Nothing that lasts grows fast. There must be roots that form downwards first, the foundation must be solid and even if it looks like there aren’t fruits at first, we must not forget the law of growth and process. That is something we emphasize so much in TOB. The leaves will come out eventually, then flowers, then seed and then fruit. We started this brand with a blog and now it has grown into something far greater than we imagined.

We are three individuals, all medical doctors in different parts of the world, different time zones, living separate lives and in these individual lives there have been many changes and transitions. Sometimes the olive branch has transitioned as well, bending and stretching, but always growing. We have been on the precipice of giving up many times but through your prayers, your love and by the help of God, we are still standing today, still rooted, still reaching.

You have seen some of our fruits and you have seen some of our leaves. Many of you have been there through every single season and we see you, we truly do. With a community now, a foundation and so much more still unfolding, we are deeply thankful for those who were with us in the very beginning, for those who found us along the way and for those who are still here. We are equally grateful to our volunteers, our web and design team, our families, and our friends. Every soul who has ever engaged with us, thank you. You believed in something that was still becoming and that is a gift we do not take lightly. Thank you for your support and your ideas. Thank you for seeing us. Even in the moments we struggled to see ourselves, you were there.

We also recently did an impact survey and we were so moved and honored by the responses. We would love to hear even more from you, so please take a moment to fill it out here (Google form)

Also, our Foundation, The Olive Network for Empowerment otherwise known as TONE, will be embarking on our inaugural project very soon and we cannot wait to share more with you. For now, please follow us on Instagram @theoliveempowerment and keep an eye out for our next cohort of volunteers for the Olive Community later this year!

To anyone reading this today, wherever in the world you are, this part is for you. The world may feel heavy right now. There may be uncertainty pressing in from every side, clouds of sadness gathered and for some, you may be in a wilderness season, waiting and wondering. Some of you may be welcoming new life into the world and some may be in the process of saying goodbye. You may be surrounded by so much noise and fear that silence has started to feel like the only safe place left.
But please, do not stay there. Step out and feel again. There is still hope as long as there is breath in you, there is still so much waiting for you on the other side of this moment. There are still territories to conquer, mountains to overcome and a version of yourself you have not yet met. You are still wanted, still needed, still so deeply significant. Do not give up. Life will not always feel this way. Good people still exist and good things are still making their way to you. Some may even be happening right now.

As we mark eleven years, we send our love across every time zone represented in this community. We hope we have touched you in ways that words cannot fully capture and we hope that what you have received here has stirred something in you that reaches beyond these walls. Because the world is hurting and it needs people like you, people who have known tenderness, to carry it forward. Let the love you have received become the love you give away, in the way you speak, in the way you show up, in the quiet moments where a kind word or a warm presence can completely change someone’s day both online and offline. Do not get lost in the cruelty that the world sometimes shows. Hold on to your joy and choose, again and again, to be the kind of person someone else needed and found. Spread love today.

By Ayokunle for The Olive Branch.

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• Can you tell me about yourself and your background? What do you do?

 My name is Oyindamola Adedipe. I am 28 years old. I am a visual designer, photographer and videographer.

• How long have you been doing this and what drew your attention you to it?

I have always had the passion for creating things. When I was little I used to play around with instant art and Microsoft PowerPoint on my dad’s desktop computer. One of my earliest designs was a recreation of the MTN logo on PowerPoint. I discovered photography and videography much later. I enjoyed making videos and taking pictures of my friend at parties and eventually hobby became craft.

• What do you enjoy most about what you do now?

I just really enjoy the opportunity to create. Whether it is static media or motion media. As far as it excites the senses of sight and sound.

• Can you describe a challenge you’ve faced in your role now and how you overcame it?

Challenges are quite often a part of being a creative. From difference in opinions between clients and me to a lack of resources. The best thing to do is find a middle ground with your client that still caters to them. And improvise when you are short on resources. It brings out the genius in you.

• What motivated you to do this?

The passion keeps me motivated. I love doing it. And I love that I can get paid while doing it

• How do you stay updated and continue to grow?

Read and watch. Read what others are doing and watch how they’re doing it.

• Can you share a significant accomplishment or project you’ve worked on recently?

I think the achievement I’m most proud of recently is shooting a music video for Dwin, the Stoic. Asides from that also shooting scenes from his Christmas concert.

• What goals do you have in the near future?

Level up. I’ve been working hard at it. Trying to understand what I’m doing. The basic building block of creating and applying that to more complex things.

• How do you maintain work-life balance, and in what ways does your faith influence your motivation and vision?

I don’t have a great work life balance. I used to spend more time working than ‘lifing’. But in the past few months I started learning to disengage from work. To just find a way to relax.
I am a believer in the teachings of Jesus Christ and it propels me to find purpose in what I do. Whether it’s capturing people having fun or designing wedding cards. I just always want to capture those emotions. Asides from that my faith really makes my life simple. I believe in kindness and spreading love and that’s what I do.

• How has marriage or significant relationships impacted your personal and professional plans?

I can’t say that marriage or my significant relationship have impacted my plans. I have always left the door open when it comes to my plans. They’re very malleable and all I have to do is adjust.

• How do you see what you’re passionate about evolving in the coming years, and what steps are you taking ? Also what will you tell your younger self.

It’s a very interesting time to be a creative with the advent of AI. But I don’t particularly pay attention to the noise. I just keep learning and integrating. As the river keeps flowing I’ll keep on moving on. You can’t swim against the current of the river but you can ride it’s wave.

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• • My name is Tobi Badmus, the founder and CEO of 8BM Freight. I was born in Osogbo to a loving family. My father is  Asiwaju Ajadi Badmus, the Asiwaju of Osogboland home and abroad, and my mother, Alhaja Gbelewade Badmus, is a businesswoman and a retired civil servant from a federal commission. I completed both my primary and secondary education in Osogbo and earned my first degree at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology. Additionally, I hold certificates in Entrepreneurship, Financial Accounting, Supply Chain Management, and Project Management from institutions such as Harvard Business School, IESE Business School, and the New York Institute of Finance. Having worked for one of Africa’s leading commodities exchange market players, I now lead 8BM Freight, where my team and I are dedicated to providing innovative and efficient logistics solutions across Nigeria and beyond. We pride ourselves on leveraging advanced technology to streamline logistics processes and ensure the reliable delivery of goods.

What motivated you to do this?

• • There are several reasons why I started 8BM Freight, which drive me every day. Firstly, I wanted to fill the gap in the logistics industry. Secondly, I aimed to contribute to economic development by building people and providing jobs. Lastly, for personal fulfillment, I want my family to be able to live a good life. These motivations and others are why I wake up every day and ensure I give my best.

How long have you been doing this and what drew your attention to it?

• • I have been involved in the logistics and supply chain industry for close to a decade. The idea for 8BM Freight emerged while I was working at AFEX as the Sales Operation Manager. I noticed significant gaps in the supply chain industry in Nigeria. My deep understanding of the industry’s challenges and my desire to innovate and improve logistics operations led to the creation of 8BM. We have been operational close to four years now, during which we have grown significantly and established ourselves as a key player in the African logistics sector.

What do you enjoy most about what you do now?

• I love the dynamic nature of my work. Every day brings its own set of challenges and opportunities, which keeps me engaged and constantly thinking on my feet. There’s never a dull moment; whether it’s strategizing to overcome logistical hurdles, innovating to improve our services, or leading my team through complex projects, I’m always intellectually stimulated. This environment pushes me to continually learn and grow, both personally and professionally. Additionally, I find immense satisfaction in seeing the tangible impact of our work—whether it’s the seamless delivery of goods, the positive feedback from clients, or the growth and development of my team members. The ability to make a real difference in the logistics industry and contribute to the broader economic landscape of Nigeria is incredibly fulfilling.

Can you describe a challenge you’ve faced in your role now and how you overcame it?

• • Doing business is hard, and it’s even harder in Nigeria. One significant challenge I faced was when some trucks were diverted, leading to a loss of millions of Naira, which affected our business operations for a while. However, we managed to overcome this by implementing stricter tracking systems, enhancing our security protocols, and diversifying our logistics network to mitigate such risks in the future.

What keeps you driven to continue ?

• • It’s too late to give up. We’ve started this journey, and we must ensure that all the sacrifices of the past do not go in vain. I look back at what we’ve achieved and forward to what we can accomplish, and that drives me to keep pushing forward.

How do you stay updated and continue to grow?

• • I believe in continuous improvement. I stay updated by actively engaging with industry trends, attending conferences, and participating in professional networks. Continuous learning is essential, so I invest time in reading the latest research and books and attending courses. We also prioritize internal training and development to ensure our team is always at the forefront of industry advancements.

Can you share a significant accomplishment or project you’ve worked on recently?

• • Recently, 8BM Freight was named one of the fastest-growing companies in Nigeria by Business Day. Additionally, I received an award as one of the most inspiring and definitive CEOs in Nigeria by The Guardian Newspaper. These awards are a testament to the incredible work we are doing in the logistics industry.

What goals do you have in the near future?

• • In the near future, we aim to scale up the business significantly. This includes expanding our operations across more regions, investing in advanced logistics technology, and increasing our workforce to meet growing demands.

How do you see what you’re passionate about evolving in the coming years, and what steps are you taking?

• • I see the logistics industry evolving with increased automation and technology integration. To stay ahead, we are investing in cutting-edge logistics technology and enhancing our digital infrastructure. We are also focusing on sustainability practices to ensure our operations are environmentally friendly. By continuously innovating and adapting to new trends, we aim to lead the industry and set new standards in logistics efficiency and reliability.

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In the September edition of our Singles’ World, I discussed obstructiveness as one of the features of a spoilt brat. I also made the point that spoilt brats are difficult to live with as marriage partners because it is a foundational and problematic issue. In this edition, I will discuss another feature of spoilt brats so that you can avoid them as marriage partners if you want to enjoy the full blessings of your marriage and live long. May the Lord help you to obey Him and make the right choice in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

In addition to disobedience, naughtiness, attention-seeking, despondency and obstructiveness, we will consider one other behavioural indicator of a spoilt brat: 

4. Temper: Spoilt brats are very temperamental. Recall that we said spoilt brats are products of poor parenting or lack of proper parenting. Spoilt brats are touchy, petulant and cantankerous. At the early stage when the child was misbehaving and flaring up at the slightest provocation and crying over trivial issues, he was being pampered instead of being disciplined. He would naturally think that his parents approved of his behaviour by pampering him. 

He was not reproved and rebuked seriously for being finicky, fastidious, unaccommodating, irritable and bad-tempered according to Proverbs 29:15 that says “The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.” He was always idolised and appeased like the mythical Sango when angry. When such a child grows up with this behavioural dysfunctionality and attitudinal abnormality, it becomes very difficult for the child to change because all this mess, like a plague, had been glued to his life during his formative years. He has thus grown up as a man that is deformed in character. She has now grown up with evidence of physical features but with a lot of seemingly irreparable character flaws. 

All the intolerable, unbearable and unacceptable habits in any sane society have been well formed in him. It is like trying to bend a roasted fish without expecting it to break. When such a temperamental man or woman gets married, it takes a lot of patience, long suffering and endurance to live with such a person. He or she will be very fussy and crabby over frivolous issues that should be overlooked. 

When such a husband gets angry, he may refuse to eat the food prepared by his wife. He may resort to stonewalling. He may walk out of the house and come back late in the night. He may be malicious towards his wife and if provoked further instead of being appeased, it can lead to assault. If the wife is ready to placate him with every gift of humility in her, she may calm him down temporarily. 

Also, when such a wife gets angry, she may refuse to cook. She will close the door of romance. Besides, she can cry for days until she is appeased by the husband just as her parents were doing for her when she was young. If nobody appeases her, she may contemplate suicide depending on the gravity of the cause of her anger. This is one of the foundational issues rocking many homes today. Spousal abuse, assault and murder are on the increase today. Some bad-tempered husbands return their wives’ insults with assaults, while some irascible wives return their husbands’ insults with insults and assaults with assaults.

In some of the recent reported cases, such fracas and altercations have resulted to death on both sides. It is scary and frightening listing examples of such cases here. You cannot live with a touchy and angry spouse and expect to live long. That is why Proverbs 22:24 says “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go.” To balance it, Proverbs 21:19 says “It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.” 

You cannot live happily with either an angry man or an angry woman. An angry person will never be a good listener. He will be very impatient, easily irritable and inhospitable. Even God cannot use such as His minister. Titus 1:7 says to qualify as a bishop, the person must not be soon angry. 

If you are not married, don’t inherit an unbearable foundational problem which you didn’t know anything about in the name of love. You may not be able to carry this cross.  Make your choices wisely. The God of Heaven will help you as you depend upon His guidance. If you are married to a temperamental spouse, with prayers, patience and obedience to the Holy Spirit, you can navigate through the storm. The Lord will help you.     

By the grace of God, we will continue from here next month. Please do not forget to send me your comments and testimonies. If you are not born again, please surrender your life to Jesus Christ today. Tomorrow may be too late. Until then, God bless you. Amen.

Pastor Jide Ajidahun

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“Aunty, you will not leave the road now o, until someone will hit you and you will be calling police” A bald headed motorcyclist screamed as he drove past. I quickly walked to the far end of the road and arranged my hair that had scattered from the wind. My sister would have probably scolded me for not concentrating and I would never admit I was the one that was at fault then. But even with the differences, she was my best friend.
She always looked after me and sometimes took the blame for what I did. She would tell me stories about the animal kingdom so I could sleep off and each night had different parts. She knew how scared of the dark i was and she would wait till i fell asleep before she did and she constantly reassured me the nightmares i had were just a figment of my imagination.
My lips were already cracking from the middle even after all the lip gloss I had applied. It was almost harmattan in Nigeria but it was already harmattan in Akure. The leaves had this crunchy sound when they were stepped on and the wind was annoyingly cold and dry at the same time. It reminded me of how my mum would always make sure we wore our sweaters during harmattan season.

“Fidelis open the gate” my knuckles hurt from knocking the gate. I quickly adjusted my dress and my hair before the gateman opened. 
“Ha! Madam welcome o” he said as he opened and prostrated. Fidelis was always extra. He had been the gateman even before I left home and he was one of the happiest humans I had ever encountered. I was happy he hadn’t changed. It meant happiness still existed.
“Mummy and daddy dey for backyard” he smiled like he knew something I didn’t. I just nodded and entered the house through the front. Mum always forgot to lock the front door and she would scold me as a child for doing the same not knowing I got it from her. As I walked to my room, I noticed the walls had been re painted. Some pictures weren’t on the wall again and some were just put there but one in particular caught my eye.
On a very cold night in December, when I was 10 years, my mum had another child. It was a day before Christmas and we were hanging Christmas décor when she went into labor. He was a breech baby and it was an obviously difficult labor but everyone came out alive. I fell in love with Tayo the moment I saw him.  There was nothing more precious than seeing him open his toothless gums and give the most beautiful smile. He grew as fast as I did and soon, he started doing everything I did. He always wanted me to tell him stories about the animal kingdom and I would tell him from part 1 to 100. He would crawl up to me in the night to tell me about the big bad wolf he saw in his dreams and I would tell him it was just a nightmare. I would stay up at night with him sometimes and look at the stars. He always wondered why there were so many stars and why they shined so bright and I would tell him it was the people we loved that had died that went up and turned to stars.

When I turned 20, Tayo died of Leukemia. He had fought it for 2 years and he lost. He died with the brightest smile on his face and that image haunted me for a very long time.
On the day of his burial, I was the only one who wept uncontrollably; you would think I was his mother. My nightmares resumed and became an unending loop. In all my nightmares, I always saw Tayo and the big bad wolf. It took me a year and a half to recover from his death and by this time, my sister had graduated from the university and had moved to Canada. She would always deny she didn’t move to get away from the grief but I knew she did. I saw the joy in her eyes whenever she played with Tayo, they were alike and she understood him more than I did. Sometimes I would wonder who loved Tayo more between I and my sister and I would ask him but he would smile and tell us he loved us the way we loved him. My mum and dad moved on as quickly as they could and gave most of Tayo’s things to the orphanage.
I left the country after turning 22 and moved to London. I found temporary peace there. No memories, no nightmares, just peace and now i was back after 8 years.
I entered my room to see boxes beside my bed. I dropped my hand bag on the table and sat on the bed. The bed wasn’t dusty neither was the room. A visitor probably stayed here for a while. 
“Pamilerin” I heard as I looked up to see my mother, still looking young and radiant as ever. She smiled to show her perfect teeth. “Mummy” I stood up to hug her. We held each other tight for a while before she finally let me go. 
“My baby has finally come home” we sat on the bed and she started inspecting my face, probably looking for pimples. Old habits don’t die hard. “Where is your remaining luggage” she looked at my hand bag on the table. “The cab will bring them later. I had to get here as soon as I could” she nodded and stood to go to the bathroom. 
I followed her but stood by the door. “Mummy, how bad is it?” I whispered. She washed her hands and took my own hands. “About that, i didnt want to tell you on the phone” She started smiling. “Tell me what?” I asked with concern.  “it was a false alarm, his health is perfect” she answered. I sat down immediately to steady my feet because of the relief i felt. “Mummy, Thank God!” I hugged her tightly and refused to let any tears drop.
“That’s not why I asked you to come home Pamilerin” she brought out her phone and started searching for something.
“Is there something else wrong? and its Pam mummy, you don’t need to call the full name” I scoffed and went to switch on the TV.
“I named you Oluwapamilerin on the day of your birth not Pam. Pam doesn’t mean laughter” she exclaimed and I actually burst out laughing. I wasn’t going to argue with her.
“Now back to what I was saying” she started smiling again.
“Mummy, this smile is suspicious” I didn’t know she had infected me and I was smiling too.
“Just freshen up and meet us in the dining, I’m sure your dad can’t wait to see you” she stood up and left the room before I could even say a word.
I quickly showered and put on a beige dress from my mum’s closet. The driver hadn’t brought my other luggage and the dress was really nice. I fit in perfectly into the dress and it just showed how much weight I had lost.

I packed my hair into a bun and ran downstairs to join my mother in the kitchen. There was a tall girl in the kitchen assisting my mum. I guessed it was the maid. “Good evening madam” the girl greeted. “Her name is Maria” my mum introduced her. “Good evening Maria” I replied and went to the dining.
As I walked towards the dining, I overheard  2 other voices. I wasn’t mentally prepared to greet family friends I hadn’t seen in over 8 years, but I breathed in and decided to suck it up. I walked in and immediately ran to hug my father.
“Daddy” I held him so tight and he felt so small in my embrace.
“My daughter” he released me a bit and held my hands. I noticed He had added weight from the last time I saw him and he looked really happy.
“Pam, do you remember Mr. and Mrs. Dimeji” my dad asked and my brain scanned their faces. They looked familiar but I couldn’t quite place where I knew them from. I nodded and they smiled while hugging me. They seemed more excited to see me than I was to see them.
“Can you remember Lade? I’m sure you do after all the drama at the Christmas parties” the man and the woman laughed while the guy beside them looked up to see me.
I remembered clearly. It was Lade
Our Christmas parties used to be the most talked about those years. We would host family friends and my parents work partners and just eat, drink and have fun. The kids used to have a separate area for playing and we often left the adults to talk. I had a lot of friends but I was really close to one.
Lade was one of the few who understood me. He would always give me the attention I needed, tolerate my stubbornness and still made me laugh. We were opposites, we would fight and everyone would tease us but we barely cared. Even till we became teenagers, we still remained close. He was the only one that called me by my second name because it was personal to him. 
He was there when we buried Tayo and he shared in my grief. I got better because of him and for a while I thought I couldn’t function without him.
He left for the states the day after my 20th birthday and I lost contact with him soon after.  Distance was an issue but I was the major issue. The last time we saw was at the airport in Lagos when he was leaving and He told me he loved me.
“Morountodun” he smiled.

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Although things have gotten so mixed up in the catering world that we don’t know what recipe is a vegetable or not, it doesn’t nullify the true class of these recipes.
Avocado is a fruit, a fact against the belief people have that it’s a vegetable.
While most fruits contain high levels of sugar (carbohydrates), avocado is high in “healthy” fats- a reason people mostly refer to it as the “butter” fruit.
77% of the calories in avocado is from fat. The fat is mostly monounsaturated and most of them is oleic acid (the same fatty acids found in olive oil).
Oleic acid has been shown to reduce inflammation and lower the risk of developing heart diseases.
Avocado is rich in both fatty acids and fiber and like other similar foods can help you feel satisfied after eating and keep you feeling full for longer. Some studies say that this effect can help in weight loss.
Vitamins are majorly classified as fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins. Like their name suggest, fat-soluble vitamins are those vitamins that need fat to get absorbed into the body while water-soluble vitamins are vitamins that get absorbed into the body through water. Most plant nutrients are fat-soluble.
Including avocado in your fruit salad helps your body absorb enough plant nutrients since it contains high fat content.
Aside from the interesting benefits of the fats in the avocado fruit, there are so many other benefits from avocado. Avocado contains folate needed to make red and white blood cells, Vitamin K needed for blood clot, Vitamin C for repair of body tissues and immunity boost amd potassium which helps regulate fluid balance, muscle contraction and nerve signals.
It also contains smaller amounts of Vitamin B5 and B6 which promotes healthy skin, hair, eyes and liver and promotes brain health and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease respectively.
Isn’t Avocado just an amazing fruit?

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Oh yeah! I wrote on trusting God some months back and I just thought I should share a prayer I wrote from my heart when I told God I had surrendered all to him.

Some times when I forget and I get overwhelmed with so many things especially when I was in school and we were all told to go home.. Arrrgh🤦🏽‍♀️. I go back to this and it gives me strength to continue. We are a period where there’s a lot going on, so many things are on hold, fear and uncertainty is everywhere. The only thing is for us pray and just trust God that everything will work out beautifully.

God is with us in all of this.

Dear Lord,
I don’t want to think for you,
I don’t want to plan for you,
I don’t want to arrange things for you,
I don’t want to do things in my own way,
Do it the way you want it Lord.
Rearrange and realign my thinking.
Time and seasons are in your hands.
Do what only you can do for me.
Help me to put my trust solely in you.
And even when I become weak in this and
It feels like I’m going back on my words
Remind me, give me strength,
Make me strong and uphold me.
Help me to wait,
Make me patient,
Prune me
And give me all it takes
To lay it all at Your feet always.
In Jesus name
Amen 🙏

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