Celebrating the Enigmatic Henry Ukazu

By Abdulakeem Sodeeq Sulyman

Today, 3rd of December, is another day for the world to celebrate its true son; a hero, a champion of noble causes and a legend of his generation. As the angels were about to open the doors of today, they would be amazed by the light that shone on the mother earth, beaming through all corners of the world and stirring hopes in many people.

Some decades ago, in the suburb of Nigeria, Henry Ukazu was born. His birth was a good omen to the family of Ukazu, which had been blessed with many warriors and pathfinders who lived to etched their names on the world’s walls. Henry parents, like every other parent, hoped that their new born baby was destined for greatness and named him Anyaehie, meaning: Free spirit, adventure and excitement.

No wonder Henry Ukazu has been highly phenomenal towards life and everything revolving around it. The adventurous quality of Henry sets him apart in all his dispositions towards every man. Henry Ukazu possesses a free spirit that makes everyone feel welcome and appreciated anytime they engaged him on causes he finds appealing and warms his soul.

Henry Ukazu is an ardent believer of the words of Batiatus in the famous classic movie “Spartacus,” that “Even the lowest man can rise beyond heaven if he was treated with proper rewards.” I have witnessed it in many occasions where he goes beyond his comfort to put smiles on people’s faces and help them identify their purposes in life. This is to attest that Anyaehie is about seeing the lights in you and helping others discover theirs.

Through Henry Ukazu, I have discovered that life should be lived with senses of gratification and excitement. As an advocate of gratification, Henry Ukazu usually emphasises that no matter how bad you think your life is, when you identify something to be grateful for, you would always rejoice in abundance. This belief lays the foundation for being excited in life.

The principle of excitement had played a significant role in nurturing Henry Ukazu’s strength and brightening his spirits. According to Henry Ukazu, “Many people never rise to the zenith of their aspirations because they wake up everyday with depression, instead of paying attention to the energies bursting in them to correct their mistakes and set their lives on the right tracks.”

For a man living to impact lives, a birthday is not enough to bring into fore, the sum of his laudable and invaluable contributions to humanity. But as posited by Ezekiel Oladele Adeoti that “For in every seed lies the promise of a harvest, and in every effort, the potential for impact,” I strongly believe that taking the advantage of a day like this to celebrate Henry Ukazu is a great opportunity to introduce him to those who don’t know him and appreciate him for being a beacon of hope to many.

Those connected with Henry Ukazu through his social media handles or having a glimpse of him through his digital footprints would think that he was born with a silver spoon or his life was devoid of challenges. Far from that! Henry Ukazu also faced his fair share of life’s hurdles and his ability to overcome the hurdles, waxing stronger and standing tall qualifies him as a leader.

Tayo Sobande says, “True leadership goes beyond business acumen; it’s about fostering a culture of creativity and innovation, ethical practices and long-term vision.”During the trying times of Henry Ukazu, he never lose focus, he never missed his sights on the opportunities he could create for himself and his progenies.

I am sure you would be surprised that his first book titled “Design Your Destiny…” was written within two-week! To the glory of God, that book had paved the ways for more and had announced Henry Ukazu’s name in places his presence hasn’t been sighted. The message in Henry Ukazu’s story is that never limit your goals to our current conditions. Things may not be going as you have planned; but if you continue to act right, you are bound to rise and narrate your story to inspire others.

Dear Henry Ukazu, I know that one of your strengths is meditation and as you would be reflecting on your life today, I urge you to beam your lenses on the things you can do to bolster your impact on the world. Remember the words of Fela Durotoye that “Greatness is not about what you have done; it is about what you can do but not yet done.” If you continue in the terrain you are currently, I have no doubt that your greatness will be unmatched!

“Success is not about what you are, but what you are becoming,” according to one philosopher. I want to use this rare privilege to wish you more success and may the star that shines today lighten every aspect of your life; may the unlimited grace of the almighty God be showered on you and may you continue to soar in every ramification. May the years ahead of you be your best years.

Many more prosperous and fulfilling years, Sir.