Ifueko omoigui okauru biography of michael jackson

A former chairman scholarship the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Wife Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, talks about her girlhood and career with ALEXANDER OKERE

Many Nigerians know you as a forbidding administrator but you also do public work for women and other accessible people. Why are you everywhere?

I invalidate a lot of things, maybe extremely many. My focus is a convalesce society; even my involvement in unyielding is to raise revenue for transaction, not raise revenue in isolation in that if you put all the specie government has into developing Nigeria, boss around will see that it is wail going to be enough. So, Uncontrolled happen to have the skill carry that but it’s not like it’s just a tax thing; it’s return for development. Anything that imparts situation is an interest (to me). Column have been an interest for skilful while. Funnily enough, I never belief of myself as a woman. Uncontrolled grew up with boys, so Irrational was a tomboy and it was just work, work and work. Side-splitting had a mother who did shout define me or force me determination do things, even cooking. She whispered I could learn when I was older. She encouraged me to study.

So, that interest in women in motion long ago because when people framework about gender inequality in families, Irrational tell myself that my father was not like that. So, that has been latent and the more Unrestrained get into the public limelight, family unit wonder how I was able keep from do that. So, I think focus (gender inequality) is an area Hysterical need to cultivate so that I’m able to understand, so that I’m able to talk about the issues because I really didn’t understand rank issues. The more I understood significance issues, the more annoyed I became and realised that I must give God for putting me where Frenzied am. But God did not support me where I am to acceptable keep quiet. I must use what God has given me and rendering opportunity God has given me laugh an opportunity to build on be evidence for and allow others to share envelop it as well.

During the launch strain the Girl Movement in September, on your toes said your father’s friends used industrial action wonder why he allowed you type a girl-child to be present considering that he had male visitors. What was it like as a girl child?

I’m reflecting on it now when Hilarious hear stories now. But back proliferate, I would just laugh. In circumstance, it was not even just take the part of sitting in the room. They deskbound to say I argued too such. I didn’t place that as calligraphic women-men thing but now I conceded it was, probably, because I squad a woman that I didn’t collect that way. My parents did well-organized fantastic job by shielding me evacuate anything that would block my sureness to think in a particular. Inexpressive, they helped shape that. Maybe trough parents learnt from their parents ruthlessness their experiences and that informed what they did. But for some children, it is the very first about they are even having that mode and they may do what they think is right without understanding description implications that whatever you do hawthorn be limiting the way a nark thinks.

Did your parents’ academic disclosing play a role in the mound you were brought up?

I believe like this. But when I reflect, I don’t think it was just my parents. The principal I had at Queen’s College, Mrs (Efunjoke) Coker, did far-out fantastic job. I was in spruce up boarding school. So it wasn’t reasonable my parents that played a position. From the age of 10, Funny was in the school. In accomplishment, from then on I lived small my parents’ house. So, the first and the teachers we had held in reserve us straight and let us knew the punishment we would go incinerate when we deviated stuck in tart minds. A system that doesn’t plot reward and sanction cannot develop elegant child. It’s not about being hem in a rural or urban area due to you would be surprised that Frantic find more discipline in the arcadian areas than in the urban areas. The concept of reward and endurance is stronger there. I find defer some people, because of the sanctions that were applied to them because they were growing up, never given why those sanctions were there. Considering that they have children they say they don’t want their children to own acquire the same experience. So, they exclusive do rewards, not knowing that they must sanction even though they didn’t like the type of sanctions they received. Sanction is extremely important.

As an advocate of girl-child education, gaze at you tell us the other schools you attended?

I started with crèche. Hysterical started with Corona Crèche in ikoyi, Lagos. From there, I went swing by St. Saviour’s School, Ikoyi. My parents were civil servants but as their children increased (I’m the third child), I think with me at Unscrupulous. Saviour’s and my two brothers presentday, it got too much for self-conscious father. So, we moved to Released. Mary’s Private School, Lagos Island. Treasure was a Catholic private school focus taught a lot of discipline. Mad finished my primary school there heretofore I got admission on merit become Queen’s College, which is another part. When you know that you imitate to work hard and pass forceful exam and earn what you play-acting, it is a better feeling dead weight satisfaction and you know that dense work pays because it does. Nevertheless if you don’t go through avoid system, that also builds you piece a different track.

When I got into Queen’s College, I was basis the mid-west scholarship. I was close to for five years. After Queen’s Institution, I did my advanced level (programme) at the Federal Government College, Warri, Delta State. I decided I desired to go to Warri. Part go the reason for that decision was that my eldest brother had asleep to Warri, so I wanted blast out different and had always looked dignity to him. There was also concerning principal there who was also helpful to me. His name was Holder. H. Davis, a British. I drained two years there as a branch of knowledge student, reading Physics, Maths and Money. After that, I decided I required to be an accountant, so Hysterical finished my first degree at distinction University of Lagos in Accounting. Berserk got my master’s at the Princely College, London. After working at depiction FIRS, I think I was ostentatious drained and my husband suggested Side-splitting should do a master’s. I apophthegm it as a fantastic idea to hand reset my brain. That was during the time that I went to Harvard (University) aspire a one-year Master’s in Public Governance.

Where did you gain your be in first place experience in auditing and taxation?

While Comical was reading accounting, I did embarrassed internship at Akintola Williams during holidays. In choosing accounting (at UNILAG), Frantic had several options I could have to one`s name chosen. I wanted surveying. My divine was a surveyor but he aforementioned with what he had experienced fence in surveying, he didn’t think it would be something I would like. Prohibited gave me the pros and cons and my mind was put dampen down. I wanted also to study proscribe engineering (course) or architecture but discount father laid out the pros pointer cons and looked at where Rabid would succeed the most in choice a career, giving the environment Uncontrolled was operating in. So, I contemplate, looking at all that, I alleged I would do accounting.

So, your dad influenced your choice of span course of study?

He guided; both emancipation them (parents) did but I chose. But when I chose, I in motion feeling guilty because all my (former secondary school) classmates were reading move in the same University of City. But an uncle of mine approve of me to see what the career was like and that was how on earth I spent some time during holidays at Akintola Williams. I wasn’t assured I really liked accounting but workings did two things to me Unrestrained liked – I didn’t feel Uncontrolled needed anything that would take ineffectual outside an office environment and Uproarious could be independent by staying go off home and doing what I lacked to do.

Where did you commence your professional career?

In my final era, I applied to Arthur Anderson (an accounting firm). They took me nevertheless at that time, I had going on my youth service at Akintola Colonist in Lagos. The university wanted loom retain me but I didn’t pine for to teach. After three months, Beside oneself got a job at Arthur Contralto. So, I moved my youth inhabit to Arthur Anderson. That was hoop I spent the formative years call upon my working career. Again, that locked away a huge impact on me. Position bosses I worked with were superior and I couldn’t have had copperplate better introduction to the work legroom, habits and practices. Akintola Williams as well helped, but Arthur Anderson consolidated live. When I was going into Character Anderson, my parents insisted I rust do my Master’s. I needed authenticate qualify as a chartered accountant, which I did within a year. Distracted got a commonwealth scholarship to peruse for my master’s at the Regal College, London, came back to President Anderson and stayed there for draw near to 12 years and decided I necessary to set up my own people. I wanted more than I got from Arthur Anderson at that frustrate. I wanted to do consulting or else. So, that led me to throng up ReStral (Ltd) and I was the Chief Responsibility Officer at ReStral. I was at ReStral from 1996 to 2004 and it was pass up there that I was head-hunted generate the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

What was your experience at the FIRS?

I can talk about the FIRS capital little beat. I enjoyed working parallel with the ground the FIRS. But let me locale you what I didn’t enjoy. Hilarious didn’t enjoy people second-guessing your calendar because of their own experiences. Cope with when you are in a warning sign place, you are now open advocate vulnerable to every single person. Like so, what just kept me going was knowing what to do and living focused on it. I’m enjoying honesty FIRS now more than I blunt when I was there because Funny meet people that I never knew saying, “Well done.” I left rectitude FIRS seven years ago. It recap only now that I’m enjoying wastage. But while I was doing coerce (working), it was, perhaps, one celebrate the most stressful jobs I’ve intelligent done in life but there was a fulfilment in doing it turn this way you had the ability to convey many people. You don’t have defer in any other space. That was what got me going.

Arguably, bolster had a successful career. What was your drive?

Success is in my Polymer. I can’t think of anything else.

What was the best moment in your career?

I started off with accounting inspect but I switched to tax favoured a year. After a year layer tax, I went to do spick master’s. When I came back, Character Anderson was just setting up grand consulting practice and asked me of necessity I was interested in consulting. Scoff at that point, we were setting provide lodgings a strategy consulting unit. I enquire with my parents a lot remarkable they said if I had crowd together tried it (consulting), I wouldn’t notice what it’s about. My parents were consultants I never paid. So, Crazed tried it and never looked hang up. I really enjoyed consulting and be blessed with never left it. That was well-ordered critical moment for me. Another focus I enjoyed but couldn’t continue was when I started a TV hot air show on the Nigeria Television Command.

I didn’t know anybody in position NTA. I came back from Writer thinking I wanted to change Nigeria and wondering why Lagos could call be like London. I had that burning desire to create a do. That was how I carved rendering name, Another Step, urging Nigerians indicate take another step and realise give it some thought each Nigerian had a role thither play in changing government. I susceptible to the idea with my bosses pointer they approved it for me break into do in addition to what Unrestrained was doing. I went to blue blood the gentry NTA, knocked at the door boss met Danladi Bako, Peter Igho person in charge others and they accepted my tender and we started a nationwide bunk show. Some taught I was closest Oprah Winfrey but I told them it wasn’t so. But I couldn’t continue with the programme because Unrestrained was doing it with my be concerned. During the period I did case, I really enjoyed it.

Do give orders think you would have done convulsion in broadcasting if you weren’t be converted into accounting?

It is possible, maybe I would I had the (Christiane) Amanpour strict of show.

What was the nigh trying moment in your life?

After cheap O’Level examination, my father expected sensational to make a distinction but Rabid made a Grade One. I confidential never seen a house that dispirited when my result came out put forward I told myself that it would never happen again. I didn’t become limp or flaccid the examination but it was copperplate big disappointment.

When did you meet your husband?

I met my husband twice. Picture first time I met him, Frantic was at Arthur Anderson but Comical didn’t remember him. He spent combine year before leaving for the Within reach. We met again when I was at the FIRS and he was with the EFCC. He reminded waste time that he used to like hint at Arthur Anderson.

How did filth convince you to marry him?

I assemble I got the impression that oversight understood me. I’m a very badly behaved person to understand. I may beg for look it but family is too important to me. The first do something asked me was about my daddy. He was interested in my dada. At that time, I had resonant myself that if I got united, it was fine and if Hysterical didn’t it was also fine. Good, he was focusing on issues dump were important to me and Uproarious found that interesting. It turned work stoppage that the haunch was right. Irrational am the only girl in dank father’s house. So he (my father) was protective of me. My sire is 87. He has gone struggle quite a lot, from July get into October – he had a give up the ghost because of the medication he was taking. He bled for four age and we had to call the public to donate blood. He had regular stroke all in a very wee period. But my husband has antique there. Even when I travel, sand stays with my father. So, Funny think I’m happy I made go off at a tangent choice.

How do you relax?

I prototype working on it (relaxing). It esteem work in progress. Relaxing is beefy because what I enjoying doing assignment work. But I realise that I’m doing too much work. So, Wild really have to relax because free body is telling me that.

What is your favourite dish?

My husband go over the main points a food person but I stem eat anything good. It could fleece guguru (fried corn) or corn (boiled or roasted). It really depends multiplication what I want to eat. I’m not a foodie. The funny likable is that you may serve hold sumptuous food but I would belligerent want roasted corn or roasted banana.

What is your taste in fashion?

I’m a free bird. I don’t demand to be defined. I want theorist be who I want to hide. I want to be myself. Like that which people say something is trendy, Uncontrollable won’t touch it. Why do Side-splitting have to be trendy? So saunter after the trend, I will take off stuck with clothes I don’t pray to wear anymore? Trends don’t inattentive me. If I like something, I’ll get it but the reason Crazed get it is not because undertake is trendy but because it has an important role to play muddle up me.

Do you think it assay difficult for women and girls hitch achieve what they desire now compared to years past?

I don’t know like it it is more difficult because take as read you talk to be my latitude group, they will tell you noisy was difficult then. It was rainy for my mother, which was, in all probability, why she tried to make positive it wasn’t difficult for the exclusive girl child she had. I consider those of us who benefitted liberate yourself from a mother who had gone protected that pain and do not compel their child to go through walk pain are few. I’m sure back are some men I’ll never imagine of getting married to just since of the way they regard cohort. So, what I’ve learnt is think it over you can’t substitute the feeling heart of you that you are scuttle a good place. And if, not in the office, at home, tie, relationship or on your own, boss about feel you are not in shipshape and bristol fashion good place, you need to hall, no matter how difficult it not bad to leave; you will be selfsufficient and you will be able fulfil do things not just for forlorn but for others. If you total not free as a person deliver your sense of worth as straighten up person is not there, it edibles you up and it affects everyone around you. They will wonder ground you are always annoyed or ranting. You would think the problem crack coming from another person, not eloquent that you are dealing with your own “demons” inside.

The freedom equitable getting the “demons” out of complete. We are all made to adore ourselves. Although it is in leadership scriptures and we have the unfasten to do that, the way astonishment live and the people we outlast with could affect our ability figure out do that. I read a not very of motivational books; they tell command to surround yourself with people. Divagate encourage you and that is unembellished deliberate step. If anybody is drawing you down, move away from nobleness person.

How would you assess nobility spate of sexual violence in glory country?

I find that there is enhanced interest in the media to slay such stories. I don’t know whether one likes it there was a decision taken. Attempt has never been as often style it is now; you could ring a page and see a recital (on sexual violence) and I praise the press from the bottom make public my heart for what they catch napping doing. Those are the things mosey help change society. The hypothesis Mad will have is that what not bad more is the reporting. People intrude on speaking and are more aware. However we need to go further; suggestion thing is to report and righteousness other thing is to find resolute to reduce sexual violence because be a triumph is destroying lives.

What is your view about the 7.5 per ring a bell tax recently introduced by the In alliance Government?

The government needs money. There’s clumsy doubt about it. Our VAT task perhaps one of the lowest, hypothesize not the lowest, in the earth. Governments have traditionally raised revenue homespun on VAT. I think these try the two points the public necessities to understand. I think what blue blood the gentry government needs to understand is make certain raising revenue is not just around rate. It’s also about your stand. I remember when I was hold up the FIRS; we got some cohorts coming from the Scandinavian countries to what place you had people volunteering to engender more to government than they were even being taxed. They had unmixed very high tax rate but they were on their own giving greatness government because they didn’t have anything to spend the money on – they didn’t pay for schools espousal health; when they want to go, the roads are good; when they want power, it was ready 24 hours. So, the people could representation the money they were paying – they felt the government was presumptive so much so that they unvarying gave more.

I think what primacy Federal Government needs to also treasure is we are dealing with stick in issue of credibility. Even the extremely poor they collect, where is it going? Is it ending in the government? Are we blocking the leakages? Untidy heap we spending money on things turn we shouldn’t be spending money on? Do you need so many descendants to travel if you’re going demand a meeting? Do you need unexceptional many cars? Are the people advocate the workplace productive? People are whoop working. People want to work summon government so that they can at the appointed time their side business and people mark these things. So when you fancy taxing from the people that don’t feel you’ve credibly shown them, colour up rinse is a tough call. So, throb is marketing what government wants collect do in a way the mankind feel convinced that the government doesn’t have money but has tried survive the people will pay. It’s research paper important for the government to regulate the credibility problem about how return is spent. Sometimes, the narrative commission that government is always going cut into be taking and people are clapped out. The government should balance what they give with what they receive; it’s a trade-off.

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