This article narrates how(and why), after midnight of 14th November 1997, I slept overnight in a taxi at Lagos, Nigeria\u2019s popular Ojota Park. I came in by night bus after closing 9p.m afternoon shift in Guinness Benin City, Edo State in order to arrive on time to participate in the National Finals of Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM)\u2019s Young Managers Competition. <\/p>\n
That was the paper I presented at the NIM competition. Based on project work I did as a trainee shift manager\/brewer in Guinness Nigeria, it was titled \u201cStatistical Process Control and Target Setting (in a Manufacturing Organisation).<\/p>\n
In that paper, I wrote about instances in which I successfully applied my proficiency in use of statistical tools and expertise in spreadsheet solutions development, to solve real life process management problems<\/a>.<\/p>\n Among others tools, the concept of Total Waste Unaccounted For (TWUF), was introduced, and its usefulness for reconciliation of calculated waste in manufacturing process operations was discussed. <\/p>\n I\u2019ll be publishing a special PDF report on that concept in future.<\/p>\n Suffice it to say here that when I got to the National Finals of that competition, TWUF was singled out for mention by the judges, as a noteworthy innovation for solving process waste problems.<\/em><\/p>\n I spent hundreds of hours during my annual leave, writing that paper. And I eventually submitted 7 printed and bound copies to the institute, and enrolled for the competition. All at my own expense.<\/p>\n The zonal competition took place in Ibadan, Oyo state while I was still on annual leave, so I got to partake without people at work knowing about it. <\/p>\n Two were British expatriates, and one was a Nigerian. They were all nice, even polite in receiving me. I told them I needed to be sure nothing I\u2019d written in my paper would be frowned upon by management. <\/p>\n The two expatriate managers got back to me after reading it through. Not only did they have verbal feedback for me, they also made pencilled notes in the copies I gave them, which they returned to me. <\/p>\n In contrast, I never got my draft manuscript back from the Nigerian manager. Despite my best efforts, he also did not volunteer to give me any tips or feedback. <\/em><\/p>\n A few weeks later, I partook in the zonal competition, and came a close second to the winner. I still recall being asked by the organisers and the other participants why I had no formal company representative with me. One or two individuals from some other corporate organisations were actually assigned official transportation etc to the event. I replied that I never formally informed the company that I was enrolling in the competition.<\/p>\n About 2 weeks later, I was back at work in the brewery, when the letter inviting me for the National Finals arrived in the mail. Since I was back on shift I needed to get permission from my boss to be away on the weekend the competition was to hold. <\/p>\n That was on Friday. On Monday, during the brewery meeting for departmental heads, the announced it to the others. <\/p>\n Next thing I knew, everyone was congratulating me, and\/or saying \u201cGo get the prize!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n It was a good feeling, but I would have preferred to have waited till after the finals to inform others. <\/p>\n Due to armed robber ambush threats, we did not get to Lagos until about 1.30p.m. Anyone who knows what Nigeria\u2019s Lagos is like will be aware that it becomes a ghost town from midnight. People hurry home; lock their doors till the next morning. <\/p>\n Why? <\/p>\n Well, the dangerous men of the Night (i.e. armed robbers) often patrolled during that time of the day, till the early hours of the morning, looking to dispossess people of their money and properties.<\/p>\n I quickly disembarked from the bus, and walked up to a Taxi driver standing next to his taxi, just under the pedestrian bridge at Ojota bus stop end. <\/p>\n I asked him where I could find a hotel. He replied that it was too dangerous to go around at that time of the night, and that it would be better if I waited till morning. Then he told me I could join him to sleep in his car till daybreak \u2013 which was what he and his colleagues planned to do as a group with their cars parked together that night. <\/p>\n Having no better option I agreed. We soon slept off, and I can recall wondering if I would survive till the next day. At about 5.30 a.m, a bus conductor\u2019s voice woke us, as the early Lagos day began. <\/p>\n I waited till it was 6.00 a.m, then thanked my host, the taxi driver, for his help, then rushed to join a bus headed for Palmgrove. 30 minutes later I arrived at our family house in Gbagada. <\/p>\n My surprised mother still had her mouth hanging open in curious wonder when I rushed into the house to take my bath, change my clothes, and then announce the reason for my visit. <\/p>\n By this time, it was about 8.00a.m. The letter from the institute said contestants had to arrive their Idowu Taylor premises on Victoria Island by 9.00a.m. <\/p>\n I told my mother I could not wait to eat, dashing out to the express way, and flagging down a yellow Lagos taxi. By 8.40a.m, the taxi deposited me in front of the NIM\u2019s Management House. I soon found a snacks seller and quickly downed a bottle of soft drink with a meat pie, then made my way into the hall. <\/em><\/p>\nIt was NOT easy\u2026At ALL!<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The only persons I told were the three senior managers I gave copies of my final draft to help me read through. <\/strong><\/h3>\n
I remained undaunted and went ahead to submit the revised paper. <\/strong><\/h3>\n
So, I went to his office and told him about my successful zonal outing, and the finals I now had to attend. He promptly agreed. <\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n
On Friday I closed afternoon shift at 9p.m, and travelled by night bus from my base in Benin City, Edo State, to Ojota, Lagos. <\/strong><\/h3>\n
I Had to Sleep In a Taxi at Ojota Motor Park Till Daybreak!<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3 hours later it was all over, and unlike my brilliant outing at the zonal competition, I\u2019d choked during my presentation<\/a> at the nationals! <\/strong><\/h3>\n