CHARTING THE PATH AHEAD: AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH A JCIN UI ALUMNUS

By: Ojo Mobolaji Peace

Welcome to our second edition of the Junior Chamber International Nigeria, University of Ibadan (JCIN UI) Alumni Spotlight, a monthly feature where we shed light on the exceptional journeys of JCIN UI alumni who continue to embody leadership and service beyond their time on campus.

In this edition, we sat down for a virtual interview with a truly distinguished alumnus, JCI Cllr. Nasirudeen Afolabi who’s a changemaker, creative entrepreneur, and dynamic leader. Join us as we delve into the inspiring journey and influential leadership of a distinguished JCIN UI alumnus whose contributions continue to shape the organization

OM: Thank you for agreeing to this interview Sir. Please, introduce yourself.
AN: My name is Nasirudeen Afolabi, a graduate of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development in the prestigious faculty of Agriculture. I am a change maker, a fashion designer with over 7 years of experience.

OM: Congratulations on becoming an alumnus, could you share a bit about what you have been up to since graduating from the university of Ibadan .
AN: Since graduation in 2023, I have been working on growing my fashion brand, which was what saw me through University of Ibadan initially, but now, I intend to make the brand more grounded, structured and sustainable.

  OM: What inspired you to take on leadership roles during your time at the University of Ibadan? 
AN: What inspired me to take on leadership roles in my time in UI is very simple, all my life, I have always believed that it’s okay to be in the background but you cannot affect real changes “that you want” if you are not a part of the system, so I just wanted to contribute my own quota and impact people in the little way I can and I’m glad I was able to do just that. My experience as a student leader has made me see working with people in a different light, I understand better that people have different perspectives and personalities so we have to be diplomatic in the way we deal with every individual and this has also been very effective in my business operations too.

OM: Can you share a defining moment from your student leadership journey and how did your experience as a student leader shape who you are today? 
AN: A defining moment for me in my student leadership journey are a lot but the 2 times that I always use to summarize it as a whole was when I was recognized and awarded as the “Most outstanding board member in JCIN UI” for 2021 and also when I was recognized and awarded as the “Most outstanding in student leadership” by the Students Union in 2023, these two experiences showed that people were seeing the efforts I put into thing even if my intentions were not for the applause but it was seen and that’s a defining moment.

OM: That kind of recognition must have felt amazing especially when your motivation wasn’t for the applause. It’s clear your impact was deeply felt. Looking back, what challenges did you face leading as a student, and how did you overcome them? 
AN: One of the biggest challenges I faced was finding the balance between how to deal with the students you’re leading, the students you’re leading with and then the upper management, this was a very big tussle but at the end of the day, what I did to overcome it was to just find a way to deal with each of the group (as a group) and not trying to work with them all at once.
OM: That’s a really practical way to look at it. Balancing everyone’s expectations is not easy, but focusing on each group separately obviously helped you handle things better.

OM: What values or lessons from your time in JCIN UI still guide you today? 
AN: What still guides me till today is the time management skills and multitasking skills that I have learnt to make use of since my time in JCIN UI .

OM: What sparked your interest in fashion design and how did your campus experience influence your fashion career? 
AN: Fashion design has always been in my blood, my mom was the one who used to make clothes for us but she used to make them bigger, unconsciously while she was always using the machine then, I already knew how to operate the machine so once she sews those big clothes for us, I go on the machine to adjust the clothes to my desired size. Upon finishing secondary school and I was trying to learn a skill, when I was asked, only fashion design came to mind and that was it for me. If I had not come to the University of Ibadan, I would have probably not taken my fashion business serious but when I got to UI, I saw that many people liked wearing their traditional outfits or modern outfits with a touch of tradition and since my brand was filling that void, I was able to get clients easily to make clothes for them.

OM: Were there moments where leadership and creativity merged for you? 
AN: Leadership and creativity works hand in hand because while I’m creating, I cannot do it alone and one quality of a good leader is the ability to delegate duties to other people.

OM: How do you incorporate discipline and vision, things you learned as a leader into your fashion business?
AN: Since leadership taught me how to stay focused, plan ahead and also budget, these are the things that I have incorporated in my brand structure so I also spell it out to people who want to work with me.

OM: What advice would you give student creatives who are also juggling leadership and academics?
AN: It is not easy but with proper time management, good relationship with your classmates and your lecturers. As much as possible, try and graduate with a 2:1, it will come in handy even if you don’t have the intention of finding a job after school.
OM: That’s really good advice , having the grades and the experience gives a better footing or position, no matter the path you take after school.

OM: What does “charting the path ahead” mean to you in your current phase of life and how do you stay grounded while continuing to grow? 
AN: Charting the path means having a plan and following the plan such that it will make things easier for those coming behind. I stay grounded by reflecting over where I am, where I am going to and especially where I came from.

OM: In what ways do you still engage with the values of JCI?
AN: I engage with the values of JCI basically through providing mentorship for kids who are around me.
OM:  That is wonderful. Mentorship is such a meaningful way to pass on those values and multiply impact.

OM: Speaking of mentorship, how important is mentorship, and do you currently mentor young people? 
AN: Mentorship is very important. With a good mentor, he or she will let you learn from. I currently mentor some young ones.

OM: What is one thing you hope every student leader understands before graduating? 
AN: That you need people as much as you need the position too so that when you leave that position, the people you have bonded with will be your major backbone.

OM: Finally, how do you envision the next 10 years for JCINUI and its members?
AN: In 10 years, I see JCIN UI progressing rapidly and giving her members more value and networking opportunities.

OM: Thank you so much for sharing your story Sir. Your journey is a rich blend of purpose, creativity, and impact. A true example of what it means to chart the path ahead.
AN: You are welcome