The charming, bright and energetic Dami Kamardeen Olowosago, is one son of Ikorodu who has lived and excel in his life endeavour. His journey through the academic and career progression in the public services has cumulated into streak of successes, and he seems to just be warming up for more. After years of servicing the Lagos State Government and have risen to the position of Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Kamardeen has yet attained another envious status in the Nigerian Institute of Management NIM. His elevation as a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management attracted attention as he was honoured alongside distinguished senator, minister of the Federal Republic Nigeria, army generals and other big names from the topmost echelon in the country.
In this brief interview with publisher of Oriwu Sun Chief Monzor Olowosago and News Editor Ramson Acheme, he shares his next plans on career development.
Q: How does it feel being elevated to the status of a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management?
A: Well, I am very elated, I am very happy, particularly when your professional institute recognises you to the extent that they are giving you a Fellowship Award, which is the peak of award one can achieve in the organization. I will say I am very happy, I am so happy, it didn’t come easily, it is through hard work and we went through a rigorous interview and screening exercise before we were shortlisted and finally about 76 of us were picked. I joined this institute 2003, exactly nineteen years ago; it is a well-deserved award for me.
Q: When did you join this institute?
A: I joined Nigerian institute of management, chattered in 2003, altogether, it has been nineteen years since I became a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management, Chattered and I now a Fellow.
Q: As a civil servant how do you find the time to attend to such extra-intellectual activities?
A: You see, I will thank the system, particularly Lagos State Government. Theirs is a system that encourages you to go for training, to develop yourself and expose yourself; you just need to tap the right places for you to benefit from the system. I can tell you that when it comes to human capital development, Lagos State is second to none, because they spend a lot of money on training. The Lagos State Government funded the cost of my training with NIM. The Lagos State Government solely funded the first training I attended at the Nigerian Institute of Management in 2003.
Q: Does that contribute to fast track your elevation to become a Permanent Secretary?
A: Well, I wouldn’t say it’s part of it, but it is part of the process of developing myself. We did exam for the permanent secretary however; this is a total process of developing yourself through training, courses, conferences, and particularly mentorship by my superiors where I have gained a lot. And of course, I have the right atmosphere to tap into.
Q: What does it entails to be a Fellow?
A: Like a former Lagos State governor would say, the reward for hard work is more work, as a Fellow you’re encouraged to join a group like seven kind of work stream, in my case I chose Governance and Logistics, any time I could be called upon to share my experiences and my exposure with other members of the institute on governance which will help the management profession in the society.
Q: What advice for other top executives in the public settings?
A: Well, they have different kinds of organisation to which they belong, but as an administrator, an administration and human resources personnel it is either you are member of CIPM or NIM of which I am member of both and more of those.
Of course you have to develop yourself, and part of the development process is joining a chattered institute who knows its onions. And every year you need to update your skills because things are changing and you can only do that locally through your membership of these organisations.
Q: What has been your experience since you became a Permanent Secretary?
A: Like I said earlier on, the reward of hard work is more work. Before I became a Permanent Secretary, I though t that it is all about delegating duties to your directors while you relax. But when I became a permanent secretary, I discovered that it is a heck of workload.
To the governor, I will say thank you, for appointing me, for believing in me and for giving us the wherewithal. The governor is a man who will push you to be on your toes. He calls you directly, gives you directives and explains what to do. So, you are always on your toes working for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Sometimes I wonder how the governor gets to coordinates all of us because he is always on the go twenty four seven. That is what many are not aware a bout the governor, his sacrifices for the people of Lagos. I respect him a lot, he is downright factual, he tells you what he wants and gives you a target and you have to deliver, most importantly he gives you every support to deliver.
Q: Now that you have attained the covetous title of a Fellow of Nigerian Institute of Management, what is your next target?
A: Well, the peak in the Nigerian Institute of Management is to become a Life Member. Apart from contribution to other areas in terms of my assignments as given by the institute, my ambition is to become a Life Member, and that is when you get to the Seventh Floor which is attaining 70 years of age. I would have retired from public service by then. But being a manager myself, I would have to take it up from there,
Q: What do you do at your free time?
A: Apparently for now I don’t have free time, because I work Mondays to Sundays. Transportation is not a place where you have a free time. But at my leisure time I do engage in profitable activities. Maybe I should summarize it this way. I work hard, I pray hard and I play hard. Whatever reasons, if anybody can decode that that is how best I can put it.
Q: Are you a ladies’ man?
A: No, I am not. Well, let me put it this way, when you are successful, ladies will flock around you. Maybe because of my being helpful and maybe because of my being generous, ladies are bound to be flocking around me. However, at this level I have to be sure I know what I am doing. The worst distraction one can get is from ladies, so, I run away from ladies.
Q: It was noticed that you are a powerful dresser, how much do you spend on your clothes?
A: If you will permit me to say this, I met that at home, I learn that from my parents. Also, I get that from my elder brother Dr. Adebayo Daudu, he raised me in terms of wellbeing, outlook and everything that matters. My brothers, like Monzor are all powerful dressers, dressing good is something that runs in the family.
Q: What is your favourite food sir?
A: (Laughs). Oh, well, you want me to go into the realm of my wife, right? My wife takes care of food, I don’t eat outside. I give it to her hundred percent, she takes care of what I eat. Though, I am conscious of what I eat and watch what I eat. When it comes to food, I love swallow and efo riro or ewedu, but I give it to my wife she knows what to give me at the right time.