By Taiwo Akinlami

I am a firm believer in the words attributed to the colossus, Archbishop Benson Idahosa: “A lizard in Nigeria will not become an alligator in America.”

That saying carries a hard truth: migration alone does not make greatness. Those who think that greener pastures or immigration is the automatic solution to poverty or advancement are mistaken. Opportunities exist in developed nations, yes, but they only bow to men and women who have the eyes to see them, the courage to seize them, and the empires already burning in their minds.

You do not relocate, you explore. Exploration is not escape; it is expansion. It is the same principle by which Microsoft, Meta, Netflix, and Amazon extend their operations globally, not to flee, but to expand their stage of expression.

That is why I celebrate Mr. Deba Uwadiae, a true explorer.

Mr. Deba was already an accomplished journalist in Nigeria, versatile, fearless, and respected for his aviation reporting, political coverage, and daring spirit. Having achieved many firsts and traveled widely, he considered America not as a place to run to, but as the next frontier of exploration. If the world’s wealthiest people and most innovative companies could call America home, why should he not plant his own vision there?

When the U.S. system shut the door on him in broadcasting, he refused to stop. He created his own platform. After early setbacks with a partnership that failed, he went ahead and founded The New Americans Magazine, today a respected outlet in Ohio and across the United States.

That magazine has become the voice of New Americans, reaching beyond Africans to represent the entire immigrant community. From governors to mayors, from council members to stakeholders, anyone seeking to engage New Americans knows the gateway runs through Mr. Deba’s platform. He went on to make history as the first independent private-sector media outlet accredited to cover the Ohio State House, and the first African journalist trusted within the Governor’s press corps, covering the governor and his activities. These were not just personal achievements; they were milestones for African and immigrant representation in U.S. governance, proving that the immigrant voice does not belong at the margins, but at the very center of civic life.

And then came the New Americans Book Fair. Four years ago, it was only a vision in the mind of one man. Today, it is an institution. What began as a dream has grown into a platform where nearly 50 authors, immigrants, diasporans, and their organizations, find their voices and display their works. People now travel from across the United States to participate, while many others join virtually from around the world.

Children compete in essay contests, backed by stakeholders who believe in the vision. Nations showcase their literature. Sponsors fund exhibitors. The dream of one man has become the rallying point of many.

I have been privileged to serve on the organizing committee since its inception, a committee of exceptional leaders drawn from communities and the State of Ohio. Not everyone can assemble such a team except through strategic positioning and influence.

So powerful was the inspiration that just a year later, the city launched its own annual book festival. Here stands an immigrant whose vision not only built an institution but also inspired a city to take its place.

This Saturday, tomorrow, September 20, 2025, that vision enters its 4th edition, stronger than ever.

What makes this remarkable is that Mr. Deba is in his 60s, yet still dreaming, still building, still exploring. He proves that greatness is not tied to age, city, or country, it is tied to the quality of the mind.

Yes, developed nations may offer better socioeconomic infrastructure, advanced technology, and a friendlier environment to plug in visions and dreams. But let us be clear: no nation, however egalitarian, guarantees greatness. Every society has its poor, its homeless, its struggling. What developed nations provide is a level playing field for the majority to pursue opportunities. But greatness, true greatness, remains the calling of the few, anywhere in the world.

Survival may take you out of your country, but survival will also limit you. Exploration, however, breaks limits. For the explorer, the sky is not even the end.

Congratulations, Mr. Deba Uwadiae, for leading the way. For showing us that exploration, not relocation, is the key. For proving that when the mind is alive, it can conquer any city, any system, any stage.

If you are in Columbus, Ohio, this Saturday, the place to be is the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Karl Road. Come and witness what exploration looks like when one man refuses to stop dreaming.

Do have an INSPIRED weekend with the family.

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