Nigeria must embrace righteousness, justice to fix its challenges — Dcns Adetoun Olubi (Super Q)

In this interview by Bankole Taiwo, Deaconess Adetoun Adepero Olubi, the CEO of popular Super Q Fabrics, Lagos speaks on her love for God among other topical issues as she is today honoured with the award of exemplary motherhood by the Methodist Theological Institute (MTI) Sagamu and also inducted into the Methodist Church Nigeria Hall of Fame. Excerpts:

Can we just have a bit of your growing up?

I am Deaconess Adetoun Adepero Olubi. I was born over seventy years ago. I grew up in a modest family. My grandmother was Mary Efunpero Oyename from Ilisan Remo. Though, I am from Ilisan Remo but I was actually born in Lagos, I grew up in Lagos. I went to Mayflower School, Ikenne Remo, the ‘62 set we are the seventh set, and then University of Lagos. I grew up with family that is a lover of Christ, my grandma was a great lover of Christ and this has impacted my life greatly, I love Christ too like nothing else.

So after leaving the university, what did you do?

I taught for some time in Lagos, I taught at St Finibars, Lagos after which I veered into business of Catering, Super Q Catering Services but when it was becoming useless, what every Dick, Tom and Harry was doing, I decided to leave it for something else. When I started the business, only me and Bagatel, a Lebanese were doing catering but all of a sudden it became the business of all, so, I left the business and started a shop. I was selling Aso Oke and hats, I mean the hats people wear to church, I love hats so much. I started the shop around 1984, though, I was advised to open up branches elsewhere but I refused because I wasn’t looking for the money, I only have passion for what I do.

All of a sudden Super Q Fabrics became the toast of the high and the mighty in the society, can you please tell us the secret behind the success story?

I initially started with local Aso Oke, I was using the Aso Oke to make hats and suits but I have a female friend from Senegal, She brought some Aso Oke from Senegal and I was so interested in it. In fact when they opened Sheraton, it was this Aso Oke that I wore together with my to match shoe and bag.. gradually, the Presidents’ wives, governors’ wives started coming, in addition to other prominent people in the society. They appreciated the uniqueness and the patronage keep on growing, so from there the name Super Q became hugely famous, a good success story by the grace of God.

What will you really say assisted you to be that successful with Super Q Aso Oke?

Definitely, it’s the grace of God, after all, the Bible says no one can receive anything except it be given from above. The uniqueness and quality of the Aso Oke is also there, you know that people like nice things, once they see it on you they will begin to inquire, oh this is nice, where did you get it? And from there the spread of the good news continues.

They use to say Nigerians have so much taste for foreign products, yet you made successful venture in Aso Oke…

…(cuts in) Like I said grace of God and more so, Aso Oke is timeless, it is that part of our tradition that will remain with us may be till eternity. Damask came and left likewise many others but Aso Oke is till with us, ever relevant.

Was it through this your Aso Oke venture that you met Late Mariam Babangida who we gathered was your very good friend?

Yes, Mariam Babangida was my friend, Mariam Abacha too is my friend, Turai Yar’adua is my friend too, they are all my friends, most of the Ministers the governors’ wives. For instance, Mrs Florence Ajimobi wife of the immediate past governor of Oyo State is like a daughter, we actually met through this Aso Oke business. I thank God that my work has been showcasing me for good across the globe, even among those who are not in government Super Q is not strange to them. There is this customer of mine, a female whose husband has heard so much about what we are doing and then told his wife that he would like to meet that woman behind Super Q. So I got to his house, pressed the bell and one man came around to open the door, he then put a call to his wife and said he didn’t see anybody but his wife said that person you just opened the for is Super Q now, he now faced me and said “na so you small” meaning “so you are this small in stature.” He later told me while we were inside that he was expecting to see a very big or fat woman but it is not by size but by the sheer grace of the Lord.

In this age and time when people are being encouraged to be entrepreneurs despite the harsh environment, what is your advice to those people?

Let them trust in the Lord and be diligent and honest in all that they do. They should shun the temptation of cutting corners, they should learn to persevere, stay true in their dealings, be prayerful too and pretty soon the breakthrough will come, the almighty God remain author of good success.

Nigeria of then and now, what do you think went wrong ma?

I think over time, the devil entered into homes and heart of many Nigerians and we forsook righteousness, we don’t care again of being honest, many of us are consumed by greed and we have forgotten that what you forcefully acquired, you will lose it forcefully too. I remember that years back, those women who sold things by the roadside, sometimes they would not be there, they would only leave their wares like sweet, biscuits there and people will go there buy whatever they want and drop the money even when no one is there but who can do that now?  The Bible says righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach unto it. So, we must all go back to God. The churches too must rather concentrate on salvation of souls than just making money from the church members. Many of our churches are only interested in the money they will collect from the congregation than their salvation, many have lost focus on what is priority and are busy buying jets here and there. We all must go back to God in prayer and seek for forgiveness. I remember many years back when we come home, that is Ilisan, from Lagos, our grandma who was the Iya Ijo of the Anglican Church would take us to the Vicarage where the Reverend and family are living, we would fetch water for them, clean their house, help with their laundry among others. I don’t think any of them had a  car but things have changed now. We are all now after the things of the world, it’s time for repentance. If we must get back Nigeria of our dreams, we must be ready to embrace righteousness, shun corruption and be Godly in our dealings, then God will show us mercy and heal our land.

So it is not about yes, this political party has all it takes to take the country to our desirable height?

Yes, we have issues with good governance too. For instance, I don’t see any sense in bringing members of murderous Boko Haram to join the military under the guise that they have repented, that is akin to playing with fire, going to bed when the fire is on the rooftop could be dangerous. It is the same government that is fighting tooth and nail with Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho who are rising up to defend their people. The economy too has continued to deteriorate, a dollar is now N700, we just have to go back to God.

As Methodist Theological Institute marks its 70th anniversary today, you are being inducted into the Hall of Fame with another award in exemplary motherhood. Nowadays, we seem to be having crisis in motherhood, how can we restore the lost glory in motherhood?

We have to go back to God, the Bible says train up a child in the way he will go and he won’t depart from it. It saddens my heart when I hear of parents following their children to school to beat up the teachers that punished their children. You will hear of parents paying heavily for their children to pass exams, these are not acceptable. Mothers must be good examples to their children. I once saw a little girl on Instagram stealing money from his father’s purse and opening somewhere close to her breast keeping it there, she might have been watching her mother do it and so she too want to do it better than her Mum. I think in whatever we do as mother and parents generally, we must let our home be priority, we must make Christ the centre of our home. Mothers must have time for their children, enough of chasing money and affluence at the detriment of your children.

How do you feel being inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Methodist Church Nigeria coupled with the award of exemplary motherhood?

I feel great, I feel humbled because truly promotion comes from the Lord. I love God, I love the youths and Methodist Church and I have always remained committed to doing my best for the spread of the gospel and so, this honour is to tell me to do more because the ultimate prize is the kingdom of God and by the special grace of God, nothing will make me lose that glorious home.

Many will be surprised that you are this very engrossed in church activities and spiritual given your status as a society woman so to say?

Yes, people may see me as a society woman but I know that I am nothing without Christ. He is my Shepherd and everything and whatever I am today it is because Christ gave the permission.

You talk so much about God, was there any particular event that made you closer to Him?

I am just excited that  I am among the few He has chosen. I have also enjoyed His mercies, all my children including a set of triplet are all fine. You remember Psalm 1 that talks about a tree planted by the riverside that flourishes in and out of season. I have obtained so much mercy from the Lord and so I will serve Him for the rest of my life.

Some tends to see you as a very tough woman….

(Laughs…) Maybe because I am principled and I don’t want cheating, I hate dishonest people and I also don’t think anyone is higher than the almighty God.

What sort of memories do you have about Late Mariam Babangida?

Mariam was a fantastic woman, she was really close to me, always willing to help, very, very supportive. I was with her till she breathed her last. May her soul rest in peace. Mariam and her husband, Babangida were super giver, I mean people with good heart but I think power and politics later made devil out the saint of Babangida, they say power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

As someone very close to powers that be, do you talk to some of them about the suffering of many Nigerians?

They are all quite aware of what Nigerians go through, it’s not hidden.

Tell us your secret of looking this beautiful and ageless at over 70.

The grace of God, I do gym too but I am sure everything boils down to the grace of God which I will never take for granted. Someone once surprised that I have grown up as grandchildren because he said he thought I was just 62 and wouldn’t have gotten children that would have given birth to grandchildren of that age.

Any message to our leaders?

Unfortunately, I don’t believe in this country anymore, I wish we go our separate ways.

Really?

Yes, Singapore is only six million people and go and see what they are doing with their economy, very fantastic people. The beauty of their airport alone will make you speechless. Yoruba will say “omo beere osi bere” our population is too much such that to manage us in addition to our diversity, ethnicity will remain a problem. We should be allow to split. Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo are not the same. We should be allow to go our separate ways, that is the way out of many challenges confronting us.

What is your message to Methodist Church Nigeria as MTI celebrates 70th?

We should remain committed to preaching Christ, saving the perishing and impacting life of others for good. We can’t do less for the one who had loved us before the foundation of the earth.