Joni the Change Agent Int.

MY GRACE STORY   My name is Jonathan Olakunle Olanlokun. I was born to the family of Late Deacon Joseph Babatunde Olanlokun a Librarian of the University of Jos and Late Mrs Caroline Oladunni Olanlokun, a fashion Designer and Caterer. My mother was adopted by Miss Barbara Epperson, an American Baptist Missionary and Social Worker to Nigeria upon the death of her own biological mother, eight days after her birth at Iree, Osun State in 1953.  Miss Epperson  nurtured Caroline, my mother from birth to maturity, in the company of friends and caregivers. Caroline later became Miss Epperson’s interpreter, translating Yoruba to English for easier communication among the people of the community. Miss Epperson in return taught my mother how to bake cakes and other confectioneries. My mother, from the stories, I heard was a very beautiful and caring mother but I did not enjoy this care for long. My mother died in March 1978 at age 26. I grew up without motherly love...

She caught my attention during my recent tour of Niger Delta as Nigerian Spiderman ..… not because she’s beautiful (even though she truly is), but because of the strength she carries quietly within her. She is a cleaner. Yes… a cleaner. But what moved me was how far she has taken that responsibility. She doesn’t just sweep floors or tidy offices, she goes outside under the sun, bends her back, rolls up her sleeves, and washes the buses 🚌 of her transport company with her own hands. As I watched her work, something in me became emotional. In a world where many people feel “too classy,” “too fine,” or “too educated” to do certain jobs, here is this graceful young woman… choosing humility over pride, choosing dignity over pretence, choosing honest work over easy shortcuts. I walked up to her and praised her, truly praised her. Because her kind is rare. Her kind is disappearing. It is not every day you see a woman who is both beautiful in appearance and beautiful i...

Each time I try writing on this Ruth encounter with one of Dangote's truck, my spirit failed. Thrice I attempted it, but it always end in tears and bad memories. My mother was a victim of Julius Berger trailer in 1991 in Abuja. Her bus was crushed by one of JB trailers, the driver escaped as usual. All in the bus died except her, but she was beyond recognition. She was trapped in the bus, in the process of turning the bus to bring her out her leg was broken. Only God knows what cut her skulll off. She was brought down to UCH. When I first set my eyes on her on her hospital bed, I diedd inside.....and had my wish....... How can this woman on this bed be my elegant, chubby, tall, and beautiful mother? She was in coma, she couldn't even recognized anything. She was there for 9 months Nobody believed she could ever worked or see again. But she did. She lived with the disfiguration till 1997. She lived 6years after a very sad woman.  In all those years no day I see her that I don...

Two women in Ikotun hawking bottle water were standing where I parked my car today.  I was waiting for someone and then I bought bottle water from one, and then left the my change of 800 Naira with her.  The second woman seeing what happened also said, Sir, buy from me too with all smile, and before I said a word, the first woman I bought from, blocked her and angrily said No, asking her what does she want me to do with it?  The second woman then backed off. Then I came down and went to her myself. I told her, how much is all your market?  She could not interpret what that means because of course can I drink all her water and minerals.  So I asked again. She brought down her market and then counted. She said, N12,200. So I told her, come and put them in my boot.  And then I transferred N50,000 to her. She hugged me, teared up and dance and dance.  Two things made me do that.  1. The action of the first woman. I hate when ...

DO WHATEVER IS YOUR POTENTIAL; DO IT NOW, DON’T WAIT A DAY BEFORE YOU DO IT BECAUSE YOU GET OLDER EVERY DAY AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT YOU ARE SEVENTY AND BECOME PHYSICALLY WEAK AND BEGIN LOSING THE POWER OF YOUR MIND. DO IT NOW! Ozodi Osuji     Whatever you believe is in you to do, start doing it now; do not postpone it to tomorrow because every day you add a day to your age, and before you know it you are seventy years old, and your body becomes weak, and your mental powers begin to wane.     Therefore, whatever you believe you came to this world to do, do it now, not tomorrow; to put it off to tomorrow is the ego's way of making you not actualize your potential.      Do it; do it now, not tomorrow.      Don’t let fear keep you from realizing your potential; fear prevents many people from truly living; you are truly living when you are trying to discover your real self, and not trying to be a false self that you believe th...

Q,  Tell me a little about yourself  Jonathan : "I am Jonathan Olakunle Olanlokun, (Joni the Change Agent, Africa Spiderman). I'm a Nigerian activist and social entrepreneur who uses my creativity to make a positive impact on the world. I'm passionate about environmental protection and I believe that everyone has a role to play in creating a cleaner and healthier planet. I'm also a social impact person that encourages Nigerians both young and old to build a prosperous Nigeria by teaching them about the importance of nation-building. I believe that Africa has the potential to be a great continent, and I'm dedicated to doing my part to make that happen." Q,  What do you dedicate your time to do? Jonathan : "I dedicate my time to making a positive impact on the world. I'm passionate about environmental protection, nation-building, and doing impact works that make a difference in the lives of others. In terms of environmental activ...