A former Trade Marketing Manager with Nigerian Breweries Plc, Prince Funso Ayeni, has acquired a doctorate degree in Leadership and Organizational Management from Walden University in the United States.
Ayeni, who left Nigerian Breweries after more than 17years during which he also served as Senior brand manager for some of the brewer’s most iconic brands, was also a senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for Ekiti North senatorial district in the 2023 general elections.
The doctoral programme, which started 4 years ago had Funso combine his political campaigns with strong academic works that saw him frequently travelling to the US in pursuit of the programme which he says, has equipped him more with what it takes to deliver values to himself and the society at large.
Speaking on the feat, Ayeni who also works full-time as a Marketing and Sales consultant, his quest to acquire a higher degree was in furtherance of his determination to deepen his understanding of leadership and management in its broad, scientific sense.
He said although he started his career in Sales, his dream had always been to be a scholar adding that the programme has helped me in this quest.
“There is this nagging desire to equip myself with all it takes to become an all-round leader. I want to make changes happen in a sustainable sense. I thought that such a course in Leadership and Management would make me become a better leader, a resource and people manager capable of anticipating problems and solving them before they begin to affect people and society adversely. I also believe it would equip me with what it takes to advance the greater good,” he stated.
On how he was able to undertake the programme even while still living in Nigeria, the Channel marketing expert said his determination and the flexibility of the programme helped him achieve his goal.
“This was not the first time I was undertaking this sort of project. When I did my M.Sc. programme in Global Management at the Salford University in the United Kingdom in 2018, aside from the regular scheduled residency in the UK, I started and concluded it from Nigeria. The fact is that the flexibility of the programmes helped me a lot. Although I travelled quite occasionally from Nigeria to the US during the program, these universities make their programs so flexible to fit into the schedule of those undertaking it. Although it was quite tedious because of the differences in time zones, but once there is the will to achieve, nothing stands in your way. I was determined to improve myself and prepare myself for the challenges of helping to build a better society and just had to do everything it took to achieve my objectives,” he revealed.
Ayeni, who is also a philanthropist with several life-changing development projects in his hometown, Ikole Ekiti and Ekiti state, said despite his huge commitments to marketing and academic activities, he also has a passion for the upliftment of his people.
“Community service has always been a part of my life. I recall that I started committing an incremental amount of my earnings to community projects when I started earning a living more than 20 years ago. My life has been about lifting others and making my environment better. Helping my community has been a way of life for me. I cannot stop it, even if I wanted because that is where I derive my joy. You know some people enjoy buying expensive cars, building mansions, travelling frequently to exotic places and maybe stocking expensive wines. But my source of utility is different and like I said, it is too late to stop. Giving hope to the needy and lifting the poor is everything for me. It is the purest of joys that only the giver understands what it does to the peace of his soul,” he stated.
Although the prevailing circumstances prevented him from winning during his first sojourn into electoral politics in 2023, he insists that would not deter him from making future attempts if his people find him worthy to be their representative.
“I did not want to contest when my people invited me into the race the last time I joined the race. Therefore, if and when my people genuinely ask for me to serve them again, and they are ready to defend their votes, I will surely answer that call,” he said