Talk With Fatimehin Gbenga

02/02/2024

It's really sad to know you are gone, Anty Hellen!

How can I try and describe you to the world? You are so special in plain words and, how can I possibly sum up the feelings and memories I have for Anty Hellena in one tribute? It’s almost impossible.

Nonetheless, perhaps most of my words would reignite the strength, hope, power, resilience, and tender love you shared while you were around. No words are enough to recapitulate you, real person, NANA as you are fondly called by my late Dad.
Anty Hellena, so fine and so beautiful!

For me, she was always full of love and determination. A beautiful, smart, challenging, empathetic, and encouraging woman. She always looked to grow with the little she has; to better herself as a person and contribute towards our development while growing up.
— she was a friend, the way she shared in many of our problems, and will always seek her advice at Ojota. The memories are as fresh as a creme and hard to let go of someone so dear as NANA.

I can't capture my first encounter with you but I will continue to remember the bond and longstanding connection between you and our Dad (your Brother Jide of blessed memory).

My Dad was committed to anything that had to do with you and I regret not living up to that height because he is always supporting everyone without hesitation, but the attention he gave you was unrivaled and second to none

You waited patiently for what you desired to no avail but God knows best! How can I express your amazing essence and spirit of selflessness, uncompromising, and belief in all that is good, with an inextinguishable commitment to family and friends? Words, even the very best of words, cannot pay tribute or truly capture the sense of loss that we your golden eagles and Falconet feel at the moment

I can still remember the last time we spoke about your leg as if it was just yesterday. We talked about your plans for the future and you ended the call with emotion about my Dad, your late brother, but that has become history.

Losing you is a shock of the year for everyone–but God knows best.

On behalf of the Fatimehins, we wish you farewell in your journey to eternity. Aunty Hellena, you will be in our hearts and memories forever.

REST ON AUNTY HELLENA

17/09/2023

To create a platform with the mindset to change the present narrative. No room for excuses; yes we can!

16/09/2023

Nigeria is Africa’s most populated country and the world’s sixth most populous country. But why can't Nigeria be regarded as the 'Giant of Africa'?
We are more than qualified to be the strongest economy in Africa but we only failed in this regard due to lack of political will and the fact that we are not making use of this population to our advantage like countries such as Chins, India, USA etc. Instead many problems are created as a result of the population increase - a source of our strength if well articulated.

Some of the issues that come to mind however are; the economic porosity due to lack of proper management; insecurity; inequality; widespread corrupt practices; get rich syndrome; ethnicity, unemployment; poor education; lack of vocational engagement and under utilization of the youth.

There are a major contrast to our not living up to the 'giant if Aftica' status which are internally created and not external as we most analysts and commentators commonly attributed it to be that this writeup is going to address in due course.

This take us to the puzzle stated earlier on the major problem of Nigeria, which is the inappropriate utilization of the strength of the youths at the position of authority. It is gain saying that youths are specifically meant to drive the nation to enviable heights but reverse is the case in Nigeria and until we set the pace, nothing tangible would be achieved in the struggle for nation building.

Nigeria has come a long way in the nation building project without positive achievement and a time like this should be used to embrace the truth that, despite the fact that the country was founded by the youths strength and activity led by the likes of Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikwe, Tafawa Balewa and Obafemi Awolowo all of blessed memories; there orientation depicts we are all one people in this country. In view of this, the government have an herculean task; they must pursue a resurgent Nigeria.

The youths need skills, empowerment, employment, reasonably good living conditions, welfare and well-being. Other advanced countries build a picture of a sweet future and dream for their youths but reverse is the case in Nigeria - the missing link!

With the present condition in the country, the youth can reshap the social questions believing the nation and make a difference so as to map out strategies to attain the glorious future they deemed fit or crave for. The fact is that, nobody is going to emancipate the youths except they themselves strive for it - good governance is not serve at a la carte. There is an opportunity to showcase the strength of the youths again in Nigeria; it has been tested in France and the US, and it work! This is an ample opportunity to test the popularity of the youth by cueing behind one of them for leadership position at the highest level and carefully annexed this golden idea of a better future; so that issues such as insecurity, poverty, insurgency, banditry, unemployment, hunger, debt, division and disunity can be defeated once and for all.

It is a big slap for Nigeria to be ranked among the most poorest nation no matter the index.
Problems created by the rich politicians birthed most of the challenges being faced in the country and they are tools set in motion by the privileged few and disgruntled, to make youths powerless and think less.

Age really counts in everything, because of the focus, strength and activity that can be put to work, compared to that of an old (aged parent). The problems at hand can be remedy by using wisdom. The wisdom here is making use of the lost appetite for greatness through vigour, energy, agility, dynamism and outreach that the job of leadership of Nigeria have scarcely provided since independence. This can be effectively provided with the present opportunity. Yes, it is possible.

We have over 20 million direct or indirect political positions or appointment from local government to Federal government level, which if youths can mount those enviable positions, it's going to be a landmark achievement if the giant in Nigeria can resurface through the ocean and space of the world and our unborn generation would be proud of, though it won't be served a la carte or on a platter of gold. This is while the youths must be ready to take the bull by the horns by being tested now to safe this generation and upcoming ones.

Truly, we deserved a leader who can wake up the giant in us- a leader who can work 24hours and not delegate his duty when it matter most. Enough of cabal this, cabal that at the Presidency. A time has come for us to think out of the box and forget been slaves to older generation. The opportunity is now - to be 'the giant of Africa'!

[email protected]

To create a platform with the mindset to change the present narrative.