Idris Aregbe is an entrepreneur per excellence: the Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Solutions, Sisi Oge, a beauty pageant outfit which he has coordinated for 13 years thereby raising cultural ambassadors and using the platform to learn more about our heritage, our cultural values and promote it by educating the younger ones about our cultural values. Aregbe who is currently the Youth Organising Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos in this interview with Omolara Akintoye, says his passion for hard work and little beginnings has inspired him to take on challenging ventures, among others. Excerpts
You are a man of many parts, where do you draw your inspiration from?
I have never believed in impossibilities. My inspirations are drawn from my desire to create something of value out of little. My passion for hard work and little beginnings has always inspired me to take on challenging ventures. And even when I go wrong in my decisions, I pick myself up and get back to the race; at times you want to quit but it’s not just an option when you have a determined mind with trust in God.
‘The need to give back to the society’ is also one of my fond inspirations. Growing up, I have always wanted to offer help in any capacity that I can, no matter how small it may seem. So, with these, I am constantly reminded that I have to a lot to do; to make the world a better place.
As a youth doing something great, how do you hope to influence other youths?
Well, I have consistently been in the act of lending help to several youths. And without mincing words, there are many initiatives that I have spearheaded in order to reach-out and influence a good number of Nigerian youths.
Empowering the youths is something I am passionate about and it gives me joy to see that God has helped me support a good number of them.
Through our platforms, I have empowered many young aspiring models and given them a platform to showcase their talent to the world. I have also identified, celebrated and empowered young artistic talents; financially and mentally.
Likewise, I have identified a good number of youths through Connecting Lagos Initiative, where we try to integrate ideas, enlighten and empower the youths through workshop schemes. The platform has positively touched the lives of youths.
Meanwhile, there are series of programs outlined for the year and they are all crafted to influence the youths positively.
Tell us, how impactful has ‘Our Lagos Your Lagos initiative’ been?
It has been awesome and valuable in celebrating the age-long cultural heritage of Lagos state. Lagos is home for all. Lagos belongs to you and I, and we must do everything to protect it because as you might have noticed, protecting Lagos is a task that must be done by all. Connecting Lagos automatically means connecting with excellence and for us to continue to follow the path of excellence we must do things in a better way. Our Lagos Your Lagos initiative has taken it upon itself to create an atmosphere of one Lagos, beautiful Lagos, peaceful Lagos and also a Lagos where Chukwuma, Waziri and Boluwatife can triumph and excel in their daily dealings.
The initiative has considerably received accolades from people that value the richness of culture and its treasured moments.
You have coordinated ‘Sisi Oge’ for 13 years, has it achieved its purpose?
Of course, it has. Sincerely, without mincing words, Sisi Oge has been nothing short of success. Through Sisi Oge, we have changed the fortunes of many young models; put smiles on the faces of many and given hope to those whose dreams were once shredded by unforeseen circumstances.
Sisi Oge, has not only changed the lives of many, it has also put Lagos state on the global stage because, it has been consistent in celebrating Lagos’ invaluable culture and tradition.
The annual My Heritage, My Pride/Sisi Oge event has been in the act of propagating, preserving the African culture and promoting peaceful culture co-existence with other foreign nations. It also celebrates Africa’s diverse cultures via programmes of events, which includes “Fashion Show/Exhibition, Arts, Beauty Pageantry, Dance drama, Music, Cultural festivals, Skill Empowerment & Awards.”
We have collaborated with both International and local organizations who share our beliefs, mission and goals.
Who influenced you to be the good, the bad and the ugly?
Sincerely, I only see myself as one young guy with so much favour from the Almighty. I always try my best to bring people together – regardless of their social standing.
I am a simple man and those that have made acquaintance with me can bear witness.
Do you see yourself contesting for political position someday?
Yes, I do. I mean, certainly not now, but I wouldn’t reject the offer of serving the people, as I have always done that through the laudable initiatives that I have spearheaded.
My passion for humanity has always been a driving force for me and if opportunity beckons for me to serve, in any capacity, as I am currently, I would not hesitate to honour the call to serve.
It is a great privilege to serve and one must be willing at all times to make sacrifices that will benefit a greater course for the people and the society at large, that is, the whole essence of life, we must learn to live right. Life is not colourful if we keep painting ourselves.
Tell us your work as the Organising Secretary, Office of the Youth, APC Lagos State?
The office has been in the act of accentuating the efforts and achievements of the present administration in supporting and encouraging youthful initiatives in order to spark economic growth and development in the state.
Also, within the ambit of my office, I have been able to recognize, support and celebrate a good number of Lagos state youths that have done the state proud, through their entrepreneurial skills and inventiveness. The office in collaboration with Our Lagos Your Lagos Initiative has further offered series of assistance to a copious number of youths in the state.
It may interest you to know that within the short stint in office, we have done quite an impressive array of works – all tailored toward growing the state and her youths. The office has established some initiatives like #OurLocalHero which focuses on the strengths of the youths, identifying and celebrating them. There have also been town-hall sessions with community youth leaders and other youths in our community.
We know that entertainment plays a crucial role in our community and we have also keyed into this, we designed the recently held Music and Message Concert themed ‘Safe ‘N’ Save Spaces For The Youths’ to galvanize the youths to actively participate in governance and leadership in order to foster innovations and lend their voices to matters affecting the state.
The concert which was in partnership with, Our Lagos Your Lagos Initiative was also orchestrated; to educate, encourage and empower the youths with topnotch leadership skills to discover their innate potentials and shun violence; to create a mentorship forum to fully harness the inherent abilities of the Nigerian youths; Identify with a good number of business minded youths seeking to make impacts in today’s world and to also, create enabling environment where businesses can thrive and mechanisms to reward hard work and excellence.
While we joined other countries in celebration of the United Nation’s International Youth Day, Our Lagos Your Lagos Initiative is set to launch the Ambode Youth Connect Centre. The centre is simply devoted to celebrating youth culture, empowering young people and devising opportunities to accommodate the teeming number of youths in Lagos state.
These and many more are the efforts of the office under my command and I can assure you that we have not even scratched the surface of our brilliant initiatives.
How has your growing up helped in taking you to where you are today?
Growing up with my parents only exposed me to politics. My mother is a politician and so everything in her life revolves around politics. My mum is Alhaja Asibiallahu Olaide Agaba, who hails from Epe. She is one of the state leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC). This is the kind of life I grew up to see and that influenced my decision to study Political Science at the University of Lagos and Public Administration. I also ventured into politics at a point. Every other thing that I have been able to put together has been through self-thought and mentorship. Well, one of my greatest achievements in life is my ability to define what I wanted to be very early in life. As it is, I hardly have friends who are my age mates. I look up to people a lot and I try to emulate good qualities from them. I grew up among people that were much older than me and this has helped to prepare me for whatever life brings. If you want to know how successful you are you will know it through the type of friends you interact with.
What other things take your time?
I spend time working on my businesses. So, I take time to reflect, examine and seek out better ways to achieve more results.I also find time to spot problems. You might wonder what problems I’m referring to. Well, as a businessman I try to lookout for problems that require solutions. Solutions that can create monetary value because, there must be an offering satisfying a problem for you to have a successful business.
On several occasions I have seen businesses grumble, not for the lack of cognate administrative directions, but many of them have failed to identify a problem and create an offering of satisfaction. So, I do a lot of that in order to stay relevant in business and chart new commercial paths.
What kind of person are you?
I am just me. I reiterate that I am a simple and unassuming man with love and respect for people – irrespective of their social standing and financial status.
How do you push through rough times?
Rough times are inevitable in life and life itself is a challenging experience that demands patience, perseverance and commitment to weather through the storm. For me, these are the guiding principles that have kept me going through the corridors of intimidating challenges. I so much believe that with God, all things are possible.
You seem to be practicing what you studied
I studied politics and I am actively involved in politics. Probably because I chose to be a politician with business acumen so people tend to forget that I actually studied politics in school, so they see me more as a business man who studied Business Administration. Politics should not be left for the feeble mind who have no business undertaking because politics require managing people and business skills which are the basic traits of politics and governance.
Fond memories while growing up.
For me, I had quite a number of fond memories growing up but most importantly I loved business from early childhood and anytime I was involved in one fun or the other I was busy looking at a business gain from that gathering.
Do you believe in mentoring?
Of course, I do. Quite a number of people gave me that and I have been actively involved in this and I am 100 per cent willing to do more mentoring.
How do you recreate?
My social life is very much active, as such; I find time to hang out with friends at the pool and social gatherings. It is important for one to engage in recreational activities as a measure to ease stress and relieve the brain off weekly exertions that characterise daily activities in Lagos. Like I have said, for me, there must be a business result or gain from any gathering that I find myself.
What accomplishments would you consider most significant in your life?
There are many aspirations to be achieved, so for now, I am only inching closer to that significant accomplishment. And like I said earlier at the beginning of this interview, I have only scratched the surface of my ideas; and until I have put them to better use, I have not achieved anything.Don’t get me wrong; I am grateful to God for where I am today. But I am not a man that rests on his laurels. I set standards for myself and map out strategies on how to accomplish them.
Above all, the Almighty makes me happy and I reciprocate that with a number of people and that alone, gives me joy.
Is it true that Nigerian youths are not ready to rule?
Of course, we have quite a number of those that are ready and have what it takes to lead, but my simple advice is that, we are not ripe for presidency right now and this is the simple truth. We want people that within them they know they are ready and not just people wishing without the strength to deliver.
Nigeria is different from the western world in terms of elections, we have quite a number of issues that need to be addressed before we aim for the presidency and before we can achieve that, we need to be actively involved in our local community political programmes and achieve results that serve as pointers to our hard works and most importantly, for national representation, we need to double up our numbers in the National Assembly – both at the upper house and the lower house respectively.
Politics is not a sudden flight that takes six months to achieve. One need to make strategic moves and passed the baton within themselves and to take the mantle from them; we need some key strategic moves and not just come in a few months to the elections to declare your intentions to run for the presidency. I mean, how do you achieve that with a minority platform?
Are you fulfilled?
Yes, I am. I say this because, I have been able to put smiles on people’s faces and that to me, is the greatest fulfillment of all time.
But it is important to note that I am willing to do more and everyday; I am constantly guided by the vision and inspirations that have brought me this far. So, I am a fulfilled man but there’s enough room for greater exploits.
You know, sometimes, people tend to take for granted, the little they have and in that process, they despise God’s blessings and appear ungrateful.
But for me, I am deeply grateful to God for the little that he has given me; and where he is taking me. I am simply a grateful heart and with that; I am a fulfilled.