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Category: Interview

  • Why I still attend parties at 75 -Abah Folawiyo

    Why I still attend parties at 75 -Abah Folawiyo

    For Nigeria’s doyen of style and fashion, Hajia Abah Folawiyo, today is not just like any other. It is the day the widow of the late Baba Adini of Nigeria, Alhaji Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo, hit the landmark age of 75. She took time off during the week to speak with KAYODE ALFRED about her life with and without her late husband, why she still goes to parties at 75 and why she is not a fan of elaborate wedding parties.  She also counters Nigerians, including Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, who believe that Nigeria’s jollof rice is superior to Ghana’s. 

    Congratulations on your landmark age of 75. What is the secret of your good looks at such an advanced age?

    I thank God for his mercies for keeping me in good health, which is also reflecting outwardly. There is really no secret to one looking good. I think it is something in my genes. What I do basically is just to keep myself fine.

    You clocked 75 in a clime where life expectancy is about 53 years. What would you say are the things that have worked in your favour?

    What has worked in my favour is being happy. I am a happy person and I always like to make the people around me happy. Living a quiet lifestyle has also helped.

    You look much younger than your age. What is your daily beauty routine?

    Thanks be to God. My daily routine is nothing big or special. Like I said earlier, I am a happy person and I am happy with what I do. Aside that, I like dressing well. I like to see people dressed up and looking beautiful with the dresses I make for them. Generally, I am a happy person, very accommodating regardless of who you are. I take people the way they are.

    You still honour invitations and create time to honour your friends. How are you able to keep up with all that?

    I don’t go to everybody’s party. I am very selective on the occasions I attend. I select the people I love and those that I know love me also, those are the people I attend their parties or honour their invitation. People see me and think I like to party. The truth is lots of people love me and want me around them. So to appreciate them, I attend their occasions when the need arises.

    How would you describe your journey through life so far?

    I thank God, because my journey so far has been very successful. I have been very happy and I have worked hard. And I believe that the sky for me is the limit.

    Tell us about your growing up years.

    I didn’t grow up in Nigeria. I grew up in Ghana with my mum. It was a long journey from Ghana, then coming here. My mother moved here, married a Nigerian, so we all moved down here. That was when my journey started.

    When I was in Ghana, I was making dresses. When I got here (Nigeria) I continued and it started booming. It became better than it was when I was in Accra.

    Can you still recollect the exact year you moved to Nigeria from Ghana?

    I don’t think so, because it’s been a long time and I was very young.

    Did you have to move to Nigeria?

    My mother got married to a Nigerian and I had to move with her.

    You are one of the people that pioneered fashion business in Africa. What inspired you to go into that line of business?

    I was born into fashion. My mother used to be a dressmaker in Accra in those days. My grandmother too was a dressmaker. In fact, my maternal family line was into fashion and dressmaking. Through helping my mother in fixing buttons and other things, it got into my head until it reached the point I could not see myself doing any other thing aside making dresses and fashion as a whole.

    Are there things about the business you wish you had done differently?

    Well, since I started at a very young age and all my heart was in fashion, I didn’t think of any other thing I could have done other than fashion and dressmaking. For me, fashion was an in-born thing.

    How has life been without the Baba Adinni?

    You want to make me cry this morning. Well, there aren’t many changes except that I miss him dearly. Apart from that, everything has been the same with me: people running around me, taking care of me, loving me. The children also all take care of me and love me like their father did when he was around. I’m also lucky to have amazing step-children and my son, Segun Awolowo, is always with me. So also are his wife and my grandchildren. Everybody is around me and they all make me happy. At times when I am down, I call one of my stepchildren and they make me happy. I don’t have any difficulty at all, and I thank God for that.

    If the Baba Adinni were alive, how do you think he would have celebrated your 75th birthday?

    Wow! The sky would have been the limit! Whatever I wanted, he would have done it for me. I remember my 50th and 60th birthdays were such big celebrations.

    What plans have you made for your forthcoming 75th birthday celebration?

    I am not going to do anything besides prayers and open house where my friends will come to have lunch and have fun.

    What do you miss the most about Baba?

    I miss everything about him. He is such a kindhearted man, prayerful, and he put me into it too. I am very prayerful as well. He made me the Iya Adinni of the Surulere Central Mosque. I am always there for prayers. We had a good life together. He loved travelling, going on cruises, and we always went together. We were very happy together and I miss that part a lot, especially the cruising.

    Before he died, on his sick bed, he was always asking me when we would be going on holidays and what we would be doing, and I would tell him, ‘Oh, let’s do this or that.’ The last time, I told him let’s go to Acapulco, and he said Acapulco koo Acapulco nii (laughs). But I knew if he had wanted to go to Acapulco, we would have gone there, although I don’t know where it is. He was that kind of person.

    How do you feel whenever you remember him?

    Any time I remember him, I cry. Any time I look at his picture, I cry, because I miss him a lot. He was everything to me. He really pampered me and he really loved me.

    You have lived a good life no doubt. You have had your fair share of success and adversity. What would you say has been the major highlight of your beautiful life so far?

    Maybe when I had fashion shows. I had fashion shows everywhere in West Africa. I had fashion shows in England when I lived there. And since that was and is my passion, it made me very fulfilled.

    In your younger days, although you were very visible on the social scene, you were still able to keep your home very well. It is unlike these days where divorce, separation and domestic violence is on the increase. What is your advice for the women of this generation?

    What I will say is that women of these days marry their work. Many of them don’t really care for their husbands; they have the attitude of once I’m making money, I don’t really care about him. But all that is not important. You need to care for your home first, and whatever your husband wants is what you should do. In my days, we didn’t believe in this large money we spend now. It was little money and we were happy. But now, ladies like big money. In those days, I made dresses for like N5,000 or N10, 000. But now, you can make a dress for N50, 000 or N100, 000, and I’m wondering, is it not the same cut and sew?

    It is believed in some quarters that many elaborate weddings end up as loveless marriages that soon crash. What is your take on this?

    Exactly! I don’t even believe in elaborate wedding. If you want to get married, go to the registry and get married, then go home to have a small get together. But these days, if they don’t have a big party, they won’t be satisfied. Many of such marriages end up crashing. We have to curb elaborate weddings. Let the children be together without all the fanfare. The money you spend in that party, you give it to them or put it in a fixed account; it will yield interest for them to take care of themselves and their own children.

    You have a strong bond with your son, Barrister Segun Awolowo. What is your relationship like?

    He is the only child I have, so we are very close. He is like my husband, my father. He tells me what to do. Whatever he asks me to do is what I do. He loves me dearly and we interact like he is my father, not like mother and son. Whenever something is bothering me, we sit and talk about it and same goes for him too. We are very close and he is a lovely son; very kind and caring. He’s very proud of me and I am proud of him also. And my son’s wife is super amazing. She’s the daughter I didn’t have.

    Are you still in touch with your Ghanaian roots?

    Why won’t I when my mother is from there? When you are born in Ghana, you are automatically a Ghanaian. I grew up there and have lots of family there. My mother’s sisters are all there. While some of them are alive, some are dead. I am very close to them. I always go to Ghana. It is my second home.

    What do you like about Ghanaians?

    We are very calm. We are not ‘go, go, go’ like Nigerians. We are very contented with what we have and we live quiet life.

    There was recently a debate on which is better between Nigerian and Ghanaian jollof rice. What is your take on the argument?

    Oh yes! Ghana’s jollof rice is better than Nigeria’s, maybe because of the rice they use in cooking it. The perfume rice/basmati rice and the way they cook it are different. In fact, all the caterers are copying Ghana’s jollof rice. It is the best. If I cook it for you, you will lick the plate with your tongue (laughs).

    What is happening to your passion for the fashion industry and Labanella especially?

    With Labanella, we made our own star. Labanella is well known everywhere. I have retired now. I retired at 60. But a lot of the designers dress me up whenever I want to go out. I just tell them make me a dress and they do it happily. While some of them charge me, some do it free of charge. I have lots of them who have been in Labanella for a long time. All the designers love and appreciate me.

    But you see, you can’t advise them these days. They tell you, you are old-fashioned and our thinking is different. Well, good luck to them if that makes them rich and happy. I appreciate all of them, but I will always tell them to stop the outrageous charges for making clothes.

    When you started your fashion outfit, did you foresee that the fashion industry was going to be big like this?

    When we started, I didn’t, because I was in there for the passion. We were not making so much money like they do now. I had my factory in Surulere. I had about 60 machines with good tailors and I was always there cutting and sewing. But we were not making so much money, and we weren’t even thinking about the money either. The little we got, we were satisfied as long as I was able to pay my tailors and keep the factory moving. But now when I look at the money designers make, I’m like wow, why didn’t I make this kind of money they are making now? And I don’t see what they are sewing that I can’t sew even better.

    Are you still part of FADAN?

    Yes, I am. I am their life Matron of Honour. Whenever there is a meeting, they call me and I advise them.  I tell them what to do. Even the president of FADAN is coming here today to discuss some things with me.

    What is your advice for the up and coming designers?

    You have to work hard and concentrate on what you are doing. You don’t leave it to your tailors. Be with them, tell them what you want and everything will be fine. Many call themselves designers and they are nothing near that. The tailors also have their association. They even create better than the so-called designers. Many of the designers are good, but majority of them are tailors. Don’t kill talent. Whatever a designer that went to designing school does, I can also do.

    I remember in England I worked with a designer. When they were on the table, I did straight cutting without using pattern or sketch, and they were amazed. When I first got there, the boss gave me a sample of dress that I should do the collar and sleeve. Before the man came back, I had finished the whole dress and hung it by the one they gave me. When he asked who owned the dress, I told him I made it.

    Can you still remember the name of the Fashion House in England where you worked?

    I will have to check my book because it has been a long time.

    Do you wish that one of your grandchildren takes over Labanella?

    All my grandchildren, even my last grandson, cut and design for me. I sell their designs in my shop. The first girl, Seun, is fantastic. Although they are all working and doing other things, I know they will retire to fashion. Especially Seun, because she loves fashion as much as I do. Seun already told me, ‘Grandma, just wait, when I’m ready, you will be surprised. And by the Grace of God, you will still be alive to see me do it.”

    How will you like to be remembered?

    Well, I will like to be remembered as the same ABBA, fashion woman that touched so many lives, and I’m still touching lives. Like Mrs. Remi Tinubu, since the very first time I made clothe for her, she loved it, because she’s a very simple person. Up till now, I still make clothes for her.

    You have lots of celebrity friends. Which of them are your close friends?

    All of them are my close friends. If I tell you this one is my close friend, the other one will be jealous. They are all close to me and I appreciate them. They all love me in return.

    How do you relax?

    I watch Nigerian movie 24/7, both Yoruba and English films. They help me relax.

    Who are your favourite actors and actresses?

    I have lots of actors and actresses, and I love all of them. If I choose one, the other will be jealous. They all call me mummy. They are all favourites because they are very talented.

    Do you have a foundation through which you touch people’s lives? Because when Baba was alive, he had lots of people he took care of…

    That was Baba. And because he had lots of money, I supported him doing that. I do my little things, like giving to the mosque, because I don’t really have that kind of money.

    You are very fashionable. Aside being a fashion designer, when you are spotted at an event, you always look gorgeous even at your age. How do you do it?

    Like I said before, fashion is all in the mind. When I want to go out, I just think of it like, what are they celebrating? The occasion determines what I wear. I don’t like to overdress or dress more than the celebrant. But at the same time, I like to look beautiful.

  • My frustrations as Odu’a Investments boss -Raji

    My frustrations as Odu’a Investments boss -Raji

    The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO) Odu’a Investments Limited, Mr Adewale Raji, was recently a subject of attack in the media by some stakeholders. In this interview with BISI OLADELE, Raji brushes aside the attack as a minor irritation incapable of forcing him to drop the goals of accountability and responsibility to shareholders, restoring business values and raising profitability. He also talks about the progress his team has made towards achieving those goals, concluding that his team would not rest until it adds to the portfolio it inherited.

    You are three years in the saddle as the Chief Executive Officer of Odu’a Investments Limited. How has the journey been?

    The journey since 2014 has been a very interesting. It has been three years of significant learning about things I had never experienced previously, especially as they relate to the public sector. I have come to learn a lot about the operations, the modalities, the intricacies of the public sector. In relationship management, I have come to appreciate the blend of focus, race for profitability and growth and now, other social and political dimensions that have to be considered in management. On the whole, I would say I am now a better person because I have acquired a lot of experience which in the previous world I was never exposed to. But I must say that in all of these, there has been a lot of turbulence also. But the element of what we call values of life and focus on the goal and support of the Almighty have made a lot of difference.

    Your response is really loaded because you said the last three years have been a time of learning. Would you say taking up this position has enriched you the more?

    Let me confirm in a very affirmative sense that it is ‘yes.’ Positively, I am a better person than I was three years ago. Three years past, what I knew was strictly running business in a predictable environment and circumstances – where competitors are known, and it is expected to be healthy and players play by the rule. In the past three years, there have been invisible competitors and within that point of view, what kind of provisions would one have made? So, most times, there are shocking surprises almost on a continuous basis. And from there, you just have to pick up your level and find your way out. This created some of the noise that probably you might have been aware of.

    Does it mean that your expertise is now a blend of both the private and the public sector?

    I will say reasonably ‘yes.’ I better understand both now. I better know now that the invisibles are all there, and that in order to achieve goals, the element of going beyond consultation and maybe also drawing from your reserve of anticipating what can be potential areas of challenges beyond normal areas that the private sector tells you. With that, I mean particular areas of interest that you don’t easily manifest or conceive that they exist but those things come in.

    You find a situation where strictly we have gone for merit, but a pseudo-business government situation still appears. You also have to put other considerations on the table. I know, for example, compelling decisions that people expect me to take, which would have been a very easy decision for me to make in the private sector, but there are other things that I have to put into consideration. For example, balancing up with state of origin is part of my business DNA now. But in the private business sector where I came from, such doesn’t exist. You are not just a Nigerian, where you come from does not matter, it is all about the business because there are expatriates all around. It is different now. In fact, I had instances where it even went to the extent of talking about senatorial districts within a state. But they are realities of life and you have to manage them.

    Still talking about your experience, when you came on board, you launched what you called the growth, profitability and sustainability (GPS) concept, which you said would help drive performance towards your goal of about 250 per cent increase in revenue. Considering the experience you just shared, can you share with us specific areas where you have succeeded in the GPS, and maybe a few areas where this experience has impeded your ability to drive your dream?

    I would say in coming in, we set the agenda and that agenda came from a retreat that was organised for members of top management and the Board of Directors. We looked at the figures and we looked at where we were starting from. We were starting from a very low base. We were starting from a situation in which the company in the period between 2009 and 2013 had only grown revenue by 3 per cent for five years. And in that period also, because revenue did not grow and cost went up, they had dropped profit by 36 per cent. That was what we met on ground.

    So, when we went to that retreat, we put it across that we had no growth and cost was going up. So, profitability was declining. We agreed that from our low base we could make a very significant trajectory rise with a 250 per cent increase, and we used what we called the growing indices of the private sector in making projections. We were quite aware that in making those projections, how we wanted to go about it, we knew that resource was very important in delivering this growth, so we put resource there. And when you talk about resource, it means that in the areas where you expect growth, you need to benchmark those who are already successful, take the attributes that are responsible for their success and implement such attributes. Part of it has to do with talents; experienced people in those specific areas that you might need to bring on board to join your team.

    So, we set those targets. But what experience has shown is that when it comes to execution, it doesn’t come that way in the public sector. At the end of the day, we said we needed to recruit resources to help, and we had approval to recruit resources. Three critical resources in the areas of property development, human resources and treasury and investment, and we had approval very early into my tenure for these, sometime in March 2015. I can tell you as I speak with you today that due to the intricacies of how the public sector works, we have only managed to bring on board one person out of the three we needed. And it was a lot of frustration even to achieve that. It was internal frustration that brought about our inability to achieve this.

    So, in essence, without resource, how can you deliver result? But we are getting over it. The board is supportive now and we have started the process afresh, and I do believe that over the next three to four months, we should get these two additional resources and we would be on a flying start.

    Three areas you also planned to grow revenue and profitability early in your tenure were real estate, hospitality and insurance. You have already addressed hospitality. What are you doing in the area of real estate?

    We have a very big focus on real estate. The strategy we are adopting is that we are privileged to have quite a lot of inherited assets that we need to unlock value on. What this requires is that we need to understand the entire landscape for real estate whether you are playing in affordable sector, middle income sector or luxury sector. There are residential, commercial building, retail development and also warehouses and industrial parks. So, we do believe that we need to put all these under our searchlights.

    So, our view at this point in time is that considering the very limited resources that we have, we adopted two approaches. First of all is that we understand that we need to attract the right resource that understands the market and the demands of the market and make sure that through that we are able to migrate from our current core competence area of property management, sharpen ourselves better there and move on to being also a property development company. So, in our own view, property development needs to be a high chunk of our portfolio. This has been an area in which we have not done very well in the past. In this period, we have taken a position to either participate through direct intervention by ourselves, that is, doing it by ourselves or getting on credible joint venture partners that can accelerate development in real estate.

    And here in Ibadan, as you can attest to it, we laid the foundation of Project Ace in August, 2016, and set a target for ourselves that we were going to complete it within one year. As we stand now, Project Ace at Jericho is there for everybody to see. By God’s grace we are already selling and people are already taking positions. By God’s grace, we shall commission it in September. That is one way of trying to set a benchmark of what Odu’a stands for in terms of real estate development. We want to use this opportunity also to say that we are open to joint venture partners who would want to deliver high quality, affordable real estate in whatever sector of the economy. We are ready to partner with them, believing that through our own direct activities and joint venture partnership, we will be able to accelerate our presence in new developments, not just in the legacies assets that we are managing.

    You mentioned earlier that profitability dropped by 36 per cent before you took over as the CEO. Have you been able to arrest this drop in the last three years?

    I want to answer it differently. Where will you pay dividends from if you have not addressed it? All I am saying is that the profitability of Odu’a in December 2013 financial year was N378 million. Financial year 2014, which was my first year, was N615 million (PBT) and in the following year, which was 2015 when we had already started having challenges with the economy, we had a profitability of N597 million. And, of course, even though our figures are not out yet, we have done better than that in 2016. By September when we shall be having the AGM, these figures will be made known to the public. We have done better. And in those two years that performance has been better, profitability has been enhanced. We have had cause to pay dividends. And it is not just declaring dividends, we are actually paying them out, and we are not owing any state.

    Very recently, the immediate past chairman of the board of Odu’a took out a page of paid advertorial in which he accused you of a number of things including that the dividends your management claimed to have paid, were all false. How would you react to that?

    The issue was how we demonstrated understanding of the situation. The essence of a business is focus on growing shareholders value and taking care of stakeholders. Shareholders are paramount. So, I inherited a situation where shareholders were relegated to the background, and I related with the board that there is no way we are going to make progress unless we are responsible and accountable to the shareholders, continuously engage them and meet their expectations. So, the things we have done is that I have brought it as a major burning platform during my time that we cannot ignore shareholders, which was what had happened previously.

    I must mention here that when I convened the first AGM in 2015, which was for year 2014, it was three AGMs that I did at once. This means this business was distancing itself from the shareholders. You cannot make progress without the approval of shareholders. So, if you have a backlog of AGMs, it is a problem. So, I brought it to the attention of the then chairman that these are the ways we are going to do things, but somehow we had disagreement in this area. And we had significant disagreements in the areas of understanding the role of the chairman of the board and the role of the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive. The immediate past Chairman, was in the habit of behaving like an executive chairman, and this brought about a big conflict. But more fundamentally, we had disagreements on principles, and because of my own background, I had to back the principles of running business. Where there was disagreement along that line, I stood my ground, and what you saw blowing hot in the newspapers amounted to that.

    I am quite glad that the shareholders were able to see in between the lines, because we gave responses to all the issues raised. And probably what was most fundamental is that the issues raised were things done with the appropriate board approvals. With what he painted in the newspapers, there was also the question that if things are going wrong and you are chairing a board like that, are you not supposed to make the corrections? Must you get out of office before you now start propagating that things are wrong? The immediate past Chairman served for three and a half years. In that period, he served almost three years with me as the GMD. So, what is this all about? Why was it that it was when he left office that we were hearing all these hues and cries? So, I have given the reason: the element of trying to usurp the powers of the chief executive was fundamental in the so-called couched-up crisis that he tried to raise.

    Every leader hopes to live a good legacy. What would you like to be remembered for as the GMD?

    I want to be remembered for making a mark on people’s lives, especially helping them in their world view as they relate to business and sustainability. Business survives only when they are able to meet their obligations and they continue to be relevant to consumers in terms of goods and services to the consumers. So, for me here in Odu’a, I want to be remembered as somebody who came, who refocused the organisation to what its essence is and also achieved that essence. And when I say essence, I want to be remembered as somebody who at the end of the day, when we say we have a hospitality business that was in comatose and post my era, we now have an international brand of hospitality business in place jointly held with partners.

    That is a sustainable one because any day, whether you want to talk about the big hotels either in Lagos or Abuja, they have been there for ages and people don’t even know who owns them. Many of these big famous brands give value for money and people pay for such values joyfully. We look forward to an Odu’a hospitality business being at that level in the future.

    Secondly, I want to also believe that we would by our action be able to make an impact on our youths in terms of building entrepreneurial skills and in terms of making sure that they are model entities that have been created during my time. I do know how important a few of the industries in our portfolio in Odu’a at this point in time are. We pride ourselves as being the major shareholder in a successful company being called Nigerite, and I look forward to beyond my time here where they will be able to look forward to where they will be able to point to investments that will rise like Nigerite that this partnership was created during Adewale Raji’s time and it is really successful like Nigerite. These are some of the things I want to be remembered for.

  • I had a fair share of girls as DJ on campus -UNIOSUN VC

    I had a fair share of girls as DJ on campus -UNIOSUN VC

    He was a popular Disk Jockey on campus back in the early 1980s. Young Olabode Popoola was there at various campus events, dishing out music at social functions. According to him, “I had great fun. I loved music and I had a fair share of girls too.” But it was not all play. He diligently combined play with academic work and left the University Of Ibadan with good grades. He became a Professor at 30 and is now the Vice Chancellor of Osun State University. In this interview with PAUL UKPABIO and JUMOKE OWOOLA, he speaks about the lifestyle that took him to the top of the ivory tower.

    Tell us about your journey to the office of the Vice Chancellor of Osun State University.

    I started out as a graduate assistant at the University of Ibadan. I completed my Ph.D at the age of 30. I took up an appointment at the same university and that was where I was until I came here in November last year. I rose to become a professor within 10 years of starting my academic career. I have been a professor now for about 15 years. I have had the privilege of holding every academic position you can imagine in the university system. I have been a graduate coordinator, a post graduate coordinator in a department, Sub-Dean in a department, Sub-Dean at the Faculty level, Sub-Dean at the Post graduate school level, head of department, Dean of the Post Graduate School, and I have been director of an International Centre. Now I am here as the Vice Chancellor of this university.

    What made you to merit the position of VC?

    The criteria for becoming a Vice Chancellor is quite well known. In the case of this institution, the advertisement was very clear. You must be a professor of 10 years standing. You must be a reputable professor who is known globally. You must be a professor who has won grants, a notable researcher and an academician who has held administrative positions. I guess they found me to merit this, as there was an application process, a shortlisting process, a thorough interview process, and I came first out of 13 people. So that was how I found myself here.

    You had worked in a federal university and now you are in a state-owned university. Can you compare both in contemporary Nigeria?

    I am happy the way you put the question, especially the mention of contemporary Nigeria. That implies the notion of people about what universities are and what the universities themselves think of themselves. That also implies what have the universities, whether federal, state, private or public, have to offer. My notion for years now is that I do not draw a line between them all. And I also do not draw a line between a federal, state and a foreign university. A university should be a university. That is the origin of the word itself. It means universality.

    A university is what you make of it: the caliber of people working there, the leadership, the quality of research being conducted and the image of the institution. So, you have state universities which have better image than federal universities. And that is why in ranking now, Covenant University, which is a private university, is ahead of several federal universities. So it depends on what you make out of the university. But perhaps in terms of comfort, state universities are closer to the people, from my experience. And they interface in the way things are managed. That is not so likely in federal universities because the Visitor is hundreds of kilometres away. So also, the Minister of Education is hundreds of kilometres away.

    But in the case of state universities, everyone is living in the same village so to say. However, I want to say that this university is exceptional in the sense that there is very little interface between this university and the government in the running of this campus.

    Yours is an off-campus system. How are you managing that?

    Well, the founding parents of this university had their reasons for making it a multi-campus institution. The objective, the way I understand it, is that the university should be close to the people. That is why we have six campuses in the six geo-political zones of the state, bringing education close to the people. In other words, bringing civilization close to each zone, because university is about civilization. It is about modernity. So the objective is very good. Maybe the challenge is about how to manage such multiple campuses. That is where the challenge really is. You find out that commuting between them all could be very challenging economically. Of course, in terms of man hour, so much time is spent commuting. There is also the issue of coordinating, which is not easy to do. It is very promising. The objectives are good. But managing it is a different issue entirely.

    Do you have issues with that?

    A lot of issues! Each of the campuses is like a university, and one person is superintending six campuses. Whether you like it or not, you have to have different characters in the different campuses. How do you put them all together to ensure that it makes sense? This is the context where it is challenging. So what I have tried to do is to create a directorate which is responsible for coordinating those campuses and also liaising with the public. We call it Directorate of Inter Campus and Public Affairs. There is a Director designate, so not everything comes directly to the VC.

    What about funding for a state university like yours? Is it a challenge?

    There is a very heavy challenge. A university of any kind is not a tea party. It is serious business. We always make the mistake of thinking that the university is just a place for admitting students, teaching and awarding degrees. Universities are supposed to be places where characters are moulded, where serious research that will impact society is conducted. It is supposed to be where public policy is formed. But in a situation where the resources barely pay salaries, it means that you have left out about 2/3 of other activities undone.

    But that is the situation in some universities right now; not just the state-owned universities. We just manage to pay salaries. And at the end of it, we cannot talk of ground breaking research. The table that we have here is an imported table. It is research that has made it possible to get such quality and product. About 20 years ago, you couldn’t conduct interviews with midgets and electronic gadgets. You probably had to write it down. So, that is what research does. And many of such researches are done in the universities. So it is quite challenging managing a state-owned university. You are only able to do a fraction of what you are supposed to be doing. Gradually though, when you have good leadership, it makes all the difference. What I am telling my colleagues here is that we have to write grant-winning proposals. If we can work out something that can bring in $100m grant, we would be in good business.

    As a child did you have dreams that one day you would seat at the top of an ivory tower like this?

    Maybe. Right from my primary school, the only thing I had hoped to be was a professor. So, that also helped me because I never stopped school for a day except when I went for national service. But not all professors can be vice chancellors, hence I don’t think I thought about being a vice chancellor. But I have always wanted to be a professor.

    Where did you grow up?

    I grew up in Inisan, a small town in Osun State. In those days in the 60s, every primary school in the South West was the same. No school was different from the other. You could have some of the best schools in a village. But in my case, after primary school, I left for Ibadan for secondary school, and after that, I attended the University of Ibadan.

    Who influenced your educational direction most between mum and dad?

    I really don’t know. All I remember is that I was usually top of the class. Many of my classmates are today not surprised that I ended up being a teacher in the university. I had parents who wanted me to go to school. Although I don’t know where that came from, I know that I didn’t want to do any other thing but to teach. Even after school when I had colleagues looking for jobs, I never thought about it. After the national youth service, I taught briefly at a College of Agriculture, but it wasn’t because I wanted the job. I was just waiting for my admission letter to come. I just wanted to keep going to school. I thank God, maybe it has paid off.

    What childhood memories would you readily recall?

    I recall the kind of love that pervaded the environment then. Today, I see some of my friends with whom I grew up. Then, nobody asked what your religion was. We ate from the same pot. We played around. At Christmas time, it was everybody celebrating, and at Sallah time, it was everybody celebrating. So when I compare it with the kind of suspicion that has been played up today, I am baffled. Today, even among those with whom I grew up, there is suspicion, which was not there before. Then, there was no class segregation. I come from Inisan but got admission into a secondary school in Ibadan. I didn’t have to know anybody. I sat for an exam and passed. Those are the things that I remember, and they make me sad. And I ask myself, how did we get it wrong? But I had fun as a child. Then as an undergraduate, I had great fun. I was a disc jockey. I played very hard.

    How did you combine being a disc jockey with studies?

    Well, you can combine anything together once you have a focus. I enjoyed attending parties and later became a disc jockey. I used to sing, but I also had discipline. I never drank or smoked.

    But the girls on campus love hovering around such guys…

    (Laughs) Oh yes, I had a fair share of that. That was part of campus life. But it didn’t disturb studies because it was about planning. One aspect shouldn’t disturb the other. I didn’t go out with the girls 24 hours. I planned my time. I had fun.

    Again, I wonder how these things happen. In secondary school, I was the best all round student in arts, in science and in sports. I have a certificate in Karate but I never for once imagined I would be a medical doctor. The only course I wanted to do was Agriculture. That was my first choice, and we were the first set of JAMB students even though I went on to do A-levels for whatever reasons. I studied Agriculture and specialised in Forest Resources Management.

    How do you see the future of this university?

    This university is 10 years old. The first five years of this university was quite stable, everything was working well. There was a mass of academia coming from different universities together. Everybody wanted to work. But in the last five years, it has been critical for the university. You have been reading the newspapers. It has been one bad news after the other. But then the prospects are still there. I am here trying to redirect, trying to rebuild the communities, the team spirit and the can-do spirit. So I am very hopeful that this university will be able to live up to the dream of the founding fathers. That is because the resources are there.

    One other thing you should also know is that in this business, we trail each other. When someone is somewhere and people know that they can work with him or her, they trail the person to the place. So, in the last few months that I have been here, amazingly, a number of people have come to relate with us either on visiting appointment or just wanting to work with us. I can name more than 12 world class professors who have come to work with us or relating with us to ensure that the university is working the way it should. So I believe the prospects are still there.

    Do you still love music?

    Yes, I still do.

    What kind of music do you listen to these days?

    All kinds of music including local music like sakara and apala. Of course, I am a fan of King Sunny Ade. I love his brand of Juju music. I love soul music. Afro music, Funk, and Jazz send me to sleep, though we do not have it as much any longer. I recall Glover Washington and the other Jazz masters.

    What kind of social life do you keep these days?

    I have attended a lot of parties to last me a lifestyle. Some people may think I’m anti-social, but then I ask, what is there that I haven’t seen?

    How did you meet your wife?

    We met at the University of Ibadan. We started out as friends and kept at it. There were other girls, but I was with her more than with other girls. She became a friend that I did too many things with unconsciously. And then I started realising that God must have designed it that way. So we became parents and then grandparents, because we now have a grandchild.

    Is she in the academia too?

    Oh yes, she found herself there (laughs). She is an associate professor. Actually, I don’t know whether it is right or wrong. The truth is that I would love it most that my children are also in the education business or sector of the economy.

    So, are they taking after you?

    I guess so. My first child is doing her Ph. D now. She did her master’s degree abroad. I don’t think she is going to do any other thing than lecturing. The second one is in the UK. He got a job after his master’s degree, but I know that he is thinking of a Ph. D. The others are also thinking along the same line. Maybe they like the fact that daddy is not a rich man but he enjoys what he is doing. It could also be natural.

    Where I hail from, they say Owu iya gbon ni omo ran. In other words, it is what the mother dropped that the child picks up and continues with. So if you are living in an environment where when people talk about money you talk about book, everywhere around you are books, then you cannot but be focused on books. But also in all manner of modesty, I must confess that the academia has brought me unimaginable fame and good reputation. We go somewhere and people say, ‘Oh, that’s your dad!’ Perhaps that has also encouraged them to want to be in the academia.

    What other hobbies have you kept over the years?

    I did long distance running. I was a high jumper and I did play good soccer. As a matter of fact, if soccer was as lucrative then as it is now, maybe, it would have diverted my attention. That is because I played soccer at all the school levels. I was in the university football team as well. And in those days of IICC, I was training with some of the clubs. But after a while, I didn’t have time to do all that. These days, I do my normal exercise. I walk around. I still play soccer, but on a very light note.

    Like you mentioned earlier, it has been one crisis after another. What is the situation in the recent face-off between the police and the students of your university?

    That was an unfortunate incident. But that could have happened at other places. But thank God that the students survived. Crisis in different ways has been happening, but it’s just that it took a frightening dimension. One of the problems we have here is that we are non-residential. So the students live outside without protection. No policeman would have walked into the campus to shoot students while they were playing soccer. But we thank God that we were able to mobilise quickly and God assisted. The boys are living their normal lives again. And gladly also, the leadership of the police took immediate steps and I hear that the errant policemen are being prosecuted.

  • Stories of Gani Adams’ spiritual powers are false -Wife

    Stories of Gani Adams’ spiritual powers are false -Wife

    The initiator of OASIS Women Organisation, Erelu Mojisola Adams, is the wife of the factional leader of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams. In this interview with GBENGA ADERANTI and OKORIE UGURU, she talks about the truth, the lies and the myths surrounding her husband.

    What were you doing before you met Otunba Gani Adams?

    That was 14 or 15 years ago. I had just finished from Kwara State Polytechnic. We met during his campaign for Obaship. First of all, I didn’t know he was the Gani Adams they were talking about, because I was not conversant with Lagos issues. Then, I was always shuttling between Osogbo and Ilorin. I didn’t know anything about OPC. I didn’t know he was an OPC chieftain. I met him just like a normal person and we discussed. I noticed that he talked more about Yoruba history. I am a good listener, especially to things like that.

    That was how we met, and it was just a platonic thing. We were just friends. He came visiting my other friends. He would come, call me and talk to me. It went like that for three to five months before he approached me and I told him that I had someone I was dating. But he kept coming. After a while, something just happened and the chemistry worked out.

    It was later I got to hear from somebody that he was the Gani Adams everyone was talking about and had been declared wanted by Okiro (the then Lagos State Commissioner of Police). It wasn’t funny. I couldn’t back out at that time because it would look like I betrayed him. I just had to hold my head and hands up and start praying. I didn’t know that OPC was like this. Being a humble person, he was always by himself and some of his boys. He was always doing things on his own. I had not seen the crowd, the people behind him. They told me he had the power to disappear and do things in flesh and blood. I asked him about it and he asked me, ‘Have you ever seen me with blood?’

    I have not seen him going round with charms all over his body. He prays in both Muslim and Christian ways. He was just like two different beings. My friends would ask me, ‘What are you doing with this man? He can disappear.’ We were not calling him Otunba; we called him GA. Because my friend told me that if he moved close to the wall, he would disappear, I always asked him to move close to the wall. He would not know why I was asking him to do so. Out of curiosity, I would give him the Bible, because I felt he would not be able to pronounce Jesus. But I found that all the things they were saying about him were just stories and myths.

    The day he was arrested, he was taking me down to WAEC office, because they told us to submit the originals of our certificates. I was in his car when he was arrested. I was in in the front seat while my friend was at the back with his P.A. He just told me that if he tried to escape, something might happen to us.

    When they asked him, ‘Who are you?’ He said Gani Adams. They asked him again, he said yes. He entered their car by himself. Then he said, ‘Moji, you have to go down.’ He said if he wanted to run, 10 policemen could not hold him. But because he didn’t want anything to happen to us, he would surrender himself and we should just go.

    I was there. He walked into the police station himself. He told them that he was Gani Adams. They first stepped back and later reinforced. I didn’t go with them immediately. I just crossed the road to the other side. They searched the car and there was nothing inside the car.

    But in the evening, I was surprised to see series of guns, charms and amulets. Then some days later, I was shocked when Tell magazine used him on their cover with handcuffs. They said he turned into goat, he turned into cat and they had to call witchdoctor to neutralise his power. I said to myself, this is how people frame things. But I couldn’t talk. What would I say? That I was there?

    They asked ladies about the man called Gani Adams and they all said, ‘God forbid! He is deadly. He is evil. I was even shaking, asking, ‘Is this the man I’m about to get married to? I hope I’m not in a trap. But this guy is not like that now.’ Lo and behold, after two years, ladies were coming all over him. Now he is a good man. That is life for you. That is a little of my experience with him.

    Was his persistence a factor in your decision to enter a relationship with him?

    The only thing I can say about that is this: I’m from a very strict Christian home. To be precise, my mum was a prophetess. Then after five months of our courtship, he was arrested. I felt if I was to back out, it would be like betrayal. That was one of the factors that really helped me. I just couldn’t move because he was in a problem, and it was because he was taking me out that he was arrested.

    Also the type of person he was. He was very reserved. Then, we used to stay together. We used to eat together. I think his attitude towards life. I wouldn’t say he is a lavish person, but he believes so much in responsibilities.

    How do you cope with the crowds in your house?

    Sincerely, it is not easy. The way I planned my life is not the way I’m living it. But thank God for his grace. The reason is this: one, our house is always full of people. If I am to place this thing here, the next thing you meet it that way. I don’t want to be seen as being pesky or bully.

    At times we might be at home for 24 hours and we might not sit down and talk for one minute. At times I would tell myself I’m married but still single. There was a time my child was telling me, ‘Mummy, you’re the only one taking us to this place. See other people. What of my dad? I said go and tell him.

    There are lives I’m being denied of, but there is nothing I can do about it because of the kind of person I’m married to. It is just a fate. I just have to accept it.

    The man is in the limelight while you are at the background. How do you cope?

    I have my own NGO that I’m running, basically on widows and children. Most times when they are going for the festivals, being a cultural and traditional thing, I do give that space. But if there are events they are spending two, three days outside, no. But it is not as if I want to stay at home all the time. I do go out with him at times.

    As someone from a very strict Christian background, how do you handle the issue of religion at home?

    He is a Muslim by birth, but he practices Christianity because of his mum. His dad is a Muslim. The mum is late, but she was a Christian, a prayer warrior in the church. He is used to that. He practices more of Christianity than Islam. But he leans more towards Christianity.

    You mean your husband is a Christian?

    No. What I’m trying to say is that he practices the three. To be sincere with you, he believes in his culture. He does not joke with Jesus. When I pray in Yoruba and I say Jesu, he would say add Baba, don’t just call the name. Respect the name. He calls Jesus with reverence. At times if he is sleeping and anything happens, the first thing Otunba says is Jesus Christ! I’m telling you. But I wouldn’t say he is not entrenched in his tradition. Everybody knows that he does not joke with Yoruba culture and tradition.

    How romantic is Otunba Gani Adams?

    (Pauses) If I’m to rate Otunba on that, maybe I will give him 30 over 100. Maybe by the time I score him like that he will change.

    You must have heard so many things about Otunba outside that are not true. Who in your opinion is Otunba Gani Adams?

    Because he is a blunt person, he is not that diplomatic in nature. If he sees something that is black, he will tell you it is black. Once Otunba is working with you, he won’t turn back and disappoint you because of money.

  • My dad rewarded teachers with money for flogging me -OCS Inventory boss Kaka

    My dad rewarded teachers with money for flogging me -OCS Inventory boss Kaka

    As the son of Senator Sefiu Adegbenga Kaka, a two-term Senator and former Ogun State deputy governor, Hamzat Ayotunde Kaka certainly enjoys a privileged background. An accountant by profession, Ayotunde Kaka had studied Agriculture Economics at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State and later obtained a master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Hull, United Kingdom. He worked in the UK for a while before returning to Nigeria where he is at present a partner at OCS Inventory and Professional Services, an accounting consultancy firm. He is also a Director of Solace Farm limited. He spoke with PAUL UKPABIO on his growing-up experiences and his relationship with a father that has spent most of his life as a public office holder.

    What was it like growing up under the tutelage of Senator Adegbenga Kaka?

    I have to start by saying a very big thank you to my parents for the kind of upbringing I got while I was growing up. It surprises me the way and manner they channeled their energy into training us. You will understand what I mean when you have a very strict father and your mother is a teacher. Then you will understand the kind of training we went through. It was a very tough one.

    Does that mean the cane was always around in the house?

    Well, I was a bit naughty as a growing child. But I thank God for the kind of training I got from my dad and my mum. I thank God for what it has done for me today. Growing up was tough. In those days, once you did something wrong, you were beaten for your mischief. You could even get beaten for crying. But these days, the case is different. In a situation where a kid goes to school and a teacher raises the cane to beat him, if the kid goes home to report, the next day, the parent storms the school and probably gets the teacher arrested or even beaten up! These are some of the things destroying good morals among our youths today. When I was in school, if I got beaten by any teacher, my father paid the teacher for beating me.

    My father used to encourage my teachers to beat me anytime I was naughty. That was the kind of upbringing I got, and that is the kind of parents I have. I thank God for them and I thank God for what their being strict has done to me and the kind of personality their training has made of me.

    If you were asked to describe your father, what would you say?

    Of course he is a public figure. But he is someone I hold in very high esteem. Mr. Adegbenga Kaka, in a few words, is a blessing to humanity. If you know what I mean, you will tolerate my opinion about him. This is somebody that has been a two-time commissioner in Ogun State, a former Deputy Governor and a senator. He believes so much in humanity. He believes so much in the youth. If you go across his constituency in Ogun East, you will come across so many schools, so many projects being built by him. I am not supposed to mention this, but personally, I discovered that even 14 to 15 months after he left office as a senator representing Ogun East Senatorial Zone, he was still completing outstanding projects and commissioning schools. This is something that touches my heart and makes me happy. If the privileged class of our society can have as much passion as my father has for the youth, maybe our environment would be a better place for the youth and the next generation. So, in a word, I will describe him as a blessing to humanity.

    What are his philosophies that worked for you?

    Actually, I learnt a lot from him. I learnt honesty. I learnt hard work. What you don’t work for, you don’t get. So, by and large, considering the situation in our environment today, I think honesty is the most valuable virtue I got from him. I mean it is very hard these days to come across honest people in the business and work environment and everywhere else. You find that almost everybody is dishonest. So, honesty is the most valuable virtue I got from my dad. And as you know, honesty is a very scarce commodity today.

    Dad is a tough man whose principle was ‘spare the rod and spoil the child’. He never spared the rod. And today, with benefit of hindsight, I would say I am grateful for it. My mum is a teacher by profession. She is a bit on the reserved side. She is a bit soft like mothers are generally. She played an important role in my life. I will call her a pillar of support. She is always there. Whatever I wish for, she is always willing to let me have, even at her own detriment. So, she has really been a great mother to me. I thank God for her life.

    What are your thoughts about Nigeria today?

    Well, in those days when I was a child, it was during the military era, so we could not see the situation of the country politically. But right now, the beauty of evolution is that one can see clearly what it means to be in a free democratic atmosphere. However, one can say the situation is getting worse or more disheartening. The more one dispensation takes over from the other, the more you find it difficult to get honest people or find honesty. I mean now the governor of a state can promise to give certain political dividends only to get there and fail to deliver. I think that saddens people of my age. That is the saddest part of our political evolution.

    We have a democracy that can hardly deliver verbatim. So I think the electorate should begin to look before choosing. We all have a collective destiny. We are talking about the future of your own children and every other thing associated with it from quality and affordable education to quality and affordable health care, good and durable roads, not roads that will break after six months; great welfare packages that will guarantee a good living condition for the populace. These days, our people are ready to cast their votes for anybody who can offer them N1,000 or even N500. I mean that is quite ridiculous. It is what is killing our society today. How are you going to survive on such mundane gift for four years or eight years?

    Will you be going into politics like your dad?

    If our politics can be tailored after the politics of the western world, maybe I will love to play a role and use my wealth of knowledge to make changes and make the society a better place to live. But the political scene as it is right now is not encouraging. You talk about politics of money, politics of godfatherism. That is not too encouraging. It is only God that can shape the destiny of a man. I don’t know what God has in stock for me as I speak to you today, but for now, I am concentrating on my business and my family.

    Do you have a role model?

    If you ask any young man that question, I think your first role model will be your parent. From your childhood, you already have one. Your parents are your first role model until you begin to see other people’s lives, depending on what you want to become in the future. Youths of today must first see their parents as their role models before anyone else. Then, probably if you want to play football, you must start seeing the likes of Messi and Ronaldo as model or mentor. My father is my role model. I really admire him. I admire his courage, his honesty and his service to humanity and the entire society.

    What do you dislike about him?

    There is no human being without his or her own shortcomings. He as a person has his own shortcomings. But by and large, it is hard for me to find anything I really don’t like about him. My father is my role model and mentor.

    Which book has influenced your life the most?

    I have read quite a lot of books and it is pretty hard for me to point to one as my favourite. I read any magazine, newspaper or book I lay my hands on. If not to gain a new knowledge, then to entertainment myself. So, reading books is part of me, but I don’t think my inspiration came from books. My inspiration comes from God and from within me.

    What does your normal day look like?

    I wake up very early and say my prayers and step out for work. I leave the house very early in the morning. My schedules are not too direct. I go to my office if I have to keep an appointment with a client. And some days, I visit the farm if I have to. So, I can’t say my days are predictable. Sometimes it’s in straight usual directions, sometimes triangular and sometimes neither of both.

    Where is your favourite holiday spot?

    Well, I have been to a couple of countries in Africa, Europe and even America but home remains home. There are lots of holiday spots across the country, in Badagry and in Calabar. These days, I don’t encourage going abroad for our holidays. These are part of things government should do to boost our economy. Our tourism sector is not in good shape. I want to beg government to make our various tourist attraction centres across Nigeria more attractive for people to go for holiday rather than flying out all the time, especially in a season when dollar is very expensive. We must encourage ourselves to look inward for our holiday spots.

    You got married about two years ago. How would you describe your wife?

    My wife, Opeyemi Fausiyyat Kaka, is a wonderful lady. She has been very supportive, patient, calm and loving. I thank God for making our paths cross. I pray we continue to enjoy good relationship in love and in good health.

    What does success mean to you?

    Good success is in diligence and intelligence. I think both of them go together. If you are intelligent and you are not diligent, your intelligence comes to nothing. And if you are diligent without intelligence, you might just see that finally, you are migrating to the wrong direction. So, I think neither of the two can be isolated from success.

    Let’s talk about your fashion and style, what kind of clothes appeal to you?

    Well, fashion to me is not an important item, aspect or way of life. I believe in what is comfortable. You know the kind of youths we have today, particularly the ladies. You see them in hilly shoes when they are actually not comfortable in those shoes. You see men wearing thick fabrics under the sun. Fashion should be about comfort. So comfort decides my fashion and style.

    As an entrepreneur, how would you describe leadership?

    It is usually said that leadership is inborn. But I think leadership is much of genotype and the environment. Yes, you might be born with a strong gene, but my pain is that the youth of these days are a bit laid back. But we can also call it a general phenomenon due to the environment we find ourselves. The environment seems not to be too encouraging and you find out that the youths are a bit laid back. They don’t aspire and work hard towards achieving their dreams. Most of them dream alright, but I don’t think they dream in the right direction. They want to have material wealth without having to go through the channel of hard work. But I believe people like Mark Zulgerberk, the Facebook founder, and other inspiring youth leaders around the world should be a good inspiration to us youths. The youths in our clime need to draw inspiration from them. Yes, we have found ourselves in a very disheartening situation, but I will still say we can dream out of our challenges. So in my own definition, I think leadership is inborn, but we should strive towards achieving success by working hard.

    Why did you major in Agriculture in school?

    I cannot run away from Agriculture because I was born into agriculture. I am a farmer by birth. I grew up in the business of farming. My father is a farmer. I studied Agricultural-Economics from Olabisi Onabanjo University. I knew at some point I was going to go into farming. I had my master’s degree in management and at some point, I felt if I could have a degree in Agricultural Economics and one in Business Management, then I should be able to add Accounting to it. So, I decided to add Accounting to it. So I am a chartered accountant and I run my own accounting firm as well.

    That means we still have youths who are still interested in farming?

    Well, it is sad to find that youths are not interested in farming today. But agriculture along with ICT seems to be one of the few ways out now. But youths now see farming as a dirty job. Instead, they prefer the non-existing white collar jobs. But the energy in the youths can be properly invested in farming. Having said that, I need to add that we need good government policies, agricultural infrastructure and incentives to encourage more people to go into farming, particular the youths. We have reached the point where everyone must be encouraged to plant yam, grow pepper, vegetables and other farm produce at the back of our homes. That is the way to go now instead of waking up in the morning and running to the lotto joint.

    So how do you combine farming and accounting?

    Well, it depends on the angle you are looking at. Like I said, I did Agricultural Economics as my first degree. I had my second degree in Business Management. So, when you look at the economic aspect of the Agro-business and you look at management as a social science, you will discover that adding accounting to it is not out of the picture. I think it is a very nice combination.

    For relaxation, what do you enjoy doing?

    I love football. That is my greatest hobby and I am a great fan of one of the prominent clubs on the European Premier league.

  • ‘Why I’m in love with fruities’

    ‘Why I’m in love with fruities’

    Princess Oluwabukola Ogunmokun is a graduate of Business Studies, Kwara State Polytechnic. She worked briefly with some private organisations before trying out her passion. In this short encounter with Gbenga Aderanti, she tells the story about why she ventured into private business

    Tell me your line of business and how long have you been doing it?

    My line of business is simply pure fresh fruit juice. Extractor undiluted. I do musical video shoots …and get paid for it .and I also do studio musical recording or even a back up singer. My attitude to life is if one channel is not yielding result, I switch to another .I hate  being stagnant.

    Aside this, what other things do you do?

    Aside this I make beads .and I also do movies.

    What are the challenges of doing this kind of business?

    You face challenges trying to convince people to give you the opportunity to prove yourself, especially when there are no recommendations ,you test run on free jobs at first so that you could me known.

    Tell me the edge your brand has over your competitors.

    As per my brand having an edge, it is all about being classy in all your endeavours . By doing that with little or no effort, you stand out . I started the fruities by making some for myself &,friends at home that was how I got the inspiration. If you have passion for something you will do well. I put passion into this, and it is working well for me.

    Where do you see your business in the next ten years?

    In the next 10 years, Im sure I will grow big and I trust God for a massive achievement.

    What was the initial capital you invested in the business?

    The capital I invested was just a token. but the zeal has grown the business. Apart from that the hunger for a better life.in the midst of recession has really buoyed me on.

    Would you say you are satisfied with your achievement so far?

    I’m not satisfied..but I thank God for He always at my back. I’m double sure it can only get better for me.

    Where do you think government can help you?

    By making the environment condusive for small and private.

  • Beauty making is like forest – Expert

    Beauty making is like forest – Expert

    For Josephine Emmanuels, beauty making is like a forest. The skin therapist and CEO of Beauty Forest has revealed the secrets behind beauty at large. In this interview with FAMUYIWA DAMILARE, she discussed how inner beauty reflects on the outside.
     
     
    As a beauty therapist, what does beauty mean to you?
    Beauty means a lot of things to me, but I love telling a lot of people that beauty starts from inside not outside. Your take-in reflects on your body, so if you really don’t take care of yourself, there is nothing called beauty.
    You can apply lots of makeup and use so many natural organic products, but if you don’t eat quality things, all the organic products won’t work effectively. So beauty starts from inside out, and it is what you take inside that will reflect on your outward appearance.
     
    What actually motivated you into this business line?
     
    Well, I have been a beauty person since I was in secondary school. I can plait hair and also barb it at the same time. So, it’s like passion to me, it’s what I can do for free. I’m not money conscious about it, I do so many things, but talking about beauty, it is what I enjoy doing. I see it as a calling I have to fulfil and I feel good doing it.
     
    How do you come up with the concept of Beauty Forest?
     
    As a woman, I love it when I go to a particular spot and get everything I want in that spot. I hate it when I go to a salon and I have to go to another salon to get my nails done, also to another place to do my make-up. That was how and why I came up with Beauty Forest.
    Aside from being a skin therapist, I’m also a stylist and I’m into bridals too, I do pedicure, manicure and I’m also a make-up artist. So, that is how I came up with the name ‘Beauty Forest’. My place is a place where you can come and get everything, it’s just like when you go to a forest, you will see many trees. As many trees make a forest when you come to my own place, you get to see many things and you will be satisfied.
     
    Talking about Bobrisky, how will you compare yourself and other household names in this business?
     
    Like what I usually tell people every day, the real ones will stand and the fake ones will fall off. When you go on the internet, you will see lots of skin therapist, they are everywhere, lots of adverts. So, talking about the competition in the market, well, what I will say in terms of Bobrisky is that, seeing is believing. If you see some skin therapist, I assure you that you will run away, many people call me that they want to see me, and I always tell them to feel free to come, so when they see me, they will have to check me out first and when they see my skin is looking so healthy, not totally white like some kind of a bleached chemical skin. When they see I have this natural organic glowing skin and with that, I think they are convinced that this person is okay. So that is my own area of where I can compete with them. I’m pretty sure some skin therapist can’t come out and show themselves.
     
    There was a trending picture of Bobrisky on the Instagram with rashes on his face, what will you say concerning that?
     
    Yes, I think I saw the picture, but not just him. I know lots of skin therapist in this Lagos, if you see them, you will run away, even people that go to their stores to get stuff, calls and be like “my skin has been damaged.” why won’t they damage your skin, after seeing how the skin of therapist herself looks like and you decided to trust your skin with that person.
  • QUEEN URE OKEZIE – I love writing love songs

    QUEEN URE OKEZIE – I love writing love songs

    Queen Ure is a singer, life coach and owner of the Porpori brand that helps bring out her creative part, as well as touch lives. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she talks about how it all started with Panam Percy Paul in Jos, moving to banking and coming back to music, her charity work and more. 

    How did you get into music?

    I have always been a singer. It is just that I didn’t make it professional initially. I started writing songs and singing, I would say, practically from childhood. Music has always been a passion for me and through school; I was one person that whenever there was a music competition I would be called to represent my school to rehearse and do solos. I started writing songs from secondary school. I schooled at the Federal Government Girls College in Owerri. I used to handle the school church choir at that young age, as a teenager. Haven gotten into the University of Jos, I started to sing with Panam Percy Paul. I was in Jos and we were in the same church. That was how we started to sing together and travel to places.

    What were some of the things that you admired about Panam Percy Paul then?

    He was just one of the few people that made gospel music at the time to be embraced and he was quite deep. So my singing started from way back but after school I started working immediately in the bank. That was where the singing just took a back seat but I kept writing songs and I knew that it was something that I would go back to. Even as a banker I was still recording songs, my colleagues knew that.

    Which bank was this?

    I worked with several banks. I started with Diamond Bank, then I moved to Zenith. From Zenith, I moved to Bank PHB and the last commercial bank that I worked in was First Inland; then it was First Atlantic then First Inland and Fin Bank. The mergers and all that. So, all through my banking years, I didn’t forget music, not at all.

    What was the banking experience like?

    I worked in the bank for almost 15 years. By 21 years, I had done my youth service and I got into the banking industry immediately. It was a wonderful experience; there was discipline, the exposure to all kinds of businesses. You were dealing with different conglomerates and entrepreneurs and somehow you get to know something about everything. It opened my eyes to a lot of things and I believe that it is good to work in a disciplined corporate environment before starting something on your own. It would give you the foundation to do anything after that properly. Here you inculcate all of those values and virtues that would make you succeed in whatever you are doing. Here you start from a subordinate and grow to supervisor and manager. So you know how to be a follower and later a leader. It’s a world that prepares you properly; that is what it did for me. It disciplined me and gave me that target-oriented approach to things and made me want to surpass the target.

    When you left the bank, what did you do?

    I left the banking industry so that I could start off my coaching career. I am a life coach and I got my coaching certification in the academy in the UK, both as a personal coach and a corporate coach. I do trainings and coaching at both levels. My core areas are service excellence, marketing skills, team building and customer satisfaction. Of course, it is not limited to that. Whatever topic that a company needs to train their staff on, I can do. It was a fallout of my experience in the bank. I do that and also sing. Singing, for me, was not something I wanted to do to make money. It was just a passion that I can’t hide under the carpet, I write songs all the time. So, would I just write all the songs and keep it to myself?

    Were you singing just gospel songs?

    Not at all. I didn’t get into the industry to be a gospel artiste. I came in to be an artiste, to give it my best. I write gospel songs, I write love songs, I write songs about intimacy in relationships, Nigeria and everything about life. As a singer, as things happen, songs come to you. My songs are inspired by life, my own personal experience and the experience of others.

    Let’s talk about your personal experience in love. How has it been?

    Love is beautiful but I have had the beautiful experience of loving and being loved. I have also had the experience of leaving people and they leaving me. Life goes on. I am quite conservative, even though I don’t look it. I don’t get into relationships to get them broken… you know what I mean. I go in with all my heart and I am a love person. I love Love, totally, completely but I also know how to move on if things don’t work out the way I thought they would. So, I have had my own share of the bad times, I have had my own share of the happy times.

    Would you say that Nigerian men are romantic?

    No, they are very unromantic. Boring and dry. I think that women should begin to understand men more, they are not like us. They too need to understand us, we are not like them. Most times, they relate with us as if we think like them. We also relate with them as though they were like us. We kind of relate differently; we need to calm down and understand how they reason – why they do things, so that we can all just be together happily.

    What exactly do you do with your songs?

    I did an album launch in December 2012. It’s called Porpori; that is the name of my brand. At the moment, I have got two albums – Porpori one and two. There are ten songs in each album and, of course, each album has a Porpori song. Since then, I have been coming out with new works, I have shot a couple of videos and you have the Porpori video mix; twelve videos in all. This May, I am going to be doing an album launch of Porpori three; it is a totally gospel work. The first two were a mixture but more of love songs. There is a Porpori King, that is Jesus, and there is Porpori for Jesus and then there is Pop the Porpori. Pop the Porpori is a rap song that has to do with the charity work that I do. What I have done is to express Porpori in different ways. That was the original plan when I began; that each album would have Porpori expressed in different ways. You can express it as sweetness, body dey do me Porpori when I see you. You can also express it as shakara. Pop the Porpori, however, is about opening up your sweetness, unleash your goodness, more or less. I also have the local and the western version and I have kind of just gone very creative with the word and that is what I use for the other initiatives that I have. Apart from the music, we also have Porpori hair. I got into my own brand of hair in 2015. We have the Porpori curls and Porpori waves. Of course, we also have the Porpori charity platform which I have been concentrating on since 2015.I am a singer, life coach, charity worker and entrepreneur. Every quarter, we go out and give out lots of items to different homes and organisations. Then I also mobilise people to become charity workers and they join me to mobilise other people and more resources.

    What inspired you to go into charity?

    I have always been a charity person. I used to do it on my own. When I saw that the need was enormous, there are so many people out there who just need a little bit of help. So, they have to depend on the general public. So, I decided to take it upon myself and support them. We have done about nine outings and the tenth would be done this month. In addition to visiting the home, we would be reaching out to the Dorcas Widows in Abia State. It is ongoing, it’s continuous and it is very fulfilling. Every outing has their own unique impact on me. Sometimes, we go out with the mind to reach out to these ones but they end up reaching out to us. Like when we went to the Bethsaida Home for the Blind, by the time the choir sang, played instruments and danced Atilogu dance, we were surprised. These people can’t even see us. When you go there and come back, you would begin to appreciate life more and appreciate the little that you have. Rather than complain that you don’t have much, appreciate the little that you have, seeing that there are some people who don’t have what you have but they still have a life.

    How did you get into the hair brand?

    All of the things that I do are things that I love. I am a hair person, that is why I got into it and we are still looking at expanding that platform. In May, when we are launching the next album, we are equally going to be launching the Porpori Clothing line. It is called the Porpori House of Royalty. It’s a clothing line that I am designing. It is basically going to be a mixture of ankara and western fabric; gowns, long gowns, short gowns, tops and some wonderful stuffs. I believe in building things from the scratch, staying focused and consistent until we are ready. The Porpori brand is an expanding brand but the major phase of this is the charity, it is hinged on the music.

  • Why I’m being persecuted by PenCom, by Duru

    Why I’m being persecuted by PenCom, by Duru

    A former two-term House of Representatives member and Vice Chairman of First Guarantee Pension Limited (FGPL), Nze Chidi Duru, was recently detained by the police for almost a week on the instruction of the National Pension Commission. In this interview with ADEKUNLE YUSUF, he chronicles his ordeals over his running battles with the National Pension Commission, which took over FGPL six years ago in disobedience to a court ruling. 

    It has to do with the ownership of a company, First Guarantee Pension Limited (FGPL) That I founded in 2004. I promoted it and then invited shareholders to invest in it. On the January 4, 2017, I received through my solicitor a copy of a letter written by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister to the director-general of the National Pension Commission, restating the position of the ministry that there are two prior letters of August 17, 2011 and September 8, 2011; that it stands by the content of those letters and reprimanding the National Pension Commission for consistently disobeying orders of the court, and requesting the director-general to immediately comply with the relevant judgments of the court. It will interest you to note that in his capacity, the Minister of Justice is not just acting as the Chief Law Officer of Nigeria, he is also a party in the suit, which we sued the National Pension Commission in 2011.

    In December last year, we received a communication from the office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) following my request as the Vice Chairman of First Guarantee Pension Ltd to immediately deploy men and materials to protect the premises of FGPL in Abuja and Lagos where we have offices. Upon the deployment of the men from the Lagos Command and the signal sent to Area F to carry out the IGP, I visited the office of the FGPL at Oregun, Lagos. That was my first time of going to the office in the last six years, because what we’ve had in the last six years is the imposition of staff of the National Pension Commission on the office of FGPL in clear disregard and disobedience of a court order and judgment of Justice Okorowo of Abuja Federal High Court.

    So, it was my first time of venturing into the office in the last six years. Immediately I entered, the three impostors who are staff of the National Pension Commission imposed on FGPL quickly exited the office on sighting me, and were nowhere to be found. At 1:20pm, I went out for lunch and when I got back, what then happened was that at about 5:20pm, I saw two well-dressed police officers who informed me and my colleagues who were with me that they had been sent by the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State. They said they received an alert that the premises of FGPL was being invaded by hoodlums and thugs who had done everything possible to beat up members of staff and take over the premises of FGPL. And that they had a clear directive from their superior to seal up the premises. It was an alarm for me. Second, it was a bit of disappointment because it was the same Commissioner of Police that had deployed men from Area F to have an active patrol around the premises of the company. More so, before the deployment of men from the Area F, the Lagos Command had done the surveillance of the premises of FGPL and found out that there are two officers of the Nigeria Police that have been constantly present in the premises of FGPL in the last five years. So, if there has been a question of invasion of hoodlums or thugs taking over FGPL, I would believe that these officers of the Nigeria Police would be the ones to alert the Commissioner of Police to the development, or alert the nearby police station for subsequent action to be taken.

    But being a law abiding citizen, I offered at their request to go with them to see the Commissioner of Police; more particularly on the need not to seal up the FGPL, because at this time, the workers had closed for the day, and it would not be nice that the office would not open when the workers resume the next day. They would not be able to gain access to the premises, nor be able to attend to the public. I went with the police officer to the office of the Commissioner of Police. To my greatest surprise, I met those three workers of the National Pension Commission right there. Those were the three people who had earlier exited the office on my arrival. And in addition to that, I also saw six other staffs of the National Pension Commission in attendance at the office of the commissioner, making a total of nine employees of the National Pension Commission. The police chief addressed us and repeated that the office of the FGPL remains sealed and that he would not have the time to attend to us because time was far gone and that we should report back the next day at 10am.

    I told him that that was a decision I would not expect a commissioner of police to take lightly; because as a lawyer, I am well informed within my rights. The commissioner has no right to seal up the premises of any company without first and foremost obtaining a court order. That, I felt, was a very irresponsible decision for the commissioner to make. And based on my strong protest, he conceded. He instructed subordinates that they should go and unseal the office and he further restated that we should come back at 10am the next day for a meeting. I told him there and then that I have gone through the cycle before and I hope that was not another tactic to remove us from the premises of FGPL in order to grant access to the impostors from the National Pension Commission. He said: “No, not at all,” that he was there to mediate and maintain law and order. The next morning, I was at the commissioner’s office exactly five minutes to 10am; and going by the tradition of impunity on the part of National Pension Commission, we received information its workers had resumed at the office of FGPL as at 8am on January 13, 2017. I complained to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), who advised that I should take my complaint to the commissioner, who arrived at his office by 10:45am. The commissioner could not see us until 12pm. At the meeting, which turned out to be a charade; the commissioner simply informed us that he had a clear directive and instruction from the AIG in Zone 2 to transfer the case file to his office, and that the AIG has assumed responsibility over the matter. And I could again see the handwriting on the wall that they have deployed the usual tactics of impunity, their usual tactics of disregard for rule of law and constituted authority and have again employed the act of intimidation to ensure that they gain their way through the back door process into FGPL.

    Being a law-abiding citizen, I expected the commissioner to be sufficiently upset and angry that, despite his words the previous day, the same nine National Pension Commission officers resumed at FGPL. When I informed him that the impostors from National Pension Commission have resumed in the office of FGPL, it didn’t cut any ice with the commissioner. That was how the nine of us went to the AIG’s office, including my company secretary, two other friends of mine who came to the police station and myself.

    A twist at AIG Zone II’s office

    The moment we entered the office of AIG Zone 2, it became very obvious that this was no longer a kid’s play because the hands of the clock had turned full circle. The AIG refused to see me or anybody that had anything to do with me, including my lawyers. But he granted audience to the National Pension Commission workers who were imposed FGPL in the last six years and six other persons who had joined them. Later, we advised to see the DC Zone 2. When we went in to see him, we were now told that the matter would be handled by Assistant Commissioner (AC) Zone 2. By the time we went to the office of the AC, the number of National Pension Commission’s workers had risen from nine to 13. By the time we were to enter the office of the AC, there was no place for us to sit. The AC said he was going to mediate in the matter. How could it be possible for the police to mediate in a matter that the court had given a decision, a clear judgment in? How could it possible for the police to mediate in a matter that the Attorney-General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had considered and had very recently, with his letter dated January 4, 2017, given an opinion on the matter? And how could it, more importantly, be possible for the police to mediate in a matter where Justice G.O. Kolawole in his well-considered ruling of February 6, 2013, and November 10, 2016, had restrained the Nigeria Police from getting involved, inviting me, arresting me or interrogating me on any matter that has to do with First Guarantee Pension Ltd, particularly with respect to the target examination report on the basis of which the three imposters had been appointed into the First Guarantee Pension Ltd? These statements of mine did not cut an ice with the police; because my secretary had overheard that the National Pension Commission had ‘allegedly’ settled the police.

    Obviously, there had been a pre-determined plan and the matter began to play itself out speedily. They invited the OC Legal, who called us out and began to ask us to make a statement. I asked the OC Legal, is there a petition against me on the basis of which I can read the petition to be able to make a statement? He said No, there’s no petition against me other than I should just make a statement and an IPO will investigate the matter. And one interesting thing that happened was that immediately thereafter, they took away my phone and that of my legal adviser, Smart Iheazor, but the 13 workers of the National Pension Commission retained their phones. At this time, it was between 2:30pm and 3pm, we began the process of dilly-dallying. They would call me to go to this office and go to that office. The long and short of it is that I was told to make a statement in respect of who I am, my relationship with FGPL and why I visited the office. The same question was put across to my legal adviser, who was separated in a different room. It wasn’t until about 7:30pm that I was informed by the IPO that I am a suspect and that I have been detained for armed robbery, stealing, conspiracy to commit felony and potentially also for murder!

    I was then handed over to the guardroom. From the guardroom office, I was transferred to a cell without access to my family, my lawyer, and my medication. The next day, at about 10:30am, I was brought out; they continued with their interrogation that the day I visited FGPL, one of the parties that went with me made away with a laptop and three office files. And my statement was very clear: it is impossible for me or any of my friends who visited the premises to make away with any property of FGPL. First and foremost, FGPL is owned by me, founded by me, and that it is impossible for an owner to steal his property – either a computer, or files or a car key they said is missing. They then asked another question, why am I presenting myself as FGPL chairman and I repeated that I am the founder, owner and largest shareholder in FGPL with an investment of over N250 million. Therefore, it is impossible for me to do anything that is against the law. I repeated my advice to them that the step they are taking is against the order and judgment of a number of courts in Nigeria.

    Police conducted a search on his hotel room

    At around 12:30pm of the same day, the OC Legal and one of his operatives drove me to the Southern Sun Hotel in Ikoyi, where I was staying to search my room. After that, a statement was made that there’s no material whatsoever – whether a laptop, file or document of FGPL found in the hotel where I was staying before the detention. I signed off, and they also signed off. About 3:30pm, I informed them that my medical condition was worsening because as at that time, I still have not had access to my drugs, my phones or my lawyers. I told them I needed to see a doctor urgently. I was assured as at 3:30pm I would be released on bail and that I would go home shortly. A bail application was prepared by my lawyer, which I signed, the IPO signed and the OC Legal informed me that I have been released and signed off. But he said to me that it required the signoff of the ACP, DCP and the AIG. The AIG had now told my lawyer that on my way out, he would like to see me. Later around 6:20pm, when the matter was dragging, the DC after a lot of persuasion, informed me that there’s a contrary instruction he just received from the AIG that I should not be released, that I should further be detained till Monday. By then, the IPO and OC Legal had noticed that I was throwing up in the premises, because there’s no medical facility in the cell. Fearing for their irresponsible act, and the consequences of what could happen if per chance I passed out in their cell, they quickly rushed me to the Police Hospital on Bourdillon Street, where I was under custody and protection of the police from Friday evening till Monday, January 16, 2017 in the emergency ward. I was to be referred to Ikeja because of my leg condition for medical observation, but the AC was detailed by the AIG to ensure that I was forcefully brought to the Magistrate’s Court. When the AC came, it was clear to him that I was not fit to appear before the court, but he insisted and literally took away the drip that was placed on me and I was taken to court in my night dress.

    At the court and other trials

    I was forcefully taken from the hospital to the court that day, Monday, January 16, 2017. The judge was hesitant to call our case; it was clear to the judge that I was not fit to take my plea and he said it in his opening statement that the man he is seeing is not medically fit to undertake an arraignment, but my lawyer insisted that he would take my plea and assured the judge he would do so for me to properly go and attend to my health. I was arraigned no longer for armed robbery, murder or conspiracy to commit felony but for theft, with a person now at large, of a laptop worth N350, 000. I was arraigned for stealing a file of FGPL, for holding out myself as FGPL chairman and an attempt to forcefully take over the promises of FGPL. This is consistent with the pattern of the director-general of the National Pension Commission, Mrs Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, who has sworn that over her dead body would she hand over FGPL back to the owner and founder of the company.

    It has been consistent because at her instigation, on January 29, 2013, the then IGP Abubakar, through the instrument of IG monitoring, declared me wanted and published my name in all the police posts in Abuja; again for stealing and conspiracy to commit felony. I approached Justice Kolawole on February 6, 2013. Justice Kolawole, under my fundamental human rights enforcement, restrained the police and their agencies from dabbling into the matter of FGPL, from arresting, or detaining me with respect to this matter. But in total disregard to the order, in total disregard to the substantive judgment of another judge, Justice D.U. Okorowo, that had nullified the special target report that Mrs. Chinelo as the Company Secretary then of the National Pension Commission had advised the commission to author and begin to implement. The police charged me before the Magistrate’s Court II in Abuja, and that was on March 2, 2013 without letting me know. Unknown to them, my lawyers found out where I had been charged; we entered an appearance and on March 28, 2013, the magistrate quashed that charge. And in an open court, in a loud voice, the magistrate shouted and it is written in his rule that: “This is an act of impunity that should not happen in a democratic environment as Nigeria, where the rule of law should be seen as a sine qua non, and that he feels so saddened that the agency of government that should actually be the officer and agency that should be implementing the judgment of the court is the agency that is bringing a beneficiary of the judgment of the court before his court for an act that could translate into impunity.” He quashed the charge; it did not stop the police.

    Stay of execution order

    Mrs. Anohu-Amazu has continued to make heavy weight of the statement of a purported stay of the judgment of Justice Okorowo by Justice Kolowale. It is important for me to now address this legal abracadabra. Upon the delivery of the judgment of Justice Okorowo on the 18th of July 2012, Pencom, on the advice of Mrs. Anohu-Amazu (then Company Secretary/Legal Adviser of Pencom before her elevation as acting director-general and substantive DG), approached the court of Justice Kolawole, then a vacation judge, to stay on a motion ex-parte the judgment of Justice Okorowo. As the case is ex-parte without hearing the parties to the suit, Justice Kolawale granted her prayer with a caveat as follows: “That in view of the fact that my vacation schedule will end on the 10/8/2012, the consideration of the 1st respondents (Pencom) motion on notice dated 26/7/12 shall be taken before the Hon Justice G.K. Olotu who is due to resume as vacation judge with effect from 13/8/12.” We immediately filed our brief of argument on August 3, 2013 against this questionable ex-parte order, which in any case, had a lifespan of just 14 days. PenCom immediately abandoned its motion on notice to be heard by Justice Olotu and instead appealed the judgment. It consequently filed a motion on notice for stay on the September 12, 2012, which it also abandoned knowing the practice directive of the Supreme Court that a judgment of the court cannot be stayed.

    Justice Okorowo issued an order restraining PenCom from implementing the target report on August 11, 2011, and in clear disobedience of the court order, PenCom, acting under the legal advice of its then company secretary, acted otherwise and inter alia removed FGPL directors and appointed an interim management on August 12, 2011. On August 17,  2011, the then AGF and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) wrote a letter requesting PenCom to obey the Court Order. In paragraph 5, it stated as follows: “I have carefully reviewed the said court order and it is my considered opinion that the decision and action of PenCom complained about are clearly in violation of the order, which is capable of exposing the government particularly the Honourale Attorney-General of the Federation, who is the 2nd Respondent in order, to unnecessary criticism and embarrassment.”

    Notwithstanding the above court order and the clear directive of the AGF, PenCom has continued to undermine the authority of the court.  Finally Justice Okorowo, on July 18, 2012, in a 126-page final judgment, upbraided PenCom for acting in a matter in clear contempt of the order of the court. It stated in page 119 to wit: “On 11th August, 2011, the court made an Interim Order which is in issue. The Court Order was served on the 1st respondent (Pencom) on 12th August 2011. Despite the knowledge of the order of court and the service of the processes of this court, the 1st respondent went ahead to deal with the subject matter of the case, interfering with the powers of this Court to decide the issues in the action.”

    Undercurrents behind the impasse

    I would start from the beginning. For me, it was a matter that I actually could not have wanted to bring to the public domain. I can only say that I should think that the problem of FGPL began in 2010, when we paid our first dividend. The DG of National Pension Commission, approached me (then as company secretary/legal adviser to National Pension Commission), and requested that I assign to her five per cent of the shareholding in FGPL. For me and until very recently, I thought that was a friendly joke; I could not consider it seriously and that was the beginning of the problem. And immediately after that, our then Managing Director, Wilson Ideva, began to act in a manner that was disrespectful of the FGPL Board of Directors and that led to our requesting him to resign. And what is interesting is that the same person we asked to resign from the company immediately resumed work as the Managing Director of Premium Pension Ltd, where Mrs. Anohu-Amazu’s family has substantial interests in, and he is still there currently. It shows you the link of what has happened. He was encouraged to disobey the Board of FGPL, where he was fired, and then he was picked up by them as a matter of protection. Mrs. Anohu-Amazu again, encouraged the National Pension Commission to write what they considered to be a special target report on the FGPL.

    Section 82 of the Pension Reform Act did say: “If for any reason, PenCom, in the annual report conduct its report or examination of a PFA or Pension Fund Custodian, PenCom would then have to submit that report to the board of the PFA or the board of PFC. The board of PFC will now, upon receipt of that report, call an extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the company to consider the report. The decision of the board of the shareholders is then communicated to the Pencom. Now, Mrs Anohu-Amazu, realising that I am the largest single shareholder of the company and that the majority of the shareholders of the company reposed confidence in the board, refused to follow these steps. Instead, what they did was to ask us to resign as board members. Immediately, we went to court and on August 11, 2011, Justice Okorowo issued an ex-parte order restraining them from implementing the special target report, pending the determination of the substantive suit. But despite that order of the court, they disregarded it, dissolved our board and appointed deployed National Pension Commission’s employees into FGPL.

    She has been running FGPL with PenCom employees in the last six years; and because of the recklessness and the fraud they have perpetrated in the place, they would not allow us toe return, unless compelled to leave the company for its rightful owners. That is why they are employing impunity, but I am very confident that she could do this under the immediate past administration; she will not succeed under the prevailing dispensation. It is impossible for her to continue with this level of impunity. FGPL is my baby; I founded it and envisioned it. That is why it is the only PFA that is founded by an individual, not by institution; the other PFAs are owned by insurance companies or banks, asset managers and stockbroking firms among others. FGPL is driven by an individual and it can only be my hard work that FGPL is a success. And despite all the intimidations and impunity, I am still committed to realizing the dream and vision for which FGPL was founded.

    One of our shareholders, George Ozodinobi, who used to collaborate with Mrs. Anohu-Amazu until he found out her clear intentions, has variously stated that the clear intention of the PenCom chief was to transfer FGPL asset to her mother’s PFA which is a clear sense of conflict of interest and an irresponsible act. Any wonder that that FGPL had not held any AGM/EGM in the last five years and is currently carrying a tax liability of over N1.3 billion. All the efforts to incident a crime in a purely commercial transaction is just her way of getting back at me for refusing to accede to her request of taking over FGPL. I am not surprised that this could happen, given her penchance for lawlessness. I sit on the boards of over eight companies providing employment to over 1,000 Nigerians and expatriates and in none of these companies has my honour been questioned nor my integrity in doubt. And to be put through this in a company that I invested over N250 million shows her desperation to put me away. I want Nigerians to know just before I die, that should anything happen to me, the persons to hold responsible are no other than Mrs. Anohu-Amazu and Kassim Ibrahim Imam.

    His final take and next line of action

    In keeping with her tradition of impunity, the PenCom director-general will expect that we back down and allow her to continue to run FGPL. And I think that is a fundamental mistake on her part. It is with regret that I would say that the National Pension Commission that we envisioned, when I worked very hard to promote the pension industry in Nigeria, is not the same we wanted in 2004 when Fola Adeola was the chairman of that Commission. I believe that a regulator cannot at the same time be an operator in the same industry. There is bound to be conflict of interests. It is on that note that I insist that the National Pension Commission’s interim measure has outlived its objective. The arbitrary takeover of FGPL, which they claimed was on an interim measure, has now appeared to be a permanent measure. An interim measure will not last more than three months, but this has lasted six years, if you take it to March 22 of this year because their invasion of FGPL happened March 22, 2011. It is regrettable that this has happened; it is regrettable that we have national commission director-general that has not risen to the occasion to determine that it is not in any position to manage anybody’s business and does not care about the impact and consequences of what is going on in FGPL in the industry.

    Rather than focus on what is important – where to invest the assets of pension industry and to ensure that the rate of returns is sufficient in a country like Nigeria to keep pace with inflationary trend – the PenCom DG is focusing on how to take over FGPL to ensure that the rightful owner, the founder and the promoter and largest shareholder of the business does not take benefits from the investment he has done. Her focus is to ensure that by hook or crook, Nze Chidi Duru goes to jail. But we are in a democracy, in a government of rule of law; a government that is different from the government of the past. For me, all the acts of impunity that have happened with regards to FGPL are a damning report on the national commission that she leads. I believe that by this singular act, Mrs. Chinelu Anohu-Amazu is not fit to continue to be the Director-General of the National Pension Commission. She believes and behaves as if she is god; but I know she is not greater than the living God.

    As for the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), it is regrettable that they have lent themselves to the impunity of a lawless PenCom, an institution that has no respect for the rule of law. There are conflicts involved in all these; not just that there is a judgment of the court on this; but with respect to the filing of audited account of FGPL. According to CAMA (Companies and Allied Matters Act) Section 235, it’s mandatory that every company must file their report to Corporate Affairs Commission at the end of their business financial year. Our financial year has closed respectively over five times in the last five years – between 2011 and 2016 – and there is no filing of FGPL annual report before the CAC. More importantly, it is only when you file and auditors do their own part that the company would be assessed to pay their tax. What we found recently is that FGPL is carrying a fat liability of over N500 million. This is a fund that the government could have used to provide social services, infrastructure for the people, not to talk of Pay As You Earn (PAYE), or company tax available to Nigerians. So, FGPL, as it stands today, has a huge tax liability of close to N2 billion. And government is not accessing this fund simply because one person is standing the law on its head using impunity.

  • Why I had my coronation in a church –Osun monarch Oba Taiwo Thompson

    Why I had my coronation in a church –Osun monarch Oba Taiwo Thompson

    The traditional ruler of Eti-Oni, Osun State, Oba Taiwo Oladokun Thompson, is a great-grandson of Thompson Gujere, the Ijesha warrior reputed for introducing the snider gun. The name of the famous Kiriji war was derived from the sound of his invention. His great-grandson, Dokun, who is the current traditional ruler of Eti-Oni, has also brought dynamism into community development via his pet project, Eti Oni Development Group and Cocoa Festival. In this interview with GBENGA ADERANTI, he talks about his plans to enhance the fortune of Eti-Oni inhabitants who have been famous for cocoa farming for more than 120 years. He also explains why white is his preferred colour, his attitude to polygamy, why his coronation rites were held in the church, his thoughts on Christianity, among other issues.

    Do you feel fulfilled being a traditional ruler?

    I don’t feel fulfilled right now. I’m fulfilling my assignment, my destiny and everything, because I am doing what I am supposed to do. My friend, the CEO of Eti Oni Development Group, always tells me that any time I change focus on Eti-Oni, a little bit of confusion comes in, but the minute I’m focused on Eti-Oni, things appear to move faster, I get the materials and resources I need to get to the next stage. That is fulfilling. That is reassuring as well. It gives you the confidence to know that you are on the right path.

    I don’t think I will ever arrive at my bus stop. There can never be a bus stop because it is going to be a continuous process. We have a long term development plan which is based on 20 years, and it is in line with the United Nations 2030 sustainable development growth. For us as well, after 20 years, we will continue. We know that at some point, there is going to be a lot of pressure, a lot of challenges in terms of population explosion, and that the only solution to that is to ensure that we are able to replicate our solutions to other locations so that the urban cities that are suffering today will no longer suffer, the rural communities that are suffering will be equipped to take in that new population injection. So, there is a lot of synergy that is going to be required to create that sustainability and at the same time create that workable environment that will eventually put Africa where Africa is supposed to be.

    If you were not made an Oba, what would you be doing?

    In 2002, I ran for the House of Reps. I would have gone into politics full time. And the reason why I would go into politics is to look for a way of offering genuine service, sacrificial service, not service that is about self but service that is about people. That is what I am doing right now. That is the heritage that has been handed over to me, not just from my father but from my great grandfather to my father.

    My great grandfather in Kiriji war was ready to die on the battle field rather than cede an inch of Ijeshaland. He brought his own army into the field. Initially, it was Ekiti Parapo War. But by the time he got into the war with his own army and his own gun called the snider rifle, the war’s name was changed to Kiriji, coming from the sound of snider rifles that were introduced into the war by Gureje Thompson. That is the type of heritage that has been handed to any Thompson. That is what we always pride ourselves in. It is never about us; it is about a nation at large. That is what makes true leadership.

    You said your community has been planting cocoa for the past 120 years and now you want to take it to another level. What is that new thing you are planning to do?

    After the war in 1886, Eti Oni was created. The first thing they did was to create an economic model that would sustain the community. They introduced cocoa into it. About 120 years after, cocoa has been all over the place but we are still where we were. So what do we do to get to the next stage? What are we in lack of? We are in lack of good housing. We are in lack of good health. We are in lack of good education. So the environment is poor. We need to address all these issues. We need to create models that will provide the social infrastructure that will provide us with the economic power that will make us develop.

    But beyond all these things, we need people to develop. We need education at every level, from the kindergarten up to the older people. So we need to develop the people and we are looking at how we are going to be developing the people so that we can create a truly sustainable society that is for the future. They have to understand what the future is all about so that they can embrace that future. While we are developing them and we put models in place to generate income, we know they will appreciate it. They will understand what it is all about and they will participate.

    They are already participating and they are already engaging us to bring more. But they don’t know that all these things are about money. Even when we talk about 10 to 20 years, they think what we want to achieve in 20 years, we can achieve in five years, because they have suffered a lot. Because the cocoa festival created a lot of succour and a lot of hope, and it came out to be what it is. The renaissance of cocoa production is where we are going into.

    How regularly do you stay in the community?

    I was there throughout last week and I’m going back next week. I am in and out of the place. It not just about living there and not coming out, it is actually about looking for partners in the stage we are now. I have to be in and out, looking for local partners, global partners, people that will help us in consultancy. That is why our CEO is not Yoruba or a male figure. We are open. It is all about the model we are building. It is about whoever can do it, whether man or woman, whether young or old, from South East  or South West, from Northern Nigeria or even Egypy or Ethiopia. As long as we have a synergy and understanding to build a pact that would have workable opportunities that will take us to where we want to go, then we are able to do all these things.

    But at the same time, we are also trying to protect whatever we are doing so that it is not messed up. There is too much we are doing, so it is complex. The only way we can explain it to people is to show that it is working. Because it is a smart model we are building, we have a lot of digital solution we are bringing in. We have already started in such a manner that people will now begin to understand what we are trying to do.

    Have you been getting assistance from government on the Eti Oni development project?

    The state government has actually been very helpful, they have been helpful in everything we have been doing. I think I will use this opportunity to commend the governor (Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola). The governor, when he knew about the cocoa festival, I was given his personal email address to send a letter of the notice on the cocoa festival. I got a call from his office within the hour I sent the mail that they should give us complete support for what we are doing. They brought in resources to train the farmers. They brought in all sorts of materials and they also participated in every aspect of it, up to the grand finale which we tagged Gureje Day.

    Unfortunately, the governor had to travel. But he sent in representation to launch the Eti Oni Chocolate. At the same time, we were given reasonable access to Eti Oni. So the government has been very supportive. Of course, as time goes on, we are going to engage them the more to explain how elaborate our plans are and how they can also help further.

    The project is massive. Was there any point in time you felt like quitting?

    Yes, you are right. There are times you feel like knocking your head on the wall, especially when you think ‘I don’t have a penny, how am I going to do this?’ Of course, like I said, I am a Christian. I also have this trust that where there is no way, God makes a way for me. And in truth, that is what has always happened. Up until the Cocoa Festival, when there was no way, He made a way for us. The access road to the town was completed at 10 am on the day of the Cocoa Festival. There was a particular portion of the road that I thought nobody would be able to cross, and that place was not completed until 10 in the morning the festival happened. People came from all over the world. Nobody would know that we had challenges from day one to the end. So God creates a way where there is no way for people who trust in Him fully.

    I observe that in all your pictures that I have seen so far, you are always in white. Is that your preferred colour?

    Well you can call it my signature. I actually got it from my father. My father was called Baba White because he always wore white. So when I became an Oba, I felt if he could get that identity for wearing white, I could also get that from him. This is a person I respect so much and also give honour for who I am today. I believe that if I copy him, it would add to me. It has not taken anything; it has added to me. He was the one that encouraged me that when the time comes, I should ensure that my installation is done in the church. It is now to do what is right, and what is right is to do the installation in the church. All I did was to have a little twist of colours. With my white, I use six or seven colours, but it is still all white. These colours are like trimmings and on my caps and on top of what I wear.

    But funny enough, I use other colours for casual wears, maybe when I’m taking a stroll around the community, around Lagos or moving around casually to the supermarket or something like that. At times, I’m in white, at other times I’m in coloured ankara. The colour depends on what I wear. But 95 per cent of the time, I wear white.

    In Yorubaland, Obas usually marry many wives. Is that also the case with you?

    (Prolonged laughter) Do you have any plan for me? Tell me. I’m open to ideas.

    Okay, what is your attitude to polygamy?

    I’m a very simple and straightforward person. Polygammy has its advantages and disadvantages. But it is an individual thing. I don’t condemn it. It is different strokes for different folks. That is how I see polygamy. But for me, my partner will always be my best friend. So polygamy can be a bit tricky.

    You said Christianity originated from Africa. There was no way Jesus Christ would have been an African or a black man…

    Nobody knows who Jesus Christ was. I believe Jesus Christ was a black man. The Egypt we know today was not populated by Arabs or Europeans. The Egyptians we know today are European Egyptians or Egyptians from Arab. That was not the case when the bible was written during the time of Hebrews. A lot of things have changed. A lot of things have disguised. They have erased a lot of things to make us believe that we have lots of Europeans in Egypt, in Arabia and all those places.

    In the dictionary, we know how a Caucasian was addressed. But today, Arabs are addressed as Caucasians. That is the Europeans saying this is who they are; they own this, they own that. They own what we are, they own what we do. The problem with Africa is that Africa does not define itself on who truly they are. We are defined with poverty, war, famine, corruption and everything that is bad. But in reality, Africa is the origin of humanity. If we are here in Africa and we believe we are part of the origin of Africa, it means the world started from here. It means the Hebrew language is an African language. And because good came before evil, it means Africa is the good one and everything that is not good came from outside Africa.

    I’m saying we are the beginning of human existence.

    Every other thing is a copy or metamorphosis of who we are. So you must be African before you can be European. You must be African before you can be Asian. You must be African before you can be a Chinese, evolution or whatever occurs. To reverse it or to accept is not doing ourselves justice. To do justice is to call ourselves what we are not or what they call us.

    Has this line of argument ever put you in a kind of trouble?

    When I started saying it, I quite realised that there were a number of people saying the same thing. Even if you go to Israel today, there are a number of Jews who are saying they are not the real Hebrews. There is a difference between Israelis and Hebrews. The people that are called Jews today are European Jews; they are not real Jews. How come you have people in Ethiopia who are like us in terms of our colour and skin but they are called Jews? They are fighting for their rights in Israel. Some of them have accepted them. They know they are the real Jews.

    Same people like us are the real Egyptians. It is not occupying Israel physically that matters; it is when we occupy Israel in our hearts and we know that this is who we are that matters. That is when we have the final freedom as people, because right now, that is what I call colonial mentality. We need to free ourselves from that mentality. We need to free ourselves from slavery. We need to free ourselves from oppression. We have gone through this in the last few centuries. It is when we free ourselves that we will begin to move forward. But to free ourselves is not to get into the jail that has been prepared for us by the same people. Now it is psychological, emotional and sentimental jail, not the physical jail. A lot of our people are falling into the trap.

    Could that be the reason why you did your coronation rites in the church?

    Yes, that is the reason. Having gone back to the origin, Christianity is my faith. That is why my coronation was done in in the church. I am a Christian. I believe in the words of the bible. ‘Rulership’ or kingship, in that regard, is spiritual and you must get it right from the outset. If some of our communities claim that they have been in existence for 1000 or 2000 years with the chaos they are in today, then there is a problem. Communities or countries that are not as old are far better off.

    It is high time we stopped blaming colonialism or come up with this conspiracy theory for our woes and face reality. Number one, we have got the spiritual aspect wrong. Once we get that right, we would be able to rebuild our foundation. The next thing people will come up with is that ‘oh, religion is the one killing Nigeria. Nigeria has so many pastors’, and all that stuff. But I look at the developed world today, not just developed, organised world, which of them is not religious?

    In the Yoruba tradition, it is believed that if the Akoko leaf is not put on your head, you’re not yet a king. Have you encountered any problem, either from the kingmakers or other families who are also interested in the position?

    You know the truth? The number one Gureje, my great grandfather, who founded Eti Oni, founded it on Christianity. He was one of the pioneers of Christianity in 1870 or 1860, and it continued in that light. Even the cathedral in Ilesha is credited to the Gureje Thompson family, to have been able to bring the diocese and the cathedral then to Ilesha, I mean the Anglican Diocese of Ilesha, probably there was only one diocese in Ife, Ilesha and probably Ekiti.

    And because of our long-standing history within the Anglican community with my father, at that time, he was in Ogbomosho and his brother, who was the Oloni then, were able to make sure that the cathedral was situated in Ilesha. And that is why when that Oloni passed on, he was buried at the cathedral where bishops are normally buried. That is my origin. That is my heritage.

    Yes, some people may want to bring in what I call object deification. I don’t want to call it traditional worship because my own traditional worship is Christianity, Christ-based faith. What I would call the other one apart from Islam is deifying the object. Either you have an object that you call an orisa (idol) and you deify it. I don’t believe in it. It is not a tradition to me and it is not part of my heritage. It has never been part of Eti Oni heritage.

    Yes, one or two times, there had been attempts to introduce it but has never been successful, and in my own time, it will never be successful. I even pray that in the time we are now in Nigeria, they would embrace the true worship of God in spirit and in truth, so that we will get ourselves out of the problems we put ourselves in right now.

    At what point did you decide to be a traditional ruler? What was the attraction? Many would wonder why a professional with good education would want to stay in a remote village…

    Well the truth is that right from the time I was young, I was told that I was going to be an Oba. I’m a twin and my mother told me that during the naming ceremony, the reverend father that came to do the naming ceremony said ‘this is a king’, and they made a sort of crown from paper and put it on my head. After that, I remember one time when I was in Kings College, I said when I become a king, I would go into full time agriculture and create an economy from that. I didn’t know what I was saying then but I knew that was the way forward. And sometime in 2002, when I came back to Nigeria from England, I tried to go into politics. I started giving life a different meaning. I now understand life to be something where you just don’t exist now and then disappear. You need to have life after death. In other words, you must have impacted people’s lives positively in such a manner that you would live beyond your time. When you go, your life will still be living in other people.

    My father always made us understand that your heritage is very important. You need to hold on to your name. You need to cherish your name. You need to value yourself and at the same time understand  that any position you find yourself is a position of sacrifice and you have to live up to that expectation. So, for educated people who run away from service, running away from giving themselves as sacrifice for service, they are as guilty as everybody else. In fact, they are more guilty than those they call corrupt. They say that the country is in a mess, the politicians have messed up the country and all that, but the truth is that those who have abandoned their responsibilities are more guilty than those who are in it and are messing it up. If they are in it and they are messing it up, it is because they don’t know better. If you know better and you allow people to mess it up, then you are more guilty.

    What are those things you are missing as an Oba?

    Maybe what I’m missing is that I can’t have many wives (laughter). There is nothing I’m missing. I have gained a lot more. We are able to put smiles on the faces of people. We are able to live a life of sacrifice.