By: Olaniyi Eniola
The Large Lecture Theatre (LLT) was filled with a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation. The students seated in the audience were eager to hear from Dr. (Esv) Makanjuola Ojewumi, a renowned leader and expert in the field of estate management and chairman of the popular Jericho Mall.
The dean of the faculty, Prof. Eze Nwokocha, took the stage and introduced Dr. Ojewumi with a warm and welcoming tone. He spoke of Dr. Ojewumi’s many accomplishments and the impact he has made on the lives of countless young people. The dean also emphasized the importance of leadership and the role that youth play in shaping the future of their country.
As Dr. Ojewumi approached the podium, the students erupted in applause. Dr. (Esv) Makanjuola Ojewumi urged Nigerian youth to step up and take charge of their country’s future. He reminded them that they have the power to make a difference and that Nigeria is a country with a lot of potential.
Dr. Ojewumi began his speech by saying that Nigerian youth are the leaders of the future. He said that they have the energy and the passion to make a difference in their country. However, he also warned them that they need to have the right attitude towards Nigeria and believe in its potential.
“It’s easy to not take Nigeria seriously,” he said. “But it’s not a banana republic. It’s a serious country.”
Dr. Ojewumi then went on to talk about the importance of leadership. He said that Nigerian youth need to be leaders and they need to step up and take charge when needed.
“We need young people who are not afraid to speak up and fight for what they believe in,” he said. “We need young people who are willing to make sacrifices for their country.”
His first point was You Are the Future of the Country and You Have the Energy (The power of Youth)
Dr. Ojewumi urged Nigeria’s youth to step up and take charge of their country’s future. He reminded them that they have the power to make a difference and that Nigeria is a country with a lot of potential.
One of Dr. Ojewumi’s key points was that Nigeria’s youth are the future of the country. He said that they have the energy and the passion to make a difference. He also said that Nigeria’s youth are powerful because they occupy the life of the country.
Dr. Ojewumi went on to say that the future of Nigeria is bright. He said that Nigeria is projected to be one of the six largest economies in the world by 2050. He also said that the strength of the youth of the country is shocking.
Dr. Ojewumi then compared Nigeria to China and England. He said that both of these countries are experiencing population declines. He also said that these countries are enticing Nigerians to immigrate in order to enrich their own economies.
Dr. Ojewumi then turned to the topic of the economy. He said that about 70% of Nigeria’s economy is made up of young people between 30 and below. He also said that what many people consider to be a difficult moment is actually an advantageous moment.
To illustrate this point, Dr. Ojewumi shared a personal story. He said that when he was young, he went for a youth call in the old Anambra state. He said that he wrote application letters to apply for jobs, but he didn’t get an appointment letter until a year later. He said that when he finally got the appointment letter, he took it immediately and was offered a job placement. He said that things were hard then, but they will be hard now still.
Dr. Ojewumi’s message to us is clear: you are the future of the country, and you have the power to make a difference. Don’t be afraid to step up and take charge.
His second point was Transforming the Youth into Leaders
Leadership is influence. It is how you function with utmost influence. It is your commitment to ideas and your capacity to think. It is your capacity to contribute to certain things.
In today’s times, leadership is more important than ever before. The world is changing rapidly, and we need leaders who can help us navigate these changes and create a better future for everyone.
But how do we become leaders?
He says that the key is to identify your gifts and talents, and then to develop them.
“Many people have gifts and talents that are unexplored,” Dr. Ojewumi says. “You need to discover your gifts and talents, and then you need to develop them.”
Dr. Ojewumi also believes that leadership is not just about having a title or a position of power. He says that leadership can be found in all aspects of life.
“There are leaders in just ‘makeup,'” Dr. Ojewumi says. “There are people who do just photography.” He mentioned his son who studied business and marketing who is now a cinematographer.
Dr. Ojewumi’s message to youth is that you can be a leader in anything that you do. He doesn’t want young people to come to him and say that they wish they were born in a different time. He wants them to embrace the present moment and use their gifts and talents to make a difference in the world.
In his next point, he emphasized on Learning to Identify Opportunities
Dr. Ojewumi discussed the importance of identifying opportunities in Nigeria. He argued that there are many problems in the country, but that these problems can also be seen as opportunities to create businesses and solve problems.
Dr. Ojewumi divided people into two categories: those who see problems as a burden or weight, and those who see problems as an opportunity. He gave the example of a person from India who experienced a poor quality of life. The person wrote back to his company and saw a problem to solve: people wore no shoes at all.
Dr. Ojewumi also shared a personal story about how he missed an opportunity to start a business in Nigeria. He saw the multitude of motorcycles as an opportunity to begin a business, but he didn’t see it as an opportunity until it was too late. Nigeria’s transport system failed and people needed to get motorcycles.
Dr. Ojewumi then discussed the importance of inverters and solar panels in providing solutions to the lack of light in Nigeria. He said that for everything there is a solution, and that perhaps we are the solution in waiting for certain problems.
Dr. Ojewumi also mentioned niche products. He came up with a concept called “computer house search,” which would allow people to pay him so that the computer would bring them suggestions of houses to let. He pursued the idea for a moment, but then he realized that people still need a solution to that problem now.
No Matter Who You Are, or What You Do, Interpret with your Economic Acumen.
Following his previous point, Dr. Ojewumi went ahead to discuss the importance of understanding the Nigerian economy for all Nigerians. He argued that the economy has an impact on everyone, and that it is important for people to be able to interpret economic data and trends.
Dr. Ojewumi began by asking why the naira, Nigeria’s currency, is declining. He explained that there are a number of factors that contribute to the value of a currency, including agricultural production, demand for the currency, and interest rates. In the case of Nigeria, Dr. Ojewumi said that low agricultural production and low demand for the naira are two of the main reasons why the currency is declining.
Dr. Ojewumi then went on to say that there is nothing that does not have an economic impact. He said that everything we do, from the food we eat to the clothes we wear to the transportation we use, has an impact on the economy.
“In economics, when you look at all the areas, it formed the totality of the product (GDP),” Dr. Ojewumi said. “The aggregate of the country gives it strength. The aggregation of everything we produce has a certain economic figure. Interpret things with your economic acumen.”
Find your Calling; Find your Purpose; Find your Niche
Dr. Ojewumi discussed the importance of finding your calling, purpose, and niche. He argued that these three things are essential for living a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Dr. Ojewumi began by defining calling as the thing that you were created to do. He said that your calling is your unique gift or talent that you can use to make a difference in the world.
“Your calling is not just about what you do for a living,” Dr. Ojewumi said. “It is about using your gifts and talents to make a positive impact on the world.”
Dr. Ojewumi then went on to define purpose as the reason why you were created. He said that your purpose is the big picture of your life. It is the reason why you are here on Earth.
“Your purpose is more than just your goals,” Dr. Ojewumi said. “It is about your impact on the world. It is about the difference that you make in the lives of others.”
Locate Well
Dr. Ojewumi began by saying that you cannot locate something in a state that is underdeveloped if its supposed to be in a well-developed state. He explained that this is because there are limited opportunities in underdeveloped states.
Dr. Ojewumi then went on to say that it is important to avoid peer pressure, especially on social media. He said that many young people are driven by peer pressure to do things that are not in their best interests. For example, a young person may see their friends on social media living a lavish lifestyle and feel pressured to follow suit, even if they cannot afford it.
Drive Personal Growth
Dr. Ojewumi began by saying that it is important to not be fixated on one way to make income. He said that you should create entities that you can recreate. This means creating businesses and systems that can generate income for you even when you are not actively working.
“Don’t stay small,” Dr. Ojewumi said. “Drive growth organically and give it time.”
Dr. Ojewumi then went on to say that personal growth takes time and consistency. He said that he has been feeling the same way since he was 24, but he has achieved amazing things through years of consistency.
“Delayed gratification is key,” Dr. Ojewumi said. “When you focus on watching your empire grow, you will be more likely to achieve your goals.”
In response to questions asked by students, he said that, Failure is not an end to itself, it’s a stepping stone to success.
He mentioned how he wrote a 110 proposal for a company and rejected it, but that didn’t stop him. Your ideas will form the basis to attract capital sometimes.
Look for mentors. A mentor will reflect a bit of what you want to become.
The occasion concluded with a vote of thanks by the Subdean, Dr. Olaniyan, who emphasized Dr. Ojewumi’s key points and presented him with an award of appreciation. The event closed with the school and national anthems.
