_….Bagged PhD in Business Education_
_…Proffers Solutions to the current system_
Akinyoola Moses Afolabi PhD is a business administrator who recently bagged Doctorate Degree at the Olabisi Onabanjo University. He is the current Chairman of Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) in Osun State. A Church leader, father, husband and business expert.
In this interview with the OsunReporters News Correspondents, Akinyoola Moses Afolabi PhD, who returned all thanks to God almighty, dedicated his recent educational achievement to his lovely wife, Mrs Deborah Foluke Akinyoola (JP) for her support. The Orile-Owu born 64-year-old administrator also identified some challenges during his academic sojourn, and proffers solution to some of the challenges by calling the attention of the government at all levels to return the lost academic glory of Nigeria by doing the needful.
Brief about his educational background
I am Akinyoola Moses Afolabi. I am a full-blown Nigerian educationist because I attended about 4 to 5 Primary Schools. My parents are nomadic in nature, they move from place to place.
Eventually I finished my primary school in Northwestern State, now Niger state. I finished ‘Primary Seven’ instead of the usual primary six. After that I went to the Apostolic Secondary Modern School Orile-Owu. I worked a little before I proceeded to Divisional Teachers Training College in Eruwa.
Thereafter, I ventured into insurance business in 1986, while still working I went to University of Ibadan for my diploma in education, after which I enrolled for my first degree at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye. That was where I also did my masters and now my PhD.
I did my first degree in Business Education with specialty in insurance marketing. I moved to Masters still in Business Education specialty in Insurance Marketing and with PhD also in Business Education with specialty in Insurance Marketing.
The journey to his Doctorate Degree
I started the PhD programme in 2017/2018 academic year. But I eventually used six academic years before later finished in 2023/2024 academic year because I took leave of absence for two academic years when I had to travel out for official engagement. So I was not in school for two academics session, it means I used full four academic years in attaining the PhD.
From my own experience, I started my degree pursuit as an executive, meaning I was combining my usual work as an insurance marketer with the academic pursuit. By the way, the academy environment in Nigeria is so interesting but it could be frustrating because of the environment, and most especially Insecurity on the roads. But I enjoyed it while it lasted because I have wonderful supervisors, wonderful lecturers in Olabisi Onabanjo University. They all Rose to the occasion to help us because they have so many people like me who are into business and at the same time pursuing their academic ladder. So I will say the environment is quite friendly. And the school tried for us including the lecturers and all the supervisors and we enjoyed it while it lasted.
Speaking about the academic year to pursue a certain certificate, especially PhD, it can be attained in less than four academic years. It is possible even in Olabisi Onabanjo University, depending on the students and the supervisors. Combining that with Insurance marketing, meeting your company’s expectations, make ends meet and achieve your personal goals and desires for each year was not a child’s play. And at the same time the domestic challenges, you have to pick your bills, you have to take care of everybody under your watch. While I was studying, I saw my children through University, so combining the two, seeing my children through University and educating myself at the same time, was not an easy task but I thank God for his grace. It was when I finished that I discovered that I’ve been on the Ago-Iwoye road from Ibadan for more than 20 years from my degree to PhD. I thank God for His grace upon my life. It is purely the grace of God.
Apart from the above challenges, another major challenge is to battle with time. You have to be a good manager of time. Combining education with your regular day job and still be a good husband to your wife, good father to your children, a good community man. During that time, I have to combine my educational pursuit with ensuring good security arrangements for my Estate, judging by the security challenges being faced in Ibadan and environ then. Time management was a factor, but, I thank God, I managed it As I was doing that I was training my children also. All of them are university graduates except one who is still an undergraduate. I have masters and degree holders as my children. Number one challenge is time but I thank God I manage it. Apart from that, there is economic crunch, there is ASUU strike along the line, all those affected our studies but I thank God, we overcame it.
How to overcome those challenges as a country
Very possible. We can overcome those challenges, you know we have been there before like I said from my educational background from primary school to Modern School to teachers training to the university. Nigeria has been there before and we can still be great again. The only thing we need to do is government pumping more money into education, improving infrastructures and the syllabus. The syllabus we inherited from colonial Masters is long overdue for Change. The present educational syllabus does not prepare you to be on your own. It prepares you to rely on government, instead of preparing you to face the challenges of tomorrow and making you an expert in a particular field. So when you are talking about personal skills, I think the present syllabus does not prepare us for that. The moment government started pumping more money into education, improving our infrastructures and change the syllabus to meet up with the realities of today, then our education system will turn around for good.
When Nigeria was good, people were coming from different countries to study here. It was because most of these universities and education system was in the hands of Missionaries. Suddenly they took them away from our Muslim organisations, Christian organizations and so on. Unfortunately government could not run those institution the way those Missionaries were running it. And if they would not give those things back to the missionaries, then they should do the right thing by improving the funding of education and review our syllabus system in Nigeria to meet with the present reality. I have a very high hope about Nigeria. Nigeria will be turned around and it can be great again.
Show of appreciation
My number one thank goes to God and to my wife. My number one supporter is my wife Mrs Deborah Foluke Akinyoola (JP). In fact, I dedicated the PhD to her. She held on to the house and train the children during my absence. My community members who stood by me, Church members, my Children, Dr M.M. Dosunmu (she was my motivator and mentor), Prof Abosede, Prof Oni, Prof Ifegbesan and all the staff of the Department of Educational Management and Business Studies (EMBS) headed by my able Supervisor, Prof Muyiwa Adeyemi, my employer, my friends, my business associate and members of Nigeria Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) in Osun and at the National Secretariat, they all supported me. I thank you all.
More details about his personality
Officially, I’m 64-year-old. I’m from Orile Owu in Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State. And I’m into insurance. Presently I’m the Chairman of Nigerian Council of Register Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) in Osun State, and I’m the Treasurer of the Western Area Committee where my good friend Gafar Alamu is the Chairman.
I am a church leader not that I pastor a church, I am the General Superintendent of my Church’s Sunday School. And I’m the nationwide General Secretary of Christ The Rock Evangelical Church in Ibadan. Also I am a known member of the Board of Trustee of the Church and the management too.
Thank you.
