A Nigerian-Canadian procurement and supply chain executive, Dr Olawale Amuzat, has declared his readiness to return to Nigeria and contribute to the country’s public sector, saying he has the experience and preparation required to serve if the opportunity arises….
A Nigerian-Canadian procurement and supply chain executive, Dr Olawale Amuzat, has declared his readiness to return to Nigeria and contribute to the country’s public sector, saying he has the experience and preparation required to serve if the opportunity arises.
Amuzat, who has extensive experience in banking, procurement, education and institutional governance, made the declaration during an interview on TVC News’ Diaspora Connect.
Asked whether he would consider returning to Nigeria to take up a public role, Amuzat said he was prepared to contribute whenever the opportunity presented itself.
“In all honesty, I am ready. Not I think; I am ready, because sometimes it is about preparation and opportunity,” he said.
“You can be prepared, but if the opportunity is not there, it is not there yet. But once you are prepared and the opportunity meets itself, at this age, I have everything going for me in terms of preparation.”
Amuzat said his professional experience had equipped him with exposure to both the public and private sectors, adding that his background in procurement, business and institutional governance could be useful to Nigeria.
He, however, said serving in public office did not necessarily require immediate membership of a political party, noting that some professionals could be brought into government in a technocratic capacity.
“You don’t really have to belong to a political party. I’ve seen instances of people being brought back as technocrats,” he said.
On how diaspora professionals could contribute to Nigeria’s development, Amuzat called for greater collaboration among Nigerians with international experience.
He said professionals abroad and those at home could pool their knowledge and expertise to identify challenges and develop solutions suited to Nigeria’s circumstances.
According to him, foreign models should not simply be transplanted into Nigeria without considering local realities and stakeholders.
“Some things we call situational approach — what works in Lagos may not work in other states. What works in Nigeria may not work in Canada,” he said.
“It’s not just bringing what is happening in Canada back to Nigeria. You have to identify your stakeholders. Does it really work at home? Can we modify things to suit the way Nigeria thinks?”
Amuzat said stakeholder engagement would be crucial to implementing reforms, particularly in public procurement.
Speaking from his experience in public procurement, he said Nigeria could improve its procurement system through reforms at both state and federal levels.
“I will say it is more of the reform of public procurement. A lot of things, but we don’t want to get into all the details,” he said.
He acknowledged that government agencies were making efforts in the sector but said there was still room for improvement.
“Are they doing a good job? Absolutely, they are doing a good job. But things can be better back home, and that’s what all we want,” he said.
Amuzat also advocated greater collaboration between Nigerian professionals in the diaspora and those at home, saying technology had made it easier for experts to connect, share ideas and support development projects.
“There are a lot of Nigerians who studied abroad who are back home too. We put things together — what can we do to make things better?” he said.
“There are a lot of professionals everywhere. We have WhatsApp groups, we have social media. We can always link up, brainstorm and see where we can add value.”
Amuzat’s professional journey began in Nigeria’s banking sector, where he worked in private and corporate banking before moving into procurement and supply chain management.
After relocating to Canada, he said he had to restart his career, initially taking a call-centre job before undertaking professional training and returning to the financial sector.
He said the experience taught him the importance of resilience, continuous learning and adapting to a new environment.
“Once you decide to relocate, I think the first thing is to shift your mindset from fixed to growth mindset,” he said.
“What it means is you have to start from scratch again — rebuilding yourself, retraining yourself, acclimatising yourself to the culture, learning the way things are being done.”
Amuzat also highlighted his continued involvement in Nigerian and community development activities, including alumni initiatives and educational projects.
He said he had supported schools through scholarships, prizes and other initiatives, while remaining active in professional and community organisations in Canada and Nigeria.
Despite living abroad, Amuzat said he remained closely connected to Nigeria and particularly missed Lagos’ social life.
“What I miss most is, I would say, the social life,” he said. “As someone who was an extrovert, it’s social life. We all know what, thank God, is Fridays in Lagos. As a Lagosian, you can’t go wrong with it.”
For young Nigerians facing uncertainty in their careers, Amuzat advised them to remain resilient, prepare themselves and focus on gradual progress.
“Keep being you, keep the resilience. It’s tough, but for every dark night, there will be a bright day,” he said.
“Never think about moving from step one to step 10. One step at a time. Take it easy. Do the right thing. Get yourself prepared. Then at the appointed time, things may or will align.”
Amuzat holds a doctorate in business administration and has worked in procurement and supply chain management for about 15 years. He also serves in academic and community leadership roles in Canada.
