ISLANDERS TAG HANDLER🏝️

Official Tag handler for @adekunleolopade ; a two-time #BBNaija Star S7 & 8.
Updating you on the Tags & KWs to trend worldwide.🏝️
Default Tag: #AdekunleOlopade

[Adekunle Olopade @adekunleolopade]

My friends and I were talking recently about the future: life, family, kids etc. and I started to think about when I have kids.

Somewhere during the conversation I thought about how I’d want my kids to have a proper education, you know go to the best schools and all. Then I started to think about the schools that would be the right fit.

Then I wondered what if my child ends up having a passion for politics too. What schools would help shape that? The number 1 citizen of the country came to mind. I’m sure he got the best education, look at all he’s achieved. He’s the right role model and the schools he went to would be the perfect fit and a great starting point.

And then I realized, I don’t know the schools the President went to.

That information, as little as where the President received basic education, is not known. I mean it’s not available anywhere on the internet or in any public records.

It’s almost like it doesn’t exist, which is impossible.

No one can actually say “I want my child to be President tomorrow, so this is the school they should go to because that’s where the President also went to” and then I paused.

Does this mean anyone can also become president one day and nobody needs to know anything about the schools they attended or their background?

[Adekunle Olopade @adekunleolopade]

I've been writing a lot lately, and I'm having a great time channeling that energy into building @mention_mag; @PTBCInitiative's latest project.

We just started but I like the way things are shaping up. You can read the articles on the website, link in bio.

[Adekunle Olopade @adekunleolopade]

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with working or affiliating with the government.

Take their money, defend them, sing their praises. That’s all within your prerogative. But when the government you’re choosing to affiliate with is responsible for mass hunger, pains and suffering then you’re very well in the wrong and there’s no amount of gaslighting and manipulation tactics you want to deploy, you simply cannot erase the realities of the people who have suffered at the hands of the reforms and “tough decisions” this government has made.

I don’t think we truly realize that people can no longer afford to live.

I’ll give you an example.
My mechanic is at Obalende, Lagos Island. So whenever I go there, I like to eat street food. That tiny meat we used to decorate the top of our plate was once N20. Now it’s N200. A spoon of beans is now N500 and the cheapest amount of jollof rice you can buy is N500.

Now I should be able to afford food and eat till I’m satisfied if the government is working, right? Sadly, that’s not the case. People now rationalize what they eat, when they eat. Balance diet is out the window, that means on an average, we are all unhealthy.

Let’s do the maths.
Jollof 2 spoons 1,000
Beans 2 spoons 1,000
1 egg is 250
2 beef is 400
Takeaway pack is 150
Bottled water 200

Before you submit your rebuttal, go to your kitchen and put 2 spoons of rice and beans in a plate and look at the quantity. If you don’t have rice at home, then why exactly would you want to attack this? Can’t you see the problem?

It costs approximately N3,000 to feed. If you have to eat twice that’s N6,000. Multiply this by eating everyday in a month. That’s N90,000 for one person without any dependents. It now costs 90k to eat an unbalanced and unhealthy meal in a month. Minimum wage is 70,000 and this covers every aspect of life including feeding. The alternative is shortening your ration. I’m losing my mind as I’m typing this because this is actually unbelievable.

Now, I’d spend more than 3k at Obalende because I’m able to afford it. But there are millions of Nigerians who can’t, who earn lower than the minimum wage. That means if they’re reading this, seeing someone spend 3k on a meal would be considered a waste because asides all the other things they need money for: transportation, bills, emergencies and other psychological needs, spending three thousand naira out of the money they’ve labored for to eat, is just ridiculous. This is the reality today.

It is okay to defend this government, freedom of choice and expression, but asides from the mobilization fee you’ve gotten this period, Nigerians (including yourself) as a whole have not benefited from this government and there’s no logical reason why this government should return.

So let me ask, why are you so invested in the success of a wealthy politician, as opposed to fighting for your rights and your own survival?

[Adekunle Olopade @adekunleolopade]

Enough time has passed and I think we need to talk about this.

Sometime this week, elites gathered at Eko Hotel for a celebration, but just outside that very same venue (at night), you’ll see a plethora of young, vibrant and able-bodied young men, many in my age group, running after exotic cars and pseudo big men hoping that someone will ‘bless them’. This is the everyday reality of young men in Lagos today. There is little to no gratification for honest work anymore and the only hope people now have is sycophancy, illegal dealings, or turning to social media to chase clout. This is what puts food on the table. Meanwhile we are told the state has recorded “tremendous growth”. So where exactly is this growth? Someone point us to it?

The leaders we elect determine the outcome of our future.

I turned 32 last week, the age many of our leaders were already established by. I've lived in Lagos all my life, I'm a Lagosian, and there is nothing to be happy about in the current state of things. I don’t know why we are all pretending. Men in their 30s cannot afford their own rent, and the government is encouraging young workers to be prudent and live with their parents until things look up. Grown men in their 30s!

I have witnessed, and lived through four different governors, with a fifth incoming, yet all of them have been led by one single ideology - one man’s vision. The Lagos we know today can be credited to that vision, and I’m not talking about Lekki, the coastal road or the Island. There are 20 local governments in Lagos. If you’re reading this from any of these areas, step outside and answer this question honestly - are you happy with the way the environment you’re in looks? Are you happy with what you see? Unfortunately for the leaders in Lagos, there is no previous administration to blame.

Depending on how you choose to look at it, things have only gotten worse. At one point in my life, I bought 25 litres of fuel for under ₦3,000. Today it's about ₦35,000, and with no steady electricity, I buy that twice a week just to run my generator. I can't imagine how millions of people who aren't earning enough have been affected. And yes, millions more Nigerians have been pushed into abject poverty in recent years.

The next time I celebrate my birthday on a weekend, I'll be 35. By then, I'll be a father, and a new administration will be halfway through its term. There is no glimmer of hope that things will get better in the next 4 years under the same government (judging by history) and I can’t help but wonder. If I can’t provide a better life for my family and kids, what will I tell them the reason is?

This is not a partisan post, but we need to start thinking about our future. Politicians will tell you what you want to hear, not what you deserve and until we are able to demand better, we will keep getting empty promises. The life we live now is not the life we deserve, and with all the resources we have, we truly deserve better.

I can’t tell you who to vote for, but don’t expect change if you’re voting for continuation.

[Adekunle Olopade @adekunleolopade]

What Does It Mean To Be A Man?
I guess this is the year we find out.

#YearOfTheMan #ProtectTheBoyChildInitiative

[Adekunle Olopade @adekunleolopade]

Ladies Man.

[Adekunle Olopade @adekunleolopade]

I've spent all of today scrolling through every birthday wish, reply and quote, and I'm just smiling. My takeaway is that you guys really love me, and I need to do better at receiving it.

Thank you all SO much for the love yesterday. I wasn't expecting it, largely because I haven't exactly been present this year, online or offline. I've been on autopilot building @PTBCInitiative and making sure @mention_mag came to life in one piece, and as life would have it, building in isolation affected a lot of my relationships.

With a new age comes grey hair and more wisdom, and I know I need to do things differently. You really can't do life alone, so I guess it's time to be more social. Seeing all this love has been humbling 🥹

Again, thank you all for the love and for not giving up on me. You're God's gift to me.

With all my love,
Deks 🫶🏾

[ISLANDERS TAG HANDLER🏝️ @DeksTag]

This is 32! 🎂🎈

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIFE COACH ADEKUNLE
#Chapter32withDeks
#AdekunleOlopade

[Eunice Asamany @asamany_eunice]

@DeksTag @adekunleolopade Happy birthday Deks, Adekunle Olopade @adekunleolopade 💫✨🎂🎂🎂my forever fave in whom I am well pleased. May the Lord continue to bless you on every side

[K.B.B.S🏝️💥🐻🏹 🔮 @IamproudofBrii1]

Happy birthday Adekunle 🏝️
Bad boy Deks

[Bonnie @BonieN1]

Wishing you the happiest of birthday, Deks! May this year bring you as much joy, warmth, and light as you bring into the lives of others

I deeply admire your vision and the kindness you show to everyone around you. Cheers to many more years to come ♥️🥂🥳!
#YearOfTheMan

[vanilla🧁 @callmecupcakes_]

Happy birthday Sonshine.🌞🎂🥳

Your wisdom and kindness make the world a much better place. May God bless you abundantly!!💛🤍
#YearOfTheMan
#AdekunleOlopade

[Protect The Boy Child @PTBCInitiative]

Happy birthday to an amazing man, our pioneer and forerunner. ❤️

Here’s to an amazing year ahead and an even more impactful season. May your vision continue to inspire, influence, and create lasting change.

Happy birthday, Adekunle! 🎉

[Otega “The Chef Dreams” Eritomi @OtegaEritomi]

Happy birthday big man

[Pere Egbi ✊🏾 @PereEgbi]

Happy birthday brother. Keep soaring high! More grace bro!!!!!

[Omololu Shomuyiwa @officialomololu]

happy birthday partner! 🎈

[Adekunle Olopade @adekunleolopade]

My birthday gift to myself this year - launching a MEN’s focused online magazine.

Read the first issue here: https://t.co/agJjNc8W3I

[MENtion Magazine @mention_mag]

Welcome to MENtion, a new home for the modern Nigerian man: how he thinks, how he dresses, how he carries himself, how he builds, and how he shows up for the people who need him.

Our first issue, @adekunleolopade on his birthday

[ISLANDERS TAG HANDLER🏝️ @DeksTag]

This is 32! 🎂🎈

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIFE COACH ADEKUNLE
#Chapter32withDeks
#AdekunleOlopade

[Adekunle Olopade @adekunleolopade]

Happy Birthday Adekunle.
This is 32 🎈
#YearOfTheMan

[Adekunle Olopade @adekunleolopade]

Happy Birthday Adekunle.
This is 32 🎈
#YearOfTheMan