Success In Nigeria
Big Success In Nigeria
By Dee Taylor-Jolley
On The Move!
Glory Obong, our personal assistant (PA), greets us in the hotel lobby, as we exist the elevator. We stand and wait as our chauffeured car circles the driveway of the Lagos Oriental Hotel on Victoria Island. We are ushered to our car for the hour ride to the University of Lagos.
Our security detail (armed men in a Toyota truck with flashing lights) follows closely behind.
As we enter the highway, there is a sea of cars that belie any rush hour in the United States - even Los Angeles! Lane divides are to be driven over; stoplights ignored. Our security escort paves the way with blaring horns, flashing lights and men waving their arms and pointing for others to move out of our way. Pedestrians scatter and cars stop abruptly as we pass.
Welcome to Lagos, Nigeria, in West Africa!
Against All Odds
"Against All Odds!" That's the theme of the program of FirstBank of Nigeria, our host company. They invited Willie to Nigeria to encourage and inspire their universities' youth. FirstBank is Nigeria's oldest and the premier bank in the country. It prides itself on being first!
And so, FirstBank is the financial institution to leap forward and make the commitment to growing the future of their young people!
Willie's Message
Dream! Your success is determined by your own ability to dream outrageous dreams! Never give up on yourself!
Decide! Write down what you want. Clarify your vision. Remove yourself from negative folks who tell you what you can't do. They will kill your dreams.
Do! With dogged persistence - let nothing stand in your way of getting it! Do three small things everyday to take you in the direction of your dream.
Using a combination of music, humor and passion, Willie whipped the thousand students into a fizzy getting them to see that its possible to live their dreams.
Security guards usher us out through a throng of people. We begin the hour drive back to the hotel.
We prepare for a repeat performance on Thursday at the University of Ibadan.
Youth Power
Nigeria has a youth population (aged 18-35) of about 60 million! If the youth were an African nation, they would be the fifth most populous country in Africa! About 1.8 million of these young people graduate from universities and institutions of higher learning yearly.
They are social media and tech savvy with Facebook, Twitter and Blackberry Messenger. And they are desperately searching for jobs in an economy that can absorb less than half of them!
Respond to the Call
FirstBank is savvy in that it recognizes the massive future power of these educated young people. They contacted Willie Jolley to help them make the connection of FirstBank as a positive force in helping their young people find, focus, fight for their dreams. FirstBank understands that their dreams will help shape the future of Nigeria!
Hunger
The University of Lagos was the first of two all day events. Food, prizes, a comedian, music and Willie Jolley as the main event!
After fifteen-hours of air travel, we are now face to face with a hunger for learning, unlike any we've seen in any of our earlier travels. They come. They stay all day. Waiting. Listening. Asking questions. Looking for answers to building a better life for themselves and their families.
The Mandate
Social media has opened the floodgates of information and is the equalizer of classes and groups around the world. Willie’s goal was to get the youth to dream big, believe that their dreams are possible and get them to focus on developing strategies for changing their futures. The response from the young people suggests he achieved those goals.
And FirstBank of Nigeria is positioning itself as the leader for making sure those goals become reality!
Read and see what Nigeria is saying about Willie!
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Dee Taylor-Jolley, President & Training Manager, Willie Jolley Worldwide
Dee Taylor-Jolley is the President of The Jolley Institute, the learning division of Willie Jolley Worldwide, which focuses on presentation skills, leadership development and customer service.
She holds a Masters Degree in Curriculum Design from The Catholic University of America.
