by Akan Ido

Politician, ex-soldier, farmer, and two-time former president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, will be featured on MTV Base Meets with MTN.

Chief Obasanjo met with MTV Base VJ Vanessa Mdee and a group of ambitious and passionate young people at his home in Abeokuta in Ogun State, Nigeria in June 2012 as part of the MTV Base Meets… with MTN mentorship and youth empowerment initiative, which connects thought leaders and influencers with young people.

The former president had inspirational words for the young members people on the interview panel. He advised them to find their area of competence in life and maintain focus so as to achieve success.

He said, “You must make up your mind what you want out of life. That thing that you have chosen, you must never give up.  Whatever your hands and your head find to do: do it with all your might!”

In retirement, the former president keeps himself busy with a flourishing farming business and still finds time to act as an UN envoy, and play an active part in the African Leadership Forum (ALF), the not-for-profit organisation designed to help improve the quality of leadership in Africa while at the same time helping to train the next generation of leaders for the continent.

Other topics to be covered by Chief Obasanjo include the value of education, pivotal moments in his life, the joy he found during his time in prison (where he grew maize for all the inmates), and his love of dancing and music – particularly Bob Marley!

The programme premieres on MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) on Wednesday, August 22, 2012 and terrestrial stations across the continent, including STV, Nigeria.