"I was deliberate about balancing career and family," Odunola Aikomo, former MLMO boss and deputy director of CBN

In commemoration of international women's day, we decided to do something special for women by focusing on women in leadership. So, we caught up with Mrs Odunola Aikomo, a retired civil abi public servant like she would like to say. Mrs Aikomo is an epitome of a popular saying in our clime here in Nigeria that goes: "Your background must not put your back to the ground." It's no news anymore that lots of Nigerians are from below average to poor and then extremely poor families. Yeah, just guess how she grew up. Like Harrysong says in his song, she was on a journey of discovery and it was such a lonely road. 

Although she started out first as a teacher in CBN Primary School and got converted (into banking, still at CBN) after obtaining the associate certificate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN. She was able to work her way up the ladder to hold key positions including head of Market Liquidity Management Office and deputy director of CBN by harnessing her strengths, pushing beyond her limits and amazingly managing different  teams like any male would and even better. 

Today, she is one of the most lettered women in Nigeria with over five different degrees: NCE, BSc in Political Science, MSc in Marketing Communications (Rome Business School), MSc Political Science (Caleb University), MBA (Financial Management) LAUTECH and multiple certificates in Values and Public Policy (Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University), Leadership and Management (Luxury Academy, London), Social Sector Leadership (Philanthropy University, Berkely Haas), FCIB- Fellow, Chartered Institute of Bankers, Nigeria and Associate, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK and many more. What a bombshell! Lol. 

In this interview with Yamilenu Bamgboye, she dwells on the intricacies of women leadership and the power imbalance in our social strata. Enjoy!

Haaa...you like book ma (laughs)

Better for you (laughs)

While you served as a civil servant, did you hold key positions?

Public servant. Yes, I retired as a deputy director. I served as head of Market Liquidity Management Office some years, more than three years.

How would describe your style of leadership in contrast to the stereotypical male occupying such position.

I would like to consider my style transformational. Why? I tried to identify the strength of each member of my team and together we worked to tone down our respective weaknesses and create a formidable team.

While you did these things, was there any kind of intimidation from males?

None exactly and that would be because I worked in a place that had a high regard for gender identity. My director was a woman too.

Wow, thats rare.  What factors do you think affect a woman's ability to function optimally in a leadership position?

To function optimally in a leadership position, competence is essential. Having sufficient knowledge of the job requirements creates a sense of confidence. Another key factor is emotional intelligence--being able to understand the emotions of others would help you aggregate human resources to deliver well on your mandate.

If your boss was a man, would you have faced any kind of untoward intimidation?

I don’t think so, I had male directors before the latest, though I served as head of office under a female director. I think intimidation in the workplace is relative, and it would be minimal if we create values that are consistent and relevant for optimal productivity.

A little digression here. In the case of Natasha, the senator, would you say there are no consistent and relevant values for her productivity in the senate?

The NASS is a political environment. There are many undercurrent issues that might not be available for public evaluation and discussion. Most political decisions are premised on such. Did you observe what transpired in Lagos assembly?

Yeah, terrible power play I will say. Using illegality to combat illegality and these are supposed lawmakers.

You can say that again.

Was there anytime you felt a pushback from any of your subordinates: male or female, how did you handle it?

An incident that came to mind happened when I was preparing to retire. I had been away for some time and my ‘deputy’ took some decisions that I considered discourteous. I made my opinion known in a bilateral meeting. She explained her position and apologized for her conduct.

That's expected in a civil environment. But there is this general belief that women are more of emotional beings than rational beings. Many of their decisions are believed to be based on emotions. Do you think so?

I will not disagree that women have the tendency of being more of emotional beings and that would influence their opinion and decisions, oftentimes. Nonetheless, there’s a level you get in life that you are expected to act in a rational manner to justify your position. At that point, you might need to stiffen emotions and step up to your responsibilities. I guess that is one of the reasons why people tend to believe that women bosses are too tough. I think we should be kind to realize that they have to deal with self to protect all.

Hmmm...ok. The percentage of women in leadership today is not really at par with the usual, stereotypical male thing. Do you think this is deliberate?

Leadership follows a process and pattern. Hence, if what we have as a result of that process is unequal distribution, then we cannot shy away from the fact that it might be deliberate. I wouldn’t be able to point to a reason why, however it seems that our society is not prepared to deal with a female saturated or dominated leadership environment. You can see the pattern in every leadership composition, including church.

Haaa...church! That's another topic on it's own and that's so deliberate. I get your point ma'am. So thriving career, good home, lovely children without any housemaid, right? How did you do all these?

God is involved. I had people around me that provided necessary support to ensure that I could fulfill the purpose of God. Then, I was intentional about my responsibilities such that I programmed my annual leave to my children’s long vacation so that we could adequately catch up and lay a good foundation for subsequent terms.

This is good to hear. But some women ditch family for career. Is it because they can't run both together?

I would say that it’s because they are shortsighted. It is good to build a career, however it is of utmost importance that you build a strong foundation for your home. It doesn’t matter how long you live as a career person, your last bus stop is with your family, and if you had allowed your family to fritter away just because of corporate satisfaction, then you might have to come back to nothing, at least relatively.

Hmm...I hope they listen. What should a woman prioritise in choosing who to love: emotions or rationale?

I will choose rational choice over emotion. Emotions are never stable, however if you base your choices on rationality, if even there’s a need for adjustment here and there, you would have laid a good foundation to navigate by God’s grace.

Was there anytime empathy and vulnerability played a role in your leadership?

Empathy? Maybe on a very few occasions when the realities reflected a need for such. Vulnerability? I wouldn’t think so.

Have you ever in any place or anyway pushed for systemic change to pave way for the inclusion of women?

Have I? I don’t think I have been in a situation that required me to canvas or lobby for women inclusion. Nonetheless, I agree with the school of thought that there’s a lot of inherent benefit in enabling women to participate adequately in decision making and if I have to, I would not mind to join the cause to push for more female inclusion.

How would you describe life in retirement?

Soft (laughs). It’s nice to be in full charge of your 24-hour allocation and get to use it for your own good to the glory of God.

What has life taught you as a subordinate and a leader?

Life has taught me that nothing is permanent and that is also to say that nothing is impossible with God. 

What advice would you give to young women who aspire to hold leadership positions?

You know, I started my career as a class teacher and ended as a deputy director. This might have required some investment of diverse resources, however if God has done it for me, He can do it for anyone that would aspire unto a greater heights by His grace, and not neglecting the push that’ll come with it.

I'm so thankful for your time.

Thank you for the opportunity.