Ladies Who Rule- An Interview with Oluwatoyin Ajilore

Can I just say that Oluwatoyin Ajilore is the nicest person ever! I am so grateful for the opportunity to talk with her about her vision, foundation, faith and lots more.

I was laughing and in awe at the same time throughout the duration of the interview because of how relaxed she made me feel.

I wish I was able to include every single gem that she said throughout the conversation. From the interview, I also learnt that she is very passionate about her faith.

Oluwatoyin Ajilore

She is a lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Director at ONE Foundation, writer and very passionate about encouraging young people, women and businesses.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

GCB: Could you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?

Oluwatoyin Ajilore: My name is Oluwatoyin Ajilore. I reckon myself as first of all a Jesus girl- because that controls everything and as a lighthouse. I am the last child of a family of 4, a lecturer, a social entrepreneur and a business consultant.

As a lecturer, how do you ensure students stay engaged during your lectures?
My go-to method is by being engaged and committed myself. If you are not interested in what you are doing, it will show.
My second way is to understand that no student is stupid. In class, it is easy to classify students into the backbenchers and serious ones. In my class, I ensure that every student must give input and know that they are valuable.

Congratulations on your Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. What advice would you give a potential applicant?

Thank you! The most important advice I will give anyone is to be real. For these high-end fellowships, there is always the temptation to over package yourself which is just downright lying. I remember when I was making my application for this year, I was concerned about the question of number, that asked of the people I have reached out to because the number looked small to me. I am glad I stayed true to myself because if you lie, you will always have Impostor Syndrome!

You have four platforms – ONE foundation, The MSME Coach, The Word Psalmist and HAF Face Mask project. What’s the aim of ONE Foundation and why did you feel inclined to initiate this platform?

The aim of ONE Foundation is to be an entrepreneurial skill-gap builder. We are concerned about entrepreneurial development for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises ( MSME) because we found that they hold huge power in the economic development of any country. As of 2018, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment mentioned that about 80% of employment in Nigeria are in the MSME space.

Data shows that most of the reason why micro and small businesses usually fail in the first five years is that our education system does not have entrepreneurial skills education, it is basically academic.

And people just learn skills without realizing that having the skills is different from flourishing in the business.
What we are trying to do is to bridge the gap between what you know and how to make a business sustainable. We are going through MSME development to tackle unemployment.
I felt inclined to initiate this platform because I grew up in a house where business was a thing- my mom did several businesses. I did my first business at 11 and several other and I noticed they kept failing.

I’m certain that my experience and what I saw around made me realise that this is a valid problem in Nigeria.

You’ve had outstanding success in all your ventures? What are your business goals for the next 5 years? What one thing would you love to have achieved by then?

[Laughs] The first thing I saw was “outstanding success” and in my mind, I was wondering what you meant by outstanding success.
Anyways for me, success has always been more about convictions- that I did what I knew was right and not necessarily about the results.

For ONE Foundation, my business goals for the next 5 years is to be able to raise thousands of businesses that have been able to provide ten thousands of jobs and upgrade the lifestyle of people. What I really want to see is that we have been able to hit our goal and expand across Nigeria and into Africa.

As a business consultant, I would love to have provided valuable business consultancy to small and multinational businesses.

What’s your ultimate vision as a lecturer, educator & entrepreneur? If you had a blank cheque what would you put on it?

My ultimate vision as an educator and lecturer is to raise people who are solution providers, global shakers, problem solvers and not just graduates
As an entrepreneur, my ultimate goal is to raise businesses that are both sustainable and are community conscious. It should not just be about profit-making.

Profit-making is like blood in the human body-you cannot live without it but that is not why you are living.

Oluwatoyin Ajilore

If I had a blank cheque, I would put fulfilment on it and not money.

You are very vocal about your faith. What is your go-to Bible Scripture?

Yes o, my faith is my lifeline. That is where everything springs from.
My go-to-scripture is the entirety of Psalm 46.

On days you’re tempted to give up, what motivates you to keep going?

Funny enough, this morning I was telling God I was tired ( fatigue). What keeps me going is an understanding of God and it is deeply rooted in the fact that He has called me to something. It goes beyond my feelings and circumstances.

If someone were to bribe you with food, they can’t go wrong with ____?

[Laughs] You are trying to expose me, why?
Funny enough, I don’t have a favourite food but someone can not go wrong with Spaghetti.

What’s one thing in your life you’re so happy you did?

I’ve done so many things in my life that made me happy. One thing I am happy I did is allowing God to break down my barriers against Him. It took years but I am glad that I cooperated with God.

Tell us something really fun about your childhood

There was a time in my life that whenever I see souvenir stickers I used to think that whatever the sticker is on was the souvenir. I’m not joking, I went to my family friend’s house and I saw a souvenir sticker on their fridge and I honestly did not know that the fridge was not the souvenir. I thought the bride and groom were very rich. It took me years to realize that people remove the stickers.

4 Songs sure to lift your mood when you’re stressed
We wait by Don Meon.
All Honour by Ron Kenoly.
Be still by Hillsong
Ojo ola– funny enough I don’t know their name but it’s a choir that sang it.

The best career advice you’ve ever received?
It was from someone dear to me.
I was told to always realize that I am more important than my career. It is easy to mismatch and thinks you are your career. Over the years I am learning and it can be very difficult for a workaholic like me. Looking through the years, this is the best career advice I have ever received.

If you had the chance to have lunch with one woman, who would that be and what would you ask her?
That one woman thing, why one woman. I can list like three names for you. I will answer the three and reduce it to one.
Francine Rivers
Ibukun Awosika; and
Elizabeth George
Reducing it to one person, I will go for Ibukun Awosika and I will ask her what keeps her grounded in God’s calling and purpose in the midst of her multidimensional successful life

Final word for young ladies who look up to you?

[ Laughs] Look up to God, please.

My final word is for everyone to realize that they have a unique life, pace and a journey. The earlier they start getting in touch with that and accepting that reality, the better for them. In this age, it is good to have models but also learn that there is no replacement for you.
God had given everyone a uniqueness that they must find and launch out and they must come to the realization of it and embrace it with all their soul so they can launch it out.

Check out Oluwatoyin’s work at ONE foundation and website HERE.

We have more interviews coming up with amazing women, stay tuned! Don’t forget to share and leave a comment below!