Tag Archives: Fela Durotoye

Adeolu Akinyemi
January 28, 2009

The Nigeria we deserve!


I’m sorry if I’m digressing from the better life gist a little. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I feel really really moved when I think about Nigeria. Do you? I know I am not alone, I certainly am not. I’m not even the first to feel this way, but I feel so strongly that I must contribute my quota into transforming Nigeria into the future I know it has.  We might be divided in our past, but we are united in our future. We might have diverse tribes and languages, but we can aspire to one vision. My destiny and if you think about it, yours as well, is tied to this country! When we pray for the peace of our Jerusalem, we are qualified to prosper in it!

I’ve had an opportunity to attend a few brainstorming sessions recently with Fela Durotoye and a number of other passionate change agents in Nigeria, and I know that the cloud is gathering, and the rain will fall! I have had the opportunity also of speaking with accomplished Nigerian business leaders, and the question I find on the lips of the ones with the right values is, “after we have made all this money what next, what legacy will we leave to generations unborn, is this our best as a country?” Continue reading →

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Adeolu Akinyemi
January 13, 2009

What is Important?


1. Access to Kings

I woke up very early yesterday morning, earlier than I usually would, to leave my house for 5am and head for the Airport. I was going to meet Fela Durotoye and Bunmi Ajagbe a member of his team, on our way to see the Minister of Education in Abuja.  

It ended up being a fulfilling meeting. Our objectives met with favour, and it was a good learning experience for all of us and me in particular.  I didn’t clamour to go see the minister, I was invited to come, that felt good and like the fulfillment of desires. The day went well. Continue reading →

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Adeolu Akinyemi
September 24, 2008

In Pursuit of Immortality


I was at the Sex2Sex conference organized by Praise Fowowe over the weekend, and by all standards it was an exceptional event. Such events ought to have more sponsorship, corporate and government! But thankfully we all didn’t have to wait for the government to do what we knew was right. It’s alright to take responsibility and it should always be something to be proud of! New Nigeria Club was a proud part sponsor of the event.

There were a lot of very interesting things I learnt and discovered at the Sex2Sex conference. For starters, I was able to hear Toyosi Akerele speak for the first time, she is an impressive and very driven young lady. She is the founder and manager of RISE network, and I have no doubt the network is one to watch out for. I also had the opportunity of listening to Tara FelaDurotoye. She spoke after I did, and she was on fire. I was impressed with her depth and her convictions, I was also moved by her style and story. One key thing I discovered, which added up in my mind, was the fact that her husband Fela Durotoye also took exactly the same type of Oath of Sexual purity that I took (for more information, click on the category on sex). I had never heard him speak about it before, neither he me, but it added up nicely. Maybe one day I’ll be able to do a list and we can make it fashionable to be faithful and stay pure. I also listened to Praise Fowowe, his passion was simply contagious as the crowd stood a number of times to agree with him. His message was clear, “you can hold your body, don’t use condom!”. “Don’t use rubber gloves to kill someone and say you didn’t do it.”, “Don’t put out the shares of your private company except you want to take it public, cover your breasts, make your privates, privates”. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to tell you about what I said, I’m sure you can get the tapes for that, but I can share some thoughts with you on what Prof Pat Utomi said during the event, I have captioned it, the pursuit of Immortality. Continue reading →

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Adeolu Akinyemi
September 17, 2008

Sex2Sex Summit


Advertorial: A sex2sex summit will be holding at 9am on Saturday the 20th of September, 2008. It’s going to be the biggest gathering of people taking a stand for their future, Nigeria’s future and their sexuality. Facilitators for these event include, Fela Durotoye, Adeolu Akinyemi, Tara Feladurotoye, Tosan (cakes) Jemide, Toyosi Akerele, Praise Fowowe and Professor Pat Utomi. It will be a good opportunity to have all these people in one spot and have access to all of them. Plan to attend. It’s a New Nigeria Club backed and sponsored event! Our statistics say that by 2020 75Million Nigerians will be living with HIV/AIDS, we can’t afford to pretend to be blind!

Here are some thoughts from the convener, Praise Fowowe

For a long time we have all kept quiet waiting for someone else to be responsible for our responsibility. We looked up to the 1st world countries for aids and we got AIDS in return. Now we need them to help us mop the effect of the virus in Africa.

We all know the truth but try to run away from it. We have forgotten the adage that says if you don’t know where you are going at least you must remember where you are coming from. Where are we coming from Nigerians? Continue reading →

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Adeolu Akinyemi
July 11, 2008

P.A.T.R.I.O.T.I.C


One of the core things that the New Nigeria Club seeks to address is the question of identity. Not just image, but identity. In this classification, image is how you are perceived while perception is how you see yourself. True sustainable image is one that is projected directly from one’s sense of personal identity. If what I am projecting as who I am is not who I really am, it’s only a matter of time before all my projections break down.

There was a question I was asked yesterday, I’ll like to ask you too. What makes someone a Nigerian. What is our unique selling point? What differentiates us, for what course are we willing to die. Who is a Nigerian? What are our values? What do we believe in? What binds us together? For the Americans it’s easy, it’s freedom. The free spirit has been branded the American spirit. Many American’s have died for Freedom, they have a statue of Liberty that is a National Icon, they believe in freedom of speech, of e.t.c. America is synonymous to freedom! When you think Singapore, you think cleanliness. They are so crazy about keeping the town beautiful and clean that they go to almost any length. As far as ensuring their citizens or visitors don’t chew gum, for fear they might not find where to stick it :) . For Germany it’s commitment, e.t.c. There are some other countries like these, some known for fashion, some known for machines, some known for their technology, some for their piracy e.t.c. What is Nigeria known for, what what makes us Nigerian, and what should it rather be? Continue reading →

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