From London dish washer to a successful entrepreneur

Founder of Ibis Hotel, Ikeja, Otunba Olufemi Okenla, unveils his autobiography, ‘Power of Thought’, to mark his 50th birthday

When you look at a king’s royal mouth, you would think he never sucked his mother’s breast. This is one of the evergreen sayings from Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe’s novel that will ever remain classical.

This proverb very much applies to the life of the founder and Managing Director of Hotel Ibis, Ikeja, Lagos, Chief Olufemi Okenla. Many people will, for instance, think that the man who radiates much financial contentment must have been in affluence all his life.

But Okenlan, who relocated to Nigeria after spending 25 years in the UK, has a lot of tales to tell. When he was studying abroad, for instance, he was once a sawmill attendant in London. When he later worked in an hotel, scrubbing floor and doing other menial jobs, the experience was so cumbersome that he was soon hit by a life-threatening fever.

Okenla was thus compelled to change the job. So ‘lucky’ was he that he was employed as a kitchen ‘manager’ when he had to work with an automatic dish machine, filling dishes into the system. He was of the opinion that the job was more elevating than scrubbing the floor. But that was until the new job also brought a dramatic hazard in the form of a nightmare. In his sleep, he began to see nothing but dishes rolling on the washing machine, thus graduating from the frying pan into the fire.

These are some of the stories Okenla narrates in The Power of Thought: A Compendium of my Life in Half a Century, his autobiography presented in Lagos on Monday. The book marks his 50th birthday, which was celebrated on Tuesday. It captures the writer’s journey from a struggling guy to a successful entrepreneur.

For Okenla, being 50 presents an auspicious time to open the pages of his life for people – especially youths – to read. According to him, his life is a shining evidence that whoever believes in the power of his or her dream and thought is destined for success.

The public presentation, which featured readings from the book, music and comedy by Lagos-based comedian, Kofi, who was the master of ceremonies, was held at the hotel, with several dignitaries in attendance. These included the Group Managing Director of Skye Bank, Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, who was the chairman, Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Sadiat Oladunjoye; lawyer and politician, Dr. Muiz Banire, and the Managing Director of Opas Ltd., Mr. Muyiwa Green. The host’s wife, Modupe was also present.

In his review of the book, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Dr. Dayo Amokaye, commended Okenla for publishing the work which, he believes, will positively affect posterity.

Amokaye said, “The book is motivational and inspiring. It is an invaluable asset to the younger generation and adults that want to be motivated.”

Okenla explained that it took him some time to write the book but that he is very happy to see it out as he believes every reader has a lot to learn from it. He intends to give proceeds to the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos and the Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria. The reason for this is that it was the hospital that healed him when he had an accident that affected his spine.

He said, “When some people read this book, they will think it is a fiction. But it is not. It is the truth of what has happened to me. I am a living example. If you can think it and dream it, you can get it. What we believe in is what we are. It is what we become. My philosophy is, ‘Nothing is impossible’. Everything in life is affordable and achievable once we get our priorities right. But many people spend time on what is urgent, not what is important or vital.

“Never give up. Hold on to your dreams. Be patient. Be calm and don’t be afraid of tall dreams.”

The commissioner, who unveiled the book, described the author as a successful entrepreneur and pathfinder per excellence.

She added, “He is a motivator and someone who believes in dignity of labour.”