By Stanley Ugagbe
Business mogul, Yeye Aderonke Mohammed has again proven that success is a continuous process by adding an additional degree to her already juicy and enviable profile.
It was a culmination of triple celebration in her home following her graduation from the University of Toronto alongside her two sons, Tobi Sogbesan and Eniola Sogbesan.
Aderonke, who is the CEO of Bonydothan luxury Jewelry, one of the leading jewelry brands in Canada; has been able to carve a niche for herself within and outside Nigeria.
Remarkably, her contribution towards impacting lives in her community and beyond has earned her a double chieftaincy title of Yeye Aje/Yeye Bobagunwa from Oyan Kingdom.
Speaking with our correspondent, Aderonke who is a successful business woman succinctly averred that she went ahead to study at the University of Toronto because of her passion for education, adding that she is of the school of thought that Education is the key to freedom.
Delineating on her journey so far in business, Aderonke who hails from Ijebu Ode area of Ogun State, Nigeria said her experience growing up with her grandmother who was a business merchant motivated her to love business.
She said “I believe my experience growing up with my grandmother who was a business merchant has motivated me to love business. I started in 1996, traveling to Dubai and Italy to buy Jewelry and other clothing materials, but in between when telecoms arrived in Nigeria, I quickly digressed into Telecommunication and became trade partners with most of the Telecommunication companies such as MTN, Vmobile, Globacom, Starcom and others. As a CEO of Bayso Global Nig Ltd, we became a major player in our region. Later when I relocated to Canada, my passion for business never died. I registered Borrydollar group of computers and I started showcasing my products and making meaningful connections”.
When asked on how she is able to cope as a team leader, business woman, student, wife and a mother, Aderonke said “My role as a team leader in a Violence Against women sector in Mississauga, has been challenging and demanding but because of the passion for humanity and social justice! I am able to cope well. Whenever I look back to the many lives that have impacted positively especially in a racially diverse community in greater Toronto areas, I feel fulfilled and happy. In terms of managing work, business and home, it has been going on smoothly. I just make sure I find a balance in everything, and surely having a supportive and prayerful husband is absolutely a plus. I am grateful for that”.
Responding to how she was able to work her way to success as a female entrepreneur, the business tycoon who is known globally said “Being a women’s advocate, I am always looking at the intersection of gender with many other factors including business. Living in a Patriarchy world, domestic work done by all women are not paid for hence it becomes normalized. I value women that are in business, the combination of being a woman and in business is always demanding as women are always being limited to certain level of achievement. An example is the glass ceiling for women in work force”.
On her advice for female entrepreneurs, the jewelry merchant said “Having a role model is important to successful business owners but it is not a must. While working hard, just remain focused despite challenges ahead. I will not tell you it is a free ticket to success but your ability to sustain challenging moments will help you. Finally let your “yes” be “yes”. You will need to build trust with your customers in order to expand your network. My watch words are integrity and endurance. Slowly and steadily you will get there”.
On his part, Tobi Sogbesan, who made it to the list of graduates to watch list in University of Toronto class 2020 said his experience in Engineering was not always easy, but that the challenges were connected with personal growth.
“I remember that in my first semester, I struggled to adapt,” he says. “But every year after that, I grew, not only academically but also in the way I think and approach problems in my everyday life.”
Sogbesan said he plans to continue working in the energy sector and dreams of one day starting his own company. He believes his education has been as much about ethics as it was about technical knowledge.
He said “One of the main things I’ve learned is that I have a responsibility to fulfill my duty to the best of my ability without jeopardizing my moral and ethical values”.
“I want to use this opportunity to shout out the National Society for Black Engineers (NSBE) and my fellow colleagues for making my university experience better both academically and also socially,” he said.
Speaking with our correspondent, Eniola Sogbesan who bagged a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Rotman Commerce said he had a great experience at the institution.
He said “I had a great experience at U of T. U of T and Rotman have shaped me in many positive ways. I’ve learned the values of leadership and its associated responsibilities, and have developed strong relationships with great people. Alongside my studies, I was able to maintain strong academic performance while contributing to campus. I was the Director of Events with the Rotman Commerce Students in Sports group and also a member of the U of T St. George soccer team”
When asked on his next line of action, he said “As I actively search for more accounting experience, particularly audit, I will continue my CPA journey with CPA Ontario in the fall term”.
