Nkechi Ali-Balogun was the former chairperson of the Nigerian Institute for Public Relations (NIPR), Lagos Chapter, for two terms. She is also the Principal Consultant/CEO of NECCI Consult, which designs corporate public relations for organisations for optimum bottomline results. She spoke with VICTOR OLUWASEGUN on her work and personality. Excerpts:
YOU’RE the principal consultant and CEO of NECCI Consults, what does the acronym stand for?
There is no acronym, it’s just my name.
A literature I read said you’ve had more than 20 years’ experience in providing solutions to management problems. What kind of solutions to what manner of management problems?
We’re into training and PR consultancy and it comes with different issues; all we do is to provide solutions. For instance, the programme that just ended is our company’s way of providing solutions to an organisational problem. It depends on the issues. We’re into change management, crisis management; were into profiling branding, training. So whatever issues that come that relate to any of these, we try to provide very effective solutions.
From your name, Nkechi, it’s apparent that you’re Ibo and you’re married to Mr. Alli Balogun, how did that happen?
It happened just like every relationship; man meets woman, dates the woman and marries her, that was how it happened.
You headed the Corporate Affairs Departments of the defunct Equatorial Trust Bank and the NEXIM Bank, how did that go?
It went very well, it was a good experience and it laid the foundation for what I’m doing today. I started with NTA. It was from NTA that I went to NEXIM. It was from NEXIM that I actually started my public relations journey. So, I was a pioneer staff in NEXIM and I started the public affairs function of the department. And from there, we started the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, and in that regard, it helped to cast the path that I’m following today.
What was your experience as chairperson of NIPR like?
It was 2005 to 2009, two tenures as the chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Lagos Chapter. It was quite illuminating because it was an eye- opening experience. It was something that helped to align my leadership focus. And then, it also helped me to understand a lot of gender issues. And it also helped me to understand public relations more.
You’ve been consulting for MTN for some time now, was that a chance occurrence or what?
I would say it was a chance occurrence because the first time I did it, an agency invited me and since then, we have worked together. Coming here was a chance, but I think we have been able to show that we can deliver, otherwise, we would not have been invited again.
You’re a Ph.D student at the University of Lagos. Are you considering an eventual career in lecturing?
I love lecturing. I actually started my life career as a teacher. And if you look at what I do, I have not really moved away from lecturing. So, I don’t mind ending my career as a lecturer.
You won the Golden Eagle Award as the most outstanding Public Relations Practitioner from the NIPR, Lagos. And also, the Red Living Legend Industry Award in recognition of your outstanding contributions to the media industry in West Africa. How did that make you feel?
It’s fulfilling, but at the same time, it keeps you on your toes because you know that somebody is watching, and that you’re somehow a role model for some upcoming ones. So, you’re careful because you don’t want to reduce the bar; you want to raise the bar all the time. You don’t want to fall short of the award that you have been given.
You first had a degree in English/ Education, then a Masters in Mass Communication and subsequently a Diploma in Marketing and a MBA. Was it the education thing that swayed you into teaching? And then, what did you teach?
I taught English and History. I actually love teaching. I love the fact that I’m able to impact knowledge. I love children. And I see children as coming in to the world blank. It’s like you’re planting a seed. You see the seed grow. That was my passion for teaching. Unfortunately, with the first dispensation of democracy, I think with the free education in Lagos State, there was a bit of mix up in education. But I think the selection system was not quite fine tuned. The class became so rowdy and all that; people Iike us couldn’t manage a rowdy class. I was very young, so I had to leave. But I didn’t really leave because teaching is my passion. I had to find my passion in other areas. I now know that I’m a people person; so, wether in teaching, as long as I’m interacting with people… So, public relations came as an answer to finding my passion, because I was still relating with people.
As a mother, wife and a career person, how do you combine the three?
So far, so good, I have learnt in my life to balance what I do; knowing what is priority for me. My family comes first in everything that I do. Sometimes, yes, I have to bend a little. Everybody who knows me knows that my family is very important and every other thing is secondary.
Obviously, you must do a lot of travelling in your career, what does your husband think of this?
My husband is very supportive; he encourages me. He too does some travelling, but we have a way of connecting. Sometimes, we travel together. But we never really miss out on anything, especially these days that we have phones, Facebook, Skype, we’re always talking. I think we’re always connecting.
Is there a philosophy of life that guides your daily living?
What guides my everyday living is to put a smile on another person’s face because when I do that, I’ll be fulfilling one of God’s promises in my life.
Do you have a mentor, somebody you look up to for guidance, even behavioral emulation?
Without sounding arrogant, the only person I have is God.
Nobody living on this planet?
That’s why I said without “without sounding arrogant” I watch people, I learn a lot from them. But I have not really sat down to ask myself who is my mentor, who is my role model? I find people who do great things; I copy from them. I copy a lot, especially when the things are good. But I have never really attached myself to anybody as a role model. It’s not arrogance; I just didn’t get to do it.
So, those that you copy from are not worthy of mention?
There are people who inspire me…
So, who are those that inspire you?
There are lots of women who inspire me. That have done great things that I couldn’t dream of doing. But seeing them, I just realised that “oh, that was possible”. I could mention Oby Ezekwesili, Ibukun Awosika, you know. There are some market women in my area that I look at and say “wow! I wish I could do that!” I could go that high and I could go that low. So, as long as you’re doing something that impacts on society, you could be a role model for me.
You’re the founder of Rights Initiative Project?
It’s an NGO about the rural poor. We just tried to empower the rural poor.
What about the Filles Du Roi Fellowship for Matured Singles, of which you’re the founder/minister?
It’s a Christian Fellowship for Mature Singles. We try to encourage mature singles and assist them to make the right decisions.
What determines your sense of dressing?
My dress sense? My purse and sense of style.
You’re also founder/ CEO, Lydia Christian Business Women Network. What is that about again?
Well, that’s not running anymore. It’s a programme under Filles Du Roi Fellowship. We tried to encourage church entrepreneurs and empower them. We also tried to raise money, give them little funds to start small businesses. We used to do three days’ skill acquisitions every year. I used to fund it on my own. It got too expensive, I didn’t find another sponsor. So, we stopped doing it on that scale. But I still do it on my own. Just as a small individual.
What is your advice to upcoming business people like yourself?
Please, continue doing what you’re doing that are impacting people positively. There are lots of people who need help. If you have it, please give it because somebody needs it; it will help and save a life.
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