Alhamdulillah! God Has Been So Kind To Me, Says Wadoye At 60

Alhaji (Chief) Waidi Haruna, is the Chairman/Chief Executive of Wadoye Express Ltd. In this special no-hold-barred interview with AbuSatar Hamed and Simon Fakeye, the Bobagunwa of Ilaro-Yewa fondly called Wadoye opens up on his journey so far in life and other salient issues. Excerpts.

How do you feel today?

I will like to thank the Almighty Allah for the journey so far, though there were rough moments, but being 60 today, I am very grateful to God, especially for keeping me alive up to this time.

Many things have happened, but I thank Him for keeping me going, especially my business, family and well-being.

I thank God so much for helping me to build my Empire.

How has it been life with you in the last 60years?

My experience in life has been extremely rough I can say because I am not from rich family. During my growing up years, on many occasions it was difficult for us to get what to eat.

I can remember vividly a day when my father and I went into a bush near Itolu area of Ilaro, headquarters of Ogun West, because we had nothing to eat. We were searching for snails or mushrooms to fetch for our meal.

On that day, we had cassava flour (elubolafun) to make Amala, but we lacked the soup to take with the meal.

My father said, “Waidi let’s go into Itolu bush to look for snails or mushrooms so that your mother can have something to make soup.

I followed him, maybe I was about 10years old then. Getting there, I got some waterleaf. We looked around the bush for snails for hours, but we can’t get one single snail despite the fact that it was a very thick forest. But we got mushrooms.

We brought it home and my mother cooked a soup with which we ate the Amala. It was our only meal taken throughout that day.

This is one of the reasons I always thank God. Before I say anything in the public, first thing you will hear from me is Alhamudulillah three times, but many people don’t know why.

So, when I look at how I have been increasing steadily over the years, I noticed it’s not by my power because I am not from a rich family.

My parents could not afford to sponsor me beyond secondary school. It was by the support of Allah that I was able to finance myself for additional education. One of the reasons I will always be thankful to God.

When and how did you relocate to Lagos?

Not long after I finished writing WAEC exams, I decided and moved to squat with one of my friends in Agege area of Lagos State.

My friend was a commercial driver, plying Mushin route from Agege. So, I decided to join him in the business, since I had no better source of income to get fund for my educational pursuit, and to care for my siblings at home.

As I said earlier, back at home, there was nothing to eat. They were all starving; my mother was a petty trader.

So I started assisting my friend as conductor; I was collecting money from passengers.

Infact, the fare then were very small, perhaps N1:00 in addition to serial beatings and harassment by the Police officers who were fond of alleging that I have opened door against the traffic law.

After some years, I left the job and got employment in a security company called Global Security Company in 1983 where I worked as Patrol Officer. I was given a motorcycle for patrolling our locations.

I was driving round Lagos monitoring the guards posted to Union Bank, First Bank and all other places where the company has personnel.

As every month went by, I was able to save some amount.

After a while, I got a better offer at IMNL Cargo in 1985, a company under the Chairmanship of Chief Alani Bankole, father to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives in Nigeria.

I joined IMNL Cargo as a dispatch rider. Not quite long, Chief Bankole left the company.

Chief Rotimi Williams was appointed as Chairman to replace Chief Bankole. I was there working to finance my advancement in education. I got admission and started studying Shipping Management.

After I obtained the first degree in Shipping Management, I was promoted to Cargo Supervisor. I was managing the company’s aircrafts; as soon the aircrafts landed at Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, I was to see to the safe delivery of cargos. So, having become a professional, I began to learn more on the job about shipping and logistics.

After some years having gathered some amount of money and being convinced that I have had sufficient knowledge on maintaining clients relationship, I pulled out and registered Wadoye Enterprises.

Few years after, the company’s progress was becoming enviable so we upgraded to Wadoye Nigeria Ltd for us to be able to get license and necessary documents.

So, by June 1992, Wadoye Nigeria Ltd began full operation.

Though, there were waves in terms of customers service, and unfavorable  government’s policy, we didn’t stop work totally,  just that, it has been on and off especially during Abacha era.

At that time, almost all aircrafts in the country collapsed. Today, we thank God that we are still in business. And we have got to thank God for making the business growing by the day and at least we have established 62 branches in other countries; three offices in US, two in England. We have branches in Dubai as well as Singapore among others.

In a nutshell, it has been very good for me because it is not my doing, but God who has been guiding and managing the situation for me as I can’t tell how the business has been improving.

When I look at myself, and look back, on how we were able to endure and focus on our vision, I thank God.

How lucrative is the business of cargo?

In the 80’s, the profit margin in the cargo business is like a very big money, some people alleged us of money rituals. I mean, there’s lot of money in the business unlike today where there are more than enough cargo companies. Infact, the competition among the companies have brought down the profit.

To what extent is Nigeria’s government policy on shipping favorable?

Especially since 2015, it has brought about unquantifiable loss to businesses, and micro economies in particular.

I can only beg government to look into giving priority to supply chain and logistics as it is the most key point in any economic growth.

Before any country could stand head tall, their supply chain and logistics must be vibrant, especially the import and export sector.

Government must also make sure the trades are balanced. Federal government has not helped the situation; through many bureaucracy in documentation; bottleneck guidelines all over the agencies.

The truth is that it’s a different set up in all other countries. I’m the Director of Wadoye Express Worldwide and I moved my cargo all over the world.

I know the Customs policy in the UK, China, India, US. Nigeria Customs policy is the worst. I have to be honest with you. Our country’s policy is the most callous from among them all.

You see, the policy makers in Nigeria don’t love Nigerians. Otherwise, they would have put things rightly. It saddens most us who have human feelings to see the way governance is being run in this part of the world.

Its sad to note that some Nigerians are fond of laundering the country’s money to fund industries elsewhere, and in such cases, they enjoy laws and policies that make the business to prosper in that countries.

But when they return here in Nigeria, they twist the developmental policies to oppress innocent poor Nigerians. And they have forgotten that their family can’t do it alone. Any policy they know wouldn’t favour the “cabal” will be thrown into trash.

Mention any poor man that owns an oil well in this country. They block every opportunity the poor people could have to succeed in life.

They make policy that usually hit back at the economy because they are all of rich background. They are not like myself who grew up amidst poor parents and siblings.

They are either from Dangote or Otedola’s lineage, Dantatas or Okorochas. Yes, they could be Akpabios or Tinubus, at times, they are Orjis.

They don’t in a real sense feel it where shoe pinches the masses.

What of border closure, do you think it does not have its merit?

Not at all. My brother, it’s callous. It doesn’t favour the poor. Infact, it’s against the progress of the country. It’s a useless policy to the elites’ advantage. This present government is running the country like an enterprise. All they want is all the money into their private pocket nothing more.

We that are nearer to the masses are feeling the pains of the poor masses, because we can’t close our eyes to their suffering. We also have experienced how it is to be poor.

As a successful grandpa, what is your recipe?

In marriage, the first thing you have in mind is endurance. You have to accept your partner absolutely with his or her flaw. Every marriage partner must have patience and learn to overlook and forgive. There’s no marriage that is rancour-free or perfect. It’s just matter of tolerance and understanding. My wife and I have resolved to accept each other’s flaws.

How did you and your wife meet?

I met my wife when I was about to leave secondary school. At that time she was in class two at Egbado High School, Igbogila, Yewa North of Ogun State. My school was to participate in the Inter-School Relay Race of which I was one of my school’s team. I also ran 200m as well as 100m relay race for Ogun State.

After the race, in which we came second, though with being slightly unlucky, as the Senior Prefect, I decided not to return alongside my school team (Ketu College, Igan-Alade) that day

At the event, Memunat has attracted me and I resolved to make her agree to become my girl friend.

As a result of this, I had to stay at Igbogila till next day. And I stayed with one of my friends at Igbogila. Before then, I had toasted her and after series of women pranks, she agreed to my proposal and we have come to love each other.

Thereafter, w e missed contact for about five years as I left for Lagos immediately I finished my WAEC exams. But when I visited my parents after about five years I linked up with some of my friends at Ilaro.

By the time I returned to Lagos, I have to relocate from my former base at Agege, though I left a note that my former host can easily locate me.

That been the case, one afternoon, my friend came calling that a girl from Ilaro was looking for me. Who could that be? Which girl could have summoned courage to find me in Lagos?

I was surprised to see Memunat, my girl friend, who stays in Ilaro, but schooled in Igbogila.

She had collected my address from one of my friends whom I gave a copy of my business address.

It was around evening and the most reasonable idea is to allow her spend the night with me, but it could be embarrassing and ridiculous.

At a point, I showed her the mat on which I sleep and how I have been using my only short knicker and shirt in a nylon bag as pillow behind the entrance door in the passage of the house.

To my amazement, Memunat insisted to be with me on the mat which I vehemently rejected.

In a nutshell, we got married and we started our life on a very low key, to Allah be all glory today which is the reason I always say Alhamudulilah three times before I make any public speech.

WADOYES 60TH & 35 YEARS WEDDING ANNIVERSARY IN PIX