Standing before kings
Almost every Sunday, my Father will echo Proverbs 22:29 into our ears. Standing before at least 20 of us as children’s teachers, he will scream. “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.” Then on our way home, he will start with a story and end with my son, “whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well.” I would be lying to your face if I said these words didn’t impact shaping whom I have turned out to be today.
I hear people say it, one of the most excellent tools on earth to keep a conversation or memory going is storytelling! I must say, my Father, as a person, mastered this art! Well, maybe he was also an English Language and Literature teacher for 30 years. Well, I am not here to talk about my Father today. I am here to talk about the day I accepted the responsibility to lead Civic Hive.
The Bible says a man who is unwilling to work should not eat.
2 Thessalonians chapter 3:10. “Iyanuoluwa, will you like to lead Civic Hive as a place holder since no one is willing to take that place at the moment?” Oluseun Onigbinde to me one day at his office in late July 2017. I answered emphatically and said yes! In my days as an undergraduate, I have never shied away from challenges, I knew it was going to be a big one, but the rest, they say, is history!
I am sure you’ll be asking, where is Iyanuoluwa going with all these narrations? I was trying to play Ryan Coogler, hoping my story would blow! Here is the main thing I have been trying to say, I have been chosen for IVLP! The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. Through short-term exchanges with interlocutors in the United States, current and emerging foreign leaders develop lasting relationships with their American counterparts in various fields. The meetings during the exchange program reflect the participants’ professional interests and support the foreign policy goals of the United States. IVLP participants are nominated and selected by diplomats at U.S. missions abroad. A prestigious program which has operated since 1940 till date and has introduced over 225,000 participants to communities in the United States.
So what makes this a big deal?
For Transparency and Accountability in Government III, I am privileged to be the only Nigerian out of all the 16 countries represented in the United States of America for this cohort. I am very excited about this opportunity. While I am delighted that the U.S. consulate in Lagos recognized the excellent job my team and I did and kept doing at Civic Hive, I am thrilled to be part of this opportunity for this prestigious program. BudgIT has laid the foundation of work around transparency and accountability in governance. To work with the organization, you must agree with the principles of openness and working to make governance work in Nigeria. Today, we are one of the leading global organizations bringing more equity and fairness to the governance systems in young and emerging democracies. This program will build on the foundation BudgIT has laid and introduce me to meeting various individuals and representatives of organizations whose opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government.
At the end of this program, I am indeed becoming an emerging expert in
- Enhanced understanding of the underlying principles of ethical systems for accountability in government and business of the United States
- Addressing international efforts to strengthen the integrity of governments and businesses
- Examining the effect of transparency on trade, investment, and economic development
- Exploring the role of citizens, traditional and new media, academia, and civil society in fostering transparency and accountability in government; and
- highlighting the mechanisms that enable citizens to promote good governance, ethical standards, and accountability at the local, state and federal levels.
While moving across five major cities in the United States, I will learn from critical thematic areas vital to any emerging democracy. The U.S. federalism, how public corruption cases are investigated and prosecuted, how transparency is ensured in large projects and procurements, how the U.S. fights public corruption at the state level and ensures the integrity of elections. The mentioned focused learning will be not just an eye opener to new information but a first-hand opportunity to learn and ask critical questions during the whole program.
It takes a village
I didn’t get here by myself; it took the efforts of people who believed in giving me a chance at leadership and always stood up to correct me when they saw mistakes. Special thanks to Mr Oluseun Onigbinde, Gabriel Okeowo, Mr Aliyu Ibrahim and Dr Abisola Bolarinwa(my wife); I am always glad to have you in my corner, most especially my parents. Special thanks to the U.S. Mission in Nigeria for counting me worthy of being part of this prestigious program.
Fun fact, I believe the names we print on ourselves matter greatly. My Dad and Mum are so fond of calling me an “Ambassador” that I’ll smile and give a confusing face. However, down the line, becoming an ambassador became a thing; Federal Univerity of Technology Akure, Google, Microsoft, Fashpa and BudgIT. To my most tremendous shock, in the official email I received from BudgIT’s Global director, he said, “ We are proud of you as our ambassador”. The next thing I should be looking forward to is being the ambassador of Nigeria in a foreign land!
Till next time, stay safe!
