IN HOPE, WE RISE: A NEW MONTH MESSAGE FROM VALENTINE OZIGBO
My dear friends,
As we step into May 2025, we do so amidst the storms — both seen and unseen — shaking our nation and our world. From the heartbreak of violence in our land to the tremors of division across the globe, there is no denying it: these are testing times.
In Nigeria, the shadows of insecurity, displacement, and political uncertainty continue to darken our hopes. Globally, the winds of conflict — in politics, economy, and society — have battered the movements we hold dear: justice, equality, representation, and truth.
Even the Christian world mourns, still reeling from the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis — a shepherd who crossed boundaries for love. As the Catholic Church prepares to choose a new leader, let us pray for wisdom, unity, and the spirit of compassion to guide that sacred process.
But friends, while despair is loud, grace is more audible. The turbulence in the physical world reflects what many of us feel inside — exhausted minds and burdened spirits. This is our call, not to give in, but to cleanse, to pause, to restore.
Let us draw strength from the teaching of Pope Francis, who once defined grace as “the quiet power of God’s love—freely given, never earned—that enters our weakness and transforms it into strength.” The sacred text in Psalm 121: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.” Our help is not in fear but in faith. Not in chaos, but in courage. Not in retreat, but in resolve.
In these times, we are called to dig deeper — to tap into our God-given gifts, to use our voice, our creativity, our empathy. When the world is at its darkest, humanity shines brightest. As King Charles II said yesterday, “The darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion.”
Let May be a month where we rediscover compassion, where we extend help to those who are suffering, where we speak light into dark places. Where we rise—not in anger or fear—but in the strength of love, purpose, and truth.
Let us not just survive these times. Let us answer them. With action. With faith. With love.
May the month of May fill your soul with peace, your path with purpose, and your spirit with light.
*Ka Anambra Chawapu!*
Yours always,
Valentine Ozigbo
Entrepreneur. Philanthropist. Valiant Nation Builder.
