There is Hope for the Less Privileged

Despite the fact that our government has paid little or no attention to our public institutions, year in, year out, students whose parents cannot afford private institutions throng into the public ones.Many enter into the so-called prestigious universities with high expectations only for it to be shattered when they see the state of the facilities in those institutions. Our public institutions live on past glory as they are in dire need of immediate attention in terms of maintenance.The conditions in the universities are so deplorable that lecture rooms and hostels are a sorry sight. Most students receive lectures under harsh conditions, yet they keep thriving and are eager to go to any length to make their dreams come true. One of such Nigerian students who has excelled locally and globally is Bankole Makanju.Bankole Rasheed Makanju may be the fifth recipient of the 7Up-Harvard Business School scholarship since it was introduced in 2009; however, Bankole’s victory represents hope for public school education in Nigeria.Makanju is the first graduate of a public institution to get the scholarship. Applicants for the scholarship have to be accepted into Harvard Business School (HBS) before applying. Previous recipients have been young Nigerians who had their first degrees abroad.However, Makanju is a 2010 Electrical/Electronics Engineering graduate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG). He also attended King’s College in Lagos for his secondary education.At the scholarship unveiling last Thursday at the Afe Babalola Auditorium, University of Lagos, Marketing Manager for Seven-Up Bottling Company, Mr. Norden Thurston, described the 28-year-old’s admission into HBS as a rare feat.“To go to school in Nigeria and graduate in Nigeria and be accepted into Harvard Business School is difficult. He is the first Nigerian to study from a public university to win this scholarship,” he said.But that was not all that made Makanju win the scholarship. Thurston added that the young man was the one candidate, who demonstrated a passion to return after his studies to make an impact in Nigeria. Rather than describe the country’s problems in his application, he said Makanju made assessors to see possibilities.Makanju said the application process for HBS was challenging but that he did all he could to prepare for it. He described himself as being fortunate to have gotten the scholarship.He also explained that his education was good enough to provide the foundation he needed to excel in the world of work. Makanju hinged his reason for applying to HBS on his desire to learn how to build internationally-recognized Nigerian business brands.“I want to help build great Nigerian brands; build big Nigerian businesses; build something that Nigerians can travel and be proud of as truly Nigerian; just help set up Nigeria as a place where you can actually grow a business and take over the world and serve the rest of Africa,” he said.Seven-Up General Manager, Human Resources, Mr. Yinka Adesina, said the scholarship initiative is the firm’s way of grooming great leaders for Nigeria and that recipients are under no obligation to work for the organization after their studies.He said the unveiling of the 2015 recipient was brought to UNILAG to inspire secondary school pupils, undergraduates, and corps members present to prepare for their own great future.He urged them to take the guest speaker, Lanre Olushola’s talk about leadership as their own take home from the programme.Olushola, author of The Money Book, said he was both an alumnus of UNILAG and HBS. Underscoring the importance of Seven-Up Scholarship initiative, he added that attending HBS changed his life.“When I attended HBS in 2007, my life changed; my business went to another level. We need to celebrate Seven-Up for this initiative,” he said.Addressing the topic: ”˜15 Steps to Successful Leadership’, Olushola told the youth that to become extra ordinary leaders, they need to work on their character, build their competence and capacity.To do this, he said they should have the right vision; synchronize and align it with their core values; have positive mental attitudes; act on time; possess sound judgment; and be flexible.