Oil and gas magnate and philanthropist, Anamero Dekeri in this interview with Gboyega Alaka, speaks on his Anamero Idofe Foundation, committed to education and creating a better society, and why he is aspiring for the Edo North Senatorial seat on the platform of the All Progressives Party, APC. Dekeri is also founder and managing director of Gulf Treasures Limited.
YOU were among those who championed Governor Godwin Obaseki’s campaign in 2016. Close to two years into his administration, how would you assess his performance?
I don’t agree with the use of the word ‘championed’. Obaseki is a friend; so, I simply did what a true friend ought to do. When you see a true friend embarking on a worthy cause, you are duty-bound to key into the venture and support in the best way you can. That was how I became part of the campaign project.
On his performance so far, I will say he has done well. I see Obaseki as Edo State’s hidden treasure and I am happy that he is running the affairs of the state diligently. We have witnessed a tremendous revolution in almost all strata. You would have noticed his diligent approach to the industrialisation of the state as he strives to attract investments into the state.
The man is a technocrat whose economic ideology is driven by long-term vision. When Obaseki talks about Edo, he does so with passion. I am close to him enough to know his worldview; he is not a greedy person. The interest of our people and the future generation is paramount in his thinking and developmental agenda. He is committed to building on the foundation laid by his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole, to prepare the state for enduring economic growth and development.
Has he gotten the priorities right?
You would recall that when he came into power, the first major project he embarked upon was the resuscitation of the Benin Technical College. What is that meant to achieve? He wants our children to be equipped with vocational and technical skills required to drive the industrialisation agenda of the government. The governor wants the next generation of leaders to be immersed in the task of building on the foundation that has been laid. That is vision!
One of the first places the governor visited was Okpella. He was there to assess the moribund fertilizer plant, which is key to the agricultural development of the state. Today, the fertilizer plant is undergoing reconstruction. He also visited the fertilizer company in Auchi, took inventory of progress of work at the company. Few months after, the company was unveiled by Vice President Yemi Osibanjo who commended his industrialisation drive and commitment to continuing the industrialisation programmes of Oshiomhole. The fertilizer company in Auchi alone has created 500 direct jobs; more employment opportunities will be created through the economic activities the company will generate. The second phase of Edo Cement plant in Okpella was also commissioned by the Vice President. Also, last December, Rongsheng Glass Nigeria Limited in Benin was unveiled. This is one of the fruits of the administration’s efforts to attract investments to the state. There is also the N200 billion Benin Industrial Park and many other investments.
Why are you interested in the Senate?
The drive is to touch the masses and set a new standard of representation. What we hear is that the salary of a lawmaker can pay tens of medical doctors or teachers. Imagine the difference it will make if I employ 10 medical doctors to go around my senatorial district with the salary I earn. First, I will declare my salary and allowances to my people. Then, I will open a trust account where my salary and allowances will be paid into. The money will be used for the public good, to empower my people and develop my senatorial district.
You started your humanitarian service since early 1990s, will you continue this if your people do not support your political ambition?
For me, philanthropy is a calling. It is a pledge I have made. One of the things that give me joy is giving. When I give, I get the kind of satisfaction wealth, fame and business success cannot give me. One thing nobody can separate from me is philanthropy. It is in course of expanding my philanthropic works that I am seeking a political office. I see politics as a platform of expanding the reach of my humanitarian works. The more I give, the more I realise the need to give more. It is an unending venture. So, I have realised the silliness of stomach infrastructure and the wisdom in teaching a man how to fish rather than giving him a fish. So, my intention is to focus on empowerment. We must get the unemployed youths and women to stand on their own. People will continue to run to others for help except they are able to stand on their feet. When they are independent, their thinking and orientation will change. It is only then, they will want to support individuals that are vying for political offices on the strength of their merit and not what they want to give them. They will not mortgage four years because of a pot of soup that will not last for two days or a cup of rice.
Poverty has reduced us to a ridiculous level. We must, through legislative interventions, begin to guide people to create wealth. It is a revolutionary campaign that we have to embark upon. We must teach and support people to work to earn legitimate income. And the people themselves must be prepared to embrace the revolutionary trend.
You have a passion for education
Education is very critical. One of the greatest heroes of the country, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, said an educated man is easier to govern. When governance fail, it is partly because those saddled with leadership responsibility and the followers lack quality education. An educated mind is a liberated mind.
This is the reason Anamero Idofe Anamero Foundation has been involved in educational development since 2012. Since 2012, every pupil of public school in Edo North gets at least four exercise books. Recently, scholarships were given to 10 students in Okpe, Akoko Edo Local Government Area. On the same day, 10 women were selected for empowerment. Last October, two 10-classroom blocks built by the foundation for two public schools in Okpella were unveiled by Gov. Godwin Obaseki.
Education is not optional, it is mandatory. Little wonder that the Holy Bible says that my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Take note, it does not say they are stupid, hungry or poor but that they lack knowledge. As a matter of fact, some translations say they perish for lack of knowledge. That tells you how crucial education is to a man. Take education from a man, he becomes useless.
Over the past 12 years, you have through your foundation, constructed roads, donated transformers, built classrooms, and provided boreholes and other such essentials to communities; how come you haven’t bothered about publicising them like many are wont to do?
Like I have continued to say, whatever I am doing today goes beyond impressing people. It is humanity and it is by nature. I also see it as a calling. So I don’t have to go publicising my humanitarian activities. What is important is that we see it as our responsibility to put smile on the faces of people, without any selfish motive attached.
Tell us about the future of the foundation?
What the foundation is doing is a reflection of my calling and passion. My plan is to ensure that it emerges the biggest charity organisation in Nigeria. To own the biggest charity organisation in Nigeria had been my dream even before I started the foundation. I have remained focused in pursuing that dream and making it come true.
In 10 years, we want to see beneficiaries come back to testify on how the organisation changed their lives and contributed to the moral and educational development of others. I want to see the foundation develop into a life-changing institution and a model in the humanitarian circle.
How do you plan to replicate what you have done in Edo North in other parts of the country to emerge the most impactful foundation in Nigeria? Is the scope not too wide?
Recently, professionals advised that the scope of the foundation is too broad and that we should focus on education, empowerment or community development. They have advised us to focus on a particular cause and that is what we are currently doing. We will certainly go national in operation and impact. But we should remember that I have limited resources as an individual.
The kids we have impacted, hopefully, will be part of the foundation someday. As we speak, I have not collected a kobo from anybody or organisation. I want to create an impact using my resources first. And that is a deliberate decision. I don’t want people to see it as a business venture when we meet them for support. If people do not see the need to join the foundation, some of those who have benefited will certainly do so. That is the reason we have continued to expand the frontier to reach as many people as possible.
The foundation has done a lot in area of empowerment and we are currently restructuring to ensure that it is more efficient. You can do your findings to know the number of boreholes, industrial boreholes, community town halls, access roads and schools the foundation has donated. Our focus, going forward, will be education and empowerment. From 2012 till date, close to 1,000, if not more, have benefited from its scholarship. The foundation will continue to endure and possibly outlive the founder. There are examples of foundations that started small but have moved on to run multi-billion-dollar budgets. The Ford Foundation is one of such.