And I believe that’s my message truly today, in a 20-minute nutshell. That whether you are in politics, or in business or sitting in a cubicle at an insurance firm, that you can make the impossible possible, that you cannot just survives but thrive.
And it will be hard. But who promised you it will be easy? Who told you it should be easy? It is supposed to be hard. To be excruciating, and demanding, and frustrating. Sometimes – many times – you will want to give up. But then you don’t. Which is how you win. Because when it gets much too hard, THAT is the exact moment when you have to make the decision to keep going. And, no, it is not unfair. That is exactly as it ought to be. That’s exactly the way the world is wired to run. That’s how you know it’s real.
This young man here stands as an ongoing testimony to tell you it is not easy, but it is… possible. It is possible to move from a young boy in a 2-bedroom apartment in Ijeshatedo who was chased out of primary school for 2 years because his incredibly hardworking father lost his job and could not pay his fees to being one of the 20 invited last month to be the face of the 50th anniversary calendar of that same school.
To move from a young man born, bred and buttered in Nigeria, who didn’t leave this country until 2008, and even then on a free ticket, to one who has worked on the campaigns of two presidents and sits on the boards of global companies.
Who was told it wasn’t possible many, many years ago. But who chose to believe, because what other choice did he have, because hope is the one thing that is inexhaustible, and who hasn’t lost his spirit, his joy, and his appreciation for the beauty of the world – despite the people who have cheated me, abused me, undermined me, betrayed me, and disappointed me.
Because it doesn’t matter. Because what matters is where you are going, where you can go.
Because after all is said and done, here and across West Africa, this I know for sure. Much is possible, in Nigeria, by Nigerians, in spite of Nigeria.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, and God bless you.
Text of Keynote Address given by Chude Jideonwo, Managing Partner of Red Media Africa (RED) and Founding Executive Director of The Future Project Africa, at the Women of West Africa Entrepreneurship Festival on 25 June, 2015 | Lagos Nigeria
I thank God I read everything through. Chude is an example of that true Nigerian who rose from being a nobody to a great person we all admire today. I also love the fact that he rises together with whoever choose to go with him. I found great inspirations from this. God continues to keep you Mr Chude.