Femi Adesina writes on how his son's dream of being a pilot was fulfilled | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

LI_Leaderboard_4

LI_Leaderboard_1

LI_Leaderboard_2

LI_Leaderboard_3

Saturday 24 June 2017

Femi Adesina writes on how his son's dream of being a pilot was fulfilled

Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, recently shared photos of his pilot son, Oluwatobi, flying him from Lagos to Abuja for the first time.

In an article he shared on his Facebook page, Femi wrote on how his son dreamt of being a Pilot at four, how he pursued the dream and achieved it. Read the interesting piece after the cut...



Be careful what you dream about, it may well come to pass. Oluwatobi is my firstborn, "my might, and the beginning of my strength." One day, when he was just four years old, we were all in the living room; myself, his mom, and his sister, when he exclaimed:"Daddy, I'll be a pilot!"
I looked at him, looked at his mother, and said casually: "What does he know about piloting?" For by then, Oluwatobi had not gone near an airport, not to talk of entering an airplane.
But somehow, what he said refused to leave my mind. Just like the biblical Mary, after the angel told her of the virgin conception, I "kept all those things, and pondered them" in my heart.
'Tobi (as we call him) began to live his dreams. He needed to see only the picture of an airplane in a newspaper or magazine, and he would cut it, file it away, or paste on the wall of his bedroom. When he was old enough to manipulate a computer, he always went to sites where he could read about aircraft.
I had thought he would outgrow the passion. But the older he grew, the firmer and clearer the dream became. "Daddy, I'll be a pilot!"
As a growing journalist with growing means, I got to the point I could go on vacation with my family once a year. We started with Ghana. Then South Africa. And London... Tobi was in secondary school, and talked about nothing save flying a plane. Each time we travelled, it was like nirvana. While I kept looking at my wristwatch, expecting the time we would land, my son, and his sister, Tosin, felt completely at home in the sky.
I had expected two people to baulk, and talk Tobi out of his dreams. His mother, and my own mother (Tobi's grandma, whom he was particularly close to). But the two women surprisingly did not dissuade the boy. They submitted to the perfect will of the Almighty. Underneath are the Everlasting Arms.
Never underestimate the power of dreams. At 18, my son packed his baggage, and was on the way to Aeronav Academy, in South Africa. The fees were staggering, but by then, I was Deputy Managing Director/ Deputy Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Newspapers. The pay was good enough, and with some belt tightening and lots of sacrifice, I could afford the fees.
Tobi got to Johannesburg at the peak of winter. "A cold coming we had of it, just the worst time of the year. For a journey, and such a long journey, the ways deep and the weather sharp, the very dead of winter." (T.S Eliot, The Journey of the Magi). I remember the first email he sent to me:"Daddy, it's so cold, I had to sleep with my shoes on." Lol. My heart went out to him, but he that would eat honey from the rock must never consider the blade of his axe.
By the end of his first year, he got the private pilot license. Second year, he got the commercial license. I was breathing like a hog under the financial burden, but didn't Jesus promise that his yoke was easy, "and my burden is light?" I kept trudging on, and one day, at age 21, my son was back, a fully licensed pilot.

But there was still one more river to cross. And when he told me about it, I almost bolted (just as our President almost did, when he saw the state of the treasury after inauguration into office). Tobi told me of the need to proceed to Sweden, for a type rating license, in which he would specialize on the Boeing 737. A boy of 21 years, planning to fly a whole house in the sky? The money, in dollars, sent my heart racing, and my head spinning. But by then, I was already Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun. The publisher was a welfarist, and he took good care of his staff. If the family would take garri, instead of corn flakes, well, we could send Tobi to Sweden. And off he went, coming back months later with a type rating license. Arik Airline gracefully gave him a job.

For almost two years, the young pilot has been plying his trade, but he never flew me. The closest we got was one Saturday morning, about a year ago. I had just landed in Lagos, and who did I meet on the tarmac? Tobi and the crew that was taking over the airplane for the next flight. Safe skies, I told him, after we had taken some pictures, along with Captain Mohammed, an Arik veteran.

Then D-day came. And it was Monday this week. I had gone to Lagos to be part of Fathers Day celebration in my church, Foursquare Gospel Church, which held on Sunday. Return journey was 7 a.m Monday, aboard Arik.
On Sunday night, Tobi told me: "Daddy, you'll be on my flight back to Abuja tomorrow." Great expectations.

I approached the aircraft with Mr Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State, and an old friend. An airline staff collected my hand luggage, and took it onboard. I then offered to relieve the former governor of the burden of his own luggage. Trust the ever self-effacing man. He hid the bag behind his back, as I made for it. We laughed.

I was on Seat 1D. The former governor was directly behind me. I told him my son was the co-pilot, and he was so very happy and excited at the news. And then, who came in, and took Seat 1F, right beside me? Another gentleman and friend, Mr Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. We began to chat about the economy, and the risks falling oil prices in the international market could pose to the steadying exchange rate of the dollar to the naira. That was when Tobi struck. He came out from the cockpit, and said the Captain had consented that I should be their guest throughout the flight.
I first declined. Flying in the air was tough enough, who wants to go and frighten himself to death in a cockpit? 
"Daddy, come and see what you paid for. Come and see where your money went," my son said. I introduced him to the CBN governor, and excused myself from the cabin. The co-pilot to the co-pilot had come. Father and son were in the cockpit.
Captain Carretero Alberto hails from Spain. And what a genial man he turned out to be throughout the 55 minutes flight. I got to know about his family, his professional background, and many others. He had kind words to say about Tobi, and, indeed gave him the thumbs up sign many times, as the young pilot flew the plane, and made what he considered smart moves.
Preparing to lift into the air was a whole set of ceremony. Many things to check. Engines, lights, wings, doors, everything.As Tobi handled the joystick, the joy kiln was kindled in the heart of a proud father.

Communication with the control tower was continuous, and lasted almost throughout the flight. As the plane lifted, and soared into the deep, azure sky, I could not see a thing. Not the foggiest thing. How do pilots do it? But there was a forest of buttons and knobs. They kept touching and pressing them. Is this what they call instrumentation? At a point, the sun streamed in powerfully, in all its brightness. And they fixed their sun visors.
"This is why pilots wear sunglasses," Tobi told me.

As the journey progressed, memories flooded in. The plane was moving forward, but I was going back in time. I remembered that June 25, when unto me a child was born, and unto the Adesinas a son was given. When I got to the hospital, and he was brought out for me to have a look, I remember the yell he gave. Now, the tot of that day is flying a Boeing 737. What will he fly next, a 747 or Dreamliner? The wonders of our God.
Then I chuckled. What did I remember? When Tosin, my daughter was born. Tobi was already three. He had not seen as much soft drinks as on the naming ceremony day. He drank Coke, Fanta, Pepsi, Sprite, everything. Then later, he came to meet me: "Daddy, my tomach (that was how he called it) is paining me. " I laughed, and asked why his tomach would not pain him, as I had seen him, mixing the drinks? Now, the boy is flying a plane.
I chuckled again. What is it this time? The time he was going to secondary school. A day before resumption, I had taken him to Ikeja, where we bought a pair of boots, which would be part of the school uniform. We barely got home before Tobi slipped into the boots, and for the rest of the evening, he strutted round the house in the jackboot. It was yeoman's effort to get him to remove it at bedtime. Even then, he put the boots daintily on his bed, throughout the night. 

And then, the winter night he slept with his shoes on, in Johannesburg. Lol. 
Soon, the plane swung right. And Tobi pointed the runway of the Abuja airport to me. We had begun to descend earlier, and would land in eight minutes. At the dot of that time, he brought the big bird gently onto the runway. What an experience for a father!

Since that Monday, when I posted the pictures of father and son on Facebook, the thanksgiving on our behalf has been overwhelming. I thank everyone who commented, and prayed for us. May your day of joy not be postponed. Amen.

My friend and brother, Onochie Anibeze, editor of Saturday Vanguard, asked for this write up exclusively for his newspaper. I was glad to oblige. Gloating is not one of the reasons I went public about my joy. Far from it. Rather, it is out of thankfulness to God. "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony." Glad to talk about the wonders of our God. 

This is my story, this is my song. May every father have cause to rejoice in his son. And on the day of that joy, may the fathers not have toothache.
I can hear the amen. Oh, glory to God.

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congrats to him
How to Expose Cheating Partner the Easy Way

Anonymous said...

waoh! So inspiring!

Olabothey Alhani said...

And for the first time I read through an article with teary eyes....Money well spent father....and such a determined son....

NaijaDeltaBabe said...

I'm happy for him


... Merited happiness

TAIWO OLUWASOLA ADEOLA said...

AM HAPPY FOR U SIR,MAY U STILL ENJOY MORE GOODIES THAT WILL COME OUT OF THIS.

Unknown said...

So he his now writing about his Son.Femi u have not writing about Buhari in recent time, where is Buhari Femi????

Unknown said...

Amen ooo!!! Congrats to him

Anonymous said...

This a very wonderful write up.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful Writeup

Nkem Phillips said...

Enter your comment...very inspiring. Perfect writeup.

Amen

uniquechic said...

oh my!!! couldnt stop shedding a tear..what a humbling and touching story..
Proud father!!! keep it up son

AD said...

This is really touching!

Anonymous said...

This is really touching

Unknown said...

Beautiful. Just beautiful.

Anonymous said...

So femi now u have. A pilot son please stop lying okay thank U

Okowright Balaxy said...

Femi Adesina decided to politicise this nice right up with "just as our President almost did, when he saw the state of the treasury after inauguration into office).". This APC goons won't stop their hypocrisy. Meaningless comparison. Anyway, congrats to Tobi, even though your dad had been talking trash for over 2 years...

Okowright Balaxy said...

Femi Adesina decided to politicise this nice right up with "just as our President almost did, when he saw the state of the treasury after inauguration into office).". This APC goons won't stop their hypocrisy. Meaningless comparison. Anyway, congrats to Tobi, even though your dad had been talking trash for over 2 years...

Manuel Kunmi said...

congrats to him

Heavengained said...

I don't really like Femi bcos of his current position as one of the mouthpiece of this administration, but as a young father, myself, i thought this was rather inspiring.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful true life experience, expectations and testimonies of a loving and apparently God-trusting father.
Amen to your wishes and prayers for responsible fathers

FCJ said...

Beautiful true life experience, expectations and testimonies of a loving and apparently God-trusting father.
Amen to your wishes and prayers for responsible fathers

Chuks said...

Good job. Very inspirational.

Chelsea said...

This is a wonderful piece. Mr.Femi Adesina have for once impressed me for humility and giving glory and reverence to God Almighty for benefits. Let him always apply same in disseminating information on national issues bicos just like he
n one day on how we utilised our positions of authority.

Chelsea said...

Congratulations

Unknown said...

abeg next?
-D great anonymous now as Vivian Reginalds

Unknown said...

So happy for this man,may God continue to be his guard in the sky and protect him all the days of his life.Amen

Anonymous said...

So happy for Femi Adesina.May God be his guard in the sky and protect the young man all the days of his life.

Unknown said...

So happy for this man,may God continue to be his guard in the sky and protect him all the days of his life.Amen

shade(LIE V TRUTH) said...

Congrats, so touching

Anonymous said...

Bad belle people. Animal

Lamboghini! said...

What an inspiration..May your Joy not end.I pray to God for this experience too as my first son wants to be a pilot too.My story shall not be different but better ijn amen

Eddy Ogbunambala said...

Congratulations! Proud daddy

Anonymous said...

What a great and inspiring write up

Anonymous said...

Oluwatobi had wanted to become a pilot since the age of four and his dad helped him achieve that feat - To all those dads who kill their son's dreams with scatty remarks and negativity, hope you learn from this and encourage your children more- Every dream is valid, as long as it not illegal

Anonymous said...

If Adesina had too many kids, no good job and wives, would Oluwatobi be a pilot today? Adesina is a good father because many boys can never fulfil their dreams.

Unknown said...

See beef. Wat has buhari got to do with dis. Think for once before u misyarn

Anonymous said...

Na money kill am, you cant be broke and be a pilot. Many people aspired to be a pilot but the funds no gree. Thelr parents couldnt afford it.

Foluke Oluwatoyinbo said...

Wonderful! God put the dream in him as in Jeremiah 1:5. Thanks daddy for making it come true. Thanks to to mummy and grandma for keeping faith with it. You shall live long to eat the fruit of your labour. God will continue to shield, guard and keep Tobi. HBD and MHRs to him too.

GALORE said...

Your head is there


@Galore

Agbomen said...

Rejoice with those who are rejoicing so that pple will have cause to rejoice with you.

Agbomen said...

Congrats sir! I read the whole piece and tears of joy ran down my face. Not only is Oluwatobi smart, he is incredibly good-looking. And I rejoice with you. God bless your family.

Unknown said...

Congrats sir!What a sacrifice for your kids,God be praised!

Precious said...

I did not see him flying the plane oo. He looks like the assistant there.

Anonymous said...

Hope its not our money you used to make your son a pilot.

Unknown said...

E Ku orire ......Oluwa a fi iso re ma so Tobi o Amin.
Thank you Mr.Adesina for sharing this wonderful story about this wonderful son of yours .....it is my hope that all that our youths will have the capacity to dream what we all did in the sixties ,and seventies all fell apart in the eighties starting from Education in Nigeria.....I am glad to read about this young man who is a member of the endangered species in Nigeria now ....given what our youths are now doing .....Congratulations to Tobi , and to you and his mother......Olorun a da si o , E ni fi oju sukun won o , Olorun atun bo fi abo re bo yin o Amin.....Regards to his grand-mother and all his teachers it takes a village to raise a good child ....we thank God for his blessings .
Again thank you very much for sharing this amazingly inspiring God gift .....
I read about you that you are a good christian ....I am glad God is showing his wonderful gifts thru you and your family.
Timothy Omotayo Adewale Adesanya M.D.

Timothy Omotayo Adewale Adesanya M.D. said...

Congratulations Mr. Adesina and Family
Olorun a tun bo ma ran yin lowo ...E ni fi oju sunkun omo o .
E ku ise , E ku ise abiyemo o.
Olorun a da awon omo yin sii ...Amin
Thank you for sharing this wonderful story ..

Unknown said...

This is good sir you will eat more of fruit of your labour sir , you just started eating and ur happiness will never be cut short in Jesus Name. Amen

Unknown said...

That comment was really uncalled for if u ask me it almost ruined the perfect write up.hypocrisy at it peak

Recent Posts