In life, it is often chance encounters and seemingly innocous events that help to reorder our perspective on serious issues. When the phrase “ the labours of our heroes past shall not be in vain' is put out there, ones mind inevitably flashes to the Azikiwes, Awolowos, Abubakars, Dick Tigers et al of this world. For me, a chance encounter in September this year with a white lady in Zurich, Switzerland has helped reorder my analysis of personalities and their contribution to the Nigerian story. My wife had dragged me (as usual) to an antique sale. In the hall, a white lady, perhaps in her seventies walked up to us and politely asked where we were from and we proudly answered NIGERIA. The next thing we heard from her were – 'kaaro o! Ekabo , shay Nigeria lo ngbe abi London ni (Yoruba for good morning, welcome, do you live in Nigeria or London).