I walked away from power rather than compromise my integrity -Octogenarian Eburajolo
Victor Eburajolo, an 80-year-old Nigerian industrial relations expert, reflects on his career and his commitment to integrity over political or corporate corruption. He discusses the decline of Nigeria's manufacturing sector and the importance of prioritizing national interest.
Why it matters
The article provides a historical perspective on Nigeria's economic evolution and the challenges of maintaining ethical leadership in developing economies.
Layer 1 •Says they called me ‘The Spoiler’ because I refused to join corruption
•Laments Nigeria ignored warnings that destroyed manufacturing
•Believes Nigeria’s greatest problem is putting personal interest above national interest
•Adds at 80, my greatest achievement isn’t wealth, but my reputation
By Victor Ahiuma-Young & Adefolarin Adegboye
Few Nigerians have witnessed the country’s economic evolution as closely—or participated in it as actively—as Victor Eburajolo. For more than five decades, the industrial relations expert, corporate executive, manufacturing advocate and public servant occupied a front-row seat as Nigeria journeyed from an agrarian economy to industrial ambition, through the Structural Adjustment Programme, trade liberalisation, the decline of the textile industry and successive waves of economic reforms.
Along the way, he earned a reputation for something increasingly rare in both the corporate and public sectors: an unwavering commitment to integrity.
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