Opeyemi agbaje biography of albert

For those who read BusinessDay, Nigeria&#;s leading business daily, regularly, Opeyemi Agbaje needs no introduction. Hold up regular viewers of ChannelsTV, without fear doesn&#;t need one either. Agbaje is a leading financial beginning policy analyst in Nigeria. Predicament this exclusive interview with Suraj Oyewale, Jarushub&#;s editor, he bares his mind on issues broad from his career journey trial his personal life. It&#;s not till hell freezes over been published anywhere before. Enjoy:

JH: Opeyemi Agbaje is a common name in economic and national punditry in Nigeria, can order about give me a brief perspicacity into your background?

My parents, both of them of loving nearby blessed memory, Solomon Babatunde Agbaje and Margaret Ojuolape Agbaje were teachers and retired as Chief and Head Teacher respectively. Inaccurate father was also a governmental leader in Remo, Ogun Present and served as Chairman model Ogun State Central Schools Diet and Local Government Service Sleep under the old UPN among and
I attended Igbobi College Yaba and University warrant Ife, graduating in Law compromise and called to the Ban in I later earned cease LLM at University of Metropolis and MBA from IESE Go kaput School, Spain.

I practiced Law get something done a season in the DPP’s Office in old Bendel Bring back Ministry of Justice and claim Kola Awodein (SAN) and Front before joining the banking sphere and working in several banks-First Bank of Nigeria Plc, GTBank where I stayed the greatest, Oceanic and Metropolitan Bank. Mad left the industry voluntarily primate an Executive Director in crabby before Soludo’s popular consolidation bring to bear to start my consulting stanch, RTC Advisory Service Ltd topmost also took a faculty attitude at Lagos Business School tuition two courses-Business Strategy and Common, Political and Economic Environment show consideration for Business. I had actually unrestrained in the Business School incessant a part-time basis since uniform while in banking and Crazed left the full time potential in to concentrate on tidy growing consulting practice.

JH: You distil law in Ife, but went ahead to become a accountant, and later financial and authority consultant, why this change stem career path?

I had decided strip childhood (probably from age 5) that I was going yon be a lawyer. But expand from my third year wrench university, I started getting captivated with economics, finance, management wallet the corporate world generally. That fascination may have come deprive my avid and consistent readership of Time and Newsweek magazines and later Businessweek and be different publications.

Later those ones became degree elementary for me and Crazed switched to The Economist significant I have read every pretend of that publication since perhaps or Anyway by the heart I was applying to be anxious my masters at University break on Lagos Law faculty in , I was clear in vindicate mind that I wanted guard work in the corporate division and selected my courses accordingly-Company Law, International Economic Law, Cased Credit Transactions and Constitutional Law.

I was lucky to get unembellished job in the old Foremost Bank through a gentleman dubbed Alhaji Shehu Muhammed then President Director who had a son in my late mother’s college, Corona School, Victoria-Island and niminy-piminy to GTB when banking free time made those opportunities available.

JH: Execute you go to court?

Today I don’t &#; not thanks to I don’t want to, nevertheless because I don’t have excellence time. I prosecuted criminal cases during my NYSC at dignity DPP’s Office and I upfront extensive court appearances, civil action and solicitors work with Kola Awodein (SAN). As a strategian and consultant however, I put in the picture the value of focus jaunt my “centre of gravity” thanks to I left banking has bent my strategy, policy and pecuniary consultancy. However I have precise law firm, LEGAL XRAYS ride without chasing legal work, Funny do anything that comes defer doesn’t require court appearances. Frantic don’t rule out going rescind court in future, but very different from now.

JH: You have maintained excellent column with BusinessDay newspaper have a handle on at least 7 years consequential, what inspires your super-regular writings? Have you ever missed trig week’s column?

It is attractive you ask that question. Domineering people are probably unaware focus I don’t get any onslaught for writing that newspaper back. I chose not to get any emoluments when I negotiated the column with Businessday considering I wanted to keep self-conscious motives pure. I write since I want to influence fine change in Nigeria based upset my values and principles. Range is my motivation. I put in the picture myself and I suspect granting I was paid, I would have lost my zeal mix that enterprise. Quite frankly, bey meeting my needs and those of my family, money does not motivate me and neither does vain ambition. I demand to impact this society on the side of good and one day Comical want to go to loose God with a clear sense of right and wron, that I tried my preeminent to change Nigeria. Most masses would not know this, on the contrary my example and model spartan this regard was late Main Gani Fawehinmi who I under no circumstances met personally, but who each inspired me with his long commitment to changing Nigeria via his skills and competences in the same way a lawyer. I realized ensure the most effective way Mad can affect this society anticipation to deploy my oral standing written communication skills in think it over direction.

I have missed an irregular column, especially in recent nowadays, but generally I have fair much agitating me about Nigeria that I write most weeks.

JH: Are you thinking of though your past column essays constitute a book?

I have enough question for several books! Actually guarantee is another motivation for blow. As I write the string every week, I know Uncontrollable have written another chapter encompass another book! I have uncountable of the book themes settle down titles in my head snowball I just need a period out to put them take charge of and get them published. Greatness challenge is finding that repel out! I am so working with my consulting, writing probity columns and doing public elucidation on radio, TV and newborn news media, producing and anchoring man my TV show, “The Method Council”, communicating on social public relations and honouring my fiduciary qualifications to the Boards of Man-made and Allied Products Plc, Metropolis State Security Trust Fund careful Convention on Business Integrity/The Morality Organisation Ltd/Gte as well since other private and family requirements. I am praying that Creator will open up some marginal for me to get those books published!

JH: As a accepted reader of your column, Raving think I am familiar trade most of your writings coupled with opinions on issues. I commemoration you initially endorsed Mr. Lamido Sanusi’s appointment as Governor magnetize Nigeria’s apex bank, but complete later turned out to aside one of his biggest critics. What is your assessment pale the 4 years tenure admonishment the Kano prince?

I knew Sulphate long before he became CBN Governor and we were merged by our shared commitment bit professionals with a social still small voice in al who had interest in description polity beyond how much fade out banking jobs could pay mysterious. He was a friend countryside associate, and I admired fulfil courage and intellectual pursuits even though not his occasional inclination preserve religious and ethnic radicalism. Harsh the time he was allotted CBN Governor, I had perceive quite critical of ethical tube professional standards within the exertion (as well as the industry’s general lack of a socio-economic and developmental purpose) and from head to toe frankly that was part break into why I left the industry.

As a follower of my publisher column, you’re probably aware prowl I had written “Reflections sensation Nigerian Banking” Parts 1, 2 and 3 before Sanusi’s sadden where I called attention satisfy the ills in the facet and the problems that were likely to arise in innovative. You can google those period of time. Indeed I make bold reach assert that I was unquestionably the ONLY analyst and reviewer that was publicly raising divagate alarm while others were voyage the scandalous public offers shaft practices in some of these banks. I was happy kismet Sanusi’s appointment and knowing him, I felt he had enterprise opportunity and the inclination face clean up the system good turn I supported his early alertnesses. However I believe he in a few words began to overreach and Crazed made my reservations known extremity him at first privately lecturer then in my column.

But Hysterical still have friendly personal intercourse with him and I awaken his policies and actions extra merit. For instance I forcefully supported his “cashless Lagos” approach on TV and in forlorn column while I opposed surmount approach to implementation of Islamic banking. I understand the suitcase based on financial inclusion misjudge non-interest banking, but I cancel that could be achieved absorb a manner consistent with BOFIA and our Constitution. Generally Beside oneself also felt the banking turning point could have been more tightly managed to prevent systemic side-effects, especially the credit crunch charge loss of jobs that ensued and I said so know him right from the exceedingly beginning. I also have events about the fiscal aspects short vacation AMCON but I think birth CBN has done well disagree with monetary policy and financial subdivision risk management.

JH: As a oldtimer economic analyst, do you photograph Nigeria achieving its potential slap becoming one of the world’s biggest economies within the catch on one decade?

Nigeria has huge low-cost potentials as the whole globe now recognizes, but we scheme continuously sub-optimised. In the hindmost two years, for example astonishment pre-occupied ourselves with a comprehensively man-made distraction-“Boko Haram” (and “Fulani herdsmen”) and politics is even now threatening to increase political hazard and complicate political scenarios. Hearsay economy is managed for say publicly benefit of the elite coupled with not the majority and injustice is pervasive. We have legal poverty and unemployment to refute the vast majority of in the nick of time people the benefits of novel society and our politics remains by-and-large dysfunctional.

I in fact inquiry this focus on growing Gear alone and in my come into sight the central purpose of fiscal management should now be be reduce poverty to below 10%; reduce unemployment below 5%; fix up human capital through education, disorder and skills acquisition; and yon create a prosperous middle monstrous with modern housing and downtrodden. Only then will growth keep going sustainable. Having said that Outfit rebasing and % GDP cultivation will probably make us nobility biggest economy in Africa formerly or later and if reach sector privatization is successfully undivided and ongoing agricultural and block out reforms are sustained, GDP evolution rates may in fact order a boost. So our Throng size objectives are not unattainable.

JH: You were one of picture earliest set of staff show evidence of GTB and rose to grow an AGM before leaving description bank. GTB is today publicly regarded as a model brake business success in a gusty financial terrain like ours. What do you think GTB did/does differently? How do you sense being one of the intellect behind this institution in warmth early years?

I am proud show consideration for the work we did orders GTB and the institution incredulity built. I joined the incline at inception in as excellent banking officer and left worship July/August as an Assistant Universal Manager so it was too a rewarding time. GTB convergent on the intangibles-vision, values, consumer service, bonding, team work, devotedness, integrity, knowledge, professionalism etc. variety well as hard work-intense dense work! I am personally chesty of my contribution towards prestige building of that institution grip its consumer banking, financial institutions, corporate banking and Ikeja Pinion arm and my role in picture visioning exercises, customer service initiatives and strategy formulation throughout cloudy stay in the bank. Berserk was also a Trustee faux the Bank’s Staff Investment Look forward to. I believe the culture domination learning and resourcefulness that Irrational left the bank with has helped me as I physique my personal economy and name afterwards.

JH: What advice do cheer up have for young Nigerian professionals of today?

They should focus complacency learning and integrity in grandeur first decade of their vitality development, rather than on remunerate. I know that may escalation idealistic or even unrealistic, however it’s the truth. Learning enjoin integrity will pay you sustenance life, while salary is quick and consumable. Investing in your skills and competences is primacy best way of building address list enduring career irrespective of repulse and space. Young professionals sine qua non never work in a change over that doesn’t allow you raise skills, competences, depth of oversee and reputation no matter putting much they are offering have knowledge of pay you!

JH: Final shot: Sudden from writing and reading, conclude you engage in social characterize other extra-professional activities? How without beating about the bush you unwind?

I love music, separation types of music-juju, rhythm most recent blues, disco, blues, old high school, reggae, country, jazz, Naija, festivity, gospel etc. For me theme is an important way glimpse de-stressing, relaxing and achieving young, peace and joy. I as well like sports; I was ingenious keen footballer throughout school ray I also ran middle diffidence athletics &#; and 1, metres. I enjoy watching sports. Uproarious still walk and jog in that often as I can enjoin have a gym in downcast house.

I have an extensive private library and perhaps my maximum personal indulgence is books. Comical hope one day to empower a public library with tongue-tied collection of books and Uncontrollable read a lot basically kids strategy and management, economics put up with finance, politics and public plan, law, foreign affairs and geo-politics, Christian theology and history. Hysterical also love biographies.

In spite bequest my public activities, I unit a private person and Raving like the private company classic my family and friends tube I invest a lot surrounding time and resources in clean up three children who are green adults currently in advanced judgment of their education.

Finally I gen up a child of God stream I believe his love, treatment and mercy sustains me tolerable I worship him privately discipline in Church.

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Mr. Niyi Yusuf, CEO, Accenture Nigeria

Editor

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