society
The Unstoppable Man: How to Rise, Fight and Win Against All Odds
The Unstoppable Man: How to Rise, Fight and Win Against All Odds.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
Life is not a gentle breeze that caresses the skin; it is a raging storm that tests the soul. Man cannot remake himself without suffering; for he is both the marble and the sculptor. To reshape your destiny, you must chip away at the layers of fear, doubt and excuses that have hardened over time. This process is never painless. A sculptor’s chisel cuts deep, but it is those very blows that bring out the masterpiece hidden within the stone. Likewise, your trials are the chisels of destiny; breaking you, shaping you, refining you.
The storms of life will keep coming; you cannot stop them. What you can do is prepare yourself for their arrival. Resilience is not built in calm seas; it is forged when the winds howl, the waves crash and your vessel is battered on every side. As Winston Churchill once declared, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the COURAGE to CONTINUE that COUNTS.” Never quit, never give up, never give in. If you stumble, get back up! You must fight one more day, even when everything in you screams to surrender. PERSEVERANCE is not a LUXURY; it is your LIFELINE.
The War Within.
Your greatest enemy is not the economy, not your critics, not even the challenges around you, but the silent assassin within: DOUBT, FEAR, PROCRASTINATION and SELF-SABOTAGE. These internal enemies are relentless. They whisper that you are not ENOUGH, that the mountain is too HIGH, that the dream is too BIG. Hear this: You are not your DOUBT; you are your DETERMINATION. Every great leader in history has fought this invisible war. As Marcus Aurelius wrote in his Meditations, “You have power over your mind; not outside events. Realize this and you will find strength.”
The best project you will ever work on is you. When you stop growing, you start dying. Mistakes are not proof of weakness; they are proof that you are moving forward, stretching your limits, learning what does not work so you can master what does. History records that Thomas Edison made over a thousand unsuccessful attempts before inventing the light bulb. When asked about his failures, he said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” That is the mindset of a champion.
Small Steps, Giant Leaps.
Never underestimate the power of consistent daily effort. Small daily improvements compound into staggering long-term results. If you improve yourself by just 1% each day, in one year you will be over 37 times better than when you started. This is not motivational hype; it is the MATHEMATICS of COMPOUND GROWTH. Life does not get easier; you must get stronger, smarter and more resilient. Stop waiting for the storm to pass; learn to dance in the rain.
When you look or feel defeated, raise the stakes and move on. Stand tall. The battlefield of life has no room for permanent victims; only victors. As Swami Vivekananda said, “Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached.” Kill procrastination before it kills your destiny. STOP WISHING; START DOING. Time is not a friend that waits patiently; it is a ruthless force that rewards the decisive and punishes the hesitant.
Reject Mediocrity.
Do not settle for a life of mediocrity. You were not designed for the ordinary. Inside you is a RESERVOIR of UNTAPPED POTENTIAL, waiting to be discovered, refined and unleashed. If you do not demand more from yourself, the world will be content to ignore you. Greatness is never given; it is seized with relentless commitment. Muhammad Ali, the boxing legend, once declared, “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’”
A setback is not a verdict; it is a challenge. Use it as an opportunity to sharpen your skills, deepen your resolve and rise stronger. Stop letting your guard down. The fears you refuse to face will become the chains that bind you. Look fear in the eye and move forward anyway, because courage is not the absence of fear but the decision that something else matters more.
The Power of Perseverance.
Difficulties break some men but make others. The same fire that melts wax hardens steel. The difference lies in the material and you decide what you are made of. No one who ever accomplished anything worthwhile did so without enduring seasons of struggle. Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison, but he emerged not bitter, but better, ready to lead a divided nation into a new era. He famously said, “I NEVER LOSE. I EITHER WIN or LEARN.”
Your resolve will be tested, sometimes to the point of breaking. But remember this: THE ONLY FORCE THAT CAN TRULY STOP YOU is YOU. Every time you push through, you build an unshakable foundation of self-belief. Each victory, no matter how small, becomes proof that you can endure, adapt and overcome.
Building a Champion’s Mindset.
A champion’s mindset is not born; it is built. It is the result of choosing discipline over comfort, growth over stagnation and purpose over pleasure. It is about setting a standard for yourself that refuses to bow to excuses. When you raise your standards, life will rise to meet them.
Visualize your goals daily. Surround yourself with people who challenge you to rise higher. Feed your mind with books, speeches and stories of those who overcame the impossible. Train your body, sharpen your skills, guard your energy. The battlefield is life itself and you cannot afford to enter it unprepared.
Final Charge.
If there is one truth you must carry, it is this: YOUR LIFE WILL BE DEFINED BY HOW YOU RESPOND WHEN EVERYTHING IS AGAINST YOU. The storms will not ask for permission; the mountains will not move simply because you wish them to. You must fight, adapt and persevere. You must rise each time you fall, fight one more day, believe in the essence of who you are and refuse to quit until your mission is complete.
The road to greatness is narrow, steep and often lonely; but the view from the top is worth every struggle. HEADS UP. SHOULDERS BACK. EYES FORWARD. Your destiny is not behind you; it is ahead, waiting for you to claim it.
As the legendary basketball coach John Wooden said, “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” So make the best of it; RELENTLESSLY, FEARLESSLY and with a FIRE-IN-YOUR-SPIRIT that no storm can extinguish.
In the end, the most powerful words you can say to yourself are simple:
“I WILL NOT STOP UNTIL I WIN.”
By George Omagbemi Sylvester ~ For SaharaWeeklyNG.com
Africa International Christian Film Festival (AICFF) Announces Debut Dates in Nigeria
Abuja, Nigeria — January 27, 2026
The Africa International Christian Film Festival (AICFF) has officially announced June 3–6, 2026 as the dates for its maiden edition, scheduled to hold in Abuja, Nigeria.
AICFF, a continental platform dedicated to amplifying Christian films from Africa and around the world, while strengthening production quality, professional training, distribution, and market access for faith-based content within Africa will shapen a new narrative in Christian based films.
The festival will feature: Film screenings from Africa and the global Christian film community;
Panel discussions and industry conversations;
Professional workshops and trainings;
A Christian Film Market connecting filmmakers with distributors, broadcasters, and platforms.
Speaking on the vision behind AICFF, the Festival Convener, Ambassador Bright Wonder Obasi, noted that the festival was created to serve as a gateway for global Christian films into Africa and a launchpad for African stories to reach the world.
AICFF also invites Christian filmmakers from Africa and across the world to submit feature films, documentaries, short films, animations, and faith-inspired content that reflect biblical values, excellence in storytelling, and cultural relevance.
Obasi also assured participants that the selected films will be showcased to:
International festival partners;
Broadcasters and Christian media networks;
Distributors and streaming platforms;
Industry leaders and faith-based institutions.
With Africa’s rapidly growing Christian population and creative economy, AICFF aims to position the continent as a recognized global hub for Christian cinema.
Submissions are now open via www.filmfreeway.com/AICFFA. With the deadline set for March 31, 2026.
For More on AICFF, contact Bright Wonder Obasi
Africa International Christian Film Festival (AICFF) |[email protected]
www.gosplecinemaint.com/AICFF
Oyo @ 50: Ajadi Felicitates Govt, People, Backs Omituntun 3.0 for Sustainable Development
…Says continuity key to preserving Makinde’s legacy of peace, infrastructure growth
A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and leading governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has congratulated the Oyo State Government and the people of the state on the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the creation of Oyo State, describing the milestone as a testament to resilience, unity, and progressive governance.
The Golden Jubilee celebration, which kicked off on Monday with an opening ceremony at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, is part of a week-long programme themed “Consolidating the Legacy, Navigating the Present, and Reimagining the Future.” The anniversary activities began on January 26 and will climax on February 3 with a grand gala night at the Government House, Agodi, where all 17 former governors of the state are expected to be honoured.
Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the opening ceremony, Ajadi, an Ibadan indigene, commended the people of Oyo State for maintaining peaceful coexistence over the last five decades, noting that the state has continued to record remarkable progress in governance and infrastructure development.
He described the past 50 years as a source of pride, adding that Oyo State has witnessed unprecedented development, particularly under the current administration.
Ajadi specifically lauded Governor Seyi Makinde for what he described as significant improvements in infrastructure, especially in the area of road construction and urban traffic management across the state.
According to him, the successes recorded in traffic regulation and urban mobility in Ibadan were the result of deliberate planning and implementation under Omituntun 1.0 and Omituntun 2.0, citing the construction of modern bus terminals at Iwo Road, Challenge, and Ojoo as notable examples.
He also praised the governor for the ongoing Ibadan Circular Road Project, which he said would, upon completion, attract massive economic activities and stimulate development across the state.
While congratulating the people on the Golden Jubilee, Ajadi called for sustained support for the current development trajectory, stressing that the state must not deviate from well-structured and people-oriented programmes already in place.
“As we celebrate the Golden Anniversary of our dear state, it is important for our people to understand that we cannot afford to abandon the sound policies and development agenda of the present administration,” he said.
Ajadi further declared his commitment to building on the achievements of Governor Makinde through what he described as Omituntun 3.0, should he be given the mandate.
“I, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, am fully determined to sustain and expand the good works of our amiable governor through Omituntun 3.0,” he stated.
He urged residents to embrace continuity ahead of the next general elections, warning against any deviation that could threaten the prevailing peace and steady development in the state.
Ajadi also expressed appreciation to traditional rulers across the state for their support and cooperation with the government, noting that their role remains vital to peace and grassroots development.
He expressed confidence that with the emergence of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja (Arusa I), the Olubadan of Ibadanland, as Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, peace and development would continue to thrive in the state.
He concluded by congratulating the government and people of Oyo State on the historic milestone, describing Oyo as the Pace Setter State with a promising future.
society
As Nigeria Struggles Under Mounting Hardship… Poet Kunle Ologundudu Hammers On The Ethos Of Progressive Governance
*As Nigeria Struggles Under Mounting Hardship… Poet Kunle Ologundudu Hammers On The Ethos Of Progressive Governance
The history of progressive politics in Yorubaland is deeply rooted in leaders who governed with conscience, clarity and commitment to the people. From Chief Obafemi Awolowo to Lateef Jakande, Bola Ige, Adekunle Ajasin, Bisi Onabanjo and Abraham Adesanya, the Afenifere tradition stood for free education, social welfare, fiscal discipline and moral leadership. These leaders built legacies anchored on human development and regional pride. Today, however, many observers argue that this heritage is being steadily erased under the present federal administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with Yoruba leaders increasingly sidelined and their historical contributions treated as expendable.
Under the current government, excess spending on projects many Nigerians describe as unreal and disconnected from everyday suffering has become a recurring concern. While billions are committed to luxury governance and political maintenance, ordinary citizens grapple with hunger, collapsing healthcare and rising unemployment. Hospitals are understaffed as doctors leave the country daily in search of dignity and survival abroad. The mass exodus of medical professionals is not just a statistic but a national emergency, reflecting a system that has failed to prioritise welfare, planning and human capital development. For many in the South West, it feels as though the progressive values once championed by Afenifere leaders no longer matter in the calculations of power.
Against this backdrop, the record of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as a subnational leader offers a striking contrast. His governance philosophy was rooted in proximity to the people and practical intervention. Beyond policy statements, his administration directly impacted lives at the grassroots. Through the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme, popularly known as OYES, thousands of young people were productively engaged, given stipends, work experience and dignity. Local traders, artisans and families benefited from social programmes that circulated income within communities rather than concentrating wealth at the top.
Aregbesola’s social investment approach extended to education, school feeding and community based economic stimulation. Children were kept in school, local farmers found markets for their produce and small scale vendors earned sustainable livelihoods. These interventions were not abstract theories but lived realities for citizens who felt seen and supported by government. His model demonstrated that leadership could be firm yet humane, disciplined yet compassionate, and visionary without being disconnected from the streets.
What makes the current moment troubling is not merely economic hardship but the apparent disregard for the collective memory and moral compass of Yoruba political history. The legacies of Awolowo, Jakande, Ige, Ajasin, Onabanjo and Adesanya were built on sacrifice and service, yet many feel that the present administration has shown little regard for these foundations. Yoruba leaders who once shaped national discourse now appear marginalised, while policies that deepen inequality replace those that once reduced it.
As Nigeria struggles under mounting hardship, there is an urgent need for course correction. The present administration would benefit from adopting some of Aregbesola’s people focused policies at the national level to soften the economic pain across the country. More importantly, genuine consultation with Rauf Aregbesola could help reconnect governance with the progressive ideals of Afenifere and prevent the total erosion of their legacies. Leadership that ignores its roots risks losing its soul, and Nigeria can ill afford that loss at this critical moment.
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