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cess at work and life is constantly on my
radar.
LK:
Staff attrition rate in the industry is
high. What is being done to retain good
and experienced staff?
BO:
People leave organisations for dif-
ferent reasons. Wrong reasons as well
as right reasons. When a staff wants to
leave and is determined to do so, there
is nothing really the organization can
do. However, every organization should
strive to be the employer of choice and
determine from the outset that people
would only leave for the right reasons.
Organizations should strive to reduce the
attrition rate to less than 5% and create
the work environment that would meet
the aspiration of the staff in terms of qual-
itative and quantitative matters.
LK:
What has been the greatest milestone
in your life and why?
BO:
This is a difficult one to answer. On
the personal side, having a family, my
wife Alice, and my two sons, Dumebi
and Uzoma, is truly a blessing from God
for which I am highly appreciative.
On the professional side, assuming the
position of Group Company Secretary
of United Bank for Africa Plc is a career
milestone, and I am grateful for the op-
portunity to play this very demanding
role and pray that I would justify the con-
fidence that has been reposed in me by
the Board of Directors.
LK
: As an institution, our shareholder base
is very large. How do you deal and man-
age shareholders particularly the very
vocal and active Nigerian shareholders?
BO:
The shareholders are very important
to us and we do our utmost to ensure
that they are engaged and informed
regarding the activities of the Bank and
the Group. We have access to and are
frequently in touch with the leadership
of the shareholder associations across the
country. The relationship has been very
successful and mutually reinforcing. We
have received the highest level of coop-
eration and support from our sharehold-
ers. The Bank would continue to do its ut-
most to see that the shareholders are well
attended to regarding all statutory and
non-statutory matters.
LK:
Work and family life; How do you bal-
ance the competing demands of both?
BO:
There is a lot of improvement required
here. To be honest, the office (work) takes
more of my time. The blackberry has also
contributed its fair share on this. The only
thing is that whenever I am with the fam-
ily I try to maximize the time and make
the best of each minute. The times I really
spend with the family is greatly cherished
by them and me even though there is a
lot of room for improvement. This is work-
in-progress.
LK:
What is your advice for the younger
generation who believe in get-rich quick
schemes instead of honest hard work?
BO:
There is time for everything. The best
way to guarantee a future without regret
is to manage your time in the present. The
younger generation should be mindful of
their use or misuse of time. Now is the time
to think, to plan, to articulate your vision
and to map out the strategies that would
put you in a desired, rather than an unde-
sired, place in future. I can’t over stress this
matter of time management. We do not
have all the time in the world. We should
make good, very good, use of the time we
have.
LK:
You have authored a book. Do you still
have time to write and when are we ex-
pecting a second book?
BO:
I have actually written two books. The
first one was targeted at students. It was
titled, “How to Excel in Any Examination”.
The second one is targeted at everyone
who works and it is titled, “How to Excel
At Work”. Both books have been very suc-
cessful. The first one sold out and is now out
of print. The second book, How to Excel At
Work, which took me ten years to write,
has brought me immense satisfaction.
Many, people within and outside Nigeria
have benefitted from this book, which I
consider my gift to my generation and the
generations to come. The book is packed
with strategies for achieving superior per-
formance at work. Many distinguished Ni-
gerians shared their strategies in the book,
which I feel is one of a kind. I would rec-
ommend the book to anyone who wants to
excel at work.
LK:
You seldom wear long ties. You are
always seen in bow ties. Is this a con-
scious fashion statement or an innate
desire to be different?
BO:
I have been wearing the traditional
bow ties for over 10 years. My bow ties
are not pre-knotted ones. I knot my bow-
ties and that’s the way to go if you want
to wear bowties. It is not a fashion state-
ment. I have been fascinated by bow-
ties all along. I just developed the cour-
age to wear them in April 2000 when
it was not fashionable to wear bowties.
I got a lot of comments, some positive
and some negative. I do not wear bow-
ties exclusively. I also wear the regular
ties, the slim ones though, and quite re-
cently, if I must tell truth. I guess I want
my kids to know and have options. A lot
of people have been influenced by me
regarding the bowties and I am very
happy to see them looking very well-
dressed in traditional bowties. Indeed,
to my surprise, at my last place of em-
ployment, all the young men came to
work formally adorned with bowties, for
a send-forth event held in my honour!
LK: We understand that you ride a bike.
How often and what other ways do you
keep fit.
BO:
Yes, I have been riding for quite a
while. I have 2 stationary bikes, 1 moun-
tain bike and 1 professional road bike.
So, I have no excuse for not keeping fit.
The longest distance I have done on the
road is 50 kilometres. That was gruel-
ling. I have also given out a couple of
bikes. It is probably one of the best sport
equipment for keeping fit. The reason
why I have so many bikes is to have
options. It is difficult if not dangerous
to ride at night or when the weather is
unfriendly. I ride every opportunity I
can get. Now, most times, almost every-
day, I wake up early to walk/jog. I do
an average of 5 kilometres daily. So, I
combine jogging, walking and cycling.
I used to play golf. Now, it is difficult to
create the time. Fingers crossed, 2012
would be a better year for my golf.
Ask the Executive