Currently, she is the CEO, Agusto Book Dot Com Limited and Augusto Babe Nigeria Limited among other companies and business ventures. Recently, the President of the Federation of Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland, Prof.(Mrs.) Pat Black, paid a visit to Nigeria, and during her one-week stay, she was hosted by the Soroptimist International of Lagos. At one of their projects, ‘Presentation of books to Methodist Girls’ High School’, Yaba library, Mrs. Biola Agusto-Agoro spoke to Vista Woman on this very important project.
Could you tell us about why you chose this project?
It is part of our awareness campaign that we exist; to let the students know what Soroptimism is about – for girl child education and for the less privileged in the society. We are trying to catch them young so that when they go out into the society, they know that there is a group of women out there with their interests at heart. We have chosen to do it through book distribution because we are keen on helping them develop the reading culture, and through that, improve their outlook on life. A well- equipped library is vital to learning. The library here is not even computerized. In other countries, a school of this stature should have a computerized library so that students can read and learn more.
Biola Agoro
They may not be willing because internet is taking over the lives of many young people, and That is why I said our ultimate goal is to computerize the library so that they can read off the internet. But for now, we need books so that at least, they can be occupied with something.
How many schools have you distributed books to?
This is our first port of call. We hope to visit other schools in due time.
How did you pick out this school to start with?
We know that the Methodist Girls’ High School, if not the best, is one of the best secondary schools in Lagos. We also know that it is the oldest girls’ secondary school in the state. So, that informed our choice of the school. Apart from that, I am an old student of this school.
Methodist Girls’ is a well-established school. Why didn’t you choose one of those schools that are in dire need of this sort of attention?
The reason is we are starting in Lagos. It is true that there are some schools that are less privileged so to say, and we shall be visiting them too, for awareness however, we need a school that is well-known, in order to make a better impact.
Who benefits?
The gesture is of mutual benefit to both the Soroptimist International and the school ultimately because the students get helped, and we get the opportunity to render help.
In what ways do you think parents can assist these children to read?
Parents can go through the books with them. Parents will not be able to read on the internet with them. But when you have a hard copy, you can do so. Even the English people will tell you: “Whatever you give us on the internet, give us the hard copy also as back up”. So, the books are like the back-up or reference point. They are the things that parents can use to know what their children are reading or what they are being taught at school.
When some of the pupils leave secondary school, they may not be able to go to higher institutions of learning. Still, in one way or the other, the reading culture will help them in any direction they may want to take. Our Club is out to render needed help. That is what Soroptimist is about as ‘Best Sisters’.
Are there other projects you are carrying out during your term as president?
My tenure will focus on the distribution of books and other materials to schools and tertiary institutions in Lagos. The idea is to create awareness, catch them young and help young people cultivate reading culture. To this end, we shall be shipping in container loads of books from the USA and London to be distributed free of charge to students. Freight of each container load alone is about 10,800 dollars.
That’s quite a sum! Where do you hope to get the money from?
With God and good-spirited individuals and corporate organisations, we shall attain our goals and aspirations. We need support to make meaningful impact in the life of the girl-child, knowing fully well that when you educate a woman, you’ve educated the whole nation.
When did you join the Soroptimist Club, and why?
I joined the club about eight years ago, and as the president of the Soroptimist Club of Lagos, I will steer the ship of the club for the next two years. On why I joined the club, I will say that helping the less privileged is a natural thing with me. Indeed, I was born unto it. Maybe this has to do with my background and childhood. We were raised to render help to the needy. On my part, I started from the Nigerian Red Cross and went on to prison ministry activities where we regularly visited and took food items and other materials to female inmates at Kirikiri.
Your background?
My father, Late Chief Iman Alhaji Laawal Basil Agusto QC, was the first Nigerian Muslim Lawyer. My mother was Late Mrs. Nimota Akanke Agusto (Nee Oshobo). I got a Diploma in Accounting from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1976, and thereafter, worked with Akintola Williams and Co. in Lagos. I later proceeded to Luton College of Higher education, Bedfordshire, England, (now Luton University) in 1978 and obtained an Association of Certificate and Corporate Accounting-ACCA Foundations A and B Certificate in December 1979. I proceeded to the South Bank Polytechnic, London, (now South Bank University) where I obtained ACCA finals 1&11 in 1981. I had brief working experience as the Accountant of Lad Group Company Ltd. and the Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd., both in Lagos, before joining the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation-NNPC in 1983. I worked there until 1996 when I retired to set up my own business.
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