Well, 2016 was a long year indeed. But like everything that has a beginning (whether good or evil), it must come to an end.

Between these two extremes are 31,536,000seconds, 525,600minutes, 8,760hours, 365days, 52weeks, 12months, 4quarters, 2halves - Enough time to accomplish all that you have set your heart to.

Without further ado, I would like to talk about my twenty sixteen and all that came with it.

JANUARY TWENTY SIXTEEN BROUGHT SATISFACTION

The joy of entering the year that I’ve anticipated for so long. Resolutions still fresh in my head. 2016- The year impregnated with my success story.

With so much positivity I had my expectation list sealed with tongues and 21 days of fasting and prayer and deposited in the arc of covenant with a copy under my pillow to monitor progress.

Twenty sixteen is the year I am to step into my finals. It is my ‘IT’ year – the year people express the fullness of their youth.

FEBRUARY TWENTY SIXTEEN PROMISED LOVE BUT IT BROUGHT NONE

Who would have thought that I would successfully live through the month of love with nothing but more love for myself and fam.
In summary, I left February as single as I started it
With February twenty sixteen came the inception of ‘BLAK’.

MARCH TWENTY SIXTEEN BROUGHT GROWTH

APRIL, MAY, JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST TWENTY SIXTEEN BROUGHT MORE GROWTH

Along with these came the “contract of the year”. Blak media made it to the top of the charts. A company birthed just several months ago handling the most sophisticated events in town. Seemed like an achievement but it was only the beginning.

With these months came the first near-death experience of the year. The Varicella-Zoster Virus attack. The legendary Chicken pox infection finally got to me from my place of internship (Faith Mediplex Hospital) while attending to an infected pregnant lady. Apparently, the older you get, the stronger the attack. Thank Jah I survived it.

With these months came serious preparations for my final year (IT and semenar defense), ideas on how to go about life and how to shuffle between responsibilities.
With August came Birthdays, anniversaries and what not.

SEPTEMBER TWENTY SIXTEEN BROUGHT CELEBRATION

The official launch of my company (#BlakBirth) as well as my birthday celebration (s/o to the godfada)

With September came my IT defense. The turture of defending all you’ve learnt within 6 months (that’s half of the year) of industrial training in just 5 minutes in front of Doctors and Professors who look out for nothing but your flaws and how to disprove whatever you’re ‘preaching’.

With this month came my encounter with “Twenty one pilots” they almost took Sia’s place. Their magical sound was more than food to my soul.

OCTOBER TWENTY SIXTEEN BROUGHT A NEW KING

The Coronation of Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa as the 39th Oba of the Bini kingdom. It was a glorious occasion. For a moment I felt like a bini lad, screaming “iyare, iyare” behind the crown prince as he takes his majestic walk to the Oba palace to perform the 20-days long traditional rights.

On the Grand Finalé, he was crowned Omon’oba N’edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II of the Bini Kingdom. (My pictures from the coronation would be uploaded to blak.com.ng soon)

Also with October came my final year seminar presentation and the stress of putting it all together. To God’s glory it was awesome and my HOD referred to mine as a “professorial presentation”.

Towards its end, it ushered in hate, distrust, frenemies (friendly enemies), and two-facedness but ‘who cares?’

NOVEMBER TWENTY SIXTEEN BROUGHT Lé DÏner Royalè

BASIC SCIENCE (Microbiology, Biochemistry and Geophysics) DINNER AND AWARD NIGHT 2016.

It was indeed the biggest and best dinner I’ve ever experienced in all my four years at Benson Idahosa University. It held at the well-known PRESTIGE HOTEL EVENTS CENTRE with the superstar SUGAR BOY (Mr. Hola Hola) who came all the way just to wine and dine with us. Hence, the customized “Hola Hola dance” by our critics.

Award for Overall best and most social male in the 2015/2016 academic session followed me home from the dinner as well as the award for outstanding performance as President.

Sadly, November brought the second near-death experience of the year. Due to stress from late night studies coupled with the rigorous planning for the royal dinner, I COLLAPSED; Right in front of the central laboratory, just two days to the dinner. Thanks to God, Once again, I survived it.

DECEMBER TWENTY SIXTEEN BROUGHT THE LAST PUNCH

The final punch is always the hardest.

With December came challenges, heartbreak, more stress, weight loss, deception and what not

But in all, three good things came with this December; First semester Exams, The Holidays and The Number 14 in the long list of those who call me “UNCLE”.

But as they say “WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU ONLY MAKES YOU STRONGER”. I’m STRONGER because I survived the terrors of twenty sixteen and like ‘Sia’ sang; “I’M ALIVE”.

I entered twenty sixteen a King and I’m leaving “a GODKING”

And just as I sat on the 31st of December 2015 looking straight into the eyes of my twenty sixteen and what I saw was my internship and my entrance into final year.

I now sit on this day the 31st of December 2016 staring straight into the eyes of my twenty seventeen which is but a few hours away and what I see… oh what I see… is myself wrapped inside my suit covered in the Benson Idahosa University’s Convocation Gown and sitting among the Godsquad and other Titans celebrating our victory. I can also see myself serving my country in khaki (I still feel like they’ll scrap it before then though).

Ohh…

There’s one more thing…

I just saw it…

Look out your window if you’ll see it too…

It’s pretty clear out there…

It says; “I’m gonna be really successful next year”.

SO HELP ME GOD.

GOODBYE TO TWENTY SIXTEEN

WITH OPEN ARMS I WELCOME MY TWENTY SEVENTEEN.

HAPPY NEW YEAR IN ADVANCE