Former Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, Dr Olawale Fasanya, has disclosed that he voluntarily left a high-paying position at the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, where he earned about N1.2 million monthly, to return to SMEDAN at a salary of less than N300,000. He made the revelation on Thursday in Abuja during the public presentation of his autobiography, Cradle to Saddle, where he reflected on key career decisions.
Fasanya, who was a general manager at PTDF with first-class travel privileges and opportunities for international training, said he was uncomfortable serving in a role where he was treated as a figurehead. He stated the new executive at PTDF begged him to stay but he chose to leave because he wanted to be in a position where he could make a tangible impact.
He described his return to SMEDAN as a move driven by purpose, not pay, noting that he was the agency's first employee and wanted to complete its institutional story. Fasanya was appointed Director-General by former President Muhammadu Buhari on June 6, 2022, becoming the first DG with prior history in the agency, unlike previous political appointees.
Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda, represented by Deputy Governor Farouk Lawal, praised Fasanya as a dedicated pioneer who carried SMEDAN in his heart. Radda revealed he personally recommended Fasanya to succeed him when he left to run for governor, and expressed pride that the appointment had been justified by outcomes.
Gbenga Komolafe, immediate past CEO of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, noted that SMEDAN's programmes have impacted over 39 million Nigerians, a figure he attributed to Fasanya's leadership. The book launch was also attended by Hon Jabiru Tsauri, CEO of AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria.
Fasanya left a N1.2m job because he refused to be warehoused, yet stayed in a system that had previously sidelined him with a figurehead role. He now celebrates being appointed DG of an agency he helped build, though the same system only rewarded his loyalty after years of underutilisation. Nigerians who've been sidelined in public service for prioritising impact over visibility may see his story as both inspiration and indictment. If dedication alone were enough, Fasanya wouldn't have had to wait decades to lead the institution he helped create.
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