Peter Anosike recently got his PhD in Consulting and Profit Management from Brainae University, Delaware, U.S. and also emerged as the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the African Institute of Consultants and Profit Managers. In this interview with ONYEDIKA AGBEDO, he speaks on his inspiration for academic laurels and the philosophies that have guided him to success thus far.
Briefly tell us about yourself?
Well, I come from a humble family. My parents were civil servants at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where I had most of my education. I started with Union Primary School, Nsukka, to Nsukka High School, Nsukka, and then to UNN, where I had my first degree in Philosophy.
However, I was not really a fan of the four walls of education. When I was in secondary school, I remember sometimes praying in the night for the rain to start falling immediately the day broke, so that I would have a genuine reason not to go to school. But I had to force myself to go for just two reasons.
The first was we were living in a university environment and people were coming from different parts of the country to Nsukka for their university education. So, I reasoned that it would be a shame and a big embarrassment to my parents if I dropped out. With that at the back of my mind I began to work hard on my studies and was coming tops in my classes. My brilliance surprised a lot of people. But the truth was that I just wanted to leave the system and the only way that would be possible was to make sure that I did not repeat any class.
The second reason was Dr (Mrs) Uche Azikiwe, the wife of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, who was my English Language teacher at Nsukka High School. I happened to be the best English Language student. Even though I was her best student, she was not fooled. She still realised that I was not really enthusiastic about school. So, she took me in her wings as a mother and began to counsel me, telling me that the world was waiting for my impact, that I should calm down and focus on my studies. It was her counselling, guidance and encouragement that helped me to finish secondary school, gain admission to the university and become what I am today.
Was your study of philosophy in the university a coincidence or by choice? What could you have done better as a course of study if philosophy did not come your way?
My study of philosophy was deliberate. I put it as my first choice when I was filling my JAMB form and till date it remains one of the best things that have ever happened to me.
Sometimes, I wonder what my life would have been if I had not studied philosophy, the reason being that it gave me the strong foundation that I needed to start life and also confront the world. If I have my way, I would want the course to be made mandatory for every university student because it is a course that helps you think outside the box. There is no way anybody can succeed in today’s world without critical thinking.
The first thing that philosophy equipped me with is equanimity; that is being calm in the midst of tension. When one is calm in a tense situation, it would help him or her to think clearly and then make the right decision. It would help people not to make decisions in anger and so on. So, to answer your question, I would not have wished to study any other course as a first degree other than philosophy.
You are well known as an economist cum financial analyst and have carved a niche in that circle through your publications, radio and TV programmes. How did you evolve into an economist? What are the lessons we should learn from your experience?
Well, I don’t really know if I have carved a niche. What I am trying to do is to make an impact. I have written financial books which were rated by highly acclaimed media houses like Wall Street Journal and Forbes both in the United States. Wall Street Journal, for instance, rated my book, ‘Dangote’s Ten Commandments on Money’ as one of the best development books in the world. Here in Nigeria, the Small/Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), a Federal Government agency in charge of small and medium businesses, adopted the book as a work book for grooming entrepreneurs. Again, when you Google Top 5 Money books by Nigerian writers, the book is number one. So, the book has made a lot of impact in the life of people. I have written more than 15 books on personal finance and they all are very impactful.
I am also the founder of Ultimate Entrepreneurs Academy, an organisation that trains students, undergraduates and even workers on how to become entrepreneurs. I am a strong believer in skills rather than just degrees. What sells in today’s world is what skill you have and not what degree or certificate you have. The world is talking about practical knowledge and not book knowledge and I am doing a lot in that regard, training people and helping them to acquire life changing skills.
Getting a PhD is not a small feat. How easy or difficult was it to go through the rigours of thesis writing, including finding time to navigate the everyday business activities as a media expert?
My doctorate came with a lot of ups and downs because of the fluctuation of the exchange rate. I studied in an academic institution in the United States, Brainae University in the State of Delaware. I enrolled in 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no doubt that COVID-19 changed the way things are being done in the world, even the way people think. After the pandemic, a lot of institutions were advertising for online courses. So, I decided to enroll. At the time, the exchange rate was manageable. Exchange rate then was NGN 413 per USD. It began to go up until it got to NGN I,800 per USD. So it was, to say the least, tough. Getting forex was difficult most of the time. But my study of philosophy prepared me in advance for such trying times. So, while others were giving up and withdrawing, I persevered till the end.
For how I was able to combine my business, media job and studies, I learned time management a long time ago so I know how to manage my time. I have even written a book on time management. I am an advocate of, “if what you are doing or going to do is not healthy or wealthy, you should not do it.” So, I know how to make the best use of my time by making every minute count. So, rather than count the time, I make my time count. Everybody has 24 hours. So, the difference between the people that are succeeding and those who are failing is their use of time. Every day, I divide my time according to my responsibilities for the day and make sure that I follow through. Procrastination is not in my dictionary. That is how I was able to cope.
Global economy is experiencing a lot of problems. With regard to Nigeria, what do you think went wrong to create the current situation of things?
Nigeria is no doubt one of the most blessed countries in the world. Nigeria is far more blessed than all the countries in the world with regard to climate conditions, natural and even human resources; but the problem with Nigeria is bad leadership. Some people erroneously say that Nigeria as a country is too big with regard to size and as such should be divided. Some also said that the problem with Nigeria is our huge population, that it is difficult to manage such a large population. But the truth is that all the things they are claiming as the problems with Nigeria are opportunities rather than threats. They are strengths and not weaknesses.
For those who say that Nigeria is too big and as such should be divided, I want them to know that the State of California has the same land mass with Nigeria and it is only one of the 50 states in the United States. Even the State of Texas is bigger than Nigeria with regard to land mass and yet the United States is one country and being ruled by one man. China and India are each about six times the population of Nigeria and they are countries on their own.
So, the problem with Nigeria is bad leadership. We have not had leaders who could turn our huge population to productivity just as China has done. We have not had leaders who could turn our diversities into productivity. Once we are able to get leaders who have the capacity to think outside the box, things would start turning out right in the country.
As an economist and financial strategist, what are your thoughts on how people can live fulfilling lives in the midst of economic hardship?
Living a fulfilling life in a global or failing economy is to know that there are certain things that you cannot change in the world. So, to live a fulfilled life, you have to focus on the things that you can change and try to change them and then leave those things that you cannot change. Managing money is also a big problem in the world, so you have to develop financial intelligence. You have to know the difference between needs and wants. Live below your income or earnings and don’t engage in lifestyle inflation.
