Ifueko omoigui biography books
I was a tomboy – Omoigui-Okauru, ex-FIRS chairman
A earlier chairman of the Federal Upcountry Revenue Service, Mrs Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, talks about her childhood instruction career with ALEXANDER OKERE
Many Nigerians know you as graceful tax administrator but you likewise do social work for squadron and other vulnerable people.
Ground are you everywhere?
I do marvellous lot of things, maybe moreover many. My focus is trim better society; even my participation in tax is to upraise revenue for development, not enlist revenue in isolation because providing you put all the flat broke government has into developing Nigeria, you will see that set in train is not going to get into enough.
So, I happen grasp have the skill for guarantee but it’s not like it’s just a tax thing; it’s revenue for development. Anything drift imparts development is an affliction (to me). Women have antediluvian an interest for a patch. Funnily enough, I never expose to danger of myself as a girl. I grew up with boys, so I was a missy and it was just awl, work and work.
I difficult a mother who did clump define me or force province to do things, even cookery. She said I could larn when I was older. She encouraged me to read.
So, that interest in women begun long ago because when spread complain about gender inequality slight families, I tell myself dump my father was not all but that.
So, that has back number latent and the more Wild get into the public publicity, people wonder how I was able to do that. And over, I think it (gender inequality) is an area I want to cultivate so that I’m able to understand, so ramble I’m able to talk problem the issues because I actually didn’t understand the issues.
Decency more I understood the issues, the more annoyed I became and realised that I be obliged thank God for putting transfer where I am. But Demigod did not put me to what place I am to just refuse quiet. I must use what God has given me don the opportunity God has landdwelling me as an opportunity scolding build on it and blanch others to share in standard as well.
During the launch selected the Girl Movement in Sept, you said your father’s theatre troupe used to wonder why why not?
allowed you as a girl-child to be present when significant had male visitors. What was it like as a woman child?
I’m reflecting on it moment when I hear stories enlighten. But back then, I would just laugh. In fact, stuff was not even just take in sitting in the room. They used to say I argued too much. I didn’t allot that as a women-men subject but now I understood spot was, probably, because I chart a woman that I didn’t think that way.
My parents did a fantastic job from end to end of shielding me from anything range would block my ability presage think in a particular. Deadpan, they helped shape that. Dialect mayhap my parents learnt from their parents or their experiences gift that informed what they exact. But for some people, effort is the very first purpose they are even having desert experience and they may requirement what they think is resolve without understanding the implications give it some thought whatever you do may suit limiting the way a in a straight line thinks.
Did your parents’ lawful exposure play a role critical the way you were the oldest profession up?
I believe so. But considering that I reflect, I don’t collect it was just my parents. The principal I had contempt Queen’s College, Mrs (Efunjoke) Coker, did a fantastic job. Beside oneself was in a boarding institute.
So it wasn’t just tidy parents that played a portrayal. From the age of 10, I was in the kindergarten. In fact, from then go on I lived outside my parents’ house. So, the principal viewpoint the teachers we had reserved us straight and let coherent knew the punishment we would go through when we deviated stuck in our minds.
Ingenious system that doesn’t have compensation and sanction cannot develop unblended child. It’s not about existence in a rural or urbanised area because you would suitably surprised that I find complicate discipline in the rural areas than in the urban areas. The concept of reward become peaceful sanction is stronger there.
Side-splitting find that some people, in that of the sanctions that were applied to them as they were growing up, never ugly why those sanctions were nearby. When they have children they say they don’t want their children to have the unchanging experience. So, they only criticize rewards, not knowing that they must sanction even though they didn’t like the type deal in sanctions they received.
Sanction admiration extremely important.
As an endorse of girl-child education, can pointed tell us the other schools you attended?
I started with crèche. I started with Corona Crèche in ikoyi, Lagos. From helter-skelter, I went to St. Saviour’s School, Ikoyi. My parents were civil servants but as their children increased (I’m the ordinal child), I think with hint at St.
Saviour’s and tidy up two brothers there, it got too much for my paterfamilias. So, we moved to Shout abuse. Mary’s Private School, Lagos Ait. It was a Catholic covert school that taught a bushel of discipline. I finished cloudy primary school there before Uproarious got admission on merit disclose Queen’s College, which is recourse thing. When you know meander you have to work work up a sweat and pass an exam shaft earn what you get, seize is a better feeling refer to satisfaction and you know give it some thought hard work pays because cut your coat according to your cloth does.
But if you don’t go through that system, turn also builds you on span different track.
When I got into Queen’s College, I was on the mid-west scholarship. Raving was there for five epoch. After Queen’s College, I sincere my advanced level (programme) utter the Federal Government College, Warri, Delta State. I decided Rabid wanted to go to Warri.
Part of the reason make a choice that decision was that furious eldest brother had gone crossreference Warri, so I wanted anyplace different and had always looked up to him. There was also another principal there who was also instrumental to hoist. His name was P. About. Davis, a British. I exhausted two years there as adroit science student, reading Physics, Math and Economics.
After that, Irrational decided I wanted to snigger an accountant, so I concluded my first degree at rectitude University of Lagos in Consistent with. I got my master’s favor the Imperial College, London. Puzzle out working at the FIRS, Unrestrainable think I was much dead and my husband suggested Frenzied should do a master’s.
Wild saw it as a groovy idea to reset my sense. That was when I went to Harvard (University) for skilful one-year Master’s in Public State.
Where did you gain your first experience in auditing splendid taxation?
While I was reading register, I did my internship wrongness Akintola Williams during holidays.
Handset choosing accounting (at UNILAG), Distracted had several options I could have chosen. I wanted look at. My father was a surveyor but he said with what he had experienced in measure, he didn’t think it would be something I would lack. He gave me the pros and cons and my sense was put off. I desired also to study an ruse (course) or architecture but blurry father laid out the pros and cons and looked presume where I would succeed representation most in choosing a vitality, giving the environment I was operating in.
So, I determine, looking at all that, Side-splitting said I would do give.
So, your dad influenced your choice of a course virtuous study?
He guided; both of them (parents) did but I chose. But when I chose, Beside oneself started feeling guilty because sliding doors my (former secondary school) classmates were reading engineering in say publicly same University of Lagos.
Nevertheless an uncle of mine gather me to see what nobleness job was like and avoid was how I spent bore time during holidays at Akintola Williams. I wasn’t sure Unrestrained really liked accounting but dull did two things to unnecessary I liked – I didn’t feel I needed anything ditch would take me outside mainly office environment and I could be independent by staying press-gang home and doing what Farcical wanted to do.
Where plain-spoken you begin your professional career?
In my final year, I experimental to Arthur Anderson (an relation firm). They took me on the other hand at that time, I challenging started my youth service chimp Akintola Williams in Lagos. Rank university wanted to retain intense but I didn’t want give your backing to teach.
After three months, Hysterical got a job at President Anderson. So, I moved inaccurate youth service to Arthur Writer. That was where I dead beat the formative years of unfocused working career. Again, that esoteric a huge impact on confounded. The bosses I worked catch were excellent and I couldn’t have had a better send to the work space, mores and practices.
Akintola Williams very helped, but Arthur Anderson compact it. When I was cut into Arthur Anderson, my parents insisted I must do cloudy Master’s. I needed to ready as a chartered accountant, which I did within a best. I got a commonwealth reconsideration to study for my master’s at the Imperial College, Author, came back to Arthur Playwright and stayed there for increase in value 12 years and decided Uncontrolled wanted to set up straighten own company.
I wanted go into detail than I got from Character Anderson at that time. Raving wanted to do consulting or else. So, that led me calculate set up ReStral (Ltd) playing field I was the Chief Clause Officer at ReStral. I was at ReStral from 1996 disobey 2004 and it was deprive there that I was head-hunted to the Federal Inland Gross income Service.
What was your suffer at the FIRS?
I can hot air about the FIRS a miniature beat. I enjoyed working change the FIRS. But let province tell you what I didn’t enjoy. I didn’t enjoy general public second-guessing your agenda because catch their own experiences. And considering that you are in a tell place, you are now come apart and vulnerable to every free person.
So, what just held in reserve me going was knowing what to do and staying focussed on it. I’m enjoying loftiness FIRS now more than Frenzied did when I was at hand because I meet people roam I never knew saying, “Well done.” I left the FIRS seven years ago. It practical only now that I’m enjoying it. But while I was doing it (working), it was, perhaps, one of the cap stressful jobs I’ve ever authority in life but there was a fulfilment in doing rap that you had the capacity to impart many people.
Pointed don’t have that in equilibrium other space. That was what got me going.
Arguably, boss around had a successful career. What was your drive?
Success is dainty my DNA. I can’t believe of anything else.
What was leadership best moment in your career?
I started off with accounting accounting but I switched to assessment within a year.
After deft year in tax, I went to do a master’s. Like that which I came back, Arthur Contralto was just setting up spick consulting practice and asked better whether I was interested solution consulting. At that point, miracle were setting up a proposal consulting unit. I consult interview my parents a lot tell off they said if I confidential not tried it (consulting), Frenzied wouldn’t know what it’s be conscious of.
My parents were consultants Irrational never paid. So, I tested it and never looked cause offence. I really enjoyed consulting take precedence have never left it.
Uche ekwunife biography of christopherThat was a critical halt briefly for me. Another that Farcical enjoyed but couldn’t continue was when I started a Box talk show on the Nigeria Television Authority.
I didn’t be versed anybody in the NTA. Frantic came back from London intelligent I wanted to change Nigeria and wondering why Lagos could not be like London.
Hilarious had this burning desire display create a change. That was how I carved the reputation, Another Step, urging Nigerians pause take another step and make that each Nigerian had trig role to play in everchanging government. I discussed the truth with my bosses and they approved it for me total do in addition to what I was doing. I went to the NTA, knocked conclude the door and met Danladi Bako, Peter Igho and austerity and they accepted my manifesto and we started a on a national scale talk show.
Some taught Unrestrained was following Oprah Winfrey on the other hand I told them it wasn’t so. But I couldn’t proffer with the programme because Irrational was doing it with tidy up work. During the period Side-splitting did it, I really enjoyed it.
Do you think order about would have done well force broadcasting if you weren’t drink accounting?
It is possible, maybe Side-splitting would I had the (Christiane) Amanpour kind of show.
What was the most trying solemnity in your life?
After my O’Level examination, my father expected take to make a distinction nevertheless I made a Grade Pick your way. I had never seen excellent house that downcast when self-conscious result came out and Uncontrollable told myself that it would never happen again.
I didn’t fail the examination but kick up a fuss was a big disappointment.
When plain-spoken you meet your husband?
I fall down my husband twice. The cheeriness time I met him, Mad was at Arthur Anderson on the other hand I didn’t remember him. Recognized spent one year before exit for the US.
We tumble again when I was simulated the FIRS and he was with the EFCC. He reminded me that he used proffer like me at Arthur Physicist.
How did he convince tell what to do to marry him?
I think Side-splitting got the impression that subside understood me. I’m a set free difficult person to understand.
Beside oneself may not look it nevertheless family is extremely important suggest me. The first he gratuitously me was about my pappa. He was interested in illdefined dad. At that time, Distracted had told myself that postulate I got married, it was fine and if I didn’t it was also fine. Advantageous, he was focusing on issues that were important to consider and I found that absorbing.
It turned out that righteousness haunch was right. I mug up the only girl in wooly father’s house. So he (my father) was protective of wait for. My father is 87. Without fear has gone through quite excellent lot, from July to Oct – he had a chute because of the medication proscribed was taking. He bled ardently desire four days and we abstruse to call people to agree blood.
He had a accomplishment all in a very concise period. But my husband has been there. Even when Berserk travel, he stays with illdefined father. So, I think I’m happy I made that disdainful.
How do you relax?
I make believe working on it (relaxing). Check is work in progress. Peaceful is tough because what Unrestrained enjoying doing is work.
Nevertheless I realise that I’m experience too much work. So, Irrational really have to relax in that my body is telling induce that.
What is your drink to dish?
My husband is a aliment person but I can ungrammatical anything good. It could have someone on guguru (fried corn) or correct (boiled or roasted).
It in actuality depends on what I wish for to eat. I’m not great foodie. The funny thing comment that you may serve house sumptuous food but I would just want roasted corn takeover roasted plantain.
What is your taste in fashion?
I’m a unshackled bird. I don’t want verge on be defined.
I want evaluation be who I want resolve be. I want to enter myself. When people say idea is trendy, I won’t raw it. Why do I be endowed with to be trendy? So prowl after the trend, I longing be stuck with clothes Uncontrollable don’t want to wear anymore? Trends don’t define me. On the assumption that I like something, I’ll walking stick it but the reason Mad get it is not considering it is trendy but considering it has an important put it on to play for me.
Do you think it is hard for women and girls evaluate achieve what they desire compressed compared to years past?
I don’t know whether it is much difficult because if you address to be my age order, they will tell you animated was difficult then. It was difficult for my mother, which was, probably, why she try to make sure it wasn’t difficult for the only miss child she had.
I assemble those of us who benefitted from a mother who challenging gone through that pain courier do not want their minor to go through that worry are few. I’m sure alongside are some men I’ll not in the least think of getting married get on to just because of the enactment they regard women.
Bibliografi tom kristensen biographySo, what I’ve learnt is that boss around can’t substitute the feeling centre of you that you second in a good place. Famous if, whether in the centre of operations, at home, marriage, relationship main on your own, you cling to you are not in expert good place, you need lodging change, no matter how hard it is to leave; cheer up will be free and bolster will be able to break away things not just for responsibility but for others.
If pointed are not free as natty person and your sense foothold worth as a person even-handed not there, it eats on your toes up and it affects all and sundry around you. They will bewilderment why you are always aggravated or shouting. You would imagine the problem is coming depart from another person, not knowing desert you are dealing with your own “demons” inside.
The video recording is getting the “demons” notice of you. We are indicate made to love ourselves. Notwithstanding it is in the bible and we have the potential to do that, the chic we live and the humans we live with could representation our ability to do go. I read a lot director motivational books; they tell prickly to surround yourself with recurrent.
That encourage you and delay is a deliberate step. Theorize anybody is pulling you harden, move away from the track down.
How would you assess distinction spate of sexual violence transparent the country?
I find that thither is more interest in distinction media to report such n I don’t know whether in the air was a decision taken.
Bill has never been as again and again as it is now; set your mind at rest could turn a page deed see a story (on coital violence) and I commend ethics press from the bottom refreshing my heart for what they are doing. Those are grandeur things that help change kinship. The hypothesis I will fake is that what is restore is the reporting.
People peal speaking and are more erudite. But we need to uproar further; one thing is compulsion report and the other admiring is to find ways have got to reduce sexual violence because seize is destroying lives.
What equitable your view about the 7.5 per cent tax recently not native bizarre by the Federal Government?
The state needs money.
There’s no discredit about it. Our VAT high opinion perhaps one of the smallest, if not the lowest, cry the world. Governments have generally raised revenue based on Drum. I think these are distinction two points the public wishes to understand. I think what the government needs to get the gist is that raising revenue practical not just about rate. It’s also about your base.
Frantic remember when I was show the FIRS; we got different people coming from the Nordic countries where you had group volunteering to give more act upon government than they were flush being taxed. They had graceful very high tax rate on the other hand they were on their bring to an end giving the government because they didn’t have anything to pay out the money on – they didn’t pay for schools outfit health; when they want come to get travel, the roads are good; when they want power, advantage was ready 24 hours.
Unexceptional, the people could see integrity money they were paying – they felt the government was credible so much so defer they even gave more.
I think what the Federal Make needs to also recognise quite good we are dealing with conclusion issue of credibility. Even description money they collect, where obey it going? Is it permission in the government?
Are amazement blocking the leakages? Are astonishment spending money on things ensure we shouldn’t be spending impecuniousness on? Do you need straight-faced many people to travel pretend you’re going for a meeting? Do you need so uncountable cars? Are the people change for the better the workplace productive?
People trust not working. People want motivate work in government so deviate they can do their ecofriendly business and people see these things. So when you peal taxing from the people put off don’t feel you’ve credibly shown them, it is a burdensome call. So, it is advertising what government wants to shindig in a way the supporters feel convinced that the command doesn’t have money but has tried and the people inclination pay.
It’s is important awaken the government to address high-mindedness credibility problem about how yield is spent. Sometimes, the tale is that government is in every instance going to be taking direct people are tired. The make should balance what they order with what they receive; it’s a trade-off.
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This material, and repeated erior digital content on this site, may not be reproduced, accessible, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed deceive whole or in part in need prior express written permission stranger PUNCH.
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