It has been back-to-back. While in Canada participating in the One Young World Summit, The Future Award Africa (@TFAAfrica) publicly announced the nominees for the Future Awards Africa. I was nominated for Professional Service for my exceptional dedication to the industry I work in i.e., education, youth development, and the non-profit sector. I could recall writing my first ever CV while I was in a computer school at 13 and hawking sweets and Spaghetti in Bariga at the same age and saving money to increase my stock and sell. I could recall that was my first encounter with the idea of business. I could recall being a prefect in my fifth year in high school and serving those I was supporting. I could recall growing from service to service. From teaching basic literacy and numeracy at a School in Igbogbo at 15 to working as a KYC Agent with Airtel registering sim cards when I turned 16 to volunteering with the Nigerian Red Cross at the University whilst organising free tutorials throughout my University days. I could recall serving my country through the National Youth Service at 21 and executing 6 community development service projects to starting a non-profit dedicated to supporting young people in underserved communities to develop life and 21st century skills needed for the workforce at 23. To conducting SDGs research at 24 and providing continuous professional development opportunities and training for low-income private school teachers at 25 to becoming a regional manager in the same year, supporting and listening to young changemakers and providing them tens of thousands of dollars in grants to do change work. To upskilling teachers who are in training or college with the skills to be transformative teachers at 26. To co-creating a mentoring programme for refugees in Uganda at 27 to raising money for refugees in Europe to access legal aids and to coordinate a mentoring programme for refugees and asylum seekers in London at 28 to starting poetry at 29 and launching an Edtech platform at 30 whilst preparing young Africans scholars for meaningful and dignified jobs. And, sharing my journey and struggles with the world either through writing books, social media posts, blogs, or speaking engagements. It is such a privilege and honor to have been recognised for this dedication and I am grateful for those who nominated me quietly without letting me know. Who took their time to write the nomination and think that I deserve the award. Again, this is a reminder that I am nothing or neither the best but I will commit to service as I have done in the last 15 years. That true service is the pursuit of love, purpose and truth. It is day one #TFAA18 #Nominees Unveiling

“When your cloud is full, your rain would fall” ~ Bode Ekerin