An Ode to Dr. Sanusi Ohiare at 36
“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.”— Warren Bennis.
Dr. Sanusi Mohammed Ohiare’s emergence as the Executive Director of Rural Electrification Fund was historic. He was just 32 when he was given the mandate of opening up the off-grid electrification space for investments.
As at that time, the well respected Washington Fellow was arguably the youngest executive director under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. Dr. Sanusi who clocked 36 during the weekend and without any iota of doubt, his birthday is worth celebrating by both friends and foes, considering how he has made impact in private and public sectors.
The REF boss indeed belongs to the small class of people who deliberately understate their privileges, influence and power to remain connected to the society and their friends. Consequently, he shows introspection in his conducts and engagement with people of different categories, which gives hope and encouragement about the beauty ahead of them.
With the office he currently occupies at that age, there is no gainsaying that life has been kind to him. Sanusi came into the public space at a time the nation was in dire need of people with fresh ideas in leadership positions.
Sanusi is a Nigerian nationalist of the contemporary epoch with immense love for his nation and her citizens. He enjoys a global view of life, but his impact have been greatly felt locally. This is because, the development of his native rural communities are very dear to his heart.
Born on 6th of March 1985, in Abuja, Ohiare hails from Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
He obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from University of Jos, Plateau State, where he graduated with Second Class Honours, Upper Division (2.1) in 2006. He later attended the renowned Centre for Energy, Petroleum, Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP), University of Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom(UK), and obtained a Master of Science Degree in Energy Studies, with specialization in Energy Finance in 2011.
He also has a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree in Rural Energy Development from the prestigious Institute for Energy and Sustainable Development (IESD), De Montfort University, Leicester, UK in 2014 and is currently the only Nigerian with that specialization.
Before his appointment in April 2017, he worked with the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ), as a National Advisor on Rural Electrification, under the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), co-funded by the European Union and German Government.
Sanusi has over 16 years’ experience within the Rural Electrification Space.
He is also a member of the International Association of Energy Economics (IAEE), Nigerian Association of Energy Economics (NAEE), Lagos Oil Club, Society for Petroleum Engineers (SPE), and Energy Institute UK.
It is true that many young people aren’t thought of as leaders. This line of reason sounds prominent within the older generation. They believe that not only do young people lack experience and skills, but also many are too timid to assume leadership roles.
But Dr. Sanusi’s achievements as head of REF proves that with the right attitude, an observant eye and a desire to continue learning, any young man and woman can take up leadership responsibilities and do very well.
The REA board he’s a part of has attracted close to $560 million dollars from donor agencies and an estimated $1billion from private sector for renewable energy development in rural communities, markets, universities and teaching hospitals.
It was his sterling performance that drew him to global recognition recently. He was nominated, alongside three notable personalities across the continent in the Young Leader category of the 2020 African Power, Energy & Water Industry Awards. According to the organisers, the category recognises a person under the age of 35 from a public or private company who has made an outstanding contribution in their sector.
Even with the stiff competition from other nominees, Ohiare emerged winner of the coveted award.
While commenting on the award, Faruk Yusuf Yabo, Ag. Director Renewable Energy and Rural Power Access, Federal Ministry of Power, Nigeria described Sanusi as being responsible for a number of the rural electrification projects that are happening today in Nigeria under the REA.
These projects, according to him, are impacting positively on lives of individuals and small businesses.
“So it was not a surprise that he was being considered for this very important award,” he stated.
Adding to the admiration, MD/CEO, Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria, Ahmad Salihijo opined: “I must say, working with him, I have seen a lot of leadership qualities, dedication and most importantly, his selflessness, he wants to help Nigeria. Also, it’s very, very encouraging to other youth to understand that when given the opportunity, we are able to strive and get the desired results.”
As a man who believes in putting smiles on the faces of others, most especially the most vulnerable, and someone who is passionate and empathetic towards people around him, the REF executive director in 2019 established the Sanusi Ohiare Foundation (SOF), a non-governmental organization with a focus to champion developmental changes and eradicate poverty in Africa through empowerment, sports and rural electrification.
The foundation has within two years of its establishment built standard basketball courts for schools and communities, donated sporting kits to students in need, mentored children and youths on the importance of sports majorly basketball as a means of empowerment.
Dr. Sanusi has also provided access to reliable electric power supply for rural dwellers irrespective of where they live, and what they do, adding to the special priority to protect and also empower widows, orphans, motherless babies and homeless people with the necessary tools they need to survive and thrive.
Even among staff, the REF boss is described as a transformational leader who tends to lead by example and who tends to get the best out of all circumstances with relative ease. He flows relatively well with everyone and he has never hidden his passion for mentoring younger ones to achieve their life goals.
In one of his interviews with a leading national newspaper, Dr. Sanusi recounted some of the challenges that come with public recognition and why he decided to go into the energy sector with a degree in Economics.
According to him, the passion to make an impact and bring about change in the rural electrification subsector had been an age-old one for him.
Succinctly, he noted: “Growing up in the suburbs without constant electricity, going to school and learning about how the lack of electricity had been the bane of our development, and learning how the lack of electricity had shattered dreams and aspirations of young people in rural communities, started a fire in me that led me to seek solutions to solving these problems. This led me to this path, a path less travelled by regular young people.”
To Sanusi, all may look good and bright on the surface but there are several obstacles in managing public office, especially at such a tender age.
He explained that governance and public administration is a lot different from private-sector leadership.
“There are a lot of uncertainties about the future. Learning from the past to deliver value for today. Ensuring systems are put in place for the future. To know that you are not going to be there forever; every day is very important, so you have to make it count. You can’t be too relaxed as you need to do as much as you can. That tends to put a lot of pressure on you but also brings out the best in you,” he said.
From the above, it would not be out of place to describe Dr. Ohiare as a charismatic, ingenious, focused, kind, passionate and compassionate leader. Indeed, there is something integral to his character; it is an attitude that has propelled great and successful men.
He is a visionary. To him, winning is not something that happens suddenly on the field; not by accident. You must plan to win.
