Ife Grand Resort & Leisure, one of the best hospitality-care centers in Africa, located on an expansive hilltop, adjacent to the Ife-Ibadan Expressway at about 4 km from the heart of the ancient and culturally important city of Ile-Ife, in Osun State, Southwest Nigeria, is the right place to be not only for tourists, fun-seekers, holidaymakers, travellers; but also for government institutions and individuals seeking exciting and memorable experience.

Reuben Abib, the General Manager, of Ife Grand Resort & Leisure, in a chat with Idowu Ayodele, reveals the intrinsic values that set the hospitality center apart from others.

Excerpts:

Why is Ife Grand Resort & Leisure described as the people’s palace?

It is, indeed; the people’s palace! You know not everyone can enter the Enuwa palace of the Ooni of Ife, but Ife Grand Resort & Leisure is the extension of that same palace. Here, at the People’s Palace, everyone can feel and be treated like royalty. We set up on over 328 acres of land, over a hundred rooms with chalets of different categories.

We actually have tree houses as well, very interestingly, they are all air-conditioned, we have Eclipse nightclub, a zoo, African Village, which hosts a Bamboo Restaurant and a local kitchen where guests can visit to witness how local food menus are prepared and served to them in local pots, the Adire Oodua Textile Hub where they make traditional adire clothes (tie-and-dye).

The resort also houses a 200-capacity cinema hall nearing completion and would be commissioned soon, an event centre, a conference hall, an indoor spa centre for manicures and pedicures, swimming pools, restaurants and bar, barbecue, where you can get your catfish, bush meat, palm wine among other facilities. Honestly, there is so much to do here, this is a place to be.

Considering the huge staff strength, both permanent and casual workers, how have you been able to manage and coordinate them for optimal productivity?

We are very much like a family here. So, I see myself like a father figure to all my staff, even a father figure to my customers. We may not always agree on some issues, but the fact is that if you realise you have a relationship that you want it to be extended beyond this present moment, then you have to manage yourself to protect such relationships. There is one Yoruba proverb I owe dearly to my heart is that when a child knows how to wash his hands well, he eats with the elders.

Interestingly, it is something the Yoruba culture has taught me which is the way we treat each other, the respect we give each other, we love each other so much that we bow to each other, in simple greetings, you must adopt humility to succeed. The secret I am trying to bring to the table is that you must love your children even if you must discipline them, binding it together, I think things are working fine here with us.

I am able to manage a diverse group of individuals with unique talents, skills, and abilities.

There are many resorts and hotels in Nigeria, what exactly sets Ife Grand Resort & Leisure apart from others?

We are the source, the cradle of the Yoruba race. The resort itself exemplifies everything that is housed within the Yoruba culture. One of our unique advantages is the pristine rain forest which is just a three-minute walk, and a tropical utopia for leisure seekers and discerning guests who cherish tranquility and communion with nature amid personalised hospitality services.

We are surrounded by nature , both flora and fauna.

We have more than enough facilities, stable security and fantastic personnel that will make your visit to this destination an exciting and memorable experience. In addition to everything you can do here, we are just a few minutes away from the 401 historical and religious sites in Ile Ife, so if you want to see culture first hand, this is the best place to be. There is so much to do here, so much to learn, there is no way even once in a lifetime you can take everything away. We are just a few weeks to Olojo festival, literally there is always a festival in Ile-Ife.

If you really want to get in touch with yourself and your culture, Ile-Ife is the only place to do that, this is the source.

How affordable is Ife Grand Resort & Leisure?

We are the most affordable four-star resort in Nigeria, I can assure you of that. This is the people’s palace, we want it accessible and affordable for all, the reason we deliberately splashed the prices by half. Can you imagine a standard room for N10,000 in a four-star resort?

Having spent some quality and eventful years in Africa, particularly Southwest Nigeria, how would you describe the Yoruba culture?

I am an African American. Growing up in Canada and the US, they will be telling us that our culture is dead. In 2017, when I met the Ooni of Ife and I saw living culture, I saw the culture of the Emeses, the culture of the cult, I saw the culture of the Yoruba people, prostrating before this amazing King, and I was touched to the soul. I am actually a born orphan, and one thing about orphans is that not only that people adopt us, we also adopt people. I must say that I have adopted Yoruba because it resonates with me – the history, the culture, proverbs, and wisdom of the Yoruba people, is something that I feel it is within my soul and it is wonderful.

Likewise, I spent 11 years in the Gambian and I already spent over 5 years in Nigeria, I can always see that for we the repatriated Africans, it is actually easy to find our home here and this is very welcoming. Thank you for sharing your culture with me.

The post Interview: Why Ife Grand Resort is unique to others – GM, Reuben Abib reveals first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Interview: Why Ife Grand Resort is unique to others – GM, Reuben Abib reveals appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

SGI agricultural produce also includes raw cocoa beans, raw cashew nuts, shea nuts, and natural sesame seeds. SGI today has grown tremendously and is well represented in all cocoa-producing zones of Nigeria.

In this interview with online news editors, he bares his mind, among other issues, on the status of cocoa production in Nigeria, even as he expressed his fear about the future of the crop. Excepts

Sir, Nigerians are concerned about the dwindling production of cocoa in Nigeria, because the crop used to be a major contributor to the economic development of the country most especially in the western region in the 60, and 70s. Do you share their fear?

I appreciate your concern about the future of Cocoa in Nigeria. Unfortunately, we used to be number 2 between the period 1968 and 1975. Up to 1992, Nigeria still struggled to be between number 3 and 4 but we are now number 7. Ivory Coast as of 2013, the country was producing 1,000,000 tonnes. Today, Ivory Coast produces 2000400 tonnes. They have doubled their production and have even added more within that period. Looking at the same time, Ghana used to produce 750000 tonnes but they are now producing 950000 tonnes. Cameroon used to produce 350000 tonnes they are still on the 350000 tonnes. Indonesia used to produce 450000 tonnes, they are now producing 280000 tonnes.

They have had a reduction in their production. Nigeria used to produce 250000 tonnes, they are now on 300000 tonnes. Brazil produces 320000 tonnes. All other countries of the world produce the rest of the tonnes.

The total need for Cocoa in the world is 4million tonnes in a year. 75% of the production is done by Ivory Coast and Ghana, which is why they went into a collaboration to ask for Liquid Income Preferential from the chocolate makers. I am the first Nigerian and African to be a member of the Federation of Cocoa and Commerce (FCC), which is responsible for regulating the Cocoa economy in the world. This gives me insight into the problems and solutions to Cocoa production.

When we talk about Nigeria, it’s not only about Cocoa but the quality of leadership has been the problem. When we have leaders that only think about 4 or 8 years in office and do not have a long term plan. This is criminal and injustice to the people they are leading. We must have a well structured country, that has immediate, short and long-term plans. Developed countries of the world have all these plans with strong institutions that Nigeria is lacking.

Unfortunately, corruption has killed almost everything in Nigeria. I don’t like politics and I won’t be one of them. Take a look at the time of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo who was an Ijebu man, what was Cocoa production like in Ijebu then? He institutionalized Cocoa production across the Southwest. He had a big Cocoa farm, not for himself but for the country in the present-day Edo State. Things need to change. The law of diminishing return is taking effect on the Cocoa trees as some are now 100 years while some are 75 years. If they are cut down how many years would it take for us to have the new ones? What incentives are being given to the youths as motivation to engage in farming?

What have they been doing in Ivory Coast that Nigerian government has not been doing?

In Ivory Coast, the government allocates 2.5 hectares of land to the youth to engage in farm production. Nigeria’s government needs to create a medium for large farm sites and put necessary social infrastructures to make life bearable for the people. West Africa produces almost 75% of Cocoa in the world, all other countries cannot. We are blessed in this part of the world. For instance, in Indonesia, natural disasters destroy the farms. The government should start to have long-term plans. This is one of the reasons we are faced with the challenge of insecurity such as banditry, kidnapping, and others. We need to face the reality of how to navigate the perennial problems. Unemployment is directly proportional to poverty, banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism.

So how can we get it right?

For Nigeria to get it right in Cocoa production, the government needs to remove what is known as Land Use Act. The people should be allowed to have access to land. This is one of the major problems of agriculture in Nigeria. Physical planning is very key. We are very lucky, Nigeria has the largest arable land in the whole of Africa. You can see the incursion of foreigners into the country, Chinese, Indians, and others are buying lands in large quantities and they are collecting documents from the government, we need to be careful about that. We are talking about colonization, what is going to happen would be worse than colonization. We should learn from the apartheid in South Africa and Palestine because the major cause of what is happening in Palestine, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is land. This is also evident in Kaduna and Jos.

No government agency or parastatal in Nigeria is working, corruption has destroyed all of them. We are not investing in technologies that will improve our agricultural system. We need huge investment in technologies in our institutes for us to have alternatives. The kind our fertilizers we use on our farms are the ones killing our soil.

The government should create an enabling environment supported by reasonable laws that wouldn’t be broken. So many people are interested in agriculture but they are being discouraged by the lack of enabling environment.

I want to call on the government to have a well-structured system, long term plans and be proactive in the needs of the citizens, especially the youths. We don’t have accurate data in Nigeria, we only have estimates.

The Nigerian government has been talking about diversification of the economy, especially in agro-industrial sector, in your own opinion do you think they are walking the talk?

As a stakeholder, I have constructively criticized the government to challenge them on the necessary things to be done. Nigeria is retrogressing at a fast pace, something needs to be done. The chocolate factory needs 24 hours electricity, are we having this in Nigeria? A factory cannot be successfully run in an unpredictable place like Nigeria. Look at the price of diesel which used to be N350 which is now N800. So many companies are folding up in Nigeria not because they are fraudulent, it is because they operate in a very harsh economic environment.

How did you get into this business?

I was a biochemistry lecturer at the University for 11 months. Religion discrimination and politics in the institution made me leave lecturing job. There was a terrible gang-up as I was the only Muslim, I didn’t see myself developing quickly in such an environment. When I left, I secured another job in Union Trust before the death of my Managing Director which made me leave there after 11 months.

I never wanted to do this business because I have experienced different things in this business. I had so many crises in the Cocoa business. Although, it is my father’s business. Hunger and desperation forced me to stay in the Cocoa business.

How long did it take you to build Starlink Global & Ideal Limited?

We started in 1999. Today, we are the largest exporter of Cocoa, Cashew, and palm oil in Nigeria. In the last 10 years, the growth has been wonderful. We are now into processing, we have just bought the largest and multi-million processing plant in Nigeria.

At SGI, we have 452 direct workers and about 900 appendages. We see the human being as the most important asset. We have warehouses in about 16 states. I motivate my staff for maximum production with sustainable empowerment. Most of them are now self-independent

The post Interview: Expert reveals ‘ugly story’ of Nigeria’s cocoa industry first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

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Last Tuesday, he appeared on Ayekooto On Radio, a magazine programme anchored by Olayinka Agboola live on a private radio station in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State. Read some of his submissions:

On one of your Social Media profile pages, you wrote that laws must be used as tools of social engineering, for economic development and poverty eradication. Why did you think along this line sir?

Lawyers are called legal luminaries all over the world especially in a democracy to lighten paths and ways of their fellow citizens so that they can see through and will not fall or slip from their ways. Law is an object to develop the country and engineer development and tackle poverty.

Today, as we are speaking, do you consider yourself to be a full fledge politician?

I must not pretend about that. I am a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).  I formally joined the party very recently during the revalidation exercise. When I was in government under our late leader, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, I was not a card-carrying member of the party.

What was it like when you were the Chief Lawmaker in Oyo State?

It was all about service to humanity, contributing your quotas to your community, state and society at large. All of us cannot be satisfied to remain in our comfort zones because if it is something we are going to eat together with our family and how to educate our children, we do not have such problems. Let us think of others who are less privileged and who do not have the same opportunity like us.  In life there are basic amenities of life such as food, shelter and education and health. Let us strive to make life more meaningful to people, I believe that any aspiration to be in government and public service should be geared towards service. As a commissioner, I served to the best of my ability.

States are at war with  Government on the issue of the Value Added Tax collection (VAT). What is your opinion?

I have a very different view and I have expressed it at different fora before. Value Added Tax (VAT) is not listed specifically in the exclusive list. We have already had in place a VAT act – since the era of the military. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has been collecting it from individuals, company without any level of protest from any level of government. It will be wrong for any state now to enact another VAT law like Lagos and Rivers have done. We already have a federal act which has covered the field and that will be inconsistent with any law that is happening now.

During the second republic, we had a similar case between Attorney General of Ogun State and Aberuaba which was litigated up to the Supreme court that it was stated that Ogun State could not enact sales tax.

Also, during Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Governor of Lagos State, there was this law that was enacted by Lagos state government on hospitality and consumption tax. It happened that Eko Hotel took the state government to court that they could not be paying the same tax when they were already paying same to the federal government and they won the case.

Now, as a lawyer and politician, you know the way things are in Nigeria today – insecurity and economic woes, where did we get it wrong?

Leadership is the major problem facing Nigeria. Our current president, Muhammadu Buhari has failed and has disappointed many people. He has failed woefully and the party, APC has lost its goodwill that brought it to power in 2015.

But some observers said Jugdes/Lawyers, Policemen and Journalists are mainly responsible for the situation Nigeria has found itself..

I do not agree with that assumptions that Lawyers, Judges, Police and Journalists are responsible for Nigeria’s problems today. We have all failed. We cannot have a better country if we do not have a good family unit. A good community cannot exist if there is a bad local government and state. We have lost it all and all sectors are affected.  We are the problems and if people in the country agree to change and do the right things then Nigeria will be better.

What do you think is the difference between APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)?

There is no difference between the two parties. Our political parties are not ideology-based. They are just platforms through which one can get elected to serve. There is nothing like progressives’ party in my understanding. Both parties are bereft of ideologies.

So, what is the way forward sir?

We cannot keep complaining that because politics is a dirty game. It is dirty because majority of the people participating in it presently are dirty. We must not leave it to charlatans, we must all participate in it to improve the system.

What is your stake on the ongoing agitation for Yoruba nation?

Looking at the rate at which we are going in this country, unless Nigeria is restructured, we may disintegrate. Things are not at ease and we have never been divided like this before. The Hausas are seeing themselves as different from the Fulanis. There is nothing like one north again, even the Hausas and the Fulanis are even more divided than the south. We need to sit down and find solutions to the myriad of problems we are facing.

Independence of Yoruba Nation is just one of the valid options to be used to solve Nigeria’s problems.

Before you go, do you wish to send a message to fellow politicians?

Let us all resolve to do the right thing at the right time. Let us be selfless and put the interest of the country at heart first and let us love Nigeria above our personal interest.

I will also counsel Nigerians not to cut corners and to do the right things always.

The post INTERVIEW: ‘Buhari has failed, made APC to lose goodwill’ – Late Ajimobi’s aide first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post INTERVIEW: ‘Buhari has failed, made APC to lose goodwill’ – Late Ajimobi’s aide appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

What is your take on the many challenges facing the country?

Going by the many challenges in the country and concurrent calamities in the society, no one can claim he or she is satisfied. I think the main issue is the problem of leadership; our leadership system is bad. Many that are in the leadership position of the country don’t have the mind of God. They are not doing things as if they will give account to God. They would say different things when they were aspiring for positions and act differently when they are in power and this has caused a serious problem, especially for the younger generation.

What can the church do to make things right in the country?

Recently, I was on my social media handle to charge all church leaders to act like the bold prophets in the Bible, prophets including Nathan and Joshua, among others, who didn’t talk to individuals excepts the government and leaders. So, I am also using this medium to once again call on all ministers of God to say the heart of God to our leaders and everyone holding sensitive positions in the country. It is important clerics speak the truth and stay by it irrespective of what it may cost. What the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, did and stood for in his days is still a reference point today. This is our main responsibility and God will be delighted and have mercy on the nation if truth is yielded to.

The post ‘In today’s Christianity, we are religious, not spiritual’ first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post ‘In today’s Christianity, we are religious, not spiritual’ appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

In an interview with Bloomberg’s Francine Lacqua, Barkindo also said he is an evening person.

Here’s how OPEC’s secretary-general who recently began his second term in office spends time away from the work.

How many hours of sleep do you get a night?

Normally between seven and eight.

What time do you set your alarm to wake up?

For 6 a.m. to pray al-Fajr.

Are you a morning or evening person?

Evening.

Do you have an essential morning ritual?

My prayers. And a glass of water.

What’s your typical workout?

It is more a mental workout for me.

What’s your favourite sport or sports team?

Football. The Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles.

Which app is in heavy rotation on your phone?

WhatsApp.

What’s your go-to lunch spot?

Le Couscous in Vienna.

Who is your favourite author?

I have always loved reading Shakespeare. And the great poet and scholar Rumi.

What’s your favourite place to go on vacation?

It has to be returning to my home city of Yola. It’s where I can see family, relax, recharge, and reconnect with my roots.

What living or historical person do you truly admire?

Dr Rilwanu Lukman, the former OPEC secretary-general. The most decent person I have ever met.

If you had to take a year off, what would you do?

I think I would go back to university. To research and write.

What is your biggest fear?

The breakdown of international institutions and the global order.

If you were 20, what business would you get into?

It would be the oil and gas sector, with a focus on technologies that can help reduce emissions.

Do you ever expect to retire?

Yes, but to return to academia.

Sheraton Lagos Hotel captivates audience with momentous Live Concert featuring living legend Femi Kuti

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In this interview, he told the story of the School Governing Board (SGB) , how it was birthed and successes recorded

Excerpts: 

As an Educationist and one time member of Education Reform Committee set up by Oyo State Government, how will you tell the story of School Governing Board (SGB)?

The story of Oyo State School Governing Board is the story of the birthing of a renaissance! It is a story of turning disadvantage to advantage through resourcefulness. Where there is is a will, there is always a way!

I had the privilege of serving on the committee that birthed the concept and can talk about the feeling of fulfilment that comes with achieving purpose. Everywhere I have had the opportunity of interacting with representatives of the SGB, the feedback has been exciting.

Before the advent of the SGB, the public education system was plagued with decay and lopsided distribution of resources die to the fact there was ‘no ownership’ of the provided resources. We went round this state and saw unbelievable deplorable situations. What was more pathetic was the attitude of the people and students themselves. Everyone looked up to government for provision, direction and implementation while government looked up to the federal government.

The fact of the situation is that the resources abounded among the people , to help secure the future of their community , alma mater or institution, but there was no sense of belonging. Business mist not continue as usual if we are to avert a looming disaster worse than the failures in WAEC.

What makes the School Governing Board system unique in Oyo state?

While the School Based Management System is not new, the Oyo State SGB is a variant with a significant difference with the adoption of a subtle but powerful innovation that recognised the role of core- stakeholders. It sounded alien to the known schemes , and I can say there were fears and mistrust about the intentions. Some notable groups fought against it but thank God at the end, everyone saw reason and embraced ‘true change’.

In the short period of operation, we thank God for notable testimonies of development. I want to say without any doubt in my heart that what we see is just a tip of the ice-berg. The success of the SGB is much more than these  facilities, and resources. It is the impact it will have on our future, collectively.

The positive competitive spirit among the SGBs will lead to greater manifestation of the wealth of this state and even this region.

In a simple word, what is your advise  to your constituency on the new face of education in Oyo state?

Like Malcolm X said, “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today”.

The post SGB Rejuvenates Education In Oyo State, Says Bamgbose first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

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On the making of the NGO, Yakolo Indimi Foundation, Rahma said

“I grew up watching the generosity of my father, Dr. Muhammadu Indimi, OFR. He is always trying to solve problems for people. He speaks often about poverty and how it can be diminished. He instilled in us the awareness of heartbreaking issues in society. Like every parent, he worked hard to make his family comfortable. But he taught us to adapt to different situations. So, the idea of the Yakolo Indimi Foundation was born from lessons shared by my father. I saw the smiles on the faces of those helped by my daddy. I wanted to be like him, helping people. Before Yakolo Indimi Foundation was created, my team and I had been investing in humanitarian activities. Empowering people is one of my greatest motivations. It brings immense happiness and peace in my heart.

On why Yakolo Indimi Foundation seem to be focusing on the northeast geo-political zone

“Presently, the impact of the insurgency in the North-East is overwhelming, particularly in Borno and Adamawa. The people need all the help they can get. Although the IDPs are in other states, the conditions in the North-East are dire. To make things worse, insecurity cuts off access to many parts of Borno and that makes it impossible to save thousands of children and families. In spite of the long distance, my team and I do not hesitate to go home again and again to help our people. For example, the Muhammadu Indimi Foundation created by my father developed homes for 100 households. The Yakolo Indimi Foundation reached out to the women and gave them sustainable means of earning revenue. Several IDPs have been given sewing machines and flour processing machines. They also received training as well as start-up finances. Little by little, all IDPs will be empowered. That is the vision. Periodically, the Foundation visits to conduct surveys on the needs of IDPs, in collaboration with the office on Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, in the North-East. Additionally, the Yakolo Indimi Foundation recently started a food security project. We equip beneficiaries with modern farming skills and provide an environment to do so. Livelihood is restored when they can sell produce and keep their families nourished.”

Yakolo Indimi Foundation’s intervention in the health sector

The Foundation collaborates with a medical team during its outreach. We support the team with medicine. The recent trend of increased pregnancies in the IDP camps was a concern. You could easily come across a woman with 20 children and you would see children roaming the streets. So, the Foundation sensitized the women on birth control. It was successful because some of the women showed interest. The health challenges in the North-East are overwhelming, but not insurmountable. We believe partnership would increase and accelerate impact.

This issue also includes a special feature to celebrate Versace’s 40th anniversary of Iconic world of class and to celebrates this milestone, the magazine had an exclusive interview with the brand’s Vice President and its founder’s little sister, Donatella Versace who joined the company in the creative department in 1988 and there began her distinctive commitment and influence on the brand. Following the tragic murder of Gianni in 1997 in Miami, Donatella has shown redoubtable strength of character and has managed the company up to the present day.

Plus, Donna Wallace, a Jamaican-Briton and proprietress of Oxford Manor College, Abuja who sold her London home to investment in Nigerian Education. Wallace in this interview with Pleasures Magazine shared her start-up experience and why Nigerians being one of the most intelligent races in the world don’t need to pack their bags and pay millions of Naira abroad to get their children educated.

And as usual, the magazine is incomplete without your usual light stories and other human interest narratives. Read the interesting tourist sites in Kenya, these and many more reports combine in making the magazine a collector’s item and reading pleasure for all and sundry.

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Your foundation has obviously got a lot of influence in Nigeria, what are your main objectives for this year?

One of the main pillars is health. Nutrition determines the state of one’s health and we are investing towards nutrition, specifically primary health care, and most importantly towards eradication of polio, that itself is a good example of what Public Private Partnerships should put on the top of their list. This year’s Dangote Foundation is partnering with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Nigerian government. It is crucial for us to get buy in from each state government that we partner with; so Dangote Foundation, government and B&M Gates Foundation have equal responsibilities and we do really see the impact when we each are accountable. Through impact assessment in the rural areas, studying the root causes, we are able to determine where we want to see results and how to achieve progress. The formula is working and we will keep at it as there is a lot to cover.

Healthcare and infant mortality obviously is a huge issue across the poorest countries in Africa. What could other corporates do to get more involved into helping, following your model?

The business sector is the most important in this model, and we put a strong emphasis to really pull the business sector, like the ones here at the Health Business Forum. This thing that we are pushing to get 1% of the tax dedicated to health; we need the support of other businesses do it as well? All of us corporate can just contribute and see this would ultimately help the health sector, and I mean, the way the foundation sees it, when investing in health, it should not be considered a cost, it is a huge investment in the future generations and it’s going to cost us a lot more if we don’t start now, a lot more.

What are your proudest moments?

I am extremely proud of being able to make a difference in this world, that collectively we are changing and influencing people to keep aiming for a better lifestyle and to take better care of their health and well-being of their loved ones.

If you had one single most important message from you personally to the world, what would it be?

I think, every single person has a role to play, and it is important to search deeper and find ways to contribute. Ultimately it can be very little, but you have to make an effort to participate. It’s not just about saying it. It is about being honest with yourself and having the courage to walk the talk.  We all live on the same planet. Our communities within our cities play a strong role in the way we live with one another. Everybody has to participate! Everyone deserves to be healthy and happy!

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In 2013, according to research by Forbes, her net worth had reached more than three billion US dollars, making her Africa’s first billionaire woman. Five years have passed ever since and her wealth has continued to grow.

But being a woman in a male-dominated business world is not always easy, especially for African women.

In this interview, she talks about business, being a woman in a world dominated by men and how she keeps steaming forward in spite of daily challenges.

How have the men in your life (father, husband, others) supported your growth as a female leader in business, and what advice can you give to men to help contribute to the growth of female leaders?

I realised quite late in life that my education had been quite rare for an African girl. My father raised me exactly has he had done my brothers, and never told me: ”girls don’t do this” or “girls can not be that”. At age 18, going to university, I was undecided on what to apply for, and I remember my father persuading me to become an astronaut or a computer scientist, it never crossed my mind  that this is something that African girls don’t do and can not be.

Finally, I choose to study Engineering at University, and there was only one other girl (Chinese) in my class.

I do not ever recall hearing things like, “Don’t worry, your brothers will work and take care of you”, or “you are girl; one day will marry and find a  nice man to take care of you”. I was taught to make my own way in life, and never to depend on any man being it father, brother, or husband.

This built in me a strong spirit of independence. My parents were both insistent on an education that focused on confidence and competitiveness.

As a woman I have also been lucky to have found and married an opened-minded husband who is also African, and who never saw my personal career or success as a threat, and who allowed me the time and space that I needed to dedicate to my work.

My husband has been a pillar of support throughout my career – crucial to my success. He has provided me always with honest advice and encouragement. He is a great father to all of our four children, being there for them when I am absent, during my long work schedules and overseas trips.

The advice I would give to parents is to establish very early on a sense of confidence and responsibility in their girls. Teach them to fend for themselves and to rely only on themselves. Teach your daughter life skills. Teach your daughter the skills on how to best manage her finances, her salary, and her investments wisely. And moreover, treat her as an independent person and whole human being with a true role in society, equal to that of a man’s.

In a male-dominated society, what are some of the biggest challenges you face as a female business woman? 

In the business world there are very few female peers, and it is till undoubtedly a very male-dominated society.  Discrimination and prejudice exists. On various occasions in business meetings it has happened to me that the other party with whom I am negotiating will look solely at my male advisor or male lawyer, to see what he has to say, even though I am the owner /shareholder of the business and have already clearly stated my decision.

Your opinions are frequently second guessed simply because you are a woman. I am also often asked : “what business does your husband do? ” People just assume that as a woman and a mother you are someone less able to be negotiating at the table or that you built your own business. The toughest thing for women is to raise capital and investment for their business, as the financial system has “more confidence” in male-led projects.

Are there particular challenges that you face as an African woman? 

Being very often the only black person in the room … is a challenge, people tend to treat you differently.  Africa, has unfortunately been marketed in a very poor way. The narrative around African economies and African business isn’t favourable, it’s full of negative connotations. Africa needs better marketing in order to promote its success stories better. There is very little knowledge of African businesses or key business players out there.

How do you maintain your strength to carry forward?

As an African person, I was lucky to receive a top education. In this way I am privileged, and this provides me with a great sense of duty, to do more for others, for my country and for our people. To inspire and help others build their dreams, build their business, get good jobs, and educate their children.

What opportunities exist currently in Angola or other countries in the continent for women who wish to make money and build successful enterprises? 

Opportunities for me always start with a simple question: What do you know how to do? What are you good at?  And there you will find your opportunity.

Angola in particular has many untapped resources: from minerals and agriculture, manufacturing to services and tourism. Each one comes with a different level of complexity, different need for investment, but all are strong and possible starting points.

The more complex the business, the more it will require, for you to be experienced and skilled, and the need for more capital. Today, the Angolan banking sector offers financing and loans for good projects and businesses, and it is true that interest rates are still high, and that some collateral or partial guarantees is required, as well as some starting capital (savings or land) as equity from the investors. Angola imports over $9 billion of food commodities and consumer goods. Today Africa as a whole continues to import vast amounts of commodities and consumer goods.

A good opportunity in Africa would be the medium scale production of agriculture  produce or animal farming or manufacturing. Also in some countries, there is a growing middle class with a growing disposable income, and thus internal tourism such as lodges, and countryside bed and breakfasts are also a developing opportunity for small family-owned businesses. Good quality private education and private health care clinics are also sectors of potential business growth in Africa, as people want to invest in education for their children.

Bigger opportunities, for more capital intensive investments and bigger deals, lie in industries, such as glass or steal manufacturing for construction, or mineral exploration.

How can we get started? 

Your best business bet is you, your skills, your motivation, and your passion.
You must have an idea, make a five year plan, prepare your money, ground your idea in detail, be persistent, and partner yourself with a trusted team. Stay passionate always, and execute –  don’t delegate.

What are some tips and tricks you can share with young women about managing time, juggling responsibilities, and self-care with all your different ventures and responsibilities? 

Time unfortunately is one of those things that none of us has enough of! We always end up sacrificing something, wether it be less time with our family, or our friends, or having our social life. Or even less time at the gym!

It’s a challenge. Priorities are key. You must allocate your time to your priorities, and your priorities must match your life expectations.

How do you manage your time with all your different ventures and responsibilities?

Because you are the richest woman in Africa, many people must ask you for charity and support for their social ventures.

Have you established a formalised way to give back? 

Supporting social ventures has always been a priority. From the start,  I have installed in my companies a specific division for social responsibility and sponsorship programmes. We sponsor several charities, and we run our own programmes.

My vision is that to have a better society; it’s important for us to give back and help others. Today, giving back has become part of our company culture, and we have thousands of employees that are volunteers and help run our programmes in the community.

We created a culture that engages people, and each person has the opportunity to play an active role in our social ventures. We finance and run a large and diverse programme of social responsibility initiatives such as: supporting a children’s Pediatric hospital where we are one of the largest donors and partners; we finance and run the largest nationwide campaign for the fight and prevention against Malaria; we sponsor a charity for clean water initiatives in poor communities; with our volunteers we run a “special day “ programme for underprivileged or sick children in which organise special play days and fun adventures, for over 10.000 children in all the country, to give them the experiences they would never otherwise have. Last year, I have started the first Christmas telethon, on the nationwide television network, it allowed us to partner up with several companies and businesses to further help and support communities needs.

I have encouraged all our employees to be part of our social responsibility programmes , as volunteers, as I believe we need to multiply our efforts and together we are stronger. I am personally very involved, as a donor, but also personally taking part in these actions, as well as in organizing social ventures and engaging with the community directly, as this is a firm commitment I have made to help improve our society.

How do you decide what causes to support, and when to say no? 

I choose to support those initiatives that are focused on the needs of children, and with education and healthcare at the core of what I do. The fight against malaria is a cause that I carry very close to my heart and I am very committed to help to its eradication.

My commitment is for one day to see Africa brimming with entrepreneurs, from businesses small and big, with  ambitious initiatives,  full of perseverance, support and opportunities. In my vision, I believe that we have a true lever for change in Africa, and it’s not our resources, but our education. The quality of education we are able to give our children will determine  the future of Africa. Anyone that dreams of changing Africa,  education is the key. We must educate our girls, as they are the future mothers, and an encyclopedia of knowledge for their children.

The post Interview with Africa’s richest woman, Isabel dos Santos of Angola first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Interview with Africa’s richest woman, Isabel dos Santos of Angola appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

The commissioner emeritus in this interview with Mega Icon Magazine spoke about his ambition and plans for the state.

Thomas, who confidently described himself as the most qualified candidate for the Agodi Government House assignment irrespective of political faith, also tagged a leading gubernatorial aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Engineer Seyi Makinde as political illiterate. Excerpts  

Sir, is it true that you are eyeing the most exalted seat in Oyo state?

It’s absolutely true. I am in the race to succeed Governor Ajimobi in 2019 by the grace of God and as you are well aware, I am eminently prepared, I am eminently qualified for that position. I have served  in different capacities, I have seen the in and out of government, I know where Oyo state was coming from and where it is today and I know where the state should be tomorrow.

So, there is no one that is more qualified than me in any of the political parties. I have served my tutelage, I have paid my dues, I have taken a thorough understanding.

Having served in various governments, are you saying this places you ahead of other aspirants?

It gives me an opportunity to understand  the dynamics of Oyo state politics and that is an edge over others. You may say they are technocrats, I am also a technocrat and well educated, I attended  many Universities in  three continents – Africa, America and  Europe. I am more qualified than many of them. I am an expert in development, I am also an expert in public administration, so I should have perfect knowledge of Oyo state tomorrow more than those who have a faint knowledge of the political economy of this state . I am an expert in governance.

Obviously you are close to Governor Abiola Ajimobi , but there is an impression that the governor deliberately instructed some of you to join the guber race so as to add credibility to the primary he planned to stage manage to favour his anointed candidate. What’s your take on this?

As far as I  am concerned,  the governor did not ask me to contest, he didn’t ask me to do so and as much as I know this governor,  he wouldn’t ask you to go and do anything that you have no interest in. I have been piloting my own political career in the past decades, about two decades now  and I know the right time.

I was waiting for this time. In 2003 people came urging me  to contest and I felt it  was not the right time, but this is the time for me to do so, this is not about Governor Ajimobi using anybody to  put credibility on any process, Governor Ajimobi himself is an eminent democrat, the  man who believes in the progress and development of this state and the man who believes that whatever you want to get you must work for it so, if you think everybody in the cabinet are coming out and he is doing so to put credibility to the process, that is not true.

I am a serious candidate, I am in this for seriousness, I believe in Oyo state and  I have the capacity and the capability  to take Oyo state to the next level. I am part of the current process and I want to sustain this legacy and build on it to make this Oyo state an envy of all. I don’t know of other colleagues who are in the cabinet, I don’t know what has prompted them but I am saying that it  is not the governor that is prompting me.

Governor Ajimobi will go for the best, he knows what is good for the state and he will realign himself with whatever process or candidate that will make Oyo state greater and I can say that I am fit for that position.

Considering the inexhaustible number of aspirants jostling for the party ticket, do you have any alternative plan (s) in the event of not picking the APC ticket?

I have come a long way in politics, since 1979 to this time that is about 39 years now. Let me say it categorically here that it is only God that enthrones a leader. You cannot force yourself on the people. David was somewhere in the bush attending to the cattle when  the prophet demanded that he should be the one to be ordained as king, it is God who ordains King, HE is the one that will make a governor or a president at the appropriate time.

If it happens  that I don’t get the ticket , I will not leave the party, and I will not abandon  Governor  Ajimobi. I am one of his disciples, and I am a very prominent member of his political caucus, I am not going to abandon him just because of  primary election, I am going to work  very hard to get the ticket, and I am sending a message to the party members that I am a party man, I am not an outsider, I am an insider.

I know where we are  going, I know where we are coming from, I know where we are and I should be the best , if God decided that I should be, I will also thank God  if he decides on the other way. I will thank him and carry on with my life in the party.

If you eventually emerged as the governor of Oyo state what will you do differently from what others have been doing?

Every regime is different from the other, but if I becomes the governor, I will pay more attention to some issues, particularly in driving the economy of this state. We must take this state from the level of a civil service state to an economically buoyant state, there are many sectors of the  economy that we must touch to bring  about life into this state, we must look at agriculture, not  the  basic one, but  we must look at Agric and  its value chain, Agric business, not just the planting of crops alone. But we must look at agric as a business that must grow this economy, we must also look at sports  it can help in bringing about a developed economy.

When you look at Brazil, some forty, fifty years ago, Brazilian’s economy was in shamble it was soccer that was used to develop its economy. Today, the Brazilian economy has so much been diversified.  We must organize an integrated economic approach in the development of Oyo state and we must look at all the critical sectors. So, my major agenda that I will purse as governor is to take Oyo state economy from this level to the level of high productivity and specialization.

The level that  unemployment will be reduced to the bearest minimum, the level  of bringing  in new technologies into production activities in Oyo state and you must lay down the policy to do  that , you will see that in my economy blueprint. In the same way I will look at the social sector and ensure that it is well organized, the educational system that we are running today needs a new impetus, this current  governor has initiated the policy of School Governing Boards (SGBs)  which is now helping in management of the secondary schools now. I will go beyond that level,  we must make our school IT  and Technology based so that our children can compete anywhere in the world . We will organize primary education in such a way that even if a child terminates his education at the level of secondary school he can still use his life in a good way . I will bring about science and vocational education, and ensure that vocational education is affordable in such a way that people will have to learn one trade or the other which will prepare them for self employment .

The health sector in this country, not only in this state is actually in limbo, that is why health tourism is common, all over Africa what we are going to do is to modernized the health sector, we must work in partnership with the private sector to lift up the health sector.

University College Hospital, Ibadan (UCH) is a little bit better than what the ministry described as a mere consulting clinic in those days and in our hospitals we have the doctors, but do we have equipments, are the facilities not decay? Even our doctors, are they having the opportunity of training and retraining, we don’t have  we must look at the health sector and collaborate with the private sector so that we will be able to uplift the sector. And now that Governor Ajimobi has been kind enough to bring about the health insurance, that health insurance must be perfected in such a way that the hospitals will be able to survive.

What is  hampering the hospital is the shortfall  of cash. The scheme  when popularized to  the grassroots it will  generates necessary funds for the management of the hospitals and not only that, our budgetary allocation to the  health sector must be increased, when you do that you will now be able to start afresh, build more hospitals, yes we have had a number of primary health care centres  but we must build secondary health care centres. I want to have a collaboration with investors in the health sectors, turn it to money making avenue if properly organized. People don’t have to go to Israel, London, Germany and if they have kidney problems , Liver problems or cancer, they should be able to treat it here, we must set up first class specialists hospital in each zone of the state , that means seven first class hospitals in Oyo state and that will happen within my first term in office as governor of Oyo state and with that we will be able to make more money through health tourism and it will earn us a lot of foreign exchange, that is  part of our integrated economic approach.

A prominent PDP governorship aspirant, Engineer Seyi Makinde recently alleged that  Oyo state is heavily indebted, and that the present economic reality which is dwindling in the price of oil  is one of the limitations that hinders development and  if that were to be true how do you  intend to raise funds to execute these lofty ideas?

Let me start with Seyi Makinde’s issue. Don’t regard Seyi Makinde as a politician, he is a philantrophist, he is a man of very little knowledge about politics and its unfortunate that he has hired retired hands to do his PR  and that is why politicians of note have left his party. PDP is a skeletal party now, its in carcass,  it is a political dead end for people. PDP is not meant for people who are serious about politics, the guys that are serious about politics  have moved out of that place.

Some of them have come to us and some are still coming and  I am saying it because  what information does Seyi Makinde has?  The moment I gets the ticket, the PDP will be depopulated, many of their people have promised me that they are going to leave the party  once  I gets the ticket.

Governor Ajimobi is a first class public and financial manager, he has managed the economy of  this state  very well. He is not owing one year salary. At the beginning of  January 2017, Ajimobi was owning about 8 month salaries as of today, he is owning July salary, kudos to him. That shows  sound economic management  and he has not borrowed money to pay salaries and look at all the infrastructures  that is going on in the state, he is managing the resources of the state without  borrowing money and  I want to challenge Seyi Makinde to let us know which money was borrowed. This guy is calculating bail out funds, he is a political illiterate who doesn’t know  anything  about governance.

That is why I am saying, it is not about people having money, people think  being a billionaire is a qualification for leadership, its not. Any idiot can become rich, but not just any idiot can become a leader, you have to be intellectually and politically endowed to lead , if you want to make such an allegation, you must do your research. I want to see his evidence, the debt management of  the presidency  is there, no state  borrows money without the approval of the DMO that is working under the ministry of finance and that place is open. Don’t  forget we have a  freedom of Information act that is operational, why is he lying to the people of Oyo state? He is playing this old politics that they used to play in those days, telling lies  like they do against Akala, Ajimobi, they are still telling it again and the people of Oyo state are tired of these lies. Any politician that want to  convince the people of Oyo state must have his facts . Ajimobi has managed this state efficiently  and effectively and I think he has done well.

This is not a banana state , this state is not indebted  as far as I know, the bailout fund was given to all states in Nigeria. The  Federal government considered it as a loan and you are calculating it as a debt . These guys should go back, face their philanthropic businesses and leave politics to those who are interested in public administration and who have an understanding of the system.

Remember I said Agric Business should be  our major focus. As commissioner for Agric  in this state  I increased the revenue to this state from forestry. Forestry is a major and very significant source of income for any state that is interested and we planted ticks and oil palm plantations. My vision is to expand the scope of economic activities to generate more revenue . The oil is improving but the major source of income is Agrciulture, the  other economic activities that will bring so much money here is solid minerals. Oyo state is highly endowed, in places like Itesiwaju and parts of Ibadan, the government can go hand in hand with private companies  and invest in these sectors .

The post INTERVIEW: Seyi Makinde is a political illiterate – Oyo APC guber aspirant, Thomas first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post INTERVIEW: Seyi Makinde is a political illiterate – Oyo APC guber aspirant, Thomas appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.