Defining Impact

In the intricate theatre of Nigerian politics, where egos compete, ambitions collide and disagreements can quickly escalate into major confrontations, the ability to make people laugh is more than a social gift. It can be an instrument of leadership, a mechanism for managing tension and, in the hands of a politically experienced operator, a subtle means of exercising authority without resorting to constant confrontation.

There are people whose presence in the lives of others is difficult to explain merely by titles, professional accomplishments or material possessions. Their significance is found instead in the lives they have touched, the burdens they have helped to carry and the opportunities they have created for people who otherwise might have been forgotten. Architect Douglas Negedu belongs to that category.

There are individuals whose public identity is largely shaped by their family name, and there are others who gradually redefine that identity through the force of their own ideas, discipline and accomplishments. Babajide Akeredolu belongs to the latter category.