I’m only writing this because it won’t leave me alone. My confusion began one unsuspecting morning, when I was reading through the newspaper cover image announcing Tony Elumelu Foundation as the Philanthropist of the year. The irritation I felt was immediate. Clearly, the organisers meant to give Chairman, Tony Elumelu, the Philanthropist of the decade award, since he is the person behind the vision. Or wait o, did they mean to give The Tony Elumelu Foundation as Philanthropy of the Decade? Who was being awarded? The Philanthropist or the Philanthropy. I am tired of Nigerian journalists!
The award has been received and I still do not know. The award plaque itself came in form of a three-dimensional glass sculpture of a mean-looking eagle, like all the eagles I know, about to flap its wings. And its feet were fused into a block of glass, so that the sculpture can stand when placed on its own. I fondly call the token, Eneke the Bird—as in—
Things Fall Apart.
Another thing is that, the statue, Eneke the bird, has no plaque or inscription on it. So, you could walk into Heirs Holdings and not know if it’s an artwork or a trophy. It made me think again: who does it belong to, the person or the foundation? I’m like a dog with a bone on this matter because it has become personal. Also, now that I am 30, I am thinking of what I can do to get some recognition by the end of the decade.
You see, if it was a award for the foundation, then maybe I need to start a foundation or something that affects thousands of African lives. And if the award is for our Chairman, then I have found myself in an impossible situation. Because, surely, it takes several lifetimes to achieve what the chairman has achieved in his. Either way, the odds of getting any kind of recognition feels like being Moses stuck between Pharaoh and the Red sea. Still, I need someone to tell me if that award was for the foundation so I don’t kill myself wondering how I can kill myself to be ex…ceptional?
Jokes aside though, there is no choice than to start making the sacrifices that can serve my generation, whatever they might be. Now that age thirty had started counting with nine and a half years still on the clock. I can almost hear myself in conversation with an animated 3-dimensional statue, Eneke the Bird, and it’s asking, “why do the next ten years matter so much? And I answer, they don’t. This is how our conversation ensues:
Eneke the Bird:
You were just ranting about being a person of the Decade
Me:
I was talking- not ranting. Talking about – wait what was I talking about?
Eneke the Bird:
(flaps Wings) laughs- 10 years!
Me: No
Eneke the Bird:
Awards!
Me: Not Really
Eneke the Bird:
Getting Old- As in you don old!
Me:
Now you’re just being rude
Eneke the Bird:
Starting a Foundation!
Me:
No, and is there a reason why you’re shouting?
Eneke the Bird:
Tony Elume-
Me:
Hush! I was talking about doing something valuable with the next ten years.
Eneke the Bird:
(Nods) That people will give you a statue for.
Me:
(Mildly irritated) I don’t need a dumb statue.
Eneke the Bird:
Well, that’s hurtful
Me:
I just need to add some value to the world other than going through the usual suspects- You know, working, living, dying.
Eneke the Bird:
Sounds like rich people’s problems to me
Me:
I’m not rich
Eneke the Bird:
But you have money
Me:
How much money?
Eneke the Bird:
Enough to be worrying about the next years. Appraisal is coming you know-
Me:
-I just want it to be meaningful, really meaningful- is that wrong?
Eneke the Bird:
No
Me:
No?! So, you agree! While I have you sane, I just want to know… who do you belong to Philanthropy or the Philanthropist of the decade?
