Personality in Focus
Food for Living: Tribute: Celebrating My Mentors
By Abdulakeem Sodeeq Sulyman
Waiters believe the right time will come for them to start working on their dreams; but achievers believe in the opportunities every time – positive or negative – posed to them to actualize their dreams” – Abdulakeem Sodeeq Sulyman
Today is one of the most important days of my life because in a few hours, I will be officially admitted into the league of the recipients of the Presidential Lifetime Award. Being a recipient of the prestigious award is, to me, as a devoted Christian, is nothing short of the grace of the Most High God, who has been my ultimate guardian and pillar of support and encouragement. I will alway glorify His holy name!
But beyond that, I wouldn’t have attained this peak of greatness without the influence of my parents, family members, friends, mentors, acquaintances and most importantly, my doubters. Your respective roles in nurturing me for the greatness I was destined to achieve really shaped my life’s trajectory by instilling the right values in me and energizing me in pursuing my aspirations and dreams.
To start with the order of the people I mentioned earlier, I owe everything I become in life to my parents because they were the embodiments of my standards. I cannot thank my parents enough for their sacrifices for me and my brothers and sisters. My parents’ guidance and support were indelible! Comparing my humble backgrounds with where I am today deepens my affections and admiration for my parents. Their teachings and conduct affirmed the old-time principle that “In the race of life, you need to start from somewhere in order to get to where you want to be.”
I think I would be an ingrate if I failed to acknowledge the roles of family members on my upbringing because these are people who went outside their comfort zones to make life bearable for us – my brothers, sisters and me – when the time was tough. Our family members stood by us during the time life posed the daunting challenges of coping with our father’s and mother’s demises. Today is one of the days yourDear Destiny Friends, respective deeds will affirm to you that the greatest investment in life is the one made on humanity.
Also significant to my greatness are the roles of my friends. Overtime, I have lost direction in life and made damning mistakes – like all other humans. However, I also have the rare opportunity of getting my life back on track because I am surrounded by friends who know that I have purposes to accomplish, believe in me and support me to birth my purposes. During the course of my life, I have been privileged to meet and connect with wonderful people, who all proven to me that I am bound to change the course of humanity if I don’t give up on myself.
At every point in our life, we are bound to come across people who will make us better and prepare us for the nitty-gritty of the possibilities we are meant to create with our lives. These people, without being equivocal, are our mentors. In my own life, I owe these people more than the world because of the roles they played in grooming me for the world that mirrors the purposes God wants to fulfill. My mentors, at every corner of the world, gave birth to the Henry Ukazu you all know today.
Since I was mentored by some people to become the version of myself, what would be my contributions towards sustaining the chain of mentorship? Answering this question birthed in me the necessity of being a guiding light to the people our paths crossed. Consciously or unconsciously, I have gained more from the people who believed they have much to learn from me. You may be tempted to ask how I gained from my prospective learners. I gained from them because I know that their commitment to learn from me places more responsibility on me to learn more, so that I will not disappoint them.
No man ever attained the peak of his aspirations by compliments alone. To do great things, you must be talked out of the way by doubters or challengers. But if you don’t let their words or deeds deter you, you will eventually prove them wrong! It is normal for people to write you off; it is normal for people to take advantage of you and it is normal to feel you don’t have anything to offer. I don’t know what your story is, but all I can say is appreciate the trials, challenges and disappointments that come with achieving greatness.
This was exactly my storyline. I cannot count the number of times I was discouraged from doing what I believed. But because I know I am working on purpose, my energy is always refilled anytime I am told something cannot be done by me. This principle is highly working for my turnarounds. If you want me to break boundaries, tell me I can’t. Your doubts will challenge me to see possibilities and make them happen.
That has been the secret of my leadership as I learned from Peter Drucker, the famous management expert, that “Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to higher sights, the raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.” I am here today because I saw beyond the place of my birth and didn’t allow any obstacle to limit me.
Thank you all for being parts of my success!
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the founder of Gloemi. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate, creative writer and author of Design Your Destiny Design Your and Unleash Your Destiny . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
The billionaire founder of fashion chain Mango, Isak Andic, at the weekend, reportedly died in a mountain accident, according to police.
The 71-year-old businessman reportedly slipped and fell from a 150-metre cliff while hiking with relatives in the Monserrat caves near Barcelona, a police spokesperson said.
His family called the emergency services at about 12.30pm local time, Spanish newspaper El Pais reports.
A helicopter and an ambulance were dispatched but they confirmed his death upon arriving at the scene of the accident.
He was believed to be the richest man in Catalonia and one of the wealthiest in Spain as Forbes estimated his worth at $4.5billion (£3.6bn).
Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, expressed his condolences to Andic’s family in a post on X, and praised the businessman saying: “All my love and recognition for his great work and business vision, which has turned this Spanish firm into a world leader in fashion.”
Mango’s CEO Toni Ruiz said in a statement Andic’s death was “unexpected”.
He paid tribute to Mango’s founder saying: “Isak has been an example for all of us. He has dedicated his life to the Mango project, leaving an indelible mark thanks to his strategic vision, his inspiring leadership and his unwavering commitment to values that he himself has instilled in our company.”
The statement on Mango’s website goes on to say: “His departure leaves a huge void but all of us are, in some way, his legacy and the testimony of his achievements.”
Personality in Focus
Yuletide: FRSC Declares Operation Zero Tolerance, Puts Modalities in Place to Checkmate Gridlock, Crashes
As part of efforts to combat traffic gridlock, and eliminate road traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities this end of the year, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has deployed it’s entire workforce, including Special Marshals to the highways to ensure hitch free movement as commuters travel from one destination to another across the nation.
The Corps, according to a statement signed by the Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), achieved this through effective and efficient distribution of logistics and operational materials nationwide. This logistics include the deployment of 157 administrative vehicles, 754 patrol vehicles, 143 ambulances, and 48 tow trucks. This is in addition to deployment of radar guns to check speed violations, setting out 16 traffic control camps on different routes, as well as man 53 critical routes nationwide.
The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed who authorised the deployment also directed Commanding Officers to ensure 24 hours observatory along high volume traffic/gridlock prone areas, full mobilization of 23 Help Areas, adequate utilisation of 59 Emergency Ambulance (Zebra) Points, full mobilization of Road Side (RTC) Clinics, and 24/7 broadcast on National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM.
The 2024 Operation Zero Tolerance commenced on 15 December 2024 to span through to 15 January 2025.
The operation which is programmed to run in shifts as follows 0600hrs – 1400hrs, 1400HRS – 2000hrs, 2000hrs – 2200hrs, and Night Rescue teams on standby at all operational Commands is billed to cover the following critical corridors; Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Birnin Kebbi corridor, Katsina-Kano-Wudil-Dutse-Azare-Potiskum corridor, Kaduna-Saminaka-Jos corridor, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor, Okene-Ogori-Isua-Owo corridor, Makurdi-Otukpo-Obollo Afor-9th Mile corridor, Asaba-Abraka-Ughelli-Warri corridor, Ibadan-Ogere-Sagamu corridor, Sagamu-Mowe-Lagos corridor, amongst others.
Explaining some of the reasons for the year’s early and holistic approach to safer roads, the Corps Marshal said that the Corps has observed that a key characteristics of the period over the years is an upsurge in traffic volume, excessive speed, Overloading of vehicles with goods, animals and persons, impatience by motorists who may not have adequately planned their journeys, or motorists managing mechanically deficient vehicles to and fro their travel destinations.
According to him, the above mentioned are known to be the major causes of chaos and indiscipline among all classes of road users, leading to crashes, fatalities, loss of properties as well as traffic congestion/gridlocks.
The operation which compliments the ongoing ember months aggressive sensitisation, will cover the broad areas of traffic control/decongestion, Public enlightenment, Enforcement, prompt response to crash victims, route lining among others.
The Corps Marshal emphasised that the enforcement is aimed at checkmating Excessive speed, Overloading, Dangerous Driving/Overtaking, Lane indiscipline/Route violation, Road Obstructions, Use of Phone while Driving, Overloading Violation, Seatbelt/Child restraint Use Violations, Passengers’ Manifest Violations, Mechanically Deficient Vehicles, Latching and Twist-Locks Violations.
In addition to the foregoing, the Corps Marshal also directed massive constitution of Mobile Courts across the Nation.
The directive also mandates the Commanding Officers to ensure effective collaboration with Military Units, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Directorate of State Services (DSS), NGO Ambulance Service Providers, National Network on Emergency Road Services (NNERS) and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).
The Corps Marshal further stated that the operatives will be charged with the responsibility of identifying alternative routes to assist motorists during gridlocks, and give notification of traffic distressed areas for intervention. As such, he called on the motoring public to download the FRSC Mobile Application for real time reporting and update on traffic situations, utilise all FRSC social media handles (facebook.com//frscnigeria,Instagram.com//frscnigeria, twitter.com//frscnigeria, and in case of emergency, call the 122 toll free number as well as the National Traffic Radio live lines: 08052997848 and 09139600107 which are available means to reach FRSC to report Traffic situations anywhere in the Country. The public can as well reach the situation room on 07054005754 and 07054005712 respectively.
The Chairman/CEO, Adron Group, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, has been conferred with the prestigious 2024 Osun State College of Technology (OSCOTECH) Fellowship Award (FOSCOT). The honor was presented during the institution’s 8th Combined Convocation Ceremony, in recognition of his outstanding achievements and enduring contributions to society.
The event, held at the OSCOTECH campus in Esa-Oke, Osun State, witnessed a gathering of prominent dignitaries, including the Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator (Dr.) Ademola Adeleke; members of the Osun State House of Assembly; Permanent Secretaries; and esteemed royal majesties, including Oba Adeyemi Akanbi and Oba Festus Kayode Awogboro. The fellowship award was also conferred upon other distinguished individuals, including the Owaniran of Esa-Oke, Oba Adeyemi Adediran, and Yeyeluwa Modupeola Adeleke Sanni, sister to the Osun State Governor.
In his acceptance speech, Aare Emmanuelking expressed heartfelt gratitude for the recognition, reflecting on his transformative journey from a student at OSCOTECH to a successful entrepreneur and community leader. He stated, “Twenty-seven years ago, I walked these very grounds as a student, full of dreams and aspirations, like many of you here today. My time at OSCOTECH shaped the foundation of who I am today, instilling in me not just technical skills but the values needed to unleash my boundless potential.”
Aare Emmanuelking further extended his appreciation to Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Rector of OSCOTECH, Dr. S.A.O. Adegoke, and the entire OSCOTECH community for the esteemed honor. He also commended the institution’s staff for their unwavering dedication to academic excellence and called on alumni to uphold the legacy of OSCOTECH by contributing to its growth and development.
This recognition underscores Aare Emmanuelking’s relentless commitment to fostering societal progress through innovation, leadership, and philanthropy. The Adron Group Chairman’s contributions to the housing sector and community empowerment continue to set a benchmark for excellence and service.
