Ask Chuka

  "Am I not better to you than ten sons?"—Elkanah asked his wife, Hannah. The first time I saw "PROVOCATION" in a positive light was while listening to T.D. Jakes break down the story of Elkanah and his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. As recorded in 1 Samuel 1, Peninnah had children, but Hannah’s womb was closed by God. Yet, Elkanah loved Hannah so deeply that he doubled her portion, perhaps to prove his love. But no matter what he gave her, Hannah remained unfulfilled. She longed for a child of her own. Elkanah, puzzled, asked if he wasn’t worth more than ten sons. But Hannah knew better—her co-wife had both companionship and the gift of bearing children. Why should she settle for just one? And when Peninnah taunted her, it provoked Hannah, not to despair, but to action. Hannah’s desperation led her to the temple, where even the prophet mistook her silent prayers for drunkenness. Yet, God answered her with Samuel, a son so great that he outshone anything Peninnah h...

YOU ARMED ME WITH STRENGTH FOR THE BATTLE – KING DAVID (Psalm 18:39) In December 2024, I found myself tuning in to several discussions on prostate cancer and its prevention. One talk, particularly by the ever-vocal Dr. Rasheed Adedapo (see the link 👇🏾 https://www.instagram.com/asliceofnaija/reel/C3BLkhpxccB/ ), stood out. He recommended having sex at least 21 times a month as a preventive measure. That caught my attention—not just for the health advice, but also because I wondered where I’d find that frequency! 😊 Not long after, while taking a shower one morning, I noticed a small bump on my private part. Fear gripped me instantly. I couldn’t even focus on finishing my bath properly—I kept checking it under different lighting, using my phone and mirrors, waiting for dawn so I could rush to the doctor. When I finally got examined, the doctor burst into laughter (and even bought me lunch) because it turned out to be absolutely nothing. Yet, in my mind, I had already jumped to the wors...

  After God created man, He said, "It is not good for him to be alone; I will make a help meet suitable for him." (Genesis 2:18). In many places, especially in the church, this scripture has often been interpreted solely within the context of marriage. However, I believe God was speaking about something deeper—the divine role of women as a source of strength and support in a man’s life. Let me share an experience. In January 2024, after handling some major expenses, I had almost reached zero Naira. With personal financial needs piling up, I decided—perhaps impulsively—to post about my situation in our family WhatsApp group and to some close friends. The responses were swift, but not necessarily helpful. Clearly, "sapa" (a Nigerian slang for being broke) wasn’t my burden alone. Almost everyone empathized, but there were no financial lifelines. Still, I didn’t feel hopeless. The next day, after a long game of tennis meant to clear my head, I was surprised to find my m...

  If You Decide to Show Up, Show Up Well! Several postgraduate and graduate degree holders applied for a clerk position advertised by a merchant, even though the role only required a secondary school qualification. It was a simple interview, and the merchant quickly made his choice. He asked his preferred candidate to wait in a room while he thanked and dismissed the others. The interview panel was surprised—more "qualified" candidates had applied, some with impressive degrees and polished appearances (or as we say in Nigeria, better packaging). Defending his decision, the merchant said: "For a simple clerk position, this candidate, despite wearing partially worn clothes, dressed seriously for the interview. That tells me he will take my business seriously, no matter how big or small. He was also the only one who picked up a book that had fallen on the floor, closed the door gently, and waited to be offered a seat before sitting. To me, these are signs of a considerate p...

  EXPIRY DATES ARE NOT THE WHOLE STORY I often say that every good logistics system must fulfill six rights: ✅ The Right items or goods ✅ To the Right place ✅ In the Right quantity ✅ In the Right condition ✅ At the Right time ✅ For the Right cost Miss out on just one, and the entire process collapses. Let me share a short story. A few days ago, I visited a former client—a major retail store owner—hoping to win him back. He had switched to a competitor offering lower rates. As I walked in, I witnessed a frustrated customer returning groceries, mainly biscuits, claiming they tasted odd. The Managing Director, my former client, checked the expiry date—11 months left! Certain that the issue wasn’t his, he dismissed the complaint, assuming the fault lay with the customer. The woman stormed out, furious. To clear his head, we took a walk through the warehouse while discussing my visit. The moment I stepped inside, I suspected what had gone wrong—but I kept quiet. I didn’t want to sound l...

               I know we’re up to some serious work, but this love story was just too sweet not to share. Today, my friend Jidenna, whom I hadn’t seen in ages, surprised me with a visit. I shut down my system, cancelled all appointments, and we dived into catching up like old times. I wasn’t surprised by how well he was doing—he always looked like someone destined for success, so the Benz didn’t shock me. What surprised me was that despite the hundreds of millions in his bank account, he still wasn’t married. Curious, I asked him why. His answer? He had never fallen in love with anyone the way he had fallen for Mary. Now, here’s the twist—Mary is happily married with kids. Back in the day, they were inseparable, but as we know, women tend to figure things out quicker. Mary couldn’t wait for Jidenna to be "ready," so she married John, who had been just as serious about her. I always knew Mary and Jidenna kept in touch, and at times, I feared t...

  You’ve probably heard about the monkey experiment, which shows how individuals can be conditioned to behave in certain ways without ever questioning why. If you haven’t, here’s a link to check it out 👉🏾  The Monkey Experiment This concept plays out in our daily lives more than we realise. Let me share a few examples: 👉🏾 The Lent Tradition & Questioning Norms As a child growing up in a Catholic home, I knew that meat was off the table on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. I never questioned this—I simply followed the norm. It wasn’t until I Googled it (yes, do it too! 😀) that I truly understood its reason. 👉🏾 Workplace Conditioning & Missed Opportunities At one organisation I worked for, earnings were commission-based. Strangely, most employees complained about low salaries but made no effort to earn more from the 2.5% commission offered. Had I not stopped to reflect, I might have joined the crowd—frustrated yet unwilling to break the cycle. 💡 The "Monkey Effect...

  I once read about a poor old man with a weak heart who unexpectedly won 900 million Naira in the lottery. Fearing that the shock might kill him, his son invited their family doctor to help break the news gently. During dinner, the doctor casually asked, "If you won 200 million Naira in the lottery, what would you do?" "I’d love a vacation to Dubai," the old man replied, quickly adding that he didn’t trust the lottery system, which he believed only favoured the rich. Encouraged, the doctor pushed further: "What if you won 500 million?" "I’d buy a small apartment in Dubai, so I could visit anytime!" he answered excitedly. Seeing progress, the doctor finally asked, "And if you won the entire 900 million?" With a grateful smile, the old man said, "Doctor, you’ve always been good to my family with all the treatments you provide. I would first give you 100 million..." Before he could finish his sentence, the doctor collapsed and w...

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." I am often reminded that I am not in church whenever I say these words among my friends. But I believe that the Bible—Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth—and the guidance we receive from religious institutions are meant to shape our daily lives, not just our moments of worship. Let’s consider a few everyday examples: ✅ When the rule says resume work at 8 AM, but we show up at 9 AM, we haven’t done right. I’ve seen businesses lose customers simply because staff were tardy, giving competitors the edge. ✅ When employees steal from a business that faithfully pays their salaries, they contribute to its downfall. Without proper checks, it’s only a matter of time before the business collapses. ✅ When tenants and estate residents delay rent or service charge payments (I admit, I have been guilty too), it becomes impossible for landlords and managers to deliver quality services. But progress happens when we hono...

One Lesson Envy Teaches is, "You May Drown If You Swim in the same water you see someone else swim in." In The Strange Bird, Olajire Olanlokun teaches a powerful lesson about envy, choices, and destiny. After losing her husband, Ataye worked tirelessly to provide for her baby. With her village, Okotete, suffering from drought, she ventured into the Agudo Forest to fetch firewood to sell. While gathering wood, a giant bird swooped down and took her baby, offering great wealth in exchange. But Ataye refused. Impressed by her love and selflessness, the bird returned her baby and gifted her gold, diamonds, and riches beyond imagination. With her newfound wealth, Ataye built a mansion, established a thriving textile business, and uplifted her community. One of her employees, Yiga, admired her success and longed for the same fortune. She, too, got married and had a child. But instead of following her own path, she chose to copy Ataye. Quitting her job, she went to the Agudo Forest,...