TheJourneyVolume1 - Book - Page 100
#NextGenUNDP
Ayodele Odusola
Coun tr y o f O r igin :
UNDP Co u n t r y O f f ic e :
Date o f Ap po in tm e n t :
NIGERIA
S O U T H A FR I CA
J UN E 2 019
“I BELIEVE IN THE AFRICAN AXIOM THAT
SAYS: ‘HARD WORK NEVER KILLS, BUT
POVERTY IS AN UNREPENTANT KILLER’.”
I
was raised by a hardworking cocoa farmer and an
entrepreneurial, small-scale trader in western Nigeria
in the 1960s, and lived under the tutelage and guidance
of principled teachers - my uncle and aunt, in the 1980s.
For me, cherishing and protecting the family name, is
better than amassing amazing, unfathomable wealth. As
the saying goes: “A good name is better than gold.”
Growing up, knowing one’s nuclear and extended
families, and knitting lasting relationships with them
was commonplace. I was raised to be independent and to
uphold values of honesty and respect, while supporting
and empowering others. I believe in the African axiom
that says: “hard work never kills, but poverty is an
unrepentant killer.” This is the essence which makes
me imbibe a culture of hard work and professionalism
wherever I go and spurs my passion to always help people
find their way out of poverty.
These life-long attributes coupled with my humble
background and passion for people have shaped my
character and career path.
As a child I was constantly reminded of the adage:
“Birds of a feather flock together.” This important
life-long lesson taught me that one’s ability to remain on
course, focused, and committed to your goals depends
on the type of people you move with and the friends you
keep. Therefore, it’s important to surround yourself with
people with similar goals; they will understand your
passion and encourage you in periods of turbulence.
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
My early years in public elementary schools were
populated with disciplined teachers. Being taught by them
has left indelible marks in my life. Etiquette, hygiene, and
hard work were some of the common features at school.
I was often part of the pupils’ and students’ officials,
and as a Senior Prefect in my secondary school, it was
mandatory to exhibit the embodiment of leadership. All
these influences framed my personality.
My educational journey was windy but rewarding –
from primary school to modern school (an erstwhile
training school for primary school teachers), and from
secondary school to a higher education certificate at The
Polytechnic Ibadan in Nigeria.
This was followed by my Bachelor’s and Master’s
degrees in Economics from the Obafemi Awolowo
University and my Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in
Economics from the University of Ibadan – all from Nigeria.
These degrees were complemented by many on-the-job
trainings in institutions like the National Centre for
Economic Management and Administration (NCEMA,
Nigeria), the West African Institute of Financial and
Economic Management (WAIFEM, Nigeria), the African
Economic Research Consortium (AERC, Kenya), the African
Development Bank Training Institute (Cote d’Ivoire), the
Crown Agents (UK), IMF Institute (USA), UN WIDER
(Finland), the United Nations System Staff College (Italy),
and Columbia University (USA), among others. These
institutions nurtured and honed my career immensely.
INSPIRATION AND CHALLENGES
My conventional and on-the-job education and experiences; the colleagues I worked with while lecturing
at the Department of Economics of the Obafemi
Awolowo University; my time with the Presidency of
the Federal Government of Nigeria; and working with
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP,
at country-level and headquarters) – have all shaped
my professional career.
I have also had the privilege of working with renowned
and world-rated intellectuals and colleagues who have
contributed significantly to my international development career in the United Nations. They have shown me
the value of serving people and the world, which is vital ›
I was raised to uphold
values of honesty and respect,
while supporting and
empowering others.”
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