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A future built on role models | Victor Asemota | TEDxYaba


[Applause]

[Applause] how many of you actually doing things

how many of you actually doing things

how many of you actually doing things you wants to do whoa okay it’s okay now

you wants to do whoa okay it’s okay now

you wants to do whoa okay it’s okay now I’m in the right place without this this

I’m in the right place without this this

I’m in the right place without this this item of clothing you know caused so much

item of clothing you know caused so much

item of clothing you know caused so much problem between me and my family members

problem between me and my family members

problem between me and my family members because I refused to wear it actually

because I refused to wear it actually

because I refused to wear it actually determined is you know a whole lot of

determined is you know a whole lot of

determined is you know a whole lot of things you know change my entire you

things you know change my entire you

things you know change my entire you know career trajectory you know and

know career trajectory you know and

know career trajectory you know and there’s this could I so recently by

there’s this could I so recently by

there’s this could I so recently by Winston Churchill very important quote

Winston Churchill very important quote

Winston Churchill very important quote but if you open a quarrel between the

but if you open a quarrel between the

but if you open a quarrel between the past and the present you lose the future

past and the present you lose the future

past and the present you lose the future a little actually understand how

a little actually understand how

a little actually understand how important that thing was until I will do

important that thing was until I will do

important that thing was until I will do in my bio for this talk you know

in my bio for this talk you know

in my bio for this talk you know actually realize something all of the

actually realize something all of the

actually realize something all of the choices I thought I made by myself

choices I thought I made by myself

choices I thought I made by myself subconsciously will lead into one thing

subconsciously will lead into one thing

subconsciously will lead into one thing the initial choices that my family tried

the initial choices that my family tried

the initial choices that my family tried to make for me all the things I was

to make for me all the things I was

to make for me all the things I was actually running away from I do want to

actually running away from I do want to

actually running away from I do want to be a banker I do on a wetsuit I’m any

be a banker I do on a wetsuit I’m any

be a banker I do on a wetsuit I’m any not actually setting up the font doing

not actually setting up the font doing

not actually setting up the font doing exactly what those bankers we’re doing I

don’t know if I’m we’ve actually seen

don’t know if I’m we’ve actually seen this the very popular tweet you know and

this the very popular tweet you know and

this the very popular tweet you know and interestingly you know it’s not just

interestingly you know it’s not just

interestingly you know it’s not just African families you know Asian families

African families you know Asian families

African families you know Asian families everyone Zuckerberg you know he likeness

everyone Zuckerberg you know he likeness

everyone Zuckerberg you know he likeness fact his father his parents actually

fact his father his parents actually

fact his father his parents actually wanted him to become something else

wanted him to become something else

wanted him to become something else eventually dropped out of Harvard do

eventually dropped out of Harvard do

eventually dropped out of Harvard do Facebook at this recent Harvard

Facebook at this recent Harvard

Facebook at this recent Harvard commencement speech you see that he was

commencement speech you see that he was

commencement speech you see that he was actually still trying to please his

actually still trying to please his

actually still trying to please his parents oh you see I came back to

parents oh you see I came back to

parents oh you see I came back to Harvard I graduated we think we’re a

Harvard I graduated we think we’re a

Harvard I graduated we think we’re a rebellion but somehow somehow the past

rebellion but somehow somehow the past

rebellion but somehow somehow the past the present and the future

the present and the future

the present and the future they’re all still connected from Mark

they’re all still connected from Mark

they’re all still connected from Mark Zuckerberg to my brothers in the East

Zuckerberg to my brothers in the East

Zuckerberg to my brothers in the East who have to go home every Christmas in

who have to go home every Christmas in

who have to go home every Christmas in order to show off to you know sure that

order to show off to you know sure that

order to show off to you know sure that they’re successful to even choices were

they’re successful to even choices were

they’re successful to even choices were making the feels like marriage you know

making the feels like marriage you know

making the feels like marriage you know have a an Indian and a comedian friend

have a an Indian and a comedian friend

have a an Indian and a comedian friend who edition you know very very serious

who edition you know very very serious

who edition you know very very serious people but the girl confided in me that

people but the girl confided in me that

people but the girl confided in me that it wasn’t going to walk after why say

it wasn’t going to walk after why say

it wasn’t going to walk after why say okay well she loves the boy very much

okay well she loves the boy very much

okay well she loves the boy very much her parents also love him but the family

her parents also love him but the family

her parents also love him but the family would not approve and she did not want

would not approve and she did not want

would not approve and she did not want to do that to her parents the family

to do that to her parents the family

to do that to her parents the family were actually ostracized appearance it

were actually ostracized appearance it

were actually ostracized appearance it was a girl with a PhD very well-educated

was a girl with a PhD very well-educated

was a girl with a PhD very well-educated one of the best men from developers in

one of the best men from developers in

one of the best men from developers in the world and a very few of them left

the world and a very few of them left

the world and a very few of them left and that was her choice

and that was her choice

and that was her choice something as fundamental as marriage a

something as fundamental as marriage a

something as fundamental as marriage a family’s approval was also important I

family’s approval was also important I

family’s approval was also important I change the entire trajectory of her life

change the entire trajectory of her life

change the entire trajectory of her life tell you a little bit of my own story it

tell you a little bit of my own story it

tell you a little bit of my own story it is not your family

is not your family

is not your family the influence this year you yourself

the influence this year you yourself

the influence this year you yourself you’re an influence to other people

you’re an influence to other people

you’re an influence to other people without even realizing it then there are

without even realizing it then there are

without even realizing it then there are other people who also influence you with

other people who also influence you with

other people who also influence you with to talk to you even knowing that it

to talk to you even knowing that it

to talk to you even knowing that it influenced you

influenced you

influenced you there are some what are choices you make

there are some what are choices you make

there are some what are choices you make consciously because you have seen some

consciously because you have seen some

consciously because you have seen some things started reading when I was three

things started reading when I was three

things started reading when I was three years old got into secondary school at

years old got into secondary school at

years old got into secondary school at ten finish at fifteen what did I want to

ten finish at fifteen what did I want to

ten finish at fifteen what did I want to do I had no choice you know my parents

do I had no choice you know my parents

do I had no choice you know my parents wanted me to become a medical doctor

wanted me to become a medical doctor

wanted me to become a medical doctor okay why did I want me to become a

okay why did I want me to become a

okay why did I want me to become a medical doctor but my grandparents were

medical doctor but my grandparents were

medical doctor but my grandparents were in the medical field I have cousins who

in the medical field I have cousins who

in the medical field I have cousins who five siblings are doctors in that family

five siblings are doctors in that family

five siblings are doctors in that family my dad’s younger brother is the head of

my dad’s younger brother is the head of

my dad’s younger brother is the head of mental health for the state of North

mental health for the state of North

mental health for the state of North Carolina you know had along accomplished

Carolina you know had along accomplished

Carolina you know had along accomplished medical professionals in my family so it

medical professionals in my family so it

medical professionals in my family so it was just natural for me too for me to

was just natural for me too for me to

was just natural for me too for me to become a doctor right I was healed

become a doctor right I was healed

become a doctor right I was healed before I entered University now that

before I entered University now that

before I entered University now that meters for a month the consultants in

meters for a month the consultants in

meters for a month the consultants in charge my father’s uncle you know

charge my father’s uncle you know

charge my father’s uncle you know accomplished consultant in Vanina one of

accomplished consultant in Vanina one of

accomplished consultant in Vanina one of the guys working with him the senior

the guys working with him the senior

the guys working with him the senior register at that time very good guy you

register at that time very good guy you

register at that time very good guy you know was a mentor to me you know like

know was a mentor to me you know like

know was a mentor to me you know like the caps encouraging me to actually

the caps encouraging me to actually

the caps encouraging me to actually consider the medical profession okay

consider the medical profession okay

consider the medical profession okay well I was young they wanted me to do my

well I was young they wanted me to do my

well I was young they wanted me to do my pre-med in in Nigeria to be grounded in

pre-med in in Nigeria to be grounded in

pre-med in in Nigeria to be grounded in Nigeria before I go my dream was to go

Nigeria before I go my dream was to go

Nigeria before I go my dream was to go to have a solid medical school and all

to have a solid medical school and all

to have a solid medical school and all of that great four years later graduated

of that great four years later graduated

of that great four years later graduated did a first green and biological

did a first green and biological

did a first green and biological sciences I decided and I wanted to just

sciences I decided and I wanted to just

sciences I decided and I wanted to just given why I see a shot you know do that

given why I see a shot you know do that

given why I see a shot you know do that orientation camp you know try to do that

orientation camp you know try to do that

orientation camp you know try to do that one year before going to medical school

one year before going to medical school

one year before going to medical school in the States so this particular day I

in the States so this particular day I

in the States so this particular day I was at catch a bus stop I saw this same

was at catch a bus stop I saw this same

was at catch a bus stop I saw this same consultant the same guy you know I know

consultant the same guy you know I know

consultant the same guy you know I know registrar who was working with my uncle

registrar who was working with my uncle

registrar who was working with my uncle who was a consultant greeting me asking

who was a consultant greeting me asking

who was a consultant greeting me asking me about you know my experience and

me about you know my experience and

me about you know my experience and everything then he jumped into a MOLLE

everything then he jumped into a MOLLE

everything then he jumped into a MOLLE now the end of my medical career

now the end of my medical career

now the end of my medical career that was it I told myself if this guy

that was it I told myself if this guy

that was it I told myself if this guy after all these years the medical school

after all these years the medical school

after all these years the medical school you know his residency and everything

you know his residency and everything

you know his residency and everything he’s doing this that’s what any

he’s doing this that’s what any

he’s doing this that’s what any profession for me at that time doctors

profession for me at that time doctors

profession for me at that time doctors in Nigeria really positive asserting

in Nigeria really positive asserting

in Nigeria really positive asserting their two quality compared to others

their two quality compared to others

their two quality compared to others outside all my classmates wrong way in

outside all my classmates wrong way in

outside all my classmates wrong way in school who a medical student if are left

school who a medical student if are left

school who a medical student if are left not a single one is left in Nigeria now

not a single one is left in Nigeria now

not a single one is left in Nigeria now what choices did I make after I was

what choices did I make after I was

what choices did I make after I was lucky I did mine where I see with one of

lucky I did mine where I see with one of

lucky I did mine where I see with one of my uncle’s who was a banker at that time

my uncle’s who was a banker at that time

my uncle’s who was a banker at that time he set up an account City training

he set up an account City training

he set up an account City training school

school

school my associates bill the very first one in

my associates bill the very first one in

my associates bill the very first one in Nigeria I was open to the world of

Nigeria I was open to the world of

Nigeria I was open to the world of financial services I saw bankers

financial services I saw bankers

financial services I saw bankers well-dressed everything looked good but

well-dressed everything looked good but

well-dressed everything looked good but did I want to be a banker I didn’t know

did I want to be a banker I didn’t know

did I want to be a banker I didn’t know I had a conversation with him he told me

I had a conversation with him he told me

I had a conversation with him he told me okay you know what go to an MBA by the

okay you know what go to an MBA by the

okay you know what go to an MBA by the time you finish the MBA you can decide

time you finish the MBA you can decide

time you finish the MBA you can decide what exactly you want to do what does a

what exactly you want to do what does a

what exactly you want to do what does a particular bank are do you care about

particular bank are do you care about

particular bank are do you care about who actually influenced me without him

who actually influenced me without him

who actually influenced me without him knowing it well dress for our straw him

knowing it well dress for our straw him

knowing it well dress for our straw him God for smoke bricks each time I went to

God for smoke bricks each time I went to

God for smoke bricks each time I went to imb to visit my uncle because of him I

imb to visit my uncle because of him I

imb to visit my uncle because of him I started smoking yeah he didn’t know how

started smoking yeah he didn’t know how

started smoking yeah he didn’t know how he made me start smoking it was a bad

he made me start smoking it was a bad

he made me start smoking it was a bad habit I struggled to to end for 10 years

habit I struggled to to end for 10 years

habit I struggled to to end for 10 years Oh II didn’t know he did that how did I

Oh II didn’t know he did that how did I

Oh II didn’t know he did that how did I get into technology eventually I walked

get into technology eventually I walked

get into technology eventually I walked into my uncle’s office you know I saw

into my uncle’s office you know I saw

into my uncle’s office you know I saw him one day he was using the computer

him one day he was using the computer

him one day he was using the computer you know he asked me who could you want

you know he asked me who could you want

you know he asked me who could you want to learn how to use this oh yeah okay

to learn how to use this oh yeah okay

to learn how to use this oh yeah okay great so I started learning and also

great so I started learning and also

great so I started learning and also watch Superman 3 now you think that the

watch Superman 3 now you think that the

watch Superman 3 now you think that the reason I chose technology was because of

reason I chose technology was because of

reason I chose technology was because of the special effects know what he also

the special effects know what he also

the special effects know what he also because of Superman because of God that

because of Superman because of God that

because of Superman because of God that guy used a fire character there he was a

guy used a fire character there he was a

guy used a fire character there he was a hacker in the movie he hacked into

hacker in the movie he hacked into

hacker in the movie he hacked into banking systems and a lot of money so I

banking systems and a lot of money so I

banking systems and a lot of money so I looked at you know morally questionable

looked at you know morally questionable

looked at you know morally questionable whoa you know you can actually do that I

whoa you know you can actually do that I

whoa you know you can actually do that I make a lot of money so for me I wanted

make a lot of money so for me I wanted

make a lot of money so for me I wanted to be a hacker to hack into banks to bid

to be a hacker to hack into banks to bid

to be a hacker to hack into banks to bid risen what led me to where I am today

risen what led me to where I am today

risen what led me to where I am today now I mentioned something earlier about

now I mentioned something earlier about

now I mentioned something earlier about you know your effect on people you know

you know your effect on people you know

you know your effect on people you know and you know we we don’t know how subtle

and you know we we don’t know how subtle

and you know we we don’t know how subtle like the guy who dropped into a model

like the guy who dropped into a model

like the guy who dropped into a model did not know how he turned my life in

did not know how he turned my life in

did not know how he turned my life in the Volvo this Superman 3 did not know

the Volvo this Superman 3 did not know

the Volvo this Superman 3 did not know how to change my life I also became a

how to change my life I also became a

how to change my life I also became a nucleons on corner of other people

nucleons on corner of other people

nucleons on corner of other people without knowing it but one of them the

without knowing it but one of them the

without knowing it but one of them the other day

other day

other day the gang walked up to me I’d finished my

the gang walked up to me I’d finished my

the gang walked up to me I’d finished my you know while I was in my MBA I decided

you know while I was in my MBA I decided

you know while I was in my MBA I decided to become an enterpreneur I started my

to become an enterpreneur I started my

to become an enterpreneur I started my own company we’re doing well actually

own company we’re doing well actually

own company we’re doing well actually literally great did so well that at some

literally great did so well that at some

literally great did so well that at some point I thought I would never before

point I thought I would never before

point I thought I would never before again although I was broke the next week

again although I was broke the next week

again although I was broke the next week yes the next six months this guy walked

yes the next six months this guy walked

yes the next six months this guy walked up to me and I had this old Toyota

up to me and I had this old Toyota

up to me and I had this old Toyota Celica which I was using in school my

Celica which I was using in school my

Celica which I was using in school my mother’s car which I actually inherited

mother’s car which I actually inherited

mother’s car which I actually inherited from hanwen you know and you know just

from hanwen you know and you know just

from hanwen you know and you know just back I didn’t care because I was doing

back I didn’t care because I was doing

back I didn’t care because I was doing holo walk walk talk to me and you know

holo walk walk talk to me and you know

holo walk walk talk to me and you know to me the way we talk in pidgin English

to me the way we talk in pidgin English

to me the way we talk in pidgin English in Benin City bras you know you know

in Benin City bras you know you know

in Benin City bras you know you know even the encouraged us at all try and

even the encouraged us at all try and

even the encouraged us at all try and corridors now try get a better car I was

corridors now try get a better car I was

corridors now try get a better car I was trying to explain to him why all of that

trying to explain to him why all of that

trying to explain to him why all of that did not matter bullet and I realized

did not matter bullet and I realized

did not matter bullet and I realized wait a minute you know is actually true

wait a minute you know is actually true

wait a minute you know is actually true the same way the guy who jumped to the

the same way the guy who jumped to the

the same way the guy who jumped to the motorway influenced me the same way my

motorway influenced me the same way my

motorway influenced me the same way my battered car would prevent people from

battered car would prevent people from

battered car would prevent people from actually making the same choices that I

actually making the same choices that I

actually making the same choices that I made a BMW the same guy next time he saw

made a BMW the same guy next time he saw

made a BMW the same guy next time he saw it he was so happy he know now this is

it he was so happy he know now this is

it he was so happy he know now this is what it you know what you should be

what it you know what you should be

what it you know what you should be doing this is very strange

doing this is very strange

doing this is very strange now where does all of this come from why

now where does all of this come from why

now where does all of this come from why we think it as far didn’t know actually

we think it as far didn’t know actually

we think it as far didn’t know actually deeply rooted in our culture I mean I’m

deeply rooted in our culture I mean I’m

deeply rooted in our culture I mean I’m an idumaean you know like when he was

an idumaean you know like when he was

an idumaean you know like when he was given introduction just not others first

given introduction just not others first

given introduction just not others first and I describe myself as is because it

and I describe myself as is because it

and I describe myself as is because it defines me defines everything I do and

defines me defines everything I do and

defines me defines everything I do and how how is that this guy here

how how is that this guy here

how how is that this guy here what are Manchester’s okay you start you

what are Manchester’s okay you start you

what are Manchester’s okay you start you you know there’s a folklore that he was

you know there’s a folklore that he was

you know there’s a folklore that he was so big he used or palm trees to sweep

so big he used or palm trees to sweep

so big he used or palm trees to sweep the floor you know a lot of all the

the floor you know a lot of all the

the floor you know a lot of all the stories were exaggerated but there’s one

stories were exaggerated but there’s one

stories were exaggerated but there’s one particular part of our culture that you

particular part of our culture that you

particular part of our culture that you know things like Christianity wiped away

know things like Christianity wiped away

know things like Christianity wiped away because like devoting about ancestral

because like devoting about ancestral

because like devoting about ancestral worship you know understand why we had

worship you know understand why we had

worship you know understand why we had to under know about the greatness of our

to under know about the greatness of our

to under know about the greatness of our ancestors why all of those things

ancestors why all of those things

ancestors why all of those things mattered because was about positive

mattered because was about positive

mattered because was about positive reinforcement we have this family shrine

reinforcement we have this family shrine

reinforcement we have this family shrine called you career in Benin where every

called you career in Benin where every

called you career in Benin where every it was festival you know it does this

it was festival you know it does this

it was festival you know it does this that is strips of wood with notches each

that is strips of wood with notches each

that is strips of wood with notches each notch represents a person in your

notch represents a person in your

notch represents a person in your lineage they mention all the

lineage they mention all the

lineage they mention all the achievements of that person or what the

achievements of that person or what the

achievements of that person or what the person has done why the person is great

person has done why the person is great

person has done why the person is great your greeting in the morning when you

your greeting in the morning when you

your greeting in the morning when you talk to your elders do a response to you

talk to your elders do a response to you

talk to your elders do a response to you is actually affirming who you are why

is actually affirming who you are why

is actually affirming who you are why you should be you know a good

you should be you know a good

you should be you know a good representative of that family every

representative of that family every

representative of that family every single day of your life you are reminded

single day of your life you are reminded

single day of your life you are reminded of who you are where you’re coming from

of who you are where you’re coming from

of who you are where you’re coming from why are great when you see a lot

why are great when you see a lot

why are great when you see a lot probably people that’s why it’s back

probably people that’s why it’s back

probably people that’s why it’s back indoctrination it happens every single

indoctrination it happens every single

indoctrination it happens every single day of our lives the future I have a

day of our lives the future I have a

day of our lives the future I have a two-year-old daughter her biggest role

two-year-old daughter her biggest role

two-year-old daughter her biggest role model right now is my four-year-old son

model right now is my four-year-old son

model right now is my four-year-old son and Peppa Pig those are our two biggest

and Peppa Pig those are our two biggest

and Peppa Pig those are our two biggest role model my son’s room models are me

role model my son’s room models are me

role model my son’s room models are me and a lot of all those custom characters

and a lot of all those custom characters

and a lot of all those custom characters that that he watches although this is

that that he watches although this is

that that he watches although this is actually a narrative you know the

actually a narrative you know the

actually a narrative you know the British narrative I kept asking one

British narrative I kept asking one

British narrative I kept asking one question why don’t we have this kind of

question why don’t we have this kind of

question why don’t we have this kind of characters that between our own culture

characters that between our own culture

characters that between our own culture why don’t we have

why don’t we have

why don’t we have we instruct you know the same way we

we instruct you know the same way we

we instruct you know the same way we were enforced our culture with greetings

were enforced our culture with greetings

were enforced our culture with greetings with stories with folklore these guys

with stories with folklore these guys

with stories with folklore these guys actually not doing it for us all the

actually not doing it for us all the

actually not doing it for us all the values that we’re having now actually

values that we’re having now actually

values that we’re having now actually imported all the f you know we’ve lost

imported all the f you know we’ve lost

imported all the f you know we’ve lost so much like what I what I mentioned

so much like what I what I mentioned

so much like what I what I mentioned earlier if you start a quarrel between

earlier if you start a quarrel between

earlier if you start a quarrel between the past and the present you lose the

the past and the present you lose the

the past and the present you lose the future I think we are gradually losing

future I think we are gradually losing

future I think we are gradually losing that future I like this quote you know

that future I like this quote you know

that future I like this quote you know so much people look at it and so what

so much people look at it and so what

so much people look at it and so what kind of a secular references yeah you

kind of a secular references yeah you

kind of a secular references yeah you actually make those choices and as you

actually make those choices and as you

actually make those choices and as you are making those choices you have to

are making those choices you have to

are making those choices you have to actually understand that it’s not just

actually understand that it’s not just

actually understand that it’s not just you that those choices are actually

you that those choices are actually

you that those choices are actually influencing those choices are

influencing those choices are

influencing those choices are influencing people that you don’t even

influencing people that you don’t even

influencing people that you don’t even know are watching you those choices are

know are watching you those choices are

know are watching you those choices are like my choices influenced my son who

like my choices influenced my son who

like my choices influenced my son who now influences my daughter you know

now influences my daughter you know

now influences my daughter you know that’s how societies cultures values are

that’s how societies cultures values are

that’s how societies cultures values are built so for us to actually build the

built so for us to actually build the

built so for us to actually build the right values and the right culture for

right values and the right culture for

right values and the right culture for the future we have to also make the

the future we have to also make the

the future we have to also make the right choices thank you

right choices thank you

right choices thank you [Music]

[Music]

[Music] you

”

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