Kevin D. Carignan 
Foluke Oyeleye, is a director at Honeywell Group, as well as an author.
She says ENENAITE BLESSING on his 25-year career and his book
You studied Combined Social Sciences as a first degree and also has a Masters in Business Administration. What motivated your decision to study these courses?
As a teenager, I was fascinated by history, psychology and other social science subjects. So it was a natural path for me to follow. The MBA, on the other hand, came after years of working in the corporate world. I knew that Harvard University in the United States of America (where I obtained the MBA) offered me the opportunity to learn from the best and network with forward-thinking peers. This turned out to be a great foundation as I went on to build businesses and contribute strategic leadership to multiple organizations.
As a student, were you more of a bookworm or a people person?
My experience at school has been instructive and enriching. I spent years immersed in a different culture and among people from all over the world. It greatly expanded my view of the world, but also made me realize how blessed Nigeria is. To this day, I still have close friendships from my college years. At the time, I was a bookworm. From an early age, I read everything I could, so I loved being in school. It was an opportunity to be surrounded by books.
What roles did your childhood or your parents play in your career choice?
My parents encouraged all of their children by giving us access to books and the best education they could afford. Through the books I read, I developed ideas about what I wanted to do as a career. In that sense, I would say they played a big role in broadening my mind.
As a manager with over 25 years of experience in the telecoms, finance and FMCG industries, what kept you going?
I was fortunate to have developed an excellent work ethic before I even officially started my career. As a teenager, my parents encouraged me to do holiday jobs and internships. So I always worked. Over the decades, I’ve worked in different industries, so my career has always been exciting. I grew up in these places and had the incredible good fortune to contribute to various organizations. The joy of making positive contributions and also growing professionally is what keeps me going.
How do you combine your daily work with your activities as an author in such a way that no one suffers?
It’s the same way we approach all of life. It is necessary to devote time to its various centers of interest, even if it means devoting more hours to them. I’ve learned to pursue interests that I love while making sure my day job doesn’t suffer because I love it too. I believe in giving myself totally to everything that interests me.
You run a youth mentoring program. What are some of your successes with this initiative?
I see mentorship as a two-way street. Rather than sharing the personal stories of my mentees, I prefer to talk about what I gain from the process. I consider it a blessing to be able to guide and support my mentees in the same way others have supported me over the years. I find mentees have valuable insights and insights that I can draw on when it comes to certain things as well.
What prompted you to write books?
I have always liked to write. I remember scribbling in notebooks and loose papers as a child. However, writing is a skill and a talent that must be developed. While at Harvard, I wrote about the late chef Timothy Odutola (a successful entrepreneur) in an assignment that later expanded into a Harvard Business School case study. HBS cases are used in business schools around the world, so this experience was very exciting for me. I realized that not only did my writing have something valuable to offer others, but it was also a way for me to express my passion for cultural history. So I started thinking about writing the “I am a Nigerian in…” series of books that I am currently working on.
How do you think the reading culture in Nigeria can be improved?
I believe that all change in society begins at the level of the home. Developing a culture of reading starts with parents sitting with their children, discussing books with them, and also allowing children to see them reading. The more engaged parents are with books, the more likely children are to mirror this habit. It is also helpful to engage in activities other than reading that arouse curiosity and then expand on them through books and other reading materials.
What is the Tani series?
It is a publishing company that I founded in 2020 to publish books and other reading materials that will contribute to and celebrate the rich cultural landscape, history and people of Nigeria.
Tell us more about the books in the ‘I Am A Nigerian In…’ collection?
My first two books are ‘I am a Nigerian in Music’ and ‘I am a Nigerian in Literary Arts’. Each book features 15 Nigerians of different ages, tribes and generations.
I Am A Nigerian In Music presents stories of courage and creativity in 15 musicians, including the Lijadu Sisters, Oliver De Coque, Don Jazzy, Dan Maraya Jos and Fela.
I Am A Nigerian In Literary Arts spotlights 15 passionate storytellers, such as Chinua Achebe, Sefi Atta and Dike Chukwumeje. They are all people whose poems, plays and prose have enriched the world.
These are just the first of many books in the collection, although I Am A Nigerian In STEM is due out in a few months, and follows the same pattern of sharing stories of Nigerian excellence. Beyond opening up a world of dreamers, my books also contain additional information about Nigerian places, sectors and more. I really want to engage (readers’) imaginations with these books, so the stories come with beautiful illustrations.
What change do you want to bring about in society with your books?
I want to build a world of dreamers and doers. I believe that portrayal stories are essential in showing children and even adults the progress made by others before them, and the riches Nigeria has to offer in culture, history, etc. Through my books, I want to inspire Nigerian children to embrace culture, creativity and inspiration.
What would you describe as the most difficult decision you have made at work?
It’s hard to choose one, really. However, I would say it’s every time I’ve had to make a tough business decision due to factors beyond my control, such as harsh economic realities and changes in the industry. It’s often more difficult because it’s not just about business for me. I care about the people who work with me whose lives are affected in any way by organizational decisions.
What is this dream that you are still chasing?
I actively pursue all my dreams and know that as long as I live I will have new dreams as the years pass. When they come, I intend to pursue them with everything I have because I want to use all the talents God has given me.
What advice would you give to parents who don’t believe in girls’ education given the high number of out-of-school girls in Nigeria?
Every child deserves a good education because it’s not just about learning to read and write. Education helps them learn to think critically, engage with the world, and build on the foundations and accomplishments of others who have gone before them. Education expands the mind and the worldview, and I know that every child, every girl, deserves it.
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