Metro
Tribute to Nigeria’s Unsung Heroes
By Ayo Oyoze Baje
“A true hero isn’t measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of his heart” – Hercules
They are out there sacrificing their sweat, valuable time, boundless energy and precious resources to make a positive impact on the quality of life of fellow citizens, virtually on daily basis.They are diligent at their duties; exhibiting promptitude, passion and perseverance, not counting the cost, if only to put a smile on other people’s faces. But they are hardly recognized at high class award ceremonies, all because they are not the Dangotes, the Otedolas, the Jim Ovias and the Alakijas, or even the wave-making entertainers and so called celebrities. Yet, we clamour for a better country and a brighter world. What a life of contradictions!
Mind you, their professional spectrum spans different fields of human endeavor – from teachers, nurses, office assistants, through skillful artisans, security personnel to commited caregivers. But what marks them out is their avowed commitment to duty and the selfless service to humanity. Their moving mantra, or propelling philosophy is to bring out the best in them for the good of others. That is true leadership for you, all because you do not need to wear a title to be a leader, as the world- acclaimed author, Mark Sanborn rightly highlighted in his bestselling book of the same title.
Of great significance therefore, is the increasing need for Nigeria’s mass media to begin to identify, project and promote such unique and rare individuals as the society’s enduring heroes. They should be projected as our moral compass, more so in this strange era of overt focus on maddening money and mindless materialism, irrespective of their sources of inflow. Indeed, this is also the right moment to understand such individuals as the beacon bearers the younger generation of Nigerians need to guide them forward through the long, dark tunnel of ignorance and poverty. A few examples would shed more light on the purpose of this clarion call.
In fact, a personal experience evolved between the subject of the matter and my humble self back in 2018. We became friends on Facebook and yours truly always appreciated his prayers. To hit the nail on the head, he confessed that he was attracted to my person because reading through my weekly opinion essays as published by different newspapers, magazines and online portals, clearly convinced him that I have passion for good governance in Nigeria.By November of that year he invited me as one of the members of his Foundation- the Ibiyinka Macaulay Foundation with the mission of giving a helping hand to the needy. Worthy of note is that the United Kingdom -based Ibiyinka Macaulay happens to be of the Fourth generation in the lineage of the late political icon, Herbert Macaulay.
Fast forward to Saturday May 18, 2019 and yours truly was the Media Consultant to the Foundation which kick- started the provision of different gift items such as food, drugs as well as cash for the needy Nigerians at different parts of Lagos. These included the Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care and Treatment Home at Akoka, the Lagos Cheshire Home,Mushin and the Tower of Refuge Orphanage/ Motherless Babies Home, Aguda, Surulere. But that was not all there was to his uncommon spirit of generosity.
In addition to these the Macaulay Foundation also commissioned boreholes, renovated toilets and presented electric generators and television sets to schools at Iyu Road, Surulere. And after that he led the program of feeding the underprivileged people at the close of their fasting at Ebute Meta axis of Lagos state. But have you heard about Ibiyinka Macaulay before now? That is the million- naira question. Yet, there are several other unsung heroes making their mark in Nigeria’s socio– economic landscape.
Mr. Solomon Folorunsho is another of such precious pearls of humanity. As a pastor who practices what he preaches he is the Coordinator of the Internally Displaced Persons( IDP) camp at Uhogua, Benin, Edo state. He and members of his able team have been at the forefront of the provision of various food items, drugs, clothing materials and the payment of school fees for the children there in the camp. Good enough, some of them have maximized the opportunities provided to improve on their skills and learning, moving from there to some tertiary institutions.
It was therefore, a piece of heart-warming news that in November 2024 the Benin branch of the Nigeria Society of Engineers ( NSE ) provided food items at the camp. Perhaps, some other concerned Nigerians would reach out to the IDP camp to provide solar-powered boreholes,solar lights and more hostels that they are requesting for. It is big kudos to Pastor Folorunsho for beaming his God-given light of hope for survival for the needy in the darkness of hunger and poverty, as one of the country ‘s unsung heroes.
As a way forward in recognizing our history- making change makers, across various fields of human endeavor different organizations that give awards should take a cue from Cadbury Schweppes company. It established the Bournvita Teachers’ Awards in 2002. The noble and praise -worthy aim of course, is to celebrate excellence in the long-forgotten field of quality education delivery. The award which comes with a plaque,a GSM phone with sim card, N100,000 cash and one-year supply of Bournvita is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility ( CSR ). The award which had Mrs. Philomena Igweze and Mr. John Ukaonu as the best teachers in both primary and secondary schools across the country back in 2002 has since transformed in scale and style. Laudable, is it not?
Of course, it is.
So, to guide the society right on the solid path to moral and professional rejuvenation, this is the time to change the narrative from the base sentiments of thinking that only the celebrities and politicians, who are supposed to be our servants are the only important people around. No! “Real leadership is that of leaders recognizing that they serve the people, that they lead”. That is according to Pete Hoekstra and it should serve as food – for – thought for us all.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in the early hours of Sunday, October 26, raided Proxy Night club at 7, Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, where a drug party was going on, and arrested over 100 suspects.
Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, while making this known, said the suspects arrested include the owner of the club, Mike Eze Nwalie Nwogu, alias Pretty Mike, who was taken into custody for interrogation.
“Cartons of illicit substances, including Loud and laughing gas, were recovered from suspects at the party and the club’s store.
“The raid followed intelligence about the drug party. NDLEA operatives who were embedded in the party between 11 pm on Saturday, 25th October, however, disrupted the gathering at 3 am on Sunday, 26th October, in line with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The Cotps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed, has expressed deep concern over to a viral video circulating on social media showing an altercation between some FRSC officers and a driver along Abudu, Edo State, Nigeria, on Saturday, 25th October, 2025. and has ordered an immediate investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.
Corps Marshal Mohammed emphasized, in a statement made available to National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), that the Corps does not condone any form of unprofessional conduct or behavior that undermines the integrity and discipline for which the FRSC is known. He further assured members of the public that appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken against any officer found culpable, in line with the Corps’ operational guidelines and public service rules.
He also appealed to the motoring public to remain calm and continue to show cooperation and respect towards FRSC personnel, who are committed to ensuring safer roads and protecting lives across the nation.
While the FRSC remains steadfast in its mission to promote road safety, maintain order, and uphold the highest standards of professionalism in service delivery, the Corps marshal will also not tolerate any form of assault or violence against its personnel from members of the public in the course of duty.
By Tolulope A. Adegoke, PhD
“True leadership is not the exercise of one’s own power, but the stewardship of a power that is divinely bestowed. We do not conquer by our own hand, but through a grace that guides it. I therefore pause to say thank You, God Almighty: My Source, My Owner, My Helper, and My All in all” – Tolulope A. Adegoke, PhD
In the grand theater of human endeavor—from the halls of global corporations to the quiet labs of research scientists, from the strategic command centers of nations to the intimate classrooms shaping young minds—we are conditioned to celebrate the visible. We laud the innovative strategy, the decisive action, the brilliant intellect, and the relentless work ethic. These are the pillars upon which we believe success is built.
Yet, this focus on the tangible is to admire the grand facade of a cathedral while remaining oblivious to its unseen foundation. Today, we must pause to acknowledge the bedrock upon which all human achievement truly rests: the sovereign and sufficient grace of God Almighty. It is a profound and humbling truth that cuts across every culture, sector, and stratum of society: We lead, innovate, heal, govern, and ultimately conquer, not primarily because of our own merit, but because of the divine grace that empowers our efforts and crowns them with favor.
- The Universal Law of Received Power
The principle of grace dismantles the modern myth of the “self-made” leader. In physics, no system creates its own energy; it merely transforms energy from an external source. So it is with human achievement. Our skills, our intelligence, and even our very breath are not self-generated; they are gifts bestowed.
- In Business and Innovation: A CEO may possess sharp acumen, but it is grace that orchestrates a chance meeting with a pivotal partner, sparks a moment of breakthrough innovation when logic has failed, and grants the wisdom to navigate an unforeseen market collapse. The idea that became a billion-dollar company did not emerge from a vacuum; it was a spark of insight granted to a prepared mind—a mind that itself was a gift.
- In Science and Medicine: A researcher dedicates decades to a problem, yet the final, elegant solution often appears as a flash of intuition—a “Eureka!” moment that feels less like a construction and more like a revelation. The healing of a patient, despite the most advanced protocols, often involves an inexplicable, supernatural turn toward recovery that humbles the most brilliant physicians. This is grace in the laboratory and the clinic.
- In Governance and Nation-Building: A political leader may craft a perfect policy, but its success depends on a thousand uncontrollable variables: the public’s reception, global economic tides, and the collective will of a people. When a nation avoids a crisis or emerges from disaster with renewed unity, it is not merely a political victory; it is a national testament to divine providence and restraining grace.
Our role is to diligently till the soil and sow the seeds. But the germination, the growth, and the harvest are miracles of grace. To claim otherwise is like a farmer boasting that he created the rain and the sun.
- Grace as the Antidote to Leadership’s Twin Poisons
Understanding this universal law is the most powerful strategic and psychological advantage a leader can possess. It serves as the definitive antidote to the two toxins that corrupt leadership: pride and despair.
- It Eradicates Destructive Pride: When success is internalized as a personal creation, it breeds an arrogance that isolates a leader. They begin to believe their own press, seeing subordinates as instruments and competitors as enemies. This pride inevitably leads to a fall. Conversely, the leader who sees success as a stewardship of God’s grace remains humble. They lead with a sense of awe and responsibility, knowing they are managing assets they did not create. This humility fosters collaboration, attracts loyalty, and enables course correction.
- It Prevents Paralyzing Despair: The weight of leadership can be crushing. Failure, criticism, and unforeseen crises can lead to burnout and cynicism. If a leader believes they are the sole author of success, then they must also be the sole bearer of failure. But when a leader is anchored in grace, setbacks are re-framed. They are not definitive indictments of their ability, but rather part of a larger, divine curriculum. This perspective fosters resilience, allowing a leader to get up after a fall, learn the lesson, and continue with renewed hope, trusting that the same grace that opened past doors can redeem present failures.
III. The Evidence of Grace in the Tapestry of Life
This is not abstract theology; it is observable reality. Let us trace the fingerprints of grace across the facets of our collective experience:
- The Wisdom We Claim: That moment of perfect clarity in a tense negotiation or a complex coding problem—was it not a gift that arrived precisely when needed? That was the grace of divine insight.
- The Doors That Opened: Consider the promotion that came from a departing superior you didn’t orchestrate, the investor who believed in your vision against conventional wisdom, the visa that was granted against all odds. These are not coincidences; they are the grace of divine favor.
- The Strength We Found: In our moments of profound exhaustion, grieving a loss, or facing immense pressure, did we not discover a well of fortitude we did not know we possessed? That was the grace of divine sustenance.
- The People We Encounter: The mentor who guided us, the team member whose unique talent complemented our weakness, the spouse who offered unwavering support—these individuals are not random occurrences. They are living, breathing manifestations of God’s grace in our lives.
- The Restraint We Experienced: The catastrophic mistake we were unknowingly prevented from making, the harsh word we were restrained from speaking, the disastrous partnership we were diverted from—these are evidences of a protective grace, operating silently behind the scenes.
- Cultivating a Posture of Grateful Stewardship
Therefore, the most critical leadership competency is not strategic planning or financial modeling, as vital as those are. It is the cultivation of a heart of gratitude. This is the lens that brings all of life into focus.
A leader grounded in this truth leads not as an owner, but as a steward. They understand that their organization, their nation, their talents, and their platform are on loan from a higher authority. This transforms their entire approach:
- Decision-Making: They seek wisdom beyond their own, praying for guidance and listening for the divine “nudge.”
- Resource Allocation: They manage people and capital with justice and generosity, knowing they are handling resources that belong to God.
- Legacy Building: Their goal shifts from building a personal monument to fulfilling a divine purpose, leaving a legacy that benefits humanity and glorifies the Giver.
Conclusion: The Conduit of Conquest
Let us then move forward with a renewed paradigm. Let us work with impeccable excellence, as if everything depends on us. But let us pray, trust, and give thanks, knowing that everything ultimately depends on Him.
Our skills are the conduit; His grace is the current. Our plans are the vessel; His providence is the ocean.
We are the conduits of effort, but grace is the current of conquest. To mistake the one for the other is the height of leadership folly.
The most dangerous leader is the one who believes they are the architect of their success. The wisest is the one who knows they are merely a steward, building upon a foundation laid by grace.
Our skill prepares the vessel, but only grace can fill it. Lead accordingly.
I pause to say thank You, To God Almighty—the unseen Architect of our triumphs, the silent Partner in our ventures, and the ultimate Source of every victory across every facet of life—we ascribe all wisdom, power, and glory. For it is by His grace that we are positioned, it is by His might that we persevere, and it is for His purpose that we ultimately conquer.
In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.
Dr. Tolulope A. Adegoke, AMBP-UN is a Recipient of the Nigerian Role Models Award (2024), and a Distinguished Ambassador For World Peace (AMBP-UN). He has also gained inclusion in the prestigious compendium, “Nigeria @65: Leaders of Distinction”.
