For young people to make a difference in their environment, the need for them to look beyond the things that have trapped those before them for which the Nigerian nation is struggling to wean itself has become imperative. This formed the theme of a book launch during the weekend in LagosEXPRESSING this view was former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Prof. Yemi Osibanjo (SAN) at the launch of The Spirit of a Man with a Difference: Defying the Status Quo. It is a self-development manual by budding public speaker Favour Erebosi. It held at the Sky Pavilion hall, Adebola House on Opebi Road, Ikeja, Lagos, last Saturday.As chairman of the occasion, Osibanjo had said that one of the things he found most challenging in life was how to change our society, our nation so it doesnt go to waste. All those who have made a difference in the world share common values and approach. You cant say they are citizens of one country. Take Nelson Mandela and Obafemi Awolowo, for instance. Such people have different values, noble values. More especially, they were prepared to die for those important values.Mandela came out of prison and wasnt even bitter in spirit in spite of all that had been done to him and his people. He spent only four years in power and voluntarily left office. There is something about such men. When a person has a different spirit, hes in a different class, a citizen of the world.Awolowo was one such man. He was the Premiere of Western Nigeria. He built the first 26-storey building in Ibadan, a university in Ife, the first industrial estate in Ikeja. If he were a typical Yoruba man, he would establish these things in his hometown, Ikenne. He had a different spirit, of excellent disposition. Its what young people should aspire towards: values of hard work, dedication, excellence, selflessness and patriotism.Pastor Niyi Adesanya, who gave the keynote address said although most people want to help solve problems, they didnt know how to go about it. Instead, they ended up compounding the situation. He praised Erebosis timely book as a great addition to the building block of the nations development. For youths eager to lend their talent to solving problems, Adesanya urged them to imitate Erebosi in producing something tangible otherwise their intentions would come to nought.And, for those who blame music crooner DBanj for providing a debate platform for President Goodluck Jonathan instead of the other debate platforms that were planned, Adesanya said DBanj probably had more youth followers than all the others put together. He argued that Jonathan might have made a better choice of debate platform with DBanj as results were to show in his winning the Presidential election.Many people want to help our nation but dont know how to, he said. We need to appreciate people like Favour to know how to help our destiny. To influence people, you need to throw out public materials that will stay in peoples consciousnessbooks, music, movies, etc. Our books can get to places that we can never get to. Favours book is a worthy thing.Is your story very inspiring Can it change lives Once you start doing something good, like minds will catch up with you and amplify it for you. Once you throw a pebble into a river, it creates a wave that ripples to infinity. Whatever you do, make sure you do it well. Focus on your geo-political influence areas and do it well. A knowledgeable person in the midst of ignorant people is an ignorant man; so also, a rich man in the midst of poor people is a poor man. But a poor man in the midst of rich people is a rich man.The author, Erebosi said she was inspired by a strong indebtedness to humanity to write the book The Spirit of a Man with a Difference: Defying the Status Quo. Becoming an author, she also said, wasnt exactly what she had envisaged but she said she was motivated by the urge to mentor young people. She stated that she had the Joshua and Caleb spirit that came to report back to the Israelites that the new territory was conquerable as against the negative report of the other ten.She asserted, God expects us to surmount obstacles even in seemingly impossible situations. Everyone has a life of purpose, a different spirit to make all the difference. Its my dream to put this book in the hands of youths to influence their lives for the better.Another motivational speaker Mr. Emmanuel Bright reviewed the book before it was unveiled to the reading public.
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