₦airaland Forum

I don't waste my time reading negative comments.

just skip them

Jay Jay has been our hero for over 10 years

Soccer in Nigeria has been built around him.

He is the bench mark,

Every up coming mid-fielder will be compared to him.

Brother it is time to chop Oil money like the guys in the NNPC.

Congrats man.

kitaun:
why should any one come to the conclusion that mikel obi is the only light in the tunnel for naija ? so what about those other fantastic U-21 guys like taiye taiwo,dele adeleye,steve apam,john owoeri,isaac promise etc all good guys in their various depts

having a magic in our National team is Key. Our success in football has been built around Okocha, now he is retired

who do you think is going to take over

As of the moment, Mikel remains the future of Nigerian Football, he is the only light in the tunnel.

I wish him the best in his career, if it is good for him, it is good for Nigerian Football, and in turn good for us all.

Dora, you are good to go for Presidoe

I think she is alright, strong, tested and trusted. Unshakable.

We need a leader that will lead Nigeria and Nigerians to the promise land.

Create and environment for prosperity.
Seun above the Law, many Nigerians need direction.
They have being wondering in darkness for ages.
Anything goes is not a life.

I was looking for a pick of Pat Utomi and came across this interview done in 2004.




Why businesses fail, by Prof. Pat Utomi, Director LBS
By WALE ALABI
Monday, October 18, 2004
Prof. Pat Utomi
Photo: Sun News Publishing

*
CEO Magazine Index

Whoever compiles any list of Nigeria’s most authentic role models and refuses to include the name of Dr Patrick Okedinachi Utomi simply wants to team up with those who quarrel with success. And because we do not indulge in such, we could not help but go in search of this ‘genius’ who over the years had done his generation proud.

Born February 6, 1956 in Kaduna, Pat Utomi left the University of Nigerian Nsukka at 21; appointed a Special Assistant (on Political Affairs) to President Shehu Shagari at 27; became the Deputy Managing Director of Volkswagens of Nigeria at 33, among so many other enviable things.

A bank chairman (Platinum Bank Ltd), television presenter (Patito’s Gang), lecturer (Lagos Business School), image maker (Patito Communications) and businessman (Utomapp Holdings), the lavishly-intellectual husband of Linda Ifeoma, a medical doctor, a proud father of five opened up to us.

A lot of people look up to you as their role model. Who do you look up to as your own role model(s)?
There are very many number of people I look up to as role models. One of my great role models used to work a glass door away from me, Dr Christopher Kolade. He is a person I have very high regard for.
I am also a very good admirer of Dr Michael Omolayole. Also in terms of how he applies his great intellect, I am a great admirer of Dr Pius Okigbo. The wonderful thing is that I have had the privilege of interacting very closely with all these people. Knowing them very closely re-enforced those views I have of them.

As a young boy, what was on your mind? What is it you wanted to become?
I have to remember because I dreamt of becoming many different things (general laughter). I always wanted to stretch the limit of the human imagination. But one thing was very clear. I always wanted to do things that would affect people, to make a difference in how people see the world.

When I was in high school, we were always hearing about flight of fancy and I have a friend who went to flying school in America and they came back to tell stories of their exploit in flying under two years in Florida. So I wanted to become a pilot.

At a point in my career, I wanted to be the ultimate media mogul, to have interest in broadcasting, veering into newspapers. To build and run a huge empire, a media empire. And at a point I wanted to be a priest, I was brought up a Catholic altar boy. One of my classmates is now an archbishop at Onitsha.

What’s his name?
Archbishop Okeke, I just came back from his hosting my class.
So, how did your childhood go? What fond memories of your childhood do you still carry with you?
Waking up at 5.30 in the morning as a 9 year-old and riding the bicycle to school
At a point when your mates were writing application letters you were already an adviser to one of our leaders, the Vice President. How would you describe your experience?
It didn’t seem extra-ordinary. It didn’t seem out of the way. I’ve gone to graduate school in the States and when I was in graduate school I picked up a role model. I’m talking about a role model again. There was an American called David Stalkman, he was at a time a 33 year-old young man and a budget adviser to the Reagan cabinet that had just come in.
I though at the time that’s something I’ll like to do. Become budget adviser younger than David Stalkman. Finishing my Ph.D at 26, by the time I’m 33 I thought I’ll make it.

I had great ideas about how you could seize government in terms of ideas, change the world because of it. I had such great dreams when I came home, and I was priviledged to have journalism skills to air my views about the world and my hope about how the world should be structured.

I suspect on account of those, I was invited by the Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme to do some work for him which I did. And for two years I heard nothing of it. I did a job as a consultant on public policy, and so I just got an assignment. And a couple of weeks later I got invited to his home and just as if he was talking in passing he said the President had just approved your appointment. You are going to replace Dr Odinigwe and I was like oh, really?
How was it like to be so close to the powers that be, or to be so close to the corridors of power at such a young age?
It didn’t make any difference to me at all. Come to think of it, I just felt it’s just another job.
At another point in your life you were also running Volkswagen. How would you describe your sojourn there?
It was interesting. Again that’s one of those things that happens almost by accident. My life has been full of accidents.

A coup took place and I left government. I was trying to re-engage and build two businesses. One in the management and public policy consulting area and the other one in communication. And I was head-hunted, as they say in the business, to come to Volkswagen. The consultant who head-hunted me was the late Folusho Longe. And I’ve told the story so many times of how I met Folusho Longe who was looking for someone to go into Volkswagen who had both managerial capacity and an undertaking of corporate affairs because they had internal problems.

Meanwhile, I though I was going to stand as a consultant to the company but somehow Folusho Longe convinced me. Sometimes I used to say to him jokingly that he tricked me into Volkswagen.
When I got there I had no plans to spend more than two years. But what Longer said to me was, ‘you know you are freelancing your way through life. Okay, people say you are doing things well. You are doing this, you are doing that, but you don’t have big company experience. Go and get big company experience’ So that was the trick that led me into Volkswagen hoping that I would spent two years getting big company experience and returning to build these businesses.

The Volkswagen M.D the German (who hired me) and I were exchanging views before he left, and he looked at me and said, it hasn’t occurred to me I would be the first Nigerian to run this company. Wow (general laughter).

So, somehow that was the first indication that I might spend more than two years at Volkswagen. His immediate replacement came t a time when the company was trying to hire a deputy managing director. And he encouraged me to apply ad I just told him that look I’m not qualified to apply because the advertisement said that nobody under 35-years of age need apply. And I was 32 years old, the man just said apply.

I applied to the consultants. Incidentally, Dr Michael Omolayole was the lead consultant. That was how I became deputy managing director for Volkswagen, and I ended up doing the job.
Before the Presidency went public with the list of its ministerial nominees, those who eventually became ministers, you were one of those tipped for ministerial appointment. Was there any discussion between you and the government, based on that?

People were just speculating. I was not in any discussion. Maybe that’s not the correct way to put it. In my work as an academic, one of the things that people who’ve been to my programme would tell you is that I think that membership of the top team should not be a function of intellect or ability or anything. It is a function of whether the people in that top team can share and work together. And I think the President and I both believed that we can’t work together. He knows me well enough and I know him well enough. I would not like to work with him, and I think that he would not like to work with me.
You’ve been involved in a lot of things, pioneering this and that. Why do you think businesses fail in Nigeria?
There are many reasons businesses fail in Nigeria. One of the reasons businesses fail is that people put too much focus on the money and not the value.
Secondly, business is about passion. You’ve got to have the passion that strengthens you to overcome the worst kind of obstacles.

Thirdly, people invest their egos in business. You know this is my company instead of focusing on how you can collaborate to crate values that would ultimately put money in your pocket, and partnerships fail because of that. Businesses also fail because of the value system in our country.

What in your calculation is Nigeria’s biggest problem?
There are many problems in Nigeria. One of the biggest problems is value; value is at the heart of all human progress. People, when they don’t exhibit values of integrity, values of the work ethics, values for the respect for the dignity of the human person.

Everybody has dignity. There’s nobody that is worthless. Everybody has dignity and the man who is sleeping, the poorest person that you see has as much dignity as the wealthiest person but because our society does not respect that dignity of human person, our society is unable to make progress.
If you were to deliver a lecture on how to move Nigeria forward, what would the paper look like? How or what can we do to make Nigeria work again?
It’s simple. We got to have a committed set of people, who believe in Nigeria and are willing to make sacrifices. And they’ll have to be passionate about Nigeria. They should be able to make sacrifice of the self for the good of all.

It’s short sighted, what is happening in Nigeria. Because by the time everybody loses, a lot of people will look at history and how history remembers them. Then they think of a better tomorrow for their children. They can commit towards that in the work that they do. And one day we can have the good life, the fulfilment of having worked for the betterment of the tomorrow of their children, and this will make the great difference.

When did it occur to you to come up with a bank? What are your dreams and visions for Platinum bank?
We had a mortgage bank, a building society called Finacorp, and we just tried to veer a little to see if we could have a partnership with a bank. We didn’t even think we could acquire a bank. If we could find people who are trying to acquire a bank and become part of that group, so that our building society could have access to a bank that is affiliated to help service it.

Then we mentioned it to some of our friends, one of whom was the executive director of NDIC at the time. He said, hey, why don’t you guys acquire one of the banks we are trying to sell. We said, you mean we can. He said why not? Good ones, look at them. We ended up acquiring Nationwide Merchant Bank, which became Platinum bank.

Our vision, our dream for Platinum Bank, has already emerged in some of the comments we have been seeing. T o create a thinking man’s bank. A bank that has a strong commitment to set values, that will create superior value for stakeholders and that will have strong social responsibility trust. And we have young men and women who, with passion, will pursue great values for their customers and through that, enough returns for the other stakeholders.

How about the Lagos Business School, what motivated that?
The Lagos Business School is what we call a corporate work of Opus Dei. Opus Dei means the work of God. Opus Dei is a movement in the Catholic Church and from time to time, members of Opus Dei get together and create institutions, which they partner with people from whatever means. I mean other Christians, Moslems, as long as that institution serves the common good of all.
It serves as the motivation for some members of Opus Dei to initiate the process to found the Lagos Business School some ten years ago. And some of us as foot soldiers began doing some of the early teaching in a one-room, and that room grew to be what is now the campus you see and another in Ajah.

Tell us about Patito’s Gang. How did you come about that?
Yeah (laughs), Like I told you, my whole life has been full of dreams and the attempt to realise as many as God’s energy allows. But it’s amazing how I find the motivation for several of the ventures that I’ve gone into.

I met these groups of young people who are looking for jobs. I usually say to them, look, if you keep going around, you may not find a job but if you are willing to work, I can make an idea available to you, take it along. Usually, many times I will, if they are enthusiastic enough, put the idea on the table, put some few naira that I may have and ask them to go out and prove that they can do something. I started a lot of businesses like that. The same thing happened to what is now known as Patito’s Gang.
Are you in anyway interested in politics? Would you ever contest for an elective position?
There are friends of mine that have told me for years that I’m a coward. That I don’t want to run for office. But I tell them I’m not a coward, I can run for office but what I see, this obsession with power means absolutely nothing to me. But that does not mean I have any problem running for office any day. I won’t be apologetic about it at all.
So, I’m not planning to run for anything right now. But I have nothing against running for office.

A lot of people see you as a genius or a whiz kid. How does it feel?
Go and ask my classmates from high school, I was not a serious student. I think people have been kind to me; they’ve given me more than I deserve. I’m just trying to do the much I can, and do it with as much passion as I can muster. I’m far from being a genius. I can still remember one… the headline of a newspaper in 1987 or something. It was like a 3-page pullout. The title was, “I’m I a genius. I said no”; I am certainly not a genius.

The world belongs to the average. There are more average people in the world than geniuses. We are the majority; we are the average people. And I’m a very, very average person. And I think it’s important to make that point for a lot of people who think oh, it’s about being a genius.

Apart from god’s grace, what do you think has gotten you to where you are?
No, I mean, I’m not unmindful of the fact that I work hard. That’s a basic fact.
I work hard and I enjoy the generousity of people who have been generally kind to me. I respect people; I care about people so I tend to relate very well with people.

Would you say you’re fulfilled as it is now?
Oh yeah, absolutely. I’m fulfilled. I believe one of the most important attributes to have is contentment. I would have been very fulfilled if I still lived in my favourite neighbourhood in Surulere.
When I was growing up, I lived in Surulere, I lived in a close called Eric Moore. And I’ve not been there for years.

To live in Eric Moore Close and I was some middle level manager in some multinational company, I still would have been very fulfilled.

So, what ‘s your greatest wish in life?
Some day, one would live in a society where people would respect each other that they can collaborate together to create a much better society. One of the reasons Nigeria is not making progress is because of lack of respect for one another, by speaking different kinds of languages like ethnicity, this, that, that.
I love the day when bringing out that green passport attracts respect rather than what it attracts today as you and I know.

You told us you have excelled in almost all your set out to do. Tell us which one that you set out to do and didn’t excel in?
There must be dozens of them. It was never my dream to play better football than Segun Odegbami but at least, the little effort I made must have been disaster. (general laughter).
I must have started several things that failed. People always see the ones that go well.

Who is your most illustrious Nigerian?
That’s a tough one; there are a lot of illustrious Nigerians even in the midst of all our shortcomings. A lot of people who live abroad, working very hard to distinguish themselves.

Phillip Emeagwali was my contemporary by the way, in high school; I respect people like that.
On the home front, my schoolmate, Festus Odimegwu, Nigerian Breweries. Festus is possessed (general laughter).

We were in the same hall at Nsukka and he’s been that way since. Festus has done very well, really illustrious. He works really hard.

I’m trying to move towards the new generation now. I respect and admire the young men who are taking control of Unipetrol. Wale Tinubu, Jite Okoloko and Mofe Boyo. Yeah, I think the clarity of their vision in knowing that they can tap into their resources to create value out of nothing.

What do you do at your quiet time?
Quite time is either praying time or….

When you are not doing anything?
That’s a very difficult time to find you know. But when I’m not doing anything, I spend time with my family.

Can you tell us about your family?
My wife is a consultant orthodontist; she’s a lecturer at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, with five beautiful children.
Can you tell us their names?
Isioma, Patrick, Samuel Anthony, I call him Samtee, Nonye and Claire. We do things together; it’s a close-knit family.

Can you tell us how you met your wife?
It’s a well-told story. I just came back from the States in 1982 and a friend of mine was dating a final year student then in Idi Araba. And that final year student had a roommate and we ended up marrying those roommates. (general laughter).
What the name of that your friend?

Tony Nnacheta
How do you see yourself, how would you describe yourself?
A person who’s been fortunate, who does not take himself too seriously. He takes all the things he does seriously but does not take himself seriously.
You read Mass Communication at UNN, how do you see the level of journalism profession in Nigeria?
I have a very interesting relationship with Mass Communication. I started out in that area, then abandoned that area and moved on to other disciplines and ended doing…even though I’ve never worked as a journalist, I’ve probably done more journalism than most people who have worked fulltime as a journalist.

There are times; I am somewhat despondent about the way things are. There are times I’m really amazed at the quality. There are some bright, very, very bright sets of young people who are practising journalism today. Most of them write columns. Very, very bright extraordinary columns.

Like who?
Waziri Adio. Bright, focused young man and there are so many of them. Unfortunately, the part I don’t see enough of is good quality opinion writers, good quality reporters that can research for a story and be respected enough by sources that can tell them the most important things knowing that they can handle the materials rights.

We don’t see enough of that. I think part of the problem is that a lot of people use journalism as a stepping stone. They come in, by the time they get anywhere near good enough, they are gone into public relations, banking.

What would you say is the saddest thing you’ve ever read about yourself in the papers?
I think journalism has been very kind to me compared to what I’ve read about other people. But also, there are some things that’s been written about me that’s not true.
Like where they super-imposed your photograph and you had to write a rejoinder, right?
Yeah, that was the ultimate. Friends started calling from everywhere. Then had to call the publisher, who was not aware of what was done? And when I first called him he said, "Oh boy, see where your eye go!’ (general laughter). When I told him your people doctored the photograph, he said no way. No, that’s not possible. Yes, I said they did.

The person whose boobs I was supposed to be looking at I’ve never met in my life. He said what? He called the managing director and said he wanted the editor suspended blah, blah, blah.
It’s really sad. But it’s just that many, many people believed it’s something I’ll never do. For they have a certain view of what I can do.

We know you read a lot of books, which one stands out? The one that had a strong impact on your life?
There’s no single one. Many books have influenced my thinking. But among the most influential ones, the two volumes, Lin Gua Yan, The Singapore Story and From Third World to the First by the former Prime Minister of Singapore. Also enormously influential are books by Stephen R. Covey. There’s one, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Also of considerable influence in my world view are the biographies of great business leaders. There’s Jack Welch, Morris Gesner Jnr.

Gomer,

Just stop telling how had it is to run an office, When you have a square peg in a round hole what do you expect,

It is like saying it is hard for a Police man to do his job right, hard for a teacher to teach well, hard for someone to cook well.

If you are not good for the job, you should find a way of making yourself better, or look for another job.

I work with people everyday, I have managers, they have managers. Leadership is about Managing people.

That could be the hardest thing to do on earth, but if you can do that then you shouldn't be in leadership position, it is that simple.

People just contesting for election to go and steal money is what we have all over the country. They don't know what they are getting into. When they get there they mess up. They have no plan than to enrich themselves, who pays the price the common man on the street does.

By choice I will love to be in Nigeria, but right now you could die trying to do the right thing. We need a man of character.
Unbiased, non tested. New with no political affiliations. Not connected in anyway if you know what I mean.

MY2cent,

There is nothing to fear than fear itself,

I was in Nigeria 1999 and I did not vote, same happened in 2003.

I felt it was a waste of time, what is happening today in Nigeria tell it all.

If Pat wanted to be like the others it would have been easy for him every easy.

The man have chosen his own life style, and it is the right one. He is the host of a TV program that

analysis the situation in Nigeria. I think he should be given a chance. Anything can happen doesn't mean we should give it a try. If i could see the future I was have confirmed the best person to make the president of My beloved country.

All I want is to return to my country and be given an opportunity to serve my country to the best of my ability and an environment to be able to do just that.

pat is a successful business man, to be one you have to be a good leader, putting round pegs in round holes.

I think he is the man, If I will have faith in a man, I have faith in Pat Utomi, before this man came forward I was willing to dance with Maruwa, but I knew he is action mixed share the money kind of guy. He did just that in Lagos.

This guy has contacts in the international business world, he knows the importance of social infrastructure as a way to attract investors. Yes he is an intellectual, but he is a successful business man, hence a good leader. He has not associated himself with this government that proves something to you.

I have been his fan since 1996, then I just admired his views about the indices about the Nigerian economy. Being a good president is about commanding the respect of your followers not but force, intimidation or by play tricks, he commands respect.

I believe that Pat is the man that will bring most of us willing to return back home, that is if we plan going back soon.

Pat Utomi is a Business Man,

Started and Own the Lagos Business School

BusniessDay News Paper,

Platinum Bank, think they have changed the Name. These are the ones I know.

He is a man of Character.

When I was in Nigeria years ago, NTA chase him around for his opinion on economic issues.

I have hope in the guy more than I have in anyother person contesting for the Leadership of Nigeria.

Men and Women of this great country wake up, the dawn is here, and our messiah is around.

When I read comments I see a generation with no hope, more like the devil I know is better than the devil i don't know.

Most times you meet a successful businessman, you meet a good leader, For sure Pat utomi is associated with a lot of successful investments in Nigeria. I am sure he is not coming for the Money, the much he has I have not seen him showing off. How many Prof's have made the kind of mark he has made. LBS, the best business school in Nigeria. This is where all the executives in Nigeria go for Knowledge.

This is the man that will bring Hope to Nigeria, and please stop mentioning Volkswagen, Producing a car in Nigeria is a failed dream, we can only assemble cars down there, and the Tokubo market makes it less competitive. Their is no light, no movement of technology. How do you want to the man to do the magic. Peugeot is alive today because of the FG, and Anammco because of Moluwe and FG patronage, will you buy a new beetles.

I will support change for the better, and for Now pat Utomi offer it. We don't need an experienced politician, we need a leader with a heart and that is ready to serve Nigeria and the Nigerian people.

I am an Igbo man, i really don't care where the next president comes from, as long as is a man has the heart to move this Nation forward against all odds. A man that can bring hope to the people and can make people believe in him.

A man of character, wisdom and Full of Action. He could come from anyway, but puts Nigeria before his Tribe. As a President his is neither a Yourba, an Hause or an Igbo. He is a Nigerian.

I have not read that National Anthem in years, their are alot of strong words in that anthem man.

That was a dream, their where two many dreams in that anthem, I think it should be reduced to that we can live up to it.

As for pat Utomi, he is just a dream too, until he get there, I can not say if he is the Messiah. Me am not a prophet.

Before you have a dream you have to first sleep.

Nigeria has no dream/dreams, just leaving the life is what I will call it.

I think the dream now is who will save Nigeria and find us right track to move on(Pat Utomi).

For now their is no dream.

No dream for light (the only person that had a dream said we should wait till 2056"God forbid"), no dream of good health, quality education, employment,job creation, no road, no food for the common man, no water to drink.

The Nigerian dream for now should be providing the basic things of life.

I am love with any chic with a nose piercing which has little spot gold which blends with nose skin level. it is really cute.

Sorry i have not replied this since to tell you what has been going on.

There are too many screws behind the laptop, and I don't want to mess things up. So am leaving it will send for repairs if things get worst.

Mamaput, what is cooking.

Only the formular is what you need to get the answer right in a maths question

find x

That is a good piece of information Seun, I mention something about cross management. You can see the changes that are about to come in just about a month in the office.

Up Ngo.

Land-rover

wrist-

are you sure about the income you stated, I think Ngo's salary is $250,000 annually. where did you get your figures from.

free pu**y

suck

No I don't expired last year. I call the company and the said i will pay 50 pounds deposite.

Good yarns Consultant.

Well for me cheating is out of it. When I was serving NYSC, i was one of two corpers that will not allow cheating in the hall.

For me exam is a time to write what you know, I don't enjoy failing students, but i have to use the result as a feedback to know that my students understand me or why they don't understand me. Well I did give them bonus marks to get them to pass.

When I was growing up I was one of the last students in class, my dad didn't understand why I shouldn't well in school, my mum was very supportive.

But I think you have to understand why your kid is not learning fast enough, and try different methods of helping him.

In a class of 36 in my primary school, I will usually be in the Last 6. Well I  pass.


Everyone just thought that I wasn't smart, Well the first time my teachers met me they thought otherwise and where surprise to see me bottom end of the class.

I struggled through my studies till I went to boarding school in My SS1.

That was the best year of my life, the turning point in my life.  That was the year  I finally failed. I wasn't told to repeat, I was adviced to look for another school. I failed so much that my principal thought that I should look for another school.

Well my dad, encouraged me to repeat which I didn't have a problem with and made me promise I wasn't going to fail.

The fear of failure has brought me so much success today, I made a 2.1 in mathematics in my Uni, in a class of 64 they where only 6 of us.


I discovered that I don't concentrate in Class, so i have to read on my own. I can't concentrate for a long time so I try to manage my time effectively. You could see me going to the library, and an hour later am out. I change reading rooms, classes so that I can always get a fresh start to concentrate, well with maths it wasn't much of a problem you have to concentrate to get the right answer.

All parents please don't distroy the next generation, primary school common entrance I heard that they do expo these days.

You are only going to deprive the child from gaining Knowledge that he will need in the future.

Give the Kid the confidence he needs to succeed, set him achievable targets and give him a prize any time he meets the target.

My fathers motivation changed my life, your motivation can change your kids life too.

2 face

black

the operating system is XP

mean while cleaning the fan will involve unscrewing the Laptop. maybe I should have even mentioned the make

It is a Toshiba satellite pro,

I only have a few pages up and listen to music with my messenger. I don't think that is much.

Thanks for the Ideas I will try them out and inform you if they work.

lover- girl

X-

There is a New problem to solve,

My Laptop shut down on it own, this occurs when I have too much programs running at the same time.

I hear the fan blow with a high sound before the Laptop give up on me. It is very annoying especially when you are doing something that is timely.

It doesn't give any error message, no warning, just goes off like NEPA.

Please any Idea on what I can do.

iice:
@ idiot, thats hilarious oh but i guess if u'r really in a tight and loving relationship u'l just know esp if ya a woman, its called woman's intuition lol

iice, men got that intuition too, if they are really in love, what i don't like is a man finding out that his girl is cheating on him and believing that she will realize that no one can love her the way he loves her and waiting for her to come back to him. It disguest me.

cutie girl


sun-

phone-me

sleep-

mad-girl

golden

taco-deco


miss-