Cosmas Maduka Jr is the son of Coscharis Founder, Cosmas Maduka. In this interview, the newly appointed Executive Director of Coscharis, CM Jr, talks about his father’s role in his life journey.
What was it like growing up with your father?
My father was rarely around while I was growing up. But it was all for good. He was always busy going for one business engagement or the other. He was ever travelling out of the country, trying to make ends meet and to make his family comfortable. But whenever he returned home, he made up for the time he was away. He is a disciplinarian, a strict businessman and a Christian. He ensures that we consistently imbibe the ideals of Christianity. We were raised in a very strong Christian home. We were mandated to attend church services four times a week; Sunday service, two midweek services and a youth meeting on Saturday.
How did he make up to his family when he was around?
We always went on summer vacations. He never failed to make up for when he was away. He made sure that we had two months to go on vacation. I cannot remember any time I spent my holidays in the country. Some of my siblings were born abroad so we would tour some countries as a family. He used to take us to Niagara Falls, Canada, Disneyworld, Florida, US and Disneyland, Paris, France. No matter how tight his schedule was, he made sure that he created time for us to embark on a two-month summer holiday and enjoy every bit of it. Before travelling, we would start with a convention in June in our church.
Was it your father that encouraged you to study economics?
He didn’t encourage me to study any particular course. The only thing he put his feet down on is that we should attend church and live according to the principles of the Bible. Apart from that, he does not in any way influence the career choice of any one of us. My choice of career is of my volition. He may advise us on what to do but he does not impose his choice on us. That is the kind of person my father is.
Whose decision was it that you should work in the family company?
It was my decision. Before now, I had spent four years working for four top banks in the country. At one point, I reasoned that my father was not getting younger and that I should begin to get involved in the family business and understudy him. I desire to know everything about the business that keeps him very busy.
Who fixed your salary?
It was an agreement between the company’s managing director and my father who is the chairman and chief executive officer. There is a group MD who reports to him. So, the decision of how much I should earn was decided between the two of them.
How would you describe the salary?
It is a huge pay rise considering where I was coming from as a banker. I am an executive director (special duties) in the company. My position is not just a title because I am currently observing my induction in all the departments and branches of the company in Nigeria and outside Nigeria.
What is it like working under the watch of your father?
It is a bit different and there are challenges. Being a younger person, sometimes I want to look at things from a young person’s perspective. I could be tempted to ask why we still use or do certain things. But he will sit me down and give me a broader picture or overview of things. I would later realise that I was rushing things. I might want to rush to do some things and he would tell me to take it step by step. I would want to drive the best car in town as my official car but he would tell me to take it easy because I have my years ahead of me to drive any brand of car I want. He is much in charge and knows so much about the running of the company. We discuss and exchange ideas from my young mind on how we can expand and explore areas where we can benefit from.
How does he relax?
He relaxes in a lot of ways. He used to play table tennis. He was the chairman of the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation for about 18 years. He also likes to ride a power bike. He is an average power bike rider. He rides GS R1150 cc and BMW R1600 cc bikes. He likes jogging along the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge and Falomo.
What is his special meal?
My father doesn’t have a special meal as such. He likes fruits. It is sad to say, but my father is fitter than I am. He is very conscious of his health despite the fact that he does not have any health challenge. In the past, he used to eat pounded yam but all that has changed.
Does he have any favourite drink?
My father neither drinks nor smokes. He does not take soft drinks. He takes only water.
What is his mode of dressing?
He dresses mostly in English clothes. Sometimes I tell him to wear traditional outfits. He likes suits and ties. Sometimes, he wears a pair of jeans and T-shirt if he wants to appear casual.
Has he taken time to tell you his story?
He did not sit me down to tell me the story of how he started from nothing to become what he is today. But I know the story because once in a while he and my mother, while advising us would discuss it. We have also heard the story from our uncles and family members. He also tells the story during his lecture engagement with the youth. I know the story well.
What motivates you most about his success story?
My major motivation is that he struggled from being nobody to somebody. I think it is the same for many people who know how he started. He knew he would make a meaning with his life even though many people who knew he had such conviction derided him. He had a primary three education because his father died when he was about six and his mother was unable to support his education. He decided to hit the streets to hawk goods and from there he worked hard to build what is today a conglomerate. He is a great motivator for somebody like me who got education up to the master’s level. I have no excuse not to maintain the standard that he has set. It is something that keeps me awake that I must not let him down and must assist in ensuring that the company extends its frontiers.
How does he discipline his children?
His idea of discipline is derived from the biblical injunction that says if you spare the rod, you spoil the child. My father believes that if a child deserves spanking, verbal correction, scolding or caning, such a child should get it. He is not someone who just enjoys caning a child. He will let that child know what he or she did and allow him or her to do better.
Can you recall anytime he beat you?
Of course! There was a time my cousin and I were playing with his favourite suspenders. I could not recall my age then. He had previously warned us not to play with it. We eventually destroyed it and when he came back, I knew we were in trouble. I pretended as if I was sleeping and he gently told me, ‘young man, get up.’ He took his leather belt and beat my cousin and I. He gave us some good beating that day.
How does he handle misunderstandings with his wife?
My father is a very calm person. You know that sometimes women like to have their way but he is never the type who is overbearing or shouts at his wife. I have never seen them argue over anything. They both understand each other. It is a good example for me because my wife will get the same treatment because I didn’t learn any form of violent treatment of women in my upbringing.
What ideals have you learnt from him?
I learnt hard work. He preaches hard work and the need to fear God. He respects human beings and I know I have also imbibed this from him. I see the way he relates with people. He does not feel comfortable when people relate with him as a ‘big man.’ He wants people to feel they are relating with a fellow human being. I have seen him show this many times whenever he is relating with his employees. He is also a very compassionate person. He is more concerned about the masses.
How sociable is he?
He is not too sociable. He often does not attend parties. He sometimes honours invitations to events but he often does not stay too long in the place. You cannot find him showing class. He once said the money he wanted to make was the one enough to cater for his family, assist people and support the society.
What is his schedule like?
Busy is the right word. He runs a very busy schedule. Like I said earlier, he was not always around when we were growing up because of his busy schedule. He is 55 now and still the same way he was many years ago. He got married when he was 19. He has been so focused and always knows what he wants. My mother was 20 when they got married. My parents have been married for 36 years now. They didn’t have a child for the first seven years of their marriage. So you can see, I am not up to 30. Since I was born, he has been a very busy man. Sometimes, I say that the way people drive their cars to some places is the way he flies on planes. As he is coming back from China, he moves to Abuja. As he is leaving Abuja, he has an appointment in Port Harcourt and as he returns to Lagos, he has an appointment to meet some people in Germany. As he finishes the engagement, he goes to the United Arab Emirates to connect South Africa before coming to Lagos. That describes his typical schedule. I look forward to relieving some of the workload and pressures on him. It will be a challenge but if he can do all that, I can do it and hopefully better.
How close are you to him?
We are close to the extent that time allows him. If he is around, we discuss a lot. He is a very funny person. He likes to crack jokes. We do share some times together but I wish he could have more time. He is a Liverpool fan while I am an Arsenal fan. When Liverpool beat Arsenal, he was looking for me all over the place to tease me. He is a very funny father. We are very close.
What are his favourite books?
He likes reading the Bible and any book that will add value to him. He reads biographies too and TIMEmagazine.
How comfortable is his family?
My father does not lead a lavish lifestyle. He has no private jet. We had everything we wanted and needed while growing up. He also ensured that were not spoilt. But he provided us with everything because there was a point in his life that he was picking food from the dustbin. So, he makes us to have everything he couldn’t have as a child.
Did you enjoy any preferential treatment while in the university?
Yes, I did. I will not lie about that even though I pretended sometimes as if I didn’t know why I was being treated specially. I do know why. Why I acted naïve was because I would think I deserved certain things but only got them because of who my father is. I thank God for who he is. When I wanted to apply to work in the banks, he didn’t influence anything. He could have played a part but he likes us to find our way.
How has your father’s name helped you?
It has assisted me in many ways. It is very hard for me to hide because of the similarity in our names. My father’s name is Cosmas Maduabuchukwu Maduka likewise mine. The only difference is that my name carries ‘Junior.’ The Igbo name is the same including ‘Cosmas’ which is Greek. People often ask me if I am related to him and before they finish, I answer yes so that I can move on to other things. People see him as a very humble person and they expect him to train his children in his manner. I know that people respect him and we have to make him proud always.
Culled from Punch