By Valentine Obienyem
The moment he began making announcements in impeccable Igbo, unmixed with any other language, I knew it was Captain Callistus Ifeanyi. In those days when he was a flight attendant, he would always greet me, “Senior, welcome!” We shared the same alma mater. Today, he has risen from being a flight attendant to becoming a pilot. His life is a lesson to all of us.
Whenever you are aboard Air Peace and see people laughing, it is either that they are listening to one of Callistus’s announcements, which usually have a touch of hilarity, or that they are out of their wits!
Our common teacher, Msgr. Sylvester Mgbemful, would always advise us to blossom where we found ourselves. I do not know the precise circumstances that enabled Callistus to move from being a flight attendant to becoming a pilot, but I commend his spirit. Indeed, some flight attendants, if presented with such an opportunity, might even decline it, preferring to remain content with where they are rather than blossom.
I know a civil servant who started as a messenger with a primary school certificate but retired with a doctorate. Some of those who started as messengers alongside him retired without making any further academic progress.
This is where Callistus’s story becomes instructive in the art of living. We must never stop growing simply because we have found our footing in life. Excellence is not a destination at which we arrive and then rest; it is a lifelong pursuit.
Callistus belongs to the same set as my younger brother, who told me that even while they were in school, the pursuit of excellence was Ofe…’s forte. Looking at his journey today, I find that early testimony particularly significant. The seeds of excellence are often sown long before the world begins to celebrate their fruits.
He is an instructive study in ambition, discipline and the rewards of taking opportunities seriously. His journey also demonstrates that one’s starting point need not determine one’s destination.
We must also commend Dr Allen Onyema for creating opportunities for his employees to grow. Although I know him personally, what I have heard about his generosity and humanity goes beyond my personal experience. I was told that he put in place policies that provide sufficient stimulus for future growth and development. Such policies demonstrate that his vision extends beyond building an airline to building people and giving them opportunities to rise beyond their initial positions.
In this connection, I recall an interesting encounter involving Callistus and Bishop Paulinus Ezeokafor, who had been his rector in the minor seminary. On one occasion when Callistus piloted the Bishop, he used the opportunity to recall how the training and discipline he received in the seminary had contributed to making him the man he is today. There was something touching about this recollection. Years after leaving the seminary, and having risen to the cockpit of an aircraft, he could still trace part of his success to the discipline instilled in him during his formative years.
Callistus also has a subtle way of making his preferences known. He does not need to announce them loudly; his choices and gestures often make his disposition unmistakable. Such subtlety is an art in itself.
As a member of the cabin crew, Callistus had ample opportunity to prove his mettle. He was mettlesome enough for he must have impressed his superiors to earn the chance to move beyond that role. He distinguished himself through his commitment and excellence, demonstrating the kind of promise that deserved recognition and encouragement.
In my “Today with Peter Obi”, published on Monday, I mentioned how, amid his usual engagements that day, Mr Peter Obi mourned the death of his friend, Chief Okey Ezibe. On the day of his burial, I shall take time to write more about him.
Among the Igbos, Okey was known as a bridge between the poor and the rich. He moved seamlessly between both worlds, and many less privileged people reached the wealthy through him.
I remember one afternoon in Abuja when he came calling with a young man whom he introduced as Barrister Allen Onyema. He told Mr Peter Obi that Allen had just launched his airline, which I think began with two aircraft. His mission was simple: “From today onwards, it is only Air Peace you will use, except where convenience dictates otherwise. Allen, collect Oga’s number. Whenever he has any travel issues, he will call you directly,” Okey said.
Trust Mr Obi. Seeing a man who was readily accessible and easy to reach, and who could give him a discount if possible, they exchanged numbers immediately. Since then, I am almost certain that Mr Obi ranks among Air Peace’s first five passengers, if he is not its number one passenger. Air Peace has also grown remarkably. But that is a story for another day.
Yes, Onyema is a man worth celebrating. Callistus’s journey from cabin crew member to pilot illustrates the kind of opportunities he makes available to his staff.
One of my coursemates, Cynthia Obiasogu from Mbosi, would often come to me to discuss her career prospects. She would explain her ambition to become a pilot and the limitations she faced. I secretly gave her Onyema’s number and advised her to send him messages from time to time sharing the prospects with him, believing that, as someone from the same town who knew him, he might be able to assist her. Today, she is a member of the Air Peace workforce.
There is something particularly worthy of note about Onyema. He is wealthy and runs an airline, yet his humanity remains intact. My only appeal to him is that he personally take an interest in the challenges facing Anambra Airport. He has helped many people from his town, many others from Anambra State, and countless Nigerians across the country.
His example offers a lesson to wealthy people everywhere: the joy of wealth is more complete when we look around and see the lives we have helped to improve. Onyema has committed billions of naira to corporate social responsibility, supporting various institutions, including the Church. That is wealth serving humanity.
As we landed at Anambra Airport, I waited for Callistus to come out of the cockpit. When he saw me, he was excited, greeted me warmly and threatened to stifle me with his embrace. It was reassuring to know that the demands of constant flying had not diminished his characteristic warmth and good nature.
And to Air Peace, thank you for what you are doing. I am confident that one day, Callistus will pilot an aircraft from Nigeria to destinations across the world. I look forward to travelling to London or the United States on a flight piloted by him. I am also confident that one day, like him, Cynthia will also become a Captain – given her own wings to fly.
One final thought: I pray that he never encounters the likes of the co-pilot of the FlyDubai plane and, if he ever does, that he survives. We want Callistus to fly high, safely and successfully, for many years to come, like the eagle whose wings have grown strong and which cannot be kept in the nest, nor its flight hindered by any force.
