See how Military taught me how to be discipline Says Felix Ale

 

Felix Ale, Deputy Director/ Head, Media and Corporate Communications, National Space Research and Development Agency, tells ‘Nonye Ben-Nwankwo about his career and his experience while working with former military administrators

Was it your life ambition to be a journalist?

There is no gainsaying the fact that people go into journalism for a variety of reasons. These reasons can be classified into four main motives – the desire to write, to be known, to influence for good and for knowledge. In my ambition to be a journalist, I was looking forward with hope and high expectation of seeing myself making remarkable impacts to shape my society in a positive way through the power of the pen. I see journalism as a noble profession. Just like teachers who selflessly pass their knowledge to students, journalists also educate and inform people and provide avenue for them to take part in sustaining the good, changing the bad and transforming the society to a better one. Therefore, my overall ambition was to be a part of that vanguard and progressive commando in making the world a better place to live in through responsible journalism in whatever position I find myself.

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What motivated you to study as far as doctorate degree level?

Well, I will say my love for qualitative education, quest for knowledge as well as my strong belief that “He who rests rusts” motivated me to continuously improve myself academically. Again, as a journalist, I believe that I owe it a duty to get myself fortified and well equipped intellectually to enable me to create a sustainable platform to successfully run my race in the game of life. To me, this will not only assist in the effective discharge of my duties but it will also give me a wider scope on varieties of issues. It is also important to place on record that, the environment I now find myself as spokesperson for the Nigerian Space Agency reinforced my inspiration on the need to devote more time and energy into reading. Space agencies all over the world are research institutions. Hence advancement in educational qualification, particularly to a Ph.D level, remains one of the key drivers for relevance and career advancement. By virtue of my position as the Head, Media and Corporate Communications of the agency, I have had the rare privilege of visiting a good number of space agencies, organisations and outfits in different parts of the world and I can see for myself the crucial roles of the press as stakeholders in the promotion and development of space science and technology, particularly in most developed countries. The various visits became an eye opener for me to further appreciate the need for required synergy between the press and space industry in the country; hence my decision to embark on sustainable strategies in order to actiualise this. It was in the process that it became paramount for me to embark on a Ph.D programme with a focus on space journalism as my dissertation. I completed my course of study in record time and came up with the first research work on space journalism in the history of Nigeria.

How easy was it doing your masters with foreign students?

I would say it was very easy, challenging and interesting. I had the privilege of undergoing a short but incisive post graduate study at the International Space University in Strastburg in France. I was also at the University of Oxford in London for yet another programme as well as the Harvard Kennedy school of Government, Harvard University in the United States for another programme. In all, it was an inspiring experience. It was indeed an opportunity for me to make friends across the Atlantic. One basic thing I realised in my interactions with my colleagues or other students during my academic sojourn in the various institutions is the fact that, regardless of our colours as white or black, we see ourselves as one people.

Who have been your mentors all the way?

Among the various people that I have been privileged to work with, two of them stand out as my mentors, having succeeded in impacting positively in my life. The first person was the late Navy Captain Anthony Onyearugbulem who was then military administrator of Ondo State. He was such a fantastic man I will never forget in my life. Onyearugbulem was a talented and intelligent military officer whom I was privileged to learn so many things from during my working relationship with him. As one of his close associates, I benefitted tremendously from his wealth of experience and knowledge. The second person is Senator Robert Boroffice who was the pioneer Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency, Abuja. As a matter of fact, that was the man that actually employed me into the service of the space agency during his tenure. We met in Zurich in Switzerland in 2002 and ever since then, the relationship between us has been cordial. When I eventually joined the space agency in 2006, I got to know more about him, I see him as a great inspiration and rare gift of nature. I wouldn’t have earned my Ph.D and without God and the initial support and encouragement of Senator Boroffice. During his tenure, I travelled with him to various parts of the globe and on several occasions during the numerous trips, he was always telling me of the need to have my Ph.D latest by 2017. This ultimatum from him was always ringing bell in my ears, even long after the completion of his two term tenure as the Director-General of the agency.

You studied in America; did you consider staying back there after your programme?

I have never for a moment contemplated staying in America. There is no doubt that America is a beautiful country to live, but, I want to tell you that, there is no place like home. It was not by mistake that God created me a Nigerian. Hence my avowed determination to remain in my country, play my part in its developmental history and allow the manifestation of God’s plans in my life, right here in Nigeria.

If you had got job offer in the U.S, wouldn’t you have taken it?

Why should I take it? The interest of my nation is paramount to me. I owe it a duty to play my part, no matter how little, in keeping the flag of this nation flying. As a matter of fact, you should know that the focus of my Ph.D thesis “Space journalism” will surely be of great interest to a lot of organisations and institutions in a country like the United States. So it’s easier for me to get offer in such an environment after my academic programme. But I believe whatever knowledge I acquire from any part of the world must be brought back home for possible contributions to the development of my fatherland.

Can you share your experience working with the military back in those days?

My working experience with the military in the early days of my journalism career remains outstanding and very interesting. I think one significant thing I learnt from them is discipline. I remember that there was nothing like African time. When an assignment was scheduled for 10am, at about quarter to 10, the military governor was already there. I remember a particular assignment we were travelling to attend in Ibadan during the tenure of Colonel Ahmed Usman as military administrator of Ondo State. The assignment was scheduled to commence by 10am. We left Akure for Ibadan very early in the morning but somewhere after Ilesa, there was an accident and the road was blocked. Colonel Usman came out from his staff car and personally supervised the clearing of the traffic jam on the highway. Within a short period of time, the road was cleared of traffic jam and by 9:40am, we were already at the venue of the programme in Ibadan. Such was the level of discipline. You don’t have any excuse for not reporting at your duty post on schedule because as early as eight o clock, the military administrator was already in his office.

How was your growing up?

I grew up under the tutelage and pampering of my paternal grandmother, popularly known as “Mama Aruwagbola.” She was one woman I will never forget in my life. She took proper care of me and taught me so many things about life itself. She was highly intelligent and a disciplinarian to the core. I grew up under her and it was a great delight living with such a noble and wonderful woman. My biological mother and my dad also played a very unique role in making my growing up very interesting. I will forever cherish them for the role they played in my life, particularly their quest and desire to give me a very qualitative education.

How did you meet your wife?

I met my wife in Akure in Ondo State during her academic sojourn as a student nurse at the Ondo State School of Nursing, Akure. We struck the accord after my proposal to her for a relationship and we both dated for four years before we eventually got married in Ondo. She remains my best friend and everything to me.

Doesn’t she get worried each time you travel out as your job entails?

Well, ordinarily, one should expect her to get worried each time I travel out. However, I think the level of confidence and trust over the years has really overshadowed such worries.