YEWANDE ZACCHEAUS @60!

AN EVOLUTION

Some people are lucky to have the good life offered to them on a silver platter while others have had put in plenty of sweat and blood to earn the good life they have. Everything they have, every bridge, every milestone, every challenge they have crossed or overcome is another added star on their lapel. Thus, their success stories continue to be a source of inspiration, hope and strength and the generation after is inspired by them.

Yewande Zaccheaus’ journey in life is a compelling story. One that encourages one never to give up even when the odds are oddly stacked against you. The trained lawyer and CEO of Eventful Limited dropped her wig to pursue a career in banking before finally venturing into event planning and hospitality. Her outfit, Eventful Limited is easily one of the top four in Nigeria today. Now newly retired, Zaccheaus spoke with AZUKA OGUJIUBA on her bold step at a relatively young age for retirement and passing the baton to another worker rather than her biological children. She also discussed her latest movie The Wait, inspired by real stories from a book she wrote about women looking for the fruit of the womb, including herself at the time. The film captures the anguish and emotional turbulence women face in a society that is very unforgiving to women who have challenges in conception.

What inspired you to make the movie the Wait?

When I got married in 1989, I had my first child immediately and without any delay. It then took nine long years before my second child came. During that time of waiting, I promised God that if He were ever to give me a second child, I would write a book to help and encourage those who were waiting on God for children. I planned to write just the one book after my miracle baby came. However, the demand for the book was so high because it touched on issues a lot of people did not find easy to talk about. That is how the book God’s Waiting Room became a four volume set of books!

Many people were blessed and encouraged by the testimonies they read and it built their faith to a level where they also got the answers to their prayers. So I continued to share the stories of God’s faithfulness. After I launched the fourth book five years ago,

I was led by God to begin thinking of another medium to tell the story of people “waiting” that would reach even more people. So l went from print to film! That really was how the idea of a movie inspired by the books l had written, came to be.

Many couples have had challenges of fruit of the womb. Some cannot even nurse the concept of adoption even though it’s a most rewarding act. Concerning this, how do couples who are welcome

to adoption tell the children about their birth in future? Some couples feel the children do not need to know they were not biological conceived by their parents but is it important for them to know that?

One of the main purposes of the book and movie is to allow people see that they have so many other options to consider now if they are unable to conceive naturally. There are various medical interventions such as IVF, there is adoption, there is surrogacy. The most important thing whichever route one eventually chooses is that there must be agreement between the spouses as to which way to go. Culturally the concept of adoption was not accepted by Nigerians ( which is strange as we all have such large extended families) but I believe that with time and exposure it is now more accepted.The amazing thing is that many who choose that route now find that they get pregnant naturally after the adoption because all the anxiety and pressure of childlessness has been removed! As regards whether the children be told that they are adopted that is always a personal decision ( though I know in some countries it is actually mandatory that you tell them). I am of the view that children should be told but the time and place for this conversation can only be decided by the adoptive parents.

Gone are the days when women would hide pillows under their dresses to pretend they were pregnant before bringing an adopted baby home. In fact now the only regret adoptive parents have is that they did not take the decision to do so earlier.

The film covers many aspects of life where people are waiting for a breakthrough. What key points are important to live by to strengthen your Faith while you wait?

The film is titled THE WAIT for obvious reasons. So what are the things we should focus on as we wait?First you must realize there is a purpose for your wait.

Make sure you learn whatever lesson it is that can be gained from the experience so you don’t waste your wait. Secondly, you must live your life to the fullest while you wait, don’t put off or delay other issues such as education, career advancement, travel, business opportunities because you are waiting for children or anything else. We are multifaceted individuals that God has blessed with many unique gifts and talents, focus on all your present blessings with gratitude so you can wait in joyful anticipation and not weary despair! Thirdly, the place of faith and prayers can never be over emphasized. It is not as if there is formula that will produce the answer you want like magic...not at all.

But there is a peace and spiritual growth that comes in the place of waiting that really cannot be quantified. This really helps us to bear the anxiety that comes with waiting much better. Fourthly the power of a community that can lift each other up and encourage each other is also very key and instrumental to seeing one through a time of waiting. Whether it be friends or family, colleagues or fellowships... everyone needs a tribe of supporters to see them through an emotionally draining and challenging time.

I was led by God to begin thinking of another medium to tell the story of people “waiting” that would reach even more people. So l went from print to film! That really was how the idea of a movie inspired by the books l had written, came to be.

Mother-in-laws are perceived as the most intolerant of their offspring’s wives when facing challenges of getting pregnant. Should there be counseling classes for mothers of offsprings to better understand the plight of their children to enable handle the situation better?

(Laughter) I am not sure any mother-in-law would appreciate such classes. The point of featuring a typical intolerant mother-in-law in the movie is to help women