Although I was in 200L, I had to take all the courses in 100L, and when it was time to graduate, I was told that I didn’t meet up with the minimum requirements for graduation. Part of the requirement for graduation was completing 12 units of special electives. That meant that I would have an extra semester to write electives that would have no significant effect on my CGPA. I was disappointed, depressed, and frustrated.

On several occasions, I asked God “Why”. I never failed any course, so why would zero-unit electives hold me back in school? I thought God was being unfair to me, I didn’t know he had bigger plans for me. After 7 years in OAU, I eventually graduated with a second class (upper) honours degree. Those extra years prepared the foundation for the journey ahead.

Let me share a few of the lessons I learnt about disappointments with you.

1. God uses disappointments as a catalyst to get our attention and prepare us for our next season, even if the process is ugly. Disappointment is God’s tried-and-true catalyst for greater calling.
2. God allows us to enter desert seasons not to discourage us but to detox us. He removes the God substitutes, i.e., all of the things and people we instinctively and habitually turn to to get filled up. When God breaks what we’ve built, then God is building something better and bigger.
3. Disappointments, if misunderstood, can put a dent in our confidence: In all honesty, I felt like a failure but later I understood that in order for God to work through us, He must first do a new work in us.
4. Disappointment is actually divine timing at work. Disappointment delivers a message God needs us to pay attention to right now — one we’d otherwise ignore. The mess is meant to mature our outlook and upgrade our thinking and beliefs.
5. Disappointment shows us what is already within us. Obstacles are meant to reveal your anointing — your divine strength, not your weakness. God uses disappointments to unveil and realign us with His greater vision for us.

So, instead of asking God “Why?”, take a step back and ask, “Where are you taking me?”

Always remember that God loves you too much to leave or lose you, He will use every means necessary to not only get your attention but also free you from foolishness.

Atinuke Ayo-Makinde (nee Ladele) is a strategic project management professional. While an undergraduate, she played key roles in several ASF endeavours, and now serves as a member of the Senior Friends’ Christian Network executives.

1. What is Personal Finance?

Process of planning and managing one’s personal financial activities from budgeting, savings, spending and investing one’s resources

2. Objectives of Personal Finance

a. Achievement of financial goals

b. Become financially independent i.e. having enough income to pay for one’s reasonable living expenses for the rest of one’s life without having to rely on formal employment.

c. Live a peaceful retirement life.

3. Misconceptions of Personal Finance

a. Only wealthy people need it

b. I am too young to worry about it

c. I am not earning enough now.

d. I have my Pension to fall back on.

4. Personal Finance Tips

a. Set your personal financial goal(s)

Endeavour to answer the following questions (Psalm20:4):

i. Where do you envision your finances in the short to medium term?

ii. What am I saving for?

b. Develop your strategy and tactics to achieve the goal – Be ready to sacrifice, take risks (act/work) and have faith in God.

c. Budget

i Plan your income and expenditure; understand your sources of income and prioritize your expenditures;

ii. Write it down, make it plain and run with it(Hab2:2;Luke14:28)

iii. There are several apps/tools/excel templates that can help in developing a budget

d. Be Disciplined. Cut off unnecessary expenses.

e. Invest: Do not despise the days of little beginnings; start small, think big! Make sure that at least 10% of your income goes into investments.

f. Pay your debts/loans: Try to pay more than the minimum repayment amount and ensure you keep your integrity by paying back as and when due

g. Proactively Plan your estate: Write a will without which the Government will take at least 10% of estate.

h. Get Insurance (especially on your priced assets)–Transfer the risk

I. Consult the Professionals; Reputable Asset Management / Stockbroking firms.

5. Types of Investments

a. Short Term Fixed Investments – Investment with maturity period of one year or less with Principal and Interest are paid at maturity.

b. Mutual Funds – Pool of funds managed by professional Asset Managers; minimum investment as low as N5,000

c. Treasury Bills / Commercial Papers – Short Term Instruments (maturity of one year or less). Treasury Bills are Government backed and highly secure whilst Commercial Papers need to be vetted by Professionals before taking investment decision.

d. FGN Saving Bonds – Government backed Debt Instrument. Minimum subscription is N5,000.

e. Eurobonds – Dollar denominated investment which can help hedge the devaluation of Naira

f. Equities – Shares in companies within and outside Nigeria; yes, invest in shares offshore but contact a Financial Advisor and do your research properly.

g. Real Estate

6. Smart Cashflow habits

a. Avoid impulse buying – Practice delayed gratification

b. Don’t spend what you have not earned

c. Ensure you have your Emergency Fund– Save for the rainy day

d. Don’t buy what you do not need – “Want” is not “Need”.

e. Don’t live to impress people – Spend wisely

f. Scrutinize your bank statement – Unauthorized debits happen.

Written by:

Yemi Olufidipe
Financial Secretary

The Challenges we have faced in the last one year is more than enough to break any human spirit, make one to despair and at the verge of giving it all up altogether. Here we are today by God’s grace and still waxing in Him. To some, they are still passing through difficult times and the Bible is always there for us in all situations.

There is nothing new under the sun and what is has always being. The Psalmist in the above scripture enunciated that the fathers of faith in times past had their own fair of challenges but the
faithful God who is still on the throne saw them through (I Cor 10:13)

For thou, O God, hast proved us; thou has tried us, as silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: BUT thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

Psalms 66:10 – 12..

We are encouraged in the scriptures to give thanks ‘’in everything’’ and not ‘’for everything’’. There are certain experiences you have and you wonder if you can give thanks ‘’for’’ that situation, but the scripture enjoins us to give thanks ‘’in everything’’.

Therefore brethren, let us obey the word of the Lord and begins to see a turnaround in our situations. There are many words of comfort from the Lord and we need to the word so that it can become flesh in our situations (Isa 54:3 -5).

Now unto Him who is able to keep you without falling, I commit you and all yours now and forevermore.
Shalom.

Your Brother and Friend,
AWONIYI Olajide Michael
President