Leke Adler (Biography)

Born as an only child, Leke Alder's dream from childhood was to be a lawyer, though he is gifted in many areas. This was after watching a television documentary about a successful lawyer. He attended Igbobi College and Kings College before proceeding to Obafemi Awolowo University, where he graduated as a lawyer. His studying law according to him was an accident.
He was admitted into Kings College and was making preparations to travel to England for a British Caledonian (Airways) Scholarship when he heard about Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination from his friends. He took the exam, made good grades, got into school and won himself a scholarship, one out of the then available five slots.

While in University as an undergraduate, his passion for art grew. His love for writing, painting, design and photography led to his hosting an art exhibition as a law student. His exhibition was successful with more than 2000 people in attendance that the Guardian newspapers reported it. He also ran a chamber and argued cases for students, for a fee.

Upon graduation, he practised for two years in a law firm. Having discovered himself, his abilities and talents, he wanted to do more. So he resigned. At the age of 26, newly married with no money in his pocket, he started cartooning and designing. Then one day, an idea came to him. He took down all the frames, the wedding gifts that was given to them, removed all the pictures inside and replaced them with his cartoons made on a cardboard paper he bought for N17. 50k. That evening he took them to church and kept them at the back of the church. At the end of the service, worshippers rushed his product and he made between N147 to N250. That singular act was all the motivation he needed to launch out. Before long people were buying his paintings for N40, 000 and more.

Due to the nature of his job and for the fact that he was working from home, the fun quickly faded. In the bid to come up with what to do, he came up with the idea of applied arts. That means he can do one piece and reproduce it. And so people began to meet him for advice. In providing solution for their problems, he produces the kind of design that suited what they wanted. His works attracted a Lebanese. The job he did for the Lebanese attracted the Italian embassy. And then other embassies.
One thing led to another and people started paying him millions just to give advice. For instance a three page advice made it possible for a company struggling, to make over N100 million within six months. In return, the company gave him a N1 million retainership. Each work done attracted a different client. Each satisfied client referred another. And so from one room apartment and with N70 as start-up capital, he began to advice individuals, corporations, embassies and governments. That was how Leke Alder and his team at Alder Consulting introduced modern branding in Nigeria. Other companies in the group are Alder Media, Alder Research and Alder IT.
One day, he invited some of his friends over from accounting, advertising, law, banking etc for a brainstorming session. With a marker and cardboard he talked about what the vision of an organization should be and what a policy of government should be. For 8 hours, seated in an uncomfortable chair with no food, his friends were dazzled with knowledge and information on how things should be. Little did he know that what he has just done is conducting a seminar. They were so impressed that they requested for another session. This time invitation was extended to their wives, husbands, friends and colleagues. And from morning till 7pm they were listening to him. The only difference this second time is that he remembered to provide refreshments. Thereafter, banks and other organizations started consulting him.

In appreciation to God for His goodness, he decided to start evangelism cards. With the creativity he brought into the production of these cards, they became highly successful and by the end of the first month he had given out about 400,000 pieces for free. It was during this time that a young man seeked his assistance in turning his business of selling imported typewriters around. He applied the concept of the evangelism cards as a means of creating awareness. People were very impressed. The concept caught the attention of the first mobile phone company that had just been set up then. They request for a proposal and the rest as they say is history.

Mandiba: A Life Fight for Freedom (Biography of Nelson Mandela)

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is South Africa’s first black President(May 10th 1994 to June 14th 1999). He is one of the most renowned fighters against the Apartheid regime for the rights of the black population. His life is without a doubt a fascinating one. Fewer men in history have done so much in the name of equality, freedom and peace. Nearly every nation in the world is interested in his biography, so here it is!


Early Life

Nelson Mandela was born on July 18th 1918 near Umata, in the eastern part of Cape Province. He was the eldest son of a Thembu tribe chief. The tribe spoke the Xhosa language. Mandela was 9 years old when his father died of tuberculosis. He was not born with the name Nelson, but with his African name Rolihlahla , which literally means pulling the branch of a tree, or in it's colloquial sense 'troublemaker' ( It seems Rohlihlahla Nelson Mandela certainly lived up to his given name, but in the best of ways).

                            

Nelson Mandela finished his Junior Certificate from a Wesleyan school and on to college where he studied for a Bachelor of Arts. He attended classes at the University of Fort Hare, but was expelled in 1940 for taking part in a boycott. Rejecting an arranged marriage from his guardian (regent Jongintaba) Manela Rohililaha Nelson escaped to Johannesburg. After arriving in the city, he found work as a night watchman at a mine.  He later worked as an articled clerk at a law firm in Johannesburg. At night he worked on his BA through a University of South Africa correspondent course. He also studied law at Witwatersrand University.


Marriage

Life always has its dark side and Mandiba was not spared in this regard. As a political activist he was not above controversy and his love life often paid the price  His first two marriages collapsed under the strain of politics, but the third time around he found enduring happiness with the widow of Mozambican president Samora Machel.

His first marriage was with Evelyn Ntoko Mase. Nelson and Evelyn were married for 13 years before they split up. Evelyn became a Jehovah's Witness and greatly resented Mandela's political activities, which turned the marriage sour and sullen. Evelyn complained of his friendships with other pretty women including Ruth, his secretary, whom he sometimes brought home after work and who would follow him into the bedroom, probably not to take dictations. After much contention, Evelyn  eventually walked out.

In 1958, Nelson married Winnie Madikizela. While much of their marriage was spent apart as Nelson was in prison, Winnie Mandela became a strong political figure herself. In the coming years, Winnie would be in and out of jail herself being a strong antagonist of the Apartheid regime. And despite the love letters and prison visits, it was political strife and alleged affairs on Winnie's part that eventually drove a wedge between the couple. They divorced in 1996. Winnie Mandela had contested the divorce proceedings but a judge ended up ruling in Nelson's favor.

Mandela and his 3rd wife Graca Machel

                                     
                                                 

In 1998 when he was 80 years old, he finally found a lasting marriage with Graça Machel. She is the widow of former Mozambican president Samora Machel. She stood by him through the remainder of his life and helped him bring closer his already disjointed families. With Six children, 17 grand children and  14 great-grand children, Mandela left behind a big family. He later expressed regret at the neglect his families had to suffer because of him.

Social and political activity.

In 1952, He and Oliver Tambo (the ANC leader in exile) opened the first legal firm in Johannesburg that was led by black lawyers. He completed his degree through correspondence and eventually became involved in the ANC (African National Council). From there it seems there was no looking back.
Once he became involved in the ANC there was no looking back in the Nelson Mandela life. Mandela and those who were with him took many actions against the injustice of apartheid. A system where one's color discriminated so totally against the basic laws of freedom was unthinkable (just as slavery) and yet it
was a reality.

                                     

In March 1960, 69 black anti-apartheid demonstrators were killed by police at Sharpeville. The government declared a state of emergency and banned the ANC. In response, the organisation abandoned its policy of non-violence and Mandela helped establish the ANC's military wing 'Umkhonto we Sizwe' or 'The Spear of the Nation'. He was appointed its commander-in-chief and travelled abroad to receive military training and to find support for the ANC.

In 1962 Nelson Mandela was arrested and sent to prison. Many other ANC leaders were also arrested at
this time. The apartheid government offered to release Mandela on no less than six occasions but he rejected them each time. On one such occasion Mandela released a statement saying: "I cherish my own freedom dearly, but I care even more for your freedom ... What freedom am I being offered while the organisation of the people [the ANC] remains banned?"

                                     

Mandela and other ANC leaders being moved to prison

A man of peace, the Nelson Mandela life involves nearly 27 years of imprisonment. Songs have been written, and praises sung.
The call for freedom was heard around the world. Under President de Klerk, Nelson Mandela was finally released from prison in 1990. He returned as the leader of the ANC and fought on for freedom. Along with de Klerk he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

Nelson Mandela 1994 is elected president of South Africa; A triumph for equality and a triumph for peace. The world rejoiced in finally seeing a wrong come right. One man who stands firm can make a difference for millions. The Nelson Mandela story is one of hope for all mankind.


Later Life

He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. From September 3rd 1998 to June 14th 1999, he was the general secretary of the Non-Aligned Movement. He is an honorary member of more than 50 international universities.
Mr. Mandela led South Africa's transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s, after 27 years in prison.
Through his extraordinary vison he was able to use the 1995 Rugby World Cup as an instrument to help promote nation building by wearing the Springbok jersey, which was widely seen as a symbol of white and apartheid rule.This was instrumental in retaining the emblem for the national team at a time when a chorus of voices advocated a change of the symbol. It was an act of reconciliation and generosity of spirit which no one could have expected. Over the course of his life, anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela provided many memorable speeches and soundbites. In the dock at the 1964 Rivonia Trial facing the gallows for acts of sabotage against the apartheid government, he turned the trial into a propaganda triumph, looking magnificent in the tribal robes of a Thembu chief made of jackal skins. He defended himself with a great 'I am prepared to die' speech. He told the court:

"I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."

In place of execution, he faced living death, 27 years of it in prison on Robben Island.

In 1997 Mandela stepped down as ANC leader and in 1999 his presidency of South Africa came to an end.
In 2004, Mandela announced his retirement from public life, although his charitable work continued. On 29 August 2007, a permanent statue to him was unveiled in Parliament Square, London.

                                     

The United Nations declared his birthday, July 18, Nelson Mandela International Day. This was the first time the UN dedicated a particular day to a person.
He died peacefully and surrounded by his family at his Johannesburg home on Thursday evening, 5th December, 2013 aged 95.
Several nations of the world including the US had their flag flown at half mast in honor of this great  selfless leader who fought tirelessly for justice peace equality and freedom. Hundreds of awards and honours have been bestowed on Mandela. Among others, he is an honorary citizen of Canada, an honorary member of the British Labour Party, and an honorary member of Manchester United. He also had a nuclear particle (the 'Mandela particle'), a prehistoric woodpecker (Australopicus nelsonmandelai) and an orchid (Paravanda Nelson Mandela) named after him.

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