If you are still entangled in that hog wash about how names determine destinies and the Jabez and Jacob fable, then let us have a conversation.

Bush is a shrub or clump of shrubs. But two Bushes (father and son), became Presidents of the US and their two sons became governors, and their mother became the only woman in America to be first lady and later first mother of the US.

A thatcher is a person whose job is making roofs from straw or reeds. Yet Margaret Thatcher rose to become the first female UK Prime Minister.

Rice – Is a grass or grain which is widely cultivated as a source of food. Yet Condoleezza Rice, rose to become America’s Secretary of State and she is also a Stanford University Professor.

Stout is a beer, yet Christy Lu Stout, a CNN presenter, is one of the most popular faces on Earth.

Dick is the male genital organ. Yet Dick Cheney became the Vice President of the US.

Pussy is the female genital organ. Yet Pussy Jones is known till date as one of the most successful and prolific rugby union centers, who played club rugby for Cardiff and international rugby for Wales.

Hemp is cannabis sativa. Yet Lauren Hemp became England’s Young Female Player of the Year in 2017, and still reigning as one of the best female footballers in the UK.

Ṣóyínká means, I am surrounded by sorcerers. Yet Wole Soyinka became Africa’s first Nobel Laureate.

Fáyẹmí means, Ifá suits me. Yet Kayode Fayemi became governor and minister of the federal republic.

Fáyóṣé means, Ifá will do it. And Ifa did it for Ayo Fayose, who became governor of Ekiti State.

Tinúbú means,
ti – belonging to
inú – inside of
ibú – the deep (ocean). Yet the ocean boy became governor of Lagos and President of Nigeria.

Fáwẹ̀hìnmi means, Ifá watches my back. And Ifa watched the back of Gani Fawehinmi until he became Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Senior Advocate of the Masses and Nigeria’s most popular freedom fighter.

Fálànà means, Ifá cleared the path. And Ifa has cleared the path for Femi Falana who has also become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the most popular CSO voice in Nigeria today after the death of Fawehinmi. His wife is also a SAN.

Fáshọlá means, Ifá makes wealth. And God made Babatunde Fashola governor of Lagos state and Minister of the Federal Republic.

My mother’s name till her passing was ‘Uwhanye’, meaning Barren. Yet she saw her great grand children before she died.

Yet, we have seen so many people bearing Blessing, who have never been blessed. We have seen those bearing Abundance, who are living in lack. We have seen those bearing Marvelous, who are dangerous.

Whether anyone will succeed in this life is dependent on the level of work you put in and the grace of God that waters the work. It also depends on the knowledge you acquire and how you are able to use it to the benefit of the world. The meaning, the spelling, the sound or texture of your name has nothing to do with it unless in a nepotistic country like Nigeria where your ethnic group and your name is what determines whether you will succeed or not.

Yours sincerely,
Citizen Agba Jalingo.