Ask Chuka

  With Timothy, all you need to do is assign the task and say when you want it delivered. No follow-ups, no hand-holding, just the confidence that the job will be done on or before the deadline. Simple and dependable. Simon, on the other hand, though often considered more skilled, required constant supervision. If a task was due by close of business, I had to check in almost hourly to ensure progress. The work would eventually get done, yes, but at the cost of time and mental energy. While wrapping up my supply chain consulting engagement at Fredo Associates (not the real name), I recommended Timothy as the team lead for the supply chain unit backed by strong reasons. Management was surprised, as Simon appeared to have more skill. But for me, leadership is about more than skill, it’s about delivering results when they matter most. As expected, Simon wasn’t happy. He reached out with veiled accusations, saying he contributed significantly to the success of my work and that I paid hi...

  One of the essential items I always stock at home is coffee — specifically, NESCAFÉ 3-in-1 and Top Care by Nestlé. It’s almost impossible for me to run out. I love the feeling I get from a cup, so much that I can tell exactly how long my stock will last. (And no, I don’t use a tally card to manage my coffee inventory 😄.) But then one day, I made the innocent mistake of letting my daughter take a sip. I didn’t realise how much that moment would cost me — until she returned home for a short holiday. I had just enough coffee to last a week before payday. But one morning, I woke up, reached for my regular sachet... and found I was completely stocked out. Puzzled, I started retracing my steps: – Did I take more than I planned? – Did a guest use some? – Could it be Meme? No way. She’s too young for coffee... Of course, I restocked. But this time, I monitored the shelf daily. Day 1: An extra sachet missing. Day 3: Another gone. My prime suspect had been confirmed: My teenage daughter. ...

  EXPIRY DATES ARE NOT THE WHOLE STORY I often say that every good logistics system must fulfill six rights: ✅ The Right items or goods ✅ To the Right place ✅ In the Right quantity ✅ In the Right condition ✅ At the Right time ✅ For the Right cost Miss out on just one, and the entire process collapses. Let me share a short story. A few days ago, I visited a former client—a major retail store owner—hoping to win him back. He had switched to a competitor offering lower rates. As I walked in, I witnessed a frustrated customer returning groceries, mainly biscuits, claiming they tasted odd. The Managing Director, my former client, checked the expiry date—11 months left! Certain that the issue wasn’t his, he dismissed the complaint, assuming the fault lay with the customer. The woman stormed out, furious. To clear his head, we took a walk through the warehouse while discussing my visit. The moment I stepped inside, I suspected what had gone wrong—but I kept quiet. I didn’t want to sound l...

  Many years ago, as a Supply Chain Data Officer at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, I had a boss who did not approve of the customised database management system we used for inventory management and other logistics activities in the department. Before pushing for change, he took time to understand the system, holding several meetings with me and the team. He even requested reports, which I could generate in minutes using Microsoft Access. But ultimately, he advocated for a simpler system—Microsoft Excel—perhaps because he wasn’t familiar with Access. When he insisted on the switch, I refused. I had strong reasons, but he was adamant. Without much discussion, he proceeded with his plans—conducting stock counts, restructuring inventory categories, and implementing an Excel-based management system. He even instructed the warehouse team to exclude me from data-sharing and rerouted all requests through another staff member. For weeks, I sat at work doing nothing but observing. ...

  Be Good to the People on Your Way Up the Ladder—You’ll Meet Them on Your Way Down At the 2024 ASNE Conference organised by the School Resource Council (SRC), a guest speaker praised Dr Abubakar (not his real name), a retired Director from the Ministry of Education, for his unwavering support to school owners on compliance matters. What stood out most were the testimonies shared by many school owners at the event. Dr Abubakar’s kindness and professional integrity during his tenure made him a trusted reference point for all compliance-related concerns before approaching the ministry. Leveraging his expertise and goodwill, he set up a private practice post-retirement to help schools navigate compliance seamlessly. Today, over 100 schools in Abuja rely on his services—a testament to his humane approach and refusal to exploit his position while in power. Last year, Jewel Publishers won a printing contract with JJL Ventures (not the actual name). We diligently worked on the project, de...

While reminiscing and laughing about past events during my visit to my friend, Pastor Emeka's office, the sound engineer suddenly burst in, requesting the urgent purchase of batteries, speaker cables, and jack plugs for their guitars. Frustrated by the request, Pastor Emeka responded, "Why are you asking for these items now? You know the fellowship is this evening, don’t you? Well, I suppose we’ll manage with what we have today and procure them tomorrow since we don’t have any money now." "I’m really sorry, Sir, but we don’t have anything to work with this evening. I understand we may not have funds, but I can speak to the supplier to deliver them on credit, and we can pay him tomorrow or in two days," came the response from the man he called Philip. Reminiscing in Pastor Emeka’s Office I noticed that Pastor Emeka was no longer in the mood for our chat. He was upset, continually mentioning how the team often made these requests at the last minute. He didn’t wan...

While reminiscing and laughing about past events during my visit to my friend, Pastor Emeka's office, the sound engineer suddenly burst in, requesting the urgent purchase of batteries, speaker cables, and jack plugs for their guitars. The Urgent Request for Supplies Frustrated by the request, Pastor Emeka responded, "Why are you asking for these items now? You know the fellowship is this evening, don’t you? Well, I suppose we’ll manage with what we have today and procure them tomorrow since we don’t have any money now." "I’m really sorry, Sir, but we don’t have anything to work with this evening. I understand we may not have funds, but I can speak to the supplier to deliver them on credit, and we can pay him tomorrow or in two days," came the response from the man he called Philip. I noticed that Pastor Emeka was no longer in the mood for our chat. He was upset, continually mentioning how the team often made these requests at the last minute. He didn’t want to ...