Hurray, FATE Foundation is 10!
FATE Foundation an institution that has so radically changed my life celebrated her 10th year anniversary today, which doubled as the FATE Annual Celebration and Entrepreneurial Awards. For FATE Foundation, it’s been 10 Years of Creating Wealth for the Nigerian economy. The event took place earlier today (2nd of December, 2010) at Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, Nigeria.
The event helped me find the strength I needed to be a more successful entrepreneur, the shell hall was full to the brim, people from all works of life graced the occasion and everything put together made the event an unforgettable one.
The moment I waited passionately for came and that was the Awards – who would be FATE Entrepreneur of the decade? When I saw Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the President of Dangote Group step into the hall I guessed the award was going to him because quite honestly this guy deserves some praise – he’s done a good job by being the 1st Nigerian to build a brand that is going International big time. This is not to in anyway suggest that I am a fan of the guy but then Kudos to him for he is doing Nigeria proud.
What I liked particularly was his success story, how he started out in business, how he moved from one trade to the other and at a point had to bow out of the banking industry.
I like to share 3 lessons from the Dangote story I heard directly from him today at the Fate Foundation annual celebration and entrepreneurial award;
Lesson 1:
Discover your passion and stick to it.
When Dangote Group discovered it had a passion for the cement business, she stuck to it even in the face of insurmountable challenges.
Lesson 2:
Know your Business
Alhaji Dangote admitted that in the late 1990’s, he had to bow out of the Banking industry because he had to rely on others to get any information he wants. In his words; you must know your business well.
Lesson 3
Remain Humble
I saw in Alhaji Dangote, a truly humble guy. Despite his status and wealth, humility is a value attributed to him by all. Infact, when the event was over, he walked down the hallway without any security deyails and I could see some members of the public following him and others asking him questions freely.
The time to say goodbye came and Bisade Ologunde AKA Lagbaja thrilled the whole crowd with his unique genre of music, I observed him for a while at close range without dancing and I must confess the guy is multi-talented. I watched with excitement as people danced and danced and even the ever busy workforce of FATE Foundation weren’t left out, they boogied it out led by Mrs. Alile Oruene Executive Director, Fate Foundation.
Kudos to everyone that has made the FATE Foundation dream a reality, starting with the founder, Mr. Fola Adeola, other board members, members of Staff, volunteers and finally the entrepreneurs who have chosen to leverage on the FATE Foundation brand.
