I have always longed to put my writing skill to good use, speak to power and amplify the agitations of the downtrodden. That moment came in January 2021 after my mandatory National Youth Service Corp ended in October, 2020, and I was left with all the time in the world to take absolute responsibility for my life.
As a corp member for instance, you live at the beck and call of the government who hands out paltry monthly allowance for your upkeep and as a student, you depend largely on your family to navigate the curves and contours of your education for as long as your course of studies permits
Out of school and service, I decided to take the bull of my life by the horns. But I didn’t come to that realization very quickly. After my service year ended, I opted to accompany a family member to Lagos to learn, make money and plan for the future ahead. In service, I had obtained my international passport hoping that my life post-NYSC might revolve around seeking international opportunities. After twenty days in Lagos, sleeping under an electric pole, inside the empty containers of trailers and beside the cacophonous hums of factory engines, I decided to take some steps back and rethink my life.
While inside TINCAN, Apapa, I managed to stay connected, committed and consistent with my writing. For example, I managed to publish opinions on several national dailies such as The Punch Newspaper, ThisDay, Nigerian Tribune, The Nation, Daily Trust, Sahara Reporters etc. I recall sharing my perspective on the ENDSARS movement that was the top of national discussion at that time. Apart from writing, I saw first-hand the brutal, chaotic and unfiltered Lagos life. One day, I was asked to lead a trailer to the TINCAN. I arrived at Folawiyo Plaza around 2pm Nigerian time and didn’t leave until 8pm at night. Of course, the shuddering traffic that had come to define that place was the culprit behind the delay.
By the time we entered TINCAN, it was 4am in the morning. That was in addition to the massive, systemic and endemic scale of corruption, extortion and bribery that have permeated the place: from police, to the army, to Nigerian Ports Authority staff and to the area boys: for your truck to move, you have to drop something. By the time I left Lagos for Oyo town, after twenty days, I had learned a big lesson: to do is to dare. In Oyo, I felt out of place since I didn’t grow up there or had much of my childhood memories tied to the place. But it was in Oyo that the idea behind my weekly column came into limelight.
I have always been fascinated by the explosive writing prowess of columnists like Professor Farooq Kperogi, Oloye Bamidele Ademola
Olateju, Dr. Lasisi Olagunju, Professor Abimbola Adelakun, Sam Omotseye among others. Kperogi for instance has a column titled ‘Notes from Atlanta’ published every Saturday on the Nigerian Tribune. Oloye Olateju on her part, before she took a role in the government of late Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State had a column titled ‘Upfront’ with the Premium Times. Olagunju’s ‘Monday Lines’ in the Tribune is still up and running while Sam Omotseye’s ‘In Touch’, published every Monday morning in the Nation Newspaper continues to dazzle as it mesmerizes the readers.
I was particularly drawn to Professor Kperogi’s writing style, clarity of thought and choice of words. So, I modeled my writing after him. No doubt, I knew the enormity required to model my writing after such an enigmatic American based Nigerian scholar of Journalism. Instead of feeling intimidated or inadequate, I focused on allowing myself to try, stumble and get better. To express my ideas, I had to carefully select my publisher, Alhaji Sikiru Akinola, of Oyoinsight. My choice of him and his platform was anchored on his values of truth, justice, and integrity.
Prior to 2021, I had known ‘Oranmiyan’ as we fondly call him through one of his mates in OAU and later on Facebook where he was hyperactive. My choice of OYOINSIGHT and Oranmiyan was a game changer. He believes in my dream and provided the nurturing ground for it to mature. He is the giant who allowed a young man like me to stand on his shoulder. It is five years since I began this journey into public intellection and I am eternally grateful to my publisher, Alhaji Sikiru Akinola.
Typical of him, ‘Oranmiyan’ never doubted my potential nor coerced me to write against my conscience. He allowed me the free ride and provided all the necessary support without blinking an eyelid. He was equally generous and deliberate in sharing my columns to his wide, deep and powerful contacts – who in turn have expressed admiration for my writing as well.
I feel lucky to work with such an amazing leader, brother and publisher. I am also especially grateful to my readers who have stayed behind me during the thick and thin. Many have called, from Chicago in the US, Port Novo in Benin Republic, Kabba in Kogi. Not to talk of those from the rest of the country and the world at large. To devote five years to an endeavor is not a small thing. I took that risk knowing that dreams truly count and sustained and genuine efforts pay if not now but later.
When I started, I had a clear idea what I wanted: not money but mastery. In a world that has glorified money, choosing mastery was counterintuitive. Ultimately, to master anything; one must be ready to play the long game. Long before that epochal moment, I have always believed life will return what you give to it. After my Lagos epiphany ended, I decided to be a VALUE DRIVEN young man. Handy for me was my writing skill. Of course, the mere ability to write in this case wasn’t enough. I had to make that ability count – for something far essential.
Looking back at those five, tough, and amazing years, I cannot help but be thankful for all the stories I have written, impacts I have made and opportunities that have come along as well. For any young man out there trying to find their feet in a world that is notorious for chewing people up and spitting them out with merciless abandon, here are life hacks I hope will help you stay on course: think and act with your conviction. Take care of the quantity and leave the quality to God. Leap and have faith the net will appear. Dream and make it count. Life is unfair but you cannot resign. When in doubt, ask God and find a mentor!
OYO101 is Muftau Gbadegesin’s opinion about issues affecting the Oyo state and is published every Saturday. He can be reached via @Upliftnuggets on X, muftaugbadegesin@gmail.com, and 09065176850.
