NISM YPro May 2017. Volume 3, Issue 1
I have to say I’m sad to stand down as NISM YPro president, but this is completely trumped by my joy and anticipation of the direction in which our new president, Folarin Lapite, will take NISM YPro.
With that being said, I have a few people to thank. Firstly, I want to thank Mr Paul Onifade. As the founder of NISM, he supported my dream of starting a subgroup. I must also thank the executive and advisory members for their unwavering support, with particular note to Dapo ladimeji, Segun Osuntokun and Yemi Johnson. In addition to financial assistance, our senior NISM members offered us invaluable access to their time and resources in order to help us grow the subgroup and hold successful events. They always took my calls, which were usually short notice pleas to secure venues or last minute invitations to speaking engagements. I am deeply grateful for their help and the YPro subgroup simply would not exist, nor would it have been successful without their tutelage, advice and all round support.
Secondly, I have to thank my amazing team. I couldn’t have asked for a better line-up of people. We started off in a small room in the London School of Economics as fresh-faced grads. We had no identity, no brand, no infrastructure and no organisation to speak of; just a dream, serious drive and determination. I’m super proud of what we’ve achieved in only two years and I genuinely believe we have laid a firm enough foundation for the subsequent team to build upon. Again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you: Damini Onifade, Funmi Ogunlusi, Deborah Adigun-Hameed, Busayo Yusuff, Wumi Olukoya, Zephia Ovia, Femi Kuti and Tola Alade!
I usually have a message in these newsletters, a terribly long one, so I’ll try to keep it short this time. I think it’s important to remember that, in a time when nations of the world are increasingly looking inwards and are being driven by fear and separatism, we must not give into this. What’s happening across the western world does NOT have to happen in Africa and among our diaspora. We should learn from this, which means we should pay close attention to how events unravel.
I also believe we should take this as a wake-up call. Nigeria, as well as Africa at large, matters. Our country’s development — both economically and politically — matters. We matter. It’s important that we realise this and we start seriously considering what part we can play in improving the standard of life for the whole African community, back home and abroad.
Now is the time to dig our heels in deeper and care more. Let’s ensure that this moment in time becomes a turning point that will lead to progress, however slow. We simply cannot afford the alternative.
Have a great day and I look forward to seeing you all in the summer.
