Jeffrey Awoniyi is the youngest member of the Book Club @ Peace House. He is 7 years old. He was the symbol of the event. Jeffrey stole the show when he stepped out to give an account of his major take home from the book, Winning Strategies. He chose the topic “Face your Fear”.

Indeed Jeffrey faced his fear when he defeated timidity and spoke to the audience. I was particularly thrilled with the way he held tightly to the book in a ‘don’t let go’ manner. He is a leader in waiting.

The event was the book reading of Winning Strategies on Saturday the 4th of June, 2022. The Convener of the Book Club and Head of Service of Ekiti State, Mrs Peju Babafemi, displayed exemplary leadership. She is a leader indeed, a mother hen with a sea of committed followers who are leaders in their right.

The lead discussant and my namesake, Professor Christopher Oluwadare, provided fresh insights to the book, even to me, the author. If only one can climb the professorial chair on account of name sharing, perhaps I would have borrowed his prestigious professorial title but wishes are not horses. I found a new friend in him.

The goodwill message was given by two distinguished personalities.

Mr Yinka Oyebode is the Chief Press Secretary to the Ekiti State Governor and my childhood friend. Yinka made the event possible because it was through him that Mrs Babafemi got hold of the book. Interestingly, he was the book reviewer during the launch in 2021.

Dr (Mrs) Yemisi Afolabi is a Senior Lecturer, Centre for Gender and Dev Studies at the Ekiti State University. She is such a humorous mother. She is a leader.

The array of academics in attendance challenged me in my relentless quest to contribute to the knowledge industry. They led from the front and provided the needed inspiration for the undergraduate, secondary and primary school members of the Book Club.

I was greatly inspired to know that nearly all members of the club had read the book beforehand and had enough tips to share with the audience. Mrs Babafemi is indeed a 21st century leader. She inspires me.

The crème de la crème in the Ekiti State Civil Service in attendance are all readers, no wonder they are leaders. They are too numerous for me to list but I remember the Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Ekiti State, Comrade Kolapo Olatunde and the General Manager of Ekiti State Broadcasting Service, Mr Olu Popoola.

It was a nostalgic moment for me to see my old school mate mount the compere stand with her co-compere, Mr Femi Onipede. Mrs Oyeyemi Kayode-Ojo is a Permanent Secretary in the Ekiti State Civil Service. She is soft spoken and a humour merchant. She couldn’t recognise me anymore but I did. We graduated same year.

The icing on the cake was the inspiring message delivered by the strong pillar behind the Convener, Pastor Oladosu Babafemi. He gave enough insights into how best to retire, being a retiree himself. I am gratified to know that Pastor Babafemi has found companionship in Winning Strategies as he and his wife empty themselves in service to humanity. They both inspire me.

I summarise the event with the words of the founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg. “Ideas are not fully formed until you get started”.

What is that thing you have been meaning to start? There will never be a perfect time. Just begin.

©️Akin Oluwadare Jnr
07 June 2022