Against All Odds

Against All Odds

Dr. Omolola Omoteso

Inaugural Meeting of OSU Alumni Philosophy Class of 1997

2.12.18 Lagos, Nigeria

Introduction

Against All Odds is the title of a film about a love story with a lot of twists and casualties but the real lovers remained in love.  Take a look at me now... Few may remember that song by Phil Collins. Many including Mariah Carey and Westlife have sung it. The title of that song which was used in the film and made it to top and second chart in USA and UK is Against All Odds. 

Excerpts from the lyrics:

You’re the only one who really knew me at all

How can you just walk away from me

When all I can do is watch you leave

Cause we've shared the laughter and the pain

And even shared the tears

So take a look at me now

There’s just an empty space

And there’s nothing left here to remind me

Just the memory of your face

And you coming back to me is against all odds

It’s the chance I’ve got to take

Take a look at me now

Opening

Life some say is a game of chance; we win some, we lose some.We lament when we learn and rejoice when we earn. We merrywhen a life is birthed and we mourn when life departs. Yet, wemust take the chance to survive and succeed against all odd. According to Dr. Omolola Omoteso honoured by the committeeto address the first inaugural meeting of the Philosophy Department Class of 97, Life is a web of DECISIONS andSOLUTIONS.

You are here because a man and a woman decided to have sex. Whether they changed their minds thereafter or not, the Almighty chose you to survive among gazillion sperms and numbered eggs. So you are the product of an “against all odds” situation.

I thank the committee led by Mr. Ayo Solesi for this special privilege. Many knew me in OSU as Lola Fam, others know meas Anne Muyiwa; but, in everly love of my husband, I have come to cherish the name Dr. Omolola Omoteso. The honourific‘doctor’ points to many years of books across the globe but simply, I’m a Consultant, Counsellor and Advocate.

I had a long list of what to share, which includes 

1. Find your purpose

2. Find your point of passion, something you love to dowhether paid or not. 

3. Dare to dream

4. Set goals and reward yourself

5. Positive self talk

6. Confidence

7. Tenacity

8. Faith

9. Be the solution

10. Learn from mistakes

11. Ask for help and support

12. Find mentors and/or receive training

13. Seek counsel

14. Persevere, overcome obstacles 

15. Reward success and review set backs

But, I sent a message on Thursday to members of Prayer Channel for Nigeria (PC4N), which I coordinate and God said,“That is it!” You may wonder why God but the Almighty has a plan and purpose for us all.

Body

I was part of the campaign team for change but today I do not preach boundless or useless change. I preach individualised or personalised change. If you change what you wear or how you dress, what people will see will change. If you change how you do business, your income will change. If you change how you speak to your wife, how she responds will change. You may have no say in Aso Ranch but you are Presiding Officer in your life and the Chief Executive Officer or Managing Partner in your home. If you have not changed your academic situation since we left school, do not blame the government. It may be because you do not need it (not all do) or because you abandoned it like June 12. If you have not changed the power or light situation in your home, leave Fashola out of it. I bet you have reasons and he has reasons too.

So here are the 8 tips I wish to share, hoping that you will apply them to achieve sustainable success against all odds:

1. Discover your purpose.

2. Pursue your purpose with passion.

3. Propel your purpose by learning - formal or informal through mentors.

4. Create a plan for your purpose and actualise it.

5. Prepare to use or share your purpose to create wealth  - I write books

6. Position your purpose for local and/or global visibility

7. PRAY for your purpose to be divinely connected to destiny helpers - Ologi Global, Fashola/ Osinbajo &Tinubu

8. Persevere - Do not give up. Do not be hard on yourself. Reward yourself for smaller success so youcan forge ahead to bigger ones

Discovering and acting on your purpose is an important task. Take the time to understand what you are on earth to do and pursue that purpose with passion, enthusiasm and integrity. If you walk in someone else’s purpose, you may end with problems but if you walk in yours and do it tenaciously, you will earn profit.

My MOTHER once took me to her friend, who is today the richest woman in Nigeria - Folorunso Alakija. She was uncharitable but that is not the point. The point I want to make is that her purpose was to make people look good and she stayed in it. Her role in FADAN positioned her for visibility and she became Maryam Babangida nee Okogwu’s designer. This gave her purpose wings. By divine arrangement, she took her as a friend and introduced her to Babangida who is reported to have given her a oil bloc... The rest as they say is history.

Many years ago, in between studying Philosophy I was learning to make clothes and a mother to one of us would always encourage me and use me as an example. I successfullycompleted my training but sewing was stressful for my back and I never knew how to price things or haggle about money so I quit. However, I just shared the story of another woman who stuck with being a seamstress and passionately grew it to the point where she made much difference in the life of a First Lady who paid it forward. 

Closing

Distinguished mates and senior mates, I have found my own purpose and it is has taken me all over the world as I serve smiles with passion. Encouraging people, in any space, issomething I can do regardless of cash reward because it lifts meto see others succeed. This is my purpose and I do it with passion. My purpose is what I am doing now, touching lives by sharing the word and creating smiles to inspire people to excel.

If you are yet to discover purpose or hit that billion you are trusting God for or things are yet to fall in line as you envisaged, I urge you not to be weary. If you have found it, hold on to your purpose, plan, prepare, position your purpose for visibility and PRAY. Adura lo n’gba, agbara kii gba meaning PRAYERS are result oriented, exerting energy is not. 

It was Coco Chanel who said, “Don’t spend time beating on a wall, hoping to change it into a door.” Long before then, the Bible shared two truths in Proverbs 14:23 and Deuteronomy 8:18. Proverbs 14:23 “In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.” Simply put, talk less, do more. Deuteronomy 8:18 “But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”

Friedrich Nietzsche [Nitcha] (1844-1900) who profoundly influenced Western Philosophy opined:

“But tell me: how did gold get to be the highest value? Because it is uncommon and useless and gleaming and gentle in its brilliance; it always gives itself. Only as an image of the highest virtue did gold get to be the highest value... a gift-giving virtue is the highest virtue.”

Purpose is the value for which something exists. I urge you to explore, engage, expend, extend and expand your purpose to ensure you succeed against all odds. I pray that God will divinely connect us to destiny helpers and set us apart for peace and prosperity in any endeavour He directs us to embark on.

I am Dr. Omolola Omoteso, I approve this message and wish you God’s blessings always!

You have been an awesome audience, thank you for listening.