Chukwuka C. Monye is a social innovator who has been committed to making lives better in Nigeria for over 20 years. He is a University of Oxford-trained innovation strategist and has dedicated his career to building businesses, mentoring leaders and impacting lives. He is the founder of Ciuci Consulting, one of Africa’s foremost operations management consulting firms through which he has transformed numerous private and public institutions. As a social innovator, he has led and supported several social impact initiatives ensuring the projects he gets involved in ultimately lead to sustainable socioeconomic development. He is an Amazon, Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling author for his contribution in the book – Business Success Secrets. In this interview with Festus Akanbi, Monye speaks on his award- winning book and the concept of responsible culture
Nigeria is today facing harvests of economic challenges, ranging from inflation to insecurity and infrastructural challenges. How will you want these to be effectively tackled?
I always say that a lot of the issues we face require that we rethink and reset our foundation as a nation. Positive economic outcomes are results of efficient institutions. Therefore, a country that works is powered by institutions that work. Oftentimes, we try to build lasting institutions on faulty foundations. Until we fix the foundation, no system will stand.
To tackle insecurity, we need two things: the will to make the necessary decisions and a reorganisation of our security apparatus and infrastructure, empowering our forces with relevant trainings and incentives.
A lot of our infrastructural issues are a result of greed and incompetence of some of the stewards of our country. That said, if we really want proper infrastructure, we will engage competent people to deal with it. For goodness sake, Nigerians have built and managed different types of infrastructure abroad.
To fully address the economic challenges, we must reconsider the kind of leadership we require as a nation. Economic transformation requires skill, there is no way a politician without these skills can lead such an effort – Impossible!
Your contribution in the award-winning book, ‘Business Success Secrets’ is titled “Responsible Culture”. What do you mean by “Responsible Culture”?
Responsible culture is where there is mutual respect between people. It is a culture that demonstrates that people matter. We’re losing our humanity as we are becoming increasingly selfish – less concerned about culture and its implications. In a responsible culture, employers respect the skills and capacity of their employees and help them to maximise their potentials, with employees also respecting the vision, resources and growth of their employers by contributing to the achievement of the organisation’s goals. A responsible culture is where a government respects, protects and serves its citizens, whilst the citizens honour and serve the best interests of the nation, with each person seeing themselves as an ambassador. This culture cannot be built by only one stakeholder, it is the responsibility of every stakeholder to build it. A responsible culture is the pillar of development – without pillars, structures crumble and without a responsible culture, systems fail.
A factor that fosters responsible culture is a sense of ownership – treating every venture and community where you are like you’re truly a part of it, a key player that is vital for its success.
In the book, you say your best decision was moving back to Nigeria to establish Ciuci Consulting and influence many young people? Whereas Nigerian youths have been blamed for many things, how come you are this passionate about them?
I am first a Nigerian youth before anything else, so I am very intentional about helping my fellow youth develop into the best version of themselves. As an individual that is surrounded by countless young people, I have seen firsthand the level of distrust that young people have for national leaders. Unfulfilled promises, unmet expectations, failure to acknowledge them, their skills, abilities and ignoring their voices have created a gulf between generations. Young people may be blamed for many things, but when you give them opportunities and help reset their mindsets, the outcome is mind blowing. I have seen young people who felt misunderstood metamorphose when they got the right mentorship.
The youth are an outcome of what the society has created. You cannot blame them for the rot in the society if you have not equipped and empowered them. If this country is to change and be the giant it is so fondly called, it has to acknowledge, embrace and nurture the youth and stop blaming them. Without them, innovation is almost impossible, a young person’s mind is a limitless world with endless possibilities and solutions.
I am passionate about young people because we are the future and whatever tomorrow becomes is our decision. I believe that these relentless and vibrant individuals are powerful!
Despite its many challengers and challenges, you copiously celebrate Nigeria in your work. Why?
I celebrate Nigeria because my blood is green, and proudly so. As a social innovator and an expert in systems thinking, I have seen, as we all have, countless Nigerians thrive in systems that work. The capacity and tenacity of the average Nigerian and their contribution to the development of other countries indicate that the ingredients for success are innate. I’m passionate because all Nigeria needs is the right combination of leaders to maximize its potentials. When Nigerians become intentional about choosing our leaders, we will see the remarkable difference that the nation will undergo.
How can Responsible Culture assist in resolving Nigeria’s challenges with its over 250 ethnic groups, and more than 525 Spoken Languages. Is it possible to have a “national culture”?
A national culture is very possible, and it integrates the various elements and values of the different cultures that make us a nation. A national culture begins with the leadership and embraces the peculiarities of all the ethnic groups, giving each citizen a sense of belonging, ownership and responsibility for the nation’s advancement. With proper national consciousness and orientation, we can create a national culture that other nations of the world can model.
You are involved in a lot of humanitarian activities. Why is that so dear to your heart?
After having lost several loved ones to poor healthcare, I decided to spend time providing support to healthcare institutions. I also see so many people who only need a little help to improve their lives. From scholarships to small business grants, to learning monetizable skills, to free healthcare, to a roof over their heads, I have come to realize that a lot of people don’t need much to improve their lives, they just need care!
That’s why I do what I do – to make people’s lives better, one person at a time.
Behind the global achievements, who is the man Chukwuka C. Monye?
I am a social innovator committed to making lives better. I am a passionate Nigerian and an “Africanist” – I believe that Nigeria and Africa by extension, will begin to realize its potential when we elect competent leaders. I am a mentor and coach to several young leaders and entrepreneurs.
I am passionate about gaining knowledge and I am committed to lifelong learning. I attended Federal Government College Lagos, Ijanikin, which was one of the best secondary schools at the time, before heading to the US on a scholarship for my BA (Hons) in Business Administration from Warner University, Florida. I have an MBA and a PGD in Strategy and Innovation, both from University of Oxford, and I am currently pursuing my Doctorate in Business Administration at University of Warwick, researching the factors that affect the commercialisation of ideas in Africa.
I am a member of the prestigious and world-renowned Oxford Union and the co-founder and Director of the Oxford Family Business Network, a global platform for members and advisors of family run businesses and family offices. I am also an Associate of the Nigeria Leadership Initiative; Member, Institute of Directors and Fellow, Institute of Management Consultants.
I have been described as an outlier and a bridge between generations, understanding and helping both sides of the divide understand each other better. I have a deep appreciation of the wisdom and experience of the seniors and I appreciate the capacities and potential of the youth. I am a lover of the arts – I sing, dance, and play the conga drums. I love playing golf. I am married with 2 children.
