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My First Day in America and Kindness of Diamond Bank Lagos

| by Ndubuisi Ekekwe | 272
My First Day in America and Kindness of Diamond Bank Lagos

I resigned from Diamond Bank on January 7, 2003.  I flew Nigerian Airways direct to New York on the same day. I had come for a master’s program, in electrical engineering, in Tuskegee University, USA.

Few weeks ago, I had applied for a study leave with Diamond Bank. The bank declined my application.  It was very painful, but I respected the decision because Diamond Bank had been supremely good to me. With no study leave, I was leaving Nigeria with no hedge – succeed in America or come back, to Lagos, to look for a new job.

At the end, I made the decision to travel despite the bank’s decision. I wanted to return to electrical/electronics  which I enjoyed while in Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), as an undergraduate.  I had taken two master’s degrees and a correspondence doctoral program within three years I was employed, full time, in Diamond Bank. It was a very intense lifestyle which saw me one day flying into University of Calabar, from Lagos,  for an  MBA exam, and returning same day to work night shift in the bank’s IT organization. Everything was planned because I always had exams or certifications to prepare.  Call it No Life: It was very intense.

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Why this torture? Diamond Bank was paying for everything. They paid for the Cisco and Microsoft certification exams. They paid for the ICAN Intermediate exam which I had added in case I had to remain in Nigerian banking. (My matrix of Nigerian bank executives showed most had ICAN; so, I assumed, to get to the top, it made sense to get mine. I never completed ICAN before I left Nigeria. But I did well in the Foundation and Intermediate phases.) Diamond Bank HR people liked me. I had my nickname “Prof” which Ohis Ohiwere (now an Executive Director with GTBank) gave me while in the training school.

My goal of traveling to U.S. was to learn as much as possible, become a thought-leader, and then possibly start my own electronics design company supported with technology advisory services. The dotcom burst had taught me a big lesson:  IT is a vulnerable career. I figured that electronics was higher up in the pyramid, making the systems, which anchor IT applications. And consulting could be exciting, because I would be forced to know many things, at deeper level. I decided that a PhD in electrical electronics would be catalytic in the process.

A classmate during my Master’s program in Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), who left for a Master’s program in U.S., handled all aspects of the admission process. I just sent my transcripts to the school and within weeks, the admission letter came. The visa process went smoothly. UK had issued me one few weeks before for my convocation ceremony in the correspondence school. I was ready for America.

The Special Day in Diamond Bank

On the D-Day to resign, I typed my letter, which I had worked for more than three weeks. I wanted to use the opportunity to thank the bank and especially our Founder (legendary banker Paschal Dozie).  Mr Dozie had a huge influence in my life. When I joined his bank, I did not know how to sign a cheque. Yes, I opened my first bank account, savings in Union Bank, few days after I started work. (Diamond Bank opened a staff account by default.) But through Diamond Bank Apapa Training School, one of the best training programs, in Nigeria, I became a banker. The transformation was iconic.

That was my memory including an insane compensation where just working for weekends and nights, I made what my non-IT colleagues in the bank would struggle for a month-long salary. Largely, I earned nearly twice my non-IT colleagues in the same level. I enjoyed Diamond Bank; it was a bank with limitless opportunities. They paid every training invoice I sent to them and the bank was awesome. There was no boss; we were all comrades serving Nigerians. In short, I never saw my supervisors as bosses; they were colleagues and they made spending 48 hours at work normal. (We liked those marathons because that was the only way to enjoy one of the top Ikoyi hotels and eat awesome meals, free.)

My Tuskegee University transcript. I was an American straight A student

 

Tuskegee University certificate, my first in America

 

 

But I had to leave, for America. And now, it is my turn to show the love, to the beautiful bank, named Diamond.

On the day of resignation, Diamond Bank paid tons of money into my account. Money everywhere with the computer screen showing useful digits. That was the annual upfront which was always the bulk of the salary. When I logged into the system and saw the money, I simply updated the resignation letter. I added an instruction that the bank should reverse the transaction as I was leaving the country, and would not be around to earn it. I dropped the letter. Most of my supervisors were genuinely impressed. Most people that resigned and traveled abroad usually clear-up. In minutes, I was off the building. My eyes turned red. I had to pay school fees in coming days in America and had not really developed a strategy than simply planning to meet the University President to award me scholarship. It was totally reckless as I practically invested all money I had in Treasury Bills and left with $400 cash and $2,000 Travelers Cheque.

At JFK, New York

I arrived JFK Airport, New York, without a sweater or any winter cloth. I came with my friend Kunle. As we exited the airport, I asked him “Okemadu, what is going on? Why so much cold here?”  We went back to the airport hoping the cold will subside. No way. (Blame my geography; you could read all you can about weather; experiencing winter was more than any words any teacher in Nigeria could have impacted in a Geography class. Winter was ferocious, on blood stream, unprecedented on the first day I experienced it. )

Then, we got confidence to attack the cold with our t-shirts from Lagos (we flew direct from Lagos to New York).  The problem was we could not pronounce “Tuskegee” in the Tuskegee University with our nice Nigerian accent. We asked more than three people, no one could understand what we were talking about.

We then met one African American and asked him how we could get to Tuskegee University. I was so frightened that I could not say anything audible. The guy said “talk to me, dude. Talk to me”. Then he walked out. I was wasting his time. People, the cold had gone because something more than cold had arrived. Accent playing us here!

An idea came – why not write it down and show it to people to assist on how to get to the school. Quickly, somebody told us to go to Greyhound, a bus line. I paid $103 from New York and spent about 3 days to Tuskegee on the road. It was really good except when they stopped in a cheese-eatery.  I saw the thing, paid $4, and put it in my mouth. I never tasted it again. From Charlotte ( North Carolina) via Richmond, (Virginia) connecting Atlanta (Georgia) we made it to Tuskegee, Alabama.

But there was a miracle: at Richmond where we changed bus, a conductor, who loaded my luggage (those good days you could carry you life) asked for a tip. People, I had no idea you needed to give somebody something for doing his job. Even if I knew, I had none, to give the guy. Unbelievable, the guy dropped one of my bags, out of the bus, at the last phase of the loading.  It was when the bus was making a turn to leave that my friend Kunle shouted ‘Driver stop”. One of my bags was outside. He rushed out and put it back. That was my first lesson in America: shine your eyes. This is not Hollywood with all the smiling celebrities living in splendor and wealth. I was educated to know that Hollywood was a screen set, but I did not expect the level of poverty I saw in New York Greyhound bus station – beggars in abundance.

When we entered Tuskegee, I quickly noticed one thing:  every human element visible was black.  I said to my friend: “boy, are we in Lagos? What is happening? I thought we came to America?” It turns out that Tuskegee is a black community with excess of 95% black population. The university is a historically black school.  People, the campus is beautiful and a national historic site, meaning, the U.S. government turned the school, into a national museum. Tuskegee has history – the Tuskegee airmen, Washington Carver genius lab, and more.

Ndubuisi, my friend that managed my admission had visited Nigeria and gave instructions that we should move into his apartment. I had my Ikeja CDs which I had used to setup/configure/clone computers for people, in Lagos. I explained to my friend that I would start the business immediately. Quickly, he reminded that Ikeja Computer Village CDs would send me to jail. Just like that, I was empty. No hustle. He reminded me that my visa noted that I could not work outside the campus. That was the first time I cared to check what was written in the visa about working. Just like that, the expertise from banking was muted.

Johns Hopkins Master’s certificate

NASA Scholarship

When I made it to Tuskegee University, I had school fees of about $9,000 to settle. I scheduled an appointment to meet the Chair of the department. I explained to him that I needed his support. He told me: “You need to get the bucks from Lagos and pay this school fees”. I left.  The next day, I returned to meet him again. He told me to wait at the door. I told him that I wanted to negotiate how this could be managed: I wanted a job to teach so that he could pay. At the end, nothing worked.

Then an idea came to me: what could I do in this school to add value to the department. At the end, I decided to craft an IT Policy with Physical & Cyber Security Manual for the department IT infrastructure. It was a huge coincidence. They were about awarding a contract on that because some people have been stealing their equipment and corrupting the PCs with viruses. In Diamond Bank, at a time, I was responsible for protecting all the PCs from virus and I knew the work very well. I spent two days working on the document, asking current students on what they knew about the systems.

I went back to the Chair and told him that I had a gift for the department: he looked at me as I handed him a document. He smiled. A professor and eminently a nice guy: he asked, how long did this take you? I explained that it took me two days but noted that my career had focused on developing this type of document. I showed him a copy of my old Diamond Bank business card to give him confidence – if a bank could depend on me, the department should be fine. He offered me a seat and then asked me to drop my contacts. I did and left.

As I was going back, I saw a poster for NASA scholarship. I applied. Few days later, I got it. Also, I was offered a graduate teaching assistantship. The NASA scholarship became a turning point for me in America. It opened so many opportunities. I was working on modeling high frequency and high voltage in the space environment with direct support from NASA engineers in Huntsville, Alabama. I designed a transformer that could work in the space, with the help of the research team.

America is now paying the school fees. They will forever be doing because when I later moved to the Johns Hopkins University for my PhD, I got many multiples, in fellowships and scholarships.

The Reward from Diamond Bank

One afternoon, in Tuskegee, I received an email. The bank was looking how to send me some money and they needed a current account. I told them that I have none in Nigeria. The only bank account I maintained in Nigeria was a Union Bank Savings Account.   They requested the details.

Two weeks later, they sent me DHL that they could not pay into the Savings Account (that time only the account owner could pay money into Savings). They now asked me for permission to use Money Market to send that money. Of course, I gave that via email.

But why send me money? Pascal Dozie, the Founder and then CEO of Diamond Bank, on reading my resignation letter, approved for the bank to allow me keep the upfront.  A friend told me that he was very happy that he had trained a young Nigerian with the integrity Diamond Bank should be proud of. My GM, who was on vacation when I left, also sent his own goodwill.

Diamond Bank staff did all to give me the money

Connecting to my Executive Director

In 2015, my U.S. firm was invited to make a presentation in a Strategy Session. In that meeting was my former Executive Director in Diamond – Phillips Oduoza, then CEO of United Bank for Africa Plc. When I took the podium, I greeted him, and thanked him for a favour many years ago. He was the ED, Operations & Technology, when I was in Diamond Bank; he ran IT where I was one of the foot soldiers.  He asked one question and quickly recollected that he got my letter and he pushed for me to keep the money. Seating not far from him was Mr. R. Awo-Osagie, my former Diamond Bank boss, now the CTO of UBA. Right there, they praised my integrity and all the Directors in UBA quickly had a positive view of my person. As I left that day, many came and commended that spirit for Nigeria. Needless to say that I received the consultancy job,despite the presence of many MNCs that competed along with me. I am truly honored.

Johns Hopkins PhD certificate

Lessons in Life

Life revolves around. You cannot afford to lose your integrity despite any situation or condition. All my colleagues in bank trust me and they continue to assist my business. I walk into offices; people that knew me will say “If he says YES, believe it”.  And to Lagos banker, Pascal Dozie, he is a legend to me. I pray for him. He built a generation of people through Diamond Bank. He taught me humility in life. He was a man so exalted, and yet humble. The Diamond Bank training school is the best training I have ever attended. The recommended books, including The Richest Man in Babylon, shaped the core of my personal financial strategy. He invested so much to have leaders in banking and community. I admire him. And in all, thank God.


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272 THOUGHTS ON My First Day in America and Kindness of Diamond Bank Lagos

      • Your Story really touched me and motivated copiously. I have always admired people of your cherished zeal and always want to mingle with them. I sincerely wish we could establish friendship but I doubt the possibility due to mobility disparity. Thanks for being a blessing to your generation.

      • you need not to say much, who is not inspired with this message and life journey is doomed for failure in life, integrity is what all we need to succeed in this present generation and is very rare to see looking at our present generation. Thank you for reminding me to continue aspiring to do good and be of better servant to my humanity.

        • Wow Prof your story is highly inspiring I will share your with the younger generation . You followed your dreams and Never looked back .

      • Prof, I’m just reading this. What a STORY! Yes, yes, your story does not only inspire young Nigerians but other Africans like me on the continent and even blacks around the world. Yours is a truly compelling story!

      • First off, I want to congratulate you for your wins. It’s a lot actually and I bet it didn’t come by wishful living, you really did work “hard” for it – taking advantage of the right opportunities and creating the needed opportunities when there was none. That is something to commend I must say.

        Next, is to thank you for sharing your story. Despite the fact that all this happened it wouldn’t have inspired as many people if you didn’t share it. So thanks for sharing, this is not only an inspiration but also an encouragement to those treading similar paths.

        Furthermore, I want to commend your integrity, it is rare, and also, your hard work and commitment in/to all you did.

        I couldn’t read all the comments myself ? there’s a lot of them. I must also commend the fact that you paid attention and responded to as many of them..
        It’s one thing to have a good story and its a totally different thing to be able to relay the story in a way that it’d be an inspiration and encouragement to others. Brilliant piece of writing there too.

        Finally, if I were to point out all that I learnt from this piece, my comment would turn into an article of it’s own (as if it’s not long enough ??????) so I’ll settle with one. I learnt that whatever you are, you should be a good one, a very very good one. Not necessarily the best – although that counts too – but one worthy of note, that way you can always find a way or even make ways wherever you find yourself.

        Thank you for reading till the end.
        #mind the length?

      • Sir not only people in Nigeria but Ghana. I have followed you on Linkedin for a long time and I make sure I read everything you write. Though your audience most of the time is Nigerians I always pick the pearls out of it. Thank you for this you have inspired me so much. I have always upheld the tenet of intergrity and I define it as what you do when no one else is looking. Today I was telling my sprayer that if he has to uphold his integrity and go hungry he should always go for integrity because when you lose it all is gone. Thank you Prof

    • Ndubuisi, yours is a compelling inspirational story of grit, tenacity, hardwork, integrity and Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) which is rare and full of valuable lessons for every generation especially young Nigerians. Personally, I am inspired. It is a story I intend to share with my 4 children, my students and young people in my organisation.
      Ndubisi, thank you so much for sharing your story. It is simply awesome!
      As a STEM Educator, I appreciate the giant impact you are making and see you as a role model for my students as well as my children.
      Congratulations on your recentment appointment on the Board of FUT Minna. May God give you the grace and wisdom for even greater impact on the University and the society at large.

  2. Thank you so much Ndubuisi. This story will go on to touch many lives. I have been following you for a while on Linkedin, all the while wondering how you managed to get access to some of the high-profile places you often refer to. The lessons here are numerous. God has lifted you sir, and I believe the disposition of your heart also helped attract benefactors to you at the right time.
    You will know even greater days and bigger platforms to unleash the humongous potential inside you. I wish you the very best sir, and someday not too far, I hope to meet this awesome person that you are.

    Victor

  6. Thanks for sharing sir. Its an amazing story loaded with valuable lessons. Reading through I’ve been examining myself and asking hard questions. God bless you for sharing……

  9. Your story is absolutely intriguing. That was a big risk and stretch of faith when you started your program without knowing where the school fees would come from.

    Just adding value to your department opened doors. Keep telling your story and you can imagine how many African youths you would influence.
    Keep flying that flag, Bro.

    • Yes, it was a big risk but I was very sure, before I left home, that if America was truly a country of merit, it would not be hard to crack. The reality was if the Chair had not helped, the Dean will do it. And if the Dean did not, the President. And if the President did not,, maybe someone. My optimism in life is unbounded. But where it gets so critical, I could put order to sell my treasury bills and car in NG.

      • Prof, I know you, and have also been one of your clients, your integrity is unequalled. your customer care relationship is perfect. Was glad knowing you and your company. kudos.

      • Great article your determination and confidence in yourself are outstanding. More young people need those strengths. You were fortunate to have great mentors. Keep up the great work and it’s your time to mentor. God Bless.

  12. Wow!!! Am I proud of you ot what ? Am utterly amazed at your ingenuity. Welldone and in outical palance twale!!!

    And prouder yet am I to be a Diamond too.

  14. In a world where integrity, honesty and diligence is becoming scarce,this is a breathe of fresh air! I hope the bank still remembers the values they stood for, the lives they shaped. Very inspiring.

  22. Very Very Inspiring story. A story of hardwork, self belief, perserverance and complete guts. But not all of us were lucky to have worked in Diamond Bank and have our upfront payment debt forgiven, not due to a lack of intergrity on our part but we where not just visible enough to the ED’s since we worked in branches. I admire your dexterity and work ethic from ab initio, your drive, ambition and vision is truly endearing.

    Please accept my Linkedin Connect, i need to learn from you.

    Nicholas Ikeokwu

    • Dear Nicholas, everyone was visible, in the DBL I worked. I was an ET and asked to visit Makurdi and Abakaliki opening branches to connect them online, the branch managers gave me receptions for kings. People were respected for their capacities in one of the finest banking institutions in Africa. You do not even have to shout – people trust you for the capacity to do your work. No one cared to know your level. That was evident on the day Idumota branch was on fire and I was the first from IT to arrive; I worked night that day. When I made it to the branch, everyone in the branch made way because they wanted me to work with the fire people to secure our servers. The respect was legendary. I finished the work and simple said: “Sir [BM], our IT is fine now, you continue to handle the rest”. I left for HQ. It was evident everyone was together. Please connect

  24. Ndubuisi. This is a very inspiring story. But i am not surprised at your success and achievements, though I may not have seen it at this level but you sure displayed exemplary character and attitude to life and work while we were in Diamond Bank. Keep it going man.

    • Thanks Moshood, you were one of the finest operations czars in the bank which inspired us for many great things you did. It was a great honor working with people like you. I think people like you served your country with honor because the bank seeded many leaders. DBL alumni continue to have good presence in our world. Moshood will pick a college graduate and within 6 months, the guy can run a bank operations. The focus to train, educate and lead was iconic.

  25. Thank God for your determinations, thank you for staying put on integrity and good name, thank God for the men he has used for internet and others that made it possible for the world to connect irrespective of colour or race, and thank God for the heart giving to you for sharing your experiences.
    Your experiences are eye opener to those who aspire to make it. Truth is scars, and I deeply appreciate your sincere and various contributions since we connected.
    Thank you!

  26. Nd nwanne m, im really proud of you and what you have achieved thus far. My Father always told me that the reward of integrity may take time but when it arrives, it comes with a bang!. Keep inspiring the next generation, and good luck with everything.

  31. Really inspiring. I never knew Diamond Bank was such an excellent place to work. Honesty, Integrity and hard work always pays (though it may take time sometimes) You looked out for a need in the School department and met it and that was the beginning of provision. Rendering service pays! Congratulations!!!

  32. Thanks for this inspiring story. Its quite hard and tough building a life of integrity. I mean tough! But it sure pays on the long run. Pls keep the inspiration going.

  35. For me, some things dont add up with your story. Firstly, for one who is so educated, your written english is very poor. secondly, are you trying to promote diamond bank or tell your story?cos your write up was geared towards making the bank look good. Thirdly there was no mention of any remarkable achievement you achieved while in diamond bank to qualify you for the type of benevolence you recieved from them. Lastly for someone that is well read, you never took the time to find out the type of weather that you will encounter in Newyork and who ever you were corresponding with did not give you the heads up,i am actually baffled by this. Let me also state here that they are very few staff who are happy to work for diamond bank and that bank work their staff like slaves, and the ONLY reason why people still stay put is cos of the salary. Too many unhappy people in that bank and i speak from experience

    • Chi,it is because of people like you that I left Diamond Bank. Too much negative energy.
      Your critique of the writer’s English is appalling and a review of your own English shows serious shortcoming in itself.
      Diamond Bank is a great organisation. It offered many young people the opportunity to plan and achieve their career, personal and financial goals. It is up to you to be good at your job and take advantage of the opportunities to progress towards those goals. If you fell short,you were shown the door as the bank is not Santa Claus. I suppose that you were amongst the loosing bunch.
      Regarding his achievements in Diamond Bank, this article isn’t a resume of his work in DB. If you really want know the value he added to bank,you can place a call to PGD or Philip Oduozua or Moshood Adelotan to give you a detailed breakdown.
      Regarding winter in New York, if you are coming there for the first time from Nija,no amount of padding or dressing will prepare you for it. I have experienced it as I thought I was well prepared until the weather hit me big time in the face. I had to get some proper winter gear from the local shop around to blend in.
      So Chi, I don’t know your department or role in DB, if you had a horrible experience there, you cannot blame someone who excelled in his role and took full advantage of all the rewards the bank had to offer. Look within yourself and find out where you fell short in character,attitude or technical competence and enhance yourself in that area. Cheers.

        • I think Ken has responded well on your behalf. It’s an obvious case of a very bitter person, so we ignore. Your story is inspiring. While I was reading about you, I remembered a friend like that in Gtbank too that has excelled in IT due to his commitment to excellence and integrity. I wish you the very best in all you do.

        • It is highly appalling that a fellow Nigerian and a lady would bear such animosity towards a renowned master of excellence and an astute Professional. Sir, you are an example to every real human in this world, God is on your side now and always, may He give wisdom to people like Chi before endtime.

      • Thanks for this reply ,I wonder if chi was expecting Ndubuisi to write like wole Soyinka. I can’t thank Ndubuisi enough for inspiring people like us everyday . God bless Ndubuisi Ekekwe

    • Chi, nice one – you have completed the work. My apologies if the English is poor. This is a personal blog and not an academic thesis. It was casually written. Please have peace in life – it helps you bring out more energy. This is not APC or PDP. God bless.

    • Hello Chi,

      I agree that some people are mostly inclined to making negative/destructive criticisms…instead of constructive ones. Apparently, you fall under such category.

      Criticism itself is not a bad thing. Infact, it is a powerful feedback mechanism which brings about improvement. However, the motive behind it matters alot. What is the motive behind yours?

      All the arrays of certifications and academics qualifications mentioned in his story, including those whose soft copies you can see, up to professorial level were all gotten via English language both in Nigeria & America. Even with his “poorly” written English.

      Now that we all know what didn’t add up in his story. I had expected you also stated what added-up. Or is there non at all?

      What lesson have you learnt from this story? What value/quality have you picked from his experience??

      Is there non at all?

      Thank you.

  36. This is humbling. A true proof that hard work and integrity can take man to the top of any career he choose to pursue. Thanks Ndubuisi for sharing this wonderful story. This is one the best endorsement Diamond bank can get among those that read this piece. The vision of the founder the must strive to propagate. Thank you.

  37. I am very speechless and Inspired by your story. You are truly a great man. What does not break us, will make us. Humility and Integrity pays. Thank you.

  38. What an inspiring story. I kept asking myself rhetorical questions as I read your piece. It is a wonderful thing to have integrity and be hardworking but the question is “How long do you remain true to these values especially when they don’t seem to pay off”; my answer, “you don’t ever give up on your values”.

    • Adeniyi, absolutely – being normal should not be time-bounded. If we normalize integrity and honesty in Nigeria, so that people that commit to those values, will not be seen as being stupid and not “sharp”, we can build a great nation.

  40. Thanks Ndubuisi for your inspiring story. I recall the name though I can’t place your face. Diamond bank was indeed special and remains the best bank I worked in.

    One of the greatest gifts the diamond experience imparts in one is the capacity to endure. You just know that you can excel anywhere!

    All the best, man.

  41. you went through a great deal of difficulties but you never gave up. Yes your front runner is Integrity but there is more to your struggles. You never gave up and you believed in yourself. Man I humble myself when I think about your struggles. Well written article and God bless you.

  44. Hello Ndubuisi,
    I am truly inspired by your story and I believe that your zeal for excellence must have had a supernatural backing. I am also impressed by your appreciative and reflective heart. You are meant for the pyramid top and the sky is your spring board because such as you who remember their background and the people that helped them can only hope for a good life. I wish you the best and I am truly blessed by your success story.

  45. Thank you so much for sharing your story. Simple, yet inspiring and powerful. Honesty & Integrity indeed pays. Thank you and God continue to bless you.

  49. Congratulations on all your achievements!

    Nowadays, success stories with the values you have espoused such as the spirits of positivity, perseverance, integrity, etc. are rarely shown/told to the youth or to remind even the old, what we need to build a society and indeed a nation. Many thanks for sharing!

    These values must be imbibed right from home and constantly reinforced to mould the child into a stellar human being.

    Ndubisi, no I will call you Bisi, lol. I like the part where you showed awareness and determination with the Chair of your University. You found something that was of value to the IT dept at Tuskegee and you turned a corner.

    I pray a true and appreciative voice like yours finds its way to larger platforms to influence the young and old alike in our society.

    In testament to your character, I also notice how you have continuously acknowledged people who posted comments to your article and some contributors have even risen to your defence or to reaffirm your experiences.

    All the best Bisi. Lol!

  50. Wow o! What an inspirational story of hard work, success and integrity.
    We are so much proud of you Sir. You have represented Nigeria and Africa in the best light .
    May God continue to bless you

  51. I read your article on Fintechs and Banks, and I knew I had to connect with you. It was/is very clear to see that you have ‘IT’ in you. Not InfoTech o, but the type of ‘it’ Peak refers to.
    And reading this now, just puts a personal angle to it all.

    Thanking God for your life, the successes and favors you have enjoyed so far and praying you receive more.

    Just to add, these words of yours are so true – “but I was very sure, before I left home, that if America was truly a country of merit, it would not be hard to crack”

    It really isn’t hard to crack at all, hardwork, diligence and integrity is really all you need to excel in the US. Unfortunately a lot of Nigerians do not believe it can be done any differently than it is in Nigeria.

  54. Many thanks for sharing. I believe it goes beyond hard work but Intelligence and expertise in your chosen field. More grace for you in Jesus Name, Amen!

  57. This’s really beautiful and insightful, I commend your integrity and resilience. A personal challenge to me. Thank you for sharing this.

  58. My Brother. It was good you put up a fight and determination that end up to be a successful story and other young ones can learn something from your experience.I enjoyed the beginning and the happy ending. Thanks to God.

  59. Thanks so much for sharing, you may never realized fully the impact this kind of article and living experience could on people out there. Thanks once more, I am inspired.

  63. Sir, I have gathered enough facts from your experience. Determination and focus can do magic in life.
    Integrity may not be everything, but it better be. Thanks a lot.

  65. Ndubuisi , you are a great FUTO alumni. The blood of FUTO runs in you, we are known for great achievement. Keep it up. We shall meet one day either in Nigeria or in America. Our training in FUTO is not in vain, a good foundation for all of us. Tough school, Tough students with bright ideas.

    Uzoma
    Project management.

  67. Wow! Life truly revolves. There’s nothing like having your integrity intact. Even though the training school I passed through may not be exactly as it was in your time, efforts are still in place for continuous learning and development. Diamonds are still groomed to be leaders in all field.

    • Just read Ndubisi’s story through your BC, James. Thanks for sharing.

      Ndubisi, your story only reinforces that focus, integrity and having the right mindset can spring board an individual to the place he wants to be.

      I appreciate your willingness to share your story to inspire people to do beyond their capacity no matter the situation and challenges they face.

      Keep the flag flying and do come home to build businesses and systems that will ensure the growth of young people. Many young people need proper reorientation of the definition of success.

      PS: It is evident that DB had a heavy influence on your person. Can you point out how? (I noticed your reference to a flat organization structure and the training school)
      I personally believe that working in the right organization with the right people will expand the capacity of an individual. Seems DB has gotten it right in some way, please share so we can learn how to build organizations that will stand the test of time.

  70. Yours is a lesson on the well-deserved dividends of honesty , commitment, integrity and sheer hard work.
    I have learnt a lot on this timeless personal piece. You started well…. ended great… well-done !!!

  71. What a wonderful piece. I wish I could live longer in your memories. It was beautiful, motivating, exemplary, and patriotic. Took note of how you worked for 48 hours. Nowadays, we can hardly find people who will commit as much as 12 hours of work. America is truly a land of opportunities and I’m glad you made full use of the opportunities for personal and career development. Today, you are inspiring me and fellow Nigerians to be excellent in all what they do.

    Most important lesson from your story is that you get rewarded in life when you add value to other people. But before you can add value to others, you need to add value to your self first. But you cannot give what you don’t have.

    Thank you for sharing sir. God bless you.

  72. I probably need to start all over.
    Where can I find mentors like you?

    Practically read all of your posts on LinkedIn. This totally had me. Thank you for the lessons shared.

  73. I Love your success story and laughed intermittently. I thank God for your duggedness. Also your value for integrity is challenging.

  74. I have saught to know your story for a while now, having followed you closely on LinkedIn. I am on my own journey and can relate with your story. I’m so terribly inspired by it! God bless you indeed for sharing.

  75. This is indeed a great read for young lads like me needing to make a focus and find a good feet in today’s tech society. I have been following your write ups via linked in. And when I wanted to get an internship as a graduate, I checked your profile several times. It became an enigma as to how a Nigeria could achieve so much in a short time and attend a tier 1 university, with a Nigerian undergraduate degree.

    I was surprised by the mix of banking and engineering,and I did not still believe you studied in Nigeria whilst I read some on your articles. I think we need people like you at home to galvanize young ones trying to find a feet.

    Now the question,how did you handle three post grad degrees + a full time job, though I know tech is existing and it pushes you to keep working until you resolve.

    Further more, how was it easy to excel in the US especially with engineering where they are far ahead of us,because I know our curriculum is obsolate.

    It will be nice to have you as a mentor, possibly be my own pascal. Thank you and let me hear from you. Cheers sir.

  78. As I read this piece this morning, I couldn’t help the tears from flowing. Do you know why? Before I started reading this article, I went through you profile cos you mentioned FUTO in your 24room Mansion posts and I was surprised that you had your first degree in Nigeria and started your career in banking here in Nigeria. What now made me shed tears is this: I am very sure that some people (friends/colleagues) would have laughed at you or discourage you at a point in time that why are you wasting your time on all these reading up and down; typical of we youths of nowadays especially bankers. I just imagined you giving in to their pressure and where would you have been by now, probably still in DB as an officer or in another bank probably as AM that is if you are still even in the system.
    What I learnt form this are:
    1-Keep the right friends i.e. those ones that share the same dream and vision with you or ahead of you on the path you chose. in this case Kunle and your friend that assisted with the admission.
    2-Dont ever back down on your dreams and ambition no matter the discouragement from friends and colleagues even family members. Just imagined you gave up cos you don’t tuition fee before setting out.

    In summary, you only see barriers when you take your eyes off your target. In a way Igwe, as I will start calling you, I am convinced that I am on the right track and no one will discourage me..

    Thank you for this article.

    • Thank you. The fact is this: only the dreamer can tell the dream. Nevertheless, God lifts men and women to assist. I have been extremely blessed that men and women help me. I do work hard to return that love to others

  79. Very inspiring story! Thank you for sharing your experience. I will share this with my 13-year old son who is interested and already doing some training/courses in IT. I am sure this will inspire and motivate him. Integrity, hardwork and dedication truly pay. God bless you!

  81. I found your article very powerful. It was utterly motivating and spirit-lifting. Your ingenuity, optimism and doggedness is to be admired. I really would love you to be my mentor. Keep sharing your story; the youth of Nigeria need to hear it

  83. Awesome Nigerian …
    Every Nigerian including my good self should be proud of you.
    You are a great ambassador and continue to be who you’re

  84. This can only be God. Very inspiring ND, integrity is like a man who saw treasures in an empty land, he went and sold all he had to purchase that Land. ND your story has sparked up more flames in me and I’m sure many as well. Keep shining my fellow Futoite, we will surely celebrate at the TOP together my brother. God bless you richly

  86. I really do want to go to school to get M.Sc and Ph.D. but that dream looks like it’s not gonna come anytime soon. Reading this story has given me big hope.

    My people, I need the scholarship to go to school I want to read and change Africa. This salary life isn’t for me.

  87. Very Inspiring Prof. Very similar experiences with me but i am just starting. I was also in IT Department of one of the leading banks in Nigeria.

    I just relocated to the West and hope someday, i will tell a story like this.

    Remain an inspiration to all!

  88. My Honourable Prof,
    I literally managed to hold my tears as I read your testimony.
    In every stage of your life, God continually perfected all that concerns you; causing men, situations and circumstances to work in agreement to not only favour you but to attend to all that concerns you. Your life is a testimony of grace. Your diligence is incomparable, and no wonder God continually rewards you in a special way. You are an inspiration. Thank you for devoting your life and saying yes to your inner man as God leads you in taking bold steps in your pursuit of excellence. I make bold to say that you are already ruling the world because your life is impacting a generation that would stop at nothing in their pursuit of excellence like you.
    I can’t thank you enough and I am eternally grateful to God for connecting me to you. Thank you again and again my Prof.

  89. This is quite encouraging. Your type is rare. You keep learning and empowering the society and the world at large. Your ethics, morals and educational disciple played and still remained a vital role to your continual achievements.

  90. This your story got me telling myself that my life can still get better. I had wished for a turn around in my career with a company that can bring out the best in me through strategic training. Secondly I love and value Integrity. Keep moving. Any opportunity for young IT professionals kindly share; thanks

  91. This your story got me telling myself that my life can still get better. I had wished for a turn around in my career with a company that can bring out the best in me through strategic training. Secondly I love and value Integrity. Keep moving. Any opportunity for young IT professionals kindly share; thanks

  95. Good afternoon Sir…..read your write up and am inspired by your Life .Am into IT too but like you said its Vulnerable .Am thinking of Taking Master courses that exist at the pinnacle.Considering Systems Engr…. Thank you for all you do .
    Less i forget .I Graduated from FUTA computer sci.

  97. Prof, this story is really inspiring. I read an HBS article you wrote a while ago and haven’t stopped reading your materials. They are laden with unmeasured depth. Keep flying!

  98. Prof. your post has been inspiring but I am more inspired by your story to stardom, I learnt that integrity, dedication and never- give up attitude pays. Congratulations to Diamond bank for making you pass through them and be one of the rare breed professionals. I am your follower on Linkedin, I am being expecting to read your story and I finally did. I am more motivated and believe I can weather the storm just as you. You are awesome sir.

  102. Prof,
    Your story is humbly and very thoughful – Thank you so much for sharing. We need this type of stories for every home in Nigeria.

  103. Ever since I stumbled across your write up from a contact, I knew I had to folllow up immediately cause there was something about your person. I just finished reading your write up and my brain has gone into over drive.. integrity, humble, ability to relate with people around you plus belief in God took you to greater heights. I am more than determined and focused to do my bit and make this world a better place for us all. Thank you for this eye opener, and continue in your strives without compromising.

  104. Your story tells it all. Simply pragmatic no sugar coat, straight to the point . I am a believer of story telling of successful people like you. I learn alot from you. We need more successful Nigerians to tell their stories. As this will impact the younger generation. Thanks for sharing

  105. Reading this story has completely inspire me to hold firm to integrity. You have achieved so much through sheer hardwork and remain humble. i hope to connect more through linkedin.

  107. The path you have choosing in life has a lot of long term benefit both spiritually and physically.I love your story.it will refocus the future generations who find it difficult to be identified with Nigeria.
    Many will want to discourage you but few will encourage, never mind whats important is the content of your message. and the Foot print you have left over there.

  108. Great piece Ndubuisi. I read your write-ups and always, they are so insightful. This one got me so captivated that everything was at a standstill until I was done reading it. Once again great piece. Hope some day to dine with you and be given the opportunity to update my journal with intellectual content!

  110. Awesome, you have really made my day. Integrity can serve as collateral in business especially for emerging entrepreneurs considering the difficulty of securing start-up loan in our financial institution . You have really inspired me.

  111. I’m really inspired by your piece of work. I have been following you reading your write up you are a motivator Prof. We need intellectual like you in the system to pilot the affairs of the country especially in the area of science and technology. God bless you.

  112. Wow, this post is so timely and inspiring. It really resonates with me as I prepare for my Master’s program in spring. Nothing is impossible, even a 4point GPA! Thank you for sharing and motivating!

  113. Very inspiring!

    Your integrity, hardwork, desire for knowledge/skills, and determination prepared you to maximize the opportunities that came your way.

    Permit me to say that your timing at DB those years were quite favourable. Banking in Nigeria has evolved over the years due to stiffer regulations, fiest competition, and unfavourable economic environment. This has also impacted on banking career. You don’t get those privileges and opportunities you had at DB any longer. This is not just DB, but industry wide.

    Infact, most of the systems are now designed that you get basically nothing when leaving considering years and effort put on the job. How much more for the Bank to go through difficulty in sending you an un-earned upfront.

    However, that is not to say that one must not always seek ways to improve, be relevant and to add value to any system one find his/her self. In your story, I do not see integrity playing out much. A lot of people even get victimized at their places of work because of their integrity.

    What I saw, is your desire for knowledge and skills. You were constantly improving yourself and acquiring all the relevant skills and knowledge that made you good at what you do; this gave you the edge to be result-driven and a solution-provider. You worked hard and smart also. I quote you here, where you said:

    “I had taken two master’s degrees and a correspondence doctoral program within three years I was employed, full time, in Diamond Bank. It was a very intense lifestyle which saw me one day flying into University of Calabar, from Lagos, for an MBA exam, and returning same day to work night shift in the bank’s IT organization. Everything was planned because I always had exams or certifications to prepare. Call it No Life: It was very intense.”

    You also had Cisco and Microsoft Certifications. In addition to starting ICAN before you left the country. You also stated why you went for the ICAN: to prepare you for an executive position since your survey revealed that most of the top executives had ICAN. That was forsight!

    That was intensely challenging and inspiring for me. Thank you for sharing!

    Your experience, knowlegde and skill enabled you design the IT policy at Tuskegee, gained you a NASA scholarship and gave you grounds for much other achievements that followed.

    Congratulations on your performances and for how far you have come.

    Thank you indeed for sharing.

    CEO

  115. Wow! What an intriguing testimony. Reading this article today, I summarized your successes on three things: absolute integrity, hard work and undiluted trust in God. You’re indeed a man of excellent spirit.

    Your testimony has impacted and inspired lives including mine. I am trusting God for such testimony like this. GOD BLESS YOU PROF.!

  117. Immediately I started seeing your post on LinkedIn, I immediately fell in love with you. Other people with lesser achievements would have distanced themselves from Nigeria and anything that have to do with the country. I really love you and love your beautify heart. I’ll love to meet you one of this days when you’re in the country. I’ll love to have you as a mentor that i seriously in need of right now. People like you make young guys like us to be hopeful.

    Thank you.

  118. Honestly, the lessons are so numerous. Starting from the maximisation of your gifting and opportunity, hardwork,humility and above all Integrity.This write up has been all inspiring and motivating.Thanks to you, Sir.
    You are yet to record more and more achievements.
    God bless you,Sir.

  119. I wonder why I’m just getting to see this write-up. Integrity is truly important. I’m sure more people will come across this and their lives will change for good.

  120. Now, this is a story taken out of a book. My guess, it is a work of fiction.

    But, if these are actual experiences, then I pledge to submit to your leadership; please, do me the honour.
    You are a rare gem.

  123. Wow!

    But for the integrity of Mr Chinagozi Efuribe (A Mentor and Coach who highly recommended this piece to me), i would have regarded your story as just another Nollywood fiction struggling to teach certain morals through such a poorly engineered storyline where everything just suddenly falls into place to meet the story target of the originator, but no, why should i?

    Perhaps there’s a striking difference between the Nigeria which massaged your integrity and pursuits with great reward and this our own which rewards our desire to be truthful with great contempt and brutality, i thought! But no, it’s been the same static and fiercely competitive Nigeria joor!

    I do not know what impressed you to drop your resignation letter, while ignoring the cash within your reach and flying empty to Alabama to face a world awash with countless odds in the name of some unrewarding integrity but i know you’ve touched one more life with your life. Which would in turn touch another, letting it trickle down.

    Thank you Mr. Ndu for standing out, You’re impact is limitless and you’re a legend!

    Thank you Oga Nago for sharing this piece. You’re my Pascal Dozie!

    Keep Winning!

  126. Thank you Professor Ekekwe for sharing your story. This has been a serious motivation for me because I’m in the same line, starting though. I think I finally found a mentor.
    Thank you very much Prof.

  135. Wow!

    What a mental shift.

    What is worth doing is worth doing with all you’ve got?

    I have learnt to keep doing what I know how to do and never to undermine integrity for any situation or circumstances whatsoever.

    Thank you for this Sir

  136. Reading this piece has greatly shifted my thinking and made me understand that working hard on something you don’t have passion for will definitely amount to suicide. This is a great story Mr. Ndubuisi and I am so proud to be part of your network. You have inspired me a great deal through this story and I pray that you will continue to soar higher in your endeavors.

    Thank you once again.

  137. Am really impressed. You have a good humble beginning. I am motivated through the footprints you put on the sands of time.

  138. Thanks Prof for taking time to share this with us. I have been trying to connect Innovation/Business Model/Digital and Technology with your Engineering background. Now I know. What a story. Fast paced just like the dynamic world we live in.

    Rgds,

    Jadi Emeh

  141. waooo Ndubuisi you are such a wonderful councilor, i admired your presentation. With determination and focus, one can do imposible. I love your inspiring story and iam looking forward to hearing more from you.

  142. I am motivated by this inspirational story of yours. I never counted you less since I came across your profile on LinkedIn more than a year ago. You are a true inspiration to this generation. Please keep winning.

  143. Great and inspiring story. The add on for me is to be optimistic, explore all possibilities, refuse to be limited by life’s circumstances…push the limits intentionally.

    The good thing is, I found my Late husband shared the same values with you. Indeed, the training in Diamond bank was magical.

  145. Your story has really inspired the real me. Hoping to inspired others as well.
    Integrity indeed is everything to happy living.
    Thank you Prof. Ndubuisi.

  147. Reading your story for first time. I’m inspired I must say, and I’m about to do the same; I no just admission for masters in the UK with 25% scholarship and I’m taking it, although I don’t the remaining 75% tuition at hand. I will shoot my shot.

    Thanks for this great piece Sir.

  148. Thank you for sharing this story of yours, Pro Ndubuisi! What an amazing life journey! I loved the way you told the story, humourous and thought-provoking! INTEGRITY!

  152. What an awe and inspiring piece!

    Dear Prof., kindly consider putting all chronicles of your life sojourn, both home and abroad, in a book, an autobiography sort of. This will go a long way in motivating this and the yet unborn generation on achieving greatness.

  153. Wow! What an amazingly inspiring story you shared with us. I am wondering how this has existed for some 4 years already and I am just seeing it.

    I celebrate your integrity and impeccable character which you have displayed both home and abroad. I have just followed you as I need to read more of such noble deeds.

    I recollect my story in 2013 where my group was to buy a CD printer for our church, we contributed some money and back when online transfer was not common, I being the treasurer had to withdraw about N300,000.00 from one bank and credit another bank close by. Apparently, the cashier gave me the N300,000.00 cash and some extra N60,000.00. On the teller the cashier paid out N300,000.00 to me so there was no way it would have been traced to me if I had absconded (God forbids). I didn’t even realize till I was about to pay into the other bank. I counted the money all over several times and as soon as the excess was established. I quickly returned the money to the cashier at the initial bank and advised him to be extra careful going forward as some may not return the money.

    I hope our youth learn one or two things about integrity and make good of it going forward.

    God bless!!

  155. Absolutely!, well am speechless for the moment, but loyalty and humble is really paying if you really discover the nature of it which i can tag as ‘The law of potentiality’.
    Sir, i hope this will surely touches every sector of our youths life and also the civil servants.

  156. This is a really great read, Prof

    Highly synonymous to my dealings with Kaiser Foundation for social development through the hands of great facilitators at Lagos Business school

    Integrity pays, forever.

    Thanks for this great story sir, Get bless you sir

  157. Prof., I have been following you and reading your articles and writes up. Actually, you are a rear breed and I do appreciate your openness, sincerity and integrity. I am really fascinated about your life story and I am encouraged. God continue to bless you sir.

  158. Hello Professor,
    You have indeed taken many, especially me, to an All Time High with your very inspiring story.

    Navigating through the professional huddles and making history in a strange land is indeed so encouraging.

    The central theme in your piece, “integrity” cannot be over emphasized.

    You have inspired me in no little way. I look forward to shaking your hands someday, soon.

  159. Hello Professor,

    A truly amazing story! You remind me of all my childhood ideologies and my personal beliefs. Never give up, keep going and going and something will definitely give. You started out small and you leaped to true greatness. Truly inspiring story which makes all put in our best at all times.

    Well done Sir.

  160. Just coming across this in 2024, and it is very relatable. Thank you Prof, for being a shining light. I personally draw strength from your story to keep pushing and never give up. Thanks for being who you are and for sharing to inspire others.

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