Flying on the wings of destiny helpers, by Simbo Olorunfemi

Bi a ko ba r’eni feyinti, bi ole la ri.

Difficult as it is to explain to those not inclined to an acceptance of the fact that there is more to life than can be seen or empirically proven, if you have, like I have, seen the hand of God at work in miraculously pulling you out of seemingly intractable situations, you can’t but firmly hold on to the view that there is a God-factor in the affairs of man, one that has its own way of ordering our footsteps in such a way that we are able to accomplish some feats, or avoid/survive a sad turn of fortune. On both counts, these will qualify as extraordinary, difficult to explain, or life-changing occurrences.

In my line of faith, we speak of GRACE, which speaks of unmerited favour. In ours, just as it is with other faiths, there is an acknowledgement of the place and will of God. That it happens is an indication that it received the permission (some stretch that to mean, endorsement) of God. So, we talk about destiny, pre-destination, and providence.

But some will ask, as many have over time asked – If what will be wil be, what is the point of it all? What is the point of striving or aspiring if, at the end of it all, it is all about Que Sera Sera? There is a whole lot that can be said to deconstruct that, but that is not the focus here.

Rather, this is a rumination, more in appreciation of the place of what in ‘Christian’ parlance we call ‘destiny helpers’, and how it is that but for fortuitous connections, many of us might not be wherever it is that we are today.

I have seen the hand of God, first hand, in different situations, either with forcing shut doors open, or making a way of escape in dangerous circumstances, that I can’t but wonder, as I often do, about what I will refer to as providence for want of a better word.

That chance encounter. That nudge to make a phone call that suddenly opens a door into a different world of opportunities. That missed flight that ends up becoming a life-saver.

Often, it is an intervention that defies explanation.

That chance meeting with someone who turns out to be a Destiny Helper.
That change of fortune that validates the aphorism by the Street Philosopher, Habeeb Okikiola, better known as Portable, who says, ‘person wey go help you no go stress you’.

Providence.

I remember Frank Nweke Jr. telling the story of how, as Minister, a late lunch in Mr Azu Ishiekwene’s house led to a missed flight that eventually crashed, sparing the lives of his aides and himself that were due to fly but for the delay instigated by a lunch of Amala.

I remember the story of Femi Otedola running into his ‘destiny helper’ at Heathrow Airport, and how that massively changed the trajectory of his life and business.

I remember, as an undergraduate, hopping into a ‘sole’ on Lagos-Ibadan expressway on my way to school, and it just happened that the man, unknown to me, was my Dad’s long-lost friend but an Official in an institution where I had been trying to resolve an issue for many weeks. He asked me to make a return to Lagos, gave me a note, which miraculously resolved the issue. I have not set my eyes on him since that day.

Providence? Grace of God.

One thing that has, at different times, played on my mind this year is the place/role of the destiny helper in the overall scheme of things.

Thinking about it, no matter how good one is at what one does, no matter what talent one has, no matter how much industry one puts into any endeavour, or even the level of integrity one brings to the table, more often than not, one would still need someone to mention one’s name behind closed doors to be able to have the chance to show what one can do.

Without that person willing to hold the door for the man of talent to come in, or that man who would offer his shoulder for the man of ideas to stand on, he just might remain another person with potentials that never get to see fulfilment.

No matter the strength of the ideas, the greatness of the vision and the sharpness of mind, without that destiny Helper willing to lend his ears and put in a word where it truly matters, it might just matter to nothing.

It is the story for some of us. But for friends and benefactors over the years, where would we be? It is always more about someone here or there putting in a word, sometimes on the strength of what we have done in the past. But, more often than not, excellence and competence needs the door to open before it is able to get the attention of those who matter.

That is where the Destiny Helper comes in.

One of the most fascinating and inspiring stories of how meeting a Destiny Helper can change the course of a person’s life for good, is that of Prof Benedict Oramah who last year completed a 10-year tenure as President of Afreximbank, rounding off 31 years of service at the Bank.

Two men were his Destiny Helpers, so to say. One was Prof. Adeniyi Osuntogun who was Oramah’s Supervisor for his PhD programme in Agricultural Economics at the Obafemi Awolowo University.

Prof Osuntogun had worked at the Central Bank of Nigeria earlier on, before crossing over to the University. One of his colleagues back then was Mr Christopher Edordu, who many years later became the pioneer Managing Director of NEXIM Bank. The Bank had only just commenced operations by the time Oramah finished his programme.

Prof Osuntogun saw NEXIM Bank as a good opportunity for the young Oramah and decided to introduce him to his friend, Mr Edordu. That was in 1992.

Mr Edordu recollects the young Oramah visiting him. He had no credentials with him. In any case, they had just completed his recruitment. But Oramah had a copy of his thesis with him, as he was literally just coming out of his Thesis Defence.

Yet, Oramah sounded persuasive, so he asked him to leave the thesis behind, intrigued by the fact that the man with no previous banking experience, with a background in Agricultural Economics, who had written something around irrigation, was interested in working at NEXIM Bank, which was a relatively greenfield at the time.

Edordu picked up the PhD thesis and was taken by what he saw as an audacious title and the audacious method he employed. So he decided to give Oramah a chance.

Within the year, Edordu moved from NEXIM Bank to Afreximbank, as pioneer President, and the following year, he brought Oramah over to Cairo to join him at Afreximbank.

In introducing Oramah to Edordu, Osuntogun literally changed the trajectory of his life and moulded his destiny.

Edordu saw an Oramah as an asset. He was a fast learner and an innovation machine. He learnt fast and rose through the ranks to emerge as the 3rd President of Afreximbank in 2015, twenty-one years after joining his destiny helper, Christopher Edordu, at the Bank in Cairo.

Oramah’s Destiny Helpers

Of Prof Osuntogun, Oramah says, ‘He identified an opportunity at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) deemed me worthy of the challenge. That singular decision changed
my life’s trajectory. The future of a family, a community, an institution, and even a continent can often hinge on
the simple acts of kindness and decisions made by those we encounter along our paths.”

Of Mr Christopher Edordu, Oramah says, “…despite having closed
interviews for a position at NEXIM, still gave me a chance to prove myself. He provided me with the opportunity to explore uncharted waters at the early
stages of Afreximbank in Cairo, mentored and challenged me at an intense pace, for which I am
particularly thankful.”

Destiny Helpers

I have always been of the view that no matter how good or talented you are, more often than not, you always need to have someone to help you either open the window, if only just a little bit, hold the door for you to peep in, help you with a foot in, or speak up for you behind those closed doors, for you to be able to make that ‘breakthrough’.

Even on that Job Interview panel or proposal defence session, there is often that one person who becomes a cheerleader, making you more comfortable to bring out your best. That person who would be the one to take over the duty of convincing other members of the panel that it ought to be you.

Sometimes, the reverse is the case, though. There could be that antagonist positioned there whose remit is how to shut open doors, antagonise every turn, make simple things difficult, and make an otherwise straightforward matter appear complicated.

From the little I know, these things just happen, and we can hardly do a thing about it. There are some who like you for no reason, and there are others who just can’t stand you, sometimes for no reason. Some are destiny helpers. Some, destiny derailers, even if the force of derailment can also lead to fulfilment.

While the concept of destiny is itself controversial, with many not of the mind that there is such a thing, there is so much about life, religion aside, that makes it difficult to doubt that there is such a thing as destiny.

We always need what us, Christians, call ‘Destiny Helpers’ at the critical points in our lives to help us break through. Someone defines Destiny helpers as people who are divinely and strategically positioned to help you arrive at your expected end. They use their networks to open up opportunities for you.

The thing is, we never truly know who our destiny helpers are or can be. Often, they might not look like the part, we might end up not recognising them, and miss out on opportunities.

It ought not be that difficult though. We only need to keep being ourselves, improving ourselves, giving our best shot at every opportunity that comes out way, keep putting out best foot forward, be of good character, stick to the narrow lane of integrity, and keep doing good.

Ka sa ma se daada.

Who knows who we might yet be in a position to help fulfil destiny? Who knows who might be used to help us fulfil destiny?