The pre-launch event of the book, Akin Ogunbiyi: Footprints of a Peerless Entrepreneur, by the Group Chairman, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, was a rollercoaster of emotions as he relived his grass-to-grace journey in the nation’s insurance industry.
Different from the usual press conference, the compère, Pastor Gbenga Ogunko, assigned different sections of the book to the dignitaries in attendance to read.
The dignitaries include the wife of the author, Mrs DotunOgunbiyi; Company Secretary, Mutual Benefits Assurance, Mr Jide Ibitayo; the company’s finance director, Hakeem Oguntola and so many others.
While reading ‘Unsure Footsteps’ Chapter One of his book, the author brought to life his days as a teenager during which he went to school, hunted, farmed, went fishing, got involved in petty trading and many more.
Ogunbiyi explained that he and his siblings usually went to the farm at about 5:30am to carry out assignments for their father and return early to go to school, noting that these were the things that gave them joy then especially when they had a bountiful harvest or had a big catch in the river.
On events that shaped his life as a young person, Ogunbiyi read that after the completion of his secondary education, on the invitation of some of his secondary schoolmates, he went for a recruitment exercise for nurses at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan on a fateful day. At the interview session, after he presented his WASCE result to the panellists, he was asked what he was doing at the interview. He was told that with his result, he should be seeking university admission and not a nursing job. He was advised to take the UME. What he heard was contrary to what he had always known. But he thanked the panellists and left. He later found out from one of the panellists what he needed to get a university admission and was advised to enrol at the Oyo State College of Art and Science, Ile-Ife (OSCAS) to get prepared for UME as well as Advanced Level examinations. So, he obtained the admission form and was offered admission into the school.
At OSCAS, he was very studious as his education was his life with little or no time for other things. He prepared for his UME in 1981, did well and scored 252 but got his name missing on admission list for first batch of the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Ife. But he was able to make the list of the second batch of admitted students.
If not for the counsel of the interview panel members, Ogunbiyi would probably have ended up as a male nurse.
One event that had significant impact on him as a student was his performance as a first year undergraduate. He read that as soon as he started lectures and realized that most of the courses in the first year were similar to those he had been taught at OSCAS, he began to pay less attention in class. At every opportunity he would leave the campus and travel to Ileogbo to show off as a university undergraduate.
He became so casual with his studies that by the end of his first year, his performance was terrible. Out of the eight courses he registered for, he had two D’s and six E’s. He was put on probation, which meant if he repeated the exam and failed, he would be expelled.
Knowing that he was at the verge of losing his studentship was a turning point for him. He became very sad because he knew he could do far better than he had done. He knew he was not a dunderhead. He knew that he was solely responsible for his subpar performance and he was resolved to change it. So, he went back to his parents and told them that he had failed. His parents were surprised because they knew him to be very brilliant. He was later advised to abandon his university education if he could not cope with it, get a teaching job and start raising a family. But he had other plans. He decided that no matter what it would cost him he would be among the best in his faculty. He took the failed courses again and he passed them. And from that point, the tide changed. He took his studies seriously and true to his vow, he became one of the best students not just in his department but in the whole faculty.
Ogunbiyi noted that university exposure shaped his perspectives and moderated his thinking as he got to understand human beings more, the essence of networking better, appreciate the value of hard work and importance of distinction.
The author stated that Agricultural Insurance was unpopular in Nigeria when he made it his undergraduate project, but because he liked to try new things, he resolved to devote the whole of himself to it, adding that the outcome of the project justified the investment of his time and other resources. The insurance guru consequently became a trailblazer.
Reading also, his wife, Adedotun, said she sees Ogunbiyi as her pearl of excellence, her pride, Charming prince and a miracle packaged by God specially and specifically for her, making no secret of that fact Ogunbiyi rules her heart. Mrs Ogunbiyi said she honours her husband privately and publicly even as she goes the extra mile to make him happy, adding that their union has produced five children all of who are shining stars.
She stated that she has infused so much love and care into her home that Ogunbiyi sees the home as a haven of love, peace, joy, inspiration, and rest, adding that Ogunbiyi loves his children like the apple of his eyes.
A former Commissioner for Insurance, Federal republic of Nigeria, Mr Fola Daniel, who wrote the foreword of the book, said the book will certainly be an excellent motivational material in mentorship.
Daniel described Ogunbiyi as a notable humanist, philanthropist, passionate family man, and a devout man of great faith, consumed by an unbridled desire to add value to people and service to the society, saying it is a prime reason for his foray into the political arena with a burning desire to positively impact the larger society through selfless service.
The former Commissioner for Insurance also described him as a quintessential risk taker, who is never afraid to break new grounds, saying it is a good strategy for business development in any industry. He, therefore, advised that no one should despair, because raw determination can be a veritable reason for success in life despite societal disadvantages as shown in the book.
According to him, the book is the beginning of other literary works that will follow, to give accounts of transition of a great man from humble beginning to being a mega industrialist.
While reacting to the reading session, Dr Ogunbiyi described it as exciting, interesting and satisfactory.
He said the book would be an inspirational guide to youths, who wish to follow their passion either in career or business.
“It was actually an exciting time. I never knew we would have something like this, but having to read a portion of the book was really very interesting and exciting for me.
“And of course, having my wife read that aspect that I wrote about her. I am sure I will get a good treat from her.
“All together, it was very interesting. I feel very satisfied. It’s a book I know will inspire many young boys and girls. That is exactly what we want the book to do. There are a lot of things that will inspire a lot of people in the book,” he said.
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then