WITNESS 2026/2036 — UNVEILING THE AUDACITY OF HOPE
_The Courage You Bring To It_
1. There are many traits that define a man’s character. Regardless of my very humble beginning — thus far, I have been privileged. Undoubtedly, one of the greatest influences in my life is the privileged relationship with Bishop David Olaniyi Oyedepo. He practically killed materialism in me and planted the seed of greatness. In his words: _“God will not use you for a mighty thing and leave you a dwarf.”_ That was the TONIC and the TURNING POINT in my life.
2. The photograph you see was taken in 1999, at the inauguration of the Obasanjo/Atiku government, directly in front of the President’s residence. I am standing there with Bishop David Oyedepo and Senator Andy Uba. I was a young man from a humble beginning, standing at the door of a new Nigeria. I did not know then what I know now — that God was unveiling in me the AUDACITY OF HOPE.
3. That hope is captured in the words of Obafemi Awolowo, SAN, quoting Peter, not Peter the Apostle, but Peter the hero of Hugh Walpole’s novel entitled _“Fortitude”_: _“It isn’t life that matters but the courage you bring to it.”_ Life has given us much — pain, disappointment, sleepless nights, and wounds we did not ask for. Someone said, “Your trauma made you stronger.” But the truth is deeper: trauma made us traumatized. It is we who made ourselves stronger, by dragging ourselves out of a dark place and dealing with consequences that were not our fault. That dragging-out, that rising-up, is courage.
4.And courage is the heart of our NATIONAL REBIRTH. Without CONSCIENCE we lose direction, without COMPETENCE we lose capacity, without CHARACTER we lose trust, without COURAGE we lose the fight, and without COMPASSION we lose our humanity. But with courage, we rise. Shirley Uche Emehelu rose. Our children abroad are rising. Our people at home are rising.
5.And today, our people are speaking. Voice 1 — Our Ijebu Grandpa, my childhood friend: _“A REMARKABLE AND COMMENDABLE ACHIEVEMENT! … May Almighty God continue to establish the names of our children in high places across the nations where they reside…”_ Voice 2 — Our Yoruba Aunt/Grandma: Calling for our youths to come home.
6. Voice 3 — Dr. Emmanuel Adebayo Abanida: Awaiting his word today. Voice 4 — Our Igbo Elder: Saluting our dear Mama Ajoke Mohammed at 85 — a blessed mother, a matriarch of grace, dignity and quiet strength. A woman whose life has been a testimony of faith, family, service and excellence. At 85, she stands as a shining example that a life built on character and compassion only grows more beautiful with age. We honour her, we celebrate her, and we pray for many more years in sound health and joy.
7. Voice 5 — The Young Lady: _“This is refreshingly awesome.”_ Voice 6 — The Younger Man: _“NIGERIANS are great people anywhere they are found.”_ From grandpa to younger man, from 1999 to 2026, the message is the same: Nigeria is not finished. Our people are great anywhere they are found.
8. So today, we do not ask life to be easy. We ask God to give us the courage we bring to it. The courage to be honest when it is costly, to be excellent when no one is watching, to love Nigeria when it is hard, and to build a nation worthy of our children. God will not use a man for a mighty thing and leave him a dwarf. He will not use Nigeria for a mighty thing and leave her small. That is the AUDACITY OF HOPE. That is the NATIONAL REBIRTH.
Richard Olanrewaju ODUSANYA
Convener and Author, WITNESS 2026/2036 — NATIONAL REBIRTH
