Old English can be so…well, old school.. for young people. Not that they encounter it every day. Everything, from the Bible to Shakespeare, has been young field and funkified to their youthful satisfaction.
They therefore don’t have to bother their pretty young heads with deciphering the ‘Thees’, ‘Thines’ and ‘Thys’. But every now and then, a young person stumbles over a few ‘ye’ and ‘yore’. My three year old boy did recently.
While growing up, I have heard my father praying with this proper old English, sounding like one of those people who studied Classic and Latin back in the day. His prayer was long and rich, but I seemed only to hear “for these, we thank Thee, O Lord.
This phrase has resonated in my head all week and it behooves on me to say for this, I thank Thee and to all who have been shouldering us at The Voice Magazine.
Nobody rise in isolation. You either need the
help of one person or more to rise to the top. You and I know that starting a
business in Nigeria of ours is very wearisome. There is no favorable factors
that can make businesses to grow and expand.
This year mark exactly Ten years when we started this journey. It has been
rough, though. The future looks so daunting but the hope of better tomorrow
keeps me going.
On many occasion I have gone on hunger in
order to published editions.
I lost count of days I walked bear footed from 1 kilometer to about 5kilometers
in search of story and seeking for sponsorship to published the editions. The
journey have been so rocky, in spite of all these, I kept the hope alive.
Countless times have been turned down from
people we expected to be of help. Many words of discouragement keeps on coming
our way. Some few people even say, do I think I can make it in this business,
many says how would I be able to sustain the business? Yet, I hold on to the
dream and a brighter future.
Thank God, we are far better than 10years ago.
In the course of the journey, I met Oba Samuel Ojugbele, the Onilogbo of
Ilogbo-Asowo, Ogun State, we invited him to our 1st anniversary. He
gave me his word that he will support my dream. In his word to me “I am so glad
to see a young man like you striving to survive in this country, I am assuring
you of my support anytime”.
Indeed Oba Ojugbele did make do of his promise till now. The greatest asset
that I have in life is people. God have been so faithful to me by blessing me
with notable people that believe much in my dream.
In the year 2014, I wanted to quit, I went to meet an elder brother cum friend,
who was a Senior Banker at Wemabank. I appealed to him to get me a job in his
Bank or elsewhere. His response to me was shocking, Mr Yomi Onafadeji told me
that, Damilola even if he have the opportunity to get me a job, he will not do
it but rather I should continue in the pursuit of my publication, he went
further by saying, one day I will say I know when you start. I was vehemently
disappointed with his word.
Mr. Yomi, thank you for that strong advice that year. God bless you. The Voice
Magazine won’t have gone far if not for the support of notable personalities
that allow God to use them for us.
On our lists are, Oba Wasiu Ogungbayi, the Onitetiku of Owode-Ota, Otunba
Olumide Akinbinu(Principal Counsel Olumide Akinbinu & Co), Pastor Kehinde
Ojo (Chairman, Royal Crest Group of Schools), Alhaji Ibitoye Malik (Chairman
Yemoja Media Corp), Surveyor Bunmi Odunuga (FNIS), Engr Adegboye Taiwo (FNSE),
Oba Sesan Ogunmuyiwa. Elder. Gbenga Olowo(Chairman Sabre Aviation
Network), Mr. Emmanuel Olusola((Country Director, Sabre Aviation Network), High
Chief (Engr) Patrick Anegbe, Managing Director of Intercontinental Distillers
Ltd, High Chief Kabiru Ayoola Oroja, Asipa of Meran, Chief Adegoke Adeshina
(General Manager of Intercontinental Distillers Ltd), Mr. Bolaji Alalade(Head
of Marketing Intercontinental Distillers Ltd), Mr. Aanu Egbesola (Managing Director
of Kerlin Products Ltd), Messr Sola Ojutalayo SAN (Principal Counsel, Ojutalayo
& Co), Mr. Gbemileke Lawal (Brand Manager Intercontinental Distillers Ltd),
Late Revd. Pa. James Owoyemi, All Owode-Ota Council of Chiefs, CSP Yinka
Egbeyemi (Commander RRS,Lagos State), CSP Salabiu Jamiu (2ic of Mopol 46, Epe),
Messr Sola Ojutalayo SAN, all members of Nigeria Bar Association, Ota Branch,
Cdr Ajibade Adekunle (Area 4 Commander of TRACE), Mr. Babatunde Akinbiyi (PRO
Ogun TRACE), HRM Oba Samuel Oroja, the Onimeran of Meran, Baale Rotimi
Akintola-Ahmed, Baale Sufianu Liasu-Balogun, Barr Isaac Ogbah, Revd Canon Kunjo
Akinbode, Aremo Bola Ojugbele.
The Voice Magazine that started in my one room apartment, presently uses four
bedrooms as her corporate office with staffs. We have become household name in
the comity of media, for these, “I thank Thee”. Not that we have achieve all,
we are still far from where we are going, we know He who has brought us
this far will still take us to the Zenith.
We will be opening our Television Station Studio by March 1st, 2021,
“DAMA TV”. This will be aired on some of the recognize Nigeria
Television Station and online while we will be committedly and prayerfully
working on our own Station through Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation.
With God and your help, this is achievable. To
all our readers, supporters, notable personalities on THE VOICE MAGAZINE TEAM
WHATSAPP PLATFORM, we are grateful.
For the journey of 10years in media industry, “for These, I thank Thee”.
Otunba Oladele Damilola Moses,
Publisher
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