Intro: Olalekan Olowo is a responsible and
resourceful fellow. He is a Graduate Research Assistant, Next Generation System
(NGS) Lab Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering J.B. Speed School
of Engineering, University of Louisville, Kentucky at the United States of America.
A fine gentleman, Mr. Olalekan Olowo is
focused and leads a purposeful life. He believes that he has so much to offer
the society and so he is working so hard to better the lives of others.
He is one Nigerian who is so proud of his country.
But he is not happy about the spate of killings and kidnappings which presently
characterise his home country.
From his base in the United States,
Olalekan Olakitan Olowo, in this interview with GLOBAL ACHIEVERS, bares his
mind on the recent happenings in Nigeria and proffers solutions to some of the myriad
of problems back home. He also shares reminiscences of his times in Nigeria,
back in the days.
GAM: Can we meet you?
OLOWO: My name is Olalekan Olakitan Olowo.
I am a native of Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State, Nigeria. I was born and raised in
Lagos state, Nigeria. I am the first of three boys raised by a single parent. I
did my primary education in Lagos state at a school named “MATE.” I attended
Federal Government College, Ilorin in Kwara state, Nigeria for my secondary
education. I obtained my first degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering
from Ekiti State University (formerly known as UNAD), in Ekiti state, Nigeria.
I had my Master’s degree at the prestigious Covenant University at Ota, Ogun
state, Nigeria, before proceeding to the United States to commence my Ph.D in
Electrical and Computer Engineering and specialising in the field of robotics.
GAM: Can you share the moments and memories
of growing up days?
OLOWO: Well, growing up was pretty modest
for me. There was a time we lost our home and had to put up with a family
friend. My siblings and I hardly had flashy and expensive things because my mother
was only a secondary school teacher with meagre pay and had so much to cater
for us. Her foremost priority was our education.
However, we were closely knitted as a
family, lived in love and prayed a lot for a better future.
GAM: What informed the choice of your course
of study in the university?
OLOWO: I remember growing up and my parents
often mentioned that I would be a medical doctor. When I was ten years old, my
father had this magazine that had several pictures of different airplanes and
it was my favorite magazine. I then asked my father if I could become an
aeronautic engineer. He said there might be no institution at the time offering
such a course and suggested if I could pick one closest to that option like
mechanical or electrical engineering, but I chose electrical because I was fascinated
by electricity. Now, my Ph.D is in Electrical and Computer Engineering and my
research has been in the field of robotics.
GAM: How relevant is your field of study to
the further development of your home country, Nigeria?
OLOWO: Engineers determine how well human,
material and natural resources can be utilised to generate greater levels of
productivity.
As the dynamics of manufacturing Is scaling
up, robots are being created to increase level of accuracy, precision, lowering
the cost of enhancing productivity. So, I will say the field of engineering
particularly in the areas of robotics and automation can greatly increase the
productivity of our local content to meet a high level of demand.
GAM: From your base in the United States,
how do you feel about the news of killings and kidnappings in your home country
and what do you think can be done to curb them?
OLOWO: It is very disheartening to hear sad
news from home especially when it has to do with human life. My family lose someone
due to such kidnappings about two years ago along Abuja-Kaduna road and I can
tell you is not a pain that is easy to deal with.
It is obvious that moving the military
administrative base even to the worst hit region has not help in curbing the
menace. This shows how low the level of security intelligence is in my country.
The insecurity can be traced to lot of issues
such as; neglect, economic crises, frustrating the populace and people doing whatever
they can to survive. There is also the case of selfish partisan political and
religious agendas, paralysing the security of the nation.
In this age where everyone has a digital
and online footprint you can always start by looking for patterns between local
mobile telecoms network querying between the service providing infrastructure
and the mobile devices between the point of capture to the moment when the
signals can’t be detected anymore.
In other words, our mobile devices even when
they are silent are constantly listening to network infrastructures for prompting
on the next available message or call. So, all those data of shadow querying by
devices with the network are always available. Perfecting that technique should
give security operatives the direction as to where to begin their search. Other
sophisticated approaches are available within the international community. It
is a question of if the government would reach out and stop playing politics
with it.
GAM: Do you think the sack of service
chiefs will improve the security situation in Nigeria?
OLOWO: Sacking service chiefs may not
necessarily mean the security situation will improve especially if the
replacements comes from the same incompetent fold. But I believe is a show of
intent to let us know you cannot be in such a sensitive position and not deliver.
GAM: What are your dreams or plans for
Nigeria?
OLOWO: I really love this question because
its one that have always consumed my thoughts.
My dreams and plans for the nation in my
own way have been centered around raising platforms that will spring forth
competent leadership in various sectors recognizing the relevant mediums and
approaches of execution that will take into consideration our strengths and
weaknesses as a nation to build systems, and restructure ideals to produce
maximum impact.
GAM: If you were to change anything in your
country, what would that be?
OLOWO: Hmmmmmm, let me rephrase it as, if I
were to disrupt anything in Nigeria, what would it be? I will say the political
system of the country.
If I can disrupt the political structure of
the country right now. It would have the following elements: First, more youthful
political representation. Second, more technical support to allow for more ease
and inclusive participation in the process enabling reach without borders. Third,
incorporate the co-operation and participation of country men in diaspora.
GAM: From your background, as earlier
foretold, you did your first degree and NYSC in Nigeria. Can you share some
reminiscences of those times?
OLOWO: (smiles...). It was a bitter- sweet
experience for me. During my undergraduate years, there were challenges on
different fronts. I studied with virtually no electricity. I read with candles
because they were the cheapest alternative. The incessant strikes elongated the
number of years I used to complete my programme.
That apart, I was attacked by cultists in
my first year of study and had a bunk mate who was one of their leaders. Almost
got me scared if I was even going to finish in the institution. But with all of
these challenges, there were beautiful moments of meeting individuals of like
minds who wanted to proffer solution to societal issues and make lasting impacts
amidst the difficulties. The opportunities I had in mobilising youngsters in
social entrepreneurship, led in spiritual endeavours and made quality friends
make me appreciate those periods of my life.
I did the mandatory one year National Youth
Service Corps in Ukwa-East, Abia state, Nigeria. There I demonstrated my skills
and services for one year to fatherland. I liked the fact that I got to see the
country from another perspective and did appreciated country men from other
tribes.
GAM: Do you think that the National Youth Service
Corps is still a tool for national integration?
OLOWO: I believe the idea and intention
behind its creation is still a good one but its present mode of execution and
ways by which its operations are carried out need a lot of reviews. Corps
members have been put in danger in several instances without adequate provision
for their security in sensitive places they have been sent to serve.
GAM: Where do you see yourself in the next
ten years?
OLOWO: I will refer to it more as how I see
myself in 10 years. Well, I see myself as one of the richest men in the planet.
Using the level of resources at my disposal to create platforms that will
release men and women alike into fulfilling their potentials and creating
effective leadership especially in the African continent.
GAM: Are you thinking of settling down
soon?
OLOWO: (lol) Yea!!! I will keep you posted
when is time to take that special person down the aisle.
GAM: What are your hobbies?
OLOWO: I like to dance. It is my way of relieving
myself from stress. I do like to sing and hang out at karaoke spots once in a
while. And if I am really less busy, a lot of times, I stay with my books or
spend that time brainstorming and thinking about my next growth strategy.
GAM: What advice do you have for other
youths?
OLOWO: (Hmmm), Build a “Relationship” with
3 entities (God, man and yourself).
a) Build relationship with God and commune
with him that way he will guide your path.
b) Build relationship with Man cultivating
the virtue of loyalty. That way you will never be stranded when you need help.
c) Spend time to reflect and love yourself.
That way you will understand your strength and weakness, channeling your
abilities and passion in the right direction for growth.
GAM: Do you have any regret in life so far?
OLOWO: I have made many mistakes; taken
wrong decisions and wrestled to conquer weakling habits but in all, I have no
regret because they gave me the required experience that made me who I am today
and led the path for whom I will become tomorrow.
GAM: What would you like to be remembered
for?
I want to be remembered for giving my all.
Let people think and say of me as someone who gave everything, he made life
better for others and encouraged people to live out their potentials to make
their immediate environment a better place.
GAM: Thank you for granting us this interview.
OLOWO: The pleasure is mine.
