Comrade Omojuwa Olufemi is an educationist, an entrepreneur and logistics expert, who also runs a travel agency and property consultancy firm. The APC chieftain spoke to SUBAIR MOHAMMED on his grass-to-grace story.
What was your childhood like?
It was pleasant, memorable and full of antics. You know, for every child that grew up in Ojo area of Lagos State, you cannot but experience the peaceful nature of the district and especially the serenity of the Lagoon, because my father’s residence is located beside it. My parents taught me the values of life. They taught me contentment, loyalty and perseverance which I have continued to live with. The environment was peaceful and calm. Every child was free to play around without any limitation. And after school hours, we would converge on the Alaworo Primary School, to play football and engage in other sporting activities. I could remember during inter-house sport competitions, I represented my school, Egan High School. My legs never failed me because I must win prizes for my school. I was an excellent runner and football player. Teachers were more than instructors. They played parental roles in the lives of students, unlike today, where we read all sort of unpleasant reports about teachers-students’ relationship. I remember some of my teachers in my secondary school days, Mrs Omobuwajo and Mrs Idowu. They were excellent teachers and mothers to many of their students. They guided us through life and imbibed morals in us. Mrs Omobuwajo later contested for the governorship seat in Lagos State.
As an excellent footballer and sprinter in your secondary school days, why didn’t you consider a career in sports?
In life, all our activities have been predestined. I would have loved to pursue a career in sports especially football and sprint, but an injury ended footballing for me while I had no sponsor to continue in sprinting. My parents were in support of my sporting activities but for the reasons I mentioned, I had to quit.
Can you recall some of the fondest memories of your childhood?
I would describe my childhood as a phase in my life that is filled with morals and wisdom. I was fed with both native and scriptural wisdom. I grew up with parents who have zero-tolerance for disloyalty, immorality and laziness. They frowned at them. I was taught to be respectful, hardworking and to be dutiful to my community. I was taught perseverance in the face of adversity and lack. I grew up in a family with little means but where contentment is an attitude and a way of life. These are the values I grew up with and they mould me into the man I have become today. Talking about memories, I would like to recall a not-too-pleasant encounter with the police while I was a teenager. I fell victim of injustice and unlawful arrest and detention at the hands of officers in Ojo Local Government. I was known in my community as a peace-loving person. So when residents heard about my arrest and detention, it was strange to them.
How did it happen?
I was returning home from Alaba International where I had gone to hustle when I walked into some people fighting. It was a free-for-all. While I was deep in thought as to what could have caused such brawl, some people had invited the police. On arriving at the scene, they swooped on everyone in sight including my humble self. I was locked up in the police cell for three days. It was on the third day, some elders and leaders within the community were allowed to bail me out. I was overwhelmed with the large turnout of people at the police station all because of the good character of my parents. I was made to understand that no act will go unrewarded on this earth. Regardless of who you are and how lowly-placed you found yourself, you will surely be paid back in your own coin.
What effect did the arrest and unlawful detention have on you in your later years?
It brought out the comradeship and activism in me. Importantly, since that encounter, I have sworn to fight for the cause of the browbeaten and victims of injustice. All my life, I have never had any reason to sleep in a police cell, except for when I was unlawfully arrested and detained. And I must say, that picture of me in police cell, till today still replays in my head to the point that whenever I hear of cases of police harassment of innocent citizens and other issues affecting my community, I stand up to it.
Was this responsible for you joining politics?
Basically, yes. Politics, for me began at the level of the CDA where I render community services and empower indigent residents. But I would say I was invited into mainstream politics in 1996 by the current chairman of the Lagos All Progressives Congress, (APC), Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi. This was during the era of Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM). Then an evangelist, he personally came to my father who at the time was the chairman, Community Development Association in Ojo Local Government that I should join politics. Ojelabi alongside Ward ‘A’ chairman, Alhaji S. Alayaki introduced politics to me. He took me to the Supreme League which was the apex political body in Ojo Local Government during the time.
I was the youngest among them and I had the rare privilege of learning the rope from astute politicians and leaders. I was like an errand boy. I ran errand for them while I was being tutored in the practical art of politics. And since then, I have been actively involved in politics.
During the era of Alliance for Democracy (AD), I was appointed the zonal Secretary of my district. When AD metamorphosed to AC, ACN and APC, I have been a consistent card-carrying member of the party. Out of my passion for service to the people, I was driven to vie for elective positions and that did not just start today. It started during my undergraduate days at the Lagos State University, LASU when I sought the office of the Welfare Secretary of the SUG. But I later stepped down for a course mate called ‘Bebeto’. After the experience, I have aspired for the councillorship and chairmanship positions in Ojo Local Government. To God be the glory, I am where I am today.
From politics to entrepreneurship, how did the journey start?
Again, like politics, I started business during my undergraduate days at the university. I engaged in the sales of electronics and fairly-used goods. I would go to the popular Alaba International market to buy used TVs and other electronics and I would send them to Ondo State and other South-West states to customers who had ordered for the items.
Sometime I would travel to Cotonou, Republic of Benin, to buy goods which I sold to fellow students. I made extra money from this business to support my education. In fact, I lived large in my student days on campus. I was a brilliant student, so my side hustle didn’t in anyway, affect my academics. I even gave tutorial to my colleagues. I ensured my hustling didn’t clash with my studies because it was not an everyday affair. I chose a day of the week for buying and selling.
In fact, I could say God was involved because every Tuesday was lecture-free for me, so I travelled for business mostly on Tuesdays. I made purchases on Tuesday and then sent them to my customers on Saturdays. This was what metamorphosed into the logistics and travel business I am presently running. I am also a trained baker.
What’s your thought on the triangle of women, poverty and power?
That’s a tough one! Women are the spice of life. They are essential in our becoming. They are our mothers, wives, aunties and sisters; therefore, I see women as partners in progress and development. In my capacity as a business owner and employer of labour, I have had cause to relate with the less privileged in my community even when I never had the intention of vying for any political office. I empowered selected number of women with funds to engage in petty businesses and today, I have seen many of them excel and expand in their chosen businesses. If women are empowered and have financial freedom, the home will be happier and the society will be peaceful. Poverty, according to my definition, is a test of strength and attitude and a trial of faith. We have seen people commit crime and atrocities just to get out of poverty. This is wrong because the only antidote to poverty is hard work. Poverty can never be an excuse for any crime neither does it signpost the end of life. It’s a phase that with adequate hard work, planning and prudence, one would get over. At the infant stage when I was still trying to find my feet in business, I established pure water factory as an undergraduate. I was among the pioneers of sachet water business in Ojo Local Government. But when I was called up for NYSC, the business shut down because there was no trusted hand to handle it. On power, it is said, that you know the true character of man once he assumes the stool of power. Many people are intoxicated with power which is why we have corruption, poverty and killings in the land. So in all, the best of man is one who in the face of poverty, women and power, is able to apply wisdom, moderation and good character.
How did you meet your wife?
My wife was one of my students. I remember one of the sayings of my father that goes, ‘anywhere you found yourself, is where you are likely to choose a partner’. If you found yourself in a church, mosque or on the street that is where you’ll probably find your wife.
For me, I met my wife in the classroom. She was my student. Our relationship started in a funny manner. I had an issue with my girlfriend and a friend invited her friend, who later became my wife, to my house. Immediately I saw her, my instinct told me she was my wife. And I told her friend I would like to have her as a special friend and that was how it started.
How did you propose?
Can I remember how I proposed to her? It’s been a long time but all I can say is that we started well and to God be the glory where we are.
Any regrets?
In my business and marital life, I have no cause to regret. I am satisfied with what God has done so far. I am contented with the life I live. But looking back to when I started my journey, the only regret I have is when I rejected a job offer all because of travelling abroad.
I served in the United African Company, (UAC). My boss, a white man offered me employment on a platter of gold but I rejected the offer because I was bent on travelling to Europe.
He pleaded with me to stay and build a career but I was bent on travelling to Europe in search of greener pasture. And at the completion of my service year, I left the company. I had not gotten the visa but I was determined and convinced that it would be granted. Eventually, I was denied the visa and I lost on both end. I learnt my lessons but then I regretted the decision I made.
What lessons have you drawn from that rejection?
I learnt that a bird at hand is worth more than a million in the bush, and that you don’t get to appreciate what you have until it is lost. Like I said, I have been counselling our youth that there are abundant opportunities here in Nigeria.
They only need to open their hearts and tap into them. As a young graduate, I was bent on leaving the country for greener pasture and this beclouded my reasoning, blindfolding me. to the opportunities that stared me in the face.
But here I am today, an employer of labour who has had the rare privilege to travel to countries of the world.
I began as a hustler then I established a pure water factory from the little I saved and now an employer of labour. The economy is not that flourishing but not to the point of leaving the country to become second-class citizens in another country. We can all stay back to contribute our quota to the development of our dear country.
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