Westminster President Benjamin Ola Akande does not see barriers. Instead he sees the everyday challenges as gateways that will lead Westminster to significance.
Akande lived with his parents and four sisters in Nigeria where their father regaled stories about opportunity, hope and success from his time in the U.S. They were encouraged to read American news and discuss magazine and newspaper articles about American politics, economy and social movements, Akande said.
"We were students of America though we weren't here," he added. "We live in a world of so many negatives. So many things happen that don't seem right and I've always believed that we have problems so we can solve them and rise above. In terms of America, I saw a place that rose above its challenges. Other countries don't have that. It was the people realizing they couldn't do it themselves. We had a deal with our dad that if we did well in school and played according to their rules then one day, we too would get the chance to study in the U.S."
Akande's time to move to the U.S. came in 1979 when he was accepted into Texas Wayland Baptist University in Plainview to pursue his undergraduate degree in business administration. While at Wayland he became the Student Body President and became a member of the Phi Beta Lambda business fraternity where he learned to further develop his speaking skills.
"I observed the way Americans deal with issues and observed how ideas can germinate from a simple concept to reality," Akande said. "I got the chance to be here in the midst of it. That was the beginning of my American journey."
Instead of barriers, Akande continued to find people whose ideas inspired him to keep moving forward in his education.
His history professor at Wayland taught his class with an animation and energy that brought the major events from the French Revolution on to life, Akande said.
"He gave me permission to lead by being a remarkable professor and bringing to life the critical and historical events of our time," he added. "He said to us, "They did it, we must do it. People from nowhere rose up to make their mark.'"
With a zeal to push forward and continue his educational career, Akande graduated and with a full academic scholarship to pursue a masters and PhD in economics, headed North to Oklahoma where he crossed paths with his wife Bola who he didn't reconnect with until five years later.
Bola was attending Southeastern Oklahoma State University's College of Pharmacy and attended the same function at the beginning of the school year when they met. Also a native to Nigeria, Bola lived in Lagos, a large metropolitan area a little less than two hours drive to Akande's small country home in Ibadan.
"When I met here I thought, "this is providence,'" Akande said.
During his studies in Oklahoma Akande realized that he wanted to pursue teaching following his graduation after the dean of the business school mentored him. It was one of the many conversations they had that Akande got the bug for teaching.
"I asked him to mentor me as a young graduate student and that was the beginning where we discussed the impact you can make on the lives of young people by challenging them and really encouraging them from where they are," Akande said.
Although his heart remained in the classroom, Akande went on to work shortly for the United Nations' Development Program and the World Bank. But the itch to return to school as an educator would not subside so he returned and became the dean of Webster University's business school in St. Louis.
While there he focused on developing the international facet of the school and engaged students to develop the next generation using technology and ideas, Akande said. He worked with other faculty and staff members to create programs to fit with student needs.
"I had the chance to make this happen," Akande said. "It was a massive playing field so when ideas hit we had to assess, create and deliver. This taught me to respond to the marketplace and appreciate its dynamics."
In December 2014, he was notified of the opening position for president at Westminster, but before he accepted, he studied the school's mission and toured the campus. It was the history and tradition of Westminster that intrigued him.
In the president's office building hangs a picture of Winston Churchill in a parade that traveled through Fulton.
"Every time I walk through this building I think about what happened here. For me, it's an inspiration," Akande said. "If you can come to a place, think big, change the world, then truly anything is possible. Whenever I come into this room, it affirms for me not only the historical context, but also the possibilities for our future. It affirms people can lead from where we are. I mean, Fulton, Missouri, and that happened here. That's truly special."
It's the tradition of the school that Akande wants to continue to grow and bring the school from success to significance.
"Significance is the next step from success and I wanted to help Westminster achieve that by engaging others and getting them to invest in moving ideas to reality. There's a value in thinking strategically and not being satisfied with the currency of success now," Akande said. "I learned to dream with my eyes wide open. I want to empower the students."
"Dad spoke of possibilities," he added. "When I came to this country I didn't see any barriers, just possibilities, but we had to work to get them."
Now it's up to the students where to go from here.
"Our role is to enable and empower them to do the right thing. We want them to challenge themselves, seek advice from others, whether they take it or not, and develop ideas," Akande said. " There's many constituencies you have to satisfy and you have to listen to student needs and perspectives and learn that disagreement is not disrespect. If you get stuck in the present you become irrelevant. Significance is not in the past or present, but it's about remaining relevant in the future."