Foluke Oyeleye, is a director at Honeywell Group, as well as an author.
She tells BLESSING ENENAITE about her 25-year career and book
You studied Combined Social Science as your first degree and also possess a Master’s degree in Business Administration. What informed your decision to study those courses?
As a teenager, I was fascinated by history, psychology and other social science subjects. So, it was a natural path for me to pursue. The MBA, on the other hand, came after years of working in the corporate world. I knew that Harvard University, United States of America, (where I bagged the MBA) afforded me the opportunity to learn from the best and network with forward-thinking peers. It turned out to be a great foundation as I have gone on to build businesses and also contribute to strategic leadership at a number of organisations.
As a student, were you more of a bookworm or a social person?
My experience in school was enlightening and enriching. I spent years immersed in a different culture and among people from across the world. This greatly expanded my worldview, but also made me keenly aware of how blessed Nigeria is. To date, I still have close friendships from my university days. Back then, I was a bookworm. From an early age, I read everything I could, so I liked being in school. It was an opportunity to be surrounded by books.
What roles did your childhood or your parents play in your career choice?
My parents encouraged all their children by giving us access to books and the best education they could afford. Through the books I read, I developed ideas about what I wanted to do for a career. In this sense, I would say they played a great role by expanding my mind.
As a manager with over 25 years experience in telecoms, financial and fast moving consumer goods sectors, what has kept you going?
I was blessed to have developed a great work ethic even before formally starting my career. As a teenager, my parents encouraged me to take on holiday jobs and internships. So, I have always worked. Over the decades, I have worked across different sectors, so my career has always felt exciting to me. I have grown in these places and I have been incredibly blessed to contribute to various organisations. The joy of making positive contributions and also growing professionally is what keeps me going.
How do you combine your day job with your activities as an author in such a way that none suffers?
It is the same way one approaches all of life. One has to make time for one’s different interests, even if it means putting in more hours. I have learnt to pursue interests I love while also ensuring my day job doesn’t suffer, because I love it too. I believe in giving myself totally to anything I am interested in.
You run a mentorship programme for young people. What are some of the success stories you have recorded with that initiative?
I see mentorship as a two-way street. Rather than share the personal stories of my mentees, I would rather talk about what I gain from the process. I consider it a blessing to be able to guide and support my mentees in the same way that others have supported me over the years. I find that mentees have valuable perspectives and insights that I can also draw from when it comes to certain things.
What motivated you to write books?
I have always loved writing. I remember scribbling in notebooks and on loose papers when I was a child. Still, writing is a skill and talent one has to develop. While at Harvard, I wrote about the late Chief Timothy Odutola (a successful entrepreneur) in an assignment that was later expanded into a Harvard Business School Case Study. HBS cases are used in business schools around the world, so that experience was a very exciting one for me. I realised that not only did my writing have something valuable to offer other people, it was also a channel for me to express my passion for cultural history. So, I started thinking about writing the ‘I Am a Nigerian In…’ book series I am currently working on.
How do you think the reading culture in Nigeria can be improved?
I believe that any change in society starts at the level of the home. Developing a reading culture starts with parents sitting with their children, discussing books with them, and also letting children see them read. The more engaged parents are with books, the more kids are likely to mirror the habit. It is also helpful to engage in non-reading activities that spark curiosity, then build on them through books and other reading materials.
What is Tani Series?
It is a publishing company I founded in 2020 to publish books and other reading materials that will contribute to and celebrate Nigeria’s rich cultural landscape, history and people.
Tell us more about the books in the ‘I Am A Nigerian In…’ collection?
My first two books are titled, ‘I Am A Nigerian In Music’ and ‘I Am A Nigerian In Literary Arts.’ Each book features 15 Nigerians across different ages, tribes and generations.
I Am A Nigerian In Music features stories of courage and creativity in 15 musicians, including the Lijadu Sisters, Oliver De Coque, Don Jazzy, Dan Maraya Jos and Fela.
I Am A Nigerian In Literary Arts shines the spotlight on 15 avid storytellers, such as Chinua Achebe, Sefi Atta and Dike Chukwumeje. They are all people whose poems, plays and prose have enriched the world.
These are just the first of many books in the collection though I Am A Nigerian In STEM will be released in a few months time, and follows the same pattern of sharing stories of Nigerian excellence. Beyond opening up a world of dreamers, my books also contain additional information about places, sectors and many more things Nigerian. I really want to engage the imagination (of readers) with these books, so the stories are accompanied by beautiful illustrations.
What change do you want to effect in society with your books?
I want to build a world of dreamers and doers. I believe that stories of representation are vital in showing children and even adults the strides that have been made by others before them, and the riches Nigeria has to offer in culture, history, and more. Through my books, I want to inspire Nigerian children to embrace culture, creativity and inspiration.
What would you describe as the toughest decision you have made on the job?
It is hard to pick one, really. However, I would say it is each time I have had to make a tough business decision because of things out of my control, such as harsh economic realities and industry changes. It is often harder because it is not just about business for me. I care about the people who work with me and whose lives are impacted in any way by organisational decisions.
What is that one dream that you are still pursuing?
I am actively pursuing all my dreams and I know that as long as I am alive, I will have new dreams as the years go by. When they come, I intend to pursue them with all I have because I want to use every talent God has given me.
What is your advice to parents who do not believe in girl-child education considering the high number of out-of-school girls in Nigeria?
Every child deserves good education because it’s not just about learning to read and write. Education helps them learn how to think critically, how to engage the world, and how to build on the foundations and achievements of others who have gone ahead of them. Education expands one’s mind and worldview, and I know that every child—every girl—deserves that.
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