Jolaoluwa Adegbite: Spot the gaps, dare to do more and break free from limiting beliefs

What caught my interest in Jolaoluwa Adegbite's profile was that we both attended the same University(There are only two Universities in this world- The University of Ibadan and others...*Smiles*). Sliding into her direct message, I made a proposition to her and Jolaoluwa did not reject my request for a feature. This made her a more endearing personality who is devoted to the cause to tell her story to inspire others.

Adegbite Abosede Jolaoluwa describes herself as a multifaceted professional with experience in various fields. She is passionate about making a difference in the community and helping others. This is evident in her work as a Humanitarian Aid Worker. She is the go-to person in matters that relates to global health and environmental issues.

She is a lady of many parts. One of them is as a Realtor. In this role, Jolaoluwa provides her clients with the information they need to make the right decisions when it comes to real estate investments.

Just like the proverbial goldfish that has no dining place, Omote Ro Dhe connected with Jolaoluwa who shared her story of what she stands for and is all about. 

Read excerpts of the interview below:

As a Humanitarian Aid Worker, Realtor, Executive assistant, Educator/ Educational Administrator, how do you juggle wearing multiple hats?

With a unifying trajectory, even the hardest rock could become easy to break. With a solid structure and a good support system in place, God has been helping me. However, I would like to clarify a misconception that has lingered for a while. When people say they are multi-faceted, it does not necessarily translate to an individual who does diverse things all at a time.

For instance, I work as an executive assistant remotely. My physical presence is not required.

Our customer care representative is open to inquiries about real estate from Monday-Saturday, but inspection takes place only during the weekend. Working as a volunteer for the Nigerian Red Cross and a couple of other organizations is not something I do on a full-time basis either. I do not travel to remote places, visit displaced locations/ slums to select the children we want to enrol in school or set up temporary clinics every time. I provide basic first aid only when there is an emergency or when we visit places where there are casualties to rescue.

One does not interfere with the other. The same goes for my job as an educator/educational administrator too.

You are quite prominent in the real estate sector, was this always where you wanted to be?

If my work experience as a teacher and customer support associate is anything to go by, I would say working in these roles moulded me into who I am today. I have always been a person who is passionate about giving back to my community as much as I can, but real estate wasn't part of the plan. I only decided to join the industry when a close friend got swindled while trying to purchase land in 2019.

The experience really left her shattered. It took her a while to get over it. Seeing how that experience left her broken was what made me diversify into real estate.

I said to myself that "I would ensure no one I know ever have to go through this traumatizing experience in their quest to become a landowner/landlord..." I saw the help people needed with getting land and houses, so I thought to fix it by learning how to provide expert guidance to prospective landowners which would help them navigate the complex and ever-changing real estate market in Nigeria easily.

You are passionate about raising talented individuals who have what it takes to excel but are struggling. Please tell us how you are going about this?

Whenever people ask me if there is anything I am very proficient in, I always tell them that it is spotting gaps and facilitating initiatives to fill in spaces.

I realised early in life that talent is universal, but opportunities aren't available to all. Hence, the goal is to bring scarce opportunities to people who truly deserve them, so they can find their place in the world. I am on a mission, and the mission is to become a Star who raises Stars. I know I can't possibly meet everyone's needs, but if I can help change the world, even if it's a world of 30 people, then I have done something remarkable. In the year 2017, I collaborated with a friend to spearhead a non-governmental organisation whose objectives revolve around providing aid to talented youths. As the state coordinator, I was able to lead a team of Five(5) to solicit funds from well-meaning Nigerians. By so doing, we identified close to 400 struggling youths in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.

With the funds, we gathered, we empowered them and improve their standards of living by 30%. Furthermore, as an operation team member in YALI Africa, I use all the resources at my disposal to fish out talented youths within and outside my locality and connect them to life-changing offers/opportunities. I also facilitated a couple of training/seminars on personal development and how to land the right jobs fit for their skills, for young people within and outside my locality.

Providing mentorship and guidance is not left out too. All these are snippets of what I have done, but I hope to do more this year with God on my side.

In your opinion, what are some issues that women in this clime face in achieving their dreams and what are a few things you would suggest can be done to help them?

To start with, how many women do we have in top managerial positions in Nigeria? How many women do we have in places that matter?

The last time I checked, proof abounds which testifies that women in this clime still experience discriminatory practices while seeking employment. If you are now married, that's on another level.

Furthermore, women are really underrepresented in politics. In 2018, only 24% of national parliamentarians were women. In the 2019 general elections, only five of the 73 candidates who contested for the presidency were women and even after the election, women made up only 4% of the elected officials. Our political space lacks gender-focused inclusion. Cultural and religious beliefs have also helped in solidifying certain theories which restrict women from participating in certain activities or holding certain positions. Solutions? I think gender-based issues are best tackled by developing a comprehensive framework for women's protection in this country. The government can put a system in place that would encourage the public and private sectors to promote the interest of women in the workplace. Policies that promote gender equality could suffice too. Encouraging the participation of women in politics and decision-making processes is another.

Addressing cultural and social norms that discriminate against women and support gender inequality, would be helpful, too.

Can you list some women who have influenced you into the woman you have become and what endeared you to them?

One of the women who shaped me to become who I am today is the former U.S. first lady, Michelle Obama. Her doings as a true revolutionary who used her position to demand equal rights for women are the reason I try as much as I can to contribute my quota to the growth of people in society. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is also one of my daily sources of unending inspiration. In a country where women are stereotyped to play at a certain level, she's breaking barriers and smashing the status quo unapologetically.

Her emergence as Director-General of the WTO makes me believe that there is absolutely nothing I cannot become. As long as I want it and I am working towards it, I will surely get it. Prof. Ibukun Awosika who was the former Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria Plc is another. The grace and the energy that she exudes are admirable. With their pictures and doings engraved on my mind, I believe the world is my oyster, no matter how hard it gets.

I know life is not always butterflies and rainbows, but their lives are proof that no matter how thick the clouds become, I can always sail through as long as I am determined. If they can wade through life with all its challenges just to get what they wanted out of it, I believe I can do the same.

Would you like to share some projects you are working on or what to expect from you in the new year?

 I have a couple of projects I am working on. Part of it is working on an initiative that would help me spread the tentacles of my humanitarian work to other parts of the country. Furthermore, my team and I are planning to collaborate with developers who erect and sell low-cost houses such as “Boys' quarters” and 2-bedroom flats with a payment plan in place(spanning 5 years). This is to help ease issues surrounding property acquisition for low-income earners. The goal is to ensure many Nigerians can boast of a property of their own by age 45, at least. There are others too, but I would rather not unveil them yet.

Success is relative, what does it mean to you?

The phrase “success is relative” can be loosely translated as what success means to different people at different phases of their lives. For instance, a person who graduated from the university may consider himself successful when he graduates, but if he struggles hard to secure a job upon graduation, he might not consider himself successful again. Hence, the phrase; “different phases of their lives.” What constitutes success varies from one person to another, and it is dependent on an individual's perspective. But something is constant. What makes success "relative" are mainly 3 things; Personal goals, societal expectations and individual circumstances. Marrying right is what makes some people feel they are successful. To some, it is having a certain amount of money in their accounts. To another, it is to become a prominent politician. For me, success is what makes me feel fulfilled even when my account balance reads zero.

What advice do you have for younger girls pursuing purpose?

My advice would be that they should take cognizance of the fact that money is essential, but it is not all that it is to life.

Using their energy to pursue something they are passionate about is likely to earn them a place in the sands of time than chasing money. As a black woman, genetically, you have more variations in your genetic makeup than any woman on planet Earth. It is now left to you to tap into your inner power. You are made of black. You are more. Dare to do more and break free from the shackles that society uses to hold you back. Break the damn table! Break the status quo. Let go of beliefs that do not serve you. You cannot detox metals using weak principles. That thing in you that can benefit the world, that you've been running away from, it is time to start manifesting it. Don't see limitations, don't see challenges, see opportunities in everything. Your only limitation is the extent to which you dream. The world is waiting. You can't afford to disappoint.