Mayowa Oluyede is the founder of MS ESTATES, a property firm in the United Kingdom. He told SEGUN KASALI how he has sojourned through life so far.
How did your story begin?
I am the first child of my father, mother and seven children—six boys and one girl. Sadly, I lost my kid brother in 1998. My late brother was the most intelligent of all of us. That is not to say I am not intelligent. I was raised by my grandfather. I attended Salvation Army School in Surulere. After my primary education, I relocated to Akure and at this time my grandfather was the Akogun of Akureland, Chief Tafau Oluyede of blessed memory. I gained admission to Idanre High School which was a boarding school. I didn’t stay long there because a new school called Akure Muslim College was established and my grandfather being a Muslim and a patron of Muslim societies wanted me to school there. In fact, his original intention was for me to go to Cairo for schooling but that did not happen.
Why?
For some reasons, it just did not happen and that was why he brought me to Akure Muslim College and I was one of the pioneering students of the school. So, I finished from Akure Muslim College in 1984. My grades were not fantastic; out of eight subjects, five or six of my results were withheld. Immediately, I had to travel to Lagos to see my parents and told them my result was not good. Immediately, I was enrolled at Ebenezer Comprehensive High School in Ijaye, Agege area. I came out with good grades in all the subjects but sadly, not in English Language.
How did this affect you?
It slowed down my education; I had to resit English and Economics. Luckily for me, I got admission into University of Lagos that same year. That was also God’s plan because my original plan was to study Banking and Finance or Accounting but I did not meet the cut-off by two marks. I kept pushing and I was able to look at other courses. I eventually did course transfer to Estate Management, which was a blessing to me really.
In what sense?
It is a blessing because if I had studied Accounting, I don’t think I would have been where I am today. So, Estate Management as at that time, for me, was an unknown course. I never met anyone who studied that course until one of my uncles came to our house. He just finished from Ife, doing his National Youth Service Corps programme and was posted to News Agency of Nigeria having studied International Relations. He spoke to me about Estate Management. He told me a lot of good things about the course and that was how I started the course and finished with good grades. After my graduation, I was posted to Akwa Ibom State for my youth service. So, while there, I served with a company in Eket. From there, I moved to Savannah Bank.
What did you do immediately after service?
I came to Lagos to stay with my parents and my first job was with Diya Fatimilehin & Co.
Why did you leave Nigeria for United Kingdom?
My late wife was the one in the United Kingdom. Her parents would bring her to the United States and UK almost every year. When we got married, I felt the need to up my game, considering the fact that this is a lady that goes to the US and UK almost every time. I was able to close a transaction and I said to her let us go to the UK. Our coming to the UK was unintentional because it was for a visit and especially to continue the tradition. Even at the first instance, the embassy said they don’t think I was going to come back but they granted me the visa eventually. It was December 15, 2000. When we landed in Heathrow and I felt as I was in heaven. So, I had to beg my wife to let us stay.
How did you meet your wife?
I met my wife of blessed memory in church in late 1995. Going to church, I saw this pretty lady. I wondered to myself where she had been all her life. Three years after, we got married. We started as friends. Of course, I had many options, but she stood out in terms of being humble. She comported herself well and was God-fearing. She was well-trained. These days, love is not enough. She had some qualities she brought to the table as well. She had her own unique nature. Her smile was contagious. When I told her I would love to settle with her, I would not lie to you, it took me two years to get a Yes.
Why?
Because my former church, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), had a structure. If you like a lady, you have to tell your pastor first. So, I had to wait for two years to get response from both of them.
I miss her companionship. I miss somebody who gave everything for me. I believe she was designed for me. She did not pursue her own agenda but mine. She was after what would make me happy.
Let’s talk about nicknames you’ve been given.
In my secondary school days, I was called ‘Lagos boy’ because I came from Lagos. But, in my university days, I was called ‘Elton Mayo’, who was one of the renowned management gurus. Today, I still have nicknames I am called like ‘Moneyger’ because I talk about money a lot.
People with nicknames are either very stubborn or unique.
Yes, I was stubborn but in a good sense. If I wanted something, I would do it. Sometimes, from a Yoruba family they want you to go to school and not play football. I am very good at playing table tennis and I would play late into the night. So, you would have to tell your younger siblings to tell your parents you are in bed already while still playing table tennis. These were some of the things I can remember growing up as a young boy. There was an incident where I climbed the pawpaw tree to pluck a ripe pawpaw. You won’t believe that I fell on a broken bottle and I still have the mark till today. That mark is something I cannot forget. I was drenched in blood. Despite the injury, my father still beat the hell out of me and told me ‘don’t be stubborn’.
Who was the disciplinarian between your parents?
My dad was very tough on us. I am grateful for all the discipline. My dad could just come home and say ‘how was school today? What were you taught today?’ He wants you to answer those questions. If you fail to answer them, be rest assured you are in trouble. And I remember we had koboko (horse whip) in the house as well.
What traits did you take from both?
Dad was a determined person; he was very dedicated and committed. He told us ‘we don’t need anybody to achieve what we want to achieve in life.’ For my mum, she was a business person and so she taught us how to do business. Growing up as a little boy, I hawked on all the streets of Industrial Estate of Ilupeju. Very early in the morning, you would see me hawking bread, coca-cola and all that. They were devoted Christians who infused the belief system that you can achieve anything into us.
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