Page 91 - Demo

HAPPY70THBIRTHDAY,MR.ATEDOPETERSIDELOLADEWhenIarrivedinLagosin2000formyNYSC,IsawtheIBTCbuildingforthefirsttime%u2014andIknewIwantedtoworkthere.Butpeoplearoundmewerequicktodiscouragethatdream.\forintellectualsuperstarsandthechildrenoftheelite,\Iheldontothathope.Afterworkingatvariousinstitutionsandexperiencingdisappointmentalongtheway,Ifinallygotthatdreamjob.It%u2019sstillthetestimonyIsharewhenItalkabouthowGodcanturnthingsaroundwithin24hours.WorkingatIBTCwasmorethanjustemployment%u2014itwasanansweredprayer.AtIBTC,IworkedinanenvironmentwhereIwasvaluedformyskillsandnotsubjectedtoharassmentorunduepressure.Iwasn%u2019tforcedtochaseunrealistictargets.Iwasn%u2019ttreatedlikeasalesproduct.Ididn%u2019tneedtoalignwithanypoliticalcamptothrive.Itwasaworkplacethatstoodout%u2014professional,ethical,andpeaceful.Thankyouforbuildingsuchasereneanddignifiedplacetowork.Youledbyexample.Employeesweretreatedwithrespect%u2014wecoulddineinthesamespacesasyouandevensharetheelevator.IstillrememberthefirsttimeIaddressedyouasMr.Anaponacall.Yourespondedkindly,simplyasking,%u201cAreyouthenewemployee?%u201dYourhumilityleftalastingimpression.Youbuiltanorganisationthatpeopletrustwithtrillionsofnaira%u2014andstillsleepsoundlyatnight.Integrityflowedfromthetopdown.Evenjuniorstaffupheldthosevalues.YearsafterIleft,Ioncehandedasharecertificatetoastaffmemberoutsideabranch,simplysaying,%u201cIt%u2019sforStockbrokingattheHeadOffice.%u201dNoformalities,noquestions%u2014anditwasdelivered.Thatisthecultureyoubuilt.IthankGodforyourlifeandlegacy.IBTChasbecomeaglobalbrand.OnlyamanfavouredbybothGodandmancouldaccomplishthat.Peopleoftensay,%u201cANAPhasonlyonehead%u2014ifhecandoit,socanyou.%u201dButasanentrepreneurtoday,I%u2019vecometounderstandtheweightofwhatyou'vebuilt.Intruth,Ibelieveyouhavemultipleheads.Happy70thbirthday,sir.Mayyouenjoythismilestonesurroundedbyloveandgratitude.WithdeeprespectLOLADEAKINWALE91