39. La Vida Loca

“So I became great and excelled more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me. Whatever my eyes looked at with desire, I did not refuse them. I did not withhold from my heart any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor; and this was my reward for all my labor. Then I considered all that my hands had done and labored to do, and behold, all was vanity and chasing after the wind, and there was no profit (nothing of lasting value) under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:9–11

I found Grace Community Church in Maryland, a fantastic assembly of God’s people that matched my vibe. I have longed for short services filled with Hillsong-esque songs and sermons drawn from Biblical books spread over a lengthy period and sheer kindness in a multi-racial assembly. Maybe I was a little exhausted from the themes of prosperity, and since we were in a land of abundance (The Great United States of America), I wanted a solemn space where I could just be rooted in Christ. In the fall of this year, the church had a full teaching on the Book of Ecclesiastes. This very somber text reminds one of the futility, vanity, and temporariness of everything. It is a reminder that in the end, we are primarily forgotten, wrapped with a stark reflection of how we should live our lives with rigorous analysis that wisdom and foolishness mean nothing. What did the book advise us to do if everything was indeed vanity? It summarizes it in chapter 2, verse 24:

“There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and assure himself that there is good in his labor. Even this, I have seen, is from the hand of God. For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him?”

We are supposed to live fully in such epicureanism, where philosophers say the whole purpose of life should be pleasure. David Hundeyin recently captured this form of the ethos of ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die.’ Is this supposed to be the meaning of everything? To just merry and have fun since everything comes to nought. But the Bible does not leave us with such base thinking; it also reminds us, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol.”

You will wonder where exactly I am trying to anchor my thoughts on this glorious day. If you had read my previous birthday messages, you’d have discovered that they resonated with kindness, gratitude, responsibility, charity, and praise to God. I know I have exhausted these inexhaustible themes, but I wanted to share my little pleasures of life with you. In the midst of finding data to hold the government accountable and seeking to use technology to accelerate impact, I have never thrown away the search for life’s delight.

I am a fan of loud music. Put me in any place with loud music. It just resets my mental health, and that’s why Nigeria gets me — either showing up at a Lions Club gathering, hosting friends in lounges, or just finding a late-night adventure in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Madrid, or Lisbon. When it also comes to music, you will find my eclectic knack, stripped of vulgar types. Put me in an Apala, Hip-pop, Rap, R&B, Afrobeats, and Sakara, and you’ll find me swimming in the deluge. So a mix of smooth, soothing music is my enjoyment. With my long travel periods — I could have said work-filled travels — I either take a day to rest, really see the town, or just book a room next to Heathrow to see flights take off and land every three minutes.

I still aspire to ‘live the cruise life’ like egbon Fola Babalola, hops on multiple giant ships across the world, a true reflection of the ease everyone should have.

Why are we so enthused about accumulation that stems from poverty trauma, the typical lifestyle of a politician with tens of houses and wealth without any purpose or enjoyment? I have been clear that my life must oscillate between epicureanism (pleasure) and existentialism (purpose). My wife has been my guide on this journey, with a refined taste in fine houses that have rubbed off on me with our well-defined spaces in Maryland and Lagos that I have found so gorgeous.

Giving also has a big place in my heart, it truly eases my soul. Also spending time with family — a great delight to be there in Cardiff for my sister’s baby, taking the whole family to Nigeria for my Dad’s remembrance, driving my daughter to piano classes — or just showing up for my people as much as I can has been life’s true pleasures.

This has created some foolish rituals that, rather than compound the interest, I enjoy — a reminder to work hard to increase the principal (the interest being the temporariness that life deserves to be enjoyed). I have also been clear that you do not need to own things or be permanently attached to them, seek to enjoy them when we can. If there’s a cheap upgrade for a business class ticket that sits well with my conscience, I am glad do it; if not, we pin in that economy class. Steve Okeleji and I rented a nice Ford Mustang and just drove from Cincinnati to Indianapolis with an open roof and much zest. A racist guy in an elite golf club doubted us so much that he kept asking if we truly owned the car, but I insisted it was ours. Does it has to be ours? Aren’t just supposed to live the experiences?

I don’t forget the good times that reminds me how much I love driving in the long winding roads in the woods, blaring loud Afrobeats — pleasures of life.

However, life must carry its meaning. It must never be without purpose. After pouring my heart into nation-building through BudgIT, I have discovered a higher plane recently — to catalyze innovation ecosystems in second cities that require talent funding and support. This has opened me to supporting Ogbomoso with a resource center expected to scale in early 2025 and working with friends to repaint the FUNAAB library, which might be extended into a resource center in the future. When you mix those with the work at BudgIT, Kwerty, and other initiatives to explore non-oil exports, you will realize that purpose is being crafted and legacy is being defined, all in the mix of pleasure and delight. I just need a little more pleasure, stemmed from a street tune: problem no dey finish, try to enjoy.

This is the last year of my 30s, a period of grace and mirth that the Lord has chosen and shown me uncommon favor, a real elevation of status. I am putting the Fs into my life — Forward in Purpose, Faith, Fitness, Family, Fun, and learning from Failure. I am exceptionally grateful to have found lifting and spaces to mix the pleasures of life with purposes as one starts asking: what will be my life’s experiences and the legacy gathered in another 25 years? This has been a delightful year, and it’s truly time to merry — but also charge forward with purpose!