24/06/2026
20 Years Later...
Today, 24th June, as I celebrate another year of life, I find myself looking back at this photograph taken 2006, 20 years ago.
This is more than just a picture; it is a priceless memory.
I remember the day clearly. My father had just returned from a peacekeeping mission in Liberia and brought home a camera. Excited to preserve memories, he took individual photographs of every family member before gathering us together for a family picture.
Standing beside this moringa tree in our compound in Maiduguri, I posed for the camera while my father snapped this picture with his own hands.
What makes this photograph even more special is the shovel standing behind me.
Before my brother passed away, he shared this picture with me and asked, "Have you seen the shovel beside you?" I replied, "Yes." He smiled and said, "You are destined to be an engineer. We never knew that one day you would work with shovels and construction tools as part of your profession."
At the time, it sounded like a simple joke between brothers. Today, it feels like a glimpse into the future that God had already written. Every time I see that shovel, I remember my brother and I smile.
Looking at this photograph today, I don't just see a young boy. I see God's faithfulness. I see where He brought me from, the challenges He helped me overcome, and the countless doors He opened when there seemed to be no way.
The boy who came from humble beginnings is gradually becoming a testimony of God's grace. The same God who preserved him yesterday is still directing his steps today.
As I mark another birthday, my heart is filled with gratitude. Thank You, Father, for the gift of life, for every lesson, every challenge, every victory, and every blessing.
I pray that You grant me many more years, and if You allow me to see another 20 years from now, may I look back again and see even greater evidence of Your goodness. May my story continue to inspire the next generation to trust You regardless of their circumstances.
Happy Birthday to me.
Think Big, Think YusufA's.
