So, some months back (ending of July 2023, I presume), I submitted my entry for the 12th edition of the Bible Society of Nigeria's NYSC Essay Writing Competition and National Symposium. As a young person with a passion for writing, governance, and personal growth, this competition represented an opportunity to not only showcase my skills but also to contribute to a meaningful discourse.
Initially, I was not so interested in the competition, because I had other things to do, but one day, something just “woke me up” with these words:
“Your silence in the face of adversity is an acceptance of the adverse.”
Yikes! Would I, a person with a passion for changing the world around me one way or another, be inclined towards accepting the status quo?
I don’t think so.
So, I spoke to some of the smartest people I could find, having long discussions through the nights and days on the various ways Nigeria’s institutions could be made strong, and after a lot of “back-and-forths”, I finally and passionately penned all the ideas I got (from them) with research works and Scriptural references (the rules — besides, it’s organized by a Christian NGO, duh!), whilst ensuring that I followed their assessment criteria strictly.