Personal and Financial Sacrifices lead to Academic Success for PhD Graduate

BY: .

Leaving his family in Nigeria and getting a loan to finance his studies are some of the sacrifices that make graduating with a PhD that much sweeter for Dr Abayomi Adeoye Olarewaju. As a Business Administration Lecturer at Nigeria’s Lagos State University, Olarewaju’s need to broaden his knowledge and progress as an academic made a doctoral qualification from UKZN the obvious choice.

‘There are lot of sacrifices like not being with my family and getting loans to complete the programme which means I have to deny myself comforts. I took study leave from my employer which gives me leverage to concentrate fully on my studies. Pursuing this qualification was worth it as it will enhance my career growth and grant me opportunities internationally,’ said Olarewaju.

Olarewaju’s dissertation titled: “An Assessment of Compensation Management and Motivation on Organisational Performance in the Insurance industry in Nigeria” under the supervision of Dr Ziska Fields consolidates that organisational performance, employees motivation, satisfaction, self-actualisation is all a function of compensation management.

Olarewaju explains that the study’s findings reveal that compensation management and motivation is of paramount interest to the major players of industrial union, that is, the state, employers and employees.

‘This will lead to economic growth of the society and also reduces the rate of industrial strike of the workers. I managed to stay passionate about this topic because I conceived it in my undergraduate days and the encouragement I got from my supervisor, Dr Fields.

With this qualification, Olarewaju is looking forward to a successful career.

‘I was motivated to pursue this qualification to get to the apex of my career and to fulfil the requirements in academics. My experience for studying for a PhD is a remarkable one which will linger for a long time, the challenges are enormous but to God be the glory, it is over,’ said Olarewaju.

Thandiwe Jumo