By Ameh Gabriel
Today is not just a birthday it’s a celebration of a woman whose impact on my life cannot be measured.
Years ago, I was simply a young man searching for direction in the media space. Then she appeared. She didn’t just introduce me to journalism; she opened the door wide, placed a pen in my hand, and showed me what it truly means to tell stories with courage, clarity, and heart.
Beyond being my editor, she became my mentor, my compass, and in many ways, the architect of the path I now walk. Her belief in me was louder than my self-doubt, and her guidance has been the invisible ink in every story I write today.
Her influence has only grown stronger with time. The lessons she planted in me and in many others continue to bloom, shaping not just careers but character, and reminding us that true leadership is service.
So today, I pause to say: Happy Birthday to Gift Olivia Samuel, who gave me my first wings in journalism. May this new chapter of your life be filled with the same light and grace you have given to others.
Your story continues in us. And for me, I’ll never stop being grateful.
