I had posted this earlier on twice. In an attempt to erase one, I erased both. Ingratitude is stronger than a traitors arm. At dawn, the heavens opened up and it kept raining all through Lagos. Somehow, I wasnt apprehensive but concerned. I was concerned because I knew the rain will compound our effort to beat the African time chronic condition. The hall was well arranged and ready. But before I go on, I want to thank the enablers of this dream. The trustees of Circle of Hands - Pius Adesanmi, Ibukunolu Alao Babajide and Tope Fasua. What a difference a year makes! Together, we have fine tuned the processes, nursed the vision And focused on our mission. Pius sold me to Dr. Pipim where they met as Diaspora Consultants to the African Union Agenda 2063 in New York. My pen, did the rest and the belief was almost complete. We met in Michigan, discussed Circle of Hands mission, and he offered to do our inaugural lecture for free. How else, can I be grateful to this man? He took no fees from us, he paid his own travel and lodging expenses! At this stage in the life of Circle if Hands, we wouldnt have been able to afford him. We got this offer on August 20, 2014. We got our registration certificate from CAC, the week before August 20th. We had no office, no bank account, nothing! Just the name. We ran with it and in no time, Mr. Ibukunolu Alao Babajide donated an office space. The energetic Isaac Tobi facilitated our opening an account even though all four Trustees were outside Nigeria at the time. An organizing committee was put in place and they ran with it. I came back to Nigeria a little over a week ago and we pulled it off. The duo of Petra Iyabo Akinti Onyegbule and Gimba Kakanda gave us a glimpse into what the youth demographic can do in this country if given the chance. I cant thank them enough for walking the talk. Petra was on ground in Lagos. Without having met, she accepted to run errands on behalf of COH. Hamza Ibrahim Baba gave us so many contacts, contacts who are ready to have this replicated in the North (and we will be there). He bought his ticket and flew to Lagos for the event. I have never met him until yesterday. Same for our Secretary Yakub Aliyu, who flew down from Abuja. It was just unbelievable! My dearest friends, talking about the event yesterday will amount to unwarranted self adulation. I will let the video speak for itself! and let others share their experiences. We will upload it on YouTube as soon as editing is complete. The photographs will be uploaded on the group page. I will gladly email Dr. Pipims speech to anyone who wants it. All 25pages of wisdom. For the time he spoke, no one got up until he was done. He had to do interactive session. We couldnt finish the workshop part, we ran out if time because we did not start early. Tope Fasua was at his vivacious best as the moderator and as a Trustee! We had a cake in for COH and for Petra whose birthday was yesterday. Yes! We popped champaign and raised our hands in toast (in a circle). People did not leave until 5:30pm. I want to thank everyone who attended, I cant name you all but you know yourselves. To the donors: Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, Sola Young, Yei Yemi Famzy, Debo Dosu, thank you. We need you and many more generous people like you going forward, to help fund our programs. Special thanks goes to Tomi Daniel, (program director for EaglesOnline) who did all the background work and facilitated the back and forth between Dr. Pipim and I. She drew the program and provided the worksheets), Lekan Wasiudeen our videographer and photographer, pictures magazine, Gboyega Bada, Furo Weli, Hamza Ibrahim Baba, my friends and loyal followers (Folashade Oshun and Ebby O. Debbie), Gbenga Alara, Kola Fabiyi, Onose (our resourceful account officer), Omolasho , SkytrendNews, premium times, Sahara reporters. The organizing committee members (Ope Omoriwo, Sunday Enitan, Musa Suleiman, Kathy George, Bilkisu Billie Yahaya, ably led by Isaac) were a Godsend. They did all the grunt work to create the success we had. I want to thank the wind beneath my wings, uncle Demi. He lent me to my passions and lets me be me. I thank my dearest daughter Kosomolate a.k.a HM. She knows to keep away whenever my iPad is in my hands. I have sacrificed so much family time to make this happen and I owe uncle Demi and HM a lot of gratitude. My sister as always, delivered! She relocated to Lagos from Ibadan to help pull this off. No one knows procurement better than the best performing Nestle Distributor in West Africa Opeyemi Awe. Many thanks to my nephew Alabelewe Olushola, my cousins Olusegun Akomolafe, Ayodeji Akomolafe, Bayo, and Helen Aina, Bunmi and Toyin. We believe we have lit the fire. Comments from the floor shows people are ready. It is time to form the clusters and take this higher. We count on you to to your part. We are the change Nigeria needs and change starts with you! Thank you for investing your belief in us, thank you.
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 10:16:56 +0000
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