Khal- El Media Team had an exclusive interview with The GMD/CEO of Widescope International Group of Companies -Dr. Olusegun Alade Musa; a man of different parts, known for his passion and dedication to service to humanity. In this interview, Dr. Musa was able to identify some of things that can help improve the economy of the country. He also spoke about his philosophy of life.
Khal-El: Let us get to know you sir!
Dr. Musa: My name is Dr. Olusegun Alade Musa and I was born closed to six decades ago. I have two master’s degrees in International Relations and Strategic Studies and Transport Planning. I am also a specialist in Forensic Investigations, a security consultant, a logistician and by virtue of my investment, I am partially a journalist. I try as much as possible to diversify into so many areas. We are into uh real estate and construction. We have a company that is into technology, we are into travels and tours. Indeed, I am a licensed TV and radio operator. We also publish. My company has an academy where we train people. In fact, February this year makes it thirty six years that I have been into business, uh uh we operate a multinational company.
Khal-El: Let us get to know about the take home from the round table transport conference you organised recently. After the round table conference, has there been any difference in the way people, especially stakeholders understand or view the intricacies involved in the multimillion dollar industry?
Dr. Musa: Yeah! First and foremost, uh it will interest you to know that there can not be any viable economy without effective transport system.
Khal-El: That’s true!
Dr. Musa: Uh practically we call transport a motive force behind every economy. It’s also a starting talk that keeps the economy running. I did a survey on most of the economies of the world that are actually advancing in the real sense of it, and I realized that there can never be a better economy without a viable transportation system. It is the driving force behind the world’s most powerful nations.
Again, it is important to note that poor multimodal integration and fragmented logistics systems, with delays in implementing transport reforms, have contributed to transport inefficiency in the country.
Dr. Musa: However, the situation can be improved only when we develop integrated transport corridors in the country. This would by no means reduce travel time astronomically, cut logistics costs and by extension, lower commodity prices and bring about increase the country’s GDP.
Khal-El: As the Vice-Chairman of Nigeria/ Indonesia Commercial Council’s logistics committee, how has the country benefited from this synergy?
Dr. Musa: Nigeria has benefited a lot from this as most people don’t know that the volume of trade between the two countries is massive. In fact, most people don’t know that most of the goods brought into the country are from Indonesia, vis-a-vis confectionary, fish, can foods, beverages just name it. Indeed, the two countries have been involved in massive trade deals that have helped boost bilateral relations. The chamber is also creating awareness about this relationship, so that investors could know that there are so many potentials involved. More so, no nation can stand in isolation, we depend on each other for survival. I co-ordinate the process of bringing goods from Indonesia to Nigeria and vice-versa.
Khal-El: Do you operate only in Indonesia?
Dr. Musa: My company belongs to so many chambers of commerce namely: Nigerian/ American Chamber of Commerce, Nigerian/ British Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria/Turkey Chamber of Commerce, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture, etc. I am privileged to have a company in China that handles our clientele’s needs in all the Asian Countries. We also have our offices in Houston in the US and The UK. We hope to have more offices in Poland, Italy and Germany very soon.
Khal-El: That is a great expose on how we can build our economy through adequate investment in transportation infrastructure.
Khal-El: Let us talk about freight forwarding in Nigeria and beyond. Most people think it’s an all comers’ affair. What is your take on this?
Dr. Musa: Freight forwarding is one of the oldest professions in the world. In fact, the first freight forwarder is God because His Eyes travel through the universe. He created resources in an odd manner and distributed them. Some regions have gold, some crude oil and so on and so forth, such that no region is self sufficient. We need each other to survive, by transporting what we have to those who don’t have and vice-versa. God did this intentionally so that no one can claim monopoly over everything.
Khal-El : We know that For Dr. Musa, Widescope International Group of Companies has invested heavily on humanitarian and development projects. Can you tell us more about this?
Dr. Musa: When God gives you grace, it is not for you alone. Out of your abundance, you must touch lives. That is the true essence of life and that is the way my father brought me up.
Khal-El: How are you able to get so many awards and still counting?
Dr. Musa: We get these awards from people who value what we have done and believe that we can do more. These awards serve as a spur for us to do more. We would remain committed to doing more for humanity.
Khal-El: What is your philosophy about life?
Dr. Musa: When we’re in elementary school we were introduced to two pencils.
One was called HB pencil and the other one was called 2H (HH) pencil. In the HB pencil, the ‘H’ stands for happiness.
Khal-El: Okay!
Dr. Musa: It means that, you must always be happy regardless of what you are passing through. You must always smile. Don’t put whatever you are passing through on your face. This is because, no one wants to
associate with people who are having problems. Practically, people want to associate with people that are happy. And that’s why anywhere you go, you see that your first identity is your smile. Cuz above all, there’s always room to glorify God.
Khal-El: That’s true!
Dr. Musa: The ‘B’ stands for boldness. You must always be bold.
Khal-El : You mean the ‘B’ of the ‘HB’?
Dr. Musa: Yeah! The ‘B’ stands for boldness. You must always be bold. You must be sagacious and audacious. You must be enthusiastic. You must be resolute. You must be determined. You must be focused and resilient.
That’s what the ‘B’ stands for. And that’s what life is all about.
Dr. Musa: As for the two Hs (HH) the first ‘H’ stands for humility.
Khal-El: Okay!
Dr. Musa: Anywhere you find yourself, you must always humble yourself.
Khal-El: Okay!
Dr. Musa: And in life, the
higher you grow , the more humble you become. Anywhere you go to, don’t begin to say to people, do you know who I am? Let people discover you. When they discover you, they will appreciate you more. They will respect and honor you more. But anytime you tell them, oh don’t you know who I am? It diminishes your status. Men of substance don’t even wear gold. They don’t, but when you scratch them, you know they are made of gold.
Khal-El: That’s true.
Dr. Musa: And that’s what life is all about. Be humble. Be humble at all time.
The second ‘H’ stands for humanity. Oh dear, you must always be humane! Treat people the way you want them to treat you. Yes! Ubuntu. I am because you are!! So you must treat people the way you want them to treat you. Respect people. Honour people. Make people happy at all times. Don’t be the cause of tears on someone else’s face.
Dr. Musa: And the last one I added to it is ‘I’.
That’s why I call it two 2H (HH) and I. The ‘I’ is very important because we call it, the philosophy of HB, Two H (HH) and I. Two H and I.
Khal-El: Okay!
Dr. Musa: Such that ‘I’ stands for integrity. You must know your onions and you must know your boundaries. We call integrity the master key. There’s no door that you cannot open with integrity and it will not just serve you alone, It will serve even generations after you. When your children go to anywhere and your name is mentioned, it is either the door is opened for them or the door is locked against them because of their parents’ conduct. In life, always uphold ethical standard that promotes your integrity, because you will always be remembered for whom you were.
Khal-El: Thank you very much Dr. for giving us such great insight into the world of business and what it takes to remain at the top. Thank you so much for allowing us to have a pip into your world. May God bless and strengthen now and always. Amen!
