By Victor Gotevbe
Sola is in his twenties and  a -fifth year medical student of Kyiv Medical University, Ukraine. What is most interesting about him is that even in a foreign land, he has been able to have a breakthrough with his vision to impact many lives through his faith based organization. He tells his inspiring story to Saturday Youthful Vibes.

Could you tell us about your upbringing
My childhood was difficult, I grew up living in and out of the hospital, because I was diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia. I could have decided to see this as a disadvantage, but I chose to let it be a driving force for success.I spent most of my childhood growing up in Lagos.

I went to Gideon Comprehensive High School Okotam,Isolo, after which I spent a couple of years studying medicine at the Igbinedion University  Okada before I came over to the Ukraine in the year 2007, but the turning point for me was when I looked back at my life, and discovered that although I had a ‘faulty’ genotype according to medical science, I was still alive by God’s grace.

What inspired you to study Medicine?
I had a rough start in life; basically because I spent most of my childhood within the confine of a hospital. Every now and then, I would have to be hospitalized due to one illness or the other. I couldn’t live life like all my peers did; I couldn’t play football, or get involved in any strenuous activity.

Everything about my life was odd in a way. Not only did I have to deal with being ill, but I also had to deal with the stigma attached to being a “sickler”. I felt unwanted by the society and unloved by God. The only way I could prove my relevance in the society was if I became someone that was needed in the society regardless of my genotype, and since most of my childhood was spent in the hospital, Medicine was the only thing I knew.
I left Igbinedion University in my 4th year of study because the school wasn’t accredited then; I don’t know if it is now!

How were you able to survive with the SS genotype?
I often ask myself, how I was able to survive with the SS genotype, because I would admit that I had a couple of near – death experiences, but I guess it was just God that kept me alive, but somehow, I think I was also determined to live. My mum said I was a fighter, and to a large extent, I think she was right. I knew that if I wanted to survive, I would have to fight for my life, and this I did with God’s help.

So you still live with drugs or is there a time you outgrow the crisis?
Well, I really don’t know if there is a time you outgrow it, but for me I am not a fan of drugs. I never liked the smell, neither did I appreciate its taste. So from time I was never dependent on drugs. Every time I got my medication from the doctor, I would always flush it down the toilet, or throw it into the dustbin, but I never told anyone about this, not even my parents (I guess this is my little secret. Laughs!)Sincerely, I haven’t tasted a drug in the last 4 years, and I haven’t fallen sick either despite the fact that I overwork myself. It’s just God!

What isPlus factor about? Did you get the name from a book (Power of the Plus factor) authored by an American author (Napoleon Hill)?
Although I have read a few of Napoleon Hill’s books, especially his best seller — “Think and Grow Rich”. I don’t think I have ever come across the book “Power of the Plus Factor” before. But now that you mentioned it, I think I’ll go looking for it. The name Plus Factor is actually a summary of my mission in life.

While growing up as a young sickly boy, I felt rejected and unloved. Even though my parents loved me and accepted me, I still felt like I was actually not needed in the family or the society, because I couldn’t do much. All I could do was spend their money on huge hospital bills.

This affected my self image negatively; I always looked down on myself. But on the other hand, it also had a positive influence on my life because it ignited in me a passion for hurting people. I discovered that I was attracted towards hurting people because of what I had gone through myself. My whole life changed when I got connected to God. This is how the name Plus Factor came to be. All we do in Plus Factor is to “Redefine Lives”, and make them a “Plus” to the society regardless of how they started life or what they have gone through in life.

As a faith based organization, how have you been impacting lives in Ukraine?
I usually tell people that if you can explain it, then it’s not God, and like you rightly said, we are a faith-based organization, therefore everything we have done has been by faith, and this is our testimonial. I remember how we started this journey of “Redefining Lives” a few years ago with just $30 and seeing how God has blessed us in a foreign land like Ukraine (a former Communist country) humbles me.

OLUSOLA IDOWU

By the grace of God, we have been able to partner with indigenous organizations to reach out to  orphanages, prisons, and rehabilitation centers, and also our outreach meetings also known as “Plus Nite”, has helped us reach a lot of young university students with our message.

What is responsible for the acceptance of Plus Factor giving the fact that Ukraine is not so much inclined to unorthodox religion?
Like I said earlier, ‘if you can explain it, then it’s not God’.You need to realize that Ukraine is mainly orthodox, and a few years ago, it was still a communist nation. God was officially ruled out, and the only church allowed was the orthodox church and to a large extent— it was influenced by the state. But today, Ukraine is opening up to the gospel and a lot of ministries have gained ground and many are still gaining ground. Indeed, God is at work in the Ukraine.

After your studies, do you intend to return to Nigeria to work here?
What other work do I need? Working as a doctor? No. There are a thousand and one doctors in the world already and besides I have found my place in life!  About returning to Nigeria, I think so; Nigeria needs what I have! But my fingers are still crossed for now, waiting for the final instructions from God!

What is life like in Ukraine for Nigerian students?
In my opinion, I would say not too good, but I believe it can be better!

Do you think the answers to Nigeria’s problems are in the hands of young people?
YES! The older generation is gone, our youths have to wake up and take the bull by the horn. Our future is in our hands. But with the current state of the Nigerian youth, I am really scared, and my heart bleeds for the next generation.

What would you recommend for them to do to provide the needed solutions?
It’s true that the state of the nation has contributed to the state of the Nigerian youth, but I believe that we need to stop apportioning blame, and start fixing the problem. We can’t wait for the government to decide our future for us, our future is in our hands. If you can change a man, you can change a family.

If you can change a family, you can change a society. If you can change a society, you can change a nation because…”so goes the man, so goes the family and so goes the Nation!” change begins with each and every one of us on a personal level. Our future is in our hands and not in the hands of the government.  In conclusion, I would say that it’s not how you start life that matters, it’s the movements you make in life that count!

Young Nigerians making the difference

Agbolade Omowole, Ekpoma Edo State
Agbolade Omowole is a motivational speaker and a writer who helps young people  to live the life of their dreams. As a writer, he has written youth centric articles for several magazines and national dailies and he is a columnist with a National newspapers in Nigeria. He is also one of the Eziine expert authors in Nigeria.He is  the CEO of Mascot Computer Planet based in Edo-State.

He is the publisher of CampusMix magazine and a publicist. As a public relations practitioner, Agbolade , was responsible for publicizing the U.S.A based Success University seminars  in Nigeria in 2009, which included a tour to Lagos State, PortHarcourt and Abuja, here in Nigeria.

Agbolade started writing inspirational articles at the tender age of 17 with the dream of helping student to achieve academic excellence. In 2011, he was awarded the “Most Intelligent male graduating student” by the Computer Science students award held in Ambrose AlliUniversity.

He is famously called Nigeria’s life coach because he is passionate about seeing Nigerians achieve their wildest dreams. Agbolade’s speeches are poignant and powerful. His audiences are usually on the edge of their seat as he shows them practical principles that can easily help them solve their personal problems.

DANIEL MUSA MANIYUNDA, KADUNA STATE
Daniel Musa is the founder/Executive Director Youth Advocate for Development  in Africa (YADA) Organization, a youth oriented Non-governmental organization that is based in Kaduna State. He is a native of  Garaha Mojili in Hong L.G.A., of Adamawa State.

He is a Graduate of political Science from Caritas University, Enugu State and he is currently pursuing his Masters degree in Development Studies.

Daniel is at best described a development worker and an advocate of youth development. He  established YADA with the Corporate Affairs Commission following the devastating socio-economic and political challenges in Nigeria.  YADA started its operations with only three full time staff and seven volunteers who are graduates from Nigerian Universities.

They are committed to the vision of the organization and passionate about impacting the society. Daniel runs several programmes such as The Aspiring Leaders Programme, an in-school leadership development framework that is designed and developed  for Nigerian secondary school students with a view to inspire and empower them with the leadership skills and knowledge that will encourage them to become agent of change in the society.

So far about four secondary schools in Kaduna with a total of 367 students have benefited from it. Also organized is The Youth Leadership programme, an advance stage of the leadership development training organized for Nigerian youths between the ages of 16 – 30 years. 21 youths in Kaduna State have participated and graduated from the programme.