The painter in this picture is Belami 18
years ago
The president, National Association of
Aircraft Pilots and Engineers and national
leader of the Arewa Youths Consultative
Forum, Comrade Isaac Balami has let out a
heart-chilling story on how he started his
career on a humble pedestrian, having gone
through unimaginable poverty.
Belami who marked his birthday
anniversary on the 25th of August 2016,
with painters, masons and a host of others
who engage in menial jobs in Abuja, told
them and others his story just to inspire
them in order not to give up on their lives.
Addressing the crowd after the birthday,
Belami who is also the founder of the
Nigeria Rebirth Project, said 18 years ago,
he was struggling with life, and that at one
point, he was a painter, after which he
became a suck-away evacuator and later
became a manson. He said he tried his
hands in suya business and other jobs
while struggling with life.
According to him, ‘’ Who would have
thought that a mere painter just 18 years
ago could become the national president of
the Association of Nigerian Pilots and
Engineers? Who would have thought that an
ordinary mason just 16 years ago could
become the past spokesperson of Trade
Union Congress of Nigeria? Who would have
thought that a filthy and stenchy soak-
away evacuator from the North-Eastern
part of Nigeria could become the president
of Arewa youth consultative forum? Who
would have thought that a man who could
hardly afford a daily meal could cater for
over 500 widows and sponsor nearly 500
children in school as a commitment from a
foundation he owns? Who would have
thought that a helpless man who faced a
lot of challenges would be the founder of
Nigeria Rebirth Project?,’’ he asked
rhetorically.
Read his speech below…
‘’Friends, every 25th of August is not just to
celebrate my birthday but a day to reflect
over the past and revel in the present.
‘’Who would have thought that a mere
painter just 18 years ago could become the
national president of the Association of
Nigerian Pilots and Engineers? Who would
have thought that an ordinary mason just 16
years ago could become the past
spokesperson of Trade Union Congress of
Nigeria?Who would have thought that a
filthy and stenchy soak-away evacuator
from the North-Eastern part of Nigeria
could become the president of Arewa youth
consultative forum? Who would have
thought that a man who could hardly afford
a daily meal could cater for over 500
widows and sponsor nearly 500 children in
school as a commitment from a foundation
he owns? Who would have thought that a
helpless man who faced a lot of religious
and ethnic discrimination would be the
founder of Nigeria Rebirth Project?: its
unveiling had a convergence of 66
ambassadors of nations and well over 20
state governors’ wives. Who would have
thought that a young man whose fellow
students refer to as Mai suya could build
BD Hub, the largest hub in Africa. I could
count on the seemingly odd and
unfavourable pebbles life threw at me as a
young man.
‘’But I tell you something friends, God
raised me up! God raised me above those
stormy seas. If you are looking for the man
that should have amounted to nothing either
by hard work or background, it is me! But
God in His amazing grace brought me
where I am today and I will not lose touch
with that fact.
‘’So on the 25th of August being my
birthday, I had the singular honor and
privilege to celebrate with my friends once
again, just like we have always done over
the years. The ones doing the dirty and
menial jobs in Abuja. The ones always
reminding me of my past. The masons,
carpenters, diggers, painters et al. The ones
I could have looked down on because of my
present status in the society.
‘’Then I discovered something. I am in no
way better than them. It was just God that
made my life this enviable. A few of my
friends who do not know me too well think
I was born with silver spoon. They accuse
me of trying to inspire them because I had
a very smooth background. Let me reiterate
once again that God is the reason for my
success story. Not my academic prowess
or intellectual property. So I took time to
hang outwith these great men after their
day’s job. We gisted, danced, cut the cake,
ate and drank in merriment.They got
motivated by me and I in turn got inspired
by them. What a symbiotic atmosphere that
was!
‘’God willing, I wish to do this for the rest
of my life. Forgetting them is forgetting my
life and forgetting my life is simply
forgetting God who makes all things
possible. I dread that day and I pray it does
not come.
‘’This is a clarion call on every great
dreamer out there, most especially the
hustlers in these hard economic times. Do
not give up! Do not give in! Keep keeping
on! If God could place me this high, He will
do the same for you, even more, only if
you will not stop believing
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