“Hello Sweetheart, I just found a new hangout where you would love to post your articles”, my wife (@evashinen) said to me from the other side of the phone while she was away during an end-of-the-year picnic with @thelovejunkie, @olawalium, @restandreign and co. She sounded so upbeat. I had to wait for her until she returned home to get the full scoop of the novel discovery. Apparently some of her colleagues at the picnic were Steemians, so they devoted a couple of minutes at the picnic to talking about Steemit. That 30 seconds phonecall is why I am here. A couple of days later, I logged on to Steemit and fell in love with it. The rest is unfolding history. I must also thank @tojukaka for his giant strides.

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Brief Bio

My name is Idowu Kunlere (Steemit username: @idowu-kunlere).

• Nigerian and Optimistic
• Married (to an amazon)
• Grateful dad
• BSc Microbiology; MSc Environmental Microbiology and; PhD (in-view, soon)
• Public servant/Social entrepreneur/Youth Mobiliser
• Speaks English (Started Spanish Beginner Classes. Planning on also learning French and German)
• Writer, Poet
• Loyal friend
• Music: RnB, Rock, Jazz, Gospel music, Biripo (A traditional music of Ikale people in Ondo State, Nigeria)
• Favourite sports: Football (Soccer)
• Books I am currently reading: Good to Great (by Jim Collins), The Richest Man in Babylon (by George Samuel Clason), Talent is Never Enough by (John C. Maxwell), Your Destiny is in your Competence (by Gbeminiyi Eboda), and Fire and Fury (by Michael Wolf).

5 Reasons why I decided to join Steemit

I always try to find reasons for the things I do. Joining Steemit was no less different. Here are some of the reasons I came up with in deciding to join Steemit. To:

i. Meet new friends and learn from others:

I had spent some time already reading various articles from different authors on Steemit. Fantastic writers. I even hear there are big whales here; I can’t wait.

ii. Add value, impact lives and create wealth

I know the things I write about will definitely help young people and young professionals on Steemit make better choices and turn out better.

iii. Extend my sphere of influence

iv. And yes, to have a great time!

This is the coolest place to catch real fun while learning a whole lot at the same time.

4 things I like about Steemit

i. Originality:

I like the fact that on Steemit, you cannot appropriate to yourself glory for the works of others or take credit for what isn’t yours. And if you must adapt a post from a previously published work by another author, artist, designer etc., you must acknowledge your source.

In the days ahead, this would be a very important consideration for new members from various parts of the world, and especially in these days, where social media has made many lazy and easy “latch-on”. To build your following on Steemit, you must be original and credit others where due. Isn’t that cool?

ii. Alternative to other social media platforms:

Each time a new alternative becomes available to consumers and users, an opportunity opens for bigger impacts!

Doesn’t it feel great that finally, there is some sort of alternative to Facebook, Twitter and others, and that soon, it (Steemit) would be on the world map, re-defining how we socialize and engage with the public?

iii. Opportunity to network with like-minds:

One of the advantages of new media (Social Media) is the ease with which people connect around the world. Steemit is poised to take that to a whole new level.

iv. Its reward system

Likes and re-tweets on Facebook and Twitter are cool, at least, they make you feel cool about yourself. But what’s more? MZ smiles to the bank while nothing directly accrues to users. But on Steemit, whether you are a whale or a potential whale, your upvotes (likes), comments and meaningful participation means more than just another statistic! They mean real money and more motivation to you!

My Social Media presence and following

Facebook: 5,000 friends, 490 followers
Twitter: 407 followers
LinkedIn: 6,500+ followers

I'm always open to be filled by your goodwill

How do you navigate a route you have never been? Use Google map or other digital tools. But there is a better way; let someone hold you by the hand, literally, and show you the way.

It’s true, when we stand on the shoulders of giants (more experienced partners, whales…), the impossible becomes possible.

If you would be kind enough to show me around and help me make the best of time on Steemit, I am open to mentoring and useful tips from everyone. My doors will always be open. I am a lifelong student who loves to sip from knowledge’s fountain. But I do not merely take a sip from knowledge’s fountain, I give back, always. I take what is taught me and make something tangible out of it that impacts more people.

So, if you invest time on and mentor me, you are investing in the future and in the lives of countless others on Steemit and in real life that would reap from your goodwill. And every time that happens, they would be grateful to/for you!

Things I will be writing about

I. Environment:

If you want to know about real-time state of environmental management in Nigeria, about public and private efforts being taken to checkmate land degradation, mitigate climate change, sustainably manage municipal wastes, secure food security, strengthen environmental compliance monitoring and enforcement, increase awareness on Environmental issues, about young people making big impacts in Nigeria’s Environment sector, etc., then, I am your man.

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I am hugely passionate about the Environment, and it’s such a huge honour to serve at the top federal agency responsible for environmental management in Nigeria. One of the reasons for my interest is that linked to the state and quality of the Environment, are SDGs 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15- achieving and sustaining those SDGs will be impossible without a healthy environment.

I am also the co-founder of Wastesmart Network, a community initiative whose vision is to inspire “waste-smart” societies. I have been invited to speak at various seminars, facilitate workshops, attend international conferences, as well as, to radio and TV interviews on environmental sustainability, youth affairs, leadership and other topical matters.

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I see all the amazing works @lamouthe, @history-trail, @faces, @camille1234 and others are doing in environment-related themes on Steemit! I'm so excited.

II. Public leadership (Politics, Governance and Public Service)

Why are some nations poor, while others are rich? Why are some nations free-for-all, utterly disorganized and stuck in the mud of the past, while others entrench the rule of law? Look no further than the quality of public leadership available in such countries. Like John C. Maxwell said, “Everything falls and rises on leadership”.

When I write about public leadership, my aim is to create awareness, help the public get more interested in how they are governed, offer a different but informed perspective to emerging issues and empower leaders to make better decisions on behalf of the public. One of my dreams is that someday, public institutions in Nigeria will become centres of excellence, innovations and topnotch service delivery. And that soon, only the best of us (in competence and character) would lead the rest of us, at all levels!

My belief is that if poor nations must secure the future and turn a bend, and if great nations must continue to be great, then, we must commit to improving the quality of public leadership on offer!

III. Entrepreneurship, Capacity building and opportunities for young people

I run a group that teaches and encourages recycling, facilitates training on sustainability, and equips young people with skills to tap into entrepreneurial opportunities in Nigeria’s environment sector. Members of the group upcycle wastes, sell used PET bottles, tins, used tyres, recycled products etc.

My team works with bee farmers in rural parts of Nigeria and we sell 100% natural honey. (If you need 100% percent natural, yummy, unadulterated and original honey from Nigeria, I am your guy. Do contact me at once). We are also available for exports!

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One other project that is so dear to me is partnering to co-found a social startup which equips public servants, entrepreneurs and mid-career professionals with world-class digital skills to grow their businesses, entrench e-governance and make new realities possible in Nigeria.

IV. Faith

I am a man of faith. While I understand and respect the fact that some here are of different faiths, while some other share no faith at all, I hope the opportunity to objectively share my views on faith on Steemit will heal broken hearts and build bridges around the world.

V. Poetry

Poetry, to me, is life! I am a spoken word poet and hope to publish my first book on selected poems later in the year.

VI. Matters of the heart (Friendship, love, relationship, marriage)

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About a year ago, I and my wife walked down the aisle to exchange our marital vows. What pleasant memories that brings! Some months ago, Ireoluwatomide (interpretation: God’s goodness tabernacles with me), our first son arrived. Watching him grow from a tiny fistful into a handsome, smart and lively baby melts my heart! I am so grateful. As a newlywed, I will also be sharing with readers on my Steemit blog, my love experiences, challenges faced by young couples, dating, choosing a life partner, parenting, oiling the engine of friendship, secrets of a healthy love life, and many other real life tips! Love is what makes us all tick.

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Thank you

Thank you for reading my first post on Steemit and for your generous comments! I look forward to a whole new world of possibilities with fellow Steemians. Cheers

#IntroduceYourself!