My own story: 'you must do the things you think you cannot do'

 "We want to encourage new ideas but we dismiss many of those who have them..., if life is a marathon, then none of us should have to damage our lives today because we are made to think there is no tomorrow"- Margaret Hodge. Photo: Uche Okeke

This page is about my journey to Social Entrepreneurship, the setbacks and the triumphs. A good read (soon). Everything that happens in the world today is prophesised. This is the victory for those of us who are christians. I was heavily afflicted with injury, but I did not allow my injury to determine my future. Despite my injury, i was determined to contribute to helping to bring change in the society. Anyone with my injury may not be able to undertake this project. The bible said in Isaiah 40:31; "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint". You must develop a very strong desire to succeed. ''You can beat all obstacles''. Naturally when you question the status-quo, it can be  very unsettling to a lot of people who keenly depend on it. They can do anything to stop you including smear tactis, anything, even killing as we are witnessing. It's now worst in the age of information technology including social media, where the power holders recruit unemployed youths to unleash attack on experts and professionals working very hard to change the narrative that keep people in endless darkness. According to Senator Shehu Sani, the Senator representing Kaduna State, Nigeria writing on his Facebook page; "There are people still kept in detention against a valid court order to release them, there are people arrested for their opinions; security reasons are used as excuses". He also reported that some activists have been abducted and killed, just for their opinions. This the extent the beneficiaries of the status-quo can go to defend the status-quo, so change takes time, but change will definitely come if people know that it's better than the status-quo. They say bad news makes the best headline, even when it's not true. "It now takes only one accusation to destroy a man's life. Just one for him to be tried and sentenced in the court of public opinion, overnight costing him his livelihood and social respectability"...,- Claire Berlinski, Paris -based American writer. She concluded that today an entire professional and personal lives can be casually destroyed by ''secret lists, compiled by accusers they cannot confront, by rumours on the internet, by thrilled, breathless reporting"[In an age of hashtag and presidents Club sleaze, a man expresses an opinion at his peril but what do we gain by refusing to listen?- David Sexton; London Evening Standard, Friday 26 January 2018]. If you challenge the status-quo, you are not expected to be liked, so ordinary people need to be properly informed.
 I enjoy reading from great talents. In the words of Horta-Osorio, the boss of Lloyds Bank UK; "I don't expect anyone to get everything right all the time. The important point being how we learn from those mistakes and the decisions and actions we take afterward. My personal life is obviously a private matter as it is for anyone else".  We learnt the best innovation and creativity happens during adversity, i totally agree with that. Similarly, Alec Ross; writing in his book, The Industries of the Future, about the challenges of technology and globalisation, he mentioned about how the society creates inequality and diminishes the chances of individuals to attain success;  "...there is no shame in these jobs, but there's great shame for a society and its leaders when a life is made less what it could be because of lack of opportunities". I found these words very comforting and inspiring so decided to use it to design the header of my blog which is a platform to help shift thinking by researching and communicating good ideas and best practices to inspire ordinary people to demand change. All the philosophers said education is the only solution to the dilemma of democracy; distorting the silly narrative of the politicians who exploit human conditions of ignorance and fear to promote persistence of poverty and stagnation for their self-interests. Information is power. Today change is possible, the golden age has provided new awareness and new opportunity to help make change happen so ordinary people must embrace it. I was determined to undertake why the system is not working. Why the persistence of poverty, stagnation and instability, what's the alternative? the answer is abuse of power; what Professor Muhammad Yunus described as ''absence of human rights". Ordinary people need information to put pressure on the power holders to build a society that works for everyone by playing by the rules-'open and transparent' system that is inclusive and accountable. Everyone wins if we know and play by the rules. This is the stark choice we face. I totally agree with Eska Mtungwazi; "I don't need to be defined by those beliefs. I have always been a seeker, I love to experiment and challenge myself. We're all creative beings, and we are never just one thing. We can and should express ourselves in a multitude of ways at different times in our lives". It's time to abandon the dark ages and embrace modernity.

The time for change is now. How can we build a new system that works for everyone instead of the ''fewer and few'' for their 'luxury and adornment'. How can we manage the risks and opportunities globalisation presents? The'repressed proletariat' must rise up and change the system that ignores, exploits and exclude them. People must do something for change to happen, do something.

Uche Okeke is a Statistician, Social Entrepreneur, the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation and the Author of Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable-'Bribe & Bullet'. What Can Be Done About It . He lives in London, United Kingdom. He has obtained recent qualifications in International Trade and International Development. He is a member of Chartered Insurance Institute London and has participated in the following International Development Courses:

-Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Social Change; UPEACE, Costa Rica.

-Acumen Leadership Essentials; Acumen Foundation, USA

-Engaging Citizens; A Game Changer For Development; The World Bank Group/London School of Economics and Political Science(LSE).

-Federalism & Decentralization; Evaluating Africa's Track Record; Universiteit Leiden.

-From Poverty to Prosperity; Understanding Economic Development; Oxford University, UK.

-Democratic Development; Stanford University via Coursera.

-Public Policy Challenges of the 21st Century; University of Virginia via Coursera.

-Beyond Silicon Valley; Growing Entrepreneurship In Transitioning Economies; Case Western Reserve University.

-Political Economy of Institutions And Development; Universiteit Leiden.

-Unlocking Investment and Finance in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies(EMDEs); The World Bank Group.

-What is Politics; Open Learn, The Open University Milton Keynes, UK

-Social Psychology and Politics ; The Open University Open Learn, Milton Keynes, UK

-Nationalism, Self-determination and Secession; Open Learn, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK

-Race and Youth Policy: Working with Young People. Open Learn, The Open University Milton Keynes, UK

-Introduction to cyber security: Stay safe online; Open Learn, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK

- What is International Development; University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK

-Understanding Global Development Management; The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.

-Propaganda and Ideology in Everyday Life; The University of Nottingham, UK

-Introducing Personal Lines Insurance;  Chartered Insurance Institute, London, UK.

-Global Prosperity Beyond GDP; University College London-UCL

-Discovering Your PhD Potential; University of Leicester, United Kingdom