For Real Estate guru, Meckson Innocent Okoro, the 10-year-wait was worth it as he was eventually sworn in as the Captain of the upscale Ikoyi Club 1938 of Lagos.
Dr Okoro, founder, M. I Okoro & Associates, explained to thelaurel.com.ng why he was not discouraged by four fruitless attempts before his fifth try yielded the result that had eluded him for 10 years.
Excerpts:
Why did it take you so long to get this position?
I have been contesting for a long time. It is the fifth time I got it. It is highly competitive. At Ikoyi Golf Club, we have prominent people and I’m not the only person interested in being the Captain of the club. Just like in any other aspect of life, God’s time is the best. That was when it got to my turn.
What’s so special about being the captain in the golf section?
It is the number one position as far as golf is concerned. To be the captain here is a very prestigious position. You know you are representing men and women that have arrived in life. There’s nobody that is somebody in Nigeria that is not in Ikoyi Club and most of them are in the golf section. Being their leader, for me, is a privilege. It is not as though that something is too special about it. Being the leader of such a prominent club that is the best in Nigeria and Africa. The golf course we have here is the busiest in the whole of Africa, even in the world. There is no golf course you can go to in this country and even in the world that will be busy from 5:30 in the morning till 7:00 in the evening every day. It is only the Ikoyi Club 1938 golf section. So, being the captain is a very important position. The work is commensurate with the position because you have to work hard to meet the expectations of all these prominent people. Don’t forget that in this section, we have as members serving governors, serving ministers, ambassadors, foreign diplomats and army generals, naval officers, admirals and rear admirals and so forth. Every nationality that is in this country are members of the golf sections; corporate organizations and multinationals including Chevron, Mobil, Exxon Mobil, Total, their members are in this Ikoyi Club golf section. There’s nobody I want to reach that I won’t get to reach locally and internationally.
So, how do you feel now?
I’m excited, even though it took me this long time to get there. You know nothing good in this world is easy; you take them as they come. But the most important thing is, anything I decide I want to do I must get it. It can only take me time. Once I strategize and have all the necessary elements that will enable me to get there, then I must pay the price and get there.
What specific roles do you play as the Captain?
Administratively, it is my duties to ensure that the course is adequately taken care of. The course is on 70 hectares of land, from here to Obalende to Dodan barracks, it is very far. I’m talking about the course alone, not the entire Ikoyi Club. It is my duty as the captain to ensure that the course where we play golf is in a playable condition and all the facilities are working. We make sure that members enjoy their golfing either kitties, monthly months, tournaments and special events that are golf-related. It is my responsibility to present the golf section to the outside world. If we are going on tour, I have to lead the team of golfers that will be going for such travelling to whichever country in the world.
Any effect of Covid -19 on the golf section?
Before Covid-19, we travelled to the US, Germany, London, all over the world. The captain has to schedule such international tournaments. We go to Ghana; in fact, Achimota has a reciprocal match play with Ikoyi Club. So, every year, it´s either we go to Ghana or Ghana come to us. It is the duty of the captain to make sure that such arrangements are properly in order. My duty is to lead it and represent Ikoyi Club in such outside tournament. It is my duty as captain to arrange for sponsorship from most multinationals, individuals, corporate organizations, who sponsor our tournaments and get branding and advertisement in return. For instance, if a bank is sponsoring our activities then we use that opportunity to do a lot of marketing, a lot of branding, and a lot of advertisements in other to attract prospective customers to patronize them.
Now a Captain. How easy was it attaining your desire?
We are talking of me pursuing my goal of becoming a Captain in this very powerful environment. I was Vice Captain for one year before becoming captain. Even the journey to becoming vice-captain is more troublesome and turbulent because the moment you become the vice-captain then there is a good chance―subject to the grace of God and good behaviour―of clinching the position of captain because people watch you. But at any slight mistake, they shut you out of the race and get people to contest against you. If you remain humble and focused, and you appear to know why you are there, the tendency is that you may be allowed to proceed to Captain. I must tell you, it is not an easy journey. Now, every human being will begin to focus on the position, its beauty, its flamboyancy, nobody remembers all the sacrifice one made to attain the position. It is a one-year tenure. That one-year tenure is like a 10-year tenure if you understand the environment you are operating in.