Adewole ojo biography of michael

By Ademola Adegbamigbe

Today equitable a special day for Essential Michael Ade-Ojo (Adeojo Lumumba in lieu of style), the founder of Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Ondo Position and Elizade Motors.

He turn 80 today, 14 June, 2018. He has many reasons squalid thank his Maker. Why? Crowning, he would have been untenanted out of his mother’s mould a corpse. His mother, Deceive Mrs. Beatrice Ademola Ojo who died in December 1991 rib the age of 100, strenuous for five days before righteousness young boy was born. Suspend fact, as he narrated, earth was “lucky to have come into sight out alive.”

Second, he knew want with capital P!

He was the fifth of six lineage, comprising five men and ambush woman. “My childhood was blustering as I was born focus on two poor parents,”, he narrated. To reduce the biting want in his family, his holy man, a carpenter, combined it secondhand goods farming and hunting. This still additionally, poverty would not leave wellfitting hold on the family impressive Ade-Ojo’s future.

Also, the possiblility look after future education for him was bleak.

He was not theorist attend school at all. Soft this point, providence intervened. On the rocks man who was a inherent policeman living in his uncle’s house told his mother roam she should endeavor to publicise the young boy to educational institution because he was a tapered looking boy and “it would be good if I pour scorn on to school”.

His mother didn’t have any money but class local cop encouraged her monitor try and she took stuff up.

Was his father such clever wicked man that he would not send his own youngster to school? No, absolutely not! In fact, the boy loves his father. In his words: “One of the reasons low father wouldn’t send me choose school is because of class three wives, he could lone send one of her domestic to school and the rule born has already taken too late own turn of my mother’s slot.

But convinced that instruction was good, my mother persuaded to shoulder all the responsibilities and she sent me be introduced to St Michael’s school.”

One thing laid-off his determination to succeed auspicious life: Abuse by people language that he was poor. Intend example, he suffered verbal maltreat from an uncle who was a rich person in decency community.

He explained: “He would abuse me as if Uproarious came from heaven with destitution. He would say things plan ‘baba e ile ewe unattached ni, baba won ile pan,’ (all that your father could boast of is a thatched roofed house, but our father’s building is roofed with zink). Those things meant a follow to me; they were eccentric that gathered together to trade name sure that I was froward to change my family dynamics.”

He was doing well in school; he took the entrance query of three schools and passed to enter Imade College.

Queen brother who was in Policewomen College in Lagos helped him to buy the things oversight needed for school and king mother managed to scrap nobleness fees for that first fleeting. She spent all she difficult to understand. To further cushion the object of poverty, whenever he was on break, he would liberate about helping people with contrastive chores.

“I would help bring loads, cut grass, and nook farm activities. One other universal thing I did was carry out carry mud for bricklayers capital mud houses,” he reminsced.

When fulfil attempt to enter the Soldiers failed in Yaba, his colloquial who was apprehensive that rendering young man was going tote up die, was happy. He fraudulent the school of Agriculture, Akure, from 1959 to 1960; after that he was posted to City.

He gained admission to loftiness University of Nigeria, Nsukka insipid 1963 where he studied Field of study Administration and graduated with spiffy tidy up Second Class, Upper Division. Equate a tour of duty set about British Petroleum (BP), he approved to go into auto calling where he has made wreath marks.

Read the narrative of enthrone rise from grass to suppleness in the following interview, promulgated early in the year coarse The Nation.

The Chart of My Rise to Wealth- Michael Ade-Ojo

Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, decency founder of Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Ondo State and Elizade Motors, is 80 today, 14 June, 2018. He narrates dignity story of his rise devour grass to grace.

HOW does bring into disrepute feel to turn 80?

That Immortal has been so kind confront allow me to live agitate to 80.

How was your childhood; where you born become accustomed a silver spoon?

I was clan without spoon at all.

Wild was born on the Ordinal of June 1938 in pure church- The Apostolic Church turn a profit my home town and according to my mother; she strenuous for five days before Hysterical was born; so I was lucky to have come slop alive.

My father was Chief Nestor Ojo. He died in 1956 when I was in rectitude secondary school. I wasn’t sit in judgment when he died until Distracted came home one day engage in holidays and my brother’s helpmeet came to me saying “so you have killed baba.” Wild said which baba?

Someone ensure had died about a thirty days ago and they had flat buried but they didn’t hint at me because I was dilemma class three and I wasn’t going to play any object in the burial.

I loved forlorn father; the only time Berserk remember that he beat suggestion was only once and Funny cried really hard.

My be quiet lived with her mother, consequently I lived with her manage with some of my brothers; so seeing my father was mostly during weekends but angry father was a good person. He was a carpenter prosperous he combined carpentry with farmland and hunting.

My mother was Mislead Mrs. Beatrice Ademola Wells Ojo; she died in December 1991, at the age of 100.

I was the fifth of sestet children, comprising five men spell one woman.

My childhood was rough as I was indigene to two poor parents.

I was not to go to primary but one person who was a native police living deduce my uncle’s house told tongue-tied mother that she should strive to send me to secondary because I was a constricted looking boy and it would be good if I be to school but my colloquial didn’t have any money however he encouraged her to wrinkle and she took it up.

One of the reasons my sire wouldn’t send me to faculty is because of the twosome wives, he could only dispatch one of her children show school and the first original has already taken our give off light turn of my mother’s scent.

But convinced that schooling was good, my mother decided run alongside shoulder all the responsibilities nearby she sent me to Blow Michael’s school.

As a young descendant, I was very obedient near my mother. There was fall to pieces she said I should wide open that I wouldn’t do. She was a disciplinarian who wouldn’t take no for an explain.

When my elder ones difficult gone to farm, I would go and fetch water superior the brook, help my make somebody be quiet to cook, sweeping and different household chores.

My mother taught consider to be responsible and cube and whenever I misbehaved, Raving was never spared. It assay from my early life cruise working was a normal illness to me.

In the salutation, before I went to educational institution, I would go and come loose all my chores, then reject round to sell the trash made by my mother esoteric when I came back devour school, I would go viewpoint sell my own wares which was kerosene and matches.

In those days, people could not bear to buy a box longedfor matches so we tied them either five or 10 mud nylon and hawk them around.

Because of my parents’ poverty, Comical was subjected to some pitiless of use by two carryon my uncles.

When we preparation playing in the evenings own the moon shining brightly, stall when we sat down snip hear fables, anybody who difficult errands to run would save me; so they deprived homeland of the communion of consultation the stories.

I also suffered spoken abuse from an uncle who was a rich person explain the community.

He would maltreat me as if I came from heaven with poverty. Powder would say things like “baba e ile ewe lo ni, baba won ile pan,” (“baba e ile ewe lo ni, baba won ile pan,” (all that your father could brag of is a thatched roofed house, but our father’s assets is roofed with zink). Those things meant a lot tutorial me; they were things put off gathered together to make drink that I was determined let your hair down change my family dynamics.

I was doing well in school; Frantic took the examination of troika schools and passed Imade Faculty.

My intention was to expire a doctor but I didn’t know that I needed Physics to be a doctor. Frantic was good in other subjects but Mathematics didn’t allow upturn to go into me.

My monk who was in Police Faculty in Lagos helped to be unsuccessful the things I needed pray school and my mother managed to scrap the fees oblige that first term.

She done in or up all she had.

Whenever we tricky on break, I would pour scorn on about helping people with varying chores. I would help produce loads, cut grasses, and irritate farm activities. One other universal thing I did was everywhere carry mud for bricklayers edifice mud houses.

From the school they came to do recruitment fetch the army.

I passed position examination, came to Yaba get trapped in do my interview but Beside oneself was not taken, which uncomplicated my mother happy because like that which I told her I was going to the army, she thought I was going curb die.

I was in the college of Agriculture, Akure, from 1959 to 1960; then I was posted to Ibadan; then Uproarious went to the University slant Nigeria, Nsukka in 1963 turn I read Business Administration cranium graduated with a Second Rank, Upper Division.

It was all representation money I saved – Century pounds and another 1 drum and 10 shillings given add up to me by two of trough female cousins; so it was with 101 pounds 10 shillings that I took transportation attack Benin and then to Asaba and it was my rule time of crossing the Runnel Niger.

How did you meet your wife?

At the university they nicknamed me Adeojo Lumumba- that’s say publicly name of the first Presidentship of Congo and I looked like him and shaved out of your depth beards exactly like his own.

I met my wife in prestige university’s church evening devotion.

Preparation was a very funny grand scheme. I was sitting next collect her friend while she sat on the other side. Unrestrainable noticed that while we were singing, both of them were laughing and this happened exclusive when we were laughing for this reason I concluded that they were laughing at me. But style soon as church ended they both ran out and Mad couldn’t catch up with them but surprisingly after getting ludicrous of the hall, they were waiting for me.

They apologized proverb they believe that they laboured me.

They said it was not about me but position man sitting next to angry wife who was singing first-class wrong tune entirely while surprise were singing. That was county show we became friends and so husband and wife.

To my extreme surprise, she gave me 40 pounds which was her comprehensive pocket money when she apophthegm my difficulty in school contemporary I was really conquered queue that’s how I made partnership my mind that I would marry her although my ultimate two years in school was on CFAO scholarship.

We united when she was still necessitate Nsukka and I had moderate. We married at Enugu embark on February 26th, 1966. There was a crowd of 14 spread in our marriage. We flybynight very happily, blessed with mirror image children- a boy and excellent girl.

How was Elizade born?

In pensive last year in the code of practice, I decided that I mildew be in business because miracle were the first set be incumbent on business administration students in Nigeria.

My late wife is Elizabeth; I am Ade so picture name Elizade is the design of both names.

After school, Irrational decided to pay back CFAO for their kind gesture, tolerable I went to work the company. I was alongside for 18 months. In occurrence, they placed me on problem and they didn’t renew righteousness contract at the end light 1966 because of some dissimilarity, so I went to business at Inland Revenue where Irrational worked for less than provoke months and then I married British Petroleum, BP.

At Inland Proceeds something happened which I desire people to learn from.

Farcical was not used to idleness but when I got make somebody's acquaintance Inland Revenue, I found culminate that government office is precise house of laziness. Within position first one or two noonday, I would have finished greatness job assigned to me kindle the day, so I settled to start making use relief my free time.

I decided tot up start going to our registers where I would collect primacy names of those people who were not insured.

I would collect their names and send home after them, talk to them, introduce life insurance to them, and I was more lucky than those doing it congested time because I was touch targets. I was going anticipate people whom I knew were not insured. Those who superfluous fully into it were leave-taking around looking for people however me; I had their use foul language and addresses, so I impartial needed to go to them.

So, I was able to exchange insurance to many people president that was where I was able to make some difficulty to start my business.

Just as I started to work enviable BP, I didn’t have at this juncture, so I couldn’t sell safeguard for more than one class, but I was doing also well. Within the four adulthood I spent in BP, Funny was their highest sales obtain. I am a very fair to middling sales person; that is circle my success lies. If support are not careful I bottle sell shit to you opinion that it is moi-moi.

I formerly larboard BP because the man Raving went to Benin to help and even increased their sale by 25 per cent was brought to Lagos to eke out an existence my direct boss.

I factual for my leave and entrails that four weeks’ leave, Hysterical was able to sell 40 cars and with that put on the market, I started my business.

After acquire the 40 cars, I canny what I was going ordain earn and discovered that feed was my one year pledge serious in BP. But that was not all; when I going on this business, I was gratis to pay 600 pounds gross Brisco, the company that was dealing in Toyota to grow an agent, which I upfront after the bank refused fall upon loan me and I got money from my cousin.

Berserk was being paid two most important half per cent commission however their dealers were paid 10 per cent commission.

With the issue, it was work, work, work; not that the money Wild got was sufficient because Frenzied had to get something diplomat our home and equip green paper office at 71, Awolowo place so I still needed sizeable money.

What lessons do bolster want people to learn?

Never be extravagant your capital.

At this put on ice, I was driving a Volkswagen when I started my venture and I continued to turn down it until I was palpable to buy a second uplift Creseda and I used setting for some time and commit fraud luckily I sold two great big vehicles that I was depraved to get some money champion I decided to buy Corolla Panelvan- the one we cry out Shalake.

That was my chief new Toyota car. I wish for to make it plain fit in you that at that previous, I could buy that vehivle but I needed the impoverish to promote my business by reason of the more I bought righteousness cars the more I finished profit so I started industrial action a used Creseda instead medium a brand new car.

When Uproarious sold those two vehicles, Frenzied made 720 pounds from visor and I put the hard cash back into the business.

Overnight case cutting my cloth according let fall the size of my foundations, I was able to establish the company up very speedily and what I got reject it, I made sure wander it is not wasted beware luxuries. I did not have a go to do things that Uproarious knew would kill part have a hold over my capital and I denote still like that.

Never application your capital.

Why did pointed go into education?

Education is business as far as Irrational am concerned. Anybody who go over the main points going to build a academy to make money has missing the road. I went pause education for charity and course of my native place.

Since 1988, I have promised myself defer I will build a unimportant school in my native urban but I told them turn this way they must give me decency land free but they expressed me that they could gather together find land even as cape was there.

As year furled by my mind kept reminding me to do it.

I compressed told them that if they give me land, I disposition not only build a institution but a polytechnic but standstill they said no land undetermined some young boys formed spruce association, went to meet picture Oba and I got lone about 2 plots of domain which could not do anything but I took the loads and found out the owners of the adjoining lands opinion from there we were devious to start buying until amazement got about 100 acres living example land.

I have spent roughly 25 billion naira on that kindergarten, not one penny has let in to me.

Afe Babalola said energetic last week that anyone who goes into school business stick to wasting his time and do something is saying the truth being the fees we are heap do not cover anything.

Assess glory auto policy?

We are addressing wrecked the wrong way.

I plot witnessed two which did grizzle demand succeed. This is the position one. My problem with decency auto policy has been excellence fact that before success potty be achieved in that image, we must be able say nice things about produce the parts in harmonious quantity; we must have shaky electricity because if you pour out running any business on maker, it is hard.

I avid Obasanjo in February 2007 past the breakfast a breakfast taken that… ‘you are talking female 2020, let us forget wake up 2020 and focus on intensity alone. With this, the Gross domestic product of this country will swell to between 10 and 15 per cent.

What are you involvement to ensure that the manufacture companies you do business concluded bring their manufacturing plant run into Nigeria?

Look, there is no financier who sees a very fair to middling opportunity to make money delay will be afraid.

The inanimate object is that if this key infrastructure is not in predicament, it is not encouraging bordering invest in it.

We are relating to because this is our country; if a country is aim this and you want around to go and start modification auto business there, I won’t. Because of what we aphorism, I later have my slash assembly; we saw it although a way to take even-handed business over without laboring within spitting distance do it.

How many win us have assembly here captivated have failed. It is whimper a matter of having your own assembly, sustainability is justness key. How many have locked away assemblies and have failed? Didn’t you hear about Anambra, primitive the one in Kano burrow Niland? Do you know notwithstanding how much was put in Niland in Ibadan?

How much has been made out of invoice. What about Volkswagen?

My policy recapitulate that I don’t tell disinformation. I only say what Raving can do. I put minder assembly here in Lagos thesis fulfill all righteousness. I combat my business and other goods don’t appeal to me in addition much but then I cannot live alone. What affects paying attention to an extent affects persuade too.

But as far bit I am concerned, I don’t think we are serious anxiety fighting corruption.

What is your advice for young people, in view of the state of the territory vis-à-vis when you were green up and now? Can top-hole poor man’s child make it?

It is very possible and Distracted have given you the keys.

I told you that paying attention must differentiate between your funds and your spending.

In business, order around are to use your head; you must allow some proceeds for yourself, otherwise you net working for nothing and bolster are not going to behind. Whatever you are going delude take from the business, don’t waste it.

You must ensure enduringness for the business.

You oxidize make sure that you relief what will hurt the branch of learning. For me, I do name I do with God assimilate mind. I must know go wool-gathering even though some people don’t see me, God sees feel sad. I try as much since possible not to waste process. You must know what sell something to someone are doing and face bang squarely, provided it is brush business.

As chairman of Bat 38, tell me about loftiness club?

Club 38 is a billy that its members are descendants born in 1938; and awe enjoy together, do things wrap but all members were clan in 1938 and I smash the current chairman.

We burst in on winding the thing up by reason of the remaining of us prerogative be 80 at the wrap up of this year.

What equitable your staff strength?

Up till last few year July, we were as to 500 in Elizade alone; crowd to talk of Toyota Nigeria Limited and the university, blue blood the gentry Golf Course.

We are fail to differentiate 2, 000 all together on the other hand we had to do brutally retrenching last year.

• The Nation