By Ayo Onikoyi

Adekoyejo represents different qualities to different people. To some, he is that life coach on media platforms, teaching and speaking on various topical issues. To others, he is the corporate genius who has and continues to work with major blue chip companies, multinationals and Non-Governmental Organisations in his capacity as a human resource manager and consultant.

However, it is clear that Adekoyejo Alabi’s corporate trajectory has been too consistent to be a fluke. It is obviously a result of diligence, hard work, passion and courage.

Our correspondents engaged him in a media chat recently and the session was predictably thought provoking and full of insights. He shared his thoughts on various challenges in today’s society as well his efforts, in partnership with different bodies to solve the problems. He particularly expressed concerns over Nigeria’s growing number of out of school children and how his partnerships with various organisations are reducing the disturbing numbers.

The man who is described by allies as a thirsty sponge for whatever explains the power and limitless capacity of the human mind and how it shapes our life’s realities is very passionate about all he does. He studied Human Kinetics and Health Science at the University of Ibadan. He is a management consultant on healthy workplace culture, behavioural change and employee assistance programs. 

A lead coach Pathfinder Consulting, As a trainer and recruiter, he has worked across several private and government institutions, including the educational sector, music and entertainment, finance and hospitality sectors. He currently serves as the Group HR Head of Proof Group. He said Nigerian youths are bright, mostly energetic and should therefore channel their energy in the right way. He also noted how the prevalence of too many underprivileged youths can be harmful to the privileged ones and the society at large. He said it is impossible to mix roses and thorns in a box without harming the roses. He noted that his partnership with various organisations have produced commendable results so far, while also calling for more support and from other stake holders.

He stated: “A recent statistics shows that about 10.5 million children are out of school in Nigeria, which is the highest rate in the world. The figure indicates that one-third of Nigerian children are not in school, and one in five out-of-school children in the world is a Nigerian. Amongst these numbers are those who desire to return to school but cannot afford tuition fees and other costs.”

He talked about various outreaches which are designed for those in obvious need of food, health and business help and tools. He also berated those who undermine the impact of awareness campaigns as a panacea for problem solving. He said timely sensitization campaigns in the right direction save everyone a lot of trouble and avoidable mishaps.

He also harped on his activities around the impact of rising mental health concerns. He identified depression, anxiety, body image issues, eating disorders, addictions, and substance abuse disorders as some of the mental health concerns militating against this generation. He describes the effects as terribly isolating and generally frustrating.

“In today’s fast paced world, stress is not just a personal burden. It is a corporate liability. Resilience, productivity is the future of organisations. Leaders should have the capacity to navigate challenges with clarity while fostering a positive, high performing environment. Practical strategies to understand and manage stress, therefore enabling the team to thrive under pressure”, he stated.

Adekoyejo Alabi also discussed his plans to reduce corruption to the barest minimum by institutionalizing anti-corruption campaigns in school curriculum from the grassroots.