Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven’t planted. David Bly.
It has been said that examination is not the true test of a person’s ability. In as much as that may be true, examination is the true test of a person’s preparation. Examinations may not be a true test of ability because of some factors that may hinder effective preparations. The followings are some of the factors that can hinder effective preparations for examinations.

• Illness. Illness is the absence of wellness. This is when a person is not well. Some students become ill just before or during examination period. This affects their preparations and performances in the examination. This may be due to stress, tension or personal heath challenges which were not anticipated. That candidate consequently will not be able to perform according to his/her real ability. The person may even fail the examination. As a result of illness, excellent students may end up with a performance bellow his ability. You need to take care of your health before, during and after the examination period.
• Poverty. Poverty is a situation where you lack resources to finance your desires and dreams. This lack prevents a student from concentration and preparations for the examination. Lack of money for text books, food and other items that could hinder student’s performances. Position yourself for resources before the examination comes up. You may need to let your parents, guardian or sponsor know your needs ahead of time. You can offer to render some services that will motivate your parents and people to assist you. A man decided to be the best in school to qualify for scholarship consistently.

• Cramming. A student can pass an examination by cramming into the brain relevant study materials.However, if a line is forgotten of all that the student crammed, the student may feel lost and not be able to put anything down in the examination. This makes cramming for examination a dangerous exercise for any serious student. Students are encouraged to study long before the examination. They should read and understand the study material. When the materials are well understood there will be no need for cramming. In case any cramming is done and a line is forgotten, the student can then rely on his understanding. Cramming could put a student in a difficult situation if the examiners discover very close similarities in the scripts of students at a center. This could be considered a case of examination malpractices or cheating.

 Cheating. A student can copy another person’s work in the examination. Or materials could be sneaked into the examination hall. This practice is cheating. It is highly condemned. If a person passes exam by cheating, that exam is not a true reflection of the ability of the student. Cheating is criminal. Do not be involved. Attend classes, take notes and understand your lessons. Then you will have no reason to cheat. Be honest. Honesty is still the best policy.

• 'Miracle Center'. Examinations center that majors on and known for examination malpractice is known as ‘miracle center’. Usually it is a private school or a public school located in remote places that are not readily accessible to examination officials and security agents like the police. This is responsible for indiscipline in schools since students  are sure that they would get assistance to pass exams. These centers can destroy your future. Your result could be cancelled; hence your future could be put on hold. Run from miracle centers. Be a miracle worker by studying hard to pass your exams.
• Teachers Exam Assistance. Some mercenary teachers and professional ‘helpers’ assist students during the examination. This is usually arranged by the school authorities ahead of the examination. The candidates are encouraged or forced to make contributions for the purpose of paying the persons that will assist the candidates during examination. This is nothing but examination malpractice, don’t be involved. Your future is great. Prepare for it.

Take care of your health, prepare for financial supplies. Start early to study for exams; avoid cheating and miracles centers. You will succeed. Rev Tobi Ayo Loto, is the Senior Pastor of Covenant Worship Centre, Okitipupa. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 0809 2813 152. This article is an extract from his book, 10 COMMANDMENTS OF EXAMINATION

"And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean." (2 Kings 5:10).

 You will never get results on many issue unless you are ready to do It again.  Laman would not have been healed if he did not deep himself into the river again and again. If He did it six times, he would have been close to his miracle, but he will never get it. You must confess the word of God severally, if you want to be healed. You must do this again for many days , if you want to establish your miracles.

 You must pray again and again if you must gain from the place prayer. "Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months." (James 5:17). Elijah prayed seven times before rain came. "And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times." (1 Kings 18:43). He was willing to do  It again until result came.

 The children of Israel moved round the wall of Jesricho once a day for seven days and seven  times on the seventh day for the wall of Jesricho to fall. Receive grace to do It again until your miracle is delivered.

 Pray these prayer points: You spirit  of discouragement  hindering my success, die in the name of Jesus.

Oh Lord, let me not give up before I get my miracles in the name of Jesus.

 The only way to turn an obstacle to miracle is to do it again. The only way to change negative result to positive is to try again. The only was to turn failure to success is to try again. Repetition is allowed until you get your desired result. You don't have a right to your first excuse until you have made seven consistently unsuccessful efforts. Even the word of God was tried seven times.  "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." (Psalm 12:6). Don't give up on any thing until you have done it seven times. if you persist and persist, you will succeed

 Prayer Points.

You spirit of quarter to blessings, I cast you out of my life, in the name of Jesus.

 Thank God for my  life in the name of Jesus.

 Tell the Pharaoh of your life, ''Let me go!'' In Jesus name.

  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; facebook.com/tobi.a.loto

The member representing Ilaje - Ese-Odo Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Rapheal Nomiye aka Groovy who recently buried his mum amidst pump and ceremony said he was happy to have given a befitting burial to his late mother Mrs Grace Oneghoyeun Nomiye.

Nomiye told Coastalnews in a chat that he had the opportunity of celebrating his mum when she was alive and he also celebrate her at death.

“My greatest joy today is that I celebrated my mum when she was alive and at death I also celebrated her. It is a thing that gladdened my heart, he stated.

The burial ceremony which is still the talk of the town had a tumultuous crowd. The musician at the band stand at the Ilaje High School venue was the King of Juju music, King Sunny Ade who thrilled the audience in an unusual dimension.

It was a gathering of the crème de la crème of society as various segments of the larger society were well represented.

Members of the National Assembly Members of the Ondo State Executive Council led by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, Chairman of Boards and Parastatals, Chairmen and Leaders of party at various levels were all present to celebrate with Hon. Rapheal Nomiye.

In case of the traditional rulers, they were led by the Ondo State Traditional Council in person of Oba Lawrence Omowole, the Amapetu of Mahin. It is notable that the Amapetu led more than twenty traditional rulers to the epoch making occasion.

For the Traditional Chiefs, the figure could not be ascertained as every notable traditional Chief from the Ilaje / Ese=Odo Federal Constituency made their presence felt.

The clergy men were also not left out as the Apostles, Senior Apostles and the clergy from the Pentecostal world also made their way to a programme which Groovy had packaged to meet up with standards for classical parties of that nature.

It is on record that Prince Rapheal Nomiye was the first person to publicly engage popular comedian Chief Omidina popularly called Baba Suwe after his travails with the officers of the Nigeria Drugs Law Enforcement Agency. (NDLEA)

Expectedly, Baba Suwe spiced the musical interlude with rib-cracking jokes which came in torrents. Coastalnews joins the Nomiyes to bid mama farewell.

 

Some stakeholders who included, the Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, Chairman Caretaker Committee in the Council, Hon. Banji Okunomo, soldiers from the 19 Battalion Barracks Okitipupa, Nigeria Legions Ilaje Local Government Chapter amongst others all gathered at the Ilaje Local Government Cenotaph at Igbokoda to Celebrate the grand finale of the 2012 edition of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

In his address, the Caretaker Chairman, Hon. Banji Okunomo who gave thanks to God for the reality of the day despite the prevailing situation of the country appreciated the unprecedented efforts of the Nigerian Heroes who had laid down their lives for the peace and unity of the nation.

He commiserated with the families they left behind and charged the serving solders across the nation to put their heads together to proffer a solution to the menace of the Boko Harram group in Nigeria.

Hon. Okunomo led the representative of the C.O, 19 Battalion Barracks Okitipupa, Major Gregory Anukwu, the Divisional Police Officer, Ilaje Local Government, CSP Anthony Umah, Chairman Nigeria Legion, Ilaje Local Government chapter, Major Aiyeleso Demehin (rtd) as well as the Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo to lay the wreath at the foot of the unknown soldier after which 9-21 rounds bullet was released in honoure of the past heroes in Nigeria.

Speaking with the CoastalNews, the Major Gregory Anukwu, asserted that he never expected that the occasion would be all that colorful, the DPO Ilaje Local Government CSP Umach congratulated the Nigerian armed forces for the success of this year’s remembrance day while the divisional officer NSCDC, Ilaje Local Government Mr. Kehinde Akintujoye explained that, past heroes in Nigeria are worthy of being celebrated as a result of their landmark efforts at putting the nation together.

The occasion also featured the release of balloons on air by the Local Government Chairman symbolizing peace in Ilaje land.