Last week, I opened one of our national dailies here in Nigeria and was shocked to see an advertorial on the first year remembrance of the Late Isaac Durojaiye, popularly known as Otunba Gaddafi. Two things were responsible for the shock. First, that Otunba Gaddafi was dead at a young age. Second and more shocking was the fact that he had been dead for over a year and I did not know. I pride myself as someone who is aware of what is going on around me, so I was utterly astonished to discover that one of Nigeria’s finest died and I did not know about it for one year. I tried to think about what might have been responsible for my unawareness and I came to the conclusion that my penchant for reading newspapers has reduced.
Today, I am dedicating this write up to the memory of a trailblazer, an innovator, a risk taker, an entrepreneur and a philanthropist; a man who changed the face of business in Nigeria; a man who brought dignity to the otherwise demeaning sanitary business in Nigeria.
Isaac Durojaiye a.k.a. Otunba Gadaffi attended Accra Polytechnic in Ghana briefly before proceeding to United Kingdom where he graduated in Graphic Design and Business Administration from Eastern College of Technology. After his education, he was involved in providing security for private individuals and government in the UK. He later worked for American Express Cards, UK Security Division as a credit card fraud investigator. At a point, he decided to come back to Nigeria but survival was difficult for him. He had to sell his personal effects like his car stereo to be able to feed. His situation led him to think of relocating to the UK but he was persuaded by his friends to stay back.
He later got a job as Chief Security Officer to the Late Chief M.K.O. Abiola. His defining moment came in 1991 during the planning of Kola Abiola’s (Chief Abiola’s son) wedding. Being in charge of security, he discovered that there were only two toilets available for the expected 10,000 guests. He brought this to the attention of the planning committee and was mandated to look for a mobile toilet company but there was none in existence at the time. He decided to solve the problem by constructing some units. So with three containers, he constructed 18 toilets, 6 toilets in each container. This led him to start the business of mobile toilets but for four years not a single order came for his mobile toilet.
His break came in 1996 and since then it has been a different story. In 1999, on a trip abroad for an Interpol conference, he saw some plastic mobile toilets, took interest and later imported 40 of them. He later decided to start manufacturing the toilets. Dignified Mobile Toilet (DMT) – Otunba Gaddafi’s corporate outfit- has manufactured over 3000 mobile toilets of international standard and many of the toilets were purchased by users from outside Nigeria. Today DMT Toilets are being used as official toilets in some states. The company now has over 19 branches in Nigeria and 7 branches in the West African sub-region.
During the 8th All African Games, held in Abuja, Nigeria in 2003, DMT was contracted to provide toilet facilities during the 8th All African Games, COJA, in Abuja. The company supplied and managed over 300 mobile toilets. Also during the commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, CHOGM, hosted by Nigeria in 2003, DMT provided and managed over 100 toilets. DMT has now become synonymous with public toilets in Nigeria. A state in Nigeria has provided ten acres of land for DMT to locate a plant where human waste will be processed into fertiliser and to generate biogas. (Source: Financial Freedom Inspiration).
Otunba Gaddafi’s life taught many Nigerians to see opportunity in challenges instead of complaining about them. His life demonstrated what we can achieve great things if we refuse to give up in the face of disappointment. His experiences have shown us that we must make our demand from life or else we will be forced to take from life anything life offers us. His story never fails to inspire me and other young Nigerians. His short earthly sojourn was packed with so many glorious achievements. Otunba Gaddafi also proved that there is indeed dignity in honest labour. I have learnt that I am the one that will bring respect and honour to whatever it is I am doing.
Thank you, Otunba Gaddafi for living a life of impact.
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