Why I Dropped Out Of School To Learn Mechanics – Onwuakpa
Dr Obi Onwuakpa is nothing short of a trailblazer in the Nigerian financial landscape! As the dynamic Chairman of Goodgate Group and a co-founder of e-Barcs Microfinance Bank, his journey is a testament to the power of determination and hard work. With a wealth of experience as a director in various organisations, his impressive accomplishments undoubtedly piqued my interest in this interview.
What a revelation it was to spend time with the Ojichukwu of the Ukpo Kingdom! Our conversation unveiled the many layers of this extraordinary individual. He exudes joy and warmth, paired with a deep-rooted patriotism for Nigeria. A true optimist at heart, he’s incredibly accommodating, humble, and refreshingly open-minded. To top it all off, he is proudly an ordained Pastor.
During our interview, he shared fascinating insights about his early life, his perspective on President Tinubu’s administration, and his inspiring vision for a thriving Nigeria. It was an enlightening experience that left me eager for what lies ahead in our nation’s journey!
Dr Obi Onwuakpa
Introduction
My name is Dr Obi Onwuakpa, the Ojichukwu of the ancient kingdom of Ukpo in Anambra. I am also an ordained Pastor. I was born a little over sixty years ago in Enugu. I went to Enugu State University, where I had my first degree in Insurance, including my master’s degree in Human Resources Management. I worked for several companies before I started my own.
Were you born with a Silver Spoon in your mouth? Tell us about your early stage in life
I wasn’t born with any silver spoon, not even with an iron or a wooden spoon in my mouth. Growing up was tough and rough. My father, a great man, had nine of us. I was in class 4 when he passed on. Things became so difficult, being the sole breadwinner of the family. When he passed on, people insinuated that it was finished for the family, and indeed, it was tough for us, and it was almost finished, but we thank God, God helped us. It was so tough that I had to drop out of school to learn mechanics, but, thank God, at last, I was able to furt her my education. I passed out and worked for several organisations before setting out my own. Today, I am a member of several professional bodies at a fellowship level. To God be the glory.
As a board member of several organisations, are you fulfilled?
Well! Looking back on where I am coming from, I remember those days, while helping my mother in fending for the family, I had to trek about 40 kilometres every day to sell plantain before going to school.
So, fulfillment may be relative. For me, the fulfillment I have is not the things you can see; my fulfillment is that I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour. I am fulfilled in Christ. If you’re looking for fulfillment in material things, even some of these politicians who are moving with billions still act like they have nothing. Their pursuit of money is still very aggressive. So, you can’t get fulfillment in anything.
What is the biggest bold step you ever took?
The biggest bold step I have ever taken is giving my life to Christ. I remember those days when I moved to Lagos from Enugu. Those days in Festac, every Sunday was drinking and partying; it was women and all of that. So, this day came when a young lady came around and preached to us. None of my friends wanted to listen to her. But, I don’t know what came over me that day that I just gave her attention. She preached to me and invited me to her church, I went to the church, a Cathedral Church. Panam Percy Paul was ministering that day. So, when it was time for the alter call, I went and gave my life, and that’s the biggest bold step of my life.
What qualities should one possess to build a successful business?
First and foremost, you should be able to understand the business you want to do. You should have an appreciative knowledge of the business you want to do. You have to have integrity, be trustworthy, and be straightforward; your yes must be your yes, and your no must be your no. Maybe I am mentioning these qualities from a Christian perspective. Of course, there’s no other way to go as a Christian businessman. If you’re crooked in business, you won’t go far. Just like the bible says that your sins will soon find you out.
There are cases of businesses liquidated after the passing on of their founders. How do we build a business that outlives us?
That’s unfortunate. It’s still happening, even till tomorrow. Recently, I drove through Surulere and I saw one of the hotels that were thriving those days owned by a famous musician. The hotel has become dilapidated. Mind you, I am just using this as an example, there are a lot of businesses like that.
To avert such things, I believe when a business begins to grow, you look for staff who have contributed to its growth and are still employed by the company; you can give them some shares of the company and make them part of the owners of the business. It is not good to run a sole shop where people just come and earn salaries. Somebody working in a company for 10 years to 20 years should become a part owner. Look for like minds, partnerships, and joint ventures. Companies that are going down are the ones who run a sole shop. Many big companies are still running a one-man show business. When you give people shares in your company, even if you are no more, others will be alive to carry the business.
You are a role model to many; who is your role model?
I don’t know of any role model. Maybe, you know of anyone and what we have in common. But, all the same, I am just trying to live a simple life, a life that glorifies God. Each day I wake up, I say, God, let my life bring glory to you.
Anywhere I stand, I walk into Aso Rock, whatever meeting, you can be anybody; I tell them where I stand. So, my role model is Jesus Christ. I want to do as much good as my capacity can do. I feel like everyone who is in dire need comes across me, and I’m able to help. Don’t mind the abuses people bring into it these days. I want my life to pleasing to God.
What is your biggest loss ever?
When I left paid employment, I remember with some nostalgia, a friend of mine just came to me and introduced me to oil and gas business. I knew next to nothing about the business. Can you imagine investing about 200 million Naira in a business I knew nothing about? That was about 15 years ago. It’s only God that has just sustained and kept us going. Maybe if I was as old as I am today, it would have resulted in a terrible situation. But, thank God, we were still young then.
My wife and I never knew things that are involved in the oil and gas business; we just took the money and invested in it. It was really bad, and that’s why I always insist that before you venture into any business, forget who’s doing it and the way it’s flourishing. You need to understand it. Sit down and study it. Ask questions about the business you want to start.
How do you relax
Holiday is good; taking time off from work is good. A few minutes before we started this interview, you overheard my wife during our phone conversation asking me to take time to rest because I just came back today from a trip, and I’ll be off again tomorrow for another trip. For me, every Monday, I go off work. I do one on one with God. I rest. Before, I used to switch off my phones just to be alone. I also go to the Airport and spent about 3 to 4 hours relaxing in their lounge.
How has the present economic situation in Nigeria affected you?
It is a tough situation for the people who are into genuine business. It is affecting the manufacturers, it’s affecting my own business. The Central Bank’s policies, NPR, have moved up. Most people are not able to borrow. What business will you do to be able to pay back? The Naira has been devalued. Our value as a business has been devalued also. If you were worth 10 million Dollars last year, what is your worth now? You’re not even worth 1 million Dollars this year. So, it’s a tough situation. It’s only God that can take us out of this wood. Maybe those in government now are saying that they are not the cause of this problem, I always say that if your boat is going the wrong way or people before you have been going the wrong way when you get on to the boat, the best thing to do is to turn and begin to go the right direction. But, if you’re still heading the same way people we are blaming were headed, you didn’t reverse, then there’s a problem. Well, let’s be hopeful and see what will happen before the end of the year 2025; I pray God will help us in this nation.
Do you believe that there will be light at the end of the tunnel regarding President Tinubu’s economic policies?
Well, let me not even narrow it down to President Tinubu, because it’s not even about Tinubu. I remember the story in Samaria; it wasn’t about anybody, but it was all about God. A town where women were killing their children and sharing as food, and the Prophet of God said by this time tomorrow things will turn around for good. It wasn’t anybody’s policy, it was all about God, and that’s why I still have hope in this country. I’m not against this government, but, when I go to Abuja, I see the carriage, the posture, the language. Recently, I met one of our leaders at the Airport; if you see the way he arrogated himself, he raised his shoulders, and he carried himself as if he were a god. About 15 Policemen were attached to him. This is just one of the President’s lieutenants, and there are many of this kind working with him. That’s why I said it’s not all about Tinubu. For crying out loud Tinubu will not be everywhere to see what these people are doing. So, I went to the Policemen and asked them if they were all there guiding just this one man. The policemen began to laugh and told me that they were going to where they were asked to go. So, President Tinubu is doing his best, considering his age. There’s a limit to what he can do. People around him should put in their best and make him succeed. Remember Moses, the bible says that when those men lifted the hand of Moses, they had victory.
The democracy we practise in this country needs to be reviewed. It shouldn’t be all about a single person. There must be decentralisation. In Nigeria, governance is too attractive, let’s make it less attractive. I went to my village the other time, come and see how my people were struggling to become local government Chairman. One even said that we are now autonomous, and the money will come to us. So, I said, is it money that you’re looking at or the service you’re going to give to the people? Sometimes I feel like talking to these politicians, this life is too short. You pile up all the money, buying properties at home and abroad. Riding the most expensive cars. Keeping money for your kids that you won’t know what they will turn out to be after you have passed on. What we are telling you is to affect lives when you’re in office. See it as an opportunity to render service and not an opportunity to make money for yourself. Well! I see light at the end of the tunnel because we have hope and trust in God. Our hope is built on nothing else, but, in Jesus Christ, our righteousness. How I wish the government would declare a day of national prayer in Aso Rock. Solomon asked God for wisdom to rule over his people. So, in that manner, if people in the Aso Rock pray and ask God for wisdom to lead over 200 million Nigerians in the right way. If they are not praying this prayer, then we are not going anywhere. Things are very tough, there’s hunger in the land. If you know the number of phone calls I receive each day. Issues upon issues. Driving around the streets, you will see hunger on people’s faces in our land, which is so blessed. The Bible says when the righteous are in power, people rejoice. We have never seen it this bad; people are suffering.
If anybody told me that the Dollar would be exchanged for five hundred Naira, I wouldn’t believe it, but look at where we are today. One Dollar exchanged for One thousand, seven hundred Naira.
My tenant, who is from Cotonou has abandoned tiling work, he said to me, Oga, I now buy things from Nigeria, take them to Cotonou to sell and change the money to Naira. So, I said to him that I have a tiling job for him and the guy said no, I’m not doing tiling again. And that is how bad our situation is presently.
What is your advice for Nigerian youths?
Some time ago, somebody advised them that if they had an opportunity to leave the country, they should. But, I can tell you that it’s not easy out there too. Where you can have some sense of relief is when you have some relations there who can give you a soft landing. However, the Naira has been devalued; a Dollar exchanged for one thousand and seven hundred Naira, so if you’re able to make a thousand dollars, that will give you one million and seven hundred thousand Naira. You can see some of them are bringing in money to do one or two things. So, my advice for the youths is if you can stay here, work hard, and put your hope and trust in God. Find a legitimate service you can render to the people. Those youths into IT, programming and so on are making good money. Also, if you have the opportunity to go abroad, you can go, acquire some skills and come back and practise it here. Don’t get into crimes such as cyber crime and others. How I wish those guys indulging themselves in those crimes divert their knowledge into something legitimate, they’ll still make it gradually. And finally, give your life to Jesus Christ, and allow Christ to lead you. The Bible says that there is an end to a matter. Stay out of trouble.
