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  • How Adesoye College shaped my life

    How Adesoye College shaped my life

    Olabode Makanjuola, CEO Caverton Offshore Support Group

    After exiting the citadel of learning 30 years ago in flying colours, it was a homecoming for Chief Executive Officer of Caverton Offshore Support Group, Olabode Makanjuola, as he visited his alma mater, Adesoye College, an elitist private school located in Offa, Kwara State, last Saturday to deliver the Valedictory Speech for the 2024 Graduating class. Makanjuola, who has become a quint enssential role model, admonished the students to be good ambassadors as education received has equipped him with the skills, knowledge, and character to make a difference, therefore becoming independent, resilient and enterprising.

    Gratitude, nostalgia and emotions ran through the mind of the occupier of the chopper as it hovered over the expansive landscape of the first elitist private school in Nigeria, Adesoye College, Offa, Kwara State which has produced the best of the best since its establishment in 1987. The early morning breeze was soothing, as if determined to welcome back one of its own into the domain.  The August Visitor left the school 30 years ago and has remained one of its shining lights. The Chief Executive Officer of Caverton Offshore Support Group was a guest of honour at the graduation ceremony of the Class of 2024 and on ground to welcome him was his former teacher who is now the Acting Head of the School, Mr. Lawal Raheem Bola; Head of Student Life, Dr. (Mrs.) Bolaji Adesoye, amongst others.

    Adesoye happens to be the first elitist  private school  in Nigeria. Founded by the late proprietor, Chief Emanuel Olatunji Adesoye, whose vision and dream was to produce visionary leaders with an all-round education, emphasis is not just on academics but morals along with students embodying upright characters.

    Over the last 37 years, the school has surpassed the founder’s expectations and to put it modestly, has over-achieved on its mission statement. Today, products of the school are high flyers occupying various positions in the corporate world, in governance and many others.  Some are special advisers to presidents while some head large corporations and government agencies. Of course, the like of Makanjuola run successful companies and are calling the shots in the corporate world.

    Studious, diligent, brilliant, Makanjuola left the citadel of learning 30 years ago and today, sits atop a prominent aviation and marine logistics company based in Nigeria which has been a story of tremendous successes and opening new vistas. The accomplished entrepreneur and business leader, who served as a prefect in Red House during his time, was one of the citadel’s third set of students between 1989 and 1994. In his valedictory speech, Makanjuola spoke glowingly about the school’s core values of hard work, excellence, character, which have been the guiding lights in his endeavours. According to him, he was overwhelmed with nostalgia and a profound sense of duty returning to give a speech 30 years after passing out with distinctions, especially seeing the famous red bricks, yellow gates and the arch following the 4-journey through Lagos and Offa.

    “As a former student of Adesoye College, having been part of the third set admitted in 1989, and graduating in 1994, I stand before you today not only as a witness to your journey but also as a bearer of a crucial message. Nigeria, our beloved nation, is a tapestry of challenges, dreams, and untapped potential. It is within this very complexity that we, as Adesoye College alumni, must find our calling. We must rediscover our national pride and redouble our efforts in contributing to the development of Nigeria for the future.

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    “In our lives, we often come across the phrase ‘I tried.’ However, let me tell you, as someone who has experienced both success and failure, that ‘I tried’ is never enough. It has become synonymous with giving up, with accepting mediocrity. We must unlearn this notion and become result-oriented individuals, where the end goal is the only goal. The education we received at Adesoye College has equipped us with the skills, knowledge, and character to make a difference. We were taught to be resilient, to embrace challenges, and to never be complacent. Therefore, it is our collective responsibility to use these tools to solve the challenges that confront our communities, our nation,” he stated in his rousing speech.

    Makanjuola paid homage to  Fred Allison, a fellow alumnus of the 1989 set and his friend of 30 years who travelled with him to the event and teachers like Mr. Lawal, his agricultural science teacher; Mr Olanipekun, Mr and Mrs Ajaere, Mr Whitebread, Mr Bullock and the pioneer headmistress, Mrs REB Howard as well as the now late founder, Chief Adesoye.

    Speaking further, Makanjuola said “Entrepreneurship lies at the heart of progress. As we navigate our journey beyond these walls, I encourage each and every one of you to see challenges as opportunities. Create innovative solutions, start impactful businesses, and change the landscape of Nigeria. The challenges that our nation faces should not intimidate us; instead, we should see them as stepping stones to success. But let us not forget the importance of collective responsibility. Bringing about meaningful change requires collaboration, empathy, and compassion for our fellow Nigerians. Together, we can build a society that thrives on inclusivity, where no one is left behind. For those of us who are fortunate enough to carve successful careers, I implore you to remember the responsibility you have to give back to society. Solving community challenges should be ingrained in our ethos, a constant reminder of where we came from and the impact we can have,”  said the man who founded Caverton Helicopters along his siblings in 2004 and co-founded Le Global Gas  added.

    In a brief chat with journalists, the successful entrepreneur recalled his first day at school which he said was a mixed bag of emotions.  “I was a 12-year-old starting a new phase far from home in a completely new environment. As any 12-year-old at the time and even today, excitement at the thought of being “independent” was apparent but at the same time “fear and anxiety” of being away from home for the first time for a long period of time occupied my being. Obviously, I  was homesick but bonded with fellow students and  that’s how our friendships were formed.”

    Speaking glowingly about the school, he said “It has shaped me a great deal. Time in boarding school are your formative years and some of  my closest and genuine friends today are from Adesoye. Not to sound cliche but Adesoye taught us to be independent, resilient and enterprising.”

    Waving aside the notion of being the choice of rich kids, Makanjuola said Adesoye College was not just the preserve or choice of the rich but rather, it was the college of choice at the time for anyone looking for quality education and discipline “in my time”. “We had families from all walks of life and from all over the country. I learnt financial management from Adesoye as provisions were not allowed and the school developed a cashless policy where you could only buy provisions from the school using a specially designed cheque book. The list is endless in terms of my experience and how the college shaped my life.”

    On his plans to give back to the great citadel of learning, Makanjuola said in their days, students travelled to different places to acquire secondary education but today, the nation is less secure so parents are wary of their children travelling a long distance. Also, there is the option of similar or better schools in closer proximity.  However, there are children and families close to Adesoye that equally desire and deserve a quality education and he believes as an alumnus, he will work together with the school management to preserve the school and the legacy of the founder.

    Praising the late visioner, Chief Emmanuel Adesoye, the acting Head of School, Mr. Lawal Raheem Bola, who has been with school since inception in 1987, said he is delighted to welcome Makanjuola back into their midst.

    “We are glad to have him here.  We have been calling on people from outside to come and talk. We now looked around and said  ‘look, we have our own people, proudly Adesoye. We have them all over the place in positions of authority. So, let’s get them to the school.’ Let them come and talk and inspire these younger ones by coming to speak. It would be a kind of inspiration. Obviously, seeing him coming out of his chopper is already an inspiration to ignite the ‘I can do spirit, I can conquer the world.’”

    Describing the astute business man, he added,” I am an agriculturalist. I was ‘Bode’s teacher. I  taught him agricultural science. Bode is cool-headed, humble, committed, very gentle, easy-going and almost a Saint. He was even a prefect in Olabande, Red House. Bode was outstanding and for him to be selected and elected to be in the position of a prefect in Adesoye those days, because the population used to be very large. So, all of them were equally good. But he was very good. When you look at his character; diligent, studious and his disposition while he was here, I know he would go places. Honestly, he is one of the torch bearers of the institution which has produced outstanding students who have made giant strides in their endeavors.

    “We are really, really proud of him. Very, very, very proud of him. And that is why we want to showcase him so that parents can see, and say look, this is a product from this same school where you are from, so you have not made a mistake. You have come to the right place.”

    On the spirit of giving back to the institution, Mr. Lawal said it is a welcome development. “We have been clamouring for this for a long time. Because the problem has been that each year/group, they are in their enclaves. After this valedictory service, Bode and Fred have promised to spearhead the move of bringing the various year groups together and then form the parent body. We are even considering a candidate from them, maybe two or three to be part of the governing council. Now they are carrying the toga of the alma mater, wherever they go now, they carry that toga of Adesoye college. There is no way we can discard that. It will always be with them. So, for them until now, to carry that, they have to be carrying it proudly too. And that means they must see and put an eye on whatever is going on there so that they will be able to maintain and sustain the quality which they enjoy when they were there,” he stated.

  • My life in danger – APC Assembly candidate, Twinny, cries out

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), House of Assembly candidate for Abeokuta North Constituency in Ogun State, Hon. Taiwo Oludotun, (Twinny) has cried out that his life, as well as his family members and workers are in danger.

    The aspiring lawmaker in the state, who has written the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu and Department of Security Services (DSS) in the state over threat to his life, sought the protection of police for himself, workers and his family.

    Oludotun alleged that the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) candidate for House of Representatives for Abeokuta North, Obafemi Owode, and Odeda Federal constituency, Hon. Mikhail Kazeem, were after his life, adding that they were planning to eliminate him or planting incriminating items in his house or office, in order to be arrested or detained not to participate in the incoming elections.

    In the petition dated February 1st, 2019, submitted to the force headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, and DSS office in the state, the engineer-turned politician said that impeccable source has notified him that agents of the current administration in Ogun State are trailing him for the purpose of eliminating him.

    He said that on January 31st, 2019, he was in a campaign convoy with APC gubernatorial candidate in the state, Prince Dapo Abiodun, at Elega junction Abeokuta, when Hon. Mikhail Kazeem attacked their campaign rally, but the Nigeria police operatives that were with the convoy were able to stop him and his thugs from harassing them.

    He added that about 5:00pm same day of the campaign, he received a private (hidden)? call that Mikhail Kazeem with his thugs led by Adeola Kazeem (Mikhail Kazeem’s brother) and one FAJOL were planning to attack him and destroy all his properties particularly his business premises.

    Oludotun said immediately at about 5:50pm on the day, he called Kazeem to let him know that he heard about his plan to kill him and destroy his office, admonished him to have a rethink, but surprisingly he sent his thugs to his car wash at Akinolugbade road, Abeokuta, to kill him and destroy his car alongside the cars within the premises.

     

     

  • ‘Help me get back my life’

    Adekunle Joseph Olatoye is in urgent need. He is to undergo surgery for total/partial excision of mass on his right eye.

    The 39-year-old business man has poured both his financial resources (Capital), and other investments into the treatment, yet good treatment eluded him. He has been examined, and assured by Fortis Hospitals Group, India that he will put the condition behind him, if he comes over.

    What stands between Olatoye and achieving a good health is the cost of surgery which is estimated at 6000 to 6500 US Dollars.

    Recounting his ordeal, Olatoye said in July 2016, he noticed his eyes being reddish. By September, he went to the hospital where he was asked to do MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).

    Olatoye said he believed so such in the indigenous capacity of Nigerian doctors, “so even when my close associates told me not to settle for Nigerian health facilities, but to travel out to do the surgical intervention, I told them my mind. Now, I regret it, so I am back to square one. I need money now. I am scouting to raise the required amount. If I had listened, I would have gone outside and got treatment for value.

    “I approached a health facility, and was ordered to do an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), the MRI scan result showed that what was pushing out the eye is behind socket, and I was referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja. I was attended to by a team consisting of a consulatnt ophthalmologists and a consultant Surgeon. The team agreed that I need to undergo surgery, but cannot be done within the hospital because the equipment needed was not available,” recalled Olatoye.

    Olatoye was referred to, and went to a private hospital in Abuja last year February, and had the surgical intervention that cost four million naira. He diverted all his investment, and business capital into this surgery, with the hope that if there is life there is hope, and he will bounce back once he’s gained his health back.

    Alas, after two months, he discovered that the mass was still affecting his vision. He was back at the hospital.

    To his chagrin, Olatoye realised that, “nothing was removed. The hospital, told me that I needed radiation, but that I should go for it elsewhere because it has no radiation machine. Efforts to get the radiation treatment have been abortive. And I am back to square one,” he lamented.

    Olatoye said sundry diagnoses reports revealed that pre-surgery, he had a large retrobilbar mass in the right orbit resulting in the mild proptosis with local spread, including intra-cranial extension through the foramen and fissues, with remodeling of bones as described. Lymphoma (cancer) was queried but it was not.

    “Post surgery diagnosis indicated Angiomatous mengioma. Primary hemangioendo-thelioma is a strong differential because of the endotheliomatous growth pattern. In summary, the pathologists agreed it is a Sphenoid mass tumour. And if  it is a surgery expertly done that can free me of this”.

    Frustrated Olatoye searched for help on the internet, “So, I approached three hospitals in India. They all saw the test results, and gave me the quotation. The cheapest required 6000 to 6500 US Dollars, which includes a five-day stay in a sharing room at the hospital where an attendant can also stay with me. The medical tests  and  consultations; surgeon fees,  nursing care, medicines, and consumables, food for me, and airport transfers are all factored in”.

    Olatoye appealed that all and sundry, including people with milk of human kindness should rally round him to get this second surgical intervention done, “I am not a lazy person. I need my health back, to gain back my life. My children are all affected by this my condition as their schooling and wellbeing are affected. But I am hopeful that once I am back on my feet, I will pick up the pieces of my life, and re-establish myself.”

    Do you want to assist Olatoye. Call him on- 08120797096, visit him at No 31, Adeleke Odunuga St., Harmony Estate, Ifako, Agege, lagos. Or credit his account- Adekunle Joseph Olatoye- Zenith Bank, 2009545023.

     

  • VICTOR OSIMHEN: Struggle has been my life.

    Nigeria youth international, Victor Osimhen, with incredible introspection recalled his humble beginning and European trajectory through VfL Wolfsburg to Charleroi in the Belgian Jupiler League, reports MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.

    Apart from soccer, music is certainly the only thing that catches his fancy. Former Nigeria junior international Victor Osimhen has waxed lyrically about his life-changing loan deal from Wolfsburg in the German Bundesliga to Charleroi in the Belgian Jupiler League.

    “I believe I can fly now,” Osimhen told THE NATION in apt reference to music star R Kelly’s hit track ‘I believe I can fly’ after scoring his first goal for Charleroi last weekend against Waasland-Beveren

    Here was a lad who loved to be ‘sitting on the throne’ in accordance with the hit track of his favourite musician Nigeria’s rapper, Olamide, but he was nearly turned to a  wreck in the tough Teutonic environment.

    Osimhen, despite arriving Wolfsburg on high recommendation following his goal-rious exploit at the Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup – where he won the golden boot as top scorer and silver ball as second most valuable player behind compatriot, Kelechi Nwakali – he was virtually consigned to the bench at the Volkswagen Arena.

    But on his first debut for the Les Zebres (The Zebras) in an away tie to Waasland-Beveren on Match Day 8 of the Belgian Jupiler League, Osimhen’s quality was there for all to see as he struck with an uncommon élan that is worthy of recollection.

    After receiving a deep-lying cross in the box, the burly striker in a spectacular show of skill and precision, nutmegged an on-rushing defender and within a twinkle of an eye, he scored with a back heel goal much to the delight of over 8,000 spectators at Freethel Stadion with thousands humming on the social media over the well-executed goal.

    “It’s a great feeling for me to get my first league goal in Europe after two years,” stated Osimhen with an emotion-laden voice.

    Yet, Osimhen means ‘God is good’ in Victor’s native Ishan dialect in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State in Nigeria and the lad is full of splendour about the turn of events. “I’m really happy because I have been working hard; and I think the hard work has started paying off again.

    “I really want to thank God because this goal is important for me, my family and all my loved ones.”

    The goal indeed is worth its weight in gold and it’s the sort of goal that naturally, easily elicits frenzy on the internet even when it wasn’t done by the likes of Mohammed Salah, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. At the last check, the picture of Osimhen celebrating first goal for his new Belgian club has attracted over 1000 likes and over 300 comments on just one social media platform.

    “I think my first goal for Charleroi against Waasland-Beveren was special,” he volunteered. “I have been watching the different styles of all the top strikers, especially with the way they score some marvellous goals to add to my own skill and I didn’t think twice when I had a similar opportunity to score with the back heel against Waasland-Beveren.

    “All along, I had the mentality that I was going to try out one of the tricks and this really helped me; I’m grateful to God.”

    Osimhen has reasons to be grateful for what can best be described as divine intervention after going through the vicissitudes of life at Wolfsburg.

    After some cameo appearances for Wolfsburg, he copped an injury and ended his two seasons at Volkswagen Arena with an unimpressive14 matches that included just 12 Bundesliga games, two German Cup matches and one other inconsequential game of which he was mostly coming on as a substitute without a single goal to his credit.

    Of course, the knives were out as the cynical press and public lacerated the youngster to shreds by writing off his budding career.

    “I wasn’t disturbed in any way by some of the negative comments and stuff that were written about me during my period at Wolfsburg,” noted Osimhen who hustled and hawked sachet water on the streets of Lagos in his formative years. “Some journalists speculated so much about my career but the truth was that I was even sick and I couldn’t join them for the preseason. It took me about three weeks to come out of that sickness and I really thank God for my life.

    “My friends sent me all what some journalists were saying; that I went for trials at Zulte-Waregem and Club Brugge which wasn’t the truth in any way. But rather than discouraging me, it actually got me motivated and I’m happy everything is now on the positive note for me at Charleroi.”

    For years, the Belgian Jupiler had been a Mecca of a sort for Nigerian footballers and at some point, Anderlecht housed former national team captain and coach, the late Stephen Keshi, who actually led the exodus of talents to Europe in the late 1980s.

    There was also Daniel Amokachi at Club Brugge while Victor Ikpeba, Sunday Oliseh and goalkeeper Alloy Agu were the three musketeers at Standard Liege in the 1990s. Other Nigerian standard bearers in Belgium include Celestine Babayaro who won the annual Ebony Shoe Award for the best African or Africa origin player in the Belgian league.

    “This season, I’m not setting any standard for myself because so many Nigerian players have done well in the past here in Belgium. But I just want to score as many goals as possible at Charleroi,” he offered with a breathy purr. “The most important thing is to achieve the target set by the club and it’s my hope to contribute my quota towards the success of the club this season. I want to be an important player and help the club in the best way I can.”

    Weaned on the streets of Lagos where he learnt preservation and perseverance, the message on the display photo on Osimhen’s Whatsapp logo easily elicits the interest of this writer since it’s very instructive with three heavy-duty words: Focus-Hustle-Believe.

    “I actually received the display photo on my Whatsapp as a message from one of my fans and this means so much to me because it sums up the philosophy of my life,” noted Osimhen who has cult followership numbering over 50,000 Instagram. “Strangely, I’ve not met this great fan of mine but he perfectly understood all what I went through at Wolfsburg. He kept urging me to work hard and asked me to put the picture at a place I can see every day.

    “That picture has been on my Whatsapp logo for over one year now and it’s going to be there for a while and I may probably not even change it.

    “I believe I can achieve all that I conceive in my mind with focus and that means, I have to continue to hustle and believe that God will certainly bless my efforts.” It has indeed taken Osimhen some years to arrive at this point after starting his budding career in Lagos at a neighbourhood side now known prize.

    “I learnt a lot in terms of football and life at Wolfsburg because I was surrounded by good people,” admitted Osimhen who will be 20 on December 29. “I perfectly understood almost 90% of the way they play in Germany because I wanted to learn and improve on my quality and that was the main reason I actually went to Wolfsburg.

    “They have one of the best facilities in the world at Wolfsburg and Germany is one of the most powerful countries in the world.

    “Everything, and I mean about everything, is different from where I was coming from. The first five months were very strange to me because the mentality is different, but luckily I met this wonderful French guy of African origin and I mean Joshua Guilavogui who has been with Wolfsburg for three years and he really assisted me in settling down to a new life in Europe.

    “He was my guardian all through my stay at Wolfsburg and it was a great experience because I was able to increase my knowledge. Aside playing football, I can now live in any European country on my own without difficulties because my mentality is great, very great.”

    Of course, it has been well said that you have to behave like Romans if you’re in Rome and this sense of mission is not lost on Osimhen as he settles down to a new lease of life at Charleroi in the province of Hainaut which is the fifth largest Belgian city by population and sometimes referred to as French Hainaut because of its origin.

    “My German is not so fluent because I can only speak some few words and hopefully I can be fluent with it if I have the opportunity of going back there to play because,  for now, my focus is doing well with Charleroi;  and I have to learn to speak in French or the Belgian language.”

    Meanwhile, the language of football and standard for  measuring  progress of youngsters by discerning managers remains the same from Germany to Greece or from France to Faroe Island following hints by Super Eagles’ Franco-German manager Gernot Rohr about the possibility of Osimhen joining the new guns in Nigeria’s national team now undergoing a rebuilding process post  Russia 2018  FIFA World Cup.

    “We have an exciting crop of young players and I think Victor Osimhen would be useful in the future after he moved from Wolfsburg to Charleroi. The coach of Charleroi is my personal friend and I told him about the quality of Victor,” Rohr revealed ahead of the 2019 AFCON qualifier against Seychelles in Victoria.

    On the basis of Rohr’s testament, Osimhen readily admitted that his future for both club and country is bright as he enthused about the prospect of donning the famous green-white-green colours of Nigeria.

    “I missed the opportunity of playing for the Super Eagles while at Wolfsburg,” admitted Osimhen who earned his first cap for Super Eagles after coming on as a second half substitute for Ahmed Musa in the 3-0 thrashing of Togo in international friendly match at the Stade Municipal de Saint Leu La Foret in Paris .“But I’m hopeful now for more games with the Super Eagles by playing regularly for Charleroi.

    “Gernot Rohr is a top coach and everybody he has extended invitation to deserves it and this sort of gives me confidence that I would get my chance if I start scoring goals and doing very well in Belgium.

    “Right from my childhood, I have always been a big fan of the Super Eagles and I was rooting for them even while I was in the hospital during the Russia 2018 Wold Cup and I think they did the country proud though some people felt otherwise.

    “I will remain a fan whether I’m invited to play or not and I’m wishing the Super Eagles the best in upcoming fixtures and I know with quality we have as a country, we can be a major contender for the next  AFCON and World Cup in the future.

    “For now, I’m  keeping my fingers crossed and will continue to work hard here at Charleroi since I know with time, I’m going to have the chance of playing for the Super Eagles and Nigeria again,” stated  Osimhen who equally  featured for the Nigeria national Under-20 side (Flying Eagles) under Amuneke that he’s immensely  indebted to.

    He explained: “Coach Amuneke is a good man; and he’s like a father to me and I can only wish him all the best and I pray he’ll be able to take Tanzanian football to the next level.”

    Similarly, Osimhen seems to be inching forth to the next level in Belgium as he grabbed his second goal for Charleroi in as many matches after coming on as a second half substitute on Wednesday night in the 2-0 defeat of Aalst in the Belgian Cup.

    “I feel great and overwhelmed about my second goal for Charleroi and I’m really happy to be here in order to get my career back on track; the people here are nice and the coach (Felize Mazzu) believes so much in me and I really want to learn more.

    “The good thing is that the period I spent in Wolfsburg has really shaped me into the kind of striker that I wanted to be. I’m still learning and under construction but it’s good to be back in my scoring way,” he stated.

     

     

  • ‘My life as a missionary doctor’

    Dr Abiodun Ajayi-Majebi has a lifelong burning passion. It is to expand mission frontiers through medical outreaches within and outside Nigeria while putting smiles on the faces of the downtrodden.  Since the Russian-trained medical doctor carried out the first outreach in Badagry, Lagos while on National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the 80s, there has been no looking back.

    Until then, his plan was to go to the United States of America for practice. But a powerful encounter with Christ changed his orientation and worldview for life. His mission outreaches are packaged for resource-limited communities where he believes the real needs are.

    “I have also known that I will work in resource-limited and downtrodden environments. They have the rich and facilities overseas. But we need help and that is why I am here. My choice is always to be relevant to people who are in needs,” he stresses last week.

    That passion made him return to Russia in 1991 for missions. He pioneered an International Christian Students Fellowship in the old Soviet Union that led many young minds to the gospel on campuses. Because he speaks Russia fluently, he was able to work with many groups reaching out to Russians.

    The fellowship birthed many churches and ministries in all the cities of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other nations. One of the students raised in the movement is Pastor Sunday Adeleja, founder of Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of God for All Nations, Kiev, the largest church in East Europe.

    He poured himself so much to the works that living in Russia became a risk. The government started targeting him for religious indoctrinations. When it became obvious his life was in danger, he smartly handed over the works to the Deeper Life Bible Church, becoming its overseer with 15 provinces for spiritual covering. Instead of staying put to gloat over the flourishing works, Ajayi-Majebi parked his luggage and returned home in 2001.

    He said leaving was in response to a divine directive for the next operation. “God is the principal when you are in ministry. You don’t move without Him. You stay only where He wants you to be,” he states.

    As soon as he came back to Lagos, Ajayi-Majebi picked up a blueprint he wrote in 1985 on medical mission. It was time to start executing the vision, God informed him. With only $40 and N44, 000 in his account, in 2003, he started a two-room community clinic in Iyana-Ipaja with four nurses to offer subsidised medical services.

    The concept of a community clinic, according to him, is offer affordable and accessible medical help to the downtrodden. It all boils down to his passion for service and community impact. “When you serve Christ, you must serve people. God is working for people. So, you can’t claim to be a Christian and not be people-oriented,” he shares.

    Mediservices Community Hospital has since grown into a mighty oak offering highly subsidised medical assistance to residents of Ipaja and Ayobo in Lagos state for almost two decades.

    But for the hospital, many poor families in the neighbourhoods would have suffered from lack of access to medical facilities. The hospital has performed several surgeries at such rock-bottom costs that amaze even patients.

    “We take into cognizance the needs of people. What we offer is almost 80 percent off of the costs elsewhere because we want to serve lives and nations,” he submits.

    Aside the community hospital concept, Ajayi-Majebi is engaged in massive medical outreaches to remote communities across Nigeria through Medireach International Foundation. Few months ago, the team was at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Nasarawa.

    It was sponsored by Aiteo, an oil and gas firm with logistical support from Nasarawa State Government. The team carried out medical services, including surgeries much to the excitement of the benefitting inmates. Last April, the team performed countless surgeries in Delta State during another outreach.

    The medical doctor says the outreaches offer them opportunities to share the gospel and the love of God. But beyond evangelism, he says it is always a joy to see people happy and delivered from medical challenges.

    But there are times the team does not bother to share the gospel. Just demonstrating the love of Christ through service would suffice. “Many people have heard the gospel before but have not responded because they need a trigger to move over to the Lord’s side. An evidence of sacrifice could make them decide for God.

    “Sometimes, we just represent the care and compassion of God for them. For them, we are the only form of God they would see and benefit from. Just knowing someone cares is enough to see them through life.

    “All you need is to show the love of God. You don’t need to preach in many instances. People just need to see the love of God motivating you to make sacrifices,” he says.

    Despite boundless opportunities to practise outside the country, Ajayi-Majebi is determined to work nowhere else but in Nigeria. “If I go outside the country, there are lots of specialists serving the people. The needs there are not as critical as we have here.

    “If I go there, it would be for myself. Some things would be assured for me. I can make more money and my less would be less stressful.  But if I want to be relevant and fulfill the call of God upon my life there is where to be.

    “If I have to serve Jesus, I have to be here. But if it is for myself, I would be over there. But I am not saying everyone who went there did it for money.”

    The deeper he gets into outreaches, the more needs he sees. The greater his zeal to help as many people as possible. To help more people, Ajayi-Majebi has chosen to lead a simple live. That way, his needs are so few he could deploy more resources to helping others. It is a lifestyle he has infused in his wife and children.

    Helping others medically costs him a great deal of deprivations. But he is the least concern. Life, as far as he is concerned, is not about possessions or luxuries but impact.

    According to him: “I have learnt to live simple. There are so many things I can do without. I don’t place demands on my spheres of influence. We don’t throw parties or do anything extraordinary. We just live simple and make sacrifices so that the work will progress,” he reveals.

    “My first month in practice, I made N21, 000 just sitting from morning to evening. It became N80, 000 later. I had to drop for medical missions. I complained to God when I started that I have children and a family to take care of.

    “He told me then that what I am making in one month, I would make it in one day if I stay with it. It came to pass many years ago. But as the money increased, the needs expand too. So, you deploy more resources to meet them.

    “It is not a life of luxury of affluence. After a time, you realized you don’t really need it. I can afford a shoe ten times more than I have now but I won’t because it is a life of simplicity. We are not here to impress anybody.

    “We came from fairly affluent backgrounds. I grew up on the Islands and know what it is to move in some circles. I probably have more clothes as a student than I do now.

    “You just realise some things in life do not matter because you have a bigger picture when life takes a new turn. I would rather put my treasures in heaven through good works as against having them here.”

    The missionary doctor believes he still has many grounds to cover. Asked what the donation of N1million monthly would do to the organisation, Ajayi-Majebi laughs and, perhaps visualising the possibilities, says:  “A million naira can get us more supplies of drugs. There are so many outreaches we cut short because we run out of supplies.

    “One of our visions is to build small maternity centres for them. We have a programme on training nurses to reach more souls with a commitment to working with us for three years.

    “We have had missionaries coming from the north coming here for free treatment. There is an orphanage whose kids we treat free of charge round the year. Sometimes we take the whole lab with us. We power the laboratories with generators for screening. We sure would do a whole lot with that amount.”

  • How varsity’s ideals changed my life, says CU’s best

    At 15, Salami Flourish’s JAMB score was an uninspiring 208. To make matters worse, she sought admission to study Geology at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria’s premier institution. But then, because she was 15, she was not considered for admission as the minimum age is 16.  Her parents then settled for Industrial Chemistry at Covenant University (CU) in Ota, Ogun State. Flourish accepted their option not knowing the decision would turn her into one of the greats in life.

    The teenager knew that she must buckle up to meet up with the university’s high standard.  She once witnessed her elder sister exchange a handshake with CU Chancellor Dr David Oyedepo for emerging a first class graduate two years ago; and that was the tonic which saw Salami tower far above her contemporaries at the university’s 13th convocation last weekend.

    Aside her emergence as the Best Graduating Students of the ‘Release of Eagle 2018’ set, she became also the second in the university’s history to score 4.99 Cumulative Grade Point Average.

    “I had 208 which was due to less seriousness on my part. Thereafter, I had determination to move higher because I felt I was not getting any younger,” Salami began her story.

    “From secondary school, I’d always loved Chemistry and I wanted to study Geology in UI. But here (CU) was the best decision from my parents ever because it is the principles operative here that propelled me to the top.

    “When I got here (CU), I saw competition and a bright future, so I decided to work harder.”

    Salami briefly shared her experience with reporters after she was declared an outstanding student amid applause from guests and parents.  She got the coveted handshake with the Founder.

    Salami noted that the uncompromising rule of her alma mater remains one of the things that shaped her future.

    She continued: “I had my secondary school education at Queen’s College Lagos, a school I can describe as secular. However, my greatest challenge was how to adapt to life in CU.

    “I would still have been serious if I were in public school, though I knew there are many distractions there. But here, everything is different.

    “In CU for instance, you can’t go out anyhow without an exeat. Above all, the spirituality level is also very high.

    “We also do not use handsets and I actually love the ‘no phone’ rule because they constitute distractions particularly to my age group, but we have call cards to reach out to our parents. We also have laptops to prosecute our online activities.”

    Naturally, Salami described herself as the not-too-sociable type especially among her 14 other course mates. She said she equally steered clear of any immoral relationship while in school, something the authorities also frowned at.  Nonetheless, she owes no one apology for that.

    “I avoided them because they are also distractions,” she said.

    Now at 19, Salami, the third child to a retired clergy father and teacher mother, from Ogun State, her future lies ahead of her.

    Having graduated earlier than most, Salami feels she can scale more hurdles. At present, she wants to acquire her masters and Ph.D degrees so as to rank as one of the youngest Ph.D holders in the country, then take up a teaching appointment while combining it with owning an industry.

    Her mother, Yemisi, had God to thank for her daughter’s victory.

    “The experience has been awesome,” she said.

    “It’s not been that smooth but God has been faithful.  When you hold on to God’s promise, He will see you through.

    On Flourish, she had this to say: “When you first correct her on something for the first time, she might not like it or flare up. But later, she would ruminate over what you told her and adjust accordingly.”

  • ‘My life will change for good’, says Goldberg’s N2 Million Prize winner

    Overall winner in the Juju category of the just concluded 2018 Ariya Repete Talent Hunt, Ayodele Olatunji has said that the cash prize presented  to him for emerging winner of the  competition will surely transform his family life for the better, just as he is planning to acquire some musical instrument to boost his art.

    “This is the opportunity of a lifetime and I give glory to God for this win. It didn’t come by my power. I just want to appreciate God and Goldberg Lager Beer for this great opportunity. With this two million naira, I will buy some of the music instruments needed for my shows and make significant change in the life of my family, N2m and the Goldberg ambassadorship status will change the fortune of my family for good.”  Ayodele said.

    Recall that the Goldberg’s Ariya Repete talent hunt lasted three months with display of superb music by about 5000 up and coming acts across the South West of Nigeria and Ilorin. The road to the finale was a long one, as each contestant who progressed from the audition stage went through rigorous grooming and mentorship sessions at the Ariya Academy. Eventually, out of about 5000 contestants, only 16 made it to the finale in Ibadan, after they were selected from the 40 that slugged it out in the Lagos semi-finales.

    It was a blend of fun and serious business as all the finalists treated the audience to rich renditions of their severally rehearsed and composed songs, in the end, Ayodele Olatunji emerged winner in the juju music category.

    Ayodele, a National Diploma certificate holder from the Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti, has a rather peculiar aura to his sound. His brash delivery on classic melodies stood him out.

    In addition to the beautiful performances by the contestants, there were also scintillating performances by Juju music greats, including a veteran like King Sunny Ade.

    Admonishing the winners, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mr. Franco Maria Maggi said, “Ariya Repete has brought you forth to limelight, I therefore implore you to be good ambassadors of the platform. Mere congratulating you today will not be enough, but I must enjoin you to represent this platform well, being the one that seeks to discover and promote indigenous Yoruba music genres and has made you the newest Fuji and Juju superstars in Nigeria,” he said.

    He challenged the other contestants to keep alive their dreams, saying that they are all winners and must remain good ambassadors that should represent their state musical passions in a positive light.

    The event was witnessed by The Oyo State Commissioner of Information, Arts and Culture, Mr. Toye Arulogun, The Special Assistant to the Oyo State Governor on Youth and Sport, Honorable Bolaji Repte,  Top Nollywood Stars including Yemi Solade, Sanyeri, Kamilu, Adedamola Olatunji, Dele Fagboyo the Anchor of Aajiirebi and Odunlade Adekola who anchored the event.

    Also speaking at the event, Funso Ayeni, Senior Brand Manager, Regional Mainstream Brands, Nigerian Breweries Plc said, “I congratulate the winners for aspiring to become the future stars of Fuji and Juju music as well as traditional drumming and I charge you to be of good conduct in the industry to attain greater heights like the veterans we have today.”

    The Ariya Repete 2018 started in Abeokuta with a Roundtable discussion involving key stakeholders in the music, art and culture sector. It is a yearly talent competition that aims to discover, develop and promote talents in the indigenous Yoruba music of Fuji and Juju genres, including drumming, as a way of helping to preserve the Yoruba rich musical and cultural heritage.

  • ‘My life as an ex-wizard, witch’

    Apostle Alexander Bamgbola is Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Lagos chapter. He spoke with Sunday Oguntola on his journey to the world of occult and intriguing lessons he came away with. Excerpts:

    How did you find yourself in the occult?

    I grew up in a Muslim family but my parents made a mistake to send me to Christian school. I went to an Anglican school for primary education and then Baptist High school where I received the Lord secretly. I lived my life secretly.

    I lived that life until I finished my school. In those days, you either work to any government institution to pick up a job in Electricity Company of Nigeria, which is now Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) or Ports Authority. But I made up my mind I was not going to work in the government establishments.

    Before I finished schooling, I made up my mind I would only work in a bank.  While in the High School, I would always dress up like I worked in the bank. So all my contemporaries started working in December immediately after our WAEC. It used to be automatic in those days. You didn’t have to sweat to get jobs.

    But I didn’t have a job. By January and February, I was still jobless.  I was living in Lagos with my uncle, a native doctor. He was a very eminent native doctor on Lagos Island. By April, still no job. And my friends were already living in rented apartments, drinking and womanising.

    By the end of April, my uncle called me. He asked if something was wrong with me. How come others had jobs but I was unemployed. I used to be active in First Baptist Lagos on Broad Street. I told my uncle I was only interested in working in a bank but none of the six banks I applied to have replied.

    He said well if that’s what you want, you should have told me. All I need to do is give you some little thing. A Baptist boy, I said no. About a week later, he called and did some incisions on my head and barely ten days later, I got an invitation for interview in Barclays Bank.

    What do you think a young man would do considering the timing? That marked the beginning of my involvement in the occult. I got the job with Barclays Bank. I worked in Barclays Bank for five year and two months. When I got to the bank, I saw how people made money.

    Before I left for America, I had become an ogbologo to extent that my late friend, Adesanya, took me to a place in Otta, Ogun State where they gave me more powers. When I was leaving for the USA for studies, my suitcase was 90 per cent full of juju.

    And they didn’t detect?

    They don’t care. Those days, there was no Customs like this but I learnt my lesson. Another late friend, Oshodi, was with me enjoying then in Chicago. We went to look for a very beautiful flat in northern side of Chicago whereas Nigerians were used to being in the south-south.

    One day, FBI came to arrest Oshodi because he had insurance issue. That was in 1971 and I was the only one in the house in the morning. We were on the 13th floor of the 42- storey building. They pressed the bell but I refused to open. They threatened to break in to the apartment. I rushed to my purse loaded with juju and started incantation but nothing worked.

    I was even ready to jump from the 13th floor. Well, they opened the door, put handcuffs on me and took me to their office. They saw my valid visa, school fees paid and passport and wondered why I refused to open the door.

    That night, Oshodi came voluntarily because he had married. We spent the night in the light jail and were released the following morning.  So I found out my juju will not work in America. I abandoned it to focus on work hard.

    That was the first phase. God blessed me so well in my university. I joined the American bank and abandoned juju. I started going to church. When I came back, I came back as an expatriate. The bank had already gotten my house in March in 1979 but I didn’t come back until October.

    So, how did you get to the occult?

    In 1982, I had a disaster. I was sick to the point of death. It was actually an attack. I woke up in my dream and saw myself dead in a stretcher in the hall way of a hospital. As an expatriate, the bank flew me back to Houston.

    But they found nothing wrong with me after series of tests. So I knew it was spiritual. My friend, who was a little older, told me he had always been saying I needed fortification to survive in Nigeria. He was in the occult and led me there.

    I joined over 30 occult groups within and outside the country. I joined the one in Benin, the Islamic occult, every occult and became heavily involved in the occult. Meanwhile, my ambition then was to become governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    …And you believed you won’t become the governor of CBN without being in the occult?

    Yes. Twice, I was close to becoming CBN governor. I had so many friends in the military. Many of them were in the occult too. One of them became Head of States and promised twice to make me CBN governor. But it didn’t work until 1979.

    In 1987, we tried it again but it wasn’t possible. This time, I was with my spiritualists in the occult. They told me it would be done and I believed them and abandoned the church.

    It got to a point I had to become a wizard in the occult and there are sixteen powers of wizardry.  You take it level by level. I got to the eleventh point, receiving something like a small gourd rubbed on your body and no doctor can find it, never.

    I received eleven powers and I told them I was not feeling the power and they all agreed to give me the ultimate, which is witchcraft. We always accuse women of being witches but the real witches are men. So I became a witch. If you look at my head, you would find a spot where they made over 1,000 incisions in 1985.

    I was then acting Managing Director of my bank and we were sorting out things. I received the power of witchcraft in February/March. The spot in my head never healed. It even smelled at a point.  I started wearing natives. I was wearing agbada so that I could cover the volume of juju around my body.

    Suits could no longer cover them. I had to use agbada and the most expensive perfume was what you would find on my body because I could perceive the smell of the head myself.  For eleven months, this head smelled. But I became born again in 1989.

    How did you leave the occult?

    I had to leave because Jesus took me out from there. I had 13 personal cars, mostly Mercedes series. I loved Mercedes series, 200, 300, SE 300 and 500 American cars. The occult life continued until when the Lord was ready for me. Nobody would talk to me about it. I would just smile.

    If I would go to church programme, probably I would go once in two years. I would remove a lot of juju on my body, hide them in the car and still keep the most potent ones because there could be emergency even in the church. But when God was ready for me, Jesus would appear to me.

    I could be in the office, talking to my clients, opening my files and the face would just change. If I lied down and faced the ceiling, Jesus will just be smiling at me. That took about four days- the longest numbers of days I spent on earth.

    Jesus kept appearing to me. All the generals and ministers were meeting in my house every night for party. My wife came up during the four-day troubles and I had to open up to her.

    The woman laughed and said ‘I have been telling you Alex, you will not only see Jesus, you will wine and dine with Jesus.’ I was so upset. I thought the woman will be sympathetic.

    She was already a Christian?

    Yes, she was. She had been praying, weeping for ten years for my soul. She and my cousin would pray together for nine hours, weeping and crying for salvation of my soul.

    She knew about your involvement in occult?

    Yes, she knew. There was a section in the house where I have over 150 sponges to take bath. I had no peace in those four days. Something told me to go to Bethel Church. I was praying that Sunday would come. I just wanted to go to church. That Sunday, I sneaked into the church. I sat at the back.

    Rev Oduyemi just fished me out. He took me from there and put me right in the front. As he ministered, he gave the altar call. Before he finished, I had answered altar call. He laid hands on me and I felt over 1,000 thousand tons of ships had been removed from my head.

    Before then, I was almost a medical doctor to myself. I had hypertension, chronic hypertension, no sleep at night, no rest and then women with the military friends with drinks. In the day, you see me in suit, appearing as the finest banker in the town. But in the night, I was something else.

    The day I gave my life to Christ, every sickness vanished. I used to have blood pressure and all that. That day, I noticed nothing. I went to the doctor and became normal. My friends didn’t believe it. It took them years to believe me because I was the man in charge of music for my military group consisting of governors across the states involved in daily partying.

    Were there attempts by the occult members to draw you back?

    Not even drawing me back but killing me. I would just wake up on my bed and see letters. Real letters dropped. But I knew their activities before. They gave me seven-day ultimatum and arranged accidents to kill me.

    I was coming to Lagos from Ibadan expressway sometimes ago when the tire burst but nothing happened. I was crossing from my house, using Glover Street when a commercial bus appeared from nowhere. It threw me and my car to other side of the main road because they gave me deadlines of death.

    All those years they were threatening you, were you afraid?

    No, never.

    Why?

    I just knew I had touched the real thing. The Lord had become my shield and buckler. I just believed nothing could happen to me. When I knew the power of God is real. I knew too many of the secrets. I tried to kill my wife when I didn’t make to become the CBN governor. They were telling me that she was the one blocking it.

    In the two years I spent in the occult, no one ever came and say it didn’t happen. But in her case, it didn’t happen. With all the juju, they put blood on her night dress. I knew she would wear one. I went out and drove back around 5:30am, expecting to find her dead.

    But as I moved in, the security men said nothing. I went in and heard her voice, praying. I called my friend and I said ‘this woman is not dead o’. My friend said it is not possible. He took his car, drove to Ikoyi by 7 am to confirm himself. That was when it became clear to me that some people cannot be killd.

  • Adeboye’s role in my life, by Osinbajo

    Adeboye’s role in my life, by Osinbajo

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday gave an insight into the roles played by Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye in their political lives.

    The pastor of the influential Redemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) gave them the advice that infleuced their decisions to accept public office, they revealed.

    The two leaders spoke at the Youth Centre of the RCCG on Kilometre 46, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway yesterday during the presentation of a book Pastor E. A Adeboye; His Life and Calling.

    Prof. Osinbajo, who lauded Pastor Adeboye for his role in “my spiritual growth”, said he sought the General Overseer’s consent before accepting to run with President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 presidential race.

    Osinbajo said: “Over the years, daddy (Adeboye) has been an instrumental factor to my spiritual growth. I consulted daddy and he gave the go-ahead for me to accept the VP position.”

    He said the RCCG was able to attract the largest gathering of worshippers to its convention due to Adeboye’s sincerity and humility.

    “Apart from Coca-cola, the Church is next in mileage across the world. And it all has to do with the sincerity, dedication and humility of Daddy G.O.” Osinbajo said.

    Recounting how Pastor Adeboye influenced his decision to run for president in 1999, Obasanjo said after visiting former South African President Nelson Mandela and respected South Africa cleric Desmond Tutu,   the pastor’s opinion finally convinced him to run.

    “I visited Pastor Adeboye who told me to come back as he would have to pray and know the mind of God concerning the matter.

    ”I was concerned about his response because I got immediate responses from my two friends (Mandela and Tutu). Weeks after, I was sent for and he told me to go ahead and serve as President. I still had a thread of doubt but 48 hours after we met, I opened the scripture and it was the Book of Esther that I opened and I began to read about her,” Obasanjo said.

    The former president noted that he read about how Esther responded to God’s call for her to serve God’s people because that was the reason she was chosen as queen at that material time. “Afrter that, I submitted.”

    He added:  ”I want to thank Pastor Adeboye for helping me at that crucial time in my life when I was to make the right decision.

    “There is no one in modern Africa that has touched lives as much as Pastor Adeboye. I came to the conclusion that anyone who does not respect him does not respect God. After all, God uses men to carry out his work on earth. This man is a tremendous instrument in God’s hands.”

    Obasanjo hinted of his plan to lead many other writers to author a book about Pastor Adeboye.

    Although Obasanjo did not name the would-be authors, he noted that whatever had been written about the man of God by others was not adequate to capture the life of the exemplary man of God.

    The wife of the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Folu Adeboye, who conceived the idea of the book, said that it was to celebrate Pastor Adeboye’s 75th birthday.

    I know he loves to read the Bible and other books of great men and women to learn from their lives, principles and values. I believe that it is time to put his life and calling in print for others to read and be inspired and blessed. This is just the beginning”, he said.

    Prof. Omolewa, said that the book helped to provide an authoritative account and information about Pastor Adeboye.

    He said: “We can proclaim that this book is an encyclopedia, telling the story of the little town of Ifewara in which Pastor Adeboye was born and the circumstances of his young days and early childhood. Seeing him rise through challenges and odds to become a dedicated teacher, sport master, theatre director, song composer and becoming a guest of royalty and president, leaving in the trail of signs and wonder everywhere he had visited.”

    The book, he said would help to correct many of the myth and misleading information on Pastor Adeboye, including the one attributed to his first degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the one which stated that he was named one of the most influential people in the world by Time Magazine.

    The book, written by 40 scholars, diplomatic corps, close associates, leadership experts from within and outside Nigeria and members of the Governing Council of the church, is coordinated by Omolewa.

    Guest at the event included: Bishop David Oyedepo, wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs. Orelope Adefulire, Access Bank Group Managing Director Herbert Wigwe, Standard Charted Bank  Managing Director Bola Adesola, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State Sarah Sosan, wife of the General Overseer of the Christian Pentecostal Mission, Rev Mercy  Ezekiel, former of Nigeria Breweries Chairman Pastor Felix Ohiwere and many others.

     

     

  • The women in my life-Tourism expert Egbeyemi

    The women in my life-Tourism expert Egbeyemi

    Aare Olaseni Egbeyemi is the Managing Director of Golden Legacy Hotel and Leisure Services Limited. He is among those clamouring for the proper repositioning of the Nigerian tourism sector.  In this interview with PAUL UKPABIO, he gives ideas that will bring about the transformation of the hospitality industry in the country, among other issues.

    How long have you been in the tourism industry?

    I have been in the tourism industry since my adulthood. From television, I moved into entertainment and later on went into my passion which is tourism. Currently, I promote tourism, environment and entertainment. I run a company that manages hotels and recreation centres.

    What attracted you to tourism?

    I love travelling and meeting people. I am a product of a caterer. So hospitality came naturally to me. I love to take care of people and  make people feel at home and at ease. Over time, having seen the world through working in television, I decided to put my talent into good use.

    How many hotels are you managing currently?

    We have five of them in Lagos. There are also a few others that we are consultants to. We go there from time to time, see how they are doing and ensure that standard is being maintained. Unfortunately, over here, we have laws and regulations, but enforcement is not there. So consultants like me are invited to hotels to put things in their proper perspective, especially on issues of staffing, departmental standardisation and so on. The culture of hotel management is thus looked at from proper management perspective. Some hotels call us when they want to start and that is usually the best time anyway, so that they can start properly.

    Unfortunately again in this country, everybody wants to be a hotelier because they feel it is lucrative. But when you do not do it right, there will be problems. But wise businessmen invite professionals to get it right from the onset.  As tourism consultants, we invite other core professionals to join us in the team work. There are specialists in catering, food and beverage department and even people who can do a lot with wine. There are people who are gifted or trained in the area of service delivery. These are the things we put together and come up with standards in the hotel that we manage.

    Are you enjoying your work?

    Yes, it gives me great joy. I love doing this because it gives me joy to see people. I love to welcome people,especially people who have not been to where I am. And you know after the end of their stay, they come and say thank you for this or that. It gives me immense joy to see that happen. It may interest you to know that I work in each of the hotel departments. Sometimes I find myself in the kitchen, sometimes you can find me tendering an animal in the little zoo that we have in one of our hotels. The only thing that I do not do is maintenance, and that is because I do not have engineering knowledge. I thank God for the team I work with.

    Do you have anything doing outside Lagos?

    Yes, right now, our company has secured a 50-acre land along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where we intend to build an interesting tourism site. We have a mini zoo now where we have some interesting animals.  We want to do that on a larger scale. I was in Uganda where I saw some beautiful mini zoos. I also saw some things that will interest all. In this country, for instance, we are not used to going on holidays.

    We need to encourage people to go on holidays to relax their bodies and avoid sudden deaths and diseases. Nigerians work round the clock. We do no find time to recreate. So we are creating a relaxing spot outside Lagos, a big one where people can drive in, see animals, swim in a natural ecotourism atmosphere, sleep in decent chalets and  eat fresh food. That is the project on the burner for now.

    How far is this from Lagos?

    Immediately after Ogere, there is a town called Ogunmakin. That is where the location is. We have started the project already.

    When are you completing it?

    Of course, it is our wish to complete it in record time, but we have constraints in the availability of funds. A project like this will certainly take a long time. Sourcing for loans through the banks, I must confess, is a task. You meet with embargoes here and there. The vision will soon materialise.We have a Spanish company that is interested in an aspect of what we are doing. They intend to have a milk industry. There will be a ranch there, and this will complement the tourism project that we are putting together there.

    That means you are looking at an eco-tourism centre.

    Yes, I am an environmentalist which is another part of me. I love to see greenery around me. That is why anywhere I live I plant trees. I mark my birthday by planting a new tree for that day. Those that I have lived with in my life know that I plant trees at church,house and everywhere possible. When each of my children was born, I planted  trees to celebrate their births. Sometimes I call them and show them the trees I planted the days they were born. When people who are close to me celebrate their birthdays, I plant  trees for them. When I receive a special guest at home, when the person leaves, I plant a tree in his honour.

    One of the hotels you are managing has a zoo. What brought about the inclusion of a zoo in that particular hotel?

    Mokland Hotel where the mini zoo is located was leased by us from the owner. When we got there, we saw a corner that was like a dumping ground. It occurred to me to make use of it. At first, we started by greening the particular area since the hotel is big and spacious but no greenery. At the swimming pool, we have a sitting area there where we have planted coconut trees.

    We, therefore, came up with a mini zoo for that fallow ground and now, schools are coming.  We have crocodiles, donkeys, peacocks, rabbits, geese and other animals that children see only on television. But here, they see them physically. Sometimes they ask if they can touch my horse and I allow them to ride. And when they are going, we give them handouts on all they had seen at the zoo. That is why we are expanding, hoping to move to the site I told you about.

    You talked about your mum being a caterer. Was that what attracted you to hospitality industry?

    I am the first child of my mum. Naturally when mummy was not around, I had to take charge. There was an incident when we were living in Kaduna. She wasn’t at home. Someone brought an order for a cake. We didn’t tell the woman that mummy had travelled. We charged her for the cake and between my sibling and I, we did the cake and collected the money. When the woman came to collect the cake, she was pleased. She said we should thank mum. From then, I kept on studying my mum and whenever she was not around, I entered the kitchen and did everything that she used to do. So that was how I turned myself into a good cook.

    And in my home, hospitality is part of us.

    What do you think of tourism regulatory bodies in the country?

    The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) ought to be a good regulatory body for the hotels in the country, so that our tourism can grow. You know tourism for incoming visitors starts from the arrival point to the taxi driver at the airport who must have  Nigerian culture to be readily showcased to the visitor. They must sell Nigeria to you through the services they are offering. This is the kind of things that the NTDC should be promoting. That is the orientation of the Nigerian mind towards tourism. And it should extend even to the conductors and drivers and all contact points that visitors are likely to be in touch with. We should sell a positive image to visitors.  In some countries, there is a synergy between all the people along the route where visitors are likely to get in contact with. All of them will be selling their country through positive image. Your car breaks down at some point in some countries and the next thing is that as the mechanic is repairing the car for you, he is telling you about possible historic sites that you can stop by to see before you depart.

    The NTDC should do reorientation for the average Nigerian in this direction. We even have different names for hotels in this country. Some hotels are not even qualified to be called a restaurant, but somehow, they call themselves hotels.

    But the NTDC started a classification exercise at a time?

    Yes, they did, but then, the political will must be there to enforce and clamp down on hotels that do not comply with regulations.

    But do think that hotels in Nigeria are really up to standard?

    We have wonderful, good hotels in this country. Indeed, Nigerians are investing heavily in the hotel industry. I was in a hotel in Ibadan.I saw the extent of the investment in the different aspects of the hotel, but something was missing: proper staffing orientation. The hotel is being  managed by the people with no knowledge to manage a business. I entered one hotel with a lovely edifice, but inside I felt like vomiting. There was no maintenance culture, and above all things, the power system was not helping matters. We must have a proper plan for the tourism industry for the next decade. There must be a projection for it. The change we clamoured for must take effect. Nigeria is a wonderful country, but we should do things in the right way.

     

    Would you say that room rates are expensive?

    I do not think so because there are still places where one can find as low as N10,000 which is not up to hundred dollars. Charges must be in agreement with service. It is wrong when that is not in place. I slept at a hotel recently, but did not get what I wanted there. So I made my comments known when I was leaving the place through the comment box. When I went back, I saw that what I complained about had been taken care of.

    How do you recreate?

    I do workout every day.I climb the stairs of our hotels as a form of exercise. I sit with friends at recreation centres and visit hotels. I drive out some nights to check into other hotels to check the competition. There, I see things myself and correct some things too in my outlets. Currently, I am also writing a book on hotel management in Nigeria. Also because I am also a script writer, we have a series on hotel life coming up soon. Life in hotel is large; it is a hospitality business, a place to care for people. People who go to hotels need care.

    As a tourism consultant, what is your style?

    I love wearing shorts and T-shirts. I like walking around easily,  especially when I am at work. Recently, somebody came up with a design for me which my friends are now calling my logo. It is a simple African dress. I love it. I love sandals. They make me free. I wear shoes when it is a formal event.  I love to wear sandals and be free. I do not wear caps because they make me feel headache.

    How about family?

    I am a married man with a beautiful wife and children. Mind you, I have beautiful daughters too. These are the women in my life.