By Moses Nosike

Skill acquisition promotes growth, development in the life of an ndividual and in nation building. Building a career to soar higher requires determination notwithstanding ugly situations. This is the experience of Olumide Ashley-Dejo, who painfully suffers from Sickle Cell Disorder with other attendant challenges. Instead of being discouraged by health challenges, he took it in good fate by forging ahead to building careers that have empowered him and contributed to nation building.

Olumide Ashley-Dejo holds a National Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning from the Yaba College of Technology, a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Jos, and a Masters degree in Architecture from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Olumide Ashley-Dejo, centre with his book and his familiy members and well-wishers at the book launching recently.

He is also a member of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) and the International Project Management Institute (PMI).

In this interview with Saturday Vanguard Business, he reveals why he titled his book  launched recently; “He That Is Down.” Excerpts:

What informed your title; “HE THAT IS DOWN”?

Painfully, I suffer from the Sickle Cell Disorder which comes with other attendant challenges, but this in itself has toughened and equipped me with intellect and wisdom beyond the average. With my resolve to be the best I can possibly be, I have been victorious in the fight for my life and being all that God has called me to be beyond all imaginations and expectation.

My reason for writing this book isn’t because I personally thought my story has been extraordinary in any way, but as I met people and have had cause to share snippets of my life, the verdict has been that somehow, without trying to impress anyone, in that place where I stood up to my life as it was and did my best to push it, others have been inspired.

The idea of the book and its title is to help the reader see that life isn’t a bed of roses but if you decide within you to make the best of whatever your situation or challenge might be, you will be able to hold your own wherever the wind of life blows you.

My dream when I decided to write the book is to help the readers see that everyone will deal with something at some point or the other in their lives. However, more than the specifics of what we deal with, the attitude with which we face our giants is ultimately what makes the difference.

I can boldly declare therefore that when you decide not to remain down then you can truly begin to understand that HE THAT IS DOWN needs fear no fall.

What life experience are readers likely to gain from the book?

HE THAT IS DOWN is full of wisdom, inspiration and succor.

This book helps the reader realize that everyone in life is presented with lemons but it is the individual’s response to the lemons and the choices made in dealing with these lemons that make or mar the individual. It also deals with how the same principle applies, not only the individual, but also to a people.

The book makes us see or realize that in the walk of life, the individual or the people are in the best position to make the best of any bad or challenging situation and choose to swallow the sour taste of lemons, make nothing out of them or turn it into sweet lemonade.

This book helps the reader know that amidst challenges, everyone on the surface of the earth is also equipped with a dream, and a dream is often the individual’s passport to a place in a brighter future.

Does it carry tools that can inspire youths and help take positive, life-changing decisions?

It shows the importance of focus, determination courage, purpose, contentment, motivation, resilience, tenacity, faith and most importantly, God, in the pursuit of our dreams and in our lives.

It also dares the reader to take a critical look at success and determine to live life on our own terms, to make the right decisions, do the right things and err on the side of truth regardless of which blow we are dealt in life.

This book shows the reader that indeed, he that is down has nowhere else to go but up and how high you go in life in its true sense depends on the propulsion you give yourself.

What is the actual focus of the book and why did you decide to launch now?

The focus of this book is to help the reader become all that God has called him/her to be. It draws from the peculiar challenge of suffering the gruesome pain of the Sickle Cell Disease.

Asked if given a second opportunity to choose another life, the author would choose to live the same life all over again being that he recognizes his peculiar challenge and has equipped himself and decided how exactly to work around it. In his own words, you never can tell what the next man’s challenge is even though all may look good on the outside.

This book was written and published at this time to acknowledge the opportunity given to traverse the earth and the ability to have been able to check my dream boxes over and over again knowing that God’s mercy has kept me and he has saved me too numerous times to count.

It was inspired by a series of coincidences of people I had met and people who had kept up with me over the years and urged me to write about my experiences as a lesson and inspiration to others. In the same vein, it has also been a revealing experience to me.

What audience is the book targeted at?

It is targeted at all those who suffer, or all who come in contact with people who suffer the gruesome pain of the Sickle Cell Disorder or other perceived limiting ailment.

More importantly, it is targeted at all those who are broken and in despair from whatever challenge they may have or whatever situation they may find themselves in. Again it is targeted at everyone or all of us as a people to help recognize the important, yet simple things in life that help find a voice on the planet.

What is your next step after “HE THAT IS DOWN”?

Outside the academia, HE THAT IS DOWN is the first book I have written. There are other topical issues running in my mind, including environmental and architectural issues. I still look forward to impacting the world such that our existence in this time and space is not only visible but also meaningful.

From HE THAT IS DOWN, I guess the next steps would be to inspire individuals, and this generation to be all that God has called us to be.