Published 14th Dec, 2021

By Tola Owoyele

In August, 28-year-old Olasupo Abideen got into controversy on Nigerian social media when he returned $2,397 to an organisation that overpaid him for consulting services.

The entrepreneur was the object of much criticism, and some even cursed him, for returning manna which had come directly to him. He not only ignored his critics, but also preached that Nigerians can write a better history of honesty, and tell the world that sincere Nigerians exist, against the common notion.

Amidst insults, Olasupo clung to the virtues he had learnt from his parents while growing up, not knowing that his gesture on December 11 was noted and he would receive the Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Award for it. Who is Olasupo Abideen?

GROWING UP

Olasupo Abideen Opeyemi was born on October 17, 1993, in Ifon, Osun State. He attended Grace Nursery and Primary School, Ilobu, and Al-Mansoor Model College for his primary and secondary school education respectively. He then proceeded to the University of Ilorin where he studied chemistry.

First of five boys, Olasupo took up adult responsibilities at a tender age. “I started assisting my mum in her petty trade at the age of 13,” he told FIJ. “I hawked sachet water and notebooks till I finished secondary school.

“My dad would always tell us stories. They were mostly stories narrated to him by his father. They were always about having good virtues. He told us never to lie to people, never to think of money ritual or take things that did not belong to us and, ultimately, never to do things that would tarnish our family image and name.”

He also told FIJ about an interesting exercise her mum always carried out whenever he and his siblings returned from school. “She checked our bags whenever we returned from school. At first, I did not understand why she did it. But later, I found out that it was not only a way of making sure that our books and pencils were intact, but to also make sure we didn’t return with things that didn’t belong to us,” Olasupo said.

BUSINESS

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Olasupo did not have basic computer knowledge until he was preparing for his Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE). This was because there were limited computer centres in his hometown, and most times, people had to trek several miles to neighbouring towns to access a computer.

“Having learned a lot in terms of floating a business from my mother’s petty trade, my very first business was a computer centre in my hometown. I was not comfortable with the limited number of cyber centres in Ifon and I knew a whole lot of people trekked miles to neighbouring villages to access the internet,” Olasupo told FIJ.

He started with just one desktop computer and printer, but now has four desktop computers, three laptops, four printers and two giant copier machines. “We have successfully trained over 104 students, who happen to be Ifon indigenes, since we started,” said Olasupo.

Olasupo has a gas station. He owns dHub Centre, training start-ups, merging start-ups with investors and converting undergraduate thesis to tech solutions. “Out of my jealous passion for youth development, I also started the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative in 2014,” he told FIJ. “The main plan was to build an ecosystem of leaders that would strive to attain excellence in governance, sustainable development, democracy and entrepreneurship.”

Olasupo is the founder of Knowcovid19 and Yvotenaija, non-governmental organisations.

MAN OF VIRTUE

Olasupo told FIJ he was once denied consultancy fee because he did not agree to providing a blank receipt to a client.

“I have also lost contracts because I refused to pay kickbacks,” he said. “My parents’ words and coaching go with me everywhere I go, and my plan is to always tell the story of Nigeria in a good way.”

Olasupo said he had returned to stores, supermarkets and fuel stations to redo payments after erroneous fund reversals.

INTEGRITY AWARD

The entrepreneur said he was happy that the Gani Fawehinmi Foundation recognised his gesture and gave him an award.

“Some abused me for returning the money, saying it was God’s way of boosting my financial needs. Others cursed the organisation for not rewarding honesty by giving me the money. Only a few people appreciated the gesture,” Olasupo said.

Olasupo at The Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Awards

“I was told that the selection process was very tasking. The organisers were said to have received over 200 nominations from all over the country. I was told the list was first pruned down to 21, then to eight, and then, finally, to three before I was eventually announced the winner. I give God the glory. Honesty does pay.”

To Nigerians, both old and young, Olasupo said there is always a commensurate reward for anyone who choose to live through honest means.

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