â˘ADENIYI OJIKUTU, Pres. COMPUTER & ALLIED Products Dealers Asso (CARDAN)
Adeniyi Ahmed Ojikutu is the President of Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria, (CAPDAN) located at the Computer village in Ikeja Lagos. Since he was sworn in as president, a lot of changes has been ongoing within the computer village for good that makes people to believe that the man called Ojikutu is a fantastic team player and has an oratorical skill that has helped him to achieve so much with the limited time he was sworn in, talking about the challenges and impression of people concerning computer village, he spoke exclusively with City People Sunday Adigun on his vision & mission as the president and how he plan to eradicate and change the face of computer village for better.
Can we meet you?
My name is Ojikutu Ahmed Adeniyi, I was born into the famous family of Ojikutu of Lagos. By the grace of God, Iâm the President of Computer And Allied Products Dealer Association Of Nigeria. Iâm married with children, I am the M.D of Pacific Network Solution Ltd, the C.E.O of African Agro Development project, a mechanized Agro investment project with over 70 Employees work force and an approved license for PKO refinery and also a âGrade Aâ contractor to the Lagos State/federal Government.
Letâs talk about your background?
Like I said, I came out from the famous Ojikutu family here in Lagos. I went to Zion School Lagos for my primary school, then Egbado College, Ilaro in 1995, then I proceeded to Federal Polytechnic. Ilaro for National Diploma in Business Studies, Cooperative studies, Marketing & Business Administration in 1998 before I returned back to Lagos, then I had my b.sc in Insurance and Actuarial Science from the prestigious University of Lagos in 2002. I had M.Sc in Business Management from Lagos State University.
I am a member of Institute of Diplomacy & Conflict Resolution, member of institute of Business Strategy. PHD in view, and certified Qualification in Nigerian Institute of Journalism in 2016.
What has been your challenge as CAPDAN president?
The challenges comes everyday but my strength and the Lordâs given gift of an open heart and ability to work with people of divergent of background and race has really helped me a lot, and my ability to galvanize diversities to a unified structure and to achieve desired goals & objectives. My nature and humility has also helped me to manage people in time of crisis. So I will say God has always been on our side and Heâs helping us on daily basis.
Looking at your promises while campaigning during your manifestos, which of these promises has been actualized?
By the Grace of God, this present administration has really invested in so many projects and we are still counting. For instance, we bought a patrol vehicle to be moving around. Weâve established a multipurpose cooperative society, (Owned by all stakeholders in the market). We have partnered with the federal Government of Nigeria (Federal Ministry of Technology and Communication and NITDA (National Information Technology Development Agency).
Weâve partnered with new Lagos State Ministry of Government and Employment (For direct SME Funds).
We have a world class ICT hub, e-commerce website (Computer village.com) and the project is tagged. THE FUTURE OF ICT IN AFRICA
So weâve been able to achieve these and we are still counting because I have fantastic executives that work with me day and Night to make Computer Village a safe haven in the whole of Africa and God has always been on our side.
How do you intend to change peopleâs perspective about Computer village, because it is generally believed that we have some miscreant there?
Well, I donât have much to say for now, because we are working to change that impression, like I said we have a patrol Van that moves around computer village in case of any incident. Weâve been able to sign an agreement to provide Computer Village Identification Number (CVIN). Weâve improved on our task force and Enforcement and we are working on total Abolition of Street trading.etc. So Iâm very sure very soon computer village will become a place that is safe for individuals.