How I combined schooling with hawking pap, matches — Elizade University Founder
The Chairman , Toyota (Nigeria) Limited and founder/ Visitor, Elizade University, Michael Ade. Ojo, shares his thoughts with NAOMI CHIMA about the economic situation, the business environment and life in general
In what ways did your childhood shape your perspective on life and success?
I would say in many ways; because I came from a poor family, and my dad had three wives. It was a farming family, and my mother was the first wife. I was the fifth out of my mother’s six children. She had just one female child and five boys. And the other wives had children too. Of the children belonging to the other wives, two of the second wife’s children were older than me.
At that time, my mother was not living with my father. He was a traditional chief. It is not as if they were divorced though. Being that my mother was the first wife with more children, she had to engage in business to be able to train her children. I learnt from my mother how to be busy, and to work hard to achieve anything I wanted.
What motivated you to stay in school despite the financial difficulties you faced?
It was my mum who insisted that I must go to school, because out of my mother’s six children, only the first born was to go to school. My father had an agreement with his wives that he would only train one each of their children. So, I was not expecting to attend school, because my elder brother already got that slot. Aside from that, I was the fifth child of my mother. The last child of my mother also went to school.
You once stated that you suffered verbal abuse from your uncle. How did it influence your determination to succeed?
It was not intended to hurt me, but they were just fond of abusing us. From one’s mother’s side, they would abuse the children of the father’s other wives; and vice-versa children. My mother’s siblings were fond of abusing us, because they knew that my father was poor. He was a carpenter and farmer. And, not many people were rich then.
I was determined to succeed, because I knew I shouldn’t have got the opportunity to go to school in the first place.
How did you manage to support yourself and your family while attending school?
I couldn’t support myself until I was in class two. I was ‘used’ like a girl. I would carry my mud pot, go to fetch water from the stream, and in that way, I was helping my mother do her business and make money. Some people did not even know I was a boy until later on. They said that I usually carried the pot of water very well, and I also tied my wrapper just like a lady. It was later they discovered that I was a boy. So, I was very useful to my mother. I was doing everything that a girl-child would do; except that I did not try to cook. I was involved in my mother’s business. She used to make eko (cold pap), wrapped with leaves and I used to hawk them after school. Whenever I went to fetch water, I would either take my bath or wash my face and my legs, and go to school. Whenever I returned, I would then hawk pap. I also sold match sticks (the ones mixed with kerosene) in the evenings. Then, nobody was able to buy a bottle of kerosene, so we were selling in smaller containers.
Your father was a polygamist, and though it is no longer in vogue, some people think that wealthy men like you should take more than one wife to reduce the number of women without husbands. What’s your take on that?
That is not my problem. If they (wealthy men) have the power, they should go ahead and marry more than one wife. Polygamy has never appealed to me. If I did not lose my first wife, I would have stood with her forever.
How did your time at the School of Agriculture, and University of Nigeria, Nsukka, prepare you for your future business endeavours?
I belong to the first set of business administration students in this country. Our set was the first to study that course at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State. I was a small scale business owner, because when I was young, I usually sold some things before going to school. Even when I returned from school, I would go out to hawk.
What inspired you to venture into the automobile business after your stint with British Petroleum?
At the time I studied Business Administration, it was not attractive to many. But, God made it attractive to me. I had always wanted to run my own business after my four-year stint in the university. I enrolled into the school in 1961, and graduated in 1965. And, when the opportunity came, I utilised it. Remember, I had financial problems while in school. Of his own volition, the then head of department sought to find a solution to the problem of my fees, even without telling me. He approached some companies and told them that there was a boy who was bright, but had financial problems.
So, CFAO Motors Nigeria Limited offered me a scholarship. With that, the problem of paying my school fees was solved. The scholarship started in my third year. When I graduated, I chose to serve CFAO to show my gratitude, because, if not for them, it wouldn’t have been easy for me to complete my schooling. However, they did not require my service then; but, I forced myself (on them).
They said that they gave me a scholarship, and that was all. They told me to go and work somewhere else. But I maintained that I had to show my gratitude to them. In the end, I won the ‘fight’.
I worked with them for about one and a half years. At that time, I told myself that I had learnt enough, and I proceeded to start my own business. That was how I founded Elizade Nigeria Limited.
You were known to be very close to your late wife, Elizabeth. As a matter of fact, the name ‘Elizade’ was coined from your name and hers. How were you able to cope with her demise?
First, let me tell you how we met at Nsukka. We were both students of UNN, but she was a student of History, while I was a year ahead of her studying Business Administration. We met at a fellowship, where she had come with her friend. At some point during the programme, I noticed that the two of them were giggling. But there was a distance between us.
Hardly had they closed the service than the two of them left through an exit farther from where we sat, even though there was an exit close to where I sat. I was just saying to myself that, ‘These girls don’t know who Ade. Ojo is’. My nickname in the university was ‘Ade. Ojo Lumumba’.
After the evening worship, I took the same way they took, and as I stepped out of the church, the two of them were waiting. Then, they said they wanted to see me and apologise, because they believed they had embarrassed me inside the church. They then went on to explain what happened. It happened that they were laughing at a man sitting next to them who was singing the wrong tune.
However, I told them that they did not embarrass me at all. I then introduced myself and we became friends. Eventually, one of them became my wife.
My late wife was a very wonderful woman. She was the Elizabeth of the Elizade Company. When she passed, there was nothing I could do. I had to manage.
At a point in your career, you sought a bank loan but it was denied. How were you able to eventually secure funding to start your business?
Yes, the loan application was denied, but God is wonderful.
I had to be selling few cars until the big one came. God brought a big one of about 15 vehicles, and that was a record in those days.
How did your frugality and prudence contribute to the rapid growth of the company?
I did not spend money indiscriminately. I was very careful. I was not as wealthy as I am now. I made sure I saved every kobo that needed to be saved.
You once stated that education should not be treated as a business. What informed that position?
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I think I was not properly understood. Education is a business; just a different type. Different businesses have their unique ways of being run.
What are your goals for Elizade University, and how do you envision its role in the community it is located and society in general?
It is already helping society and the environment. It is a place worth visiting. The institution will be 12 years old soon. People usually say it is a good university. The primary aim of setting up the institution was to provide quality education. That is we have massive structures there.
Over the years, you have engaged in a lot of philanthropic activities. Which of those initiatives are dearest to your heart?
All the initiatives are dearest to my heart. I don’t do anything that is not dear to my heart. I have loved and cherished every philanthropic deed I have engaged in.
What principles guide your business dealings and personal life?
The truth! Anyone who wants to work with must not lie. If you lie, you are in trouble, and you cannot last (with me). That is one of the roots of my business ethics. Also, you must not steal. Even me, I stole food from my mother’s pot, and I know what I saw when I was caught. Also, it is not that people will not misbehave, but the offender has to admit that he has done wrong, and not do it again.
What do the various chieftaincy titles and awards you have received mean to you?
They all mean much, and nothing. I don’t place too much emphasis on them. I was very reluctant to being called ‘chief’. I had to relearn myself, because I did not want people to call me chief. It looked so big when we started. But, with consistency and constant drilling by my people, I succumbed.
How do you view the impact of your contributions to the auto industry, and by extension, the economy?
I am actually not in a good position to comment on that, because I am involved. It is others who have felt the impact that should talk about it.
What are your thoughts on the current economic problems in Nigeria, especially inflation and the rising cost of living?
What are the economic problems? Inflation and high cost of living. Why do we have those issues? Is it bad governance and leadership problems? But, what about followership? The issues are intertwined. We should all ask ourselves this question, ‘Are you the good girl, boy, man, or woman you are supposed to be’? After that, you should also ask yourself if you are a good father or mother too. To get things right, we have to combine efforts to do good. Everybody has a part to plat. If we all sincerely play our parts well, the problems will be minimal.
How do you hope to be remembered, both as a businessman and as a philanthropist?
I want to be remembered as both a businessman and a philanthropist. How do you identify a good or bad person? By their performance level. Nobody can call you a bad person if they don’t see you doing bad things.
How do you see the role of education evolving in Nigeria, as regards eradicating social vices, especially among the youth; and what part do you hope that Elizade University will play in that regard?
It is not an institutional problem; it is about individuals. It is about what they say; whether they are lying or telling the truth, and doing the duties assigned to them. Everybody is involved. Education is very important.
What is most important is whether you make things easy or difficult for the people you are interacting with. That is the gap Elizade University is filling, and that is what guides everything we do.
You once mentioned that you love to dance. Your 86th birthday (June 14) is less than a week away, where do you get the energy to still dance vigorously at your age?
Do you want to dance now? Do you expect me to dance alone? Do you want me to ask them to get the stereo? Of course, I still dance; it is my hobby. The energy comes from God. He is the one who gives me strength.
What other activities or hobbies do you engage in that keep you active?
Every morning when I wake up, I engage in physical exercises; except if I have to go early to church on Sunday. I love to play football as well.
What are your views on the decision of the government to revert to the former national anthem?
We are deceiving ourselves. It is a waste of time. As far as I’m concerned, there is nothing wrong with the one that was changed, and nothing is wrong with the one changed to as well. Do you think Nigeria will become better if we revert to the previous anthem?
As a seasoned businessman, what strategies do you think can help people to reduce the high cost of living in the country?
The high cost of living anywhere is usually caused by one going for what one cannot afford. Everybody should know themselves, vis-à-vis their capability and capacity. It is always important to cut one’s coat according to one’s cloth.
What policies will you encourage the government to enact to make the business environment in the country more conducive?
I would say they should enact policies that are fair, reasonable and doable. They should be well thought out, and cater to the needs of the people, with clear objectives.
What do you consider to be the most pivotal moments of your life and career?
I have been able to build good friendships that have been beneficial to all. Before I do anything, I ask myself if it is fair to all concerned. At those moments, I am my at my best.
You will turn 86 in a matter of days and have come a long way from your humble beginnings. What is your advice to people, especially the youth, who do not believe in starting small?
If they do not start small, where do they want to start from; the top? The youths should know that is wrong, and there is no gain in it. To achieve something great in life, one must first have a correct assessment of what one wants to do, then work towards it in a honourable manner. You must take things from the heart while you follow your destiny.
