Built on Friendship, Driven by Vision: The Millennium Club Story
Today November 8th 2025, coincidentally is Kabba day and my birthday. I felicitate and rejoice with sons, daughters, friends and lovers of Owe land (Kabba) on the occassion of Kabba Day 2025.
As I mark another year of life, I pause not just to celebrate, but to reflect. Birthdays, for me, are not merely milestones of age but sacred checkpoints of grace. They are reminders that life is a gift, and every breath is a call to purpose.
I thank God, the giver of life, for the journey so far for the valleys that taught me resilience, the mountaintops that revealed perspective, and the people who walked with me through both. Among the many blessings I count today, my involvement in the Millennium Club stands tall.
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This club has not only shaped my leadership and service but has become a vessel through which I’ve seen transformation of self, of others, of community. From our humble beginnings to a global network of impact, the Millennium Club has been a living testament to what’s possible when vision meets discipline, and when youth are empowered to become assets to society.
How did it all start? It was a bright November day in the year 2000, on the campus of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, when a close friend walked briskly into my room, his face lit with excitement. He asked gently but with purpose, “Mike, will you be in Kabba for Christmas?” I nodded, affirming I would. Then came the invitation that would shape the next chapter of my life: “I’d love you to join Millennium Club.”
He spoke of teenagers with serious minds, focused hearts, and a positive outlook. That phrase “positive mindset” resonated deeply. At the time, I was immersed in self-help and personal development books, absorbing the idea that mindset is the foundation of success. The club’s ethos aligned perfectly with what I had been learning.
December arrived, and I dressed with intention: khaki chinos, a striped light blue and white long-sleeve shirt, neatly tucked in. I made the journey from Okedayo to St. Barnabas Secondary School, the venue for the Millennium Youth Club meeting. Upon arrival, I was introduced to the group. One of the club’s rules then was that all communication must be in English, a discipline designed to sharpen our language skills and build confidence. Though that rule has since evolved, it was a powerful tool for self-improvement at the time.
I quickly fell in love with the club’s sense of purpose. I became an active member, committed to serving our community and especially the younger generation. Relationships within the club were built on mutual respect and motivation. We encouraged one another to aim higher, to dream bigger, and to act with integrity. The club stood above the clannish and other primordial sentiments that often plagued our locality, choosing instead to build bridges of friendship and shared ambition.
In those early days, the mentorship of Rainbow Club provided us shoulders to lean on and minds to learn from. Rainbow Club members were models of excellence, discipline, and purpose. Their guidance was not rooted in financial sponsorship, but in the powerful paradigm of modelling; showing us what was possible through example, not just instruction. They inspired us to lead with character, to serve with humility, and to grow through intentional living.
In Millennium Club, we exemplified a philosophy that still guides us today: you don’t grow big to manage well, you manage well to grow big. And you don’t get rich to give, you give to get rich. We believe everyone has something to offer. No one is too poor to give, and no one is too rich to receive. This mindset has shaped our culture of service and generosity, where giving is not a luxury but a responsibility.
The club was built on the platform of friendship, peopled by men and women of vision, focus, perseverance, and diligence. It was nurtured on the pillars of collaboration, motivation, mentorship, and discipline. These values have transformed Millennium Club from a gathering of hopeful youth into a global network of professionals—assets to society rather than liabilities.
To the youth reading this: refuse to be limited by your background. Rise above the constraints around you. Greatness is unveiled by vision, activated by planning, engineered by sacrifice, driven by passion, and actualized by tireless pursuit. This is not just theory, it is the lived experience of Millennium Club members across continents.
By 2015, I was elected as the third Club Mayor, following the leadership of Mike Owolagba and the inaugural Mayor, Dr. Barrister Peter Oniemola. I served for six years, dedicating myself to the club’s mission before handing over to the current Mayor, Paul Duile.
The company you keep determines what accompanies you. Millennium Club has been a source of empowerment, a platform for growth, and a community of purpose. As the club celebrates its 25th anniversary, I extend heartfelt congratulations on behalf of past executives and all members. This is a moment to reflect, to rejoice, and to recommit.
The Silver Jubilee celebration is already underway, beginning in September with spirited football competitions among selected secondary schools, a nod to youth engagement and healthy rivalry. This will be followed by the Special Silver Jubilee We Care program, a heartfelt outreach initiative designed to give back to the community. The unveiling of the Silver Jubilee Legacy Project will mark a milestone in our journey, showcasing our commitment to sustainable impact. And in December, we will crown it all with a grand finale celebration party, a gathering of hearts, history, and hope.
It has been twenty-five years of service, scholarship, social engineering, impact, and community development. The club continues to exemplify the paradigm: no one is too poor to give, and no one is too rich to receive.
To many out there: do not retire, re-fire. Keep pushing until you acquire the desire that you admire. Millennium Club is not just a name; it is a movement equipping and empowering others to succeed.
As we mark this Silver Jubilee, we do so with pride and gratitude. The journey continues, and the legacy grows.
In my own personal space, as I step into this new chapter, I carry with me three guiding lights:
– Reflection: Honouring the lessons of the past without being bound by them.
– Appreciation: Recognizing the people, places, and moments that have shaped me.
– Acceleration: Moving forward with clarity, courage, and commitment to purpose.
The journey continues and so does the mission. To give. To grow. To guide.
Mike Bertola Ibitomihi
Club Mayor, 2015–2020
