OBIAGELI EZEKWESILI THE ACTIVIST ACCOUNTANT
Nseobong Okon-Ekong was part of a motley group in Lagos that listened to former Minister of Mines and Power; and Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, give a talk on leadership and creating value
Obiageli Ezekwesili has a reputation that goes far ahead of her. Before some contrived cloud gathered over the sun of her life which was shining so brightly, it was almost certain that any mention of her would get excellent reviews. But in recent times, her principled stand on national affairs has coloured her perception in some quarters; so much that depending on where you stand, she is either a saint or a villain. What no one can deny, however, is her professionalism and upright disposition which is even acknowledged by detractors.
Arguably, Ezekwesili, a chartered accountant, was largely known by her family members and professional colleagues. Perhaps, somewhere in the recesses of the collective memory of Nigerians, a few celebrated her designation as co-founder of Transparency International, the global anti-corruption body based in Berlin, Germany.
Nigerians began to take more than a passing interest in her when she was appointed head of the Due Process Office under former President Olusegun Obasanjo. It can be safely argued that it was her entry into government that brought accountability to the fore like at no other time. She would later serve as Minister of Solid Minerals and then as Minister of Education. She returned on the international scene as the VicePresident of the World Bank’s Africa division from May 2007 to May 2012.
She recently told a group of aspiring leaders at the The Dream Centre, an arm of GLEEHD Foundation at GbagadaLagos run by Dayo Israel, that she made a huge sacrifice to return home to work in Nigeria; part of which was a 90 percent cut in salary. She revealed that her salary as a minister was a mere USD1200. Ezekwesili served the Nigerian government for close to seven years.
Among other things, Ezekwesili specializes in mentoring and speaking as a life coach, these days. It gives her joy to fire the ambition of persons who aspire to leadership. Taking her leave of government has not made her any less busy. Three times, she has been invited to return to government as minister. She turned down all offers, where some would give their arm to serve as a Special Assistant to a minister.
In recent times, Ezekwesili is not particularly in the good books of the government of the day. Her unabashed criticism of some policies of the Jonathan administration tends to pitch her in the opposition, but not quite. Her looming presence as an opponent became apparent when she took up the fight to free the Chibok girls, many times in direct confrontation to security agencies. More darts have been fired in her direction for this effort than at any other time. Pilloried from all quarters, she, nevertheless stands on her deep convictions, Ezekwesili said she laughs when she is abused for choosing to stand with the Chibok girls. The truth, according to her, is that rather than being jobless and lazy as is being peddled of her in some quarters, she can hardly match the demand for her attention.
“I spend time creating money. I am playing on the global stage with leaders of countries that I don’t even have their citizenship who nonetheless realize the value I bring to governance, particularly the economy. I am a Senior Economic Adviser to countries where the presidents are reformed minded.
There are many things that I desire to do, but I may never do them because I do not have the time. There are times in my life when I don’t feel like leaving