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Oprah Winfrey, the retired popular American Television Talk show host, author, actress and media proprietor says, “A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself”.
While toeing the line of agreement with this assertion, Bob Proctor, Canadian born motivational speaker, coach and author, defines a mentor as “Someone who sees more talent and ability within you than you see in yourself and helps bring it out of you”.
For the media colossus, Dr. Yemi Farounbi who has just turned 80 years, it was a befitting honour for the all-white attired and iconic white bearded broadcast genius to see his journalist mentees of several years turned up at the Lecture organised by Ibadan Discourse Group with the topic: The Future and Challenges of the Nigerian Nation”.
The former ambassador to the Philippines is also thankful for the type of people God brought along his pathway in life, describing them as extremely wonderful. “I have been surrounded by extremely wonderful people and these are people who have been there for me all the time”
Though he lamented about the slow pace of Nigeria’s development since independence, he quickly changed to the positive outlook “Nigeria ought not to be like this. Nigeria should be better than this. I believe Nigeria will be better”. Immediately after he finished with the statement and as if prodded by a divine inspiration, Dr Yemi Farounbi displayed his deep Christian background when he bursted into singing:
“We are winning Heaven knows we are winning and we know we are winning”
In his short response at the occasion, the much respected media icon rounded off by appealing to those in attendance at the birthday lecture and others who shared his optimism about a bright future for Nigeria not to be discouraged”. I encourage you all to have this positive hope, positive belief that we will have Nigeria of our dream and future. I will keep the flag flying “.
Former Secretary to the Oyo State government and chairman Ibadan Discourse group, who organised the event, Chief Bisi Adesola informed the gathering that the lecture was put together to honour Dr. Yemi Farounbi, describing him as “A man of impact, a man who deserves the crown of honour and a man who believes in sacrificing to make those under him grow and progress.”
Report by Tunde Olaore
