*JULY BEGINS WITH GRATITUDE: A NEW MONTH MESSAGE FROM VALENTINE OZIGBO*
*July 1, 2025*
Today marks the beginning of a new month. But for me, July is more than a new beginning — it’s personal. It’s my birth month. And this year, I approach it with only one posture: gratitude.
I woke up this morning with a song in my spirit:
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“Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.”
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
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Written in 1923 by Thomas O. Chisholm and set to music by William M. Runyan, ‘Great Is Thy Faithfulness’ remains a timeless testament to God’s enduring mercy, and this hymn captures the story of my life.
At 55 later this month, I stand at a quiet intersection between gratitude and purpose. Every breath, every step, every moment — I owe to grace. I am nothing without it. And everything I have built, achieved, or become flows from it. I am, indeed, a child of grace.
But grace isn’t passive. It carries purpose. And for me, that purpose has been simple: I have been driven by the deep conviction that I must leave this world better than I met it. That every life I touch must be lifted, empowered, and enriched. That the true measure of success is how many people rise with you.
That’s why my earliest investments in philanthropy were rooted in mind development, youth empowerment, and creating spaces for talent and knowledge to thrive. My non-profit, VCO Foundation, was born from that place — of giving back in ways that uplift and sustain.
We are living through uncertain times. Across the world — and especially in Nigeria — the weight is heavy. But I believe that when we return to faith, we find our footing. Our belief in God rekindles our belief in one another.
As we enter the second half of this year, I am thankful. I am expectant. And I remain committed to purpose, to people, and to progress.
Happy New Month. May July bring you closer to grace and purpose.
– *Valentine Ozigbo*
