LIVE FROM MTN PROJECTFAME STUDIOS

I had started writing the cover article for this edition, but I eventually got the inspiration to write this when I visited Ultima studios, venue of the live recording of the second season of MTN Project fame West Africa. The music competition which had 16 contestants from Nigeria, Sierrealone, Liberia and Ghana. I had to forego Premiership matches, especially the Arsenal and Manchester City tie. I was looking forward to watch Adebayour play against Arsenal. So that you don’t get confused, I am a Liverpool fan who sleeps on a branded Arsenal bedspread, guess I just like the club.

I was at the Academy to cheer a friend, David Omodumiju, whose picture I also used for the cover picture of my book. His journey to the academy is quite intriguing, though divine. A member of Ydi in the University of Lagos introduced the competition to him, and even helped get the form. David was initially not interested in the competition. In fact, he told me that a neighbor warned him not to sing in their house again, if he didn’t pick the form. Weeks later I met him at Yaba, with his box guitar, singing while walking on the road. I had to yell several times to get his attention. Eventually he did hear me and broke the good news, that he had been admitted into the Projectfame Academy. But his entry was also divine, because at last year’s Camp Joseph (Ydi’s annual camp meeting), a word of prophecy came forth, that a music star would emerge from Ydi in 2009.

I had fun at the live studio recording, having the opportunity to watch live the making of MTNPROJECT FAME. Ace comedian, Seyi Law got our ribs cracking while we eagerly awaited the live performance of the various contestants. The well lighted hall was simply electric, expectations were high, and I just kept thinking about the lessons I could learn from my visit. I sat with David’s mum in the front row, in a reserved area for family and friends of the contestant. I must say that I was pretty shy, partly because I was required to raise a cardboard that read, ‘David you are the giant.’ While he was on stage.

But I had fun throughout the recording, David was at his best that night and the other contestants were very entertaining. I was particularly thrilled when Nicholas sang James Blonde’s ‘You are beautiful’ while playing the piano excellently well. It was also a delight to see award winning actress Joke Silva, who served as the Principal of the Academy. I can still remember how the audience screamed when the Judges announced that David had been placed on probation. Kwame, the brain behind music channel Nigezie didn’t like the reaction, and tried to justify the Judges decision.

At the end of the Programme, the contestants went back stage, we didn’t have the opportunity of exchanging pleasantries. Apart from the gift package I got from MTN official sponsors of Projectfame , I left the Academy with a few thoughts you would learn from. Regardless of how young you are, dare to achieve great things. What if Michael Angelo did not paint the Sistine chapel? What if Henry ford did not start the Ford company? What if David did not pick up the Projectfame form. There’s a lot you can do, but have not attempted to do, because you think you can’t do them. Stop limiting yourself. There are greater days ahead of you, but you need to dare to do what looks impossible.

Also I decided to chronicle David’s journey to Projectfame West Africa because of his innate ability to sing. There are loads of secondary school students like me who would never pick up a form for a musical competition regardless of the reward, because we don’t have a natural talent of singing. But there’s at least one thing you can do that would make you standout. You need to concentrate on what you know how to do excellently well, develop it and make the best of it. Stop being envious of the progress other young people are making and start developing excellence in your area of giftedness. Whatever it is that you know how to do, is your own unique opportunity to be celebrated.

Finally start from where you are, even if nobody is celebrating you like David today. Every successful person knows that what’s important is for you to continue practicing your skill over a long haul. David had been singing long before the Projectfame opportunity came. In the first chapter of ‘Senior Gbenga’, I talked about how my leadership responsibility as a Prefect back in school gave me the right platform to prepare myself for life. Don’t despise the days of little beginnings. This term, maximize the seemingly little opportunities that come your way in school. Opportunity is transient. Arthur Bristone rightly remarked, “Opportunity comes like a snail,once it has passed you, it changes into a fleet rabbit and is gone.”

David would be visiting some of the schools on my book tour list for this term to share his experience with other young people. But before the, brace up and dare to do the impossible.