We had to wait until now, the holiday season when we know everyone will be more relaxed to publish our special chat with Mr Emeka Okonkwo an IT Consultant and Entrepreneur. He is the Founder of Design information Services based in the UK. The below chat is quite revealing as well as challenging. He is a worthy son of Nigeria, an ex student of the University of Lagos, one whose life style and philosophy is not rooted in tribalism, a worthy humanitarian whose concern for humanity is changing lives both at home and abroad. In this chat, We looked at his life, family background, business, philosophy, etc. Enjoy this...
How will you describe Emeka Okonkwo?:
Emeka Okonkwo is a gentle man who believes in humanitarianism and as people say i am cool calm and collected at all times, i'd like to see myself as an enterprising, business minded and caring man.
What was your childhood and growing up years like?
Well it is what i can describe as an episodic drama of riches to rags and then rags to riches. I was born in Ajegunle Apapa (Then referred to as a suburb and place where the struggling class -if i may use that word, used to live). Though i was seen as a first class child in my neighbourhood as my mum was a very big business woman and we got the best of what every top class child in the society would need. I attended a private nursery school and did a bit of primary there before i switched to a government primary school. Life was good as a child and as i said, first it was riches but dramatically switched to rags as i grew up into a teenager.
Tell us about the family you come from...
I am the first child amongst the four children of my parents. We are six if added with my parents.
My father was an Automobile Electrician (Battery Charger and Rewire). He owned a little garage wish he shared with other automobile mechanics (Mechanic Workshop). He retired in 1999 following a hip/knee injury that made him partially disabled.
My mother was a trader in the Balogun clothing market in Lagos Island; well known for a line of clothing as one of the initiators of the igbo kind of fabric known as 'ABADA' . she was very popular because she owned a few shops in the market and gained advantage as she was one of the few igbo
women that understands and speak yoruba language fluently. She lost all these in 1998 when the market was demolished after claims that it was repossessed by the islanders. This happened following its reconstruction after being burnt down a few years before, by the locals who claimed it was an
accident. My mother lost all she had and had no choice but to manage to sell on small scale.
My immediate younger brother currently lives in cape town, south Africa. He owns an accounting and IT Firm. we grew up along-side and people hardly knew who was the eldest .
My only sister who's next after my immediate younger brother, currently is married with three kids and is a business woman trading just in the exact same vein as my mother when we were young.
Our last brother recently graduated from the university. He had studied law.
Growing up what was your relationship with your parents like?
My relationship with my parents was the best i could have ever asked for. i hope and pray my children have the same with me. i was very close to my mum more than my dad as he was a disciplinarian; but today i am glad as a lot of the discipline has helped me lead a good life today.
What's the most memorable childhood story you have that you can never forget...good and bad.
uhmmm, The good one was ...
Bad; was the day i saw my father cry. i couldn't sleep that night and i though about a lot of things so much that i swore i would give life the fight it needs to keep my head above water. `it was a day i will never forget in my life. i had never seen my father cry till that day; when he watched me and my younger ones as we eat our dinner at almost 12 mid-night. it was raining heavily. our landlord has refused to patch/replace our leaking roof because we owe rent. My father watched us eat that meal while the roof leaks and drops into a pail int he middle of our living room. We concentrated on the meal so much so that we didn't even mind the leakage. To make matters worse, there was no electricity supply that night. we only had our lamp on. Because my father would usually wait for us to finish eating and be satisfied before he eats whatever is left, he was sitting right by us while we eat. In this position and condition, i remember raising my head towards his face and saw tears cascading down his face; as soon as he noticed i saw that, he stood up and walked away. I quickly understood his mood. The mood of a man who watched his children eat dinner at 12 midnight because they had to wait for him to come back before the food would be available; the roof was leaking right on top of them, with no electricity …. no man would have been in a good or happy mood. It is still in my memory.
What was the most naughty thing you ever did as a child?
can't remember now.
Tell us about your academic background
I got my first degree from the University of Lagos.
i gained a certificate in MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional) and CCNA (Cisco Certified Network associate) in 2003. This is because i got a Job as a systems/Networking Engineer after my diploma on campus while i studied for my degree.
After my degree, i worked for a while in Nigeria in IT/Telecoms and haven moved to the UK in 2007, i went further to undergo a training and got Certified in SAP BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE in 2008. (SAP Academy U.K)
In 2009 i studied and got a Higher Diploma in Management of Information Systems (IMIS U.K).
in 2011 i studied and got a Post graduate Diploma in Management (ICM U.K)
In 2012 i studied and got a MBA from the University of Gloucestershire (UOG U.k).
What was school life Ike for you?
Since the day i graduated from Secondary school in July 1996. i have always struggled with getting myself educated. I got admission into two universities to immediately start my studies as an undergraduate but circumstance didn't permit me. As the first son of the family i had to get a Job to support the family since my father is partially disabled and cannot work anymore. this took two years away and when i returned to commence a course of study in 1999 in the University of Lagos, i had to start with a Diploma in Computing.
I had paid my school fees myself since i left secondary school. it was so difficult that i deprived myself of a lot of teenage/secondary school leaver play and life style (As i had to work). The unforgettable part of it was that i got a Job with Julius Berger (Marin Section) on the same day we had planned our secondary school send off party. i had to choose the Job from going to the party.
Where you the social type in school? Or how will you describe your social life in school?
No i was not. I barely have time for social as i had to work in my study free times.
I watched other students socialise while i work because my Job was right inside the campus.
Are you married? If yes...how did you meet her and how did you propose to her?
Yes i am.
I met my wife in 2005 at Asaba, Delta state. I left a drinking bar to answer a phone call from my ex-girl friends mother when i saw my wife crossing the road. I cut the call and walked after her.
I proposed to her by putting the ring on her finger while she was asleep that fine afternoon. She felt it and woke up; before she could ask, i asked her the BIG QUESTION. She couldn't say a word in the first instance but the right words came out while tears cascaded from her chin.
What is that one thing aside from your wife being the mother of your children that can make you stay glued to your wife for life?
She knows me more than my mother does.
Let me ask you a crazy question...can emeka forgive a wife who cheated? If yes why and if know why?
Yes i can. The circumstances would determine.
How did you begin the business that you practice today?
I have had a strong passion for IT. I can count myself as one of the pioneer IT people in Nigeria Back in the day as i worked for the first Wireless Internet Services in Nigeria. I have had a few certification in IT and as a Service oriented person, i had always wanted to own my own IT services business. i have always engaged myself in anything IT services and it wasn't had for me to start my own when the time came.
What type of business do you do?
I run an IT Consultancy and Information Services business. Apart from his, i engage in businesses like SME investments where i play ghost investor. I do a few real estate too.
How do you get your client?
I strongly believe in the 'Word of mouth' marketing strategy; hence why i created and developed a strategy that brings together a group of people of the same interest where i tend to reach my target audience.
Lets focus on your business a little more...what is the strongest business challenge you have ever faced? And how did you handle it?
This was when i was operating under the name and business permit of someone. He resolved his business name and permit behind my back and when i found out i was very devastated. It was a challenge because i had already got a premises and created a business plan that is suppose to be running. It was a challenge for me as i had to do all i could to get my own personal permit and everything in my own name. And because my circumstances it was a big challenge for me to do this as i didn't have all the requirements.
i found myself in that situation towards the end of that year and my whole christmas was sour. I decided i was going to do it one way or the other. On the first working day of the following year, i made my moves. And even without the necessary requirements God brought it all together is such a way that unless i make a move for it, i never get it. I didn't believe i would get a particular finance i needed until i asked for it. I didn't believe they would consider my proposal tip i wrote and sent it. i felt since i didn't have all requirements i would be turned down. But to satisfy my faith, i applied anyway and i was called for interview and got my permit based on discretion. People never believe unless i show them the document.
Most Nigerians based abroad work for people , how did you come to develop and grow this line of business in a competitive environment like what you have in the uk?
I applied the right strategies and with years of experience of both education, living and working in the UK. i was able to apply the right ethics and with the favour of God i am competing.
Are there plans to expand and what type of expansion will you be looking at?
Yes there are plans to expand. We are looking at going global as our notion and business description makes us so unique that we believe our product will some day be a needful to the global market.
How challenging is it for you as a Nigerian to begin and maintain a business in a foreign land?
Very challenging. First you have to learn to forget that you are a foreigner. Secondly you have to learn to know when to remember it as well and be cautious of it. Most of all, struggling with the limitations posed on foreigners made me want to give up most times. Fnally, i struggled with not wanting to think about the stereo type thing.
How long have you being doing business here?
About four years now.
Do you some times face discrimination? How do you handle it?
Yes i do, but because of the affirmative action; it is being expressed in a very polite way that i tend to hand it as ''one of those things'' , if you know what i mean.
What will you say is the difference between doing business in Nigeria and doing business abroad? Which is easier?
As a business man, i'd say no much difference as one would always face challenges no matter where you choose to do business. It would be different ones but all the same, challenges would always be there.
What other line of business will you want to delve into in the nearest future?
Entertainment.
uhmm… I like partying a lot. because i like music, i like clubbing and dancing. I am not much of a drinker. I do not smoke, But i socialise a lot.
I know emeka loves football what's the name of your favorite club?
Manchester united.
Who is your clubs most prized player to you?
Wayne Rooney.
Who will you rate as your best player in the world outside Ronaldo and Messi?
Ryan Giggs.
Do you have any plan to settle down fully in Nigeria in the nearest future?
Yes.
What's your thought about Nigeria?
''E go better''
If you are allowed to seat with the president of Nigeria today...tell me what you will tell him. What will be the message?
CREATE A DATA BASE OF NIGERIANS and every other thing shall be added unto your success as a president.
There are so many young graduates in Nigeria without jobs...what's your message to them?
If you don't have a Job, do something as a Job. Nigerians are Naturally the most enterprising people on earth. Every young graduate should think beyond his or her CV fetching them the right Job.
If God were to ask you to make one request on behalf of Nigeria what will that request be?
Make it whole again.
If God were to tell you, Emeka, am taking you out of the world in the next ten minutes, I want you to leave our fellow country men with a message, what will that message be?
Keep fighting corruption.
Many young Nigerians want to leave Nigeria and come abroad or greener pastures, what's your advice to such people?
Look before you leap. Do your home work first. Going abroad is like playing kalo kalo with your future.
Assume Emeka to be eighty years old now, on his death bed with his wife, children and grand children around him... What will be your final message to them?
Live a noble life. Live and Let Live.
What will you want to be remembered for long after you are gone?
Creation of a product or service that betters human lives.
I know you are Emeka the father, businessman, and husband. Act like you are facing your wife now and tell her one sweet thing you want the world to hear about her.
There are two kinds of women in the world; One is my wife, and the rest is the others.
On a final note where do you see your self in the next fifteen years.
I see myself in Nigeria, involved in governance and works that can help my people live a better life.
If you know a Nigerians with a worthy business abroad whose interview you feel can go along way in challenging the youths, email me on joesteve007@yahoo.co.uk
