The Vice Chairman of Digital Reality Print Limited – Mrs. Folorunso Alakija seldom speaks to the press. In a rare interview at the recent official re-branding of Digital Reality Print Limited, the ultra-modern, purpose-built print solutions, ‘one-stop-shop’ facility, WHERE To Print magazine was part of the exclusive press conference, she talked not only about the opening of the ultra-modern press but also touched on a number of issues ranging around women in business, leadership and vision. This forms the basis of this edition’s SMART CELEB with excerpt below:
MA, WITH YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE – HOW DO YOU HAVE TIME FOR YOURSELF?
God has given me a number of diligent and committed staff members who are hardworking and provide the level of support that I need. I seek God when recruiting and He brings these people along – because we all know that a tree cannot make a forest. So with their support, I am able to achieve my aims, aspirations and goals that HHe calls me to do.
WHAT CAN YOU POINT AS THE TURNING POINT IN YOUR LIFE?
There have been a number of turning points in my life, but perhaps one that I didn’t realize at that time was when at the age of seven my parents sent me to England to go and study. Nothing prepared me for the impact that would have on my life and how it was going to affect my future – something I still look back on even today. Both my parents, even though they are late now at ages of 95 and 92 years before they died five years ago, gave me something to stand on; something that I can refer to; an experience that exposed me to another world and has made me the person I am today. So I can say that this was definitely one of the turning points of my life – studying abroad with all the experiences and exposure.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR WOMEN WHO WANT TO VENTURE INTO PRINT BUSINESS?
I would advise them to pray before they go into any business, because trying to do it their way and then asking God to put a rubber stamp on it, is wrong. You have to ask God FIRST; where is God leading you? Where does He want you to be? Ask Him: What to do exactly and how you should go about it. Even down to the mundane things, like the slogan for the company. In my case I asked Him and He gave me the name for my company and even the scriptures where to find the name – that is what we have been using for the company ever since! So, He expects us to use wisdom; He expects us to be passionate about what we are doing, He expects us to be hard working. And He expects us to represent Him and to do things according to His leading and His way. So don’t say because Jane, Bisi or Ngozi are doing it, so I’m going to do it. That may be where God called Jane, Ngozi and Bisi to; it may not be where He called you to be, so you have to ask God. So He is the one that opens doors, and we just walk through!
Before I went into Fashion I was not yet in the Lord, however, I sat down and I decided that I needed to decide on a career path that I would not regret and one that I would enjoy and be passionate about. I did not want one that would make me upset, unhappy, or be drudgery, or one where every time I woke up and I would not feel like going to work. With fashion I was always so eager to go to work. And I did this for forty years and I am sixty three – this year. So I believe I took the right steps. Today, I look inward and I have peace about the choice I made and He has given me the grace. I find that even if one makes the mistake of not asking God before taking decisions and making choices, you step back and look at the grace that He gave – you will find out that you do that thing with a little more ease than if you don’t have grace to do it. This is because if God has not given you the grace to do something, you will find that you are struggling – and Bisi will be making money! I believe I took the right steps at the time I did and the rest is history.
HOW CAN WOMEN ACCESS MONEY TO FINANCE THEIR BUSINESS?
That is the reason why those of us that have gone a step further need to be advocates for those that are upcoming so that government can do something. I know some banks are helping women in their businesses, and we have to encourage more banks to do more. If you look at the population all over the world, women constitute 50% of the world population including Africa, so if women are not given the opportunity that they deserve to be able to grow the economy of any nation, that nation is losing money.
MENTORING IS ONE OF THE WAYS YOU CAN REACH OUT TO PEOPLE, DO YOU DO THAT?
I mentor as often as I can with every opportunity that I get. I do it on the internet, I do it face to face, I do it through my ministry, and on a one on one basis. I didn’t even have the book seller right when God told me I am going to be an author of books. I don’t know how it happened but He made it happen. And I have other books coming out soon. He is the one that opens those doors and He told me what topics to write about and sometimes He even gives me the title of the book; so I even mentor through my writings.
WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON IMPOSITION OF HEAVY TAX ON PRINTING MACHINE AND CONSUMABLE IMPORTED INTO NIGERIA AND WHEREAS LESS OR NO TAX ON PRINTING JOB DONE ABROAD?
This shows that the government definitely has a role to play in encouraging those who are sticking their necks out to face the challenges in the country and to be able to say: “yes we are not going anywhere, we are going to make Nigeria work. We are going to make things work in Nigeria”. Those are people like us – Digital Reality Print Limited. We intend to add to that quota of those who do not want to bring ready-made, easily produced goods in the country; to have them produced in the country and thereby fuelling the economy of Nigeria. We don’t want to just fuel the economy of other countries. We want to fuel the economy of our own nation. That is why I tell you, I’m a proud Nigerian and I’m proud of the ‘Made in Nigeria’ label. We have to make it work. Those countries we are talking about – they started somewhere and they did not get there over night. Remember the saying that “Rome was not made in a day”. They face their challenges just like we have to face our own too and we need to make it work. Therefore the government has to support those of us who have stayed at home and said we have to make this work. They have to support and encourage us and ensure we make the money that the industry needs to make so that we will be able to plough that money back into the country.
YOU WERE KNOWN FOR SCREEN PRINTING, LARGE FORMAT PRINT AND FASHION DESIGNING BEFORE, WHY DID YOU DABBLE INTO OFFSET PRINTING?
I did not dabble into it, God told me! This is the advice I give women and youth when I speak to them. I explain that whatsoever they have in their heart to do and they are not sure about, they should take it to the Lord in prayer. It is the Lord that will direct you – just as He directed me. As I said earlier, He showed me the machines you see here today those machines are for offset printing. It has also afforded me the opportunity to employ people to work; because there are so many people who are unemployed out there. This is a great opportunity to be able to help them to put food on their tables and to be the bread winners and be able to support their families once again.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME MA
You’re always welcome!
