‘MY LOVE FOR MUSIC… HOW AYO OGUNSAN RESCUED ME INTO MARRIAGE’ – DR. MRS. AJOKE OGUNSAN • Provides Valuable Wisdom On Managing In-laws, Glamour Dressing For Christian Women, Overcoming Low Self-Esteem
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
L-R: Dr. Ayo Ogunsan and his Wife, Dr. Mrs Ajoke Ogunsan
While most people associate with the face of Dr. Ayo Ogunsan as the CEO of the multi-million dollar Executive Group, there is a backbone running the affairs of the conglomerate. She is Dr. Mrs. Ajoke Ogunsan.
Ebullient, effective and excellent, Dr. Mrs. Ogunsan has grips on the internal workings of the organization which comprises the Executive Trainers Ltd, Executive Education Consulting Ltd, Executive Motors Ltd, and Executive Voyage and Logistics Ltd.
How she does that as a graduate of Biochemistry from Lagos State University (LASU) is a testament to continuous personal development. She has set herself on a trajectory of development not minding the fact that she has a young family to cater for.
Dr. Mrs. Ajoke Ogunsan
With this superstructure and effective management principles, she effectively frees and affords the man, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, the leeway to be able to focus and partake in other affairs of public life like security, government, among other public roles.
Assuming that he is burdened with the administration of the organization, it may not be easy for him to wear many caps like the Member of the Board of Trustees Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Patron of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in Lagos, among others at the same time.
Mother of three beautiful daughters, Dr. Mrs. Ajoke Ogunsan is a firm believer in the time-tested and Scripture-centred Christian family structure. She also upholds the African extended family system as she affirms about in-laws ‘when you make them happy, they will rally round you and make you happy as you have been doing for them.’
Dr. Mrs. Ajoke Ogunsan (2nd right) with her Children
Elegant and stylish, Ajoke’s fashionable outlook is a perfect model for young and old women that you don’t necessarily have to be high on makeup or jewelries to be beautiful. The dearly beloved of her husband, Mrs. Ogunsan takes the centerstage with modesty, beauty, and class.
Illustrious leader, minstrel, mother, wife, daughter, friend, entrepreneur, lover of God, Dr. Mrs. Ajoke Ogunsan granted an exclusive chat to Trek Africa Newspaper. This was on the sidelines of her husband’s 46th birthday marked with an afternoon of Gospel Hymns and Songs Concert recently in Lagos.
This interview is rich with words of wisdom for married men and women, young women who desire to build a home founded on Godly values while running successful careers.
Read!
Dr. Mrs. Ajoke Ogunsan
Trek Africa: You are a very passionate singer, tell us about your love for music?
Dr. Mrs. Ogunsan: I have been singing right from my childhood. I am a member of the Youth Choir Central in Deeper Life Bible Church. I was there for close to 25 years before I got married. Outside of God and family, music is my hobby. I have been in music all my life.
Trek Africa: Did music play a role in the love story?
Dr. Mrs. Ogunsan: Yes, there was a program we normally have when I was in secondary school. It is called leadership training program LTP and every Tuesday we usually have a session. That day, I had a monologue in which I played the part of the great woman, Fanny Crosby who sang ‘Rescue the Perishing’ and other lovely songs. Fortunately, my husband-to-be was in the audience, that was around 1994/95. After leading the role, I sang the song ‘Rescue the Perishing’ and that was how my husband rescued me.
Trek Africa: How’s the marriage journey been for you?
Dr. Mrs. Ogunsan: Marriage is a beautiful thing. It is beautiful when you have the right person as your partner. If there is a wrong foundation, there will be issues. But when you have the right person and you are together with the same mind and spirit, and you have same goal, there is no way you won’t go far in life. So when you have a partner that supports you, your career, and your ministry, definitely the two of you will go far in life.
That is what marriage is. It is coming together of two people from different backgrounds getting to know each other. Definitely there will be issues but when you have a goal to pursue, you won’t even look at the issues. Rather you will look at how you will succeed together and how to tolerate yourself. This will make your marriage go far.
The Ogunsans
Trek Africa: Is marriage a negative for career success?
Dr. Mrs. Ogunsan: No. I am a career woman. I studied biochemistry from Lagos State University (LASU). Then I got married, from that point on, my husband has been there supporting me all the way. He didn’t even say, you stay with the children, we tried to juggle everything together.
And again I tell women the importance of having good support system. For me I have my mom, my brothers, sisters, in-laws, and friends who have been very supportive.
Trek Africa: That brings us to in-law struggles, some young women will rather not have their in-laws around?
Dr. Mrs. Ogunsan: There are values and character and they are important. I tell my three daughters that they have to humble themselves.
Rather than say you don’t want to have your in-laws, I would suggest you bring them closer to yourselves, look for avenues to do it.
For me I look for every means to bring my in-laws together. I am a home mender. We have family getaways, dinner, etc where we discuss life, talk to each other and advise ourselves. That’s what I do. I bring them together to make them feel at home. When you make them happy, they will rally round you and make you happy as you have been doing for them.
Dr. & Dr. Mrs. Ayo Ogunsan
Trek Africa: How do you identify a good man when you see one, advice young women?
Dr. Mrs. Ogunsan: You have to look for a man that fears God. Both of you should be together in Christ. My husband was a God-fearing man. He was determined. It wasn’t like we had everything in place then but I looked at him and saw that he was focused, determined, and he knows the direction he is going. He is a man that loves God. He serves God and he is still serving Him.
Trek Africa: Speak to young women about self-esteem?
Dr. Mrs. Ogunsan: There are times that you tend to feel low but I just have to sit down and talk to myself. And thank God that I have an husband that is there is to support me. He always encourages me and that’s why you need to have an husband that will stand by your side to motivate you.
I am a very reserved person. I like to hide and give support but sometimes you have to be out there and he will tell me go, you can do it. I am a work in progress.
So young women, go out there and shine. Don’t let low self esteem rob you of opportunities. Sometimes you feel that people don’t recognize what you are doing but when you give your all to it, definitely you will come out shining and radiant. Don’t hide in the dark, go out there for programmes. For me, o have the Grace to sing and I use it to minister to peoples and it makes me come out of my shell.
L-R: Chairman, Executive Group, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan with his Wife, Dr. Ajoke Ogunsan
Trek Africa: What do you have to say to young, married, career women?
Dr. Mrs. Ogunsan: As a mother, I would say you can’t do it alone so you need a good support system especially for those who want to pursue a career. Then your partner must be in tune with you and you must tolerate each other and be humble.
Trek Africa: How do you match glamour with Christian values, tell us about your dress sense?
Dr. Mrs. Ogunsan: Right from when I was young, I love to dress nice. Even the little I have, I ensure to keep it clean and presentable. I am in a group of women and I don’t use jewelries but despite that I still stand out. When I see what is nice, I go for it and I put it on.
Nowadays we are going back to naturals, pleating skirts, turbans, and so on. The last time I was in the UK, half of the shops I entered had pleating skirts and tops not shorts and they are wearing it to show you that fashion is revolving.
Young ladies, look great use a nice makeup not heavy makeup, look your natural self, even it is 2 you have, make it clean and presentable.
Trek Africa: You are the backbone for the Executive Group, how have you been running the conglomerate?
Dr. Mrs. Ogunsan: It’s been by the Grace and help of God. I am an entrepreneur. I am a mother. When you have people to help you, there is no mountain that you cannot surmount. We have enjoyed the Grace of God running the Group.
Trek Africa: Tell us about a memorable day with your husband?
Dr. Mrs. Ogunsan: Everyday is a memorable day with my husband. He is always full of surprises. I remember our first trip to Paris after we just got married. It was few months after we got married in 2006 that we had the opportunity. I wasn’t really expecting it. That was our first trip outside the shores of Nigeria. It was awesome.
Trek Africa: Describe Dr. Ayo Ogunsan?
Dr. Mrs. Ogunsan: Dr. Ayo Ogunsan is a great man. He is a man after God’s heart. He is a lover of God. He is a man that loves God passionately. He wants to work for God and care for His people.
He wants to make people happy, feel great, and feel among even if you are a shoemaker, gateman, or barber. He wants to bring people together to feel a sense of belonging. He wants people to have the sense that you are somebody.
He is caring, he is a father, he loves his children, and cares for people around him. And I know you can testify to that.
Dr. Mrs. Ajoke Ogunsan
