Stella Ladipo is the principal partner Bluepoint management training and development centre. She is also a council member, Nigerian Institute of Management. She recently received Chris Abebe medal award, from the Nigerian Institute of Management. The award was given to her in recognition of her meritorious contribution and significant services to the progress and growth.
After her secondary education she worked for about two years in a research institute, before traveling to the UK where she studied management at Nepal University. When she came back she did her NYSC and then went back to Netherlands to do her Post graduate diploma in Netherlands International Management School. When she came back she enrolled for MBA at the University of Ibadan. She is happily married to Dr. O. Ladipo with children.
Recently Ladipo shares with Esther Onyegbula her concern over the spate of corruption in the country, what women need to do to get to the top of their career.
As a young woman who did you start your career?
As a young girl, I started working with National Cereals Research Institute in Niger State. From there I went for study leave without pay to Edinburgh in Scotland where I studied management at Nepal University. When I came back, I served and then went to research institute.
Stella Ladipo
From there I transferred my services to Horticultural Research Institute of Nigeria, in 1989. I retired five years ago from Horticultural Research Institute and set up Bluepoints management and development center in Ibadan.
We train people we train staffs from private and public institutions on management. We also train coppers for Nigeria institute of Management, as one of the 63 centers that train people for the institute.
Career wise, how successful has it been?
I don't have the habit of blowing my trumpet, because I strongly believe that the work you do and the activities you engage in within and outside the organization and professional bodies you belong speaks volumes. Your activities and works are your signatures that work for you even when you are not there. My works speak for me, even in the institute of management.
From your experience as a professional management trainer, what are the keys issues that help women get to the peak of their careers?
Everything bothers around prayers, secondly humility. If a woman is humble and submissive, she will go places. Humility can take you above heaven. They should not be too ambitious. Let them wait for their time, and the time will surely come. We should be patient and what for our time they should be friendly and shun envy. They should be close to their boss. There is no point been proud. Let what you do speak for you. Again the background is very important we have broken homes all over Nigeria it is affect women more especially.
What are the challenges you have faced in the process of building your career?
I face the challenge of been a leader, as woman no man will ever want you to rule him, be a leader or the boss. When I was working I had several men under me and they didn't take it easy with me. I received several confrontations from them, but never respond to such. But I had strategy of handling men. Which I advice women to imbibe, they have husbands at home and if you believe and know from the bottom of your heart that your husband is your crown, you must know how to handle men outside.
The respect you have and give to your husband should also be carried to the work place because those men also have wives and they want their wives to respect them. I am older than many of them but still I used sir for them.
How do you feel been a recipient of the prestigious Chris Abebe medal award from the Nigerian Institute of Management?
I feel great and elated. For many years my chapter and zone recommended me for this award. As chapter and zonal chairman respectively, people saw what I was doing even at the grass root and decided to recognize me, though it didn't come for years. But surprisingly it came a few weeks ago. I am pleased and happy to have this award. It is a very rare award for management achievers.
How did it all begin and as chapter and zonal chairman what projects you involved in made the chapters and zones recommend you for this award?
After I finished my MBA in 1991, I joined the Ibadan chapter in 1992 as an observer. The very day I joined the chapter as an observer I was chosen as the financial secretary. From there I was elected as secretary, later as treasurer and vice chairman and then as the chapter chairman. I was chairman of my chapter for two years. After my tenure, I was elected zonal chairman for South-west, comprising of six states. And I was chairman for four years, I had two tenures.
As the chapter chairman I was sponsoring chapter members to conference in Abuja and Lagos, for those who cannot afford it. I embarked in management and membership drive. I was there for anybody who wanted to be a member of the Institute. As the zonal chairman I carried everybody along. We had rotational meeting, we visited all the states, made the presences of NIM felt in those state. That awaken the enthusiasm of members even "dead members" and they became active again.
What is your take on the spate of corruption in our country and what can be done to curb the menace?
We have laid too much emphasis on money; we are ruled by money and have become slaves to it. Money is a spirit, it can make one misbehave as well as destroy. Take a look at lives of those at the hems of affairs disgracing themselves and their families. Everywhere you find leaders and public office holders embezzling millions and billions of Nigerian money just to enrich themselves at the detriment of the poor masses. For goodness sake the funds that are embezzled belong to every citizen of this country not a group of individual.
What is the solution to the corruption canker worm?
I still have that believe that what Jerry Rawlings did in Ghana when he became president is the solution to corruption in Nigeria. When he came in as president he killed all the corrupt leaders. We must introduce the Railings treatment to checkmate corruption in Nigeria. When this is done the tendency of corruption will be curbed.
Don't you think society have encouraged the manifestation of corruption?
Once you have money to distribute, drive a big car, live in a big house, nobody wants to know the source of your fund at all. People beginning to worship you, they give them chieftaincy titles. Until we stop worshiping money Nigeria will not move forward.
Generally what has life taught you as a career woman, wife, and mother?
I still say it that life has taught me to be humble to work hard, not expecting promotion but for the passion of that particular thing I am doing.
