Mr. Ayokunle Ayoko, a corporate governance specialist, has called on Nigerian youths to prioritise ethical conduct, discipline, and strategic hustle as keys to building sustainable careers and financial independence in today’s tough economy.
Ayoko made this known in an interview during the public presentation of his six new books on Friday night in Lagos.
The publications focus on leadership, governance, corporate strategy, and wealth management, aimed at helping young Nigerians and professionals achieve value-driven growth.
He explained that the launch was deliberately timed to equip individuals with knowledge that could ease financial pressures and help them tackle institutional and workplace challenges.
“Take, for instance, the book on Small Habits, Big Wealth. It speaks of habits you can tweak to achieve massive impact on your finances, especially in the light of subsidy removal and inflation.
“At a time when people are facing financial strain, this book shows how small behavioural changes can lead to big financial rewards.
“It’s about financial discipline, focus, and the courage to adapt,” he added.
On youth development, Ayoko said his book, Smart Hustle, was a wake-up call to young people seeking success in an age of shortcuts and instant gratification.
“It teaches young people how to use limited resources to achieve maximum impact.
“Too often, people say they lack capital, but this book shows that the real capital is mindset and strategy.
“When we started Kaizen Academy, we didn’t have many resources, but with strategic thinking and persistence, it became a multinational firm.
“That’s the kind of resilience I want young people to embrace,” he said.
Ayoko, who also serves as Company Secretary, Head of Legal and Chief Compliance Officer at CFAO Nigeria Ltd., said the governance-themed titles were designed to enhance professionalism and accountability across institutions.
According to him, the works will help improve the competence of company secretaries, in-house counsels, and governance practitioners, thereby strengthening Nigeria’s corporate governance system.
“In the end, this is about equipping professionals to lead with integrity and make informed decisions that uplift their organisations and the economy,” Ayoko stated.
The unveiling was attended by legal, corporate, and governance professionals.
They commended the books as timely resources for both institutions and individuals, describing them as guides for professional growth, ethical leadership, and national transformation.
Mr Denis Martin, Managing Director of CFAO Mobility, praised Ayoko as a professional who blends discipline with empathy.
Martin said the books offered a fresh approach to leadership, focusing on human values rather than rigid strategies.
“Many strategy books are rigid, full of formulas.
“But I expect these books to be different and to focus on human values and what empathy can bring to business.
“Success isn’t about applying recipes; it’s about connecting with people and being real,” he added.
Mrs Uto Ukpanah, President of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), said the books would serve as critical resources for administrators and upcoming professionals.
“As a professional body, we need to keep building a knowledge-based pool of resources, and what he has done adds significant value.
“He has written on subjects that are very relevant from company secretarial practice, wealth creation, and making sound life choices.
“These works align perfectly with ICSAN’s ethos of corporate governance, ethics and accountability,” she added.
Mr Gbenga Oyebode, Chairman of CFAO Nigeria, described Ayoko’s works as timely, adding that they would help entrench professionalism and global governance standards.
He emphasised that leadership, focus, and ethics remained the pillars of career advancement and corporate success.
“Whether you’re a company secretary or general counsel, the underlying message across all six books is leadership, focus, and excellence in governance.
“Good governance, proper behaviour and global standards are universal. These books are for every Nigerian who cares about professional integrity and national development,” he added.
Also speaking, Mrs Cecilia Akintomide, another governance expert, noted that Ayoko’s writings demystify complex corporate regulations and shed light on the evolving but often underrated role of company secretaries in institutions.