The Circle of life

Last week was a very exciting one for me, most especially because I came first in the 1st Omololu Falobi Foundation Essay Competition organized for all Mass Communication students in Lagos State and its environ. When I heard the good news, I was ecstatic and thankful to God for such a rare achievement. It even showed off in the pictures we took at the event, my smile was from ear to ear, had I a tail I would have wag it too. However, amidst all the congratulatory messages, I felt upset and wished I could give back the award, just to have Mr. Omololu Falobi back to life. But in reality is it possible?

Why did someone take him away from his family? Why did someone want such a vivacious young man who was so resourceful to our Nation dead? Omololu Falobi lived and he lived well. He did not tiptoe through life or blame others for the troubles in the world, instead he took action to effect a change. He had such a clear vision to create a better-informed society and contribute to the emergence of a HIV free population. Inspired by a local cause that set in motion a global vision, he dreamt a dream from which others can dream. He was an innovative leader who led by example. He was an active Social Entrepreneur committed to working for a positive change until that night his body was riddled with bullets by men of the underworld.

Driven by a desire greater than personal comfort, Omololu Falobi left his footprint in the sand of history. His vision lives on to posterity. It is left for us all to pay it forward in this circle of life! We can't afford to tail in the race by God's grace! Remember the movie ‘The Lion King’? Its soundtrack “Circle of life” by Elton John has inspiring lyrics that I love to hum every now and then:

From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There's more to be seen than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
Some say eat or be eaten
Some say live and let live
But all are agreed as they join the stampede
You should never take more than you give
In the circle of life
It's the wheel of fortune
It's the leap of faith
It's the band of hope
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle, the circle of life
Some of us fall by the wayside
And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with the scars
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round
On the path unwinding...
In the circle, circle of life.