The importance of sports and cultivating a healthy life style was brought to the fore recently when most executives of the Oil and Gas Industry took time off their busy schedules and gathered in Benin City for the 2 nd edition of the NNPC Upstream Golf Tournament. The tournament was hosted by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) in the Exploration and Production Directorate of Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

According to Gabriel Ogah in his book on Golfers Drills, Golfing is essentially a gating game. Gating may be physical or mental. Physically, you gate the ball by hitting it with clubs (driver, iron and putter) and directing it to the cup on the green. Mental gating is concentration. Concentration ensures that the ball is struck with a pure stroke and it is followed through as it rolls to its destination, the cup. Golfing promotes a good and healthy lifestyle and it is the crave for this, that gave birth to the annual tournament tagged the “Upstream Golf Tournament”.

The tournament teed off on Saturday June 11, 2011 with known golfers among whom were the Group Managing Director of NNPC Mr. Austen Oniwon, one of the former GMDs of NNPC, Dr. Jackson Gaius-Obaseki, the Group Executive Director Exploration & Production, Engr. Andy Yakubu, the GED, R & P, Mr. Philip Chukwu, the Group General Manager, NAPIMS, Mr. Morrison A. Fiddi, the Managing Director of NPDC, Mr. Abiye Membere, the Managing Director of IDSL, Dr, J. T. Dawha, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Gas Company Mr. S. A. Mohammed and a host of others industry executives.

Though the main event commenced on Friday, June 10 2011, other events ushered in the main tournament. On Wednesday, June 8 and Friday, June 10, 2011, the Caddies, Eaglets, Pros and Veterans were given opportunities to prove their competences, so also the women and other guest golfers.

The well attended and colorful event even brought together executives of all the SBUs/CSU, IOCs and other companies, serving and retired top NNPC Top Managements and provided a very good platform for interactions and socializing.

At the end of the tournament, prices were presented to winners in the various categories.

The event was supported by other companies like Mandillas motors, Brass LNG and NAPIMS who provided gift items that were presented during the event.

The tournament was brought to an end with a dinner on Saturday 11, 2011. In a speech delivered on behalf of the GMD of NNPC by the GED E&P, Engr. Andy Yakubu, the GMD appreciated the E&P Directorate for the initiative and commended NPDC for a successful hosting and sponsorship and applauded the organizing committee for a job well done.

The Captain of the Benin golf course and the Chairman of the Benin club also applauded the management of NPDC for organizing the best tournament in Benin so far.

The NNPC Upstream Golf Tournament is a rotational hosting/sponsorship tournament by the Exploration and Production Directorate. The maiden edition in 2010 was hosted by IDSL while NAPIMS has been nominated to sponsor the 2012 edition.

ENJOYING PARENTING TEENAGERS

Parenting Teens can be a very tough aspect of parenting, for many it is the ultimate test of parenting.

You begin to wonder how a child you have raised with your bare hands from birth has grown up into a teenager and is no longer following your road map. He seems to have developed his own direction, forsaking what you had imagined for him. Why should this happen, you may ask. I got interested in this topic because I have a 14 year old son who suddenly became quiet, cold towards his siblings, withdrawn and isolated. I observed this attitude when he came home on vacation. My mum and siblings noticed this strange attitude and drew my attention to it. I initially thought he needed a change of school or environment, but now I know better. Read along as I take you into the world of teenagers!

Teen Parenting differs from child parenting. Child parenting tends to focus on simple issues of life such as, teaching kids how to read, walk, talk, etc. Once your child grows up into a teenager, however, his/her hormones take over; which poses a challenge to parents. Most of the issues involving parenting teens come from the innate desire of a teen to pave his or her own road through life.

I realize that parenting teens can be tough without education or information, but learning about parenting can help alleviate some of that difficulty or challenge. Teenage parenting is a fulltime job and there is no time to waste. This has taken a hefty price from the hearts and souls of many parents (very sure I’m speaking the mind of parents!). The energy it takes can be unfathomable, but its simplicity must be gathered if parenting teens is to take place with any degree of success.

Teenagers are often engrossed in a world with themselves. Because their social role is unclear, teenagers are inclined to sensitivity, shyness, and aggressiveness to mask their insecurity.

They are often withdrawn to their own world of imagination. According to Cornum and Murdock, social fears such as being ignored, feeling rejected, losing control and looking foolish are common among teenagers. Teenagers often present many unique challenges such as isolating themselves and spending all of their time when at home in their room; experimenting with drugs, sex, smoking and alcohol; not getting up on time to make it to school, church or mosque; cutting classes, repeatedly not completing homework etc.

Talking of experimenting, as I was in the middle of this write-up, my teen son started my car engine! Luckily I just walked into the house in the middle of the drama. When I told my husband, he smiled and confessed that he actually did that at that same age. Hmmm!

Teenagers need constant support from their parents and relatives. Making mistakes, impulsive actions are definitely part of growing up, of which every parent has gone through. Accept your teen as an individual. It is amazing to know that the traits we (parents) least like in ourselves are often mirrored through our teenagers!

LOOK AT THE GOOD SIDE

Another aspect of parenting that is usually overlooked is looking at the good side of your teenage son or daughter; acknowledging when he/she dresses properly, when they use caring behavior with siblings and other family members, watching your teen master a tasks (e.g. play a musical instrument, wash your car, clean the house etc), good behavior and assuming responsibilities, completion of homework and house chores on time. To experience the joy of parenting teens, it is important to schedule time for your teen. Studies have shown that teens want to spend more time, not less, with their families. Your tone of voice is extremely important when communicating with your teen. Yelling at them simply doesn’t work (parents are guilty of this).  The loud noise will only shut down your listener (your teen) and you will not get through. If you feel you cannot control your emotions, please have a “time out” of the conversation until you have better control. When it comes to discipline situations, you are the parent, and because of this, you have the final say. Teenagers are aware of this and they trust you because of it. But do try to explain your reasoning whenever possible.

Never shut your teen out to show that you disapprove of their behavior. If you need time before you can talk to them about something that has upset you, tell them you need time. Don’t walk away silent. Always have a talk with your teen to bring out positive opinions, ideas and behaviors. Never compare your teen with his/her siblings.

Modeling is the best way of learning; you are your teenager’s model. And treat your teenager with the same respect you would have them treat you.

CULTIVATING READING CULTURE

There is no doubt that reading activates your brain and put it in a proper shape to do its work of creativity and innovation. It makes you think deeply and intellectually. To Francis Beacon, reading makes a full man, speaking makes a ready man and writing makes an exact man. Reading transforms and refines a man to be better, richer and greater.

An individual who does not read is not adequately informed. It is said that readers are leaders and leaders are readers. As a fact, “World Class leaders and successful business leaders” are great readers. A society that is not informed is deformed. This underscores the importance of reading giving rise to a well enlightened and educated society. This kind of society cannot be deceived, exploited or manipulated.

It is through books that we have intercourse with superior minds. You should therefore, read and read all the times. You hardly get bored as a reader. It is a good escape from boredom and keeps you busy.

Two things that will stand you out in the next five years are the type of friends you keep and the quality of books you read. The world of books is the most remarkable creation of man; nothing else built ever lasts, monuments fall, nations perish, new races build others but in the world of books are volumes that will live on, still as young and fresh as the day they were written.

Parents should therefore, build and promote the culture of reading from an early age of their children thus:

1.	Form a reading habit by visiting the library
2.	Give books as gifts during birthdays of their children
3.	Set up mini-library corner and flooding it with interesting, stimulating, inspirational and motivating books, magazines, articles etc
4.	Set targets for their children on the numbers of books to be read and summarized

Parents, please note that the society will be better off when empty vessels are filled with important knowledge. The security challenge in the country today would have been minimal if people were adequately informed and enlightened. Reading is part of the development of human capital. Any society that fails to develop its human capital however rich it is in human and natural resources, has not only chosen the path of a servant and a mediocre in its relation to other countries of the world; but has also decided to remain poor and backward in the ever changing world.

A country’s yearning for scientific and technological inventions can only be achieved when sufficient resources are invested in human capital development and its citizens encouraged to form a habit of reading.

Goeffrey Hunt contends that “a society is divided into two parts, a free and enlightened few and the ignorant many who consciously behave with blind regularity according to natural law or social circumstances”. It is also said that an educated mind is a liberated and enlightened mind. However, a lot of people have education without character. You read to be well informed, well educated and well enlightened. It equips you to contribute meaningfully to the development and progress of your country.

Now how do we read? What are the best methods or strategies for reading? Fred Smith says “Every problem has a key log; you learn to find it. The strategies for reading are thus:

1.	Pick a book with an attractive title
2.	Go though the content page
3.	Read books summary at the back
4.	Select a chapter from the book that appeals to you and read You may decide to read just one or two chapters from the book and you are done with it
5	You do not need to read the whole book cover to cover; if you do that you may not read many books in your life time
6	Make your notes and underline important areas in the book
7	Share what you have read with others. It sticks when you share ideas, information and knowledge
8	Critique, not criticize the book with others

In conclusion, it is obvious from the foregoing that reading liberates the mind. It informs, educates, enlightens, inspires, motivates you to think and act excellence and world class and is good escape from boredom. It is one of the exercises that bring balance to a man’s life. Plato says, knowledge is virtue and we acquire knowledge through reading. The world of books enables us to meet minds with superior minds such as mathematical, Chike Obi, literary giant and Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, J. C. Maxwell, Brian Tracy etc. Fellow colleagues, it is for your own good and your children’s to read. So read and form Reading Clubs to encourage reading. Governments at all levels should establish Libraries in all the states and Council Areas for its citizens to read. A society will be better-off when people are adequately informed and educated. Remember that a reader is a leader and a leader is a reader. If your desire, aspiration and or ambition is to be a great leader in Africa, then cultivate reading culture. God bless NNPC! God bless Nigeria!!