How far will you go for your dreams? Will you go across the country, or even venture into another country. What about to another continent?

What are you willing to let go of to reach your destiny? Will you let go of your job, or your home, if it meant that you will be one step closer to realizing your dreams?

Well I met a man, that left the only home he knew, and embarked on a intercontinental pursuit to realize his dreams. A man that did not stop to give way to his obstacles, but pressed on with his will to create new ways to his ultimate goal. A man with a vision so large that it would take an entire nation to contain it.

And this man is…Segun Maku. When Mr. Maku humbly walked into my mother's house on that last Sunday in March, little did I know lied with him a dream when realized, would eventually transform a nation. I would have actually missed the opportunity to hear his story, if not for my younger brother, who was truly impressed by this man over one conversation. My brother's excitement intrigued me, which eventually led me to sit down and talk to Mr. Maku.

Wow, this Nigerian native had a story that should be featured on a Barbara Walters special. Son of the two strongest tribes in Nigeria: Yoruba and Igbo, begins to speak to what this man is made of. "My father is Yoruba and my mother is Igbo" is his response when I ask him "what tribe is he from." In the Nigerian culture you are expected to claim your father's land as your land. But I can tell that Segun's upbringing fully exposed him to both cultures, which was why it was hard for him not to mention his mother's lineage. I believe it is this rich heritage that empowers him with his champion mindset that is clearly evident in the way he speaks. "I believe there is a way to do anything" Maku shares with me. I guess that must have been his thinking when this professional squash player not only reached the ranking of #1 in his native land of Nigeria, but also in North America. An accomplishment only a few professional athletes can boast about. Yes indeed, Segun Maku experienced the life of a professional athlete in America. Although squash is not mainstream, he enjoyed the same accolades that comes with being a mainstream professional athlete: intense competition, corporate sponsors, sports critics, private jets, and posh parties. So the obvious next question jumped out of my mouth before I actually formulated it: "Why are you not competing now?"

"I looked around and realized that the life I was living was solely based on association and my ability to play, I didn't want to be sponsored, I wanted to do the sponsoring", stated Maku. For you see Segun's purpose for coming to America was bigger than proving he had what it took to professionally compete in another country. It was about "righting" a wrong. "My sister died from a medical malpractice in Nigeria, and I vowed that something like that wouldn't happen to me again, if I have the power to change it", said Maku.

And that's exactly what Maku is doing, utilizing his power to make a change in his native country. So in his seven year journey in the USA, Maku has gone from professional squash player, to premier squash instructor for such reputable Connecticut prep schools, as Greenwich Academy and Brunswick School to CEO of Maku Sports. "Why Maku Sports", I ask. "There is not one Nigerian sporting company, and Nigeria is a big sports country, I felt someone had to do it." It is this "matter of a fact" attitude that resonates in his last statement that amazes me about Mr. Maku. Segun talks about building Maku Sports to one day be the leader in the African sporting industry as if he is tasked with changing a light bulb.

As I am listening to this man, I wonder if he is aware of the task at hand. But as he continues to explain to me the process of starting such a company, from determining his company's unique niche, to working with designers to finalize samples, to travelling internationally to inspect manufacturing plants, it is then that I realize how real this man is about his dream. And how real this dream will be in a matter of months. Maku Sports is set to launch this October in Nigeria at the All-African Games. But the real beautiful thing about Maku Sports is its underlying purpose, which is to help develop Nigeria. A country rich in natural resources, but poor in economic development due to its high import activity. More Nigerian owned companies, like Maku Sports, can alleviate this problem and help Nigeria become a powerful country, is Maku's thinking. Segun has already determined that a portion of Maku Sports revenue will be designated to help AIDS victims in Nigeria.

Now I understand my brother's excitement that Sunday in March, the way this man calmly takes action until he accomplishes his goals is somewhat exhilarating to say the least. Although Segun faced the common challenges that all visionaries usually face when building a company, like finding supporters and funding, he persisted on until he transformed his initial "nay-sayers" to be some of his staunchest supporters to date. Through consistent presentations and displaying his steadfast commitment to his company by leaving his full-time job as a squash instructor, he has received backing from major holding companies in America to major political leaders in Nigeria.

So there you have it, a story about a man that simply took action to realize his dreams. "What do you want to tell our readers about taking action towards their dreams" , is my final question. "Research and be sure that you are passionate about what you want. Anyone can start a business, but it is the love of the game and my country that keeps me in it", states Maku.

On behalf of the readers at www.chinweandyou.com, I want to thank Mr. Maku for taking time and sharing his story that I know will inspire many to begin to take action towards their dreams. On behalf of my own lineage, I want to thank Segun for being the gift that Nigeria truly needs.

Segun Maku currently resides in Westchester County in New York. For more information about his company, Maku Sports, please visit www.makusports.com.

Written by Chinwe Osuagwu
Copyright 2003. One Vision Incorporated, Alexandria, VA. All rights reserved.