Dr Mike Omotosho is the Governor of Rotary International District 9125, the district that encompasses 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Rotary International has a rich history of about 110 years with more than 1.2 million neighbours, friends and community leaders aligning to create positive and lasting change in their respective communities around the world.
Instructively, it was Harry D. Strunk, in one of his postulations, who said “ Service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy in this world.
While many men live for their families, friends and associate, there are quite others who live for the society and their surrounding.
They dedicate their time, energy and resources to mankind and service to humanity and they remain an inspiration to their communities.
To be sure, Omotosho is one of the few that are living their lives for others, in the belief that serving humanity pays.
“We all live for ourselves actually when we are serving a fellow human, we are not doing him any favour but in fact he is doing us a favour by giving us an opportunity to do so.
“ Again, we should thank God to give us the ability to serve a fellow human being and this shows that we are the privileged ones,’’ he had said in an interview with Time Nigeria.
“In this world that we are in, nobody truly is a landlord. Everybody is a tenant, so if you are a tenant then you must give back to the society. Because that is the rent you pay for living as a tenant. If you don’t pay it deliberately, it is like a loan that you have and you must pay back with interest, that is the sad part,’’ he had intoned in that rather memorable interview.
On 25th of July, 2015, in the ornate chambers of the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Omotosho was inaugurated as the 7th Governor of Rotary International District 9125.
The occasion also featured a N250 million fund raising dinner for District Humanitarian Project and Rotary Centre in Abuja.
To Omotosho, often called “Omo to sure’’, by his admirers, Nigerians must focus on the larger picture.
“I am an incurable optimist when it comes to Project Nigeria. I believe Nigerians have immeasurable capabilities to do things that appear impossible.
“We’ve done it in several areas where they think it’s impossible. Nigerians are extremely resilient people and this is an opportunity for us to use that resilience positively.
“The four-way test provides a roadmap to actualize where we truly want to go especially in the midst of chaos, unpredictability and distrust happening all around,’’ he had said.
Rubbing minds with Time Nigeria, Omotosho paints the picture of one in a hurry to fulfil a prophesy.
He said the District had made arrangement for 500 shelter boxes for Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country. Each of the shelter boxes, he said, has the basic needs for an IDP.
Besides, he said Rotary was working towards making the IDPs gainfully employed and reintegrating them back into the society.
Omotosho, a trained pharmacist launched the NGO, Sustainable Healthcare Initiative (SHI), to focus on strengthening mechanisms that promotes sustainable healthcare in Nigeria.
Incidentally, SHI is a sub-recipient to the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) that has an outstanding record in the implementation of Behavioural Change Communication (BCC) activities in 18 states during the Global Fund Round 8 Malaria Grant Phase I and II projects.
The Omotosho-led SHI also recorded success in the implementation of BCC programmes from the strength on the field, logistical capacity and depth of experience in Behaviour Change Communication.
As the Chief Oversight Officer of SHI Foundation which has Global Fund, USAID and Society for Family Health as partners, Omotosho had no doubt touched lives and by implication intervene in ensuring the sustainable health of the nation.
According to a SHI report, over 2.5 million people had so far benefitted from the Foundation’s programmes since its establishment.
Equally touching is his Mike Omotosho Foundation (MOF) in Kwara State which had brought succour to the less-privileged in the state.
The Foundation has trained over 200 rural community members on vocational skills and provided N10 million micro credit scheme to empower 300 women to start small businesses.
No fewer than 500 youths from different local governments in Kwara State were also trained on employability skills, 150 indigent students from primary and secondary schools are also on scholarship scheme from the Foundation.
In August 2014, the Foundation carried out medical mission in 12 communities in four local governments within Kwara State to provide free diagnosis, expert medical advice, and distribute free drugs, wheel chairs, and free mosquitoes nets. Over 5,000 community members benefited from the programme.
For his outstanding performance in his profession and his contribution to humanity, Omotosho has been honoured with about 50 meritorious national and international awards including that of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Young Pharmacists Platinum Award 2008, Excellence in Leadership Award from Unity Toastmasters 2010, Meritorious Service Award, Rotary Club of Abuja Metro 2012, Rotary International Four Avenues of Service Award 2006, Rotarian of the Year Award 2007, National Merit Award winner from all Nigerian Rotarat Clubs, Bequest & Paul Harris Society and Benefactor of Rotary Foundation, All African Student Union Hall of Fame 2013, Toastmasters International 2013-2014 Best District Governor Worldwide, Kwame Nkruma Leadership Award 2013 and Project Management Excellence Award – Accra 2014.
He is one of only six Nigerians named members of the Arch C. Klump Society, the First African to have a Termed Gift of The Rotary Foundation while other traditional titles such as Omepuru Oha I of Isu Ancient, Marmarin Katungo and many others line his shelves.
He is a product of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in the year 1991. Having bagged Bachelors Degree in Pharmacy at ABU, he went further to acquire post graduate Diploma in Management from University of Lagos and a PGD in Veterinary Pharmacy from Harper Adams University College, Shorpshire, UK in 2005. He equally holds a Masters certificate in Supply Chain Management from University of San Francisco, Certificate in Medicine Information from University of Cape Town, South Africa, and an MBA from Business School, Netherlands.
He bagged his PhD in Professional Ethics from Trinity College, Seychelles, in 2013. He is a product of Harvard Business School; Boston, USA in the High Potential Leadership Programme.
To some, Omotosho is a rare gem and a big blessing to Kwara and the Nigerian community, but on the front, he is regarded as a beautiful bride trusted to redefine the destiny of his people. For sure, the future holds much for this young and vibrant ambassador of Nigeria. In this enchanting encounter with AbdulRahman Aliagan, Editor, this upwardly mobile young man offers an insight into those values which define his essence. Excerpts.
What are those criteria that can make one qualify to be a Rotarian?
Basically what you need to do to become a Rotarian is first to be gainfully employed. Gainfully employed does not really mean you are working 9am to 5pm. You may be a vulcanizer, you may be a carpenter, and you may have your own business because you cannot give what you do not have. You have to be in a position where you can truly help somebody else.
My great-grandfather would tell me that you cannot be catered for and then you want to cater for somebody else. We must be able to fend for ourselves before we can fend for somebody else. When you are gainfully employed it becomes a lot easier to give back to the society because you truly cannot give what you don’t have.
Once you are gainfully employed it doesn’t matter what, it doesn’t matter how much you have in your bank account, it doesn’t matter how much time you have at your disposal but the most important criteria is the heart to give back to the society. The moment you have something within you that makes you want to give back to the society you are qualified to be a Rotarian. Before we used to put the age limit at 28 years but now even if you are 25 years old you can join Rotary.
We look out for three things; your time because you’ve got to be willing to devote your time, your treasure, which is the money you have to contribute. For instance polio, a single individual over the last three years has given us over $3million towards polio eradication alone. Ironically some people have given us just N1, 200 . And I say it matters because with that N1,200 naira they will be able to say when Nigeria is finally polio free by the year 2017 that they also contributed to making Nigeria polio free because N1,200 will pay for 10 children’s immunization. If you have time, talent or treasure you are welcome in Rotary.
Personally what are the values that you want to dispense to humanity through Rotary?
Change is a global phenomenon. The wind that is blowing is not peculiar to Nigeria alone. However we believe that Rotary has a solution. Change is just a six-letter word but you will agree with me that it is a lot more complex than that because change means different things to different people. You cannot have a silver bullet that will take care of different problems because what change is to you is different from what it is to me. Change for me may mean buying a helicopter instead of a car; change for another person may be changing from a particular car to a better one.
My belief is that change must happen to one person at a time. It is me that knows what change means to me, so it must happen with me. In essence, nobody can change me; it is about me changing myself. If I am going to change myself, it is about changing my attitude. Once I have an attitudinal change my perception about life will change. My actions to others will change. My worth to others will change.
Instructively, Rotary has four-way tests of the things we think, say or do. These may apply profitably in relations to others, in our homes, businesses, and community, national and even international life. You just ask yourself four questions- is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendship? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Once it passes the entire four-way test you can go ahead and do it. You can go on with your thought process; you can go on with whatever it is you want to say. You can go on and do whatever you want to do. The beauty of the four-way test is this, it is about me. It is about what I think, what I say, and what I do. However it’s in relation to others.
We have a huge plan to take the four-way test to everywhere starting with Mr. President, the Ministers, National Assembly members, ministries and parastatals, businesses, and then to the communities. It has nothing to do with religion or politics, or creed; it’s a universally acceptable creed that one can use. I was speaking with a lawyer governor of mine and he said, “My Governor, if I have to go by the four-way test I will starve in this country.” We know it is not easy but we must tell ourselves the bitter truth and start one step at a time.
I am an incurable optimist when it comes to project-Nigeria. I believe Nigerians have immeasurable capabilities to do things that appear impossible. We’ve done it in several areas where they think it’s impossible. Nigerians are extremely resilient people and this is an opportunity for us to use that resilience positively. The four-way test provides a roadmap to actualize where we truly want to go especially in the midst of chaos, unpredictability and distrust that is happening all around.
With the security challenge bedevilling the country, in what way has Rotary intervened?
We’ve done several things. We have six areas of focus. Polio eradication is a flagship project of Rotary globally but besides that we have six areas of focus. Number one on that list is peace and conflict resolution. If we do not have peace, we would not be able to talk of health, education or poverty alleviation. So there has to be peace and if there is conflict already, we resolve that.
We do that in several areas, we call people of different faith to come together and see how we can live in peace and harmony. We send people abroad for peace trainings and they come back as Peace Fellows. One of the conditions for going abroad is to ensure that they will come back and practice what they’ve learnt in their local communities.
Currently we have six centres globally and we send several Nigerians. At least in the last couple of years we have sent three Nigerians and they are back in their various communities working in those communities. What we do for instance with the IDPs, we make donations to them. As I speak with you we have about 500 shelter boxes coming. The box has the basic needs of an IDP. It has a blanket, ration of food, water plates and all of those things that they need. It is just 500, although that may not do much but it’s something in the right direction. We also have cases where we have done lots of donations.
We donated three mobile clinics to the National Primary Health Development Agency (NPHCDA) to support not just help camps but also to add to the reach areas and provide basic healthcare. You notice that some people don’t even have N500 naira to go to the next village to access medical care, even if it is available there free of charge. You will be amazed how people die needlessly in this country and it is very painful because somehow it makes it appears life that does not have value.
I started my Mike Omotosho Foundation to be a network of global youth leaders who have that global mindset but they will act locally in the community. When we got into the community we realized that the problem is even beyond the youth. What we then went into is to empower widows and work with graduates that are not youth anymore.
From your experience and encounter in giving to humanity how will you describe Nigerians’ attitude to giving?
It is phenomenal, you will not believe it. Contrary to what people will say, Nigerians are loving people. But it’s just one problem, trust, and secondly, awareness. A lot of people truly want to give. Nigerians have that heart and that is why I am particular about proliferating Rotary Club in the community. You don’t need to know people to help them. But a lot of people do not know how to go about it. Not everybody has the coordination to set up a foundation. Because as you are setting it up Nigerians are planning to rip you off.
You say you want to give scholarship to 50 people, you find out that it is your workers that are bringing 30 of those people. You say you want to help indigent people and you find out that some of those who come forward have private cars. These things happen. But when you have an organization like Rotary it helps. Rotary as it is today is over 110 years old. I keep telling people that what is the guarantee that, that Foundation would outlive you?
You can put your money in Rotary, have a name fund, and it will outlive you and take away all the stress and things like that. That is the beauty of Rotary for me. Nigerians are very loving people but they need to know how to give and you need to give them that platform to be able to give. Assure them that this money you are giving will truly go to so, so and so places.
You see the kind of support the IDPs are getting everywhere. That shows you the kind of heart Nigerians have. You will be shocked that a Nigerian will go hungry to give to somebody else. That is why the report that shows that Nigerians are the happiest people in the world isn’t wrong, because true happiness comes from giving to somebody else and not from what you have but from how much you are willing to give to someone else. That is where happiness comes from and that is the reason some of these people are giving back because they have come to realize that all the money you are keeping will not die with you.
In this world that we are in, nobody truly is a landlord. Everybody is a tenant, so if you are a tenant then you must give back to the society. Because that is the rent you pay for living as a tenant. If you don’t pay it deliberately, it is like a loan that you have and you must pay back with interest, that is the sad part.
You are an active member of Toastmaster International and also a Rotarian, is there synergy between the two organisations?
There is synergy but it’s not similar at all. A toastmaster is about personal development. It’s about becoming a better leader using better communication and better public speaking skills. It is about me being a better person so that I can communicate with you better and I can probably speak to an audience. Being a good speaker does not make you a leader. But if you are already a leader, it makes you a better leader.
Rotary is about giving back to the society. However if you are not a better communicator, if you are not a leader, then will you be able to get those things that you need for you to give back to the society? You have beautiful ideas you cannot communicate it. You appear timid; people will actually think maybe you are not courageous, no matter how much courage you do have within you. Once you can communicate it it’s a step in the right direction. It’s totally different but it’s augment each other.
What informed your decision to run for Kwara gubernatorial election in the 2015 general election?
I am not a politician. I want you to know that first. Yes, I went into politics in the sense of the Nigerian way of doing politics. It’s a long story. For me I started my foundation not because of politics. Usually when you want to start a foundation for politics you know how you go about it. For me it’s about touching lives. It’s about giving back to the society because of my philosophy which I have shared with you.
When I was campaigning I told the governor that it is not about Mike Omotosho becoming the governor, it’s about the people, here is my manifesto, and if you will implement it to the letter, I will drop my ambition right now. It is not about me, it is about the people. Once you are able to do that, life becomes better for everybody.
I have been Governor of Toastmaster for the whole of West Africa, I am the Governor of Rotary, and I can continue to do the things that I do. It’s about the people. When we had a particular careless situation in the state and the people said let’s have an alternative that we can be sure of and then they found that in Mike Omotosho. In fact that’s why they were calling me “Omo to Sure”, that’s my campaign name, the sure alternative. We campaigned based on issues.
You promised us a pot hole-free road and the only road in that state that is pot hole- free is the road leading to Government House. You say there is no money but you have collected more than N1.1 trillion in the last 11 years. Show us what you’ve done with it. The small that you have spent, let’s see on what projects you spent the money! Then you can now say if you have more, this is how you would have spent it. Those are the issues and those are the campaigns, ironically Nigeria does not understand that kind of politics.
Because we were campaigning that way, they said we have been bought over. For me, it is not like I am planning politics again, I just want an opportunity to be able to touch more lives. It does not have to be me, that is where people get it wrong. It’s about the people. If you give them the opportunities that they need, even I will go home happy.
My great-grandfather tells me that if you are keeping your yam for the next planting season and your family members are hungry, is there a guarantee that that yam would survive the next planting season? You will just wake up someday and you will not see it. If you take care of your people, you will sleep and sleep well. Why are we all of a sudden imprisoning ourselves in our own houses? Some rich people’s house is even worse than Kirikiri prisons. When you provide the enabling environment that will lower the threshold more people will live with credibility and integrity.
When you lead an exemplary live it becomes a lot easier for people to follow suit with what you’ve done and then they will be forced to actually deliver. That was what I wanted to do.
In spite doing what you love to do you are bound to face challenges, what are these challenges?
Basically the challenges I face is people feeling something is undoable. For me, I don’t believe in the word “impossible”. When you have a lot of sceptics around you they tell you negative things, it’s usually a challenge that I must overcome because I must let people see what I am seeing so letting people to see it has been a huge challenge.
What I normally do is to prepare to take No for an answer. But when I get “no”, I know it simply means next option. So I leave that and go to somebody else. I continue and I don’t give up. It’s all about persistence, perseverance, and maintaining the passion. We will definitely get there. There is nothing we cannot dream of and once you dream of it you can actually make it happen.
When I was a Governor of Toastmaster International, people felt that it’s a new district and that was the first time we were having a district in West Africa, and how will you do it and I said for me it’s not about being number one in the world, let’s show them that we exist. They’ve given us that opportunity and then before we knew it, we’ve became the best in the world. Showing them that we exist is about meeting certain criteria and meeting the criteria meant beating all the other districts in the world and that was how we became the number one.
Right now again, I’ve told people, our district has 23 States and the FCT, we are not the only district in Nigeria, there are three districts in Nigeria, Lagos and Ogun state alone is one district with almost 2,000 Rotarians, South-South, South-East, the two together is also a district with about 2,400 Rotarians. All of the North-West, North-East, North-Central, and all of the states in the South-West without Lagos and Ogun State form one district where we have over 97 million people and we just have 1,900 Rotarians. This is the seat of power; this is where everything happens, why should we have just 1900? I tell people we are going to charter 50 new clubs in this Rotary year. People say it is not possible, that why don’t we make it 20, at least in the past people have been doing 10 and five, why don’t you do 20? The highest we have had so far in the district is 13.
Of course you must turn a deaf ear and stay focused on where you want to go. As I speak to you today we have chartered nine clubs already and this is just the third month. Don’t you think it’s possible to get to our 50?
The beauty of it is that when you refuse to listen to skeptics and you begin to move, first they will laugh at you. They will say you are not serious next; they will keep quiet and not respond to you. The third step they will now begin to join you. Right now they are keeping quiet but initially they laughed but when they’ve seen us doing nine. By the end of this September I am sure they will see us doing 10, 11, 12. Now they are keeping quiet, they are not talking again. By next month they will join us and once they join us that means more hands on deck.
