“Even Ifeanyi Ubah, like many others who have risen to unusual prominence, did not arrive there by following any particular path” —Ebuka Onyekwelu
One major fact of life that I have come to personally acknowledge is that breaking even is not an easy thing. Moving from a less desirable economic or social status to a more desirable one, is not by any means an easy journey, more so in a largely badly governed society like in most Third World countries. Every young or even older person from an average or less background can attest to this. I mean, we all know this because everywhere we turn we see it.
So, we can agree that breaking from the stronghold of average fortune or less to abundance and more is profoundly miraculous. Even more, moving from abundance to societal relevance and moving further to becoming a pillar of hope, one who encapsulates the aspirations of so many people in just five decades; from an average and unprivileged background, is more than miraculous. This is the very uncommon feat that Ifeanyi Ubah has attained. Thinking about this, one is confronted by the stark reality that Ifeanyi Ubah of today could have been just one of his contemporaries with whom he attended Okongwu Memorial Grammar School in Nnewi, who are today living normal lives while struggling daily to meet personal and family obligations.
Indeed, thinking about just how easily one’s life would have turned out differently, one can only imagine the popular assertion by Williams Shakespeare thus, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness entrusted in them”. But, no man knows for sure where he belongs in the scheme of Shakespeare’s greatness. Even Ifeanyi Ubah, like many others who have risen to unusual prominence, did not arrive there by following any particular path. This is the reason why dream is free and people from any background and endeavor can dream to be like Ubah; a man who started his journey like many other young Nnewi boys of his days, learning a trade as an apprentice. From that very point, nothing more was expected than for him to become a decent businessman, able to cater to his family and assist his siblings as the first son. From there, he rose to become a much wealthier man beyond any possible expectation. From being a wealthy businessman, he has become a senator, now in his second term as a senator and only the second person to serve a second term as a senator representing Anambra South senatorial district. It didn’t end there. Senator Ifeanyi Ubah is now a graduate of law, from one of Nigeria’s most prestigious private institutions. Still unrelenting, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah has gone back to school to earn his Master in Business Administration- MBA. What then can possibly be more inspiring than a man’s miraculous transition through grit, to a powerful societal figure of means, from ground zero? Senator Ubah is also blessed both in marriage and in family.
There is hardly any amount of motivation that can be more compelling in communicating the power of dreams, than the life of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah. As a result of how his life has turned out just within the space of five decades, many young people can look at him and have hope that eventually their own lives can turn out differently too. Senator Ifeanyi Ubah has changed, no, he has created a new future not for himself alone, but for his family, his relatives, and many of his followers, such that as far as eyes can see, it can be said that the transformation is permanent because it has placed them in a different pedestal in life.
Ifeanyi Ubah’s personal story is the prayer of the woman and man, who go to Church asking God for breakthrough and for grace to wealth and relevance, for marital and family blessing, so that they can be more to their community. It is the expectation of fresh graduates and undergraduates, who are anticipating a good job that will place them on a different life pedestal so that they too can do more for themselves and the people around them. But in all, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s life is a living example that all these dreams are valid.
Earlier this month, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah celebrated his 52nd birthday. But at least for nearly two decades, he has maintained a record as the only man of his social standing at least in the Southeast, who entertains large numbers of people in his home, and each of those people visiting are known to him personally. What more? Ifeanyi Ubah has not locked himself up in private enjoyment with his family. This too is a reason many people just want to be more. Although not as many can keep to this part of the bargain, Ifeanyi Ubah has kept to it. To be sure, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s life encapsulates the certainty and validity of dreams.
He is a Technical Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano’s Special Adviser on Legislative Matters, whoonce was a Special Adviser to a former Deputy Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly. Ebuka is a second class upper division graduate of Political Science from University of Calabar, Calabar Nigeria and holds a Masters Degree in Political Science with specialization in Government and Development Studies, from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Nigeria
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