OUR attitude is the most important factor that determines the success we achieve in our career. Education and career are related to each other as the knowledge that we gain through education provides us a definite edge over others with regards to our career. Jeddah-based Alhaji Muneer Bankole, MD and CEO of ‘Med-view'- a private Nigerian airlines - believes that skills, values and work, all play a role in life, but, it is our attitude and education that we are remembered for. “I am lucky to have a mother who has an adorable attitude, which has eventually become a part of my personality, and which now helps me deal with people in a very pleasant way,” Bankole told Saudi Gazette. “I learnt from my mother to deal with the challenges of life and to do business as she was also a trader. She sold food ingredients and I stood by her side watching her do business. When she would leave for some time, I would quickly make a few sales in her absence,” he recalled. Things took a nasty turn when Bankole, then in secondary school, lost his father, a government employee. Bankole then bravely stood up against all the challenges of life under his mother's guidance. “Life became hard after the death of my father, but I pursued my education. At the outset, I was looking for any available job. I worked in a construction company, and at the same time, studied through the correspondence mode of education,” he said. Bankole was faced with yet another challenge, a different kind this time, when he fell in love with a girl who belonged to one of the richest families in Nigeria. “We were studying in the same college. Her high standard of living motivated me to achieve something in life. My mother is my inspiration and my wife is my motivation,” he said with pride as he explained that he later managed to win both the girl's heart and her hand. “After my graduation”, he continued, “I pursued a three-year job training program to learn the basics of the airlines industry. I studied cargo and joined Nigerian Airlines as a commercial cadet, while I also studied law at the same time,” Bankole said. “During that time, I bought a ‘brick-making machine' from Al-Balad, Jeddah, which I took with me to Nigeria, where I started block formation work to utilize my earlier experience in the construction business,” he said. He says it is his determination that led him to success in his career. “I gave it my best. I was posted in West Africa, after which I was appointed as the marketing manager in Lagos, and finally as the regional manager in Saudi Arabia,” said Bankole. He said he has so far performed 23 Haj pilgrimages and is proud to be called ‘Al-Hajji'. Indeed, having carved out a niche for himself as the country manager of an airline as well as managing to win over his ‘love', and now his life partner, Bankole is no less than a high flier himself. However, Bankole did not let his overwhelming achievements cloud his vision as he went on to seek more knowledge to further his career prospects. “At the age of 50, I joined the College of Business Administration (CBA) in Saudi Arabia to study marketing and management,” he said. His knowledge of business administration coupled with 25 years of experience in the airline industry prompted him to start his own airlines. “Serving the pilgrims of my country for the past five years has given me a lot of pleasure and satisfaction. By honesty, proficiency and a positive work attitude, we were able to meet deadlines in airlifting pilgrims, something that has never happened before,” he said. Earlier, they were operating only during the Haj and the Umrah period. Saudi Arabian Airlines then decided to start cargo operations in Nigeria, which he described as “a good development for his country”, adding that this achievement was possible due to the “sincerity of my colleagues from the Nigerian Airlines” who were later included in his team. “Now, I and my family love to live in Saudi Arabia, close to the Two Holy Cities. I love my wife; she doesn't have any airs even though she is from aan affluent background, is fully obedient and takes good care of our three children. She encourages me in everything I do,” Bankole said. Bankole's philosophy of life, in his own words, is to “accept the reality as it is, and instead of waiting for a change, accept the situation and courageously cope with it. All my life has consisted of sincerity, hard work, good attitude and a sound knowledge of my work.” At 55, Bankole says his journey to seek knowledge has still not been ‘achieved', as he gears up for enrollment in another postgraduate program, and then a PhD. “It's better to be always occupied with something in life. Studying keeps the brain active. I want people to believe that there is no age limit to seek knowledge and education,” he concluded.
