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Could you please describe yourself in your own words?
My name is Segun Oyebolu CEO of Fly4Cheaper.com and president Feed The Elderly Foundation.
We know that you are successful business man; please tell us what and who inspired you?
Late MKO
Abiola left a great impression on my mind. He was an outstanding giver, a lover
of great works, astute businessman with larger than life image.
What is success to you, and would you like to show and give the young ones the keys to the doors of success?
What is success to you, and would you like to show and give the young ones the keys to the doors of success?
Success is impacting others lives. To me, you are
successful if your works or actions positively change fortune of others. Wealth
and success are not always related. You can be successful without being
wealthy; likewise you can be wealthy without being successful. If your life does
not impact other lives in a positive way, then failure is your middle-name. I am
ready not only to show the young ones the many doors that lead to successful
living but to also help them mount the many ladders that lead thereto.
You have been impacting black community, your voice has been heard on so many platforms; please tell us what you have done so far and what are your plans for the future?
I am not an activist. I have been providing for needy
elderly people in the last three years out of my own resources. This year we
are taking the project more seriously by going nationwide in Nigeria bringing
hope and life to many widows and vulnerable elderly persons in our nation
Nigeria. This is a mission to which I have dedicated and continue to contribute
70% of my family resources. This year we are going out to other compassionate
people to join hands with me so we can cater for more of these poor people, if
they have to die, at least they should never die of hunger. My life has been
dedicated to eradicating hunger and destitution among our elderly people and I
am certainly happy to continue the journey.
Do you think that the crisis in Europe and other parts of the world will eventually have a great effect on Nigeria economy?
Sure. The
European crisis is already impacting our economy in Nigeria. We cannot be
immuned to European crisis; they buy our fuel, they also supply most of our goods.
If they can’t pay for oil, how on earth are we going to implement our own
national budget of which 98% is dependent on our oil revenue; how are we going
to create new jobs or have fund to carry out projects that may further expand
our economy? My prayer is that Europe will continue to thrive and their current
crisis should end with minimal impact on the global economic system.
Do you think Black people have sufficient opportunity in Europe, and is anything keeping us behind as a race?
I do think and very strongly too that opportunities
are there all over the world for you to be whoever you want to be. Leadership
or success is never awarded, you have to desire it, embrace it, work at it and
keep pushing until you reach your own promise land. White, Black or Purple
makes no difference. There are poor white folks in Europe, just as we have rich
Black folks in London and other parts of Europe. Sense of entitlement will
always keep us behind; it must be avoided like a plague. Go out, roll up your
sleeves, dream and get going. There will
definitely be challenges but that should never be equated to lack of
opportunity.
What do you think the Blacks in Europe should do better, so that one day we will have another ‘Obama’ in Europe?
Stay focused, be educated and stay a step ahead of
class. Yes, I have a black skin, but I never for one day feel it either back
home in Nigeria, in America or anywhere in the world. This year, at the World
Travel Market in London, mu company Fly4Cheaper.com will be putting on display
for the global market; a new hotel reservation software that meets and exceed
global standards. We will be competing for the same market that other travel
technology firms across the world will be competing for. My software world, its
incredibly simple and intuitive, well laid out and sneak preview has given us
greater than expected ratings already…I am not coming to London as a black man
from Nigeria, I am coming to London as a competitor in the intellectual field.
I don’t need cheap marks to be awarded to me – I only need you to fairly test
my product against other products from other nations and tell me your opinion.
Intellect has no coloration…skin colour has nothing to do with brain power.
We are aware of the fact that you were abducted at Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria; what was your experience like, and what have you learnt, also what is your advice to the authorities in Nigeria as per security?
Kidnapping has become a sore point for our nation; it’s
another bad marketing for Nigeria. If you kidnap honest business persons on the
street; do you think a foreigner with potentials will come? No way. I was lucky
to be alive and to come out of it in about 72 hours. Of course, my family
‘cooperated’ not only paying the huge ransom demanded but paying it within
time, if not I would have been a dead meat. I was tortured for three days. Hot
knives were used to cause severe burns on my body, the pains of the harrowing
experience is better imagined. These guys have no fear of God, they operated in
a mafia-style. If Nigeria is not my root, why will I ever go back there?
Adequate security is not the answer because no matter hoe ‘adequate’ security
is, it can never withstand the test of an army of jobless youths who faced
grim future outlook. Jobs, jobs and jobs will be the only adequate security at
this time. Provide jobs, encourage entrepreneurs – let’s find work for at least
50% and you will see almost an overnight end to all these dastardly acts.
Where would you like to reside permanently in the future, even though we know that you are an international man?
If Nigeria situation continues to be as it is, I will
look forward to retiring to Australia. Having spent more of my years in America
and Europe, I think Australia holds the key for me.
For few readers that don’t know you; what would you like them to know about you and to always remember you for?
Segun Oyebolu is a guy that loves to provide food for
the poor. I cherish that job more than all my profit-making businesses. I have
seen elderly people scavenge for foods at parties and inside dustbins.
Sometimes, these old, poor elderly people are without any kind of help;
providing help to them makes me feel fulfilled and I will love to be remembered
as the guy that wage war against hunger on behalf of the downtrodden. In fact,
I sign most of my letters as “Servant of the Poor”
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