When a Nation falls in love with you: NIGERIA

For every journey there is a tale...There is a story...But one I have for everyone is a story that changed the lives of thousands and had an effect on Millions! Ever since I had the ambition and belief to want to inspire others through my story as an entrepreneur it grasped the heart of many. Having received an official invitation by Professor Uche Azikiwe, the wife of Nigeria’s first President to speak at the Under 30’s Financial Summit in Awka, Nigeria...The tale of this journey began. The summit was organised by Withworth ltd an enterprise organisation in Nigeria and with over 3000 young people attending the event, it was a massive event to have been invited to speak at.

July 8th 2009, I travelled from London at around 10:30pm with my uncle and arrived the following day in Lagos, Nigeria where I met Stanley Ezeabasirim who I’ve known for over a year. We then flew over from Lagos to Enugu straight away where I met the rest of the Withworth crew and the head of Withworth, Obinna Etele. In Enugu, I was straight away taken to Cosmo FM which is a national radio station where I spoke to an audience of over 13 million people about what entrepreneurship is all about and what I’ll be doing in Nigeria. We then drove to another radio station that same day which had an audience of students from every university in Nigeria! It was incredible to have been getting such coverage on my first day in Nigeria.

Prior to my visit to Nigeria, Obinna and Stanley had put together such press coverage that I was mentioned on 2 of their national newspapers, had my face and name on massive and I mean massive bill boards around the country and had been on flyers that were sent out to every university in Nigeria! So my presence in Nigeria wasn’t an unexpected one! From Enugu with then drove to Awka which is in the Anambra state. That is where the Under 30’s Financial Summit was going to take place! The event took place the following day and looking down from my hotel room, words cannot describe the number of young people that were attending. 3000 may even be such a small number...They were coming in the buses, cars and Ochadas! (Motorbike transport). Hundreds have had to sit outside the venue place as there were so many attending.

The event was indescribable; the reception I got was like being a celebrity. Everyone wanted to see me, stand beside me, touch me, talk to me...it goes on! I even had security beside me! When I gave my inspirational talk it really affected each and every one of the young students who attended the event. Their faces said it all! How I saw and what I saw with my own two eyes cannot be described in writing! Beyond belief! I never felt so much happiness or have got so emotional to know that what I have had to say created a whole new chapter within the lives of the thousands who attended! The video proves it! I could be writing on and on...Therefore I will say no more but will let you all know that for me it has opened a door to writing a new book titled under the name of the blog which I strongly believe will influence and inspire many generations to believe that a person can change the world!

The new book will be available for download as an E-Book or a printed book itself with the full story of my trip to Nigeria and the massive impact it had...Coming Soon.

Preparing my trip to Nigeria

From Monday this week, Nigeria was somewhere in and around my mind! Now only a few days to go until my trip to Nigeria happens! Really excited about the prospect of speaking at a summit to which I was invited by the wife of Nigeria’s former president (Professor Uche Azikiwe)!

This week (on Monday) I was interviewed by two magazine editors who are really keen on my story!!! But the story I feel is more surprising to share is how they heard about me! I spoke at an event in Leeds to a bunch of primary and secondary school students plus the teachers of course. And one of the teachers went home and couldn’t stop talking about what I had said. That was inspirational...and what happened was she spoke to her son who lives in London over the phone to get in touch with me as he was writing articles about teenage success and bang he straight away got in touch with me! I love it when things like that happen...and that wasn’t the first time!
Speaking of inspiration and teachers...My business studies teacher back in Swanlea School has been a great asset over the years; from his knowledge of business to taking fantastic photos! Yes, I mean photos! The everyday students would learn and be inspired by what the teacher says and does and that was no different for me! But having written my first book at the age of 17 and selling over 42,500 copies, it opened the eyes of many people across the UK that writing and publishing a book isn’t difficult! So, I can now proudly say that I have inspired my business studies teacher ‘Louis Berk’ to make his dream of publishing a book become a reality!
‘Walk to Work’ is a self published book launched on 28th June 2009 which illustrates my teacher’s journey from home to work through beautiful photos that the eye and the mind would not capture. The book opens the mind of the reader to accept that the every day journey is actually something of a beauty. Check out his website: http://www.louisberk.com/

What a week, from seeing and hearing the voice of The World At Your Feet spread from Leeds to London to actually inspiring my very own business studies teacher...I know I have a lot to speak about when it comes to my trip to Nigeria on Wednesday 8th July. I’ve had many phone calls already from very young students in Nigeria just wanting to say hello and well done! Unbelievable...I often get quite emotional that my message has really gone thousands of miles across the world.

Check out next week as my website and blog will have videos of my entire trip to Nigeria and how it went...So it’s my way of bringing my journey in Nigeria to you!

Oh...and before i forget! The World At Your Feet online store is now open so make a change to your life and order a copy of the book and the board game!

All the best

Sabirul Islam