…. A review by Musa Jibril
Come 14 June 2025, at the Wells Carlton Hotel in Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria, it will once again pause to recognise what truly powers its engine—its silent heroes. The third volume of Nigeria’s Silent Heroes, compiled by the ever-meticulous Odita Sunday, which will be unveiled on that day, not only raises the bar; it cements a legacy and furthers the noble duty of chronicling an essential strand of national history.
The awards will, of course, serve as a fitting prelude to this new compendium. Yet, it becomes immediately clear to readers upon opening the book that the significance of the event transcends a mere book launch. It is a roll call of impact. This edition profiles forty individuals, with an additional fourteen honourees celebrated for their exceptional contributions. What Odita has delivered is far from a glossy, coffee-table homage—it is a masterclass in biographical storytelling, rich in insight and grounded in rigour.
Some names are widely recognised—Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, Tony Elumelu, Pastor Daniel Odukoya, Governor Bala Mohammed, Prince Arthur Eze, Hamid Joda, among others. But do not presume you already know their stories. Odita delves beyond the headlines, peeling back layers to uncover the quieter, deeper influences these figures exert on Nigeria’s path. He does not simply list accolades; he contextualises them, revealing how their decisions, actions and often-overlooked achievements serve as catalysts for national advancement.
Then come the truly unsung—civil servants, technocrats, grassroots operatives, philanthropists, lawyers, media professionals, and entrepreneurs whose contributions rarely trend, yet are crucial to the nation’s shifting foundations. Consider Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote of NIMC, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe in the FCT health sector, and Dr Neemat Daud Abdulrahim are quietly reforming the education landscape. These individuals and their peers are the cogs in the national machinery, and Odita’s profiles afford them the recognition they have long merited.
Others, who labour quietly in the overlooked corners of our national life—driven by duty, patriotism, and the milk of human kindness—are likewise brought into the limelight by the author. Odita possesses a unique gift for finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. One of the surprise inclusions in this edition is nine-year-old Kleopatra Vargas—half-American, half-Nigerian—who, at such a young age, has emerged as an icon in arts and entertainment, embodying equilibrium in the cultural and racial plurality of the modern world.
The strength of this volume lies in its equilibrium. Neither elitist nor populist, the selection and the prose radiate sincerity and conviction. It reminds readers that nation-building is not rooted in noise but in consistency, integrity and selfless service—qualities this compendium captures with striking clarity and intention.
In an age where recognition is often loud and ephemeral, Nigeria’s Silent Heroes stands distinct. It is not concerned with virality; it is concerned with legacy. Odita Sunday, once more, demonstrates that he is not merely compiling biographies—he is curating the soul of a nation.
He brings to this latest encyclopaedia two decades of journalistic expertise, revealing the news sense of a seasoned reporter and the finesse of a first-rate editor—yet above all, he confirms why he ranks among the country’s finest authors of biographical literature.
