Awe-Inspiring Moment With Dr. Abel Ujiya Ademu (Bursar, Kogi State University)

Awe-inspiring moment with one of the powerful, influential and kind-hearted leaders that make great things happen quietly but hardly heard about. I'm very glad that my path crossed that of a worthy, humble and compassionate leader, Dr. Abel Ujiya Ademu, the Bursar of Kogi State University and President of Bursar Associations of Polytechnic, Monotechnic & College of Technology of Nigeria. 

Here is a brief interview with the man with a heart of gold:

Good afternoon sir: Thank you Sandra.

What or who inspires you? For me, inspiration is inborn.

What are you doing to impact your society? Well, I support my community continuously, for me, it’s innate. I want to contribute my quota to my community. I give employments to people, so far I have employed 700 people. I have contributed to my society by building houses, roads, tricycle donated to the disable people and we support artisans.

What would you want to achieve for your community a year from today? I want to build a town hall for my people, this project is underway.

Which animal would you compare yourself with? How can I compare myself with an animal? An animal is different from a man.

Yes, I know, but some animals are very good and kind…:  … Oh, well...ok. I’m a Lion.

Super! What do you think is the cause of corruption in Nigeria? It's poverty; there are other elements, but 99% of corruption is caused by poverty. When someone is privileged to occupy a position, as soon as they are in power they want to acquire wealth to eradicate poverty in their family.

As a leader, what legacy do you want to leave behind? All the day of my life I’ve been praying to God almighty that; any community I find myself I will impact positively. God has made it possible for me to achieve this. Today, I’m not regretting, I’ve done my best.

Communication is essential in leadership; How well do you communicate with your community, especially with the less privileged? A meeting is going on right now in my community, but due to this appointment, I couldn’t make it; but I have sent someone to represent me and I contributed to the preparation of the meeting.

What’s family to you? Family is the foundation of life. Without family, there will be no society, so family nurtures society.

Are you charitable and do you have any charity organization? Yes, very charitable. I’m starting a foundation called ‘People United to Save Ibaji-land’.

We know you are successful; what’s success to you and how do you manage it? To be successful is one thing and to know how to manage it is another. There are people that were successful, they don’t know how to manage it; then they fall. I thank God that he gave me the wisdom that I use in managing my businesses.

Are you arrogant with your success? How can I be arrogant? If you become arrogant God will withdraw the success from you. I have the fear of God in me, I can’t be arrogant. So, humility is essential.

What did you study? From the beginning to my PhD level I read Accountancy; I hold a PhD in Accountancy.

Wow! We’re so proud of you; what’s the first thing you do when you wake up and the last thing before you sleep? I pray as soon as I wake up and I do the same before I sleep.

What’s your advice to the youths? Well… the youths are the leaders of tomorrow, but with what is happening in the country today, I wonder if the youths can be the leaders of tomorrow in this country Nigeria.

Why? The youths are failing, they are failing, we’ve experimented it in my State. They are failing…

… but how are they failing? They are not meeting up with their obligations.

Is it because they are not empowered… they are not being given the opportunity? No… they are given opportunities. Look at all the looting, the killings and kidnappings in Kogi are engineered by the youths, hardly you see an elderly person involved.

So, what’s your advice to them then? For us, to pray to God to forgive us, then to start afresh.

It has been nice talking with sir; to round this up: What would you like people to know about you and remember you for? I want to be remembered for the good things I have done. I don’t want my name to be associated with evil. I want my legacy to continue; my children will reap what I’m doing today.

Wow! You’re so sure of yourself. Thanks: It’s my pleasure. Thank you.