Boss Picks

Celebrating Col. Vinay Singh (Retd): His Last Interview

Published

4 years ago

February 19, 2021

Eric

Col Vijay Singh, a retired Indian soldier, and former General Manager, Still Construction Limited, is dead.

In celebrating his life and selfless service to humanity, especially as one of the enabling forces in the fold of Ms Oyindamola Adeyemi’s Still Earth Group, we present his last interview, where he bared it all, and published in 2020.

By Michael Effiong

Still Earth Construction and Realty is a premier indigenous, diversified company, with an illustrious list of satisfied clients and successful projects; some of its clients include all tiers of government, parastatals, agencies and multinationals.

The company is highly regarded as one of the leading engineering and construction companies in Nigeria with a portfolio of completed projects and satisfied clients that are in both the public and private sectors.

With the company’s headquarters situated at Parkview, Ikoyi, Lagos, Still Earth is committed to developing the country’s infrastructural base by responsibly executing every project it is entrusted with, while creating real benefit for communities it serves by adopting principled and uncompromising approach to its professional and value standards. Its portfolio includes but not limited to roads, bridges, civil works, buildings and fit outs across Nigeria.

In this interview with its Managing Director, Col. Vinay Ashish John Singh (Retd), he reveals what makes the company unique and its future ambitions.

Can we begin with you detailing what areas of the economy Still Earth presently operates?

Still Earth is a company that is into construction. We have been in the construction space for about 10 years and in these 10 years, we have done a variety of projects both for the government both at the Federal and State levels. We have also served sub-contractors to multinationals such as Julius Berger on a number of notable projects. Our completed projects are mainly in building constructions, roads, bridges, civil works for industries, fit-outs for buildings and plants, which we have delivered excellently. The works that we carry out are mainly in the space of infrastructure and realty. We look froward to doing several development works partnering with the government and other companies.

Interesting, having told us about your operations, what makes Still Earth unique?

I feel we have a very strong foundation which stands out. We have solid direction and guidance from our Group Managing Director (GMD), Ms Oyindamola Lami Adeyemi.
She is an individual that has a lot of focus and has instilled in us a lot of discipline, she has a process-driven attitude to work which has been responsible for our steady growth.

We pride ourselves as having a very immaculate type of system which guides our business. We do not compromise on rules. We have strict standard operating procedures on which we run and follow. We follow very detailed designs, we endeavor to give our clients the best results, the best engineering and the best technology. These qualities distinguish us from the rest.

The general impression is that local Nigerian companies usually cut corners and hardly deliver good quality, is Still Earth different?

Yes, we are very different. There are a lot of examples where we have actually improved on the job specification we were given. One recent one that comes to mind was a drainage project we did for Lagos State Government. We improved on what was provided to us by the ministry, we improved on the design, we are looking on how to make it even better through technology since we believe the lifespan of the projects should be up to its designed life. We do not have any issue of recall or cutting corners in our projects. Basically, we deploy the best of manpower, the best of engineering, the best of technology, the best of material and the best of equipment.

That takes me to the vision and mission of Still- Earth?

Our culture, our focus and our sense of corporate social responsibility are captured in our mission and vision which have summarized into the company’s Global Objective which is “To add exceptional, lasting value through our technical expertise, corporate culture and corporate social responsibility to our staff, clients, country and humanity”.

Okay, many companies complain of the tough operating environment here in Nigeria, are you also facing these challenges?

Yes! Nigeria does have unique set of challenges that we face and some of these include the unavailability of technical skills in the manpower. There are challenges of knowhow with the available manpower which means there is a need for training and motivation.

Further, we also have challenges with the working environment that we face in respect of the unique weather, which is often wet and is not too good for our kind of work.

Also, we have challenges in respect of constraints in certain technologies, some of which are not available here and so we have to import them. In addition, we have to bring in expatriates to fulfill certain responsibilities which we would not have done if the experts were available here.
To summaries, we do have challenges, but we have developed processes in our system which enable us to overcome these challenges.

Can you expatiate on how you have been able to overcome these challenges?

Like I was saying, the processes that we have developed have helped. The processes cater for all the shortcomings that we face and the reporting systems that we have put in place are excellent.
Daily reports, system of requisition, purchases, etc. help us take care of the manpower challenges. The technological background of our staff, the expatriates as well as the indigenous staff also helps. We have a robust system of importing items that we require. We have our shippers who deliver on time when required. We have excellent vendors too who provide us with technical expertise when required.

Manpower is a key challenge for many industries and you have just mentioned it too, do you offer internships here, which can actually be a way out?

Yes, we have a program that we are developing that will bring in interns. We have contacted Registrars of eleven leading Universities in Nigeria and we have asked them to provide us candidates whom we can recruit as Graduate Engineering Trainees, who if found suitable can be permanently absorbed into the company. We have looked at the civil departments of these Universities to source for their best talents. We are optimistic that this will reduce our manpower challenges in the future.

That’s a very good one because on the long run, it will benefit you, I have to commend Still Earth for this initiative.

Thank you. Even on social media, we are putting up certain educational posts, memes and infographics that can give information to students about construction and construction practices. We are developing student-friendly content for our social media platforms. It is all geared towards attracting them to our company.

The buzz word in today’s world is the new normal, so how has Still Earth been able to adapt to COVID-19. Has the pandemic affected you?

Yes, it did affect us initially. Around April and May, during the lockdown, most of our projects were stopped due to the restrictions put in place. We were still doing some interior works in buildings, but in the exteriors we could not. But here in the office and on the site, we have put in place the parameters required, we adhere strictly to the COVID-19 protocols. We have hand sanitizers placed at all strategic locations in the office, we also have temperature check system in place, and we have sanitization every two to three hours of the contact points: railings and door handles etc, our cleaners ensure that this is done.

Also, we have strict rules of wearing face masks in the open office. When we are in company of others, masks are worn.

Onsite, we follow all the protocols too. We have washing points; we have masks being worn by workers who are in proximity of each other. We also have sanitizers placed for workers to sanitize their hands while working, we have provided all the protocols required by the federal and state governments.

You have these protocols on all your sites?

Yes.

Let’s soften up a bit, I would like to meet you, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I have 37 years of work experience. I was an Officer in the Indian Army. I was in the Corps of Engineers which deals with Civil Construction. I am a Civil Engineer. I attended the National Defence Academy, where I obtained a B.Sc. from the Jawahar Lal Nehru University, I also attended, the College of Military Engineering where I obtained a B. Tech and I also have a Post Graduate Diploma in Construction Management from National Institute of Construction Management and Research.

I am a strategic Architect with over three decades of rich experience in Business Process Management, Project Management, Tendering & Contract Management, Operations Management and Quality Assurance.

My experience span across the combat engineering part of the Army where we deal with explosives, mines, operating equipment, road construction, bridges, ferries, buildings, field fortifications, obstacles, barb wires etc. and other skills required in the war scenario.

Then I later had the opportunity to move to government organizations in India. I was seconded to the Border Roads Organization in India which is responsible for the strategic roads required for the Army in the border regions. I was responsible for 420-kilometre roads in a high-altitude mountainous terrain, it was a large project with over 2000 staff and numerous equipment.

I was later seconded to the Indian Coast Guard Headquarters to manage their works pan India. There, I was Works Director and worked closely with the Ministry. I had a lot of experience in dealing with the Government Ministries.

From there, I became the Project Director at the Project Implementation Units in the National Highways Authority of India.

I was responsible for coordinating the construction of the NH-25 & NH-26. Also, I handled the rehabilitation and resettlement of 7800 Project Affected Persons as per Asian Development Bank Standards and handled other key responsibilities in the almost four years that I was there.

I became for a brief period, Commanding Officer, Indian Army 970 Railway Territorial Army Regiment where I managed the construction of the infrastructure at the new location of the regiment with training areas, offices, accommodation, play areas, workshop and classes. I then took voluntary retirement from the Army and joined the private sector.

In the private sector, I have had the opportunity of handling large projects basically in roads. I was the Project Director for an SPV “Simhapuri Expressway Limited”, a DBFOT Project in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. The main assignment was construction and structure the operations of the 181 Km 6 lane highways by formulating the organization and commissioning of the Tolling & Highway Traffic Management System.

My job also included ensuring proper collection of revenue and maintaining the toll collection without hitches.
I went on to work as Project Director, Vindhachal Expressway Pvt Limited in the state of Madhya Pradesh in India where I was given the responsibility to turnaround stalled project by rekindling the financial structure of the sub-contract, revive the quality mechanism of the project by infusing fresh vigor in the project management consultancy and developing an operational structure to prevent overloaded vehicles from plying on the completed highway.

I was also the Head Infra, the Business Head at Lanco Infratech Limited, EPC Division, Gurgaon India where I was reasonable for the P&L for all infrastructure projects and the went on to Autostrade Indian Infrastructure Development Private Limited where I worked as CEO, Pune Solapur Expressway Pvt Ltd, a Highway Development Project in the State of Maharashtra, India.

There, I reorganized the tolling operations, created revised tolling software to refine the tolling process, provided effective leadership and guidance of various teams among other responsibilities. I left in September 2019 to resume at Still Earth.

I should add that at Lanco, I was also the Head of Power Transmission and Distribution, so I had tremendous experience in that respect as well. We had projects in sub-stations, power distribution projects and power transmission projects. There I handled the plant and machinery for the Lanco Group and all mechanical matters too. My father was a Mechanical Engineer, so I have spent my childhood in workshops developing skills in Mechanical Engineering as well. I have a lot of automobile experience too.

So, you have a lot of hands-on experience in all areas of engineering?

Yes. I like to get involved as much as I can.

What attracted you to Nigeria, why did you take up this responsibility after working in India for years?
Actually, right from the time I was still in the Army, I had few opportunities of going abroad but I didn’t have the experience of actually working abroad.

I have travelled a lot, I have been to the US, I have been to the Gulf, I was actually born in Nepal, So, you can say I was born travelling. But I have had no work experience in a foreign country which I always wanted to have.
Therefore when I got this opportunity to come to Nigeria, I knew it will be different from all I have been doing before, I saw it as a good experience for me and an opportunity to deploy my skills in a different environment. I believed it will also give me a perspective of how people do things here.

I felt that it will be different from what I have been doing so I thought it will be good experience and good education for me to learn how people do things other than in my own country.

But I notice something about you, at your last two jobs, you spent just two years, what happened?

Yes, you see, construction is a line where nothing lasts, because if you are on the field, you are selected for a particular project. So, when that project is done, you are sent to another project if the company has another project that is in line with your schedule or you can then move there. There is nothing static in that industry.
My problem was my schedule. Right from 2006, I have been a Project Director, being able to get the position of Project Director in the same company back to back is usually difficult. When your project finishes, you have a choice of waiting for the company to get another project, but I chose to move on to seek work on another project. That is why the tenure is shorter.

You spend averagely two to three years on a project and that is why you take the decision to move on or stay. I believe moving on also gives you varied experiences which is why I usually move on to seek opportunities elsewhere.

I love new challenges and that is why I am now in Nigeria. It helps you in your all-round growth.

How has the experience in the last one year been in Nigeria?

Nigeria is a developing economy, therefore there are a lot of opportunities and areas of improvements which gives you a good challenge and also helps you in developing good skills trying to train people, educate them, and make them understand how things can be done in a better and more organized manner.
So I am taking this opportunity as a good challenge and a good way of using my experience to be able to improve things and that is part of the targets I have set for myself in life, which is to go to a place and try to improve something there. There is this satisfaction you get when you are able to add value anywhere you go.
So, I am quite satisfied with what I am experiencing here. I feel it is a good challenge.

Now I have to ask you about your meeting with the GMD, what kind of person is she?

As I already said while answering your first question, she is such a unique lady. She is a person who has so much drive. So much discipline, she is someone who strives for perfection. She really likes things to be done in a correct manner, she is a role model for all of us and we really appreciate the work environment that she has created here which is rare for people who own businesses.

I feel she really motivates us, keeps us on our toes, she never allows us to relax at all. This is helping us to develop a better Still Earth.

The last time I was here, I saw the cordial relationship that exists here, how she related so warmly with staff

Yes, she’s very informal but still very stern. She complements both sides which makes her a good leader. She takes her business seriously.

Earlier, you indicated that the philosophy that drives you is to always improve anywhere you work, what other philosophies drive you?

Like I said earlier, I like to go to places and make an impact, and ensure there is improvement, I like to see my mark left behind. I like to go somewhere, meet something at a level, and then take it a step better. I also feel blessed that I have a sense of imagination, understanding of process-oriented systems which ensures that things are organized in a better manner.

I believe if I use my skills and experience, and I succeed in the creation of a system which runs without me being physically present, that will be the best. That is what gives me satisfaction, and this is the philosophy that drives me.

Putting something sustainable in place for the success and smooth running of the company is what I strive for all the time.

If I walk into Still Earth today as a client, what would I find that will make me engage your service?

What we guarantee any client that walks in here is mainly detail. There is nothing that we do without deep thought, planning, research and a lot of interaction. We are very deliberate in our approach.
I will give you a simple example, on site, if we have a carpenter, our carpenter should have a carpenter’s pencil not a normal pencil, we are that thorough and detailed.

The second thing that we offer clients is engineering. With my vast experience and the experience of our team and Project Managers, we have a pool of experience that there is no type of project that we have not encountered, which gives us the ability to give expert advice to clients. With us, you can get top engineering concepts, design improvements etc.

The third is quality. We have a quality system that we follow strictly. We have methodologies which we use at all our projects. When we get a project, we develop the methodology, we handle the quality processes, testing processes, so quality is assured at Still Earth.

Last but not the least is that we are economical. We try to develop a project in such a way that we do not waste anything. We always look for the best solution before we start. We offer the best for the least cost. Quality as you know comes with a price. But we do not overdo it. We do not encourage waste, we do not add anything that is unnecessary, and we offer the best solutions all the time.

I know Still Earth is not a project like your previous appointments, I believe you are not coming here for a two-year period, so where do you see Still Earth in 5 years?

In five years, Still Earth will be a bigger company. We are targeting turnovers which will be in billions. Already the target that I have myself is huge monthly. I see a situation where we will be having eight to ten projects running simultaneously. I am looking at us getting involved in very large projects, we would have established regional offices in South West, South South and in the North also. With each office handling 2 to 3 projects from their base.

I will say in 5 years about 15 projects at one time including the North if the situation improves and surely a few projects in other African countries.

Which parts of Nigeria have you travelled to since your arrival?

I have been to Uyo which is in the South South, I have been on a road trip to all the South West states: Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Ogun, repeatedly, I have travelled to Ibadan many times because we had a project there. Of course, I have been to the Federal Capital, Abuja. I move around quite a lot.

Have you tried Nigerian jollof?

(Smiles heartily) Yes, I have. I have tried some stews and soups. It is a little spicy for my palate, but it is okay. It is tasty.

How do you want to round off?

I wish we can carry on excellently with the guidance of our GMD with the line of business that we have chosen and get involved in good projects.

I pray that we can get out of this pandemic in good time so we can deliver big projects to our clients and continue to grow and succeed.

Boss Picks

Massad Boulos: Inside Story of SCOA Nigeria CEO

Published

4 days 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

3 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.

Boss Picks

When Governor Adeleke Became Asiwaju of Edeland

Published

3 weeks ago

November 30, 2024

Eric

By Governor’s Office

OFFICIAL PROFILE OF GOVERNOR ADEMOLA ADELEKE, THE NEW ASIWAJU OF EDELAND

Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, the Executive Governor of Osun state and the new Asiwaju of Edeland is a pan Nigerian by birth, by philosophy and by worldview. Born at Enugu as a son of independence on 13th May, 1960, the new Ede frontliner widely acknowledged as the Olosun of Osun is a tactical politician, a businessman, show business activist and a humanist within philanthropism. The ever lively, urbane scion of the Adeleke family of Ede North Local Government is an innovative entrepreneur, a grassroot political figure and a strong advocate of good governance, then as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and now as the Governor of Osun State.

From his childhood, the Asiwaju is a man of complex character, a young man with multiplicity of talents and an adult with widely praised open heart, strong will and constancy of adaptation to ideas and innovations. From his secondary education at Ede Muslim Grammar School to his sojourn to the United States and tertiary education at the Jacksonville State University, Alabama where he majored in criminal justice, the Ede frontliner demonstrated deep business interest, unconventional approach and a rare mastery of intricacies of politics, business and social life.

Despite hailing from a well to do family, the Asiwaju was in the United States and Nigeria, a man in search of opportunities for self growth and advancement. His passion for self development and business prosperity occasioned his joining the Quicksilver Courier Company in Atlanta, Georgia, US, as a service contractor between 1985–1989. He progressed to Origin International LLC, Atlanta, Georgia, US, a flavours and fragrance manufacturing company where he served as Vice President from 1990 to 1994.

A suave businessman and administrator, he served as a Director of Guiness Nigeria Limited between 1992- 1999 where he contributed immensely to the expansion of the multinational company. He was later appointed Group Executive Director of Pacific Holdings Limited from 2001 to 2016. Senator Adeleke is also an acclaimed creative Industry entrepreneur and mentor. As a talented creative figure, he mentored world rated ace musicians while his family members and children are leading stars in the global music industry.

As a man ever restless in pursuit of self growth and opportunities, the Asiwaju again opted to restart his educational sojourn which he suspended because of business and entrepreneurial preoccupations. In 2019 after he was rigged out of a governorship election he clearly won, Governor Adeleke, in a can do spirit, re-enrolled at Atlanta Metropolitan State College in the United States and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice in 2021.

All along and considering his family background, the frontliner was for years both a political servant and leader, learning the rope from his father (Senator Ayoola Adeleke) , a second republic progressive Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and his brother, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, the First Executive Governor of Osun State. His business teeth were sharpened by his brother, the global business mogul, Dr Adedeji Adeleke while his political potency was strengthened by his sister, the Yeyeluwa of Edeland, Chief (Mrs) Dupe Adeleke- Sanni. The celebrant of today was eventually elected the President of the Adeleke dynasty, representing the sons and daughters of the great Adeleke family at home and abroad.

Having been thus fortified by his innate personality, his family background and his multifaceted experience, his political participation predated 1991 but he took the front seat in 2017 when he was elected with a landslide victory as a Senator for Osun West Senatorial District in 2017. His popularity reached a peak when he won the Osun 2018 governorship election before the open rigging and manipulation that was globally condemned.

As a man of steel character, the frontliner took the gauntlet again in 2022 and beat the incumbent to reclaim the stolen mandate of 2018. Imole as the Governor is popularly known has since been delivering on good governance, winning applause and praises from far and near.

In December 2023, he was honoured with a doctorate degree by the Valley View University, Accra, Ghana. The Vice Chancellor lauded the Governor’s multi-million naira education scholarship as a Senator, his sterling records on workers welfare as a Governor, his performance on infrastructure upgrades and his commitment to due process, rule of law and fear of God.

He has received several awards including the Governor of the Year Award by Champion newspapers in 2023, Sahel Standard Man of the Year in 2022, Vanguard Newspaper Governor of the Year on Infrastructure and a host of other recognition. The frontliner serves on several national governmental committees including being the representative of the South West on the National Minimum Wage Committee.

The new Asiwaju of Edeland is a strong family man, an avid sport lover, a man of God and a David of our time with incessant passion for praise singing and adulation of God Almighty.

Courtesy: Governor’s Office, 2024.