A Leader Unifies Not Divides

 

     

From an unpublished book I have written since the last half a decade on one of Nigeria's most influential litigation lawyers CHIEF AFE BABALOLA (SAN) I will borrow some citations of what constitute good leadership as espoused by leading thinkers from all around the world.
HERB RUBENSTEIN believes that the creation and fulfillment of worthwhile opportunities by honorable means are the best forms of the characteristics of a good leader.
JOHN C. MAXWELL on his own part defined leadership in a more pragmatic perspective as follows;“leadership is influence- nothing more, nothing less”.
The general summary of what most contemporary thinkers say about leadership can be summed up in the following terms: “a good leader is one who has made a lasting impact on people who he is not commanding. Anyone who can influence people who are not under his control or supervision can be called a leader.”
The purpose of digging a bit dipper into contemporary political history for clear guides on what leading thinkers see as good qualities of a good leader is basically to highlight these virtues and to more appropriately recommend to the political leadership hierarchies in contemporary Nigeria the imperative and indeed existential urgency of exhibiting these qualities in the ways and manners they administer or run Nigeria.
The institutionalization of good governance is the antidote to drive Nigeria away safely from the imminent threats of implosion and the deep rooted animosities amongst and between different component parts of the Nation State known as Nigeria.
The Constitution of Nigeria of 1999 (as amended) being the Indisputable grund norm has clearly indicated that the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a state based on the principles of democracy and social justice.
But in reality, there are pent up and bottled up angst amongst different ethnic nationalities as a sovereign entity that the Country is not appropriately governed in the best traditions and tenets enshrined in the constitution.
From North and South, there are loud cries of marginalization and systematic scheming out of certain component parts of Nigeria from some important organs of political administration in Nigeria.
In the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, there are considerable volumes of protests of systematic alienation of some ethnic nationalities as against the intendment and intentions of the Constitution which in Section 42 (1) makes it illegal that any group of persons should be schemed out of things by the powers-that-be.
The Nigerian Constitution in Section 42(1) provides thus: “A citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by reason only that he is such a person (a) be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of, any Law in force in Nigeria or any Executive or Administrative action of the Government, to disabilities or restriction to which citizen of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religions or political opinions are not made subject….”
I will adopt two major objections raised by two significant opinion leaders to highlight the existence of some forms of policy of exclusion which is noticeable in the current Government at the center led by Retired Military General, Muhammad Buhari.
First, the Gwari ethnic Nationality are the original dominant indigenous tribe of the Federal Capital Territory known today as Abuja.
The Federal Capital Territory is not strictly speaking a State as we know the other 36 States which individually have Houses of Assembly. But the Federal Capital Territory is to be treated as a State, as stated by the constitution in section 299 of the Nigerian constitution states as follows: “The provisions of this constitution shall apply to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja as if it were one of the states of the federation…”
Ironically, since Abuja became the Federal Capital Territory for over three decades, the single largest indigenous tribe of this city –Gwaris is yet to produce the minister in-charge of the federal capital just as other ethnic nationalities outside of the North for a long time have yet to occupy this political position but rather the position of minister of FCT has almost become the exclusive preserve of our northern brothers.
The only possible exception was from inception of the new capital city between 1976 to 1979 when MOBOLAJI AJOSE ADEOGUN was the Minister of FCT.

To show how skewed and tilted towards Northern Nigeria appointments into the ministerial position for the Federal Capital Territory has been I will reproduce the entire list.

John Jatau Kadiya 1979 – 1982; Iro Abubakar Dan Musa 1982 -1983; Haliru Dantoro1983- 1984; Mamman Jiya Vatsa 1984 December – 1985; Air Vice Marshal Hamza Abdullahi1986 – 1989; General Gado Nasko1989 – 1993; Lieutenant General Jeremiah Timbut Useni1993 – 1998 ; General Mamman Kontagora1998 – 1999; Architect Ibrahim Bunu1999 -2001; Alhaji Mohammed Abba Gana 8 February 2001 – 17 July 2003; Mr Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai 17 July 2003 – 27 July 2007; Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar 27 July 2007 – 29 October 2008; Senator Muhammadu Adamu Aliero17 December 2008 – 8 April 2010 ; Senator Bala Mohammed 8 April 2010 – 29th May 2015; and current Alhaji Mohammed Bello11 November 2015 till date.
The second example of complaints of systemic alienation is that of the Igbo speaking people numbering close to fifty million and reputed for extensively settling in far and near from the South East of Nigeria.
The current president is quoted as saying that in political patronage those who gave him 95 percent votes would corner more juicy portfolios than those who gave him 5 percent. In the March 2015 presidential election, Muhammadu Buhari won with the gap of a little less than three million votes to beat the incumbent president Dr. Goodluck Jonathan who scored over twelve million votes.
By his own admission in a television interview during his maiden State visit to the United States of America after his inauguration, Nigerians mostly from Northern Nigeria and parts of South West which constituted the 95 percent of votes which he got out of his total of less than fifteen million votes would be treated favorably than those Nigerians largely from South East and South/South geopolitical zones that constitute the remaining five percent out of his scored votes.
This means that the other twelve million persons who voted for his rival at that election will be unfairly treated. He nevertheless considered the fact that since Nigeria has a population of nearly 160 million people, it therefore follows that the cumulative percentage of Nigerians that participated in that election were less than 30 percent of our total count. So if the current president goes ahead to favor the 95 percent of those who voted for him, he will not only alienate the other 12 million plus people who voted for his rival but also the multitudes numbering over one hundred million Nigerians may not matter in his calculation. Over one hundred million Nigerians didn’t participate in the last General election. Alienating this huge population is not only divisive but a threat to national security .
A leader is elected to unify the people of such a heterogeneous political entity like Nigeria and not introduce and implement policies that divide the people.
Understandably the South East is protesting their exclusion from the constitutional body known as National Defence Council which is the highest decision policy making body in matters of National Security. This is unconstitutional and a direct breach of the federal character principle. How can over fifty million Nigerians be excluded when matters that concerns national security is to be discussed and decided upon? This is the root cause of the social upheavals in parts of the South East whereby most youths who feel excluded in the national scheme of affairs by the Muhammadu Buhari's government has resorted to agitating peacefully and constructively for self determination since evidence abound to show that the government of the day is treating the South East zone as an inconsequential part of the Sovereign entity of Nigeria. Sadly too, the central government has rather than dialogue decided to use military brute force to clamp down on the peaceful civilian protesters in the South East of Nigeria.
A human rights group has just filed a case in the Federal High Court demanding redress concerning the exclusion of South East from the composition of the National Defence Council but the overwhelming apprehension is that President Buhari may not comply with whatever decision the Court makes.
But the president must be reminded that as a leader, his duty is to unify and not to divide. Let Mr. President provide redress for the complaints of systematic scheming out of the Igbo and aloso pick a Gwari indigene to join the Federal Executive Council to represent the Federal Capital Territory.
In the area of allocations of projects in the 2016 budget, both the National Assembly and the presidency must prevent a situation whereby certain geopolitical entities are treated with the short end of the stick. The South East of Nigeria since the last fifty years after it was devastated and bombarded by the then Federal Forces during the Civil War has continued to remain grossly underdeveloped. A leader who wants to be remembered long after he has gone as a unifying and not a divisive personality must redress the clear imbalance suffered by the presence or lack of it of Federal government's strategic projects and institutions in the South East.
Why for instance has the South East not being allocated a refinery when in fact many states in the zone are endowed with Crude Oil but Kaduna in North west of Nigeria has no crude oil resources but the Nigerian State built one of the largest refineries there?
Why is the government playing games with the second Niger bridge and in this Year’s budget the game plan is manifesting to show that whereas other zones like Sotherton West and North have in the near past got bridges and flyovers built by Federal Government but in the case of the South East where the second Niger bridge is located the road users would be taxed to pay for the construction of the bridge across the River Niger?
A breakdown of the strategic projects included in the soon to be passed 2016 budget showed that again the South East is being treated with the short end of the stick.
The Southwest geo-political zone has got the largest share of N88.7 billion for major projects in the 2016 proposed budget for the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.
The ministry has N433.4 billion total sum for the capital projects of the ministry and some agencies under it. Erstwhile Lagos State governor Babatunde Fashola is the minister so he has cornered most of these juicy projects to his geopolitical zone of birth.
The main ministry's capital budget is N334.3 billion, NREA N15.3 billion, TCN N50 billion and FERMA N25 billion.
Other agencies are Electricity Management Services Limited (EMSL), N19 billion; National Power Training Institute, N1.8 billion and Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Limited, N2 billion.
The North-West has the second largest allocation of N30.1 billion; North-Central, N29 billion; South-South, N22.5 billion; South-East was allocated N2.9 billion; North-East has N9.4 billion. Again the South East is marginalized.
For the South-East, it showed that some important projects are concession of 2nd Niger Bridge in Anambra and Delta States, N17 billion; completion of Enugu – Abakaliki road in Enugu/Ebonyi states N29.3; completion of rural electrification in 6 Abia State communities N425 million; provision of 100KW solar mini-grid electrification of Obinaochia, Umudim, Umunneochi LGA of Abia State N65 million; rehabilitation/completion of rural electrification scheme in 5 communities of Anambra State N322.5 million; rural electrification of 15 communities in Enugu State N364 million and completion of the construction of area zonal office in Enugu State N44.4 million. By this analysis by Daily Trust Newspaper the South East of Nigeria is again about to be shortchanged.
The blame is not for President Buhari alone as there are enough to go round but the political elite of the South East of Nigeria have failed the people.
Why for instance is the South East not strategically developed by the manufacturers and leading traders of South East origin who dominate the manufacturing industry in lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria owned by the Yorubas?
Arewa Consultative Council which is the political pressure group of the North now have their former secretary (Colonel Hamid Ibrahim Ali) as the Comptroller General of Customs who has carefully positioned officers from the North to occupy strategic offices. This retired military man has introduced a range of policies that are detrimental to the business interest of South East importers who dominate the Lagos based maritime industry.
The South West which actively partnered with Muhammadu Buhari in forming a political alliance (APC) which won the 2015 presidential election narrowly is today manning key cabinet level positions which has now being used to corner major projects to that geopolitical zone.
While we task President Buhari to be a unifying President and be fair to all zones, the political and economic elite of the South East of Nigeria must show good example by relocating their main businesses to the South East. By so doing the agitations for self government as championed by Igbo Youth would reduce significantly.

Written by Emmanuel Onwubiko, Head of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria.

Okorocha, Ndi Imo And The Limit Of Propaganda

“When a well-packaged web of lies has been sold gradually to the masses over generations, the truth will seem utterly preposterous and its speaker a raving lunatic.”  Dresden James

Social media websites are no longer performing an envisaged function of creating a positive channel of information, communication and a link among friends, family and even the government; it has been reduced to an enterprise based on falsity and hatred.

 

It is unfortunate that those who ought to know better have taken it as a duty to mislead the public with personal bias and prejudices. It's been 10 months since elections were lost and won but our permissive opposition politicians are yet to come to terms with the fact that elections are over. They have continued to do the unimaginable, including Goebbels kind of propaganda, to smear and tarnish the good name and pedigree of the people's governor with uncharitable expletives both on print and social media.

 

Last week, an attempt was made to malign and undermine the iron clad reputation of the people's governor, His Excellency, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha by some implacable politicians of the old corrupt political order.

 

While Imo State was agog with the inaugural hosting of the Southern Governors' Wives Forum (SGWF) last week Thursday by the quintessential First Lady of Imo State, Ugonneoma Nkechinyere Rochas Okorocha, an online news website that has A1 rating in propagating false news, published in its website that Dr. Paschal Obi, the Principal Secretary of Imo State Government and two other aides of the governor were whisked away by EFFC for interrogation over baseless and unsubstantiated allegation bothering on diversion of #2 billion bailout fund.

 

Imo State government, in a press release, refuted the news, insisting as at the time the news was published, the above named official was at his office in government house carrying out his official duties.

 

When the peddlers of the unfounded news discovered the invented canard had less than a needle effect on Ndi Imo, a misguided journalist in an irresponsible attempt to paint the governor and his government with bad brush published another scurrilous stunt, barely 24 hours after the first one on the website of a newspaper whose owner is allegedly one of the beneficiaries of the Dasuki gate scandal, with same purpose; to batter and maul the people's governor's hard earned reputation. In the said publication, they alleged the people's governor had jetted out of the country to avoid unnecessary embarrassment from EFCC officials.

 

Briefing news men last week Saturday, at the State House, the people's governor told the journalists what transpired and insisted EFCC didn't pick up any of his aides as reported neither did he travel out of the country to avoid embarrassment from the anti-graft agency, but rather, jetted off to Ibadan for the coronation ceremony of the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji and afterwards returned same day to Imo State.

 

Such social media asphyxiating lies are becoming an affront to the integrity of the people's governor. What exactly do these social media empowered activist intend to gain by discrediting a governor whose place as one of the performing governors in Nigeria is unimpeachable?

Could it be that their sponsors are not comfortable the people's governor is blazing the trail with his lasting laudable projects which are scattered across the landscape of the State and would do the unimaginable to set the people's governor in opposition to the good people of Imo State?

The people's governor's second coming has redefined leadership, excess baggage has been cut down, loopholes are being blocked and efficient methods employed to increase the State's revenue. Despite the decline in the economy, we are still building bridges, constructing roads and attracting investors; records are being broken and standards have improved in all facets of the State.

 

The governor is human being, fallible and incapable of pleasing everyone. It takes only a man of purpose and vision to achieve this, let's stop demonizing what we admire; even the traducers of the people's governor can't hide their admiration for him. He is evil, I agree but we need more of him than your saintly specie.

 

This is the time to tell ourselves the bitter truth: there is a limit to everything, including propaganda. The best we can do, (including the shameless kiss and tell source we have within) is to allow our collective commitment to this Rescue Mission Government of His Excellency, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha remain unquestionable.

 

Written by Hon. Uju Kingsley Chima, Deputy Chief Of Staff (Operations) IMSG.

How To Overcome The New Insurgency In Nigeria And The World

 

What constitutes a people lie in their commonly held values. The Nigerian peoples, Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, etc have core values and beliefs that keep them united as a people and Nigeria has imbibed these collectives of values cemented by Western Education that keep her going as a people.

 

Now what the invaders or conqueror s do is to violate these values to disunite the people before engaging them in a war. This is what Boko Haram and its affiliates are doing with Nigeria right now. Remember that the British Colonialists used it to success in conquering or pacifying the then thriving city states of old Nigeria at the turn of the century. Before then the Arabs used it to great effect on Northern Emirates and what did British use? A new religion, a new education, a new language, indeed new values.

 

The Arab invaders also used a new language Arabic, a new religion Islam and these translated to a new value system. Now Nigeria faces a new threat. Boko Haram, meaning Western Education is sacrilege. It says volumes about this new insurgency happening in modern times. The very cement of nationhood Western Education is to be violated by a determined group with international affiliates who believe that it was the British Colonialists that stopped them from totally colonizing Nigeria before 1900. So if western education is removed, then the likelihood that Nigeria would be reduced to its tribal parts is high and under this fluid situation the very binding values that keep each of the tribes together could then subsequently be attacked to create a mass of confused people ready to be pacified or conquered!!

 

So how to go about it in an environment of pervasive Western education and tools of communication. Simple. Just make these institutions, tools unworkable by exploiting its loopholes.

Indeed the social media has become a veritable tool since it could not be banned. Watchers of the social media report unprecedented influx of fake and duplicated profiles with half baked commentators. Their strategy is to violate our most cherished values and create disbelief, shock and frustration. They post  insane videos and graphic photos against all existing journalistic laws. For instance they bring you graphic video of beheading of human beings to create convulsion and fear. Some post snakes, graphic scenes of rituals. Others bring blue movies of incest and other abominable behaviours to tell you that it is possible and violate your inmost beliefs.

 

How to tackle these insurgents. When you see them avoid their company on social media and protect all those connected with you. You may wish to use any of the avenues open to you on social media. Retain your cherished values and refuse to allow those who could not obtain good western education or who had no home training dictate your lifestyle. Refuse to focus unduly on ‘mediocres’ whether they are elevated by our skewed political system or not for they have nothing better to give you than to take away the most cherished values that protect you as a person and as a people.

 

Written by Nwokedi Nworisara.

SUNDAY STORY: The Last Pamphlet – The Story of Father’s Love

I’ve been so blessed in many ways in my life, but this morning, I got a magnificent story from my pastor. I could say this story was a life-changing one, at least for me. The story is called “The Last Pamphlet”.

This story tells us that our life is not ours to decide; in terms of life and death. It’s our God’s decision.

So, this is the story. I paraphrased it.

One Sunday, after the morning service, the pastor and his 11-years old son would go around the town to hand out evangelic pamphlets to the residents. It is their routine. One Sunday afternoon, the sky was dark and it was raining outside. The child called his father, “Dad, It’s time to hand out the pamphlets, let’s go!”.

 

“I would not go out in a weather like this, it’s pouring down heavily outside.” His father replied.

“But Dad! will people not go to hell?” His son asked bluntly.

“Son, I’m not going out when it’s cold like this.”

 

The boy looked sad and asked, “Dad, would you please let me go out and hand out the pamphlets?”

His father hesitated for a bit and said, “Here you go son, take care!”

The boy walked around the town and went door to door to give the pamphlets. He walked for two hours in the rain. He was soaking wet but there is one pamphlets left. He looked around the street, but no one was there, the street was deserted. He went to the first house he saw and rang the bell, but no one answered. He rang the bell again, but again no one came out. He waited a bit but there is no one there. He turned his back and was going to leave the house, but something stopped him. He turned back to the door and rang the bell. This time he knocked the front door even louder. Something was keeping him on that porch. He rang again and the door opened. He saw an old lady came out and looked very sad.

 

She asked, “What can I do for you son?” She saw a boy with radiant smile that lit up her world.

 

“So..sorry mam if I’m disturbing you, but I just want to say that Jesus loves you very much and I’m here to give you our last pamphlets which will tell you about Jesus and his love.” The smiling boy turned his back to leave.

 

The old lady said, “Thank you son, may God bless you.”

The next Sunday, his father, the pastor asked the congregation, “Does anyone have something to share this morning?”

An elderly lady stood up and began to speak with a magnificent smile transcended her face

 

 

“Nobody knows me in this church, I’ve never been here before. Last Sunday I was not a Christian. My husband passed away for sometime ago and leaving me completely alone. Last Sunday, in a cold and rainy day, I decided to end my life. So I took a chair and rope to the attic. I started to tie the rope and I stood up on the chair feeling so lonely and broken hearted. I was so ready to jump off the chair but the door bell rang and startled me. I thought that the bell would stop ringing and whoever it is will eventually go away, but the sound of the bell became louder and louder. Then, someone started to knock on the front door very loudly. I thought no one ever came to see me for a long time, who could it be. So i loosened the rope and went to the door. As I opened the door, I saw a boy with the most radiant and angelic smile I’ve ever seen in my life. I could never describe how he spoke to me and brought my heart back to life. He said to me that Jesus loves me very much. I closed the door and read every words on this pamphlet. I took my chair and the rope from my attic as I won’t need them anymore, I am now the daughter of the King of Glory. I personally came to thank that little angel who came at the right time to save me from spending my life eternally in hell.” The elderly lady ended her speech as the congregation praised the Lord and applauded very loudly.

The pastor came down from the stage and sobbed as he held up his son. No church has ever had such a touching moment. That is the story of The Father’s love for all of his son. He sent His only child to this cold and dark world, then He welcomed back His Son as all of the heaven shouted praises (John 3:16).  May all of you be blessed with this story. Happy Sunday!

Reported final fine settlement premature – MTN Nigeria

 

Lagos – Mr Ferdi Moolman, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria has said that reports making round on the company’s final settlement of the N780 billion fine was false. This is contained in a statement signed by Moolman on Saturday in Lagos. Moolman was quoted in the statement as saying that the reports of the claim of settlement were premature, as the telecommunications company was still negotiating with the Federal Government of Nigeria.

 

”The management of MTN Nigeria is aware of the reports on the settlement negotiations. ”The confidential negotiations are still very much ongoing with the authorities to achieve an amicable resolution of the matter. ”Accordingly‎, no further comment can be made at this time,” the statement quoted Moolman as saying. The company has been negotiating with the Government over a possible reduction of the fine and made a part payment of $251 million (N50 billion), also setting aside $600 million for further payment of the fine. The Senate Committee on Communications, headed by Sen. Gilbert Nnaji, on Thursday, March 10 revealed how the Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) were sidelined in the process of negotiation. The senate committee, which held an investigative hearing into the N1.04 trillion fine imposed on MTN was also, informed that the company had proposed to pay the sum of N300 billion between now and 2020.

 

The committee was told that a proposal for out-of-court settlement of the fine was already ongoing between the MTN and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, with respect of the fine which had been reduced to N780 billion. Vice Chairman of the Communications Committee, Sen. Adeola Olamilekan (Lagos West), during the sitting, displayed a proposal from MTN, which he said was made to the government by MTN.

 

The solicitor-general of the federation, Taiwo Abiodun, was reported to have acknowledged the proposal. In the proposal, the telecommunications company told Government it could only pay the sum of N300 billion between now and 2020. A breakdown of the proposal indicated that MTN, having already paid N50 billion to a recovery account at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), would pay another N100 billion via electronic transfer between Dec. 31, 2016 to Dec. 31, 2020. The proposal further indicated that another N80 billion would be paid by MTN ”as a demonstration of its commitment to and confidence in the Nigerian economy and subject to necessary regulatory approvals.” It added that MTN Nigeria would make a purchase of N80 billion of Nigerian sovereign debt issued on international market in 2016 to 2017.

 

The proposal stated that the last tranche of the payment proposal would be N70 billion. “MTN would pay through providing the FGN with access, subject to excess capacity to the company’s fibre network, for the purposes of allowing the Government to expand its e-initiatives (e.g visa processing, public service, connecting schools, registration etc.), from the date of the execution of this agreement through Dec. 31, 2020.” it added

FIVE EASY STEPS TO STOP DRUG ADDICTION

Recovering from addiction can be a difficult and taxing process. Certain people are much more susceptible to addiction, as factors such as genetics or environmental issues can make substance abuse much more likely. There are, however, several effective ways to prevent drug addiction. Here are some tips on how to stop addiction before it even starts. 1.Find healthy ways to cope with stress. Many people begin using drugs as a way to deal with stress and tension. The reality is, however, that drugs are only a temporary fix. Once a person comes down from drugs, they are likely to experience physical and psychological side effects that only intensify feelings of anxiety. Finding coping methods such as exercise or meditation can eliminate the urge to try drugs. 2.Seek therapy or counseling. It is not at all uncommon to experience feelings of depression. Many people experience highs and lows that can be difficult to cope with. Drug users often are people who are attempting to self-medicate for their psychological issues. The problem is that drugs do not treat mental issues themselves. They simply treat the symptoms. Working through problems with a mental health professional is a much more effective and long-lasting way of treating a psychological or emotional problem. 3.Maintain a lifestyle that makes you happy. Low self-esteem and depression are major triggers for drug abuse. It is easy to let one aspect of your life, such as work, become overwhelming, to the point that you do not enjoy or partake in other important aspects of your life. Maintaining strong relationships and a healthy balance between physical and mental activity can help you maintain the stability that is needed to stay drug free. 4.Have things in your life that you care deeply about. Whether it’s a sport, artistic endeavor, or personal relationships, having something that you are passionate about motivates you to stay healthy and mentally and emotionally in shape. If you care deeply enough about the people and activities in your life, you are less likely to jeopardize them by experimenting with drugs. 5.Be aware of your family’s history with substance abuse. The tendency toward addiction is linked to genetics, so be familiar with any parents or other family members who have struggled with addiction. If you know that you have a higher chance of becoming addicted, take extra precautions to avoid drugs and alcohol. It is much easier to avoid substances altogether than it is to recover from addiction. If you were around a parent who abused drugs as a child, you may also want to seek counseling to help you resolve any issues you may have around alcohol or other addictive drugs. No matter what your background or current situation is, it is possible to avoid slipping into the dangers of addiction. They keys lie in keeping yourself happy and healthy while you are drug-free.

Watermelon a Great fruit and its benefits

•Alongside of tomatoes, watermelon has moved up to the front of the line in recent research studies on high-lycopene foods. Lycopene is a carotenoid phytonutrient that's especially important for our cardiovascular health, and an increasing number of scientists now believe that lycopene is important for bone health as well. Among whole, fresh fruits that are commonly eaten in the U.S., watermelon now accounts for more U.S. intake of lycopene (by weight of fruit eaten) than any other fruit. Pink grapefruit and guava are two other important fruit sources of lycopene, although in the U.S., these fruits are more often consumed in the form of juice. •Health scientists are becoming more and more interested in the citrulline content of watermelon. Citrulline is an amino acid that is commonly converted by our kidneys and other organ systems into arginine (another amino acid). The flesh of a watermelon contains about 250 millligrams of citrulline per cup. When our body absorbs this citrulline, one of the steps it can take is conversion of citrulline into arginine. Particularly if a person's body is not making enough arginine, higher levels of arginine can help improve blood flow and other aspects of our cardiovascular health. There's also some preliminary evidence from animal studies that greater conversion of citrulline into arginine may help prevent excess accumulation of fat in fat cells due to blocked activity of an enzyme called tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase, or TNAP. •If you've gotten used to thinking about the juicy red flesh at the center of a watermelon as its only nutrient-rich area—and far more nutrient-rich than the more lightly-colored flesh that is farther out near the watermelon rind—it is time to change your thinking. In a recent study, food scientists compared the nutrient content of flesh from different parts of a watermelon: flesh from the center, the stem end, the blossom end (opposite from the stem), and the periphery (the part nearest to the rind). What they've discovered were impressive concentrations of phenolic antioxidants, flavonoids, lycopene, and vitamin C in all of these different areas. The exact distribution of nutrients was also highly dependent on the variety of watermelon. But there was no area in any of the watermelon varieties that came out badly in terms of nutrients, and in many of the watermelon varieties, the flesh's outer periphery contained impressive concentrations of most nutrients. •Recent studies have confirmed the nutritional importance of allowing a watermelon to fully ripen. For example, research has shown that the biggest jump in lycopene content occurs at the time when a watermelon's flesh turns from white-pink to pink. Yet when that flesh continues to ripen, resulting in a color change from pink to red, the lycopene content becomes even more concentrated. Prior to ripening, when the flesh of a watermelon is primarily white in color, its beta-carotene content is near zero. Even when allowed to ripen to the white-pink stage, a watermelon still contains very little of its eventual beta-carotene content. But as it moves from white-pink to pink to red, the beta-carotene content of a watermelon steadily increases. Like lycopene and beta-carotene, total phenolic antioxidants in a watermelon also increase consistently during ripening, all the way up until the appearance of fully red flesh. The bottom line: eating a fully ripe watermelon can really pay off in terms of nutrient benefits. Please see our section called "How to Select and Store" to learn about determining a watermelon's ripeness before you purchase it. watermelon contains the following minerals: vitamin C - 16% pantothenic acid - 7% copper - 7% vitamin A - 5% potassium - 5% biotin - 5% magnesium - 4% vitamin B6 - 4% vitamin B1 - 4% This chart graphically details the %DV that a serving of Watermelon provides for each of the nutrients of which it is a good, very good, or excellent source according to our Food Rating System. Additional information about the amount of these nutrients provided by Watermelon can be found in the Food Rating System Chart. A link that takes you to the In-Depth Nutritional Profile for Watermelon, featuring information over 80 nutrients, can be found under the Food Rating System Chart.

Health Benefits Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Support Phenolic compounds in watermelon—including flavonoids, carotenoids, and triterpenoids—make this fruit a choice for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant health benefits. If you had to pick a single nutrient from this anti-inflammatory and antioxidant category that has put watermelon on the map, that nutrient would be lycopene. Alongside of pink grapefruit and guava, watermelon is an unusually concentrated source of this carotenoid. Whereas most fruits get their reddish color from anthocyanin flavonoids, watermelon gets it reddish-pink shades primarily from lycopene. The lycopene content of watermelons increases along with ripening, so to get the best lycopene benefits from watermelon, make sure that your melon is optimally ripe. (See our section entitled, "How to Select and Store" for practical tips on selecting a fully ripe watermelon.) The lycopene in watermelon is a well-documented inhibitor of many inflammatory processes, including the production of pro-inflammatory messaging molecules, the expression of enzymes like cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase that can lead to increased inflammatory response, and the activity of molecular signaling agents like nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB). Lycopene is also a well-known antioxidant, with the ability to neutralize free radical molecules. Recent research has shown that the lycopene content of watermelon also remains very stable over time. When two-inch cubes of fresh-cut watermelon were stored in the refrigerator at 36°F (2°C) over 48 hours, researchers found virtually no deterioration in lycopene content. That deterioration did not start to become significant until about seven days of storage, when it decreased by about 6-11%. While we do not recommend waiting seven days before consuming fresh cut watermelon, we believe that the excellent stability of watermelon lycopene over a two-day period is great news for anyone wanting to enjoy fresh cut watermelon over the course of several days. Cucurbitacin E is another unique anti-inflammatory phytonutrient (called a tripterpenoid) found in watermelon. Like the carotenoid lycopene, this anti-inflammatory nutrient has been shown to block activity of cyclo-oxygenase enzymes and neutralize reactive nitrogen-containing molecules. (Interestingly, cucurbitacin E does not appear to neutralize activity of reactive oxygen species—called ROS—but only activity of reactive nitrogen species, called RNS.) Antioxidant carotenoids found in watermelon include significant amounts of beta-carotene. Like lycopene, the beta-carotene in watermelon also increases with ripening. Red-pink fleshed watermelons typically contain far more lycopene and beta-carotene than yellow-white fleshed varieties. For example, one study we've seen showed red watermelon to contain over 600 micrograms of beta-carotene per 3.5 ounces of melon and over 6,500 micrograms of lycopene. By comparison, yellow-fleshed varieties were found to contain only 5-10 micrograms of beta-carotene and no measurable amount of lycopene. In red/pink-fleshed watermelons as a group, we've seen lycopene amounts that vary widely in a range of approximately 2,000–6,700 micrograms per 3.5 ounces of fresh melon. Beta-carotene in these red/pink-fleshed varieties also varies widely, in a range of approximately 5–325 micrograms. Because watermelon contains so many different phytonutrients—as well as key vitamins and minerals, as well as dietary fiber—your health is going to be improved by any watermelon variety that you choose. However, if you specifically want to maximize your lycopene and beta-carotene intake, you'll most likely want to stick with red/pink-fleshed varieties of watermelon. It would be a mistake to ignore the important amount of vitamin C found in watermelon. In our Food Rating System, watermelon qualifies as very good source of vitamin C, even though the amount provided (about 12 milligrams per cup of fresh melon) is only 16% of the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI). However, due to its very high water content, the same amount of watermelon that provides us with 16% of the DRI for vitamin C only costs us about 46 calories, or about 2% of our total daily calories on a 1800-2000 calorie diet. That's excellent nutrient richness, and it makes watermelon a great choice for increasing vitamin C antioxidant protection. Citrulline, Arginine, and Nitric Oxide-Related Benefits One of the more unusual aspects of watermelon is its rich supply of the amino acid, citrulline. Citrulline is an amino acid that is commonly converted by our kidneys and other organ systems (including cells that line our blood vessels) into arginine (another amino acid). The flesh of a watermelon contains about 250 millligrams of citrulline per cup. When our body absorbs citrulline, one of the steps it can take is conversion of citrulline into arginine. An enzyme called nitric oxide synthase (NOS)—found in many of our body's cell types—is able to take the amino acid arginine and use it to help produce a very small molecule of gas called nitric oxide (NO), which is a muscle relaxant. For example, when NO tells the smooth muscles around our blood vessels to relax, the space inside our blood vessels can expand, allowing blood to flow more freely and creating a drop in blood pressure. The relaxing of muscle tension and increasing of blood flow is also the way that NO can change erectile function in men. (The prescription medication sildenafil or Viagra (TM) works in this way.) The amount of citrulline found in fresh watermelon is not enough to make it a food that can automatically improve blood pressure or affect other problems like erectile dysfunction. But in animal studies, intake of watermelon has been shown to help support cardiovascular function, including improvement of blood flow (through relaxation of blood vessels, or what is technically called vasodilation). In humans, intake of watermelon has been shown to increase blood levels of arginine, but only when consumed in very large amounts. For example, in one study that we reviewed, participants consumed either three cups or six cups of fresh watermelon juice daily over the course of three weeks and experienced increases in their blood arginine levels of approximately 12-22%. Another fascinating new area of research involving watermelon and its citrulline content relates to the deposition of body fat. In animal studies, high intake of amino acid citrulline—followed by conversion of citrulline into the amino acid arginine—can result in the formation of arginine-related molecules called polyarginine peptides. These polyarginine peptides are able to block activity of an enzyme called tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase, or TNAP. When TNAP activity is shut down, our fat cells (adipocytes) tend to create less fat (adipogenesis). Researchers believe that the connection between citrulline in food, arginine production by nitric oxide synthase, and fat cell metabolism may eventually provide us with additional tools for helping prevent over-accumulation of body fat. At present, however, the best we can conclude about watermelon and its unusual citrulline content is that it's likely to provide us with some cardiovascular benefits, especially if we don't consume many foods that are high in arginine. (Some of the WHFoods highest in arginine include shrimp, spinach, sea vegetables, turkey, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds.) Other Health Benefits Watermelon seeds can provide us with small but helpful amounts of both iron and zinc. We're talking about several hundred seeds (the amount contained in a typical seeded watermelon, which is not an amount that we would anticipate or suggest eating at one time) to obtain 1–2 milligrams of either mineral. Still, regular consumption of whole, seeded watermelon would provide us with nutrient benefits in this area over time. Interestingly, we've seen one study showing that the iron and zinc in watermelon seeds is surprisingly bioavailable (85-90%), despite the oxalates and phytates that are contained in the seeds. (Oxalates and phytates can sometimes bind with minerals like iron and zinc to lessen their bioavailability.) The amount of protein in watermelon seeds is approximately 1 gram per 24 seeds. At this rate, we're likely to get several grams of protein when we eat several slices of whole, seeded watermelon. While we would not want to depend on watermelon as a key protein food, this valuable amount of protein in its seeds should at least remind us that a fruit like watermelon does have something to offer us in the way of protein benefits. At approximately two-thirds of one gram of dietary fiber per cup, watermelon does not rank as a good, very good, or excellent source of this nutrient in our ranking system. However, you'd be receiving about 3-4 grams of dietary fiber if you enjoyed 175–200 calories of fresh watermelon in the form of several large slices, and this dietary fiber would include a nice mix of soluble to insoluble fiber. (Insoluble fibers can provide special support to the digestive system, and soluble fibers can provide special support to the cardiovascular system.) So while watermelon is not a concentrated source of fiber, we often enjoy it in larger amounts that can provide us with great fiber benefits at a low calorie cost. Description If you have ever tasted a watermelon, it is probably no surprise to you why this juicy, refreshing fruit has this name. Watermelon has an extremely high water content, approximately 92%, giving its flesh a juicy and thirst-quenching texture while still also subtly crunchy. As a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, the watermelon is related to the cantaloupe, squash, pumpkin, cucumber, and gourd that grow on vines on the ground. Watermelons can be round, oblong, or spherical in shape and feature thick green rinds that are often spotted or striped. (Many people report, however, that they like the taste and predictable ripeness of a watermelon best if the watermelon is symmetrical in shape.) Watermelons range in size from a few pounds to upward of ninety pounds. Between 600–1,200 different varieties of watermelon exist worldwide, but all of these varieties belong to the same scientific genus and species of plant, called Citrullis lanatus. While we often associate a deep red/pink color with watermelons, there are many varieties that feature orange, yellow, or white flesh. These varieties are typically lower in the carotenoid lycopene than red/pink varieties. A good bit of controversy has arisen over the exact nature of seedless watermelons. Contrary to some information that you will find on various websites, seedless watermelons are not the result of genetic engineering. Seedless watermelons are the result of hybridization. By crossing a diploid watermelon (with two sets of chromosomes) and a tetraploid watermelon (with four sets of chromosomes), it is possible to produce a watermelon that contains triploid seeds (with three chromosomal sets). When planted, these triploid seeds will grow into seedless watermelons. Seedless watermelons will typically appear to contain some white seeds even though they are labeled as seedless. These white seeds are not actually seeds, but only empty seed coats. Ten years ago, it was somewhat rare to find seedless watermelons in the marketplace. Today, up to 85% of all watermelons produced in the U.S. are estimated to be seedless. This great increase in the availability of seedless watermelons is due to the vastly increased use of "non-bearing pollinators" by watermelon growers. Previously, growers were required to interplant rows of acreage with seeded, fruit-bearing watermelons in order to pollinate their seedless varieties. Today, they are able to pollinate with plants that produce flowers needed by bees, but yield no fruit. These non-fruit-bearing plants allow pollination to continue, but in a less time-consuming and space-consuming way. It's possible to grow seedless watermelons most anywhere that seeded watermelons will grow. Some of the more common seedless varieties include Fandango, Super Cool, Honeyheart, King of Hearts, Queen of Hearts, Crimson Trio, Scarlet Trio, and SuperSweet. Some common varieties of seeded watermelon include Jubilee, Royal Jubilee, Royal Sweet, Crimson Sweet, Sangria, Fiesta, Sugar Baby, Baby Doll, and Charleston Gray. A 15–20 pound diploid, seeded watermelon will typical contain hundreds of seeds. History Watermelons are generally believed to have originated in Africa several thousand years ago and to have traveled over time from Africa to Asia to Europe to North America. Their arrival in Asia and the Middle East is believed to date back to approximately 900–1,000 A.D., and their arrival in Europe is estimated to have occurred in 1300–1400 A.D. It was not until Europeans began to colonize North America that watermelons arrived in what is now the U.S. Today, over four billion pounds of watermelon are produced each year in the U.S. About 85% of watermelons are purchased in fresh form by consumers. Although there is some watermelon production in virtually all states, about three-fourths of all U.S. watermelons are grown in Florida, California, Texas, Georgia, and Indiana. On an average, per person basis, we eat over 15 pounds of fresh watermelon each year. On a global basis, China is by far the largest watermelon-producing country and accounts for over half of all world production. The European Union countries, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Brazil, and the United States are the next largest watermelon producers, but each produces less than 5% of the world total. How to Select and Store If you are purchasing a pre-cut watermelon that has already been sliced into halves or quarters, choose the flesh that is deepest in color and lacks any white streaking. If the watermelon is seeded, the seeds should also be deep in color, or white. When purchasing a whole, uncut watermelon, there are several features to you'll want to evaluate. The first is its weight. A fully ripened watermelon will feel heavy for its size. Heaviness in a watermelon is a good thing because the water content of a watermelon will typically increase along with ripening, and a fully ripened watermelon will be over 90% water in terms of weight, and water is one of the heaviest components in any food Second, look for a watermelon with a relatively smooth rind that is slightly dulled on top. The top and the bottom of a watermelon are worth determining and examining on a watermelon. The bottom or "underbelly" of a watermelon is the spot where it was resting on the ground. If that "ground spot" is white or green, the watermelon is unlikely to be fully ripe. A fully ripened watermelon will often have a ground spot that has turned creamy yellow in color. Opposite from the ground spot will be the top of the watermelon. In a fully ripened watermelon, that spot will typically not be shiny but somewhat dulled. The green color may appear in many different shades, however, from light green to deeper shades. Perhaps most controversial about ripeness testing of a watermelon is whether or not to give it a thump. We've read many arguments both pro and con. However, among experts who recommend thumping, most seem to agree that a fully ripened watermelon will have a deeper, hollower "bass" sound rather than a solid and shallow "soprano" sound. Finally, some grocers will be willing to core an uncut watermelon so that you can have an actual taste. (If you decide not to purchase the melon, the grocer can slice it up and sell it in sliced form.) So consider requesting this if you are uncertain as to the quality. Uncut watermelons are best stored at temperatures of 50-60°F (10–16°C). In many regions, room temperatures will typically be warmer than 60°F and may be less than ideal for whole watermelon storage due to increased risk of decay. Better storage temperatures will typically be found in cellars or basements that are partly or completely below ground level. While we've seen one study showing increases in lycopene content when whole watermelon was stored at a temperature of 68°F (20°C), we believe that a fully-ripe or close-to-fully-ripe melon will already have outstanding lycopene content and that it would be better for you to err on the safe side in terms of decay risk if you are planning to wait several days before slicing open your watermelon. Like temperatures above 60°F (16°C), temperatures much below 50°F (10°C) are not recommended for storage of uncut watermelons. This is due to increased risk of chilling-type injury that can decrease shelf life and flavor. (Therefore, the refrigerator would not be a good place for you to store a whole, uncut watermelon for this reason.) With uncut, whole watermelon, one final storage precaution would be the avoidance of contact with high ethylene-producing foods like passion fruit, apples, peaches, pears, and papaya. Watermelons are ethylene-sensitive fruits that may become overly ripe too quickly under these circumstances. Once cut, watermelons should be refrigerated in order to best preserve their freshness, taste, and juiciness. Store your cut watermelon in a sealed, hard plastic or glass container with a lid. Tips for Preparing and Cooking Tips for Preparing Watermelon Wash the watermelon before cutting it. Due to its large size, you will probably not be able to run it under water in the sink. Instead, wash it with a wet cloth or paper towel. Depending upon the size that you desire, there are many ways to cut a watermelon. The flesh can be sliced, cubed, or scooped into balls. Watermelon is delicious to eat as is, while it also makes a delightful addition to a fruit salad. While many people are just accustomed to eating the juicy flesh of the watermelon, both the seeds and the rind are also edible and nutrient-rich. (In fact, in many parts of the world, watermelon seeds are widely enjoyed as a snack and pickled watermelon rind has a rich culinary tradition.) If you choose to eat the rind, we recommend purchase of certified organic watermelon. (The reason for this suggestion is an increased risk of unwanted contaminants like pesticide residues on the outer skin of non-organic watermelon.) How to Enjoy A Few Quick Serving Ideas •Purée watermelon, cantaloupe and kiwi together. Swirl in a little plain yogurt and serve as refreshing cold soup. •In Asian countries, roasted watermelon seeds are either seasoned and eaten as a snack food or ground up into cereal and used to make bread. •A featured item of Southern American cooking, the rind of watermelon can be marinated, pickled, or candied. •Watermelon mixed with thinly sliced red onion, salt and black pepper makes a great summer salad. •Watermelon is a wonderful addition to fruit salad. And fruit salad can be made days ahead since cut fruit, if chilled, retains its nutrients for at least 6 days. WHFoods Recipes That Feature Watermelon •Grape and Melon Salad •5-Minute Watermelon Frappe Individual Concerns Watermelon is not a commonly allergenic food, is not known to contain measurable amounts of oxalates or purines and is also not included in the Environmental Working Group's 2012 report "Shopper's Guide to Pesticides" as one of the 12 foods most frequently containing pesticide residues. During the past decade, non-organic watermelons grown in part of China became the topic of widespread controversy in the popular press following the use of a synthetic growth stimulator called forchlorfenuron in their cultivation. A combination of heavy rainfall and potential overuse of the growth stimulator actually caused many watermelons on farms in Jiangsu Province to burst open, drawing media attention to this practice. While we are not aware of any data on widespread use of synthetic growth stimulators in the production of non-organic watermelon, we have seen one study predicting residues of forchlorfenuron in the range of 1-5 ppb in watermelons raised with the use of this synthetic growth stimulator. If you are seeking to lower your risk of contamination with all synthetic additives in watermelon and other foods, we recommend purchase of certified organic watermelon, since synthetic growth stimulators and other synthetic additives are prohibited in organic food production. Nutritional Profile Watermelon is an unusual fruit source of the carotenoid lycopene and a rich source of phenolic antioxidants. Watermelon contains cucurbitacin E, a triterpene anti-inflammatory phytonutrient, and unusual amounts of the amino acid citrulline. Watermelon is a very good source of vitamin C. It is also a good source of pantothenic acid, copper, biotin, potassium, vitamin A (in the form of carotenoids), vitamin B1, vitamin B6, and magnesium. For an in-depth nutritional profile click here: Watermelon. In-Depth Nutritional Profile In addition to the nutrients highlighted in our ratings chart, an in-depth nutritional profile for Watermelon is also available. This profile includes information on a full array of nutrients, including carbohydrates, sugar, soluble and insoluble fiber, sodium, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids and more. Introduction to Food Rating System Chart In order to better help you identify foods that feature a high concentration of nutrients for the calories they contain, we created a Food Rating System. This system allows us to highlight the foods that are especially rich in particular nutrients. The following chart shows the nutrients for which this food is either an excellent, very good, or good source (below the chart you will find a table that explains these qualifications). If a nutrient is not listed in the chart, it does not necessarily mean that the food doesn't contain it. It simply means that the nutrient is not provided in a sufficient amount or concentration to meet our rating criteria. (To view this food's in-depth nutritional profile that includes values for dozens of nutrients - not just the ones rated as excellent, very good, or good - please use the link below the chart.) To read this chart accurately, you'll need to glance up in the top left corner where you will find the name of the food and the serving size we used to calculate the food's nutrient composition. This serving size will tell you how much of the food you need to eat to obtain the amount of nutrients found in the chart. Now, returning to the chart itself, you can look next to the nutrient name in order to find the nutrient amount it offers, the percent Daily Value (DV%) that this amount represents, the nutrient density that we calculated for this food and nutrient, and the rating we established in our rating system. For most of our nutrient ratings, we adopted the government standards for food labeling that are found in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's "Reference Values for Nutrition Labeling.

What's New and Beneficial About Watermelon

•Alongside of tomatoes, watermelon has moved up to the front of the line in recent research studies on high-lycopene foods. Lycopene is a carotenoid phytonutrient that's especially important for our cardiovascular health, and an increasing number of scientists now believe that lycopene is important for bone health as well. Among whole, fresh fruits that are commonly eaten in the U.S., watermelon now accounts for more U.S. intake of lycopene (by weight of fruit eaten) than any other fruit. Pink grapefruit and guava are two other important fruit sources of lycopene, although in the U.S., these fruits are more often consumed in the form of juice. •Health scientists are becoming more and more interested in the citrulline content of watermelon. Citrulline is an amino acid that is commonly converted by our kidneys and other organ systems into arginine (another amino acid). The flesh of a watermelon contains about 250 millligrams of citrulline per cup. When our body absorbs this citrulline, one of the steps it can take is conversion of citrulline into arginine. Particularly if a person's body is not making enough arginine, higher levels of arginine can help improve blood flow and other aspects of our cardiovascular health. There's also some preliminary evidence from animal studies that greater conversion of citrulline into arginine may help prevent excess accumulation of fat in fat cells due to blocked activity of an enzyme called tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase, or TNAP. •If you've gotten used to thinking about the juicy red flesh at the center of a watermelon as its only nutrient-rich area—and far more nutrient-rich than the more lightly-colored flesh that is farther out near the watermelon rind—it is time to change your thinking. In a recent study, food scientists compared the nutrient content of flesh from different parts of a watermelon: flesh from the center, the stem end, the blossom end (opposite from the stem), and the periphery (the part nearest to the rind). What they've discovered were impressive concentrations of phenolic antioxidants, flavonoids, lycopene, and vitamin C in all of these different areas. The exact distribution of nutrients was also highly dependent on the variety of watermelon. But there was no area in any of the watermelon varieties that came out badly in terms of nutrients, and in many of the watermelon varieties, the flesh's outer periphery contained impressive concentrations of most nutrients. •Recent studies have confirmed the nutritional importance of allowing a watermelon to fully ripen. For example, research has shown that the biggest jump in lycopene content occurs at the time when a watermelon's flesh turns from white-pink to pink. Yet when that flesh continues to ripen, resulting in a color change from pink to red, the lycopene content becomes even more concentrated. Prior to ripening, when the flesh of a watermelon is primarily white in color, its beta-carotene content is near zero. Even when allowed to ripen to the white-pink stage, a watermelon still contains very little of its eventual beta-carotene content. But as it moves from white-pink to pink to red, the beta-carotene content of a watermelon steadily increases. Like lycopene and beta-carotene, total phenolic antioxidants in a watermelon also increase consistently during ripening, all the way up until the appearance of fully red flesh. The bottom line: eating a fully ripe watermelon can really pay off in terms of nutrient benefits. Please see our section called "How to Select and Store" to learn about determining a watermelon's ripeness before you purchase it. watermelon contains the following minerals: vitamin C - 16% pantothenic acid - 7% copper - 7% vitamin A - 5% potassium - 5% biotin - 5% magnesium - 4% vitamin B6 - 4% vitamin B1 - 4% This chart graphically details the %DV that a serving of Watermelon provides for each of the nutrients of which it is a good, very good, or excellent source according to our Food Rating System. Additional information about the amount of these nutrients provided by Watermelon can be found in the Food Rating System Chart. A link that takes you to the In-Depth Nutritional Profile for Watermelon, featuring information over 80 nutrients, can be found under the Food Rating System Chart.

Meet the young Africa entrepreneus

Meet the entrepreneurs at the heart of Africa's boom - and they're all youngAfrica has the world's youngest and fastest-growing population. Today, the continent is home to more than 200 million people between the ages of 15 and 24, and its young population is increasingly well-educated. On current trends, nearly 60% of 20-24 year-olds in Africa will have a secondary education in 2030, according to the World Bank. This growing cohort of young, skilled people is reflected in a wave of entrepreneurship that is transforming economies across Africa. The is an award for African entrepreneurs between the ages of 17 and 22, which rewards individuals who have created businesses that solve economic and social problems. In September, the judging panel announced its 12 finalists, who will compete for a share of the $75,000 prize money. Past grand prize winners -- who take home $25,000 -- include Cameroonian, who created a mobile app that helps maternal health workers calculate expectant mothers' due dates; and Ugandan Best Aiyorworth, who founded a microfinance organization for women and girls.

Health: The natural approach to improving sperm health

Prior to now, it was popularly believed that infertility is something that affects the woman alone. However, reality has shown to us now that the man is also a culprit especially if he cannot produce healthy, motile, and normal sperm cells. It is an established fact that conception is a complex process involving the man’s sperm and the woman’s egg. It is also a reality that only one sperm is needed to fertilize the egg of a woman despite the fact that millions are released in a single ejaculate. Today, a lot of things affect sperm production in men and the statistics have reflected a correlation between our lifestyle changes and the declining state recorded in producing healthy sperm cells. Drugs (both legal and illegal), alcohol and tobacco can all reduce the health of your sperm and the likelihood that you and your partner will conceive. Avoiding these substances so that the body can detox when preparing for pregnancy, will help ensure the sperm you produce are optimally healthy. This will increase your chances of conception, and ensure that the pregnancy gets off to the healthiest start possible. Smoking reduces your fertility by affecting the concentration, motility and shape of your sperm. On average, men who smoke have a lower concentration of sperm in their semen. In addition their semen contains a higher concentration of sperm which are immobile (unable to swim) and abnormally shaped. Because of their shape, these sperm may be immobile, but even if they can swim properly, they will have a harder time trying to penetrate and fertilize an egg, compared to normally shaped sperm. There is also some evidence that smoking reduces the quality of DNA in a man’s sperm, and that this may in turn make the children of fathers who smoke around the time of conception, more susceptible to some conditions like childhood cancer. Alcohol affects the health of dads’ sperm by influencing the function of the cells in the testes which produce testosterone and those which are regulated by testosterone to produce sperm. In the long term, heavy drinking has been shown to reduce fertility in men. Those who drink excessively ejaculate a smaller quantity of semen each time, and their semen contains a lower number of sperm compared to men who do not drink heavily. The sperm of heavy drinkers are also less motile. Recreational drugs have an adverse effect on a man’s fertility and should be avoided in general but particularly whilst you are trying to conceive. Marijuana and cocaine impair sperm production by affecting the cells in the testes which produce sperm. Heavy marijuana users have lower concentrations of sperm, which may take 2-3 months to recover when the man stops using marijuana. Marijuana also reduces testosterone levels which can impair sperm production. Similarly, cocaine use lowers the concentration of sperm in the semen. It has also been associated with the production of immobile and abnormally shaped sperm. Cocaine use may also increase the likelihood of erectile dysfunction (the inability to achieve and maintain an erection) which indirectly affects fertility. Opiate drugs such as heroin may also reduce fertility because they have hormone altering effects and decrease libido. Performance enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids impair fertility because they alter hormone production and reduce libido. Detoxification and Preconception Supplementation have been proven to help several men deal with male infertility as it helps the body get rid of several of those toxins affecting health sperm production, and also supplying the needed nourishment necessary for healthy sperm production. You should visit www.fertilityhome.com.ng to learn more about our Natural Detoxification and Supplementation Program targeted at men who might be having a challenge in this direction.

One Winnner, One Soul

Welcome to the last week of “Operation By All Means 2016” prophetic agenda. I have no doubt; it must have been a most eventful season of our spiritual adventure till date as individual. But here, we are at the very last moment of this amazing season. The question is, “What does God require of me as an individual in this last week?” Remember, every divine agenda speaks loudest at the end: 1. At the end it shall speak….. Hab 2:3 2. The last moment is everybody’s moment – Jn 7:37-38 3. When the day of Pentecost was fully come….. cloven tongues as of fire landed on every one of them and they began to speak in different languages, reaching out to all tribes present – Acts 2:1-4 4. Prizes are only awarded at the end in every race - 1Cor. 9:24-26/ Phil. 3:14/ Matt. 24:13 Therefore, by the signal of the Holy Ghost, every winner must ensure that at least ONE BRAND NEW SOUL comes along with him/her to the church to meet with Christ this coming Sunday, 13th March 2016. Whatever we may have accomplished hitherto notwithstanding, we must strive to bring in one additional soul this coming Sunday. We must make this a ‘MUST-DELIVER’ instruction after the order of Jesus – Jn. 10:16 In addition, everyone in the line for a miracle job and everyone who got his job wrongly terminated should let Jesus engage them full time this week both in the morning and evening raid and in prayers and no employer will reject them – Matt. 20:1-6 To the glory of God, Faith Tabernacle shall turn to a city without walls before our very eyes come next Sunday in the name of Jesus Christ – Zech. 24-5 As it is written, “Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.” – Is. 66:7-8 More often than not, every prophetic word is subject to human mockery and this is because God’s way is higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts. That learned man, mocked the prophetic declaration of Elisha because he could not handle the possibility of such declaration, saying, “…even if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?...” He ended up a victim instead of a beneficiary of that prophetic word – 2Kgs. 7:1-2/20 Remember, there is nothing new under the sun, explosive dimensions of church growth is not new both in Bible times and in our contemporary days and it shall continue to increase their commitment to kingdom-advancement promotions. For example: 1. A 3 million-member strong church, called the church in the wilderness, was born in one day – Ex. 12:42 /Acts 7:38 2. The upper room church, a 3,000 member church was also born in one day – Acts 2:1-14/41/ Acts 5:28 3. On a particular Sabbath day, almost the whole city gathered together to hear the word of God – Acts 13:44 4. Also in this commission, here at Faith Tabernacle, on a particular Sunday, 25th October 2015 to be precise, over 100,000 souls were added to this church over the previous Sunday. As the Lord lives, it shall happen again as we see multitudes flowing into Churches in droves this coming Sunday for worship in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen and amen. Jesus is Lord! David O. Oyedepo President & Founder LIVING FAITH CHURCH WORLDWIDE