Governor Umaru Dikko Radda of Katsina State has disclosed that he personally recommended Dr Olawale Fasanya to President Muhammadu Buhari as his successor at SMEDAN. The recommendation came before Radda stepped down to pursue his governorship ambitions.
Radda made the revelation on Thursday in Abuja. He spoke during the public launch of Fasanya's autobiography, titled "Cradle to Saddle".
Radda's deputy, Faruk Lawal, represented him at the event. According to the governor, his confidence in Fasanya's abilities drove the decision.
"In every institution, there are those who merely occupy offices," Radda noted. "And then there are those who carry the institution in their hearts."
He characterized Fasanya as belonging to the latter group. Radda praised Fasanya's pioneering role in building SMEDAN and Nigeria's small business sector.
The governor explained his reasoning in straightforward terms. "I recommended Dr Fasanya because I had absolute confidence in his competence, integrity and commitment to the MSME sector," he stated.
President Buhari approved the recommendation, Radda disclosed. Looking back now, the governor said events have vindicated that choice.
"History has justified that decision," Radda asserted with apparent satisfaction.
Fasanya himself shared his own remarkable career journey at the event. He revealed that colleagues once thought he'd lost his mind when he made a dramatic career move.
Fasanya abandoned a plum position at the Petroleum Technology Development Fund for SMEDAN. The salary difference was staggering — from roughly N1.2 million monthly to less than N300,000.
At PTDF, Fasanya held the rank of general manager. His compensation package included first-class international travel privileges and other executive perks.
"Some people thought I was mad," Fasanya recalled about his decision. "I was earning about N1.2 million monthly with all sorts of perks."
Yet money wasn't everything to him. The former SMEDAN chief explained what truly bothered him about the PTDF role.
His boss at PTDF was later replaced. The new executive also valued Fasanya's presence and asked him to stay.
But Fasanya felt sidelined despite his impressive title. "He just wanted me to be there as a figurehead," Fasanya explained.
That reality gnawed at him over time. He couldn't accept a position where he couldn't genuinely influence outcomes.
"I can't be where I will not be on top of things," he said with evident conviction. "You cannot warehouse me."
So Fasanya made his choice. He opted for lower pay but genuine responsibility and impact.
"I'd rather go somewhere earning less, where I'm not warehoused, and where I can actually make a difference," Fasanya concluded. His career path at SMEDAN proved that instinct was right.
