People called me crazy for leaving N1.2m PTDF job — Ex-SMEDAN boss

Dr. Olawale Fasanya, the former Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), shared a remarkable career decision that led many to question his judgment. He revealed that he voluntarily resigned from a lucrative position at the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), where he earned approximately N1.2 million monthly, along with first-class travel privileges and other significant perks. He then accepted a role at SMEDAN for less than N300,000 per month.

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Some people thought I was mad by leaving a job that actually paid roughly about N1.2m and went back to a job that pays less than 300,000 in SMEDAN. Then, I was in the Petroleum Technology Development Fund. Of course, you know the kind of salary they pay, and I was at the level of a general manager.

Fasanya detailed his experience at PTDF, where he held the rank of general manager. Despite the attractive salary and benefits, including multiple international training trips per year in business or first class, he felt constrained. He explained that a change in leadership led to a situation where he was expected to serve merely as a figurehead, a role he found deeply unsatisfying. "You cannot warehouse me," he stated, expressing his discomfort with being sidelined and unable to contribute meaningfully.

His decision to move to SMEDAN was driven by a profound desire to be actively involved and make a tangible impact. He preferred a position where he could be "on top of things" and contribute to the growth of an institution he had helped build from its inception. Fasanya was the very first employee of SMEDAN, and he felt a strong sense of ownership and commitment to its development. He acknowledged that God had greater plans for him, as he eventually rose to become the director-general of the agency.

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He just wanted me to be there as a figurehead. That’s why I said, I can’t be where I will not be able to be on top of things. You cannot warehouse me. So I’d rather go to where I’m getting less, and I’m not warehoused, and can make an impact.

Fasanya emphasized that his career choices were never dictated by financial considerations. Had money been his primary motivation, he would have remained at PTDF, enjoying the substantial salary and benefits. However, he recognized that staying would have prevented him from fulfilling his vision for SMEDAN and completing the agency's history, a history he was instrumental in creating. His story highlights a commitment to purpose-driven work over purely financial rewards.

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So, if it was about money, I would have stayed back and been enjoying that N1.2m. But I wouldn’t have been able to complete the history of SMEDAN because, as I said, I was the 001 employee of the agency.