One principle I maintain when clients buy animals from my farm is simple: I state my exact selling price upfront, without negotiation. Fairness matters always.

I cannot place an inflated price on an animal and pretend negotiation makes the transaction fair. If a ram is worth 200,000 naira, say so.

Charging 400,000 naira for that ram because negotiation is expected may look like business, but I consider such dealings misleading and ethically questionable. Honesty matters.

Business should create trust, not confusion. Mentors, teachers, and professional experiences shape how we treat clients, making ethical guidance important throughout our careers. Character matters.

Therefore, choose mentors carefully. Experience and knowledge are valuable, but integrity, clean records, transparency, and good business ethics are equally important for success. Choose wisely.

A mentor does more than teach you how to make money; they teach you how to build a reputation that money cannot destroy. Legacy matters.

Abdullah Opeyemi Akande
B.Agric. (FUNAAB)
GAS (NIAS)
M.Sc. Animal Sci. (UI)
RAS (NIAS)
M.Sc. Int’l Business (UU, UK)
Ph.D. in view