageous deals and agreements at the
detriment of the people they serve.
The most painful part is that these leaders have no

understanding nor intellectual property of what they're
doing. This situation is a clarion call to all mentors in
form of parents, teachers and elders to teach our future
leaders community engagement, ethical standards and
characters needed to thrive in 21st century leadership.
true desire in the heart
for anything good,
is God's proof to you,
sits before hand to indicate that
it's yours already.
Leading change
To cushion this set back in Africa, I volunteer actively

for organizations that work with pupils/students and
youths to develop their leadership capacity like YALI-
Network; Edo state chapter, KLCI (of which I am the
Edo state, Nigeria coordinator), the United Nations
81
Volunteers (UNV) Network and most importantly, I

founded and I've been leading for three years now, a
Nonprofit, AHON-ODE; which runs a Leadership
Development program in which high school leaders
learn state-of-the-art business skills as they develop as
responsible leaders while creating sustainable impact in
their community of orientation. At AHON-ODE, our
vision is to “unleash potentials”.
Recently, I have been working directly with

stakeholders in the life of the leaders of tomorrow to
help them inspire hope, order and direction at home via
my business and development leadership consulting
firm, Teach Africa Inc.
Religious traps
encourage mediocrity and
feed you with every reason to play small
Our intention at Teach Africa Inc. is to create an

ecosystem of collaboration with the major stakeholders
in the life of the leaders of tomorrow.
That being said, I for one have a personal vision of

creating a world where true leadership thrives. But all
these commitments of mine requires all the
fundamental cost and I tell you, it is not an easy journey
but I'm certain of this desired future because I believe
that true desire in the heart for anything good, is God's
proof to me, sits beforehand to indicate that it's mine
already.
82
Grow! Don’t BLOW
Truth be told, a lot of individuals have acquired so

much wealth from playing smart, but let me remind
you.
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that

gathereth by labour shall increase (Proverbs 13:23)
There’s a very high tendency of being jealous of short-

cut takers, however, reality should discourage us from
doing so. I have never seen a lottery winner, gambler or
scammer’s name in Forbes list, even if it happens, it
definitely won’t stand the test of time.
This I am certain of;
All corruption and short cut practitioners will be jailed,

disgraced or both. For disgrace is the promotion of fools.
Success gotten by stealing, kickbacks, corruption,

gambling, scams, Cyber-crime and by begging shall
diminish, but he that gathereth by the fundamental
cost's shall increase.
You must exercise your physicality.
In the preceding chapter, I shared my Hult Prize

Foundation experiences and how the spiritual cost
collaborated with the intellectual cost and history was
made. But I tell it to you, if I had not exerted my
physicality and refuse to discard the physical cost, it
would have all ended in futility.
Great treasures are being unleashed but it takes selling

off your comforts, your conveniences, selling off your
traditions of I know it will work even if I work
83
or not, I know God will do it whether I do what God has

commanded me to do or not.
The above assertions are all religious traps that make

your destiny to lose colours. These traps trap you
below your capacity of function. They encourage
mediocrity and feed you with every reason to play
small.
Nelson Mandela said “There's no passion to be found

playing small and settling for a life that is less than the
one you're capable of living”.
Work hard and colour your destiny because that's

God's divine purpose for your life.
In the words of King Solomon; Prepare thy works

without and make it fit for thyself in the field and
afterwards build thine house (Proverbs 24:27).
The glory and the colour of your destiny is in how

much investment you are making with the works of
your hand today.
Things only work for workers.
There's no short cut.
84
Get to Work
85
CHAPTER 7
Get to Work
You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do –
Carl Gustar Jung
If you stayed this long reading this masterpiece then

you're 90% close to catching your break.
The remaining 10% you will acquire by working.
So far so good you've been educated to understand that

in all labour there's dignity and profit.
It's time to get to work!
There’s no better time
to get to work
than now
Most people, business majors, parents, students think

all you need to invest to be successful in life, business,
family or school is money or school/tuition fees as the
case may be. So they are busy, looking forward to
committing to their financial desires.
Well, that's part of it, in fact it's important to finance

your vision, but without these fundamental
principle's/cost's, your financial resources hold no
value. It is these cost's that give value to your financial
investment.
86
Truth be told, you're going to have a hell of a ride on

your journey to success, but every of your failed
experiment's is one step closer to success. In fact that's
what successful people believe and eventually go
through.
Just like the old saying goes "If you hang around a
barbershop long enough, sooner or later you'll soon get
a haircut."
If you hang around the fundamental principle's long

enough, sooner or later you'll soon catch your break.
This is not a prophecy, it's a time proven law.
And do not even think that grace covers laws (Mathew

5:17-19).
God's grace enlists us for the benefits of the kingdom

but we must keep the laws. Even if you have grace,
thou shall still not steal. Thou shall still not commit
adultery.
Any fishy-disobedience of the law
guarantees fishy-destruction by the law
The longest way to success is short cut.
If you follow shortcuts, you violate laws and that is

what the Bible calls trespassing. Fishes obey the laws
by swimming on water instead of jumping on trees.
Any fishy-disobedience guarantees fishy-destruction.
In reality, you don’t actually break laws. Laws break
you if you violate them. I’ll encourage you to take the
law of gravity into consideration, if you doubt me.
Success is predictable and so is failure. What you do

with the laws, costs and principles determines which
87
outcome you get.
The principles, the laws, the costs have no substitute.

They all work as if they were in a synergy, they
complement each other.
If you're not building on principles, you're heading for

troubles. You're either building on principles or you're
heaping up rubbles - Bishop David Oyedepo.
What you do with these cost's of life, determines your

level of ability to press your baton to the next level. The
choice is yours.
Let's stop just talking it, let's start working it.
What you don't work, won't work!
What you don't market, won't sell!
What you don't study, you won't understand!
What you don't pay attention to, you won't learn!
If you want to see true increases in your life, business,

family, academics, then do well to invest along these
three channels of life principles and they shall be no
end to the increases of God in your life.
Just like king Solomon instructed, it's time to get to

work.
Prepare thy works without and make it fit for thyself

in the field and afterwards build thine house
(Proverbs 24:27)
Get to work!
88
CONCLUSION
I sincerely hope the thoughts, insights and costs which
I have shared in this book have inspired you to believe
that you can indeed find dignity in labour.
I am ending this book with the same instructiveness

with which I began it.
You can do this; you can apply this practical guide to

winning any day; any time as you find dignity in labour.
Find me online, send a mail, send a message, tag me in

your post and share your success with me; I'm looking
forward to celebrating with you.
89
90
Scriptural references
1. For every house is built by someone (Hebrew 3:4 NIV)
2. I am what I am and His grace toward me was not in vain;

but I laboured more abundantly than they all (1st
Corinthians 15:10 NKJV)
3. Then Isaac sowed in that land (Genesis 26:12 KJV)
4. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth

(Genesis 1:1 KJV)
5. The earth was without form and void and darkness was
upon the face of the deep (Genesis 1:2 KJV)
6. And the spirit of God moved (Genesis 1:3 KJV)
7. My father worketh hitherto (John 9:4 KJV)
8. I must work the works of Him that sent me (John 9:4 KJV)
9. I know thy works (Revelation 3:8 KJV)
10. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm 23:1

KJV)
11. Goodness and mercies shall follow me all the days of my

life (Psalm 23:6 KJV)
12. Therefore my people are gone into captivity because

they have no knowledge (Isaiah 5:13 KJV)
13. And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy

times and strength of salvation (Isaiah 33:6 KJV)
14. In all labour there is profit, but the talk of the lips
tendeth only to penury (Proverbs 14:23 KJV)
15. Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that

gathereth by labour shall increase (Proverbs 13:23 KJV)
91
16. Mathew 5:17-19 KJV
17. Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will

your future be (Job 8:7 NIV)
18. God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty, and

firm in his purpose (Job 36:5 NIV)
19. Mathew 13:46-46 NIV
20. The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be, and
that which is done is that which shall be done, and there is
nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9 KJV)
21. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands

to sleep, so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth;
and thy want as an armed man (Proverbs 24:33-34 KJV)
22. Prepare thy works without and make it fit for thyself in
the field and afterwards build thine house (Proverbs 24:27
KJB)
23. How and when God gave Moses the mandate (Exodus
3:1)
24. How Elisha was chosen by Elijah (1 Kings 19)
25. How King David was chosen by God (1 Samuel 16)
26. How God chose Gideon (Judges 6)
27. How Jesus met Peter (Mathew 4)
28. How Jesus met Paul (Acts 9)
29. The race is not to the swift, but to he that endureth

(Ecclesiastes 9:11)
30. To be spiritually minded is life and to be carnally minded

is death (Romans 8:6 KJV)
92
31. We are called to give attention to readings, to

exhortations and to doctrines, to give ourselves wholly to
these things that our profiting may appear to all (1 Timothy
4:13-15KJV)
32. God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that

shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7 NKJV)
33. The sluggard shall not sow/plow by reason of the cold;

therefore shall he beg in harvest and have nothing (Proverbs
20:4 KJV)
34. Except the lord builds a house, they labour in vain that
build it (Psalm 127:1 KJV)
35. How am I straitened/stretched till it be accomplished

(Luke 12:50 KJV)
36. And the man became rich, and gained more until he
became very wealthy (Genesis 26:13 ESV)
37. The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but
the soul of the diligent shall be made fat (Proverbs 13:3 KJV)
38. Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool

layeth open his folly (Proverbs 13:16 KJV)
39. Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the

multitude of counsellors they are established (Proverbs
15:23 KJV)
40. Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle

soul shall suffer hunger (Proverbs 19:15 KJV)
93
Notes (Quotations)
1. It is not what you know that counts but what you do
with what you know - Rev. Sam Adeyemi
2. Behind everything sweet is sweat - Bishop David

Abioye
Link (https://bit.ly/2XhcqJI)
3. Whosoever allows idleness in your life has

introduced you to slavery, because the portion of every
idle man is slavery - Bishop David Abioye
4. If you want to see a man whom grace is working,

look for a man that is working - Bishop David Abioye
5. Wherever there is no movement there cannot be

improvement - Bishop David Abioye
6. Every man's election for greatness is by the work of

his hands - Bishop David Abioye
7. There's no passion playing small and settling for a

life that is less than the one you are capable of living -
Nelson Mandela
8. Success is the completion and the fulfillment of the

original intent of your purpose for your existence - Dr.
Myles Munroe
9. Everyone have the training and talent to succeed, the

question is ‘do you have the guts to fail?’ - Denzel
Washington
10. Don't just aspire to make a living, aspire to make a

difference - Denzel Washington
11. If you sow a prayer, you'll reap an idea - Dr. Robert

Schuller
94
12. Information is the vehicle with which every vision

is driven to its accomplishment - Bishop David Oyedepo
Link (https://bit.ly/3bLmeiy)
13. Hult prize official website (www.hultprize.org)
Link to my selection as University of Benin Campus

Director 2018/2019 (https://bit.ly/2JxWHxe)
14. You're same person you're today in five year's time

except for two things, the books you read and the
friends you keep - Abraham Lincoln
15. There's no mountain anywhere, every man's

ignorance is his mountain - Bishop David Oyedepo
16. Every success story is traceable to high level

investment of time, energy and resources. - Bishop
David Oyedepo
17. Champions are not made in the rings, they are only
recognized there - Mohammed Ali
18. Labour is one of your vital keys into a great future -

Bishop David Oyedepo
19. If you're not building on principles you're heading

for troubles. You're either building on principles or
you're heaping up rubble's - Bishop David Oyedepo
20. Link to ZIS election 2020 (https://bit.ly/3bQMZCn)
21. Link to ZIS DLSO debate triumph

(https://bit.ly/2JCIqk4)
22. An empty head is a burden to the neck - Archbishop

Benson Idahosa
95
23. Every failed attempt is a step closer to success and

without consistency you won’t finish – Denzel
Washington
24. The man who lives for himself is a failure; the man
who lives for others has achieved true success -
Norman Vincent Peale
96
PHOTO GALLERY
When I was sworn in as NASSA President, University of
Benin (2017)
97
At #YouthEmpowered program organized by the

Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) with Coach Timipre
Ruth and Alex Inoma (2018)
98
MILI graduation (2019)
Personality of the semester, Faculty of Agriculture,

University of Benin (2017)
99
ZISSA Election (2020)
100
ZIS Debate Team triumph at the Edo State Debate

competition (2019)
101
NASSA certificate of service (2018)
YouthEmpowerd certification (2018)
102
NDE training certificate (2019)
The Funding Space 2019 with John Obidi
103
Accelerate 2019 w/ Oyindamola Johnson
At Sabihub’s SIP visit to AMENA ACADEMY (2019)
104
Hult Prize Foundation Certification (2019)
KECTIL certification (2020)
105
SOZO Network non-profit leadership program (2019)
ZeMA certification on Event, Brand and Project

Management (2016)
106
With the Leadership of ZISSA (2020)
At one of the Schoolinka class with my Professional

colleagues (2019)
107
With my twin brother in the Education space; Charles

Okpewho (2020)
108
ACRONYMS OF ORGANIZATIONS
MENTIONED with web address
1. BIU – Benson Idahosa University (www.biu.edu.ng)
2. INEC – Independent National Electoral Commission

(www.Inecnigeria.org)
3. DLSO – Deeper Life Schools Outreach

(www.dclm.org)
4. NOUN – National Open University of Nigeria

(www.nou.edu.ng)
5. ZIS – Zigma International School
6. KECTIL – Knowles Education and Charitable Trust

for International Leadership (www.kectil.com)
7. CentreLSD – African Centre for Leadership, Strategy

and Development (www.centrelsd.org)
8. NUC – National Universities Commission

(www.nuc.edu.ng)
9. NUBS – National Union of Benin Students
10. NASSA – Nigerian Animal Science Students

Association
11. MILI – Miracle Invasion Leadership Institute

(www.miracleassembly.org)
12. Schoolinka - (www.Schoolinka.ng)
13. KLCI - Kayode Alabi Leadership and Career

Initiative (www.klci.com.ng)
14. SOZO Networks (www.sozonetworks.com)
109
15. Sabihub (www.sabihub.org)
110
16. Headstart Africa (www.Headstartafrica.com)
17. KFC – Kentucky Fried Chicken (www.kfc.com)
18. The Virtual School - (www.vs.ischoolcloud.org)
19. UN – United Nations (www.un.org)
20. UNV – United Nations Volunteer (www.unv.org)
21. AUC – African Union Commission (www.au.int)
22. KJV - King James Version
23. NKJV - New King James Version
24. KJB - King James Bible
25. NIV - New International Version
26. ESV–English Standard Version
111
Others
1. AHON-ODE – An African word for LEADER; he, who

knows the way, shows the way and goes the way.
2. Kparakpo – An African term use to describe an

ethnic based association or community of college
students.
3. Jagaban – An African term use to describe a

phenomenal personality
4. Bini – The official speaking language of the Benin

Nation of Nigeria.
5. AliBaba – One of the world largest e-commerce

networks co-founded by Jack Ma and his colleagues in
China.
112
BONUS ARTICLE on Leadership
Leadership and Limits
© Samuel Abraham
About two days ago I met an old friend in the

leadership space.
He's been so busy with creating a world where true

leadership thrives. I can imagine the hurdles he
encounters on a daily basis and I'm very happy about
his consistent disregard for limits which has propelled
him to a point of continuous progress.
He literally reminds me of a leader I read about, who

happens to be mentally-smart, howbeit physically-lazy.
This man according to the author had a flair for corny
tendencies. In summary, he was a dignified cheat.
He succeeded in all his covetous adventures whilst

faithfully applying his mental faculty at the detriment
of his physical will.
In this modern day, he would have been a very

successful 'marlian'. Too bad, he neither had a trouser
nor belt.
This 'corny-oriented' fellow became too notorious that

he provoked the spirit of higher intelligence whose
support he lost. For years Mr. Corny, toiled day and
night with no meaningful progress.
113
For so long I've understood Leadership to be Influence

without Limits. However Mr. Corny even with his
sustainability prowess was limited in progress. Don't
get me wrong; he was constantly on the move, but had
little or no progress.
However, he was smart enough to not confuse

movement for progress.
He did experience limits in his life but never in his

mind.
On one fateful day, he was presented with a tantalizing

opportunity; he understood he had provoked the spirit
of higher intelligence. So when he had the chance to
dialogue, he ensured the encounter ended on his own
terms.
He wrestled and wrestled and wrestled while pleading

for forgiveness and blessings.
He got what he wanted. The higher intelligence

consented to his unabated consistency and changed his
nomenclature from movement to progress.
Finally, his determination paid off. His consistent

disregard for Limits paid off.
Over twenty century ago, his descendant started a

revolution that birthed the principles of the higher
intelligence. Till this day his tribe still makes things
happen in his descendant's name.
His mindless limitlessness and ability to graciously

renegotiate his life terms inspires me and many others
till this very day.
Mr. Corny's name became Israel and his descendant;

Jesus.
114
In Leadership, there's no Limit. True leadership thrives

in perpetuity.
© Samuel Abraham
115
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Samuel Abraham is an Author (Dignity of Labour),
Quality Education and, Development and Business
Leadership consultant with about 8 years’ learning and
working experience in the business and development
space. He’s very passionate about the business and
development space and intertwining it with
sustainable impact across the globe.
As a member of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV)

Network, Samuel is also an accredited Common
Wealth100 (CW100) Common Purpose Open Source
Leader with a CW100 badge to his name. He has also
worked with UNILEVER Nigeria and Hult Prize
Foundation, USA on their business and development
project in the past years.
He's an alumnus of the 6 months-long Leadership,

Entrepreneurship and Development (L.E.A.D) program
pioneered by the Ignitestartupx academy in
conjunction with the African centre for Leadership,
Strategy and Development (CentreLSD).
He's also an alumnus and Colleague of the prestigious

United States of America based Leadership
development and Capacity building organization,
KECTIL (Knowles Education and Charitable Trust for
International Leadership) where he was taken through
the rigors of Leadership and Community development
for one year.
Samuel is a Thierworld Global Youth Ambassador

(GYA), a UK based charity that promotes access to
global quality education.
He is an alumnus of Vantage Point Leadership

syndicate, a 9 weeks long Leadership development
116
program pioneered by Emmanuel Iruobe, a Foremost

Management Consultant.
Samuel is also an alumnus of the Miracle Invasion

Leadership Institute (MILI) where he was trained for 6
weeks intensively on Leadership, Management, Family
and Finance.
Samuel's nonprofit; AHON-ODE was incubated in

2019 for 3 months at Sabihub's “Start-up Incubation
program (SIP)” that was spearheaded by John Osawe
and supported by Accelerate labs, BudgIT, Microsoft
inc., Benson Idahosa University and the Edo State
Government (EDSG).
Samuel completed a Basic Business Training (BBT)

course at the Entrepreneurship Development Institute
(EDI), a project of the Federal Government of Nigeria
(FGN) supported by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
and the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in
2019.
As a direct mentee of both John Obidi and

Oyindamola Johnson, he has been climbing on the
shoulders of GIANTS in the development space at home
and abroad.
His nonprofit was also incubated in 2019/2020 for 3

months by the Headstart Africa Career Mentoring
program (a subsidiary of Headstart Africa; a
Leadership development and Capacity building
platform for Africans by Africans) spearheaded by Mr.
Phenomenal himself; John Obidi (an award winning
New Media expert) who was supported by Bishop Feb
Idahosa (President, Benson Idahosa University), Mr.
Paul Foh (Foremost sales coach/consultant), Ms.
Edirin Edewor (Author, A-Z of E-book Publishing) and
Ms. Nnaike Essien (Human Resource Consultant).
117
In 2020, Samuel was appointed as an international

mentor for students of the YALI RLC GIMPA, Ghana
and Plan A, India organizations respectively, while
he was also featured on Nigeria Number one online
newspaper, Impact Newspaper Nigeria (as Samuel
Evbayiro), where he shared his perspective on
Development and Business Leadership.
Samuel was currently admitted via scholarship into

the Lagos Business School, Pan Atlantic University
to study Non Profit Leadership Management. He is
also a sophomore student of Public Administration
department at the National Open University of Nigeria
(NOUN), a globally recognized distance learning
platform, fully accredited by the National Universities
Commission (NUC).
The flexibility NOUN offers gives him the opportunity

to contribute effectively to the Education space as a
business and development expert.
His personal vision is to create a world where true

leadership thrives by training businesses to create a
leadership culture that sets them up for profit making
and he achieves this via his teachings and other
management engagement virtually and onsite as a
Public Speaker as well as through his nonprofit; AHON-
ODE and Teach Africa Inc., his business and
development consultancy firm. Recently, he launched
the Borderless Business Teleseminar (BBT), a tech-
driven platform where businesses are trained to build
a leadership culture that sets them up for profit
making. BBT is proudly sponsored by Teach Africa Inc.
Samuel is committed to creating a world where true

leadership thrives and he won't stop until his God given
mandate (purpose) is achieved.
118
CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR
SAMUEL ABRAHAM
Phone: +2348159031119
Facebook/LinkedIn: Samuel Abraham
E-mail: samuelabraham378@gmail.com
AHON-ODE
Facebook/Instagram/twitter: ahonodehq
E-mail: ahonodehq@gmail.com
Teach Africa Inc.
Facebook/Instagram/twitter: teachafricahq
E-mail: teachafricahq@gmail.com
119
Testimonials
Trust me; this is a book that you should read. When

you're done reading, get it for your loved ones, and if
you have to, pay them to read it.
Osamu Ekhator
Dignity of Labour is an awesome book. It’s a book I

wish I read 10 years ago.
Gabriel Evbouwan (Sir Gabe)
For those who want to stand out in the marketplace of

life, this book is well recommended.
Oyindamola Johnson
About the book
Dignity of Labour is a divinely inspired practical guide

for professionals, parents, teenagers, students and
individuals who aspire to make a difference, other than
just making a living. The ultimate purpose of the book
is to drive intentionality while living a deliberate and
purpose-inspired life on one’s road to dying empty.
The Author
With about 8 years' experience of learning and working

in the quality education and, business and development
space, Samuel Abraham is passionate about
unleashing potentials of individuals and businesses to
drive universal development, business integrity,
leadership and service while leveraging on the (H)ope,
(O)rder and (D)irection strategy.
120

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SAMUEL ABRAHAM DIGNITY OF LABOUR

Copyright © Samuel Abraham. 2020

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced,

Cover Design by Canva app

The author of this masterpiece, Samuel Abraham,

Moreover, documentations attached to the latter

Do have a great read.

To Amazon inc., for giving me and other author’s

I must commend every person and organizations that

To the Principal, Pastor Felix Osaruonamen and

My sincere gratitude to my students, your commitment

To my Dad, Chief Dr. Godwin Ibieghakukhun Evbayiro,

This masterpiece is God's and I dedicate it to Him with

Indeed, GOD IS GREAT!

Judging from 2015 till present day 2020, my joy has

God has instructed me to put my learning’s and

While I look forward to spreading the message of how

Please study and practice the content of this book, it's

Like my Role model, Sam Adeyemi will always say “It is

Read this book and get to work.

I recommend this book to all, particularly those who

This book is set aside for efficacious and extraordinary

Head of Business Development, Rescue

Samuel Abraham, a Christian and Leadership scholar

This book through its honesty and strength will uplift,

Det. Okundia Imariabe (HID)

CEO, Imarikunz ventures

If you are looking to take charge of your life and make

Reading the “Dignity of Labour” by Samuel Abraham

Content Creator/Professional Writer

The book Dignity of Labour is a book that explains

It’s one thing to read this work and another to apply

Civil Engineer and Public Speaker

Dignity of Labour is a book that teaches, inspires and

A practical guide and the handbook that shows the

Goodwill Ifeakachukwu Odilu

Sports Journalist and Professional Speaker

Samuel Abraham has written a must-read book for

Read this book, Dignity of Labour and learn from one

Foremost Journalist, Content creator and New

Understanding purpose and work are very important

Dignity of Labour is a must read especially for

In a world where messages of unrealistic expectations,

Samuel is a fresh, young voice in a society with a

It is imperative we constantly renew the mind, and

Engr. Tobilola Bamgbelu

Civil Engineer, Lagos State Government (LASG).

The book, Dignity of Labour, is a must read for

For those looking for a way to improve mentally,

Rapheal Irene Esq.

Associate, Aelex Legal Practitioners and

Dignity of labour is an indicator that growth is a

Scott Peters Itepu,

Founder, Talkactive Africa

Dignity of Labour is one book that will show you step

It is a little guide and masterpiece whose principles

The book shows the fundamental principles of all time

By application of these principles you too, irrespective

I enjoin everyone (students, teachers, parents, and

Life Coach and Business Enthusiast

In a fast moving multi-faceted world where the love for

The essence of this book is imperative at a time such as

This book is a practical guide to success. It shows that