- Enoch Oyedibu
- Clara Chizoba Kronborg, Oluwafemi Ositade, Pelumi Nubi, Tunde Onakoya
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This Nigerian Spirit represents resilience, hard work, dedication, passion and the popular street mantra: “no gree for anybody,” which simply translates as “don’t accept defeat.”
It was Solomon Buchi, a Nigerian Journalist, now in the United Kingdom, who said an average Nigerian life is belaboured with struggles, many of which are uncontrollable clogs. The interesting fact is that Buchi’s assertion is true and he can testify to that during his decade-days in the vast expanse of the Giant of Africa region that this is also the source of our strengths. What is most prevalent is that it is not a crime for us as our people who have learnt to live with it and use that belief to our advantage. This decision then gives us the tenacity to have such a life that comes with the gift of grit which, helps Nigerians worldwide to forge ahead and break barriers, against all odds. For others, it is called thick skins; for us, in Nigeria, it is called “A Nigerian Spirit,” forged out of our various Nigerian experiences.
This Nigerian Spirit represents resilience, hard work, dedication, passion and the popular street mantra: “no gree for anybody,” which simply translates as “don’t accept defeat.” It is not doubtful to say that this Nigerian Spirit follows us everywhere and helps us to stand tall, flying our freak flag high. Applaudably, this Nigerian Spirit constantly cares to reflect in all Nigerians’ endeavours. Especially, in Nigerians that pursue their goals with passion and hard work.
This Nigerian Spirit is that of excellence that is birthed not by luck, but by hard work. The Spirit set the course for Chinụa Achebe, who was the first published Nigerian author. It helped Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti put on the garland of valour as the first woman to drive a car in Nigeria. It distinguishes Aminat J Mohammed, as the first Nigerian in fifth Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations office. It excellently set Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to be in the grandeur of the first woman and African to serve as the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation. The same spirit runs in the veins of Anthony Joshua, a Nigerian who is a two-time heavyweight champion, leading the world as Britain’s professional boxer. The same spirit sponsored Tobi Amusan to remain the first Nigerian to win 100m hurdles in the women’s category in the world, among others.
The spirit sets Professor Wole Soyinka apart as the first Nigeria to be honoured with a Nobel Laureate. The spirit incorporates Aliko Dangote, who is the richest black man in Africa, and the late Dora Akunyili, the former NAFDAC boss who made remarkable impacts on the course of Nigerians’ consumption products.
The mention of striking Nigerians excellently leading the world positively with this Nigerian Spirit, stemming from hard work, resilience and determination cannot be exhaustively catalogued. But all starts from the typical grit, growing from our experiences. And, as always, the spirit has come again with grit, capturing the experiences of four remarkable Nigerians whose endeavours in April sparked our hopes and solidified our appellation as still, the Giant of Africa. These Nigerians are: Tunde Onakoya, Clara Chizoba Kronborg, Pelumi Nubi and Oluwafemi Ositade. Let’s get to know them.
Clara Chizoba Kronborg
For Clara Chizoba Kronborg, the Guinness World Record is a piece of cake that holds no cheese and requires no hassles. She smashed the record for the longest interviewing marathon with a time of 55 hours 24 seconds.
Clara, who hosts a talk show on YouTube, interviewed 90 people of various nationalities and occupations, including politicians, business owners, content creators, actors, real estate agents and many others, to clinch the record and smash the existing one of 37 hours 44 minutes by Rob Oliver (USA) in 2022.
Clara grew up in Onitsha, Nigeria, where her fascination with the concept of success was fuelled.
She said: “This record attempt was about bringing together diverse individuals, sharing their inspiring narratives, and forging meaningful connections on a global scale.
“I am committed to amplifying voices, particularly those of hardworking women, and using their stories to inspire others facing similar challenges.”
Clara’s record attempt took place on a docked yacht in the Spanish city of Marbella, where she currently lives.
Tunde Onakoya
For Tunde Onakoya, using the spirit to raise funds for African children who cannot afford the cost of education through chess is invaluable. He is probably the only man worthy to be called a master darer. He dared to fly and yes, he did fly. Most of all, he did not fly with the flammable wings of Icarus. Meanwhile, Onakoya suffered losses. In the pursuit of clutching the Guinness Book of Records for 60 hours longest marathon for chess playing, he endangered his health, devised shame, fear and complications; then, hit the chess board to play. In the end, he won and was able to successfully raise funds for children in slums.
Pelumi Nubi
Without competing, Pelumi Nubi, an established Nigerian in the UK kickstarted a London to Lagos journey by car. It was such a seemingly impossible task but Nubi plied 4,463 miles, totaling about 7183 kilometres and now becomes the first ever woman to do that.
Oluwafemi Ositade
When we talked of the Nigerian Spirit, Ositade took it personally. He is just a 17-year-old boy from Ogun State and with the spirit, bagged 14 scholarships over his astounding results. Ositade’s scholarships come with the benefit of an amount totalling $3,511,582.
The 17-year-old coming from Ambassadors College, Ota forces universities like Harvard University, Brown University, Duke University, University of Toronto Lester B Pearson Scholarship, Wesleyan University, Carnegie Mellon University, Qatar, University of Miami, Howard University, Stetson University, Fisk University, University of Toronto Mississauga Campus, University of Toronto St. George Campus, University of Toronto Scarborough Campus and Drexel University–14 altogether–to offer him scholarships, about which 9 of them fully-funded.
Read Also: 6 Scariest Guinness World Records Too Difficult to Break
Enoch Oyedibu
I am a writer and investigative journalist who specialises in literary criticism and underrepresented narratives. Among other publications, I have been featured in Business Day Nigeria, TheICIR, Platform Times and Daily Nigerian. Right now, I work as a full-time staff writer for Unconventional Magazine.
