The Nation Newspaper

Category: Sunday Interview

  • Verheijen: How presidential directives are driving energy sector reforms

    Verheijen: How presidential directives are driving energy sector reforms

    Olu A. Verheijen is Special Adviser on Energy to President Bola Tinubu. Until her appointment, she was Managing Director at Latimer Energy, a consulting firm advising clients on value optimisation in acquisition, development and management of energy assets. She had also worked as a Deal Lead at Shell and advised on gas commercialisation and M&A transactions. A holder of the Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Verheijen has nearly 20 years’ experience in the gas and renewables sectors across Sub-Saharan Africa. In this interview with Wale Jimoh, she speaks on a number of presidential initiatives and what Nigerians should expect to benefit from Tinubu’s interventions in the energy sector.

    What were the things that inspired your push for the presidential directive? And how did you get his buy-in?

    Even before President Bola Tinubu assumed office, we needed to understand the root cause analysis of why we were where we were in the energy space beyond crude theft.  Crude theft was mostly discussed at the time because at the time we started looking at this, we were then at the lowest point around 900,000 bpd from over 2 million bpd. The main impact of crude theft was the fact that we had to shut in production every time vandalism occurs on a major trunk line. So, we had a lot of shut-ins because the integrity of the transportation or evacuation infrastructure needed to be secure, making sure that we are producing with a safe and reliable infrastructure.  We said let’s take a major trunk line in the Delta, which was the TNP, for example, and we noticed that a lot of the work that NNPC had done had yielded significant outcomes there. The uptime of the infrastructure is quite high, and most barrels that are injected into those pipelines make it into the terminals. When you looked at the East, you found out that that wasn’t always the case, and that was more urgent because a lot of the associated gas goes into NLNG from the East. We needed to focus on major trunk lines that take gas and oil and see if we can quickly put a crack team together and focus on the issues there and start making improvements and start getting immediate traction. When we looked at it, we realised that there were few interventions with the NSA, the president himself and when the two Ministers of Defence came on board with NNPC, they started taking a few of the lessons of what has worked in the West and tried to replicate it or transfer some of those learnings to the East and Central zones. We have seen improvements there in terms of the availability of crude in that pipeline, and it has gone up.

    What of the gas space? How are you dealing with issues there?

    We are able to do the same. One of the outcomes is that we are able to see that NLNG’s output or availability went from an average of 53 per cent in 2022 to close to 70 per cent in the first quarter of this year, so that means more income back to the Federal Government for further investment. Instead of an activity-based approach, spending a lot of money not really understanding what your outcomes are, we are able to see direct correlations between the activities that we are undertaking as a government that’s yielding the desired outcomes. More barrels into the terminals that we can export and more gas into the domestic market for power and industrialisation and more LNG cargoes making it into the market so that we can earn the dividends that are required for foreign exchange to just stabilise the macro-economic environment. The work isn’t done there, but there have been significant improvements. That is on the security side.

    What other constraints, apart from security, have you identified as slowing down growth?

    When we look into the rest of the issue, there were other issues that are driving the reduced production numbers. Again, we noticed that despite holding significant volumes of Africa’s reserves, over the last 10 years, we have only been able to attract four per cent of the capital that has been spent on the continent on oil and gas. So we started looking at that because it has many implications.  What it means is that even if we do not have crude theft, and we are able to solve the crude oil problem and make progress in that regard, if we don’t attract capital, oil and gas may not really buoy our economy because they will not last forever.  So you need to continuously invest to even maintain your profile, to stem the climb, and grow production. The second leg of the issue was why we are not able to attract investments and why we are not competitive given the size of our resources.

    What did you discover?

    We looked at investments over the last 10 years, and all we have been able to attract is $300 million. When you look at places like Ghana, where you see over $12 billion because of the operating environment…  That seemed off to us, because, ideally, the biggest resource holder should be attracting more and we tried to understand why that wasn’t happening and we found a few issues which are really around investment climate. That’s why we decided to zero-in on those additional interventions and said what are the main issues harming investment in the country? How do we make sure that this is a conducive and competitive investment climate for capital? So that when investors are looking for opportunities and financiers are looking for opportunities across the globe, they will say Nigeria is one of the most attractive options and then they are able to allocate more capital to Nigerian projects. We found two things that we thought would significantly address this investment climate challenge. The first one was around cost. We found that the cost of doing business in Nigeria is quite high, and in the oil and gas space, the benchmark as to other climates is high.  If you look at Saudi Arabia, they produce oil at less than $5 a barrel. On average, some of our producers here go over $40. It doesn’t make us attractive.

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    Why is that the case?

    It is the subject of the presidential directive. We found a lot of issues. One of the things that we found was that our contracting timelines take too long. To put a contract in place whether you want to drill a rig or drill a well or do anything in the oil and gas sector, we found that sometimes it can be as high as 38 months to actually pull that contract. That contracting cycle, for many reasons, we thought this is one of the quick wins because once the amount of time is extended, you’ll need to do anything when the costs go up because its base are expiring and you have to come back, you are missing cycles and low cycles, opportunities, to lock-in prices and move. Many will go to where contracting timelines are less.

    Did you say 38 months?

    Yes!  That definitely adds to the cost and, more importantly, it just makes you unattractive when people can move to other climates within three to six months. Some places do it in less than two months. If it takes up to 38 months, that is one of the reasons for investors to go elsewhere. But we are already working on that, and the contracting time, based on what we have put in place, would never take that long, not even half the time. I know you have heard many times that people say Nigeria is more of a gas country than an oil country, but you wonder why despite us being the sixth largest energy exporter, but when you look at the amount of gas that we consume domestically or how much of that gas that we export, you will find that we are a very distant sixth. So we started to ask ourselves how we can become the dominant gas players that we should be. But we said let’s start with stimulating the upstream gas supply.  If you are able to demonstrate that our gas is just as attractive as gas in the US or Europe, then we should be able to attract the necessary capital to unlock that gas supply. But why focus on gas supply? Because it is for export. If you want to build an energy train, the first thing your financier would ask is “Do you have your supply secured?” And you won’t have your supply secured if the upstream person doesn’t think it’s attractive if there are other opportunities.  So PIA has done quite a bit in making sure that associated gas and most gas fuels that have some liquid within it are competitive for investment. When it comes to non-associated gas, which is now 50 per cent of our remaining reserves, we need to do more. You need to start building a robust, non-associated gas portfolio so that you are a lot more reliable as a supply source in the market. So we started looking at what was required to improve non-associated gas fuels so that we could attract capital to those projects as well. There are a few principles that we thought were really important.

    All these efforts may never be appreciated if people do not see things on the ground?

    We assume that this year, you will see a number of big projects announced because of these directives and many other actions that are being taken on the NNPC side around security. There are quite a lot of things that are happening, but because of these directives, we think that if you have addressed efficiency, this is now the fourth directive that the president assigned. By using directives, it is also signaling a sense of urgency because we could have waited to put all of these things into law, but we know how long the PIA took. Our president, Bola Tinubu, is signaling to investors that Nigeria is open for business and he is willing to take any action that is required under law to make sure that sense of urgency and our openness for business is well-understood and documented that was one of the reasons we went to the presidential directives mode so that it is something that people can use to make immediate investment decisions before the laws are passed.

    We’ve always had great ideas, but implementation has always been a challenge. How is this being addressed?

    On the presidential directive, Nigerians are wary of big announcements that do not yield anything. We don’t have a shortage of good ideas. Execution is where we tend to struggle. With the presidential initiative, one of the things that was really important that we demonstrated was not just the ability to come up with novel and interesting ideas that we think can unlock investments, but to actually go after implementation and execution of those presidential directives to yield the intended outcomes.

    So, in his role as the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, he needed to play a part?

    Yes. Because those ones were fiscal incentives and he is in charge of fiscal policy. So, he helped integrate the directives that had been done by the different agencies involved in that space so he can issue a fiscal guideline. That was done on Tuesday. We have commenced the next phase and made a presentation around how to resolve some of the issues in the deep water as well as to make sure that we continue to be an attractive destination.  In addition to that, there are a number of projects that we are using as a template to push through this directive and implement this directive so that the intended outcome of making sure that we reverse this 10 year decline around investments is ongoing.

    A lot of explaining still needs to be done because once Nigerians hear that the government has put some policies in place and the results would be wonderful, they immediately want results?

    Investments don’t necessarily yield production growth, so I know most Nigerians look at the dollar to Naira exchange rate. Will this investment immediately impact that? No, but in some ways, they actually help us start the economy.  There haven’t been a lot of projects. The last big deep water project was in 2013, and there has been no major investment since then.  There are a lot of contractors, people who supply water, people who train staff, a lot of businesses that have been idle and shut down and we are able to restart economic activities, and that helps generate income for Nigerians in the meantime.

    So, getting it right is very key?

    You’re right. Nigerians need to understand what President Bolan Tinubu is trying to achieve here. In a year or two, most of what we are doing now would yield massive results. If we are able to ensure that the domestic power plant is able to be paid by a domestic distribution company. The distribution company in the power value chain needs to be able to collect cost reflective tariff, pay everybody along the chain including the transmission company and generation companies and then allow the gas supplier to be paid, the effect on the economy would be so massive that most of what we are complaining about today would be forgotten. 

    In the area of power, the issue of grid collapse has become a major problem…

    Even before we get to the grid, you will see why we focus on the distribution end of things. Installed capacity in the country is about 15 gigawatts, and we can continue to add. NNPC has a few initiatives where they will continue to add more supply to the grid. On the transmission end, we have a capacity of eight gigawatts, but we really haven’t been able to hit those numbers for a number of reasons. Even if we fixed that, the distribution end has not been able to distribute more than four gigawatts over the last 10 years. If by some magic wand you make sure that your grid is stable and you are able to evacuate the eight gigawatts that are in store or start to grow it, the distribution end cannot take it because the investment required to distribute to more end users has not occurred. That is why we focused on that distribution and ended with a number of initiatives to make sure that we improve the capacity for them to distribute more energy. On the transmission grid size, it’s another grid size. It is another focus. There is another presidential power initiative that the minister is driving that focuses on how to make this grid stable and smarter. He is spending quite a bit of time with his team focused on that section of the value chain.

  • SOLA SOBOWALE: I want to do more cultural films

    SOLA SOBOWALE: I want to do more cultural films

    Sola Sobowale stands tall amongst her peers having established herself as a top film star in Nigeria. Her popularity has gone over the roof with her appearances in global streaming platform originals like ‘King of Boys’ and ‘Anikulapo.’ In this interview with The NATION’s ASSISTANT ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, GBENGA BADA, Sobowale opened up on her roles in cultural films and why she has decided to do more of them.

    You are not new to big titles nor are you new to playing major characters, what distinguishes your role as Anikulapo from others?

    It’s very very glaring. I have never done anything like this in my career, this challenging and brings out this side of me. First of all, I was opportune to speak the Oyo language, Yoruba. I said this because I speak the Urban Yoruba and not the Oyo Yoruba, they are two different things. Number two, what I wish and want to do more are cultural and traditional movies, that is why the film more. We have lost a lot of things, the way we behave now, years back when my parents went to the market and the seller wasn’t around. They pick whatever it is they want to buy, they already know the price and they leave the money after taking what they want to buy and move on. But now are days, where we are now, even if the seller is there, we still steal and go but if you steal those days, there must be a repercussion for stealing but nowadays, we don’t know what is happening, how can we go back to a better life, how can we rewrite the history, give Nigeria another name, to have a better place to live. Majority of the children we have now don’t know about our culture because they are living another man’s life, borrowed lifestyle, the way we dress, what we eat, what we say and the only thing that will change that is when we go back to our roots and embrace more of it because there are a lot of morals to be learn and parents lost it when everyone is chasing after money and no one is looking after the children, we want to have everything and at the end of the day when you die, you are leaving everything behind. We will have a better place, not a comfortable Nigeria when we are back to our culture and I plan and pray to do more because that is what I stand for now.

    Having taken on several audacious roles, what extra efforts did you take or do to bring your character, Awarun, to life?

    First of all, I had to learn the language because if you can not speak it, you can not act it. If you can not speak it, there would be discomfort, so that is what I first went for, to learn the language and be comfortable in speaking that Yoruba dialect, then others the story.

    You were in the first franchise of Anikulapo and now the series, what would be your take away as an actress and as Sola Sobowale on the set?

    I took more away from the series than the movie and there are lots of new things that the audience would learn from. It is well written, well made and well acted.

    What were the challenges you faced on the set of Anikulapo which is the first in all your years of being an actress?

    Maybe the Oyo language but truth be told, this is what I have been ordained to do, this is what God almighty called me to do in the world and when I am in there on the set, I am there, I don’t think I had issues but even if there were issues because I am not perfect, the director Kunle Afolayan is quick to call my attention and put me on the right path.

    Considering your decision to do more cultural and traditional films, how did you feel when you were approached to feature in the biopic, Awujale?

    I have played so many roles as you have rightly said. I have played an Oba before like in King of Boys, I have also played the role of Iya Oba, so I was happy. I felt so honoured. In Awujale, I am playing the mother of a very important Oba in Yorubaland, so that is a plus on my CV.

    For the role of Iya Oba in upcoming biopic, Awujale, were you worried at any point seeing as you would be depicting the mother of someone who is still alive, someone who can say you did well or you didn’t do well?

    Definitely, but that is always the challenge. You have to depict the mannerism of Mama, the way she talks, how she composes herself, and everything she embodies. So, yes, that part was quite challenging.

    As a veteran actress, many expect that when you get a role like this, you won’t find it challenging, how true is this?

    The reality is that it is not me. I am Sola Sobowale, I am not the real Iya Oba, so I am playing somebody else entirely, and that has got to be challenging.

    What would you say is the significance of a film biopic like this to the youths of today?

    It is a lesson to live a good life, a positive life, a life that touches other people’s lives. To make an impact. It is an eye-opener about coming to this life, living the life and making an impact as opposed to just passing by like a snake on a rock that leaves no trail. As a human being, you have to be somebody in life that others will look up to, and that is why I am so happy playing the role of Awujale’s mother.

    You have played several kinds of mothers in the past from good mother to crazy mother. What are you bringing to this role in the Awujale movie that is different?

    What I am here to do is to bring Mama Awujale back to life. When you see the movie, you must be able to say truly that this is Awujale’s mother.

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    In your opinion, what makes documenting history important?

    When there is no history, there is no life. You must have your background, and your identity as a person. When we started this interview, I asked if we were speaking English or Yoruba. That is because I want my language and culture known all over the world. I want people to speak and know about my culture. Our language is beautiful, and our culture is beautiful. We can’t even speak English more than native speakers, so let us speak what is ours. my roots, my background. That is what I stand for.

    Did you get to speak a lot of Ijebu dialect on set?

    They put it in my mouth, and I simply deliver it. I am not Ijebu.

    Did you get special training for the project?

    I have acted in so many Igbo films, and I spoke Igbo Language. I am not an Igbo woman, but that is something you have to learn to do as an actor, and even pronounce it better. That is the challenging aspect of the job. If it has to be done, we will do it.

    Did you have a language coach on set to help with the dialogue?

    So many of them are teaching and monitoring.

    As a mother yourself, what do you think is the most significant part of Awujale’s life?

    This is what I stand for. If you are not prepared to be a mother or a father, don’t bring a child into this world. You must know the full definition of a mother, of parenting. The mother and father of Awujale know what parenting is about. Mama stood her ground and said, ‘My son, you must get an education, you will go to school.’ That woman suffered and stood by what she believed in. And that woman achieved it. At the end of the day, when Sikiru realised everything that was done, he said thank you to her. I love that aspect, and I would keep harping on that.

    I make speeches and give talks now and I must ask, in five years, where would Nigeria be? Charity begins at home. In many homes in Nigeria, we have failed in the aspect of parenting. So, doing this is a big lesson for parents to learn that they must stay and monitor the education and learning of their children, teach them morals, etiquette, make them somebody in life.

    As an experienced actor, is there something that you would have loved to see that you are yet to see in this film?

    Nothing. Awujale is the full package. If it is not full, we will hold Seun Oloketuyi responsible because he knows how to criticise films.

  • Mercy Ejibunu: My design inspiration comes from dreams

    Mercy Ejibunu: My design inspiration comes from dreams

    The name Ejibunu Mercy, most times, doesn’t ring a bell in the fashion world but at the mention of Hellidiiam Couture, brides, fashion designers, photographers, event designers scramble to share their experience of the brand built by a Chemistry graduate turned fashion entrepreneur in Ondo State. In this interview with ASSISTANT ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, GBENGA BADA, Ejibunu opened up on how she gets design inspirations from dreams, her passion for fashion and capacity building and vision for the future.

    How did Hellidiam couture come to be?

    Helidiiam Couture was a passion that later became a business. I loved sketching/ drawing while growing up. I used to go as far as sketching my own style for my tailor then. Some of my aunts too and my mum, I would sketch for them. After my school leaving certificate exams, with the push from my mum; I went into the proper training to become a tailor.

    What are the unique sources of inspiration for many of your designs?

    Most of my inspiration comes from dreams. Although most of our clients bring a particular design, we try to add little changes to make it look a bit different while they still get the sophisticated and beautiful design they envision.

    Many people are of the opinion that fashion designing is different from tailoring, can you let us in on the process and the difference

    Fashion designing is the act of creating original clothing and accessories. By sketching designs, selecting fabrics, drafting of patterns, and giving instructions on how to make the products they design. While tailoring is the art of designing, cutting, fitting, and finishing clothes.

    So basically, tailors produce, repair, and alter clothes, whereas fashion designers design new clothing patterns and styles. The major difference is that while one is in the business of remaking clothes, a fashion designer makes original pieces.

    Let’s digress a bit, tell me about yourself, the face behind the successful fashion house

    I am Merch Ejibunu-Fadoju, a native of Arigidi Akoko in Ondo State, Nigeria. A graduate of Chemistry from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State. I am the CEO of Helidiiam Couture, a fashion brand operating out of Ondo City. Growing up was amazing with its ups and downs. I was born in my hometown, but spent most of my years in Ondo town which has become a home for me and my family. I grew up here with my nuclear family of six people.

    How did you come by fashion designing despite studying Chemistry?

    I have always been a fashion lover since I was very young. From making clothes with needles for teddy bears and plastic babies now to sewing for people. I also loved drawing then. Whenever I did any drawing, I made sure I designed the dresses to my taste. I started choosing my designs for my tailors at age 10 because I always loved to stand out wherever I went, even among my age groups then. Aside from the fact that I loved drawing designs at a very young age and making dresses for dolls, few things that shaped me back then was watching fashion shows on TV, and whenever my father bought newspaper then, I always never cared about the other news, all I wanted to see was the page for the fashion trends. I had a book back then, I would cut out different people who were in the newspaper with beautiful designs and paste on that notebook.

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    Tell me about your journey into the world of fashion designing

    My journey into the world of fashion designing was not an easy one I must say. It all began in 2013 after my training was completed, I was already a student of AAUA then. I made sure everyone around me in the hostel, at the department became aware of my sewing skills. I talked about it at every given opportunity. From there, I get clothes to take back to Ondo for customers during the semester break. That was when I decided to bring a sewing machine to school to make my work easier. I moved back to Ondo town after my BSc and was using my room (in my father’s house). I had about 12 apprentices then, after two years, I decided to get a three-bedroom flat in the heart of the town to contain our work and apprentices. Well, after four years of being there, with the help of God and my husband, we now own a permanent fashion home in Ondo town.

    For every chosen career or profession, there are challenges, share some with us and how you overcame these challenges

    Back then, while training, I had a few challenges which included training as a part-time student then, because I had to also go to work. After the training, I went to the university. The very first challenge I had was having clients to sew from me. Also, the fear of starting on my own was also a challenge. Finance was one of the many challenges, ranging from buying equipment and fabrics. The first thing was to sell myself to the people around me. My mother got me my first sewing machine. So, I decided to start making beautiful designs for myself. I made sure I attended church every Sunday, events too. I always wore what I made for myself and people began to like what I wore and all.

    Why have you decided to remain in Ondo state and Ondo Town to be precise after many years?

    Wow, this is a big question. So, after my B. Sc from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko in 2015, I decided to come back to Ondo town cause my family are based in the town. Although, I have planned to relocate out of the town countless times which was always futile. I then concluded that God has a better plan for me being in this town. And has started to materialize.

    What distinguishes your design from many others?

    I’ll say it’s the way we best interpret designs and the neatness of our designs. Hellidiam is the one-stop shop for all things female fashion and we make sure it is pristine and beautiful. That is our hallmark, if you want it beautiful, you want it different, it is Hellidiam that can deliver it.

    So, what is Hellidiam Couture’s trademark signature when a design is made?

    Beauty is first and foremost, a trademark of the brand.

    It was discovered that you also own an academy that trains fashion designers. Tell us about it.

    Yes, we have a fashion academy that has been in existence since the birth of this brand. We train people how to become fashion designers from the beginner’s class to the Advanced class.

    We have different classes where students can pick a particular niche in fashion designing. These niches include; ready-to-wear class, a bridal class, kid’s dresses class, corsetry class, amongst others.

    So, what is the ultimate aim behind Hellidiam Couture Academy and how many fashion designers has the academy churned out?

    To create an avenue for young women to be independent and showcase their skills.

    Since the birth of Helidiiam Couture Academy, we have graduated over 40 fashion designers and presently, we have 10 students.

  • Coker Augustina Wuraola: Integrity is the key to success in travel ecosystem

    Coker Augustina Wuraola: Integrity is the key to success in travel ecosystem

    Coker Augustina Wuraola is the founder and CEO of Cokeson Travels and Tours Limited, one of the most prominent travel agencies in Nigeria. In celebration of the company’s 12 years anniversary, Wuraola spoke with OLAITAN GANIU how she managed to establish her brand with zero capital and turn it into a reputable travel agency among other issues.

    Would you describe the development of Cokeson Travels from its modest origins to the prosperous business it is today?

    Cokeson Travels started as a small travel agency on March 28, 2012, and through hard work, dedication, and a focus on providing quality services, we were able to expand our reach and grow our team. We are proud to have become a leading travel agency as understand that a good reputation and integrity is the only key to success and progress in this sector. Our growth is a testament to the commitment and professionalism of our team and the support of our clients.

    Which of the company’s accomplishments over the previous twelve years make you proud?

    Some of our proudest achievements include the expansion of our services to international destinations, having over twenty corporate organisations in our portfolio, our reputation for quality service, and our loyal customer base. We are also proud of the relationships we have built with our clients and the successful partnerships we have formed with industry leaders.

    Would you mind sharing your survival strategy?

    I would not be where I am today without the support and encouragement of my friends and family, who supported my dreams by giving me business. Their unwavering support and encouragement gave me the strength and determination to pursue my passion for travel and entrepreneurship. I am also grateful for our clients, who continue to trust us with their travel needs and feedback. Our clients are central to our success, and their feedback has helped to shape our services into what they are today. We are grateful for their trust and loyalty to our brand, and we strive to exceed their expectations with every travel experience we create for them.

    How would you rank your current offerings in the travel and tour industry?

    We are constantly striving to improve our services and maintain a high level of expertise in the travel industry. We are currently investing in technology that would enable our customers to book tickets on their own, conveniently. Our clients’ satisfaction is our top priority, and we are proud of our track record of delivering exceptional service. Our uniqueness lies in our ability to provide customized travel solutions that cater to the specific needs and preferences of our clients. We believe in delivering personalized, tailored experiences rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

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    What is your biggest motivation as a travel agent?

    Our biggest motivation is the satisfaction we get from seeing our clients happy and fulfilled after a trip. I love to be of service to people, and putting a smile on the faces of my clients. Knowing that we played a significant role in creating those memories is what drives us to continually improve and do better. Our vision at Cokeson Travels is to become the leading corporate travel management agency in Nigeria, offering innovative travel solutions that exceed our clients’ expectations. Our mission is to provide personalized and exceptional travel experiences that enrich our clients’ lives. We offer a wide range of travel packages, including leisure travel, corporate travel management, medical tourism, honeymoon packages, visa assistance, travel insurance and essentials, group tours, and adventure travel. Each package is carefully curated to meet the unique needs and preferences of our clients.

    Tell us about your educational qualifications.

    I had my first degree in Industrial and Labour Relations at Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago – Iwoye, Ogun State. I proceeded to the University of Lagos for my Master in Human Resource Management, I also have several IATA certifications and I am currently having an advanced study in Tourism and Hospitality Management in Canada .

    How are you coping with the pressures of job and family?

    Balancing family and work can be challenging at times, but we prioritize time management and communication to ensure that both aspects of our lives are attended to and not neglected. My family has been a major source of support in assisting me to handle other domestic aspects of my life, thereby enabling me to focus on work.

    Looking ahead, what are your future plans?

    Our future plans include expanding our service by working with more corporate organisation in Nigeria. We are also working on increasing our focus on sustainable and responsible tourism and leveraging technology to enhance our clients’ travel experiences. We also plan to continue providing our clients with innovative and personalized travel solutions that exceed their expectations. As we look to the future, we plan to continue expanding our services both geographically and by introducing new service lines. We will continue to invest in technology and innovations to stay ahead of industry trends. Overall, we remain committed to providing quality services, building lasting relationships with our clients, and delivering exceptional experiences that exceed their expectations.

  • Tunji Olugbodi: Advertising guru at 60

    Tunji Olugbodi: Advertising guru at 60

    For almost two decades, Dr. Tunji Olugbodi has bestrode Nigeria‘s marketing and advertising terrain like a colossus, leading Verdant Zeal on a progressive trajectory, morphing from a multi-disciplinary organisation into a multi-contextual group with specialised brand marketing competence in Strategy, Content Conceptualisation and Development, Digital & Interactive Media, Public Relations & Custom Publishing, Activation & Experiential Marketing, Specialist Communication, Entertainment, and Intellectual Interventions.

    A prolific and eloquent speaker, and a professional par excellence, Olugbodi has graced several stages, speaking on customer service, marketing, leadership, strategic networking, public relations, risk and crisis management amongst others.

    Personable, confident and enthusiastic, Olugbodi has handled and co-ordinated several high profile campaigns and effectively managed account teams, supervised setting up and running of specialist operations across the whole spectrum of marketing and communications.

    Dr. Tunji Olugbodi is the Executive Vice Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of Verdant Zeal Group; a multi-disciplinary marketing and communications outfit with two international branches in key locations across the West Coast of Africa.

    He is also the convener of The Innovention Series, an annual Thought Leadership Convo that hosts creative and conceptual thinkers to a roundtable discussion on how to apply the concept of innovation to development. The platform has featured many distinguished intellectuals, political leaders and captains of Industry. The current President of Ghana, Nana Akuffo Addo, was once a distinguished speaker at the forum.

    He was recently conferred with the Advertising Personality of the Decade Award by the prestigious Marketing Edge Magazine.

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    A veteran in the industry, his illustrious career spanning over three decades in journalism, advertising and enterprise development has seen him pass through the walls of The Guardian Newspapers, SAAL Advertising, Promoserve-Grey and Prima Garnet Africa before setting up Verdant Zeal in 2007.

    As a result of his multifarious knowledge and ability to interact at all levels, Olugbodi also chairs the board of several other organisations including BT Bytol Group (a cluster of business interests in Travel, Tourism, Confectionery and HR Advisory), Background Check International (B.C.I), Team Building International and Epicentre Events.

    His continuous zeal for personal development, evident right from his undergraduate days at Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University, O.O.U) where he finished top of his class with a Bachelor’s degree in English Language, has seen him participate in several local and international training courses, conferences and workshops.

    He has also represented Nigeria at the World Economic Forum and presented papers at numerous international events like Cambridge Africa Business Network (CABN), at the University of Cambridge, UK.

    Dr. Olugbodi was pioneer chairman of Nigeria’s foremost advertising awards, Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival (LAIF), was recently awarded the LAIF Life Time Achievement Award.  He is a fellow of both the Nigerian Institute of Marketing (NIMN) and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON). He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), London and Institute of Directors (IoD Nigeria). He has received numerous awards and recognition for his works. These include the Living Legends Industry Award (by Red Media Africa) and the Brand Icon Award (by Brand Age Magazine). He was also conferred with a doctorate in Business Economics from Universitẽ Bilingue Libre du Togo (Liberal Bilingual University of Togo).

    Despite Tunji’s extremely engaging secular obligations, he has also been quite active in attending to matters of the Kingdom, serving the Lord in varying capacities. Between 2006 and 2015, he was the Chairman, Board of Governors, Baptist College of Theology, Lagos. 

    He was also the Chairman, Advisory Board, Spiritual Diet daily devotional; Coordinator, Family Life Ministry, Triumphant Baptist Church, Lagos and a Deacon and church council member at Triumphant Baptist Church, Lagos.

    He currently serves as the chairman of the board of BP Productions in Ibadan.

    He places family very highly in the hierarchy of things. Married to Olabiyi Atinuke, his lovely wife of almost three decades, Dr Olugbodi is a family man to the core and he believes that the fastest and surest way to build a strong nation is to foster strong family constituents.

    He is constantly engaged in progressive initiatives and causes. His passion is in travelling, photography and meeting people.

  • Why I set up foundation for women battling trauma of polygamy – Hajia OJ Awa-Ibraheem

    Why I set up foundation for women battling trauma of polygamy – Hajia OJ Awa-Ibraheem

    While she concedes the right to polygamy to Muslim men, as permitted by the Holy Qur’an, Hajia OJ Awa-Ibraheem, business woman, entrepreneur of note and devout Muslim, is of the opinion that men need to begin to consider the implications of their action on their women, as this usually have tremendous mental impact on them. She tells GBOYEGA ALAKA how the urge to help such women led her to founding Hasbunnallah Islamic Foundation.

    Your organisation, Hasbunallah Islamic Foundation seems positioned to help Muslim women in troubled marriages; could you tell us more about it?

    As the name suggests, the Hasbunallah foundation is an Islamic foundation; the idea behind the name is from the Holy Qur’an, meaning ‘God is more than enough’. No matter how bad a situation may be, if you have faith and hold onto Allah, He would ease your burden. That was how I came up with the name. Besides, anytime you’re saying it, you’re also saying a prayer. Because it is an Islamic foundation, it is primarily targeted at Muslim women. The purpose is to help women in polygamy or those who have suddenly found themselves in polygamy. However, I don’t want to limit it to polygamy, because there are women in monogamous marriages, who are worse off than those in polygamy. You have a situation where the man who has gotten somebody else, left the house for a week, and is not doing what the Qur’an says he should do in terms of maintaining that balance, and the woman is there, languishing. Maybe she’s not working or perhaps she’s a petty trader, has five children, who have not eaten, because he had problems with her and did not drop any money. The foundation would be there to help.

    There are also women who are going through the trauma of their husband’s suddenly taking another woman as wife. I discovered that the mental health issues they deal with are enormous; and they are not able to go out and talk about these things. By the way, there are also women who are rich but who are dealing with mental health issues as a result of the trauma arising from this situation. But they suffer in silence. With a foundation like ours, they will have an avenue to unburden; because some just need to ventilate and rant from the point of pain; because in the end, she may still come to the conclusion that ‘I kuku love him, I don’t want anything bad to happen to him. And if it’s somebody who needs to see a psychiatrist, we provide that. And if at the end of the day, she is not able go on with the marriage, then we advise that the transition be made easy for her, and not keep holding on to her. Because if you insist on holding onto her, what then was the need for the second person or third or even fourth woman?

    And for the poor ones?

    For the poor ones, the questions would be like, what do you do for a living? What would you like to do for a living? This is something I am just starting up, but I’m hoping to get people who would join up and help out in terms of helping with agencies where they can offer low-skill work or donations through which the women can be set up to be independent. And if she wants to stay in her husband’s house but be empowered, then we support her – because we really don’t want broken homes, if it can be helped. Experience has shown that women who leave their husbands because he took another wife, still go on to be second or third wife wherever they go to. Unfortunately, it is a vicious cycle.

    Would your organisation also be willing to mediate? Because like you said, you don’t want broken homes.

    That is where we would be inviting people, who either by personal experience or as trained therapists or psychiatrists, to talk to them on the possible outcomes of their separating from their husband. We would be sponsoring programmes, where people can talk to these women. I will be taking a middle ground here, because in fairness, as a Muslim, a man is allowed to have two, three or four wives. So it’s not something that is going to go away anytime soon. However, even though it is permissible, it is not an obligation. As a Muslim, I cannot contradict what is written in the Qur’an, but the Qur’an also states that you should not hurt your fellow human being. Men should understand that it comes with a lot of trauma for the woman.

    How bad does a woman feels in such a situation?

    I see three different situations. If you are in a relationship where there is a lot of commitments and you both started off with nothing, and you build yourself up; irrespective of whether the woman is working or not, the simple fact that the woman is there offering her support makes it very traumatic. If there is a lot of bonding between the couple, it is always very traumatic; but where the woman is unconcerned or not so emotionally attached, then she may eventually just come to terms with it and move on. But from what I’ve seen, there is hardly any woman that will be comfortable with the idea of her husband taking another woman; even if she’s the second, third or any number. I am the second and I kicked against it.

    Many are going to see this as kicking against Islamic tenets; how do you respond to this?

    I know I’m going to come under a lot of fire, but I see myself as someone who can relate in between. I understand the feeling of the first person, and I understand the feeling of the one coming in. I’ve done a lot of extensive research, and I discover that there are quite a lot of imams, who says ‘don’t rock the boat.’ Of course there are instances where it is recommended that a man takes another woman, such as if she’s not able to have children. As a woman, you have to be fair to your man; if you have a terminal disease, you’re not going to be able to take care of the man and his emotional needs; you need to allow him, while he’s still there to support you. Also, there are women who are not sexually excited, and you know that your husband is not going to be able to put up with that; you talk it out with him, and maybe allow him. I know somebody who willingly allows her husband, because she said in six months, they may have sex only once. The man may not be that randy, but he wants it when he wants it. So if these reasons are not there, and it’s matter that can be resolved without necessarily bringing in another woman, then you’re better off – because the trauma on the children too is not small. I have never seen where people who are from the same father are as committed to one another as those from the same mother.

    Read Also: The Grammar of Political Violence

    Basically, what would you say is the inspiration behind this whole project?

    It is basically to help and empower women. This is something I’ve been doing in the background, just that I’ve decided this time to come out and do it as a foundation. Even now, it’s still difficult for me to publicise things that I do; I had to ask a lot of my imams, who said there is nothing wrong in wanting to go this far. They also said my effort may inspire other people. I would like to focus more on the mental and emotional or psychological problems that comes with polygamy or when your husband is philandering. Men need to understand that women are different; we are more emotional and are not able to process things like men would. A lot of women are possessive in nature, just that the degree of the possessiveness and jealousy differs. A woman that is not jealous is simply not with the man she loves. Don’t bring in a woman to torment a woman who is frail psychologically, such that ends up BP issues or even dies.

    The foundation is also into charity, feeding people and all of that; tell us about it.

    That’s where I started from. Hasbunnallau Foundation took roots from the grassroots. Our main targets are the low income people; these are the people who are mostly helpless, because, for them, there is nowhere to go; nobody to turn to. Those are the people, who by the time they’re 60, look like an 80-year-old woman. She’s worn out mentally and emotionally.

    Some would say this foundation is encouraging divorce.

    No, it’s not. Like I said earlier on, some women just need a place where they can vent. They need emotional stability, until they are able to accept that way of life. Imagine a woman you married a virgin, who developed a health issue as a result of the STD and is not able to have more than one or two children; and you now want more children and go on to take another woman. Would such a woman be forgiving? Where does the compromise come in? These are moral issues that we should look at; not just the verse that says you are allowed to marry more than one. I’ve heard a case of a man who married a woman with high body count, got HIV from her and gave the virus to his innocent first wife. True she may not leave the man, but she’s going to be resentful towards him.

    How are you funding this whole thing?

    Most of the money is coming from my personal fund for now. Initially, I was a bit shortsighted, but I have this younger sister, who told me, ‘Aunty, you have a good vision, but you’re short-sighted,’ because I was always against videoing it when we give the food packages to people. But she told me, ‘no, things don’t work that way. You’re not going to be able to fund this forever. There are a lot of aspects to this. If you want to help these women, how many jobs can you offer them? You need to look for people who can offer them jobs; so you need to let people see what you’re doing. I have another foundation called Paulin Dinya, which provide temporary mobile housing for distressed women.

    You have not quite answered my question on feeding people. How many of such outreaches have you carried out?

    Oh yes, we’ve done outreaches. We’ve done 850 packs of dry food during this Ramadan. We gave rice, beans, garri; some were two kg, some were one and half kg, some 1kg. I told them to disburse them randomly; but because it was done by my imam, naturally, he did at his mosque in Agege; Morkaz, Iyana Ipaja, Dopemu. I also told them, put extra and give to anyone they come across whom they perceive needs it. My husband also gave me an envelope with money, so we inserted some little cash. Now I’m resolved to do a bigger one.

    Will you be welcoming support, maybe from international donors or even locally?

    Oh yes, we will be welcoming voluntary support. We’re eventually going to be along the medical line, because we’re talking about trauma; I already have one or two friends, who have said once you start, let us know, we’ll be willing. But most of the responsibility will be coming from me. I did my birthday last year, and I decided to do a medical outreach at Anwar-ul-Islam School, Agege; and would you believe the number of women that had High Blood Pressure? It was there that this idea started forming in my mind. If it is difficult for me to cope with, what will the other woman with less means do?

    Tell us about yourself

    My name is O J Awa-Ibrahim. I am an entrepreneur; I have three businesses:  GlamourLounge Spa; I have a chain of perfume shops called Perfect Scent Designer Perfumes; I’m opening another one in Lekki and another in GRA. And I have a construction business, PaulinDinya Development. The construction business is the one that’ll be handling the PaulinDinya Trust Foundation for displaced women and children. The PaulinDinya thing is a family thing that I hope to run with my siblings.

  • Ladipo: My close shaves with death supporting football

    Ladipo: My close shaves with death supporting football

    • Says best way to manage football tense moments is to watch with 50-50 expectation

    President-General, Nigerian Football Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, speaks on his nearly fifty years adventure supporting the Super Eagles and other Nigerian football teams at home and across the globe. He also shared his recent AFCON experience in Cote d’Ivoire and some of his close shaves with death on the beat with Gboyega Alaka.

    At well over 70, you look so sharp and trendy; what have been the secret for you?

    There is no secret in ageing; it’s just God’s grace, God’s blessing. It is by the grace of God that one grows old and looks youthful; and that is what has happened to my life, aside the fact that I don’t do what I cannot manage. I don’t drink, and I don’t smoke. I really don’t even womanise. And I don’t put my hands into what I cannot manage or look for what I cannot get. God has given everybody that opportunity to be whatever they want to be but He has not given you the right to look for what He has not blessed you with; and if you force yourself to look for what He has not blessed you with, then you’re looking for trouble.

    You have been active going everywhere, supporting Nigerian football for forty years; you were even in Cote d’Ivoire; are you not tired?

    No, I am not tired. I love what I’m doing, and I’m always filled with joy when I’m doing it; so I really don’t get tired. Besides, I can never get tired of doing it for my country. I love Nigeria so much and I believe that every Nigerian, be you a boy or a girl; a man or a woman, must give your best to the good and positive image of our country. Take a look at this Nigerian flag on my shirt; it’s on all my clothes and I’m probably the only Nigerian who dresses like this. It is borne out of my love for Nigeria.

    Interesting how you espouse so much love for Nigeria in an age when many young people, even the not so young, are quick to vilify and even curse their country? What message do you have for such people?

    I do know that there are problems in the country; but when you curse the country, then, the more problems we may have; and whatever problems we may have, you are involved. Your children will be involved; even those yet unborn will be involved. So the best thing is to calm down, pray to God that Nigeria sees better days and better years ahead. Nobody wakes up in the morning and places a curse on himself, so why curse your country? We need to pray for Nigeria. Even if you move to any other country, whether the United States or the United Kingdom, you are in the first place a Nigerian, and you have family here – whether immediate of extended. Even if you die overseas, your people will bring your corpse home; and even if they don’t, a time will come when people will ask your children about their father’s grave site.

    You were in the stadium during that AFCON semi-final match against South Africa; Nigeria lost so many people in that tension-soaked match, but here you are, a veteran of so many football ‘wars,’ still standing tall. How have you managed those tense moments?

    First and foremost, I want to thank God for my life, for seeing me through all these years of many  ‘football wars’, violence, hooliganisms and the rest. It is God’s spirit that has kept me. If I cast my mind to how I became a member of the Supporters Club, it believe it was borne out of God wanting to use me. I was at the National Stadium, Surulere in 1977, when IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan were to play Bendel Insurance FC in an FA Cup semi final match; I got into the stadium after paying N4 but I couldn’t get a seat and had to stand. Before I knew it, I was taken off the ground and throw in the air. I landed on the concrete and before I knew it, over 50 people were on top of me and I couldn’t breathe. But through the grace of God, I was saved. Indeed, the first half, I couldn’t watch because I was under the concrete slab. It was the breeze that was coming from outside the stadium that saved me. After the first half, I came out and I was given a small seat. Even after the match ended, I was still uncomfortable and remained in the stadium for over one hour, shaken. Later at home, I heard over the 9 o’ clock news on television that 32 people died in the stadium. That was when I realised I could have been gone, and I thanked God for saving my life. I have seen so many football ‘wars’, whether in Nigeria or outside. Whether we’re winning or losing, I’ve been in the thick of things. However, nobody is a wise man. Only God gives wisdom. Nobody knows tomorrow; so I want to appreciate the lives of those that died on that day. I pray that God gives their families the fortitude to bear the loss. It was a big sacrifice for Nigeria.

    Is there any technique to disengaging one’s emotion from the game?

    There is; and I’ll tell you. I used to be very emotional, but there was a day in 1984, when Shooting Stars were playing Zamalek FC of Egypt in an African Champions League final and I fainted as a result of the tension and everything. The press took my photo, and the next day, I saw my picture in the paper with the caption: ‘The lifeless body of Dr. Rafiu Ladipo. The day the Nigerian flag refused to fly.’ Thereafter, I adopted a formula, which is to always go to the stadium or watch any football game with a 50-50 frame of mind. You may win, you may lose; and if you lose, don’t lose your life. If you lose the match, don’t lose your head. Anybody who goes to a game with over emotional frame of mind or fanatical, is not doing himself any good – because blood pressure can rise at any point in time. I cannot afford to be over emotional because I’ve done it over. For forty-eight years of my life, I’ve been doing this all across the world, so there is nothing new to me anymore. When we were going to play the final match against Cote d’Ivoire, I called one of my guys and said, ‘I am going to the stadium with a 50-50 frame of mind, we may win, we may lose. So when the match ended and we lost, I was singing with the Ivoirians, because they probably would have attacked us. I knew that having won, they would yell at us to celebrate with them. It’s just a game of football and it’s fun; somebody has to win, somebody has to lose.

    Some Nigerians who experienced the tense atmosphere in the stadium during that final match have also said it was better Nigeria lost; that getting out of the stadium with victory could have come with some repercussion. Do you think so?

    Yes, it may have happened. Because the stadium gates were opened for free for the Ivoirians, everybody had the opportunity to come. But we had to pay for our tickets. The NFF gave us 150 tickets, and I had over 500 people; so I had to purchase form my members. Unfortunately, when we got to the car park, they asked us trek a distance of about ten kilometres to the stadium. That was the arrangement; and it occurred to me that if we didn’t get to the stadium in time and take our space, we would not be able to gain access. And it happened. All the other people who could not trek and were waiting for shuttle buses couldn’t enter the stadium. I saw thousands of people who came into Cote d’Ivoire to see the match, but they could not enter the stadium, because even those who paid 500 dollars to see a game of 5000 CFA could not even access the stadium. So indeed the tension was there. Every Ivoirian in the stadium was wearing orange, unlike in Nigeria, where when you tell people to come to the stadium in green and white, they would come in Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal jersey and the rest. That is no patriotism. Patriotism starts from the belief in your country. Support your country. As a player, if you see the kind of crowd like the Ivoirians gave to their team and their unity and support, you as a player will be moved to make your country proud. Even when we scored them, they were still not perturbed and they came to score two goals to win. And when the game ended, we took it in our stride and celebrated with the winners. There was an occasion in London in 1994, when we went to play England. We entered the stadium with our drums and trumpets, and after they had beaten us 1-0, we were still beating our drums, singing and dancing, so their journalists who were surprised came to us and asked: ‘You have just been beaten, why are you still singing and dancing?’ And I told them, it’s a game of football, somebody has win, somebody has to lose. And if you lose a game, you don’t lose your head. From that stadium, they took me in their vehicle to BBC London to go and educate their English fans on how to support their team without being violent. I had five of such interview before I left England.

    There were videos of Nigerian supporters, who on their way back from the stadium after the final match, were being jeered at; did you experience that as well?

    I did, but like I told you, I was not angry with them. Rather, I started singing with them; and when they saw that I was singing with them, my men also joined; so they were hugging us rather than fighting us.

    You are a global citizen when it comes to football; what would be your best football moment as a supporter?

    I will say 1996 in Atlanta. In Atlanta ’96, we played the first round of game with Brazil and lost 1-0; we continued and progressed to meet Brazil again in the semi-final. At a point, Brazil was leading us 3-1; and then I had an inspiration from God to sing a song: ‘He’s a miracle working God, He’s the Alfa and Omega, He’s a miracle working God…’; 25 minutes to the end of the match, we were awarded a penalty and we lost it; and the player was even laughing. But I still had the belief that we would win the match, so I told my people to continue singing. I remember one of my members coming to me to say, ‘Egbon, are you not mad? How can you think we can still win this game even when we’re 3-1 down against Brazil?’ I told him not to worry, and we continued singing. Then we scored the second goal; and that was when the then Sports Minister, Chief Jim Nwobodo left his VIP seat and came to me and said ‘Dr, this song you’re singing; it’s like there is going to be a miracle today o’; I told him to watch and see. Then I changed my song to ‘I have a father who never fails…”; and before we finished that song, an equalising goal came; and then I changed my song to A ya chukwu naga za, … Give it to God, He will help you solve your problem. And it happened that we scored them 4-3 in Extra Time; and they started crying. That was when I did another song: When Nigeria beat Brazil; when Nigeria beat Brazil o, Bebeto start to cry…’. That was one of my best moments in football. And then came the final against Argentina. It went the same way, they were leading 2-1, the same songs were rendered and we beat them 3-2 to claim the gold medal. Nigeria claimed that gold first before any other nation. That is a thing of pride, a bragging right.

    Back to the recent; there was this constant chant of Osimhen, as if he was the only one on the pitch; why?

    The team was built around him, and having just won the African Footballer of the Year Award, a lot was expected from him. We were doing that to encourage him. Even though he was not scoring the goals, he was putting in his best and running all over the pitch, to the extent that the opponents were chasing him, thereby creating space for the likes of Lookman to score. Don’t forget, he even won two penalties for the team.

    You were chairman of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, and then you became President-General; tell us about the dynamics that got you here.

    I didn’t just become the chairman. I was the nation’s flag-bearer for 13 years. Anytime the team was playing and you see a man come out of the tunnel with the Nigerian flag, I was that man. I would go to the dressing room, interact with the players, I would even be the one to tell them when to come to the field. At that time, once you see me come out with the flag, know that the players were coming out. I was very close to them- whether it was the Odegbami’s, the Muda Lawal, Kunle Awesu, Christian Chukwu, even Jay Jay Okocha, Rashidi Yekini; so I rose within the ranks. First I became the Assistant Secretary; then I became the Acting General Secretary, Chairman, Disciplinary Panel; then I was elected chairman in 1990. And that was the time I had the opportunity to register the association. Before then, we were not registered. That is why, officially, I am the founder. I am also the chairman, Board of Trustees. I was also the one that took the Supporters Club to all the states of the federation. I ensured there were branches across the country and all across the world. By 1992, I went to Cote d’Ivoire to launch the Supporters Club there. They have eight chapters there. From there, I moved to Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Gambia, Togo, Republic of Benin… By 1995, I was in the United States of America; and then France, London, England, Holland, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Spain. I went there personally to galvanise Nigerians there and inaugurated chapters of the Nigerian Supporters Club there. Even in China and Australia; so that when we have tournaments in those countries, no matter the number we are able to take from here, we have huge numbers waiting for us there. Even in Trinidad and Tobago.

    At a time there was a tussle for leadership. How did you manage that?

    Having been chairman for ten years, somebody else who became the national chairman, while I got elevated by election. Because there were already chapters all over the world, there was this new leadership change that required that we have a President-General, who would be like a father figure to all the chapters; and you cannot rise to become President-General, unless you have been a chairman for two terms. It’s in our constitution. Somehow, some people felt that the man has become so popular, some even asked, why President-General? But those who opposed the President-General title then now want to become President-General today.

    Read Also: Eight things to know about Mr. Ibu

    Many also think that you make a lot of money from these things, which is why you don’t want to leave.

    That’s the belief, but the irony is that I became the first national president of the Freight Forwarders and Clearing Agents in Nigeria in 1986; even before I became chairman of the supporters club. So I made my money from the ports. I was the person clearing for all the big companies: Dr. Mike Adenuga’s companies: Devcom Merchant Bank, Equitorial Trust Bank, Globacom; the Dangote Group, Arisekola Group. Because of my position as national president of the clearing association, I was so popular and respected, and I was making money. I was clearing 500, 300, 250 containers, 1000 vehicles for a lot of people. And that was how I made my money. How do you make money from a  club where a member pays N500 as monthly due? If we have 1,000 members, the maximum we would make in a year is six million. These are people who travel and I get them huge sums like N100million etc. How do I get the money? Through sponsorship. Because of the connection from my job, I brought people like Adenuga and Globacom into football. In fact we started with DEVCOM Merchant Bank. Incidentally, I also became a director of Equitorial Trust Bank. So my money was not made from football. In fact, you cannot be the leader of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club if you’re not rich. If you’re not rich, you must be influential, to look for money and sponsorship. We went to Cote d’Ivoire; people should ask how we got money to go. No government gave me money. Since we have been running Supporters’ Club, the only government that ever gave me money was Goodluck Jonathan, who gave us N50million when we were to go to Brazil in 2014; and we ended up spending N189million. I sourced for the difference. Of course I tell my members to pay 30 per cent of whatever it will cost them to stay wherever we go; the balance of 70 per cent, I raise from sponsors. Globacom sponsored us for almost 17 years, until they fell out with the NFF. Of course, I have others like Sifax;, they are into maritime, aviation and banking. The chairman is my brother and my friend. I just told him, you will need to sponsor us o. He asked what do we do? I said ‘Give me some money,’ and he gave me some money with which we made t-shirts. That’s why you saw Sifax on some of our t-shirts in Cote d’Ivoire. And people were calling him from all over the world, telling him they saw his company name on the Supporters Club vests on TV. Then he sent his head of corporate department, Muyiwa Akande, to come to Cote d’ Ivoire and meet me after making more t-shirts. He also gave me more money. Also, I was sitting here when I got a call from Nigerian Breweries Plc, Biola Wasiu; he happened to be my junior in secondary school. I am their president-general in the alma mater association. He told me my company will sponsor you. That is goodwill. They also paid for t-shirts. They also paid my national chairman, Rev Sam Ikpea’s air ticket and later my air ticket from Abuja to Cote d’Ivoire.

    Indeed you have earned the goodwill serving the nation selflessly all these years. Like the Minister of Sports, Senator John Enoh said the other day, anybody who does not know you does not have any business in sports.

    I have taken those words of the minister as something I will use to propagate the name of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club. I thank the minister for saying that and I want him to live up to his words. If he truly meant his words, then he should treat our organisation, The Nigerian Football supporters Club, as such. Yes, there are several supporters’ club today, but how many of them has been able to achieve what we have achieved?

  • ‘I can’t understand why Nigerians are fleeing their country’

    ‘I can’t understand why Nigerians are fleeing their country’

    • Says: Nigeria is beautiful; I want to be Nigerian so bad
    • Why I’m facilitating hospital from Mount Sinai New York

    Trinidad and Tobago by birth, American by migration and ‘Nigerian’ by marriage, Chief Helen Ajetumobi Oyesanya would actually pass for a Nigerian in any crowd, especially with her dressing. In this interview with Gboyega Alaka, she talks about her marriage to her Nigerian babalawo husband, her love for Nigeria and why she is facilitating a world class hospital to Nigeria.

    You’re American married to a Nigerian, a Yoruba; and you’ve also shown so much love for Nigeria. Tell us about your plan to bring a world class health facility to Nigeria.

    My name is Olori Helen Ajetumobi Oyesanya. I am an American married to a Nigerian, Fakunle Oyesanya PhD. I live in New York. I am also Yeye Atayese of Ojokoro land, because by virtue of my marriage, I also visit Nigeria regularly and I contribute to my community.

    Tell us about this whole idea of bringing a health facility to Nigeria.

    When I first came to Nigeria, I realised, because I work in the medical sector, that the healthcare system is very poor. And I’m saying to myself, if something happen to me in Nigeria, what kind of assistance am I going to get medically? So I spoke to my husband and I said, since I work in a hospital in New York and I have access to doctors and all these different things because of my position as a midwife/administrator; I have 350 doctors working under me and I’m the one who certifies them to work in the hospital. So being that I have that clout and the ability to get to the CEO of Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, where I have worked for over 38 years; I’ve actually been with them for like 45 years, but I’ve worked for them for 38 years as a midwife; so I thought I should be able to do something. Coming to Nigeria – I love Nigeria; let me interject that; I have decided that what we have in the United States, we can also have here. So I told my husband that when I go back to the United States, I am going to summon the head doctors and tell them, this is the state of the medical facilities in Nigeria and this is what I think we should do to help them.

    So I had meetings with them and they were kind of taken aback. For them, it’s an opportunity to get to do something for Nigeria. As Americans, they always like to be on top, to show people what they can do and how they can go about doing things better. But I know that once you train my Nigerian people, we can do it better too. All we need is the push.

    So now, it is the doctors back in New York who have started calling me, asking ‘Helen, are you still going to do this thing? And I keep telling them, ‘ Yes, we’re going to do it, we’re going to build the hospital in Nigeria, and that when I go back this time, I am going to see how we can get the land to build the hospital. Probably get investors; or get the medical authorities in Nigeria to help us facilitate the project. So right now, 2024, they are waiting on me to get back to feed them back on who I spoke with and what has transpired. So, I am so happy that we eventually met with the permanent secretary for the Commissioner of Health, for us to move forward in this regard. I really want to situate this medical centre in Nigeria, so that instead of people trying to go abroad to access treatment, even have babies; we have the best facilities here, such that they don’t have to spend the kind of huge amount of money they spend. Instead of going to America, Canada, UK, we can do it right here.

    This hospital, what form is it going to take; what sections or departments are we looking at?

    The hospital is going to consist of a gynaecology department, paediatrics’ departments; you Gynaecology is very important. As a midwife, I take that very seriously, because when you’re pregnant, you have one foot in the door and another foot out. So I want to make sure that all mothers live and all babies live.

    You also hinted on having hostel facilities.

    Our intention is to have a hostel for doctors and other health personnel who will be coming from outside the country- because we in Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, facilitate doctors from all over the world. They come to our hospital for training, because we have school – ICAHN School of Medicine. So most people come from around the world to attend our school because it is very prestigious. We want to do the same thing here and have some of our doctors do tours and train the Nigerian doctors and nurses that pass out.  They can also come into our hospital in New York do a tour. This is to open up the way for all Nigerian doctors and nurses to have a part in this hospital and in this medical system. Because it is the best!

    Are you talking of training the Nigerian doctors in the facilities here or in New York?

    We can do both. They can probably do like a skit in New York for like a year. But I don’t think it makes much sense for them to go over to New York, when we’re going to have doctors coming from New York, Germany, UK, India, China… ; they will all rotate and come here. That’s why we need a hostel for them to stay because they’d be staying no more than six months. And we want to work with the health care system of Nigeria that already exists. We can help do the upgrading in that system, because I understand that the system now is collapsing. It’s broken, and we don’t want it broken. We want to help fix it; we want to work together as partners. We don’t want to do anything private and separate.

    You’ve spoken repeatedly about your love for Nigeria; what fuels it?

    You know, I always wanted to come to Africa; I always wanted to know what Africa is all about; I always wanted to know about the motherland; because me, my background is the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago; and we have lots of Yoruba and Igbo people living there as migrants. Don’t forget we are children of slaves. I’m really happy to come back home

    So it’s about coming back to your roots?

    Yes, coming back to my roots. When I came to Nigeria and I saw what they do and how the place is set up, I was like this is just like back home in Trinidad and Tobago. The tradition, the respect that we have for each other, that we have for elders…  I know the Yoruba is in us; the Igbo is in us; any which way. The lineage and lifestyle of the Yoruba people is very pronounced in our life. Everything they do, from the Orisha, we have it rampant in the Caribbean. They love us, they embrace us, we embrace them too. I like their food. I love the ewedu; that’s my favourite; I love jollof rice; there is another one that I love to cook, egusi.

    You know how to make it?

    Yes. I learnt it from my husband. He’s a good cook. Everywhere I go and see people cooking on the three stones and the charcoal, I want to be part of it. They bring the best taste in food out. I don’t want to cook with gas. I also like village life. I’m not the city person. I love to be able to leave my door open. So that neighbours can come over and we can sit down together and have a conversation. I love the farming…That’s all I want. And I will like to invite the president of Nigeria to my home; I will personally cook for him and his wife, ewedu, egusi; whatever he wants. I want to be Nigerian so bad.

    Did you live that kind of life back in Trinidad and Tobago?

    I grew up in both the village and city in Trinidad and Tobago, and then I migrated to the United States of America. We have lots of villages like Toco, Cedros, Debe, San Fernando, Moruga; we also have cities like Port au Spain, Curene, Tuna Puna, Barataria and so on and so forth. The villages are where you have the Yoruba people deep south of Trinidad and Tobago.

    Do you still have some Yoruba vocabulary as part of your language?

    I think so. Trinidad is a melting port; a lot of people came to Trinidad and changed the language, creating a mixture. Remember, we have Venezuela just five miles away, and then we have Grenada 15 minutes away, and Barbados. One day I found myself going to Barbados for breakfast, having lunch in Grenada and coming back to Trinidad for supper in just one day. These are islands and you can go by boat or by plane.

    Trinidad and Tobago is a pot pourri of culture. You had Spanish people come from Venezuela, from Spain; my grandmother is from Spain, Barcelona; my grandfather’s relatives come from Germany; they come down to France and to China. My mother side is Indian. So I also have the Hindu culture.

    Interestingly, Nigerians condemn their country and have lots of bad commentary about her; but here you are extolling the same country.

    Nigerians are the happiest people I know. But they don’t know. Everybody wants to come to the United States, but, no. This is the place you’re supposed to be and develop. If you do come to the United States for education, you must come back home to develop your country. My husband is a Nigerian and he’s going to get his PhD probably by the end of the month; and I’ve told him that when he gets his certificate, he has to come back home and service the people of Nigeria.

    Are you saying Nigerian’s going abroad to live is misplaced?

    I think so. I think they should develop this beautiful country. Teach the youths because the youths are our tomorrow; we have to train them, we have to teach them. And I know they are willing to learn, we just have to open the doors for them. And I’m here to do that. I see people leave Nigeria as qualified medical doctors and end up working as domestics in America. And I wonder, ‘how can you be a good doctor in Nigeria and you’re baby-sitting in the United States, walking the dog and wiping do noses? If I’m a doctor in my country and I have to relocate, then I’m going to be a doctor wherever I’m relocating to. Something is wrong there. There is a disconnection. And I’m so happy that President Tinubu is in, because he’s a grassroots person, and I know he’s going to have two terms, and he is going to change the face of Nigeria. We just need to give him a chance.

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    I will also like the president to invite me the next time I come to Nigeria in May; I will like to have a conversation with him on enhancing tourism in Nigeria; how to bring people from all parts of the world to Nigeria and let them see how beautiful Nigeria is – because Nigeria is beautiful.

    How did you meet your husband?

    We’ve been together probably twelve years; and we’ve been married for ten years.

    What was the attraction?

    (Laughs heartily) I met him through some friends; he’s very quiet. Up till this moment, he doesn’t talk much. I was married and divorced; and I hadn’t seen anybody for 17 years until I met him.

    Really? That’s hardly believable.

    True.  I didn’t really want a relationship or anything like that but we just got drawn to each other and stuff. I’m a person for education; and being that he’s from Nigeria, I asked him: ‘how far have you gone with your education?’ And when he told me that he went to Yabatech and stuffs like that, I asked what he wanted to do in America to better himself? And he said he’d like to go back to school but that funds were very low. I asked if he had children and if they were in school, and when he said they were not in school and that he hoped to make enough money to send them to school. I told him, why don’t you look for a school and I’d will fund it? So I funded his schooling until he reached his PhD level. I came to Nigeria and I met his children, and I made provision for them to go to school, from primary to university.

    All this while, had you started a relationship or you were still friends?

    Not yet. Because I really wasn’t looking out for a relationship, just friendship; and then we started getting closer; because you know you can’t just see somebody and just get into a relationship. But he showed me the kind of person he was and I thought probably I should try a relationship. And it’s something I’m not sorry about till this day. He’s the best husband anybody can have.

    Who made the move?

    I think I did, because he was kind of quiet and shy, whereas I’m an outgoing and outspoken. We went for lunch; I would never forget it because it was a Good Friday. I took him out, we came back to my house and he never left (laughs).

    Could we say part of the reasons you fell in love with him was the pull of Africa?

    No, I love him for him. But when he brought me to Africa, I love him more and I love my people in Africa, because I feel like I’m home now. I’m satisfied. I’ve built houses here as well. I have two houses in Ikorodu, Lagos; I just bought a farm in Ijebu, Iperu Remo.

    How do you interact with your neighbours? Don’t they give you some distance, seeing that you are ‘oyinbo’?

    Well, they love oyinbo in my neighbourhood. They love me because I relate with them very well. I try to do things in my community… The last time I came, we got a tractor and widened the road; we took off all the garbage; I have my crew, the guys, the youths…

    How do you feel about your title, Yeye Atayese?

    I am Yeye Atayese of Ojokoro. I was given the title by the Oba of Ojokoro, Oba Oluwalanbe. I think they gave me this title because I love to beautify things; I like to make things happen, I’m a community person, I like to bring people together. People should think more of what they can do for the government, not what the government can do for them.

  • Like the prince in ‘Coming to America’, I met her in Queens –Hubby, Chief Fakunle Oyesanya

    Like the prince in ‘Coming to America’, I met her in Queens –Hubby, Chief Fakunle Oyesanya

    How did you meet your wife; you have practically Yorubanised her?

    I don’t know if you have watched the movie, Coming to America. In that movie, you’d recall that there is an African prince that went to Queens to get his queen. Same way, when I went to Queens, though not deliberately, I met my queen. And ever since, we sort of gravitated towards each other. We discovered that we were always flowing on the same page. Also she is somebody who is spiritual, and as a Babalawo, we got closer.  Yes, I’m a babalawo, that’s what I do in the United States. I practise Ifa and I also deliver Ifa lectures all over the United States. That was how we met. So she’s my Olori. I am also the Eletu of Ojokoro.

    So what are you studying now?

    I am studying Psychology, with a specialisation in Advanced Studies in Human Behaviour. 

    How easy was it for her to settle into the Nigerian life?

    She blended very easily. She’s somebody who is well cultured and homely and loves to live among people. So when she came to Nigeria and saw that this was kind of similar to the kind of life she was used to in Trinidad, she adapted. And of course, she doesn’t even want people to call her oyinbo. She is always quick to correct them that, ‘I’m not oyinbo, I am African like you.’ She is related to so many races like she pointed out, but of course she also has African blood in her and I think that African blood is stronger than the others. I think that’s why she loves to be with me and to come to Nigeria. As a matter of fact, we have decided that we’re not going to live till old age in the United States; we are coming back to settle finally in Nigeria.

    What would you say about Nigerians who are jumping on every means and opportunity to go to Europe and America?

    The truth is that a lot of them don’t really know how it is over there. It is not everybody that japa that becomes successful. There is a lot going on in the United States now, even in European countries; things are not really as rosy as they used to be. I’ve seen people in the United States sleeping under bridges, picking food from garbage, roaming about, doing all sorts of unimaginable things to survive. Its’ like the Yoruba proverb of Omo onile Olona (Son of a wealthy man, who now do dishonourable things to survive.)

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    How did you get into this babalawo profession?

    I was born into it. My father was a babalawo. He was the Araba of Odi-Olowo; I was born and raised in the Ifa religion. While I was growing up, I was learning Ifa and going to school at the same time, although I never thought I would choose Ifa as a profession.

    How come you now ended up practising it?

    One thing we have to realise is that destiny can never be changed. We all have chosen our path in life, but getting to the earth, because of environmental factors and other distractions, we tend to choose glamorous professions like doctors and co, without taking time to find out whether it aligns with your path in life. I first studied Fine Art at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos. I majored in painting and have done a lot of exhibitions at the National Museum at Onikan, Didi Museum; in Japan, in America; but I really never got anything substantial in terms of reward or any achievement that I could point at. It’s like I was just working and working without getting anything out of it. But people were always approaching me to get something out of Ifa; and I had already been told that no matter what, I was always going to come back to practise Ifa as a babalawo. I now discovered that when I now settled down to really focus on it, I started seeing a lot of changes. So not onto me but onto Ifa be the glory. Whatever I have become today is by the grace of Ifa. And of course that is the more reason I chose to study psychology, because it has to do with human behaviour, same as Ifa. So I see psychology as a way of complementing the Ifa work.

  • IGUNMA OSA-JEAN: Benin artistic heritage inspires me

    IGUNMA OSA-JEAN: Benin artistic heritage inspires me

    Igunma Osa-Jean is a designer and CEO of Olode and Thread. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, he opens up about his humble beginnings, experiences with leather, designing sneakers, exploring Benin’s arts heritage, and how studying engineering inspires the things that he does.

    Tell us about your experience as a designer.

    When I started, being a fashion designer it wasn’t as glamorous as it is today. There were mostly local tailors and a handful of people who had made a name for themselves in the vocation, most of them no longer in the industry. so we didn’t have the prospects of untold riches, a long fruitful career, or anything like that. I can’t remember any kid back in primary or secondary school who said they wanted to be fashion designers when they grew up. Tailors were for the most part the black sheep of the society and extremely few educated people were happy to take on that role. That was a long time ago and a lot has changed since then.

    One of the things I set out to do in my own little way was to alter the perception that designers weren’t reliable or professional in how they conducted business. It turns out that trying to proffer a solution to that challenge was a lucrative endeavor. I haven’t looked back since.

    I have transitioned from the guy who wanted to make ends meet by selling local handmade leather goods out of my laptop bag, to running a brand that stages fashion pop-ups in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York.

    It’s been a lot of work and I’ve met a lot of people. I think that’s my favourite part of being a designer – meeting people. I can’t possibly imagine sitting behind a desk doing a 9-5. I like to go out. The very thought of scouting new fabrics, and conceptualising new ideas or designs thrills me.

    What inspired you to go into the sector?

    Honestly? I needed a job. I have always had an eye for details. Growing up in Benin, once I got to the age where I could make my outfits, I was amazed at how difficult it was to get a tailor/designer who could make me the quality of outfits I wanted. Then there was the issue of ordering clothes and getting them months later, which tailors are kind of renowned for in this part of the world.

    At the time I experienced all of this, I didn’t do much about it. It just sort of crept into my subconscious, knowing there was a void there that needed to be filled. I did a lot of sciences in school, so I couldn’t have imagined I would be the one to fill that gap. I wanted to be a doctor the first time I wrote JAMB. I couldn’t be any further away from that dream now, seeing how I turned out. Looking back, I’m glad I failed JAMB that year.

    I collected music and fashion magazines around the time and I had moderate drawing skills. So, I was immersed in the culture and it was a time when hip-hop and fashion were very intertwined, hence streetwear was quite influential. The likes of Marc Ecko, Akademiks, Enyce, Mecca, and Girbaud, were massive then. so I would listen to hip hop and wear fake Meccas and Sean Jean in the day, then read GQ all night and learn about the work Hedi Slimane and Ozwald Boateng were doing at more prestigious houses like Dior and Givenchy.

    I started sketching sneakers and even emailed some of my works to Ecko and LRG. The internet was just becoming a thing in this part of the world at the time and I would go to cybercafes miles away from where I lived just to check my email to see if I got any replies. One time I got a response from LRG. A gentleman called Osa, who ironically was my namesake. He didn’t offer me a job or anything like that though, just some sort of thumbs up. Since there was absolutely no avenue to explore the manufacturing of the sneakers I designed, I settled for making leather slippers. That was a low-hanging fruit that ushered me into the world of fashion.

    What are some of the achievements and challenges?

    I don’t know if I have achievements. I don’t see my work like that. I started 2 decades ago by myself with N3,500 and today I have an operation with some twenty-something members of staff. Those are real people with real jobs who serve other people and that’s something I take delight in – serving people. So I guess I can say we have been blessed with the opportunity to create something with which we have created a connection with so many people.

    As for challenges, they’re replete albeit not peculiar to me. It’s the same challenges faced by young people doing business in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world.

    I mentioned I started with N3,500, there has never been any point in my business where I had any sort of external injection of funds into the business. I have had to grow it day by day, Naira upon Naira and that can be VERY challenging. Not having the requisite database or well-documented archives to learn from is a serious challenge in the Nigerian fashion industry or at least it was when I started. Then there’s the issue of government policies and how it affects our work in real-time.

    Take, for example, the ongoing dollar conundrum. Like I said earlier, that is something we’re all dealing with as a collective but it hits differently when you’re one of the people that need to source forex directly to import things. 

    The good thing about challenges though is that everyone has them and managing them circumspectly can separate you from the crowd. Challenges are good. I’m a Nigerian, challenges don’t scare us. If the fight is fair, we will win.

       What is your assessment of the performance of Nigerian designers?

    Nigerians are some of the most clever people on earth and I don’t say that because I’m a Nigerian. The industry is growing very fast and the number of players is increasing by the minute. As you would expect, there are a lot of fantastic designers out there. When you go around, it’s easy to notice a preponderance of Nigerian talents in other African markets and they’re highly sought after in these markets. 

    You studied Engineering.  What did you do with it and how does it inspire your designs?

    I didn’t go through with studying engineering.  I dropped out after a year and a half or so. I wound up studying business and later on fashion. Fashion is engineering for the human body. Both are technical, wired around numbers, and require a lot of attention to detail if it’s to be done correctly. I would say my time studying engineering helped me develop an obsession with accuracy and the need to keep things simple. The best designs are not easy, but they are simple. It takes a lot of work to keep highly technical things simple.

    You started with leather goods, what was the experience?

    I love shoes! After sketching a ton of sneakers and realising there wasn’t any chance of having them designed locally, I decided to start manufacturing leather slippers and slides. I found a gentleman who had a small factory around the New Benin area. I gave him my designs and he churned them out nicely. They were pretty good and people liked them. I started with 2 pairs, and gradually built it up from there. In no time, I had bags of leather slippers. Meanwhile, he had a hard time keeping up with production, so I’d spend hours with him at the factory helping out because we had delivery deadlines to meet. That was how I learned shoemaking.

    A few years down the line, then president Olusegun Obasanjo banned the importation of leather which my business relied heavily on. The quality of the local alternative was subpar so that affected sales significantly. That was what informed the decision to evolve into clothing as I had earlier collaborated with a friend who made clothes and he in turn sold my slippers since both items were complimentary. I figured for every pair of slippers I sold, the same customer was interested in buying maybe 2 or 3 outfits. There weren’t any eureka moments to it. It was common sense, I was in the wrong business, so to speak. I started a clothing line the right way.

    How does the Benin artistic and rich heritage inspire you?

    You’re correct. The Benin artistic heritage is very rich and it inspires even people who are not from there. When the British force raided the city in the 1897 punitive expedition, they didn’t spare the people but spared our art on a large scale. It says a lot. We are a people whom God has blessed tremendously. We have proven to be prolific craftsmen over time and I think that still runs in our blood to this day. So it’s not just the external influences but the very fact that I am from there that reflects in my work. 

    At what point did you diversify to Women’s clothing?

    That was in 2017 and I did so for a few reasons. Whenever I’d make clothes for my male clientele, their wives would get mad at me for leaving them out. I figured I was leaving money on the table since I already had a potential customer base just sitting there. I also noticed a lot of tackiness in the women’s clothing I saw around. If the clothes fit very well, which a lot of women seemed to be more concerned with, designers could get away with poorly finished work or they just threw embellishments at it. I thought I could do better. Plus I was kind of getting bored with men’s fashion anyway. Womenswear is more adventurous and has unlimited room for creativity as opposed to menswear, where finesse and accuracy are the things you look out for. I don’t think a man’s clothes should be over-designed. It takes away from the sophistication.

    officially, we released our first women’s campaign with our Rainy Season 2020 collection. Currently, we are releasing the first Olode and Thread traditional wedding collection – Dry Season 2024. It’s a project I’m very excited about. It’s a complete collection comprising menswear and womenswear. 

     What are some of the changes that you would like to see in the country today?

    Over time, we Nigerians have become inveterate cynics and you can’t blame us. Past experiences have heavily shaped how we perceive people in leadership and government and we pretty much channel all that negative energy towards the entity Nigeria instead of the politicians we have problems with. I’d like to see Nigerians have faith in the country again. If we could speak more positive words about our country, that would be a start.

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    When politicians fail us, it’s not the country that has failed us, why curse the country? Words are powerful. The politician has a last name and it’s not “Nigeria’. They do not own the country any more than we do.

    I’d like to see hope restored, especially with young people. A lot of our great minds are being lost to the Japa syndrome currently and it’s very painful. our education is in shambles and the level of ignorance is dangerously high. Personally, that’s an area I have thought of investing in – helping young people learn science and math. I always say math is the language of God and you can do anything if you are proficient in it. unfortunately what you hear today is “school na scam”. It’s a horrifying prospect, knowing this is the generation we’re handing over to. Something’s gotta give and I don’t think we should sit idle and wait for it. We have a responsibility to do something, every one of us. Each one teach one, they say.

    Did you have mentors at the beginning? What has been their impact?

    Physically? No. I wish I did, I bet it would have cut my journey in half. I quickly resorted to books when I couldn’t gain access to the type of minds that could help me cut my path in the fashion industry.

    The first fashion book I ever read was Obsession; The Lives and Times of Calvin Klein by Steven Gaines. I couldn’t put it down. This was around 1999-2,000. I didn’t have a lot of people around me that had done what I wanted to do so I found mentorship in books. In fashion school, the first book that was recommended which I still find invaluable to this day is, “The End of Fashion; How Marketing Changed the Clothing Game Forever”. What I couldn’t have in people, I found in books. I have avoided a lot of pitfalls in the business just by studying people who have done it on the highest level and learning from their mistakes as well as ingenuity.

     If you had to change something in the sector what would it be?

    Put some structure to it. The fashion industry in Nigeria is all over the place at the moment and even as an individual brand, it can be effortful making the most of opportunities without proper organisation on an industry level. The fashion industry is very lucrative and improper organisation can hinder investments which is necessary for scaling. We can’t keep operating on this level. We have the market, we have the creative minds, and the connection needs to be made at some point with the products. There are several components in the fashion industry; garment manufacturing, pattern making, designing, marketing, etc. The fabric business in itself is an industry. You’ll be taken aback when customers ask you if you cut and sew as a designer. They think that validates your work. As a Nigerian designer, you’re the entire value chain by yourself and it doesn’t make a good case for specialisation. At any rate, the industry is a relatively young one compared to what they have in more organised settings like Europe, America, and Asia. So, I’m confident things will fall in line eventually.

    What advice do you have for young people about the current challenges in the economy?

    Stay hopeful. If you didn’t get it today, tomorrow is another day to try.

    What lessons has life taught you?

    Good things take time. Stay prepared, opportunities will come.