Dear
Friends
2016
Birthday means a lot to me, because it is a critical point in my life, after
been given such privilege early in life to serve humanity before age 12. Ever
since the day I came in contact with the Red Cross recruiter (Mr Gabriel
Anjov), thanks to Abiodun Ipaye and Bosede Ipaye in high school, my life has
not remained the same. I thank God for a unique family he gave me that allowed
me to take a sabbatical from schooling after high school that allowed me to
volunteer free full-time for four years with the Red Cross before returning to
college, that gave me the opportunity to travel across Nigeria and West Africa,
those years deepened my resolved them to be a development worker the entirety
of my career.
From
my last Birthday I made a pledge of supporting the girl child deliberately,
through mentorship, support for anyone seeking leadership position in any group
I am a part of, or influencing her to do so, that pledge has not changed. But a
lot has happened around me, since last year, as I travelled across the globe,
and within my community the cases of Gender Based Violence, and abusive young
boys is getting alarming, teenagers sexually abusing adults up to been their
mothers and grandma. Teens exposed to drugs and violence. I saw a generation
that need help, and I realized if we must support the girl child, then we must
pledge to raise young boys that will grow up lovely and sweet. Those that will
not allow pressure or high demand of the society turn them into monsters.
Therefore
on this birthday I am pledging to ensure that no young man around me, becomes
an abuser, so help me God. I ask every of my friend especially the Males as a
birthday gift to me, to pledge to mentor young boys around them; live by
examples, grown them into gentlemen, expand their knowledge base, have weekend
retreat with them, summer camps/trips. Be a Father to a dying generation. We
might not be able to save the whole world, but we can save our neighbourhood,
or better still your own boys, or nephews, cousins and younger brothers. Ruth
Smelter once said that “every child has the right to be well fed and well
led”. Lets’ go lead.
Finally
it is a season of taking bold steps, it is not the Gbenga or Isaac you knew
before now, though the laughter’s and smiles has not gone away, but you now
have a man that no longer settle for little or take No for an answer.
“I
am tired of sailing my little boat, far inside the harbour bar. I want to go
out where the big ships float, out on the deep where the great ones are. And
should my frail craft prove too slight for waves that sweep those billows o’er,
I’d rather go down in the stirring fight than drowse to death at the sheltered
shore” –Unknown
In
all of these, God knows he is in charge of me, and I am because He is the “I am
that I am” and He made a way, that’s why I am standing here.
Love
you all!
