Boss Of The Week

Dr Stephen Akintayo: Leading Gtext Homes to Strategic Marketing Advantage

Published

4 months ago

March 17, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo and Omotayo Omidiji

There are very few Nigerian billionaires, who have remained accessible, display humility among humanity while engaging ferociously with the legitimate business of creating and recreating wealth, making live liveable for the citizenry and giving the government of the day the leeway to provide adequate democratic dividend for all and sundry. Prominent among them is the multi-faceted, multi-talented, resilient and ebullient entrepreneur par excellence, Dr. Stephen Akintayo, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Gtext Homes, and its many affiliates, the Stephen Akintayo Consulting among very many others.

In this brief chat, the soft spoken go-getter, who practically rose from the proverbial grass to grace, tells the story of determination, resilience and focus. His life trajectory culminates in why everyone is a candidate of success, irrespective of the background. He tells how he doggedly built his empire via strategic marketing advantages, and rising to the status of king of real estate.

Excerpts:

HOW DID YOU COME ABOUT THE RELATIVE HUMILITY YOU ARE TODAY ASSOCIATED WITH?

Well, I think it is relative as you said. I am not sure everyone believes I’m humble, and the reason is that, I am a very straight shooter. When issues come, I confront them headlong. In my office, you will hear people say do not go and report people to oga because if you go, he will bring both the person that said something and the accused and you will confront each other. And because of that, some people have the perception that I am a straight shooter. For me generally, I have been through a lot in life, capable of making anyone humble normally. I grew up in the northern part of Nigeria, and at some time, in the village, where there was no running water, and no electricity. I had to fight for everything in life.

It’s humbling however, to note that I started my business with one thousand naira, and for us to be in the four continents of the world, I had to keep proving myself. Sometimes, I get into rooms, and overhear people saying I’m fronting for someone. They are like how come he had achieved so much at such a young age. Some even make bold to say…maybe he is doing hard drugs. I just laugh, and keep proving myself.

IN YOUR LIFE TRAJECTORY, DID YOU BY ANY MEANS MAP OUT YOUR STAGES BECAUSE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU SEEMS TO BE FOLLOWING A WELL PLANNED SEQUENCE

At the age of 17/18, I read the books that changed my life. I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Think and Grow Rich and others. The books woke me up to know that it is not degrees that is going to make me rich. It made me know that degree is just about going to school and being enlightened. If I want to be rich, I needed to do a trade. Having gone through that book at the age of 18, I started my first business as a very shy person, and my first business was multilevel marketing of food supplement by GNLD. It was difficult to market a drug, as I couldn’t look a potential customer in the face, but the book I read said if I could do this, I would become rich. So I had to.

I started business by selling e-books from day one in the university. I was just sold to doing business; hawked electronics and all stuffs. I failed many times doing business but I kept at it because I had no choice, and because we were not rich and money was always an issue, so I just had to keep at it and that was it for me.

SO YOUR TARGET WAS JUST TO BE RICH?

My target was to be financially free. I hated poverty. My mother was always borrowing money to pay my school fees from our neighbours, who incidentally were her juniors, but she had five children and my dad wasn’t financially stable to support her. They will then look at her with disdain and still not give her the money, saying our children too have not seen help. I just hated it. I hated that we were poor. I did not see a toilet we could flush until I was 13 when we moved to a new house, a government quarter because my mum worked with PHCN. It was just marvelous that we could sit, defecate, and flush a WC. At that teen age that I read that book, I just started planning that this is what I needed to do, and I remember as a student, I had a picture Ark. I had a list of companies I was going to own from media to real estate to production companies. Now, I am beginning to tick them out.

AT WHAT TIME IN YOUR LIFE COULD YOU DESCRIBE AS YOUR TURNING POINT?

A lot of people ask me this question often times, and my answer is always that there wasn’t really a major turning point except for 2015. The business that eventually became a mainstay for me was the bulk SMS company. We tried to convince companies that we could market their products by sending SMS. We had email and phone number database where we could help them send SMS to a large number of people. But at some point, I became indebted without even borrowing money. This was because I was representing a university in Hungary then. Along the line, we did a transaction, which the university later cancelled despite receiving processing fees from some applicants. They insisted I must refund their money, to the extent the matter was settled at the police station. The Police advised I should sign a post dated cheque for the refund to avoid embarrassment. This was in 2012. That is why when people ask why am I this bold, I tell them, I have been through a lot.

I came out of that experience, and restrategised, and within a twinkle of an eye, companies like Chivita, PZ, Unilever, Indomie became our clients, and by 2015 election, we were handling Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s SMS Campaign nationwide, Buhari’s e-mail Campaign nationwide. I was even picked up by the DSS in the cause of the job. I have been through a lot.

WHY WERE YOU PICKED UP BY DSS?

I was never told other that it was order from above. I told them I was the one handling the president’s SMS campaign but they did not bother a bit. So I followed them to their office until my lawyer, Dr. Ope Banwo, arrive to help secure my release. I also did an article that went viral titled, “How Jonathan sent DSS to arrest me.” In 48 hours, we had over 5million hits worldwide, infact some opposition thought I was part of why Jonathan lost. All in all, that 2015, was our breakthrough year because everybody was our customer. We had a single transaction worth 30million and I think at the end of the year, we made over 200million naira. And that was the year I also know the next thing to do?

It was in October of that 2015 that we went into Real Estate. We couldn’t just continue to rely on the Tech thing, which is always through third party platforms. But now, we are using all platforms for our social media clouts, and digital marketing. We train companies on how to use social media. I wanted to build something that is standing on something solid, and that was why we delved into Real Estate.

WHAT WAS THE FEELING LIKE WHEN YOU MADE YOUR FIRST MILLION?

It was actually the first 30 million, and it was exciting. I paid off a lot of debts. I remember I had to lodge in Protea Hotel, the one in Alausa for that night. And incidentally, that day was my birthday, I laid on my bed and just said thank you Jesus. So I started calling my debtors, I paid all of them and this excites me that I could pay back, because these were people that insulted me then.

I grew up with only values, no money. We were poor but we were taught key values, key moral. My mum and dad were not rich but they were people of sound values. I was so happy to pay back. Infact I need them to know that I have integrity. Those experiences made me know Nigerians are bullies by culture and character and you need a bigger bully to deal with them.

This is why businesses are dying in Nigeria, Once you are still small, everybody wants to cheat you. I was happy to pay; to pay my landlady after owing for like over a year. I earned who I am today, at least with God’s grace and mercy. I worked hard for what I own, and what I represent today. I worked hard every single minute of my life.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE DELVING INTO REAL ESTATE, GTEXT AND OTHER BUSINESSES, AND HOW ARE THEY THRIVING NOW?

For me it was a case of asking yourself what’s next because my dad, based on his own level became successful as a young man at age 20 as a construction contractor. He had a breakthrough in the Northern part of Nigeria but he is from Ogun State. In no time, before I was even born, the business collapsed as the northerners started doing their own construction. So I grew up meeting a father who practically had no job, and became a prophet. So growing up, I made up my mind that I will not build my business on government contracts, and that is why it is easy to be upfront. I did not collect any contract from the government even real estate. I buy from families. My dad’s story taught me to innovate and evolve, and that was how real estate came in. I needed to have a back up; something solid on ground. I needed something physical so that when people talk, they will know we are doing a real business not audio real estate business. We needed something that is physical and not social media. I needed to document my journey.

AT THIS AGE AND LEVEL OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENT, CAN YOU SAY YOUR ARE FULFILLED?

I can not say I am fulfilled. You know I told you I have this ark, and I have only touched 10 percent of it. My advice to people that are worried about me is that they should not worry, I have not started, you will have to ask questions for a long time. We have a long plan, and it is a global empire that we are building and as the Lord keeps us alive, we would redefine what it means to be wealthy in Africa.

WHAT IS THE NEXT ITEMIZED STEP IN THIS GREAT ARK OF YOURS?

Media and movies. We are hoping to achieve them this year. We are looking forward to getting a radio licence, buy an existing radio station, and a production company. We are into Netflix, Amazon and Prime. We have two movies we are working on, and one is actually about my mum.

You know, as you start building an empire, cost of marketing and PR becomes heavy so it is wisdom to own your own media to make it cheaper, and for collaborations.

Also, we are building up to four hundred houses on credit union, to help our balance sheet, and it is a 150 million dollar project in Texas. And we are looking at introducing Credit Union too in Nigeria to make mortgage easy for people who want to buy properties.

ON A SCALE OF 10, HOW FAR HAVE YOU GONE ON THE AFOREMENTIONED PROJECTS?

For us, vision is key, and it is a process. By August, we would do ground breaking and begin proper construction. It is seven to ten years plan so we are hoping that phase one will be done in two years, that is fifty unit housing which is residential. It will be the largest in the US. We would use solar, wind energy and it is going to be smart housing so we go commercial from the seventh to tenth year, and will be putting a golf range, acquarium, shopping mall and a couple of other commercial facilities.

YOU WERE RECENTLY RECOGNISED BY FORBES, TELL US ABOUT IT

We got Forbes Best of Africa and Real Rstate Mogul award. It is probably the biggest award I have received so far; it was humbling, and I am probably the youngest recipient ever. In fact, recently, Forbes African team were in my office in Ikoyi to talk about possible areas of collaboration. They recognised us on two levels; one is on investment coaching because they have seen how I have written over forty books and a good number of them is about teaching and mentorship. This is what it is; it is not really about building businesses because we know about how entrepreneurs thrive on other people’s money.

One level is African investment coach and another level is as real estate mogul. For the real estate mogul, there are companies that are way bigger than us and for us, there were a lot of innovation we brought into the real estate space. For example, we started 24/7 operations where customers can call us at 2am and make payment and we attend to them. We pioneered that and it is free. We also partner with DHL, to ensure documents are safely delivered anywhere in the world. So if you buy land from us in Nigeria and you are in Australia, DHL will deliver your document to you in front of your house without any extra cost; those were the innovations. We are also into virtual inspection and virtual allocation. We brought a lot of ideas into the industry, so for us when we grow into a sector, we look at how we can deepen the sector, things that others will copy from us, but we do not mind since we are able to help increase transparency. We were also the first to talk about green and smart homes in Nigeria, and at some point, we had to slow down because of dollar issue.

Now what we do about our estate; we just model and house our staff. For some reasons, we have moved to Dubai and now we have over hundred housing units there just to be sure that our investors were getting good Return On Investment, but I must say, we had our hands burnt, I lost over a million dollars in Dubai.

In business, you don’t give up, you learn from the mistakes and challenges, and move on. The problem most enterpreneurs have is their inability to learn from elders. Personally, I enjoy the counsel of elders. They will help you shape some perspectives of your businesses. Many think I am a one man business, but they don’t know the many people behind me, who can vouch for me. I run my business in a very transparent way so integrity is key for me.

YOU STUDIED MICROBIOLOGY; HOW COME NONE OF YOUR BUSINESSES ARE RELATED TO IT?

I always encourage young people who follow your platform. I had this brother who has a university degree. By the time I visited him, he was living in one room with eight of his siblings. He said egbon things are difficult, I remember going back to school that day and I kept saying to myself I will never end up like that man. I will not only focus on the course I am studying, but I will try many things, and whatever will bring me out of poverty, I will embrace. You know many of us studied courses based on what was given to us. While at school, I wasn’t even the best student. It is interesting to note that the best student then once begged me for job after graduation. I just told her I can support her but I won’t give her job for obvious reasons.

When I left school, I tried printing hundreds of CVs in a bid to secure a circular job, but all to no avail. One of my potential employer even advised me to go and continue with my popcorn business, that one day something great will come out of it. I did bulk SMS, I posted it on walls, at every bus stop from Sango-Ota to Ikeja-Along, that was the only thing I could do. I would go to school, beg them to subscribe to my bulk SMS business, that was the only thing I had, and my mother had died of Ovarian cancer then, and she was our breadwinner. I was chased out of my friend’s house where I was squatting, and I had to go back to the only house my mum built at Sango-Ota.

We hardly eat, but at least we had a roof over our heads, and that explains why real estate is important to me. I have been through a lot in my life but one of my biggest regret is my mum not being alive today. She died because we had no money to take her to a private hospital. By the time she was taken to a private hospital with help of colleagues, it was too late. She died two days after she was operated upon. The disease had already spread. For that, I don’t joke with people’s health, and my employees can attest to that. I lost my mum because I had no money. She couldn’t even live to witness my graduation.

So, that is why I have serious dislike for poverty, and also why I am writing books to teach people. I am sent to my generation and I want them to know how to make it and that is why I am writing books. I am open to writing a book with Dangote so that he can at least teach us, share his story of how he started, built his career so that young people can follow. The youth just want the elders to show us the way, to let us know they also passed through the same phase so when I am going through my own, I can understand that it’s a phase that will pass. Look at what Tony Elumelu is doing through his foundation. We also have foundation through which we give out grants. We also support widows and pay many children’s fees.

WE ALSO KNOW YOU ARE A PASTOR, TELL US ABOUT IT?

I started pastoring as a teacher in my secondary school. I went to a Christian primary school. My fellowship in secondary school and university took me as their pastor. I also pastored Winners Chapel Campus Fellowship then in few years I became ordained in my church but after a while, I pulled out of pastoring and the reason is obvious. I realised that it became a tool for blackmail. I am a businessman and that’s why I do not use the pastor title. The title I use is doctor because I have been given honourary doctorate degree and I have decided to stick to that.

PEOPLE ATTACH YOU TO WINNERS CHAPEL, WERE YOU ORDAINED THERE?

Yes, but I am no longer part of the pastoral thing, but I’m still a faithful and loyal member. For me, I do business with you because I am a businessman not church member or because I am a Christian. My advice is do not use sentiment, do not get carried away by religion, investigate whomever you want to do business with, do business because you are convinced they have something of value to offer you. Always remember we have a bullying culture.

I believe strongly in giving; my life has changed because of giving, and I am very much committed to that, but sometimes it is good to separate some things from some things; business is business, church is church, ministry is ministry, and I am not involved in any administrative thing in church. I used to be involved in church adminstration, but I pulled out because I started travelling, I got so many responsibilities. So, if you hear people call me pastor, know they are members from time past. They still call me pastor privately, it is between us, not everybody.

IN A NUTSHELL, CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT YOU ARE A MAN WHO BECAME RICH BY BOOKS?

By books, yes, fear of God, and integrity. Like I said, people cannot start trusting you with millions of dollars if you have not shown some level of integrity, I think that is important and I want to encourage the young people that business do not always go right, but do your best to show integrity. I have a consulting programme where I charge twenty thousand dollars but it is for business owners whose business is bringing over a million dollars and they are trying to take the business international, they want certain structure. What I make from coaching is more than enough. I still loan my company till today, a lot of people do not know that there are some rich people in this country, I manage personally their social media page and there are things behind the scene that some people do not know. Some people think my only company is real estate; business is business, but what has helped me more is integrity and transparency.

I am a Havard trained real estate investor. I also have the fear of God and mentorship. I also have enjoyed counsel and support from people who study me. We started real estate in Nigeria then moved to Dubai where some average property is almost five hundred thousand dollars and in one year, we became the largest black home brokerage by volume of what we were doing. And this is owned by a black man. We are in the U.K and US as well. We have housing units in Alabama, and everybody plays by the rules including family members.

WHAT CLOTH DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE IN?

I love Agbada, I used to be a suit guy but as I start doing things internationally and I saw the reputation of Nigerians internationally, I had two options: either I pretend not to be a Nigerian or I wear it as a badge of honour. It is when they see that integrity you bring to play that you can start changing that perspective and perception because many of what is going on is the perception internally, we don’t trust ourselves.

AND YOUR BEST FOOD?

It used to be fura when I was in the north, in the south it is Amala and Abula, gbegiri and ewedu together. I am an African man.

I have been to about hundred cities in the world

AND WHICH OF THE CITIES IS MOST EXCITING?

Manhattan, New York. This is because of my love for real estate. Whenever I’m in Manhattan, I always insist on high floors, from where I can have an overview of the city. For me, it is a way of meditation, love and attraction. I will be looking at those buildings and say to myself, one day I will build one.

DO YOU FOLLOW SPORT, WHICH OF THE TEAMS DO YOU SUPPORT?

I used to follow Chelsea but I changed to Liverpool.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MARRIED?

Twelve years, I got married at twenty six.

DIDN’T YOU THINK EARLY MARRIAGE WAS GOING TO AFFECT YOUR BUSINESS?

No, my wife and I have been in business together since our campus days. We met on campus during the days of bulk SMS. She understood my dreams and my aspirations very well. Now we travel a lot with the kids. We spent Christmas partly in London, the U.S. and Dubai. I just move around with them.

ARE YOU IN COMPETITION WITH ANYONE, ESPECIALLY IN REAL ESTATE

No…but it’s rather unfortunate that you are not in competition with anybody but people are in competition with you. I wish everybody well, and for young people, I now run a CEO retreat, where i train real estate developers. If you sit somewhere and envy me, that is your business; there is nothing I can do about it, but I have learnt that it is a sign of growth. For me, where I am going is more important.

WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE, AND THE WEALTH YOU HAVE ACQUIRED, WILL YOU DESIRE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IN THE FUTURE?

As at today, No. But the truth remains that I am politically aware, and I understand political strategies. I can sit you down and tell you how you can make your move, and remember I am a trained digital marketing guy, I understand all those things but if I want to do politics, what am I going into politics for? I am a young man, I have connections, contacts but must I go into politics to have power? No.

I advise young people who rush into politics to build a name, if you do something solid the politicians will beg you because they know you have the solution, the capacity, and the answers. For me, I am very well positioned globally, growing my business is very important to me, supporting people in government across the world. We want to start partnering with people in government but we want to make sure our record is clean, our stories are clear because if you do not tell your stories, others will tell their own and their own will become the truth so we need to tell our own.

I have no political agenda, I have friends in all parties and I will continue to have friends in all parties but no plan to join politics. However, no one knows tomorrow, and can’t tell what the people can demand tomorrow. But as at today, that is not a headache I can afford to carry.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME SIR

Boss Of The Week

Celebrating Accomplished Entrepreneur, Kola Oyefeso at 80

Published

2 weeks ago

July 15, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Some call him highly philosophical, some call him the entrepreneur with a difference while a lot of others refer to him as the czar of real estate. But one thing is certain, the splendid octogenarian, Aare Kola Oyefeso, the Aare Gbo Gbo Gbo of Remoland, is many things combined in one package.

His trajectory in the world of business, social impact and human relations culminated in the show of class that was exhibited at the prestigious Harbour Point Event Centre, where the who’s who in the industrialisation, real estate and general merchandise gathered to celebrate his entry into the world of the octogenarians. It was his 80th birthday.

A writer of no mean repute, Aare Oyefeso was born on July 7, 1944, and has remained instrumental to the development of the nation and economic growth of various sectors, with special emphasised to his primary field of realtor.

He is the president of KOKTO Group and the Balogun of Ode Remo, in his native Ogun State, Aare Oyefeso is a social figure of note, who has held the presidential position of the influential Lagos County Club, leaving behind a trail of development, administrative stability and extreme welfare measures for members and sympathizers of the club. He is presently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Club, contributing quota after quota to its general wellbeing.

He has often and on been celebrated for a leadership characteristics that has been second to none as well as for unwavering dedication and commitment to building human and physical structures that can stand the test of time, and lending long helping hand in the area of philanthropy, generosity and excellence.

Apart from various work of philanthropy and helping in building the entrepreneurial fabrics of the Nigerian economy, Aare Oyefeso is an ardent writer, and is credited with many books, journals and articles including Unraveling the Puzzles of Earthly Life, which is in four parts, The Musing of a Quester, which he said is to “wake us to our chief mission in this world: to call a spade by its appropriate name by reminding us, we are not in the world to climb a social tree or to merely eat, drink, procreate, then die and be cremated, or lowered into the soil for all manners of maggots and insects to feast on our lifeless bodies.

“In effect, this book would make sense only to those who are brazen, or dissatisfied with the shadow show of the labyrinth world,” he announced.

Oyefeso has dedicated his life to discussing the transient nature of life, and the need to prepare for whatever the afterlife holds.

In one of his writings, he stated that “First and foremost as a mystic, I must remind us of the inevitability of death. It is designed by the Creator Himself as a relief for the soul when our body has become enervated by disease, old age, accident or other mishaps that have made the soul conducive to inhabit the physical body any longer.

“This happens when our allotted time is over in this world. The individual time varies and it is determined by the Creator Himself according to the karma and purpose that brought us into the world in the first instance.”

Looking trim, smart and alert at 80, Aare Oyefeso was treated to love from all and sundry, and he confirmed his happiness amo g friends and well wishers with classic displays of dance steps, friendly banners and enjoyment of good food and beverages. It is worth noting that Aare Oyefeso is not in the habit of taking alcohol. In an interview he granted seven years, he noted that he quit alcohol over 27 years then, which in essence means he left some 34 years old.

Aare Oyefeso is married, and blessed with children, who are presentstanding on their own, and replicating a legacy of improved living, love for one another and dedication to the course of living a good and impactful life while still here on earth.

From all of us, we wish the Balogun of Ode Remo a happy birthday, and many more years on planet earth.

Boss Of The Week

My Life in the Public Eye: Segun Osoba Celebrates 85 with Book Launch

Published

2 weeks ago

July 15, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

It was a gathering of champions at the weekend when seasoned and accomplished journalist, administrator and politician, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, proved his networking and networth prowess.

The Convention Hall of the Eko Hotels and Suites was the venue, and it quickly became a beehive of activities with the calibre of celebrities, nobles and dignitaries that turned up in their numbers to honour a man, who many have described as a completely detribalised Nigerian. The event was the launch of his newest titles; My Life in the Public Eye, to commemorate his 85th Birthday. He was born on July 15, 1936.

Osoba has been verily honoured in many quarters for his steadfastness in the field of journalism, humanity and public relations, and so it was not a surprise when the big wigs, the creme de la creme of the society turned from every corner of the earth to give honour to whom honour is due.

On the roll call of A-list attendees to the event are former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; former Foreign Affairs Minister, Prince Bolaji Akinyemi; Chief Alex Duduyemi, former Delta State governor, Mr. James Ibori, former governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Otunba Niyi Adebanjo, Ondo State governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Aare Dele Momodu, former Sec Gen of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; CEO, Bison, Prince Bisi Olatilo; Oba Otudeko, Senator Uba Sani, Sir Kesington Adebutu, Olori Ladun Sijuade, Chief Sunny Kuku, Lady Maiden Ibru, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Senator Ope Bamidele, Chairman, ThisDay/Arise News, Chief Nduka Obaigbena; President, Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Erelu Abiola Dosunmu among a host of very many other important dignitaries.

Accomplished pen-man, who attended Methodist Boys High School, it was not a coincidence that the event of the day fell exactly on the 60th anniversary of his foray into journalism.

At 85, Osoba’s strides speak volumes, and go before him. These as much were captured by all the speeches and remarks by notable individuals at the book presentation including Vice President Shettima, Fashola and Dapo Abiodun.

It could be recalled that during one his birthdays in the past, former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida recognized him as detribalised, suave, urbane, cerebral, seasoned and profoundly accomplished.

“Chief Segun Osoba remains one of Nigeria’s detribalised and essentially cosmopolitan octogenarians, suave, urbane, cerebral, seasoned and profoundly accomplished journalist who cut his professional teeth at a time when technology was still a huge challenge,” Babangida had written.

While wishing Osoba the best, he noted that “your sun has just begun to shine. You remain to me as one of the most patriotic Nigerians I have come across in my sojourn in life”.

No doubt one of the finest journalists Nigeria has ever produced, Chief Olusegun Osoba, was the Editor and Managing Director of government-owned Daily Times Nigeria Ltd under Babangida’s regime. He had bitter experiences like his compatriots.

Osoba revealed that Babangida sacked him three times while Abacha made attempts on his life three times due to his alignment with NADECO.

Osoba said in parts, “I will call him by his name. Three times Babangida sacked me. Three times he re-instated me. At last, he converted my sack to resignation. Three times Abacha wanted to kill me. I was in hiding for one year,” he said.

That explained how dangerously he pursued his duties, and even at the risk of his own life, he never backed down. He is a believer in the truth, and as Governor Abiodun has described him in more than one forum, a role model to every lover of truth.

In his opening lines of an article titled Osoba’s Metamorphosis, in celebration of Osoba’s 80th birthday, Mr. Babatunde Jose, an ally and contemporary in journalism, said, “Having read Chief Olusegun Osoba’s book; Battlelines: Adventures in Journalism and Politics, and my personal life journey with the author, my take away from the book is that it is a story of an unending adventure with fate. A man whose resilience, hard work, perseverance and belief in himself and service to God and man has paved the path for a successful life in what we could describe as the cauldron called the Nigerian post-colonial state.

“Born during the colonial era of the early constitutional development in Nigeria; precisely 1939, during the governor generalship of Sir Bernard Bourdillon 1935-1943 who laid the groundwork for the constitutional proposals which his successor Sir Arthur Richards (Lord Milverton) later submitted in 1944 and which became the Richard’s Constitution. He succeeded in convincing the Northern Emirs of the advisability of coming to join with the southerners in the Legislative Council of the country.”

Mr. Jose further added: “What we are witnessing today is a schism in the political class; a crack in the political pot and a return to primitivism, parochial and primordial tendencies. In all these however, Olusegun Osoba stands out as one political animal who has cut a distinct persona for himself and a different breed from the hubris of ‘come and chop’ political class; a collective of brigands and ruthless socio-economic barracudas, hell bent on robbing the national coffers of all that it contain.

“His sojourn in journalism started during the time of his adopted uncle and godfather, late Alhaji Babatunde Jose. Being a good student of human philosophy, Osoba would imbibe the salient qualities of his mentor to rise and shine above his peers. Despite his apogee in journalism, he was not only cool headed but worked hard to maintain his comportment. This is attested to in the wide network of his associates, particularly in his youthful, clubbing and rascally days. He never lost focus and at the back of his mind was always the dictum: Remember the son of whom you are.

“As it was in journalism, so had it been in politics. Having worked closely with the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the man with a mission, Osoba had no choice but to pitch his tent with the progressive elements of Nigerian politics. It worked and has continued to work for him.

“In all these however, one trait that has been discernible in Osoba’s personality is his contentment in life.”

To Dele Momodu, he is the grandfather of journalism.

“He was as dynamic in politics as he had been in journalism. I was not very surprised by his conquests and giant strides. His suaveness and impeccability were such that his successes were assured in whatever he touched,”said Momodu.

It is with deep of respect that we raise a toast to grand Commander of Nigerian journalism as he clock 85years today.

Congratulations sir!

Boss Of The Week

Like Mother, Like Daughter: The Success Story of Ijeoma Akunyili

Published

3 weeks ago

July 6, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Ijeoma Akunyili, fondly and popularly known as Ije Akunyili, is a typical example of a chip off the old block, when it is used to represent everything positive, good and attractive. She is the daughter of one of Nigeria’s finest administrator, Dr. Dora Akunyili, who served the country in various capacities including as the famous, no-nonsense Director General of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

An Nigerian-American medical practitioner today, the younger Akunyili has become an epitome of parental expectations, striding gingerly in the footsteps of her mother, and creating niche after niche for herself and institutions she has come to represent.

The success stories of Ijeoma are just getting fresher, as say in and day out, the world is inundated with one solid achievement after another credited to the ebullient medical practitioner.

Just this July of 2024, it was announced that The Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) in the US elected Ijeoma Akunyili as an alumni board member of the institution. She was named alongside eight others from different countries. This is a newer cap added to an avalanche of caps that deck her intelligent head.

A graduate of Summa Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania, Ijeoma has a Masters of Public Administration degree from Harvard. This, she obtained before going on to work as a Junior Professional Associate for the World Bank. She also attended the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and had her emergency medicine residency at the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.

Ijeoma was the regional medical director for TeamHealth’s Northeast Group where she managed the operations of nearly 20 emergency departments, critical care, and hospitalist service lines in New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and New York. She had also served as the chair of emergency medicine at Waterbury Hospital. She is the current President of the Connecticut College of Emergency Physicians.

A prolific achiever, Ijeoma had on January 11, 2023, received the Jersey City Medical Centre appointment as their Chief Medical Officer. She therefore, became the hospital’s first Black Chief Medical Officer in its history. Her elevation to the top job at a time her career was just budding was a clear signal that the young Nigerian has so much up sleeves in terms delivery, experience and international exposure.

She is not however, a newcomer to elevations and Awards as in 2016, she received the Rising Star Award from the American Association of Women Emergency Physicians.

Also, in 2019, Ijeoma Akunyili was named the Medical Director of the Year for her generous efforts in work at the Waterbury Hospital Emergency Department, and recently in 2024, she got recognised as Becker’s Hospital Review Black Healthcare leaders to know.

A workaholic, Ijeoma is also an award winning homemaker, winning from the homefront, and setting the path for greater glory for her children as her own mum did.

She is married to Aris Brou, and they are blessed with two children.

As already stated as regards her parental origin, she iis the first daughter of Dr. Chike Akunyili and Dora Akunyili, who among many things is a former Minister of Information and National Orientation.