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L-R: Regional Operation Manager, South,
MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. Saliu Aliu presenting memorandum of understanding to
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Bayelsa State, Mr. Durban Whyte
during the launch of additional 10 MultiChoice Resource Centres in Bayelsa
State held at Saint Jude Secondry School, Bayelsa State.
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IN ORDER to sustain development and growth in Nigeria as well as other African
countries, leaders and people in positions of authority have been urged to
strive at discovering, nurturing and developing talents.
The
Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, during the
weekend in Lagos, gave this advice at the monthly Role Model Forum of the Centre
for Values in Leadership (CVL), where in his role as guest speaker, he shared
his life story and experience with some young people who were participants at
the event.
The
Airtel boss said, “If Nigeria and other countries in Africa are to develop; we
must start developing our people. For development to be sustainable we must develop
African talents,” he also added that “leaders are created and those who are
leaders today must create the next leaders.” As an example, he recalled that
when he was CEO of Coca-Cola in Ghana for nine years, he nurtured three CEOs
before leaving Ghana.
He
shared some of his nuggets of success with the young men and women at the
forum, saying they must focus on goals they desire to achieve and watch against
being arrogant because there is a thin line between confidence and arrogance.
Speaking
further, Ogunsanya inspired the young audience to be prepared and not miss any
opportunity to shine in their career. He encouraged them to always ensure they
are prepared for opportunities that may come their way. As a piece of advice to
some of the participants who are employees, the Airtel boss urged them to be
result-oriented because employers reward results not efforts.
“So,
be focused on what is truly measured, the result. That is the only thing that
will guarantee you success. Mark my words; nobody pays for efforts any more.
Efforts are important but you are only and truly rewarded for the results you
put on the table when you get to certain levels. Of course we talk about
values, they are as important as producing results. When you have values just
make sure the values lead to the results. The results are the only true
measurement of your success,” Ogunsanya said.
Among
other points, Ogunsanya also cautioned that youths should avoid distraction
because in his words, “there are always many distractions, in any endeavour.
Running a business, NGO, family, you must avoid distractions. I call it noise
of the market. If you are going to the market to buy onions perhaps, you will
see someone selling handset, fruits or oranges. If you are not careful you will
buy the oranges and the handset and not have enough to meet your main purpose,
which are to buy onions”.
Ogunsanya
further advised the participants to ignore prejudice as it could hold one down
from making progress; making example of the prejudice that Airtel in an Indian
Company. “Airtel is not an Indian company; it is a multinational company with
Indian heritage. It is actually the fourth largest telecom company in the
world. Of course the company must be started by someone; Coke was started by an
American man. Airtel was started by an Indian man but it has grown beyond its
founder. So, once you are clear about what you want to do, don’t let prejudice
hold you down,” he urged.
His
presentation also briefly narrated his inspiring journey from his Secondary
school days at Mayflower, Ikenne, Ogun State to the University of Ife.
Segun
Ogunsanya is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in
Electrical and Electronic Engineering from University of Ife, Nigeria. He
worked with a consulting firm, Arthur Anderson & Co. in Nigeria, between
1988 to 1992, before joining Coca-Cola.
He gradually transited into senior leadership roles with various
bottling operations of Coca-Cola Company across countries in Africa. He rose to
become the CEO of operations for Coca-Cola in Kenya and few other African
countries before he finally became CEO for NBC Nigeria.
Others
who attended the CVL monthly Role Model Forum were popular TV host/ presenter
of ‘Moments with Mo’, Mrs Mo Abudu; Director, MacArthur Foundation, Africa
Office, Mr. Kole Shettima and former Minister of National Planning and Chairman
Petroleum Product Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), former Commissioner in
Lagos, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi; Director of Corporate Communications & CSR,
Airtel Nigeria, Emeka Oparah; Chief Executive Officer of Blueflower, Chido
Nwakanma and Professor Pat Utomi, who is the Founder and CEO of the CVL.
The
CVL Role Model Forum is a monthly interactive programme where individuals who
have excelled in various field of endeavour share their life experiences and
stories with participants in order to impart values, leadership qualities and
motivate them towards becoming great leaders.
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