I want to tell you a story. It is a tale of grit, grace and sheer resolve to challenge generally accepted norms. It is a story anchored on the capacity of the human spirit to rise above the powers of darkness and bring hope to generations to come. It is a story laced with love and empathy for those who cannot speak for themselves or stand up for themselves when it matters. It is a story told by young and old, rich and poor; a story whose impact shines on like sands in the seashore.
Few years ago, a young lady was angry with happenings in the country: corruption battled for the soul of the nation. Campuses revelled in total decay and reckless abandon. Religious leaders shelved aside the gospel of redemption for the frenzy of miracles and wonders. Nigerian graduates wandered the streets furtively in search of non-existent jobs. The art of leadership was lost. And so, the followers wobbled in a ditch. A nation tottered vulnerably on the fringes of a precipice.
And later, that anger translated into an idea that would grow to be bigger than its initiator, the late Ngozi Agbo. With the same fervency with which the fury became an idea, the initiative soon found a willing army that was ready to carry that gospel to every doorstep. Nigerian campuses were the battlefield. The Nation, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and its bottling partner, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited became the megaphone to get the message heard in a noisy world.
Just last week, the students gathered at the comfy Citilodge Hotel to share that story; to chart the course for a nation in need of direction, leadership and voice. “When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful,” crooned Pakistani education rights activist, Malala Yousafzai. But the beauty was the fact that, that voice has inspired scores of young people across the country to drive the gospel of change. From those who have added the Campus Life pullout to their weekly menu, to those who expend their energy, time and resources to send in stories from their various campuses, the impact of that idea has grown like wild fire.
Of all the impactful sessions that trailed the workshop, Campus Life alumni session topped them all. For brand strategist and street-to-school advocate, Jumoke Awe, Business Day’s Energy reporter, Femi Asu, Francis Egwuatu, who was recently crowned Mr Universe Nigeria and yours sincerely, success stories and testimonies soaked the atmosphere. If anything, the session provided the needed springboard to drive home the point that all of us can reach the stars when we maximise opportunities. “On such a full sea are we now afloat, and we must take the current when it serves or lose our ventures,” says William Shakespeare in Julius Caesar.
As we recounted our stories to the expectant crowd of students that sunny afternoon, I saw strands of hope and promise platted on their flat faces. I saw optimism and faith oozing from their unwavering gaze. I saw renewed determination to take spaces and succeed together. Above all, I saw the possibility of a better future for those who commit their lean resources to follow their dreams, braving the odds.
As we narrated our struggles, fears, shared hopes and teary climb to the top, the students watched as though we possessed all the powers and savoir-faire to do it all. What many did not realise was the fact that aside the luxury of grace at our disposal, commitment to our passions – even at the expense of material gains – has remained the secret of whatever we become today. As Catherine Pulsifer reminded us, the most important element in the failure equation is our personal commitment to keep trying.
And today, Coca-Cola Nigeria and NBC have given us a voice; a voice to silence impunity and right wrongs, a voice to neutralise the darkness that hounds us as youths of Africa’s most blessed nation and yet suffers the worst of deprivation. The firms have instilled in us a sense of pride, hope and achievement. They have taught us how to be different, how to win, how to kiss the stars of heaven and how to appreciate the glow of the sun every day.
That voice continues to lend credence to the quest for national integration, converging youths from various parts of the country twice every year to share common aspirations. And at a time when Nigeria is embroiled in religious and ethnic tensions as well as discordant sentiments, which push us further apart, bringing folks together under one platform could serve as antidote to our divisiveness.
But the biggest story from the conference is about Aunty Ngozi and us. It is about somebody taking the initiative to forge new paths and build bridges for those folks suppressed by the corruption of the system. It is about how young people can re-adjust the clock and spearhead the gospel of national renaissance. The story is about the virility of synergy between individuals and organisations to re-direct the pulse of society. Alexander Smith was quick to remark: “A man doesn’t plant a tree for himself. He plants it for posterity. Aunty Ngozi, The Nation and Coca Cola system did just that.
Gilbert is a corps member, NYSC Ado Ekiti