Often times in life you come across people who tell you what you’re capable of achieving as an individual and I believe it’s up to you to prove such cynics wrong. My first experience was when I was in 4th year at the university. My lecturer during one of his lectures decided to label every member of the class, telling them what they would achieve in life based on their academic performance and behavior. He told a few colleagues that they would achieve so much in life and be trailblazers while others won’t be as successful. He then looked at me and told me I would never amount to much and will probably end up in the ministry on a basic salary, and that’s if I end up getting a job.

I was shocked and I thought he had no right to put me in a box. But it made me more determined and I ended up being the first person in our entire set to be registered as a professional member of the Nigerian Institute of Architects. I’ve encountered several other scenarios where people tell me I can’t do a certain job just by looking at me and I still find it shocking that strangers are capable of determining your level of achievement by one’s appearance. But growing up I received great advice from parents especially my dad, who told me and made me believe that I can be whatever I want to be and somehow or the other the universe opens up and accommodates you if you believe. I’ve since made it my life’s mission to encourage the younger ones into believing that they can achieve whatever they set their minds to.