Boss Picks

HQ Designs Are Classic Brands – Akeem Oduwole, CEO, HQ Designs

Published

6 years ago

August 11, 2018

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

In the world fashion designing, one name stands out among the rest. It is HQ DESIGNS. In this brief chat, the Chief Executive Officer who doubles as the Creative Director, Mr. Akeem Oduwole, reveals the road to greatness, what makes the brand a household name as well as every other tiny detail that aids the growth of clothing business. Excerpts:

Can we meet you sir?

My name is Akeem Oduwole. I am the CEO and Creative Director of HQ Clothing. It is a fashion line that deals on men’s clothing and we have been on ground for eight years now.

Why deal on men’s outfit, when it is believed that women outfits are better patronised?

Well, I decided to focus on men outfits because I realised that this generation of men hardly wear native dresses. So, we re-modified the normal ‘buba and shokoto’ and called it ‘business wear’ meaning if you are wearing the attire, you will still look like you are putting on cooperate wears. For that, we concentrated on guys alone.

Since you started what has been the client response?

I must tell you that it has been very good. We started from the scratch, in fact, from a room in my apartment with a sowing machine, wiping machine, an embroidery machine and one staff, but as we speak today, I have over ten staff.

Did you from the very beginning study to become a fashion designer?

No, I never studied anything about fashion. I studied Accounting at The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

So, is this a passion, or how did it come about?

Initially, I called it a passion but when I had a chat with my dad, he told me that his grandparents were in the business, and that they were luxurious ‘Aso Oke’ merchants. After my studies, I ventured into Information Technology because it was in vogue then. I was into sales and servicing of laptops for a friend at the Computer Village. As fate would have it, I also had a friend that sews. When I need his services, I design what I want for him. With this, people started asking me why my outfit always stands out from others.

One day, my wife acknowledged that I dressed so good and advised that I go into tailoring business. Immediately, I told her she is the one that would be a tailor. At this time, my idea of a tailor is a person that sits in a shop and sews.

Again, a guy I never knew stopped me on the road and asked who made the shirt I was putting on; I told him I was the designer but not the tailor. He told me that though he didn’t see vision about me but if truly I designed it, I should forget whatever I was doing, and become a designer. I didn’t take him serious.

Two weeks after, some other person stopped me on Medical Road, and asked who made the dress I was wearing, and I just gave him a guys’ number. Thereafter, my brother abroad told me he needed some men’s suit. When I was going to get fabrics, somebody stopped me at Alausa Bus-stop, and asked who made my dress and maybe I can make it for him. I considered it, and because of the various promptings I have been getting about my designs, I decided to go for it. And to be honest, none of those that spoke to me about my designs has crossed my path again till date.

As time goes on, it became a passion and as people admired my designs, I was motivated to carry on. I have cloths for people from many places across the world. Most of them only saw my designs online. The job went full-fledged when one day I met a guy who helped me with my load. He told me he sews, and I decided to take him in. that was how we started building the company.

I never advertise except when Ovation promoted me even without my knowledge. It was great, and since then, we have not looked back.

How can you describe this creativity?

It was an inbuilt talent.

Did you learn tailoring, sewing, designing before you started sewing?

I didn’t learn anything from anybody.

What is the meaning of HQ?

It is a derivative of my first son’s name. His name is Haqq. I just combined the first and last letters and came up with HQ. I believe it is nice. That was how the name HQ came to existence.

Now, how do differentiate between a tailor and designer?

A tailor is a person who works on the machine. You can be a designer without being a tailor but in this part of the world we don’t know the difference. This is just like calling an architect a builder. If you are building, you can equally be an architect, but you still have to employ people that will do the building. The architect will be the one to draw what you want to build. A designer designs what the tailor is going to sew. Moreover, a tailor can be a designer and vis-à-vis. However, the designer has more advantages over the tailor. Why I said that is, a designer can design for 20 companies, but a tailor can only operate a sewing machine at a time. If you are serving as both, there will be clash of interest.

Over time, what has the job done to you as a person?

Sure, it has changed my fortune as a person. I know my worth when I started and I presently know my worth.

What advice would you give to those willing to join the profession?

My advice is simple. Whatever you are doing, you must be consistent and have the ability to endure, because no one expects huge profit at the beginning. Generally, those willing to join must work hard and pray harder. Hard work is good, but your prayer can take you to the right channel; the right people. Unfortunately, most people don’t want to pay the price. There was a day I went to deliver dresses to a client with the last money on me, and he said he would pay me the following Monday. I said no problem, and I stepped out to go source for money. Another day, I ran out of fuel about hundred metres from the filling station. I ran to the filling station with my last N100 and told the attendant to keep my phone but the attendant refused. Then, I asked for N100 fuel in the keg I was holding and the fuel took me to a secured place for my car, and I parked it. Those are challenges.

What other major challenges did you face at the initial stage?

Managing people was a great challenge then, especially paying my staff. At a time, I had two staff; one was on pay as you go, and the other on salary. Sometimes, when I had paid them, I might not be able to eat at all. But I didn’t give up because I know what it means someone who has worked for you. But today, to God’s glory, I conveniently do all these. I do tell people not to compare themselves to anybody. Set your goals, know your priority; you will definitely get there.

There was a time when I get to fast food, I can’t buy drink. Now, if I want the joint to be shutdown for a whole day, it will happen. This is because I set my goals right. I don’t compare myself to anybody. Yes, I let people who were doing good to challenge me, and it challenged in a right way.

The first time I went for an exhibition in Nigeria, I was like is this me. When I am done showcasing myself from the stage, a lady from South-Africa ran after me and marveled, asking if this is coming from Nigeria. Definitely, no business without challenges but you have to be ready for it. There was a time we needed to work and there was no light, no generator, and even money to get fuel. But today, it has turned around.

Let me ask, how was it like when you made your first million?

Hmm…I was so happy. And what prompted the happiness is that conveniently I can solve problems of hundred thousand up to 500 thousand naira. At a time, I decided the car I had doesn’t fit my personality anymore, and I bought another, two times better that the previous. Those who started thinking otherwise had a change of heart when began to see more changes in our operations and the determination with which we do our business. In fact, they also started patronizing us. When Ovation did the advert for me, I received contracts from everywhere. And my first call was from Saudi-Arabia. Thereafter, those from UK, US, South-Africa, Ghana, followed, and I was overwhelmed. That was in 2015, and since then, it has been open doors unlimited.

Who are your big clients?

I can’t mention names but they are very big.

Do they order or they bring materials?

They order, but you can bring materials as well.

What can you say about punctuality and timeliness in business?

The truth is if you need five staff for you to be more efficient, employ six. If you have a tailor that disappoints but charges N1000 and there is another that doesn’t disappoint, and charges 2000. You will go for the N2000 because he doesn’t disappoint. Although, most people will think of the six staff cost, with time, you will get the money. If people know you are effective and efficient, they will definitely come to you.

How affordable are you?

I am very affordable; not too cheap, and not too expensive.

Let’s come to family, how many kids do you have?

I have a wife and six children.

How do you manage your family and busy schedule?

I give my family a lot of time because my work demands I see my clients on appointment. I have my designs ready; I have a manager who oversees affairs. I have spread my tentacles in a way that I have time for myself and family. If I decide not to go to the factory in a week, it won’t affect production. And with the advancement in technology, everything is possible. I can easily get my designs across to the factory from wherever I am.

So, how do you relax with your family?

We go out and have fun. Most times, I am always at home. I can be at home for two, three days; that’s me.

Do you have a mini factory at home?

Yes, and whenever I have something to do, I will just give it to my manager and that’s all. With technology, even when I am at home, I am busy online, and I am still with them. Whenever they need me, I can pause what I am doing and attend to them. Even when my kids are around me, I am still working.

Now you are a society big-boy, how do you give back society?

I train people for free, but I stopped at a stage because people abused it. In truth, for one to learn a standard fashion designing business for 6 months he can’t pay less than N200, 000. And if anyone offers that for free, it should be appreciated but most people don’t appreciate because it’s not their passion. They just saw people in it, and joined.

Also, in HQ, we make cloths that we give out to the less privilege, students, and many others.

What food do you enjoy most as a person?

I enjoy pounded yam with vegetable or ‘egusi’ soup with goat meat. Also, I like plantain with sauce.

As a Muslim do you plan marrying more wives as it is permissible even up to four?

I didn’t create myself; one can only stereotype himself on what you want in life, but there are some things beyond your capacity. However, I don’t have plans for second wife, and if it has been destined, well. I never thought I was going to be a fashion designer. If I had known, I would have gone to school to study fashion designing.

So, who was your greatest inspiration in business?

If I had anybody that inspires me, I would have been in the business long before now. I only noticed people admiring my works, ever before I went into it. It was thereafter, I started asking myself if those who sew for presidents, governors, people like Dele Momodu, are not human beings. For a very long time, we have heard of Vivid Imagination and the other names, but it didn’t even cross my mind to think of what they do. It was after I started that I began to realise that several people are into what I do. So, if these people can be in the business and make it, I can also.

Do you intend going into general fashion like shoes some day?

Yes! I am in it already but I have not finalized the process. We are still test running because I prefer the best for whatever I do. Any sincerely, to get a quality shoe, it has to be Italy. But I would rather do my designing and take it to Italy for production.

If you find serious people, will you be ready to train them for free?

It takes a lot of work to know if the person is serious. As a result, I am planning to have a fashion school, some of the serious people that come in could be given scholarships, and they will appreciate it more.

In two, three years, where do you see HQ?

My plan is to have a shop in at least five African countries, if possible in two years. However, it is only God that can do that, but my next target is South Africa.

Where is HQ apart from Lagos?

Presently, it is only in Lagos.

What other location would it be?

Some people don’t even know us and they place order. That’s why being sincere is another thing. For Dele Momodu to advertise me in Ovation, people felt I must have integrity. They don’t know me and they trust their money with me; some people who have not seen or known me will send money to my account till I deliver their goods. Some send measurements, some send pictures for us to work with. I have clients all over the world, and most of them I don’t even know.

Do you have names for your cloths at HQ?

Yes, we have luxury ‘agbada’, normal ‘agbada’, we have native, we have casual, we have royal caps and royal outfits as well.

That means HQ is about what the clients want?

Yes! We are about what the clients want but sometimes, when clients bring poor designs we would advise them that we can’t work with this; that our name can’t be on it, because we treasure our brand, and our brand is a classic.

Thank You.

Boss Picks

From Security Officer to Presidential Awardee: The Dogged Story of Henry Ukazu

Published

4 days ago

December 22, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Have you seen a man diligent in his assignment; he will dine with kings, and not with mean men, so says the Bible in a paraphrased version. It posits that diligence is the password and passport to recognition.

Beyond diligence, there exists also steps of the ladder to Eldorado. These include focus, determination, foresight and patience. And not forgetting expectation. One man embodies these qualities, and has therefore, catapulted himself, and by divine assistance to the proverbial enviable heights. He is Henry Ukazu, a legal coordinator with the New York Department of Correction.

The story of Ukazu is far from grass to grace as is popularly known. It is a story of doggedness, purpose, intention, programmed to achieve and can-do-attitude.

Henry or Henry the Great as he is popularly called by associates, friends and well wishers, prides himself as a go-getter, who from day one set out to live a life worthy of reference. This he began by understudying great achievers in Industrialization and most especially in capacity building including the Yomi Garnetts of this world and the May Angelous of this world from whom he learnt the principle of educating, inspiring and transforming both lives and resources.

Having done all, and still in the business of doing as much, Henry has risen, transcending the days of little beginning, when even as a Law graduate from Nigeria, relocated to the United States of America to become a security guard; a ploy that came both naturally, and from situational variables to help shape the man he has become today.

Yes, the man of today! Of the many accolades trailing his meritorious existence, Henry was selected as proud recipient of the United States of America Presidential Award; a feat only available for professional achievers, the morally upright, academically sound and those whose impact in the society as regards capacity building are topnotch. Henry qualified in all, and it was no surprise that the American government gave him this once in a lifetime recognition. He shone like a million stars at the presentation, becoming a much sought after commodity, even in his absence.

He is not new to awards and recognitions though as his works and efforts in both the distant past, present and near future, speaks volumes of humanity, tolerance and kindness.

In an interview he granted News12 a few years ago, Henry noted that with his position at Rikers Island, where he practices his profession, he is able to help inmates with much more than just legal work.

“I try to assist them with how they can unleash their potential because it’s very, very important,” he said.

For a young man, who arrived the US in 2008, he has done so much for himself, rising from the dust of low cadre job as a security guard, which provided him the opportunity to seek greener pastures, to not just a prolific author, but the writer of the bestseller, “Design Your Destiny: Actualizing Your Birthright To Success.” This is one book, whose pages literally speak to the reader, captivating attention, and invoking instant change on the life and world outlook of the mentee. He has mentored both those incarcerated as well as encourage the youths into becoming toasts of their immediate society. He is also the author of Unleash Your Destiny: 50 Nuggets for Living a Purposeful and Impactful Life.

As part of his means of deseminating knowledge across board, Henry has spoken at various fora including workshops, symposia, colleges, high schools, middle schools and youth organizations and meetings, just to make sure people have the tools they need to succeed in whatevee they do.

Born on December 3, many decades ago, Ukazu is a graduate of Madonna University in Nigeria, where he studied Law. He proceeded to the New York Law School when he came to the United States in 2008 to further his education, which he confessed he only wanted to use his to help young people. He studied Taxation, and obtained a Masters Degree. Within mincing words, his life has revolved around providing both financial, intellectual and empowerment succour to everyone he comes around.

He said this much of himself as obtained from his personal website:

“I am an experienced tax preparer. I am a certified Tax Preparer by the Internal Revenue Service. I also have a solid background in Social Service having worked for Sebco Corporation, a private organisation operating under the auspices of New York Department of Homeless Services.

“I had my High School, bachelor and Law school in Nigeria before emigrating to New York after being called to the Nigerian Bar to further my academical and professional life. I am a prolific writer. By the special grace of God, I am the author of the acclaimed inspirational and motivational book Design Your Destiny- Actualizing Your Birthright to Success- a creative book which centers on self discovery and how you can unleash your potentials by maximizing your failures.

“I am a very dynamic person. I am the product of grace. What most people don’t know about me is that I have a humble background. I have literally succeeded in life because of strong family ties, friends and mentors who showed uncommon favor to me. I can go on and on, but I will leave the rest of the story to be told at a later time.

“My passion to serve humanity made me to study law. With this profession, my ultimate goal in life is to be the father to the fatherless, mother to the motherless and defender to the defendless.

“I am a big believer of change and social justice in our society. I am a progressive being who likes advocating for the youths. I am passionate about leadership through service. I like educating, mentoring, enlightening folks, and giving speeches. I am also passionate about empowering humanity especially the youths. I derive joy and satisfaction affecting the lives of people positively. By doing such deeds, my life and mission on earth is complete in addition to being fulfilled when I put smiles on the faces of people I come across daily. My ultimate aim in life is to leave the world better than I met it and also do same for any person I come in contact with.

“I rely on the Ubuntu theory which literally means, I am because we are, I am because of what other people have made of me. It’s my utmost believe and understanding that we are on earth for humanity and the best investment we can have on earth is to invest in humanity.”

At less than 40, and with many years to explore, Henry has proved to be a gift to this age and to humanity, raising giants and giant slayers in enterprise and sundry endeavours, using his global platform, GLOEMI. Apart from hia books, he also contributes articles under the themes Adding Value and Food for Living through The Boss Newspaper and Pointblank.ng respectively, from where it is circulated across media platforms.

Henry is married to his sweetheart, and they are both blessed with a son, Chisom.

Congratulations on your latest achievement sir!

Boss Picks

Massad Boulos: Inside Story of SCOA Nigeria CEO

Published

1 week ago

December 16, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Rising to the pinnacle of one’s career is not a mean feat. Becoming the chief executive officer of any organization, let alone a multinational firm, or by implication, a multi-dimensional company, is an achievement worth celebrating. It is even more legendary when the subject is internationally connected and has enduring links with notable figures, especially America’s President-elect, Donald John Trump, and is thriving without an iota scandal. Mr. Massad Boulos, the Chief Executive Officer of SCOA Nigeria, is that one person.

Born a Lebanese in 1971 to a Greek Orthodox family in Kfaraakka, Koura, Boulos has over the years, while growing, and through career trajectory, acquired three more national identities including American, French and Nigerian. These have projected to the category of international personalities, looked upon as fostering world peace and coexistence.

His name, which translates to Paul to the Apostle, in Arabic, betrays his religious inclination, but his close-knitted relationship with Arab Muslims and other Muslims of the world further cements his open minded attitude towards humanity even as he categorically and vigorously campaigned for Former President Trump, who is today the President-Elect, awaiting the coming of January 20 to become the 46th President of the United of America.

While the campaign and election lasted, Boulos prized himself as Trump’s ‘envoy’ to Arab and Muslim Americans, shuttling through the states of Michigan, Arizona and Florida to convince them that Trump is a better candidate, capable of bringing the Israeli/Hamas war to a sudden end. His efforts paid off as Trump won the election with a landslide.

“Our community in Arizona is so big and so important, we can make a difference. We can make sure we get that margin,” he was quoted as saying by Washington Post in August.

He has been a solid ally of Trump since 2018 when his son began to date Trump’s daughter, Tiffany. Both got married in 2022, and in December 2024, Trump, who described him as an ‘accomplished lawyer’, named him his Middle East advisor.

Going down memorylane, The Washington Post in September, captured the origin as follows: “The war, which began 11 months ago after Hamas-led militants carried out a stunning cross-border attack on Israel, has reduced much of Gaza to rubble. The Oct. 7 attack killed about 1,200 people and saw 250 dragged back into Gaza as hostages, according to the Israeli government.

“But months of negotiations mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar have failed to deliver a cease-fire and hostage-release deal. Meanwhile, fewer than half the hostages have returned to Israel alive, while the war has given rise to starvation and disease throughout the enclave.”

A product of a political hegemony as his father and grandfather were prominent politicians, funding the Free Patriotic Front, Boulos however, chose the path of his father-in-law, Michel Zouhair Fadoul, who came into his life much later in existence, and became a truck seller; a profession he committed his very all, and rose to become the Head of its Nigeria axis. That is the SCOA Nigeria; a prolific truck manufacturing and marketing firm.

He however, had political stint as an ally of Michel Aoun’s FPM and represented it in Nigeria, where his business is domiciled.

It was reported that in 2009, the FPM shortlisted him, though by 2018, he was supporting Frangieh’s Marada. Consequently, hia appointment by Trump defines hia capacity to shuttle between both ideological prism, and bring harnessing in Middle East politics.

He said of the Israeli massacre and the subsequent and ongoing war, “Those massacres would not have happened if there was a strong president at the White House. The entire war wouldn’t have happened.

But Trump’s “clear and unequivocal position on this is that he is totally and absolutely against this war… And he’s totally and absolutely against the killing of civilians.”

The Trump Vance team captured his person as follows in a press statement by the Spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, while defending him over an avalanche of ‘fake’ information:

“The truth is Mr. Boulos is a highly respected businessman who has proudly served as the CEO of some of his family’s group of companies based in West Africa for more than 27 years and his family has employed tens of thousands of people around the globe.”

The statement further allocated the following achievements to Boulos:

• Mr. Boulos has degrees in both business and law.
• SCOA Nigeria PLC, a member of the FADOUL Group, is a well-known conglomerate that exclusively represents numerous global brands for decades.
• SCOA and the other family group companies have been very successful in the Nigerian market providing high-end products and specialized services to the largest companies in the country.
• SCOA is also part of the Fadoul Group, which is one of the largest privately-owned family businesses in West and Central Africa with a presence in 10 different countries since its founding in 1966.
• The FADOUL Group employs more than 20,000 hardworking people
• The Boulos and Fadoul family companies have developed into a family group with over $1 Billion USD in value and hundreds of millions in assets.

Soundly educated, Boulos, who moved to Texas as a teenager graduated from University of Houston-Downtown in 1993 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He moved to Nigeria to work for SCOA at the completion of his education.

Today, he is a notable shareholding authority in the conglomerate. Boulos, as a matter of principle, will say much about his Enterprises because he “made a practice of not commenting on his businesses”. He allows entities to make their own various conjectures.

A man of peace and saddled with the responsibility of keeping all and aundry qith arms length, Boulos reportedly has ‘links with Christian politicians and parties in Lebanon, including Suleiman Frangieh and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) both of which are Christian allies of Hezbollah, but maintained talks with opposition parties like the Lebanese Forces, says Wikipedia.

It was therefore, easy to portray Trump as supportive of “global peace” in the 2014 election campaigns.

As a positive identity and credential, Boulos has acted as an intermediary between the Palestinian Authority and its leader, Mahmoud Abbas and Trump.

Boulos is married to Sarah Fadoul Boulos, who was born in Burkina Faso in 1986? She lived in Houston, Texas, and was a student at Houston Baptist University until 1996, then moved to Lagos, Nigeria. She is a dance instructor, who in 2005 founded the aspirationally named Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria as a tiny studio in her garage.

More recently, she has been a franchisee of Creative Education International (CrEd) Lagos Island. As at 2020, she worked at La Pointe Delicatessen, in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Together they have four children. While one of their son, Michael, is married to Tiffany Trump, daughter of Donald Trump, another son, Fares, is an actor.

Though he would be holding an important position for the American government come January 2025 when the administration of Trump is inaugurated, Boulos, who has undeniable roots in Lebanon had said his time like during the electioneering will be split.between South Florida and Nigeria, where he oversees his family’s billion-dollar conglomerate, SCOA Nigeria.

Boulos is a longtime proponent of the Grand Old Party (GOP), another name for the Republican Party, His support therefore, for Trump is rooted in both politics and family, and so believes in the Trump Vance Transition Team verdict that, “President Trump wants peace and prosperity for all people.

“President Trump will once again deliver peace through strength to rebuild and expand the peace coalition he built in his first term to create long-term safety and security for both the Israeli and Palestinian people.”

The count begins therefore, on January 25 as Trump resumes office.

However, the management of SCOA in a statement titled “Celebrating the Legacy of Massad Boulos Leadership at SCOA Nigeria”, to further project his image, and prove fake narratives wrong, noted as follows:

Recent media criticisms questioning the breadth of experience and business acumen of Mr. Massad Boulos, the incoming Senior Adviser on Arab and Middle East Affairs to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, are not only misguided but also dismissive of the remarkable track record of both the man and the companies he has been instrumental in nurturing.

For instance, SCOA Nigeria PLC, where Mr. Boulos serves as Managing Director/CEO, is far from being just another company. It is a formidable force in Nigeria’s industrial and economic landscape. With roots spanning over four decades, it holds the distinction of being the first European automotive assembly plant in Nigeria.

In the 1970’s, SCOA Nigeria PLC made a name for itself by assembling Peugeot 404 and then 504 pickup trucks at its assembly plant at Apapa, Lagos and service center at its Lapal House facility on Lagos Island. Today, the company continues this proud legacy, assembling, distributing, and marketing M.A.N trucks and buses, power generators, tractors, agricultural equipment, industrial equipment and other heavy-duty construction and mining machinery critical to Nigeria’s key sectors.

SCOA Nigeria PLC’s clients include some of the most prominent and respected names in Nigeria’s construction industry, such as Julius Berger—widely regarded as the nation’s leading construction firm—Lafarge Africa PLC, a major cement producer, the Chagoury Group, renowned for developing the prestigious Banana Island, a premier residential enclave in Lagos, the DANGOTE Group, and many others.

Beyond trucks, SCOA Nigeria PLC is a trusted supplier of concrete, road construction and mining equipment, partnering with leading infrastructure companies to drive Nigeria’s development. For example, Julius Berger relies heavily on SCOA’s equipment for large-scale projects, including the 376km Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano highway and the 43.6km Lagos-Shagamu stretch of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Abuja-Kano Highway.

Similarly, Hi-Tech Construction, currently working on the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Lagos-Badagry-Sokoto road network, depends significantly on SCOA PLC for the machinery and technology required to execute these ambitious projects, aimed at enhancing connectivity and trade across Nigeria’s southern, central, and northern regions.
Similarly,SCOA PLC has also been instrumental in the development of Eko Atlantic City, a groundbreaking urban project built on reclaimed land from the Atlantic Ocean. This visionary initiative, designed to address Lagos’s urbanization challenges and promote sustainable development, has been made possible in part by state-of-the-art machinery supplied by SCOA. Notably, Eko Atlantic City is set to host the United States Embassy, projected to be the largest of its kind globally upon completion, further underscoring the strategic importance of this landmark project.

In fact, SCOA Nigeria PLC’s impact extends beyond Nigeria’s shores. As a member of the FADOUL Group – one of the largest and most successful family-owned businesses in Africa – its influence spans across West and Central Africa. The FADOUL Group, established in 1966, operates numerous successful enterprises, employs over 20,000 people, and is valued at over $1 billion, with hundreds of millions of USD in assets. This legacy highlights the scale and scope of the operations under Mr. Boulos’s leadership.

Contrary to unfounded claims in certain media outlets, the suggestion that Mr. Boulos is not a billionaire is both baseless and misleading. As President-elect Donald Trump rightly described, Mr. Massad Boulos is a “deal-maker,” a characterization grounded in fact. His proven ability to negotiate and execute complex international transactions has facilitated significant partnerships between Nigerian, German, and French businesses, delivering substantial value and mutual benefit.
As a Non-Executive Independent Director of SCOA Nigeria PLC since 2012, I have witnessed firsthand Mr. Boulos’s instrumental role in driving the company’s success. His ability to navigate the complexities of international commerce, exemplified by the supply of a significant fleet of trucks to Lafarge Africa through a tripartite arrangement between a logistics firm, GPC and Union bank plc, has earned him widespread recognition and respect.

Mr. Boulos’s leadership has not only been vital to SCOA PLC’s achievements but also to the broader international business successes of the FADOUL Group. This is precisely the kind of experience and strategic vision he brings to his new role as Senior Adviser on Arab and Middle East Affairs to President-elect Trump.

As noted in a press release by Karoline Leavitt, Trump-Vance Transition Spokeswoman, attempts to smear Mr. Boulos’s reputation are part of a broader effort by opposition elements to undermine President-elect Trump’s nominees. The truth remains that Mr. Boulos played a pivotal role in mobilizing the Arab-American and Middle Eastern-American vote, contributing significantly to the Trump-Vance victory—an achievement that underscores his political and organizational acumen.

Efforts to denigrate Mr. Boulos’s qualifications and achievements are not only futile but also a disservice to the facts. Mr. Boulos’s expertise and accomplishments are well-suited for his new role, where he will undoubtedly deliver impactful results on behalf of President-elect Trump and the United States.

Boss Picks

Celebrating a Man of Outstanding Excellence, Ademola Adeleke

Published

4 weeks ago

November 30, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

“Since I assumed office, I have devoted myself majorly to delivering on our five-point agenda. I deploy my network locally and nationally in support of our noble projects and programmes for Osun. I am elated that our contributions are being noticed” – Governor Adeleke

In May 2024, two historical events took place to further cement the tag of ‘Performing Governor’, for which the Governor of Osun State, Asiwaju (Senator) Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, is known, and justifiably so. They include the conferment of the Asiwaju of Edeland title on him by his community, represented by the Timi of Ędę, HRH Oba Adesola Munirudeen Lawal (Laminisa 1), as well as the best governor of the year award conferred in him by the Vanguard Newspaper.

The prestigious Asiwaju title was previously held by Governor Adeleke’s elder brother, Isiaka Adeleke, who passed away on April 23, 2017.

Today, two years into his administration as the Number One Citizen of Osun State, Governor Adeleke has proved all doubting Thomases wrong, and lifted the state from comatose to prominence with verifiable, welfaristic and people-oriented projects that speak for themselves.

Recall that while stating the reasons behind his award as the Governor of the year, the General Editor, Vanguard Newspaper, Mr Jide Ajani, has said the governor’s attention to Infrastructural development of the state, has been topnotch, with special emphasis to his approval of infra upgrades of several tertiary institutions in the state.

The governor, in his humility, dedicated the award to the entire people of Osun State.

“We watched the video with the Vice Chancellor listing several approvals and even with the Governor asking the University to look into what other areas of intervention the state should act on. That video excites our curiosity and we proceeded to investigate further by leveraging on our team on ground here in Osun as well as a team from the headquarters.

“We discovered what the Vice Chancellor said in the video was a tip of the iceberg. Osun is indeed a huge construction site. You have continued to complete abandoned projects. You have completed many inherited projects from your predecessors

“We have your records on roads, bridges, water, school and health center upgrades among others. We read your multi-billion naira infrastructure plan and its ongoing implementation. You did not play politics with the development of your state.

“It is the totality of your passion for development that convinced the judges to confer the award on you. It is our hope that this recognition will spur you to an even greater push to deliver on your governance agenda”, Ajani had said.

In response, the Governor acknowledged as follows:

“Since I assumed office, I have devoted myself majorly to delivering on our five point agenda. I deploy my network locally and nationally in support of our noble projects and programmes for Osun. I am elated that our contributions are being noticed.

“I dedicate this award to the good people of Osun state. They made our positive records a reality. We have the unconditional support and love of our people in our push to take Osun to greater heights. I will personally attend the conferment in Lagos.

“Our government is forging ahead with our systematic physical and stomach infrastructure agenda. We are working on a new airport, an inland beach resort, cocoa sector revival, upgrade of the free trade zone for agro-industrialisation, robust climate change agenda and digital economy programme. We are on a mission to place Osun on the path of sustainable development”, the Governor told the visiting delegation.

THE MAN, ADEMOLA JACKSON ADELEKE

Born of the Adeleke family of Ede in Osun State on May 13, 1960, Adeleke commenced his primary education at Methodist Primary School, Surulere Lagos State before he was privileged to relocate to Old Oyo State to continue his education at Nawarudeen Primary School, Ikire.

Adeleke was born Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke to a Muslim father and Nnena Esther Adeleke, an Igbo Christian mother. Like him, Adeleke’s father, Raji Ayoola Adeleke was a Senator and the Balogun of Ede land in Osun State. His father, Raji Ayoola Adeleke was also the leader of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

On completion of his primary education, he moved on to The Seventh Day Adventist Secondary School, Ede to begin his post primary schooling. In the later years however, he attended Ede Muslim Grammar School Ede, where he completed his secondary school education and subsequently relocated to the United States of America, joining his two older brothers, who were also studying there.

In the United States, he joined Jacksonville State University, Alabama, and studied Criminal Justice, with minor in Political Science.

To prove doubting Thomases, who wiped up controversies around his educational qualification, wrong, he went back to school and got enrolled at Atlanta Metropolitan State College in the United States, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 2021.

A businessman and administrator of no mean repute, Adeleke was the humble Group Executive Director at his brother’s company, Pacific Holdings Limited from 2001 to 2016, where his credible performances shot the company to enviable heights; a height it is still enjoying till date.

It is imperative to note that before he joined Pacific Holdings Limited, Senator Adeleke worked with Quicksilver Courier Company in Atlanta, Georgia, US, as a service contractor from 1985 to 1989. His dexterity to work earned him a progression in career, and he berthed as Vice President at Origin International LLC, Atlanta, Georgia, US, a flavours and fragrance manufacturing company. His meritorious stewardship lasted a period of five years, from 1990 to 1994.

Not a few has described Adeleke as the philanthropic capital of Ede, as his influence in aiding the less privileged and downtrodden remains top notch. He is a voracious believer in community development, and has not spared any expense to see that his community receives global influence.

Politically, Adeleke is a beacon of light and hard nut to crack, having remained an albatross to opposing powers and a reference point to ideal administration.

Shortly after he lost his brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, who died in April 2017, he contested the Osun West 2017 Senatorial by-election after the death of his brother, emerging as the winner under the Peoples Democratic Party, where he decamped to from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Having emerged senator, Adeleke’s political influence waxed stronger, an on July 23, 2018, he emerged as the governorship candidate of PDP in Osun State after defeating Akin Ogunbiyi by seven votes. Efforts made to deprive him of the mandate was twated by the courts.

Adeleke’s lawyer in his defense claims his secondary school hasn’t come out to deny his testimonial asking the court to dismiss the Case. The court dismissed the suit stating that the plaintiff could not prove Adeleke’s forgery.

Adeleke ran for Osun state governorship election under the PDP against top contenders Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola of APC and Iyiola Omisore of SDP on 22 September 2018. The election was declared inconclusive by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) while Adeleke was leading, and a rerun slated on September 27, 2018. The candidate of the APC Oyetola was declared winner after the run-off. Adeleke protested the result describing the election as a “coup”.

Much as on March 22, 2019, the tribunal sitting in Abuja declared Adeleke the winner of the election, the Supreme Court later affirmed Gboyega Oyetola as the authentic winner of the 2018 Osun State governorship election on Friday, July 5, 2019

Popularly known as the Dancing Senator because of his penchant to joyfully react to the sounds of music, Adeleke is uncle to one of Nigeria’s popular musicians, Davido.

Governor Adeleke is married to an equally successful businesswoman and a self-made boss. They are blessed with three children who are all entertainers. They are B-Red and Shina Rambo and a daughter, Nike Adeleke. He is the uncle of one Nigeria’s primus inter pares in entertainment, Davido.

As expected, Adeleke is moving Osun State to the greatest of heights as he promised, and many who know him agree that there are still very many more in the offing.

ADELEKE’S EXTRAORDINARY EASE OF DOING BUSINESS STRATEGY

The governor has shared good news on the ease of doing business in the state as follows:

In continuation of our administration’s effort to improve the state economy and encourage the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), we have completed the harmonization of multiple taxes and levies collected by different government departments, agencies, and ministries across all business sectors of the state economy including the informal sectors into a single bill. This Harmonized Bill curates all levies, which businesses are expected to pay on an annual basis as a single bill.

This initiative is to promote ease of doing business by ensuring seamless and convenient payment of levies and taxes due to individuals and businesses across the state in equal or unequal tranches and ensure the issuance of Harmonized Bill Certificate upon completion of payment of the total amount.

I hereby note to all business owners in Osun state both in formal and informal sectors that the official online payment channels for the state is pay.irs.os.gov.ng; POS machines in Tax stations across the state; commercial banks across Nigeria; and Money Transfer Services for those outside Nigeria.

In addition, we have also completed the deployment of Automation System for improved service delivery on payment of rent and lease on government properties; processing of Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) in 45 days; Electronic Affidavit System; Electronic State of Origin and Local Government Area of Origin portal; Mobile tax stations; Online Tax payment system etc.

ADMINSTRATION’S ACHIEVEMENTS AS SHARED ON NEW YEAR DAY

The governor declared as follows:

The good people of Osun state at home and abroad.

I greet you warmly with best wishes of a prosperous and blessed new year. I convey my intimate prayers that the new year will bring us new opportunities, progress and advancement as a state and in our individual lives.

I extend new year greetings to the elders of Osun state; to our royal fathers; to our religious leaders; to the young and the old; to professional elite, to artisans, to students and to womenfolk. Accept my sincere appreciation for your support before my election and for the last one year of my governorship of our dear state. I am humbled by your prayers and mass backing for our administration.

I remain firmly focused on the Five Point Agenda under which you, Osun people, elected us into office. We reaffirm our faith in the principles guiding the five point agenda which are transparency and accountability, open government, localisation, responsive leadership and attunement to citizens’ aspirations.

On the strength of the above, our government devised wholesale approach to governance such as:

●Dismantling bobby traps planted by our predecessor,
●Blocking leakages in public finance, ●Addressing the corruption and revenue diversion in the solid mineral sector,
● Restoring local government administration for grassroot development
● Embarking on mass water project provision
● Executing 91 kilometers of road construction
● Implementing free medical surgeries with over 50,000 beneficiaries;
● Total renovation of 31 schools
● Launching sport sector reforms
● Reviving the major commercial and industrial projects of the state
● Pushing for implementation of agric processing zone in Osun state;
● re-professionalisation of the public service;
● Strong attention to workers’ welfare;
● Tapping into tourism, entertainment and cultural potentials of the state;
● Ramping up efforts for a cargo and commercial airport for Osun state, among others.

Our administration achieved a lot by ensuring belt tightening, reducing cost of governance and denying ourselves many perquisites of office. As a Governor, my official expenditures are covered through the approval process rather than security votes, thereby assuring transparency and accountability.

As of today, our administration is struggling to purchase official vehicles for the state cabinet because the officials of the previous government bolted away with state vehicles. So our cabinet and other top officials have been using their private cars since we appointed them into office. Also, we are still working to renovate the official quarters vandalized by the officials of previous governments. Many of our top officials still operate from their private houses.

Despite the above handicap, our team is determined to continue to deliver on our electoral promises. I am glad to report with gratitude to God that we have remained responsive to the will and aspirations of our people. We get positive feedback and we are satisfied with our high approval ratings.

We are challenged to do more. We are prepared to make corrections where necessary as much as we will remain uncompromising when it comes to anti-corruption drive, transparency and accountability as well due process. As I always affirm, our tenure is married to rule of law and fear of God…

Adeleke is busy creating an Eldorado out of what remained of Osun State barely two years after he took over the driving seat.