Meet the Terrific Humans Revolutionalizing the World

1. Emmanuel Odunfa


Success Magazine: How was your growing up like?Kindly tell us about yourself and your background.

Odunfa: Hello, I’m Emmanuel Odunfa, the second in a family of six. I grew up in what I like to call a balanced setting; I got the pampering whenever I needed it and the iron fist was never afar off . While growing up, my parents made sure certain virtues like being kind to others, believing in myself and standing by the truth were at my core and whether I liked the process or not, I’m enjoying the results today. I think by now the whole world knows I'm a foodie by choice, but for the sake of those that don’t, I’ll add it here, yes I love food and I'm unapologetic about it.

Success Magazine: You are privileged to be educated. While growing up, how did you react when you do not see children like you in school?

Odunfa: Asides feeling sad because there’s virtually nothing I could do for them (though I wish there was), I use that as a reminder to why I have to make every day I learn something new, every moment spent acquiring knowledge count. I use that as a daily reminder that I’m not just learning or being educated because there is money to throw around, I’m being educated so I could pass the torch and by His grace, I’m going to do that.

Success Magazine: Values like discipline, honesty, humility and diligence are integral in any given society. How did you learn them?

Odunfa: Learning these values were one of the first things I learnt, truth be told. I was brought up in a Christian home where till this day, the things we do or learn are all in accordance to biblical things. I was taught some of these things but like most people, I learnt more by observing the life my parents live. It's as simple as that.

Success Magazine: How often do you read? Kindly tell us the impact books have made in your life.

Odunfa: Now this is one part I’m excited to talk about. Some people love books, some love movies, others love many things, for me, there is no greater thing to love than reading books. The moment I pick up a book, the goal might just be to glance through and see what it’s about, but before anything else, I have started reading it and this has evidently been a great impact in my life as a writer. Even the way I talk or behave are influenced by the kind of books I read. Most movies I watch were adapted from a book. The food i love? Most definitely, someone has written about it. The bible? Oh that’s one big book. So as to how often I read, I think that would everytime (I am reading now!)

Success Magazine: We saw on your profile that you are a writer and you will be releasing your debut novel next month, how did your passion for writing start?

Odunfa: I keep telling this story, that before now, writing and I had always been in a love-hate relationship. Back in secondary school, I knew I loved expressing myself through writing but I hated the idea of doing the actually writing because back then we were forced to write an essay every week. Sometimes I obeyed but most times, i didn't, which would result into punishment. But secretly on my own, I’d still go and write on that topic and would stash it somewhere or tear it. But there is a length to which one could hide what he/she is good at. Well, here 'we' are.

Success Magazine: Who are your favourite writers and what's the reason for your choice?

Odunfa: I love a lot of writers like Chimamanda Adichie, Tomi Adeyemi, Oreoluwa Macaulay, Veronica Roth, J.K. Rowling, Wole Soyinka and the list can keep going. But my favourite of all is Ted Dekker. Apart from the fact that one of my first ever novels I read as a child (The Circle Trilogy) was by him, I love his style of writing. I see myself in his books, when I read through, and see some phrases which make me laugh and I just tell myself that, 'This is me.'

Success Magazine: How did writing change the world around you?

Odunfa: Believe it or not, as much as I make noise around and look like the outspoken type, I was and might still be an introvert. Writing gave me the opportunity to express how I felt deeply within and having such an opportunity to express yourself for others to read and relate to, is the warmest feeling in the world.

Success Magazine: What can you say about the expression, "Be oneself." from your experience as a writer.

Odunfa: To be oneself is to have confidence in yourself, having the ability to be true to your own self and holding yourself in high esteem.


2. Olasubomi John Olopade
Success Magazine: How was your growing up like? Kindly tell us about yourself and your background.

Olopade: Growing up was quite interesting. I grew up  in a home of 5. The first of three children. Both parents are academicians. I was the playful one. Always playing with my neighbors children. In fact my teacher report card always read, "Subomi is brilliant but playful."  But something quite remarkable about my growing up is the exposure I had. My parents contributed a lot to that. My father radioset was always loud and it sometimes woke me up with some news about Nigeria. Soon I discovered interest in politics and amongst othe factors.

Success Magazine: You are privileged to be educated. While growing up, how did you react when you do not see children like you in school?

Olopade: I didn't really pay attention because I didn't notice. Because I was always in school during school hours. But of recent, whenever I go out and see little children who should be in school hawk, it pricks my heart. It has become the norm and no one feels bothered, which should not be. Sadly people attacks the governors and president to be responsible. But we forget the councilors, lawmakers, local govenment chain who are closer to these people, and who do nothing.

Success Magazine: Values like discipline, honesty, humility and diligence are integral in any given society. How did you learn them?

Olopade: Most of these I learnt from my parent. Although school also played it role, as I attended a.missionary secondary school also.  Humility for example is one I have seen my parents demonstrate many times. There is the instance I can never forget and it taught me the lesson of humility and respect; there is a woman who is relatively younger in age and class than but my father accords the woman with respect and calls her Madam." That experience taught me to be humble and treat with respect everyone I meet.

Success Magazine: How often do you read? Kindly tell us the impact books have made in your life.

Olopade: I won't say how often I read, cause I'd don't pay attention to that. I know I read my Bible everyday which is very important. I just read when I want to. People pay attention to that and may lose the rationale for reading. Readimg is simply the key to imagination that propels creativity. In simple words, it sharpens insight.

Success Magazine: You are the CEO of Superstars Music and we discovered that your team came second in Bowen's Got Talents (2019), how did your passion for music start?

Olopade: I have always love good music. I always love good sounds every time with good content from watching musical contest shows. I know all of them from project fame to Nigeria got Talents. Glo Naija sinhs ,The voice , name it, I know all of them. But I cannot sing, I always want to, at a point I thought I could. You know when you sing to yourself and sound good, unknowingly you do not. So I was inspired by Brian Scoiter, the manger who discovered Justin Beiber.  I watched a video of his yelling his career and so I decided to form a music group under the Superstar brand. I was blessed to know the amazing singers who constitute the group and came second in the contest.

Success Magazine: You are a writer and you've published your debut novel, how did your passion for writing start?

Olopade: It's actually a short story anthology. Writing comes from the heart. I have always wanted to write in secondary school and represent the school but I wasn't so good. So I learnt to write professionally with the help of God and personal quest to improve.

Success Magazine: You are the Vice President of Law Students Society, what led you into it?

Olopade: Pure desire to improve the academic welfare of others and to gather experience. I felt I could revamp academic interest which is the jurisdiction of the office of the Vice President.

Success Magazine: What's your view on leadership from your experience?

Olopade: True leadership entails sacrifices. Putting others above and integrity.

Success Magazine: What do you think your writing has done to the world around you?

Olopade: I have lent my voices on different themes and social issues, that have eached thousands of youths particularly my articles on NYAToday, and my social media platforms. I sincerely hope it has inspired change in someone.

Success Magazine: What can you say about the  expression, "Be oneself." from your experience as a leader and as a writer?

Olopade: Trying to be another can succeed for a period, but it would never reach the stage of being significant. Because there is nothing creative or new about you, you are just a mere cloak of the true nature. It won't last and you become frustrated.

Success Magazine: Kindly tell us about your remarkable moments. And your ugly moments, both personally and professionally.

Olopade: There have been remarkable moments of winning contests. Publishing on some notable platforms. Like I had some of my articles publisbed on NYAToday, international leading youth network based in the United States. Inspiring people with my craft. Ugly moments, I would say last year I entered for a contest with my first short story, and you thought I would win. I didn't and I was broken, later I found out it wasn't good enough and I moved on. Sometimes denials are representation of true state of who we are we, but we are beclouded to see it and do not move from it.

Success Magazine: Kindly tell us about your relationship with God.

Olopade: He is the creator and our father. He inspires everything. He is responsible for everything I do. I am nothing without him in simple terms.

Success Magazine: What are your plans for a better Nigeria?

Olopade: I sincerely hope Nigeria is better by the time by the time I decide to delve Into politics. Bison 2045 has been my set goal since secondary school days to be President of our great nation, Nigeria. My plan for Nigeria is to create a nation where decision will not be based on political will or sentiments, but what is right. Where the minimum wage will represent the economic standard of living that is currently obtainable, where we won't consider bias in fighting insurgency and many others. But the aforementioned two are important, because security and welfare shall be the primary purpose of government

Success Magazine: Kindly give your advice to youths like you who may be motivated by your success story.

Olopade: Stay connected to God, stay connected to value adding people. Trust every process. Push yourself, though the feedback might not be positive. Keep your dreams alive. You are your greatest motivation. Someone is looking up to you!

Success Magazine: Your beautiful words for Success Magazine.

Olapade: Persistence, consistence and relentlessness will sustain. You guys are doing a great job. Please, keep inspiring us.

Beyond September 15...

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