Thank heavens that Mary Jones, a Welsh girl born on 16 December 1784, brought Bible Societies to the world. During her life time, Mary’s favourite book was the Bible. From a poor background, Mary’s parents could not afford the Bible until after six years of savings. Thereafter, Mary had to walk a distance of 40 Kilometres to get the Bible from one Reverend Thomas Charles. It was Reverend Charles’s thoughtfulness about Mary’s desire for the Bible that gave birth to Bible Societies across the globe with the first established in London in 1804. Since then, other Bible societies have been established with the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) formed on 8 February 1966. This is the legacy of Mary Jones.
On 8 February 2016, it was time for the 50th Founder’s Day/Lecture of the Bible Society of Nigeria which was one of the many events lined up for the Golden Jubilee Anniversary. The venue of this noble event was the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos. The theme of the lecture titled “Man in pursuit of Happiness” was delivered by no other person than the indefatigable “Baba” himself, Olusegun Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo, hereinafter referred to as OBJ.
The calibre of dignitaries at the event matched the theme of the nine-day long anniversary tagged “Bringing Good Tidings.” On the high table, we had three former presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, namely, General Yakubu Gowon, Patron BSN; Chief Earnest Shonekan, special guest of honour; and OBJ, keynote speaker. Others are Elder Felix Ohiwerei, Chairman, 50th Anniversary Lecture/Founder’s Day; Chief Emeka Anyaoku, a former Secretary General of the Commonwealth; Dr Aaron Nuhu, National President/Board Chairman BSN; Rev Fred B. Odutola, former General Secretary BSN; and Rev Richard Dare Ajiboye, General Secretary/CEO, BSN; amongst other eminent personalities too numerous to be accommodated in this column.
Expectedly, the entire BSN community in Nigeria was present alongside other guests from some of our neighbouring countries including Ghana. Some royal fathers also graced the occasion.
OBJ in his key note address looked at the works of Aristotle and other philosophers on “happiness.” Thereafter, he went scriptural by encouraging the audience to seek God first rather than happiness. OBJ said “no man could succeed and achieve anything in life outside God.” You may have peace in your surroundings, he said, but you may not have peace in you, as you pursue happiness.
With all truthfulness, OBJ, reiterates that “man has been in search of happiness through position, reputation, greatness, wealth, and even through atrocities. All these can only produce man-made happiness that cannot last. Man lacks the ability to make himself happy and in the quest for happiness, looks in the wrong direction and places.”
OBJ reaffirms that biblical kings such as Herod, Saul, and Solomon were leaders, but were not happy towards the end of their lives. The same with Napoleon and Hitler among other leaders, who he says, led their people but they were not happy. Despite Methuselah’s longevity of 960 years, the keynote speaker says, the Bible did not acknowledge happiness with his old age.
Why do leaders pursue happiness? The reasons OBJ gave includes ego, popularity and show off. And that in the hope of having happiness, people commit atrocities. He concluded by saying that “rational connection with God is the only way to have happiness.” This was followed by an interactive session. I am sure some of the invitees were disappointed as OBJ did not delve into politics in his lecture. Most likely, he must have reserved contemporary political comments for other occasions.
The highpoint of the day’s event is the launching of the Legacy Bible. The Legacy Bible is produced by the BSN to commemorate its 50th Anniversary. It is in five Nigerian parallel languages. It is celebrated to be the largest Bible in the world, weighing 15 kg and specially produced to last seven generations. The printing materials are cleverly chosen so that the Legacy Bible can last 500 years according to the BSN. The production of the Legacy Bible was inspired by a scripture in Deuteronomy 6 vs 6-7, which says that “these commandments that I give today are to be borne in your hearts. Impress them on your children.”
What will then be your legacy? You and I will leave a legacy. Our legacies may be good or bad, but we’ll all leave footprints behind us. For some their legacy will not endure. Immediately they leave the stage either as leaders or followers, their legacies pass away with them. You will be remembered for what you stood for – how you loved people or neglected them. All Nigerians especially those in government must leave footprints that will last.
Altogether, I enjoyed the event and all the conversations were most enriching and stimulating. I join numerous Nigerians to appreciate the entire BSN community for outstanding work and vision. I only hope that Nigerians irrespective of tribe and tongue will remember that “the choices we make about the lives we live determine the kind of legacies we leave.”
Money may give you happiness depending on how you spend it. Stolen wealth will not give you happiness, it gives boredom. The most satisfying way of using money according to a Harvard Professor is “to invest in others”. We should remember William Shakespeare’s famous quote in his book “Julius Caesar”, which says “the evil that men do lives after them; the good is often interred with their bones.” There is absolutely no legacy that is as rich as honesty. Let’s build a lasting legacy!
MA Johnson
