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Lifetime Transition: From Vagabond to Champion (Pt. 2)
By Tolulope A. Adegoke
“Regardless of our levels of giftedness or even accomplishment, we all must keep learning. There must never be room for complacency, because he who stops being better stops being good. Moreover, it has been proven again and again that constant learners are constant earners! In as much that there is breath in you, there is no excuse not to learn; even if it is just to learn and understand that the heart beats for a reason so that the purpose of our existence may be valued, honoured and managed with dignity and effectiveness to the glory of God Almighty and for the benefits of mankind!” – Tolulope A. Adegoke, Ph.D., MNIM
The Authentic Key for Emergence and MANifestations
Redemption in Christ Jesus is the ultimate key to true empowerment. This the only key that gives you full access to fulfilling the mandate of Heaven on this earthly plane. Your gifts and talents are heavenly resources deposited inside your earthen vessel. Activating them through an intimate relationship with Christ gives you full empowerment to reign on earth as revealed in the Book of Life – Matthew 28:18 (KJV). According to the Book of Life in John 1:12-14 (KJV) “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name…”
You may be in this world, but you are not of this world, neither are your gifts. But you are needed on this earth because you have an important mission to execute with your divine endowments. Your true identity is not your physical body but the heavenly gifts that it conveys. You are the full identity of the power of God that you carry!
Do not die with your gifts in you; rather, die empty! It is your zero-turned-hero (your activated and maximised gifts) that will speak for you while you are gone as a result of your impacts on humanity! It is by their fruits (that is, talents, gifts and extent of impacts) that every man would be weighed and remembered.
The Example of David
David again serves as a great model for us in activating and making the most of the deposits of treasures within us. Even as a young man, David realised the potentials he had; and he put them to work to his own advantage and to the progress of his nation and the glory of God! He tapped into his gifts and engaged them with the power of AUDACIOUS (RUGGED) FAITH AND RESPONSIBILITY!
David was responsible for safeguarding his father’s flock of sheep. He did his job so faithfully and diligently that he was ready to die to make a success of it. He confronted a lion and a bear at different times when they came to prey on the flock (1 Samuel 17:34-36). He was determined to serve the interest of his father, even at his own expense. I can imagine him telling the lion and the bear, “You will have to kill me first to get to any of these sheep. I am responsible for their welfare!”
David could have easily fled for his life and given his father excuses about the fate of the flock. Interestingly, what the Bible records is that David confronted the lion and the bear (which can be interpreted as his fears, limitations and challenges) and killed them with his bare hands. We are not told that he prayed to God to deliver him or that God sent His angels to protect him; yet, he conquered and kept his flock safe as a dutiful shepherd.
I believe that David’s sterling character and approach to responsibility must have further moved God at this point. I imagine God beginning to compare David, a guide of sheep, with Saul, a king over the Israelites, at this point. It was obvious, as his later encounter with Goliath showed, that Saul could not risk his life to safeguard the people whom God had entrusted to his care – unlike David who could risk his life for mere animals. Saul couldn’t confront Goliath, let alone kill him; he was too obsessed with comfort and luxury and couldn’t be moved to quit his comfort zone. No wonder God catapulted David from the wilderness to the palace. He made David king over all Israel, despite all odds; and there was no longer a trace of Saul on the throne of Israel.
Here is God’s message to you in all of these: “I am the Almighty God…my speciality is doing the impossible…I use the foolish things of this world to confound the wise…I use the egg to crack the nut to disgrace the stone…I use the basket to fetch water to disgrace the bucket! I am willing and able to turn your empowered zero into a hero!”
Activation for MANifestation through the Desire to Develop
Regardless of our levels of giftedness or even accomplishment, we all must keep learning. There must never be room for complacency because he who stops being better stops being good. Moreover, it has been proven again and again that constant learners are constant earners!
Here is an interesting example of a Brooklyn physician, whom Arthur R. Pell called Dr. Curtis. Being a baseball fan, he often went to see the Giants team practise. In time, he became quite friendly with the team, and was invited to attend a banquet given in their honour. After the coffee and nuts were served, several prominent guests were called upon to “say a few words”.
Suddenly, he heard the toastmaster remark: “We have a physician with us tonight, and I am going to ask Dr. Curtis to talk on baseball playing.” Was he prepared? Of course! He had the best preparation in the world. He had been studying hygiene and practising Medicine for almost a third of a century. He could have sat in his chair and talked about this subject (health impacts of baseball playing) all night to the man seated on his right or left. But to get up and say the same things to even a small audience, well, that was another matter. In fact, that was a paralysing matter. His heart doubled its pace and skipped beats at the very contemplation of it. He had never made a public speech in his life, and every thought that he previously developed now took wings.
What was he to do? The audience was applauding. Everyone was looking at him. He shook his head. But that served only to heighten the applause, to increase the demand. The cries of “Dr Curtis, speech!” grew louder and more insistent. He was in a serious dilemma. He knew that if he got up, he would fail; that he would be unable to utter half a dozen sentences. So, he arose, and without saying a word, turned his back on his friends and walked silently out of the room, a deeply embarrassed and humiliated man.
The positive side however was that he didn’t let things remain that way for long. Soon after he returned to Brooklyn, he enrolled in Dale Carnegie’s course in public speaking. He was ready to do all he could not to face that embarrassing situation again. He was a kind of student that delights an instructor: He was in dead earnest. He wanted to be able to talk, and there was no half-heartedness about his desires. He prepared his talks thoroughly, practised them with a will, and never missed a single session of the course. He did precisely what such a student always does: He progressed at the rate that surprised him, that surpassed his fondest hopes.
After the first few sessions, his nervousness subsided, his confidence mounted higher and higher. In two months, he had become the star speaker of the group. He was soon accepting invitation to speak elsewhere; he now loved the feel and exhilaration of it, the distinction and additional friends it brought him.
A member of the New York City Republican Campaign Committee, hearing one of his public addresses, invited Dr. Curtis to his party. How surprised that politician would have been, had he realized that, only a year before, the speaker had fled a public banquet hall in shame and confusion because he was tongue-tied with audience fear.
It is instructive that Dr Curtis took a very bold step without looking back to develop his latent ability, and thus empowering his zero (weakness) to become a hero. He demonstrated wisdom in seeking to acquire public speaking skills to improve his life and society.
I urge you, reader, to take a cue from this man and many others who have turned their weaknesses to strengths and achieved the seemingly impossible by submitting themselves to the diligence, determination, discipline and sacrifice that training requires. Whatever level you are now, you can be so much better. YOUR BEST IS YET TO COME!
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has sent a veiled message to Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, saying support for President Bola Tinubu alone will not guarantee any election ticket.
Wike made the statement on Sunday during a public outing in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.
His remarks were widely seen as directed at Governor Fubara, amid lingering political crisis in the State.
The former Governor of Rivers State said political loyalty must be tested during difficult times, not after power has been secured.
He mocked those he described as late supporters of President Tinubu, insisting that sudden alignment would not earn political rewards.
He said: “So the issue is not whether you are supporting Tinubu. That one, we have taken too long, long… Yes, oh. So Tinubu’s issue is not an issue again. Yes. Do you understand me? Yes. Tinubu’s issue is that nobody should be coming here to tell a day. We are for Tinubu; I am against you. Who is for Tinubu University? (laughs) That cannot give you any ticket oh! (laughs again) Direct, direct. It will not. Direction. Direction.”
Wike stressed that his political camp stood with Tinubu when the decision was unpopular. He said that support given under pressure carries more weight than alignment after victory.
He also recalled how the Rivers State House of Assembly openly backed Tinubu early, long before the election outcome was certain.
According to him, some of those now making public declarations were absent during the critical period.
“The same people now who came to declare, put them to God… But they should declare they are saying it for a candidate. Yes. Don’t you see characters? (laughs) So I send the sword far ahead of them.”
Wike further spoke on governance and continuity. He defended projects and agreements initiated during his tenure as governor. He said it is often difficult for successors to acknowledge past efforts, even though government is a continuous process.
His comments come weeks after Governor Fubara formally aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party of President Tinubu.
The move followed months of political crisis in Rivers State, which led to federal intervention and a declaration of emergency rule.
Political watchers believe Wike’s remarks constitute a direct response to Fubara’s recent positioning as a key Tinubu ally in Rivers politics. Critics argue that Fubara’s support surfaced only after the political storm had settled.
Wike, who remains a dominant force in Rivers State politics despite serving in Abuja, appears to have drawn a clear line ahead of the 2027 elections.
He suggested that political tickets would be decided by proven loyalty, not convenience.
Videos from the event in Rumuche, Emohua, spread rapidly on social media. Many users described the speech as a coded warning to the governor.
As of press time, neither the Rivers State Government nor Wike’s media team had issued an official clarification.
The comments, however, suggest that the political rift between both camps is still active, despite earlier peace moves brokered at the national level.
The opposition African Democratic Congress and the Labour Party on Sunday criticized President Bola Tinubu for departing Nigeria for Europe on holiday at a time the country is grappling with rising insecurity, including foreign military interventions in the North.
The Presidency announced on Sunday that Tinubu left Lagos for Europe for his end-of-year holiday ahead of an official visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where he is scheduled to attend the 2026 edition of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit.
President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, explained that the trip was by invitation from His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to participate in the summit, which gathers global leaders from government, business, and civil society to advance sustainable development strategies.
“His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, has invited President Tinubu to participate in the 2026 edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit, which will take place in the emirate early in January,” the statement read.
Reacting to Tinubu’s departure, the ADC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bola Abdullahi, faulted the timing as inappropriate given the security challenges facing the country.
The ADC noted the deadly terrorist bomb blast in Zamfara and the ongoing foreign military involvement, calling the President’s move insensitive.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s lack of care is alarming. In the wake of another deadly bomb blast in Zamfara, and following an unprecedented foreign military attack on Nigerian soil, the nation is waiting for reassurance from its leader. Instead, we learn the President has gone on holiday. What a President!” Abdullahi said.
Similarly, LP’s acting National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, described the trip as “insensitive and devoid of empathy” for Nigerians facing violent attacks and humanitarian crises.
Speaking through her Senior Special Adviser on Media, Ken Asogwa, she stressed that the President should have remained in the country to coordinate security responses.
“This is the most inauspicious time for the President to leave the country. Even the Christmas holiday in Lagos seems ill-timed, given that a bomb exploded in Zamfara today, killing nine people,” Usman said.
She further alleged that Nigeria was under external attack and accused the government of downplaying the severity of the situation.
“Nigeria is under attack by a foreign nation. No matter how the government tries to frame this, it is a violation of our sovereignty. This is the time for the commander-in-chief to coordinate the response, not embark on a holiday,” Usman said.
She added that the President had not convened critical security meetings since the U.S.-led bombardment of terrorist camps in Kwara and Sokoto States and condemned the perceived lack of engagement with military leadership.
The President’s trip comes amid heightened security concerns. On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump authorised AFRICOM to conduct airstrikes on terrorist camps in Sokoto State, hours before Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the operation. A deadly bomb blast in Zamfara on Friday claimed several lives.
The 17th edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week will run from January 11 to 15 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre under the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go.”
The event aims to connect innovation, finance, and people to advance sustainable development.
Onanuga confirmed that Tinubu would return to Nigeria after the summit.
Hosted by Masdar, the UAE’s clean energy company, the summit will feature the invitation-only ADSW Summit, the World Future Energy Summit, the Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards Ceremony, and specialised sessions on hydrogen, climate finance, water security, and utilities in the Global South. Organisers expect more than 50,000 participants from over 170 countries, featuring over 700 global brands and exhibitions of emerging clean technologies.
The UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, noted that ADSW 2026 builds on two decades of the UAE’s leadership in renewable energy.
Tinubu previously attended the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in January 2025, where he held meetings with Gulf investors and officials on trade, energy cooperation, and climate finance.
Since assuming office on May 29, 2023, Tinubu has undertaken at least 46 foreign trips, spending an estimated 192 days abroad as of October 2025. In 2025 alone, he travelled internationally no fewer than 15 times to countries including Ghana, the UAE, Tanzania, France, Italy, Saint Lucia, Japan, and Brazil for summits, bilateral engagements, and holidays.
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
Ever wondered how one sleeps and wakes up? Ever wondered where the spirit goes while we sleep? The answer is hidden in mysteries because life, and by extension, existence, is full of mysteries.
On a personal note, I do believe that whenever we sleep, we are basically practicing how to die because no one knows the whereabouts of the spirit and souls. All we know is that we wake at the break of dawn, or when there’s a stirring, either naturally or artificial. That is a mystery!
Have you also ever imagined how a man will have sexual intercourse with a lady and a child is born? Have you also ever wondered about the mystery surrounding death? Have you also imagined how human beings fall in love with the opposite sex despite various variables. Again, each time I fly in the air, I begin to wonder about the invention surrounding the aeroplane. So many questions begging for answers. The mysteries surrounding life is inexhaustible.
For the benefit of hindsight, life is indeed a mystery. Sometimes, we think we understand it, and other times, it humbles us with its complexities. Life can be likened to a woman; the more you try to understand them, the more confused you become.
I had to give this introductory analysis to buttress the significance surrounding the mysteries of life. Why do I say this? Nothing is permanent in life, and as such anyone can be great and successful tomorrow. In my native Igbo (Nigerian) language, we have a saying that “nobody knows the stomach that will birth a king tomorrow”, and “tomorrow is pregnant”. These are evidence of the mysterious nature of life.
In my journey through life, I have met angels and devils in human form, who have played different roles in shaping my thoughts and outlook towards life. While I thought certain people will bring smiles to my life, they turned around to make me question their intentions and mindset. But the people I had some reservations with turned out to be some of the best things that have happened to me. For instance, I have a dear friend turned brother, whom I hold in high esteem. His name is Sodeeq Sulyman. He is the Chief Operating Officer of my company.
As a matter of fact, today is his birthday. He met me on X and reached out to me to be his mentor. I was literally humbled because that was the first time someone was making a firm request of me. I gladly accepted the request, and today our friendship, brotherhood and relationship has truly blossomed. This young man is literally one of the best things that has happened to my life. If I was told he will change the outlook of my life, business and life generally, I wouldn’t have believed it.
But as my late mother would always say, when you meet people just take the good part and leave the bad part. In all sincerity, I strongly believe our meeting was predestined, and mysterious if the circumstance of our meeting is x-rayed.
Here is the message, never look down on anyone except you are helping them to do something or pick something. Another message is don’t give up on anyone because you don’t know what tomorrow will unfold. Even the Bible book of life states in Proverbs 118:22, “the stone which the people rejected has become the cornerstone”. So, it’s instructive for one to be kind, courteous and humble in relationship with human beings because nobody knows what life will unfold tomorrow.
Imagine, if I had not treated this young man very well or even accepted him, I would probably have met other minds, who would have given me an experience of a lifetime I wouldn’t forget in a hurry.
The mystery of life can be seen in wealth creation. A man of means today can become a beggar tomorrow if the wealth is not properly managed, and the child of a certified pauper can become a man of means tomorrow. There have been stories of wealthy men whose children mismanaged their parents’ and became hungry, while slaves of wealthy men became stupendously wealthy. What does that tell you? Nothing is guaranteed in life. I often wonder how people take life very seriously thinking everything is about them. They don’t even know they can sleep and not wake up the next morning, nor are they aware of the fact that pride and ego are the two greatest enemies that can fast track the downfall of a man, while humility can jump-start their elevation.
As human beings sometimes, we wonder where our next meal will come from. Where would our next business, money, spouse, opportunity come from are some of the questions that bug our minds? One might have a business that has little or no hope of succeeding, but with determination and favour from God, the business will turn around for good.
On a personal note, I have been in a scenario where I lost hope of succeeding or moving to the next round, but I was surprised when the universe came through in ways and manners I couldn’t comprehend. I believe we all have one story or another to share as it relates to the mysteries of life. I can vividly recall when my late dad was very sick in the hospital. As a matter of fact, he was adjudged to be the sickest patient in the hospital. The doctor who was treating him said, he lost his mother to the exact sickness my late dad was facing. But with prayer, my late dad was able to survive to the amazement of everyone. He was later adjudged to be a miracle patient because he was given a slim opportunity to survive.
I don’t know what your storyline might be nor do I know what you are experiencing in your academic, business, health, career, or family life. One message I have for you is that nothing lasts forever. If you give it time, one day you’ll laugh and thank God for the experience and lessons life has offered you because life is a mystery one may not understand. It unfolds as it chooses.
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 and Unleash Your Destiny . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
