Personality in Focus
PhD @61: Feel the Pain, But Never Stop – Dr. Bisi Oni
July 24, 2025 was a day of triumph, gratitude, and deep reflection as Dr. Bisi Oni walked across the stage to receive his doctoral hood during the 14th Doctoral Hooding Ceremony at Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State. But this was more than a personal milestone — it was the celebration of perseverance, purpose, and the power of vision.
At 61, many slow down. But for Dr. Oni, highly respected finance executive, motivational voice, and leader at FrontQuest opens up on purpose, pain, and pressing forward
In this exclusive interview with THERESA MOSES, he unpacks key issues in Nigeria’s economic development and the psychology behind market behaviour, his motivation for returning to academia, and the powerful role of resilience and faith in pushing through life’s toughest moments.
Dr. Oni, congratulations on this outstanding academic achievement. What motivated you to pursue a PhD at this stage of your life and career?
Dr. Bisi Oni: Thank you so much. For me, this was a long-held dream — one I carried since my undergraduate days back in the 1980s. But life happened. I had to prioritize family responsibilities and career progression first. Over the years, the hunger never left. I always told myself that when the time and space came, I’d return to fulfill that academic dream. And I did — not just for me, but to set an example for my children, mentees, and anyone who believes it’s too late to begin again.
Your thesis topic — “Global Shocks, Investor Sentiment and the Nigerian Stock Market” — seems timely and complex. What were your key findings?
Dr. Oni: One major revelation was the gap between theoretical assumptions and real-world behavior in the financial market. Theory teaches that investors should buy low and sell high. But in practice, what we observe is quite the opposite — investors often act based on sentiment, not logic. My research revealed the impact of herd mentality, where people buy into market rallies and panic-sell during downturns. This behavioural pattern leads to avoidable losses, and understanding it is key for market efficiency, investor education, and regulatory policy.
Given your vast industry experience, how has academia helped you understand Nigeria’s economic challenges differently?
Dr. Oni: Industry teaches action. Academia explains why. I call it bridging the gap between “town and gown.” Nigeria’s economy is plagued by structural issues — overreliance on oil, fiscal indiscipline, and weak productivity. What academia helped me see is that the solution isn’t rocket science. It’s rooted in creating real value. Nations that thrive do so by producing, not extracting. Agriculture, renewable energy, and manufacturing can transform Nigeria, but we must fix insecurity first and ensure continuity in economic policy beyond political cycles.
Security remains a major barrier to agricultural development. How should Nigeria tackle this?
Dr. Oni: The government has superior intelligence and resources. If we’re truly committed, we must act decisively. Take the politics out of economics. No ragtag militia should overpower a sovereign state. If agriculture is our priority, then we must secure farmland and protect farmers. We must invest where it matters — in human lives and food security. Countries like Israel and Turkey achieved agri-revolutions with less fertile land than Nigeria. What’s stopping us? Willpower and governance.
What’s your advice for financial institutions and organizations trying to drive innovation and risk management?
Dr. Oni: Change your mindset. In Nigeria, we default to excuses. We ask, “Why it won’t work,” before “How can we make it work?” That mindset kills innovation. I’m already planning my next learning phase — blockchain technology or artificial intelligence. Someone asked, “At your age?” I replied, “What has age got to do with learning?” If your mind stays open, possibilities are endless. Innovation, risk management, and growth begin with mindset reorientation. Above all, continuous learning keeps your brain sharp and improves your productivity.
You mentioned there were times you wanted to quit. What pulled you through?
Dr. Oni: Oh, many times! But my wife was my greatest encourager. She’d say, “You told us you were starting a PhD — what will you tell your children if you give up?” That stuck with me. I also remembered my “why.” For me, it wasn’t just about the degree. It was about the example I was setting. If at 58 I could start a PhD and graduate at 61, then nobody — not my kids, not my mentees — has an excuse not to grow.
You’re a natural motivator and teacher. Do you see yourself stepping into academia full-time?
Dr. Oni: (Smiles) Teaching flows through me — in church, at work, with mentees. I take pride not just in revenue targets, but in the number of professionals who’ve grown under my leadership. Academia is definitely on the table. If I can inspire the next generation and bridge the gap between theory and industry, then I’ll consider that a worthy second career.
You spoke of loss — your pastor, and even your beloved dog, Krypto. How did these moments shape this journey?
Dr. Oni: Deeply. Krypto, my daughter’s dog, would sit quietly with me during long study nights. She was a silent companion. Losing her during my PhD program was tough. My pastor also passed away shortly before this day. He believed in me. Their memory drives me. This journey is also for them.
Finally, what advice do you have for those balancing career, family, and education, and are on the verge of giving up?
Dr. Oni: Feel the pain, but never stop. Remember your why. Push through the darkness — that’s usually when the dawn is closest. Failure is just a number. Fall, but rise again. Don’t let the book remain unwritten, the exam left unpassed, or the dream die. There’s no vacuum in destiny. What you don’t do, someone else will. So get your hands dirty, and leave a mark. Let your story become a reference for others.
By NOMA
The Nigerian Online Media Alliance (NOMA) has celebrated Mr. Olakunle Aderinokun on his 55th birthday, describing him as a distinguished strategic communications expert and media professional whose nearly three-decade career continues to shape Nigeria’s communications and business landscape.
In a statement by Theresa Moses, Chairperson, NOMA highlighted Aderinokun’s current role as Head, Media and Public Relations at Access Holdings Plc, where he leads group-wide media strategy, executive communications, crisis management, and corporate reputation positioning across local and international markets.
The Alliance noted that his ability to align corporate narratives with business strategy, stakeholder expectations, and regulatory realities has strengthened institutional credibility and public trust.
Aderinokun’s career reflects a unique blend of journalism, financial services, and corporate leadership. He spent 24 years at THISDAY Newspapers, rising to the position of Group Business Editor and Associate Editor, where he played a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s business journalism ecosystem. He later served as Editor, Business at ARISE News Channel, further consolidating his reputation for editorial excellence and impactful storytelling.
Throughout his journalism career, he covered critical sectors including banking, capital markets, energy, aviation, and macroeconomics, engaging directly with top policymakers, regulators, and corporate leaders. His extensive international exposure includes participation in global platforms such as the IMF-World Bank Meetings, African Development Bank Meetings, TICAD in Japan, the Nigeria-China Business Forum, Africa Oil Week in Cape Town, and Vaasa Energy Week in Finland.
Beyond journalism, Aderinokun brings strong financial and investment expertise, having worked with United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Wall Street Trust Company (now WSTC Financial Services), where he handled equity analysis, market research, and investment advisory. This foundation, NOMA noted, has enabled him to effectively bridge financial performance with strategic communication outcomes.
An entrepreneur, he founded Pure Synergy Ltd in 2013, a firm focused on reputation management and strategic communications, and later served as CEO of Excite Enterprise Ltd, an online business solutions platform.
In the public sector space, Aderinokun served as Media Adviser to Senator Tokunbo Abiru in 2020, where he led media strategy and publicity for the Lagos East Senatorial campaign, contributing to its successful outcome.
Academically, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics (Pure and Applied) from the University of Ilorin and an MBA from the University of Lagos, complemented by executive education at Lagos Business School and professional training with the World Bank Institute, NIPR, and Standard Bank Group, South Africa. He also holds multiple professional certifications across public relations, banking, marketing, and digital communications.
NOMA described him as a quintessential, multifaceted professional whose career embodies excellence, innovation, and leadership.
“Olakunle Aderinokun represents the very best of strategic communication and media practice in Nigeria. His journey is not only inspiring but also instructive for the next generation of professionals navigating the evolving media and corporate landscape,” the statement read.
As he marks his 55th birthday, NOMA commended his enduring contributions and wished him continued success, good health, and greater accomplishments in the years ahead.
The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, has congratulated the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on the occasion of his birthday, commending his visionary leadership and reform-driven approach to policing in Nigeria.
In his birthday remarks, Dr. Ogunsan described the IGP as a “distinguished officer whose career has consistently reflected professionalism, courage, and a deep commitment to public safety.”
He noted that since assuming office as the 23rd Inspector-General of Police early this Year 2026, Disu has demonstrated a clear resolve to reposition the Nigeria Police Force towards greater efficiency and public trust.
Dr. Ogunsan particularly praised the IGP’s emphasis on intelligence-led policing, a strategy aimed at enhancing proactive crime detection and prevention, as well as his push for the integration of digital tools and forensic capabilities into police operations. These reforms, he said, signal a shift towards modern, accountable, and citizen-focused policing.
He further highlighted Disu’s decisive steps to strengthen the state policing agenda and officers’ welfare. He praised him for the effective policing model through the restructuring and reduction of tactical units, a move designed to address concerns over excesses while redeploying personnel to police divisions for improved community-level security.
The LSSTF boss also acknowledged the IGP’s consistent advocacy for discipline, integrity, and professionalism within the Force, noting that such values are critical to restoring public confidence and enhancing institutional credibility.
Reflecting on his track record, Dr. Ogunsan recalled Disu’s impactful leadership roles across key commands, including the Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory Commands, where he contributed significantly to crime control and intelligence-driven operations.
His tenure as the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos is a testament to his operational excellence and urban crime management.
Ogunsan wished the IGP good health, wisdom, and continued success in his efforts to build a more secure Nigeria. “On this special occasion, we celebrate not only a remarkable leader but a reformer whose vision continues to inspire confidence in the security architecture of our nation,” Ogunsan said.
Terrorists in northeast Nigeria killed a brigadier general in an assault on a military base, a local government chairman told AFP on Thursday, the second killing of a high-ranking officer in five months.
Africa’s most populous country has been fighting a terrorist insurgency for 17 years, since Boko Haram’s 2009 uprising, which has seen the emergence of powerful splinter groups, including Islamic State West Africa Province.
In an overnight attack, unidentified terrorists killed at least 18 soldiers and torched vehicles at a base in Benisheikh, about 75 kilometres from Borno state capital Maiduguri, an intelligence source told AFP.
“Unfortunately, the brigade commander, Brigadier General O.O. Braimah, lost his life,” Kaga Local Government Chairman Zannah Lawan Ajimi told AFP in a phone interview.
Two intelligence sources confirmed Braimah’s death to AFP.
His death follows the killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba by ISWAP in November. He was the highest-ranking military official to die in the long-running conflict since 2021.
“They overran the brigade,” one of the intelligence sources said, giving the death toll as “at least” 18.
The second intelligence source said that “the terrorists killed several troops” and “burnt vehicles and buildings before they withdrew,” without giving a toll.
The army and Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
– Rising terrorist violence –
Researchers have warned of an uptick of violence since 2025.
Borno capital Maiduguri has seen two suicide bombings since December — the type of bloody, urban attacks reminiscent of the insurgency’s peak a decade ago.
On Wednesday, the US State Department said in a notice it was authorising “non-emergency US government employees” to leave Abuja “due to the deteriorating security situation”.
While the insurgency is concentrated in the northeastern countryside, terrorists from Nigeria and the neighbouring Sahel have made inroads western Nigeria, where organised crime gangs known as “bandits” have been raiding villages and extorting farmers and artisanal miners for years.
Gunmen killed at least 90 people across several remote villages in northwest Nigeria this week, according to an AFP tally of tolls given by local and humanitarian sources.
Among the attacks was an assault in Kebbi state that police blamed a local terrorist group known as Mahmuda, which is affiliated with Al-Qaeda.
Kebbi sits on Nigeria’s border with Benin and Niger and since 2025 has been targeted by a rising number of terrorist attacks.
Conflict monitor ACLED says there has been a surge in violence in the area carried out by militants affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
In nearby Kwara state, in October, fighters from the Al-Qaeda-affiliated JNIM claimed an attack after years of researchers warning that the terrorist conflict ravaging the Sahel risked spreading south towards coastal West African states.
In December, the United States, with Nigerian assistance, bombed northwest Sokoto state, targeting Islamic State Sahel Province fighters usually found in neighbouring Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso.
AFP
