N1.2M SALARY? THEY CALLED ME CRAZY FOR WALKING AWAY — EX-SMEDAN BOSS

Former Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dr. Olawale Fasanya, has revealed how many people questioned his decision to leave a lucrative N1.2 million monthly job at the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) for a lower-paying position at SMEDAN.
Fasanya said the move surprised many of his friends and associates, who believed he was making a costly financial mistake by abandoning a highly rewarding career opportunity.
However, he explained that his decision was driven by a desire to make a greater impact in the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, rather than by financial considerations alone.
According to him, public service should not always be measured by salary, stressing that the opportunity to contribute to national development and empower entrepreneurs was more important to him.
The former SMEDAN boss noted that the decision ultimately proved worthwhile, as it gave him the platform to support business growth and job creation across the country.
His remarks have sparked conversations about leadership, public service, and the balance between personal income and national impact.