Randolph Finecountry, the intriguing life of an orator in the diaspora

I have some friends in the Diaspora doing excellently well. I often ask them when they are coming back home to be a blessing to their country, even if it means coming in, staying for a while and then going back. Their responses have been encouraging and one of them is my ‘date’ for this week.

He is a professional speaker/corporate presentation coach, and Founder/host of Orators-US. I introduce Randolph Finecountry to you.
A graduate of Civil Engineering from the University of Port Harcourt in Nigeria, Randolph found his true passion as a professional speaker in the United States of America where he currently resides. With an effort to mobilize and inspire his countrymen, Randolph decided to form a group on social media known as the Inspirational Friends; needless to say, this group has grown exponentially to over 13000 members. An alumnus of the Dale Carnegie School for public speaking and corporate coaching, Randolph hopes, through a yearly event hosted by Toastmasters International next year, to assist the youths of Nigeria and West Africa in general to identify and attain their maximum potential in life. As an avid reader, Randolph loves to read non-fiction books that challenges the human body and mind. Tennis, soccer, reading, swimming, just to mention  a few are recreational pass time for this visionary that hopes to become a world leader someday.

Randolph Finecountry

What is The Orators-US about? I am sure you are wondering. Well, it was born to fill a void and Randolph tells more “Reading through your Facebook timeline Kemi, I couldn’t help but notice your post about the sudden demise of one of the world’s revered motivational speakers and Pastor; Myles Monroe. As shocking and painful as the news, the fact still remains that death is inevitable and as such the only thing certain in life is change. With this in mind, the Orators-US (an organisation specifically designed for lovers of public speaking) hopes to expose talents that will some day fill the ‘big shoes’ of great men like; Myles Monroe, Maya Angelou, Zig Zagler and so on, to mention a few. The Orators-US practically to the dynamic speaker is what American idol is to a gifted singer. .” Randolph says.

“Never forget who you are” a cliché you would say but these words have never left Randolph’s mind till date. “These words planted in me by my best friend and father; Ebedmelick Randolph Finecountry on my way to college in 1991 has indeed shaped my life in a positive way; it constantly reminds me of the standards set by my Christian parents even as a little boy. Raised a Methodist in southern Nigeria, I was taught the three golden rules in life: fear God, respect man and do good. These are words that I try to live by day in day out.” He says.

I am sure you are asking how Randolph went from being a civil engineer to motivational speaking. His response to that is this “I never found my true purpose in life until I was in my mid thirties. I actually knew Civil engineering was not for me, but because I could not discern an alternative, and having been told as a child that professional courses such as engineering creates stability and prestige in society, I spent six years in college quite frankly dreading the decision. In the months and years following graduation, my perceived stability quickly turned into uncertainty and prestige into lowliness. It took the grace of God to find the courage and support from loved ones to transition into my purpose and gift as professional speaker at the age of forty. Now I can honestly say wealth or not, I’m living my best life now!” Randolph admits.

Randolph strongly concurs with the words of legendary Bob Marley when he said, ‘we should emancipate ourselves from mental slavery for non-other but ourselves can free our own minds.’ he tells me why “I agree with his doctrine of mental emancipation because over the years, generations after generation have lived under the illusion that the rich and famous were all born with silver spoons in their hands. I began to post daily nuggets which I captioned, ‘did you know?’ – A synopsis of the lives of celebrities who despite their humble or challenging beginnings became successful. With over 13000 members who post inspirational inspiring and uplifting stories, it is my hope that this positive centered group will someday grow into a movement that would help shine the world at large.” He states.

Randolph actually sounds like someone who deeply knows his onions so I decided to take him down memory lane and inquired from him about his first experience with public speaking. He couldn’t help but laugh at the memory of the incidence but finds the right words to express the occurrence when he says to me “As a foreigner with accent, annunciation difficulties and not to mention the idioms and terminologies used by Americans were challenges for me at my first speaking engagement as a professional speaker at chamber of commerce business meeting. Like every ‘first’ time experience, it not only offered the uncertainty and lack of experience, but as a speaker, stage fright (which is rumored to be second to death of man’s greatest fears) held me down but looking back, I would have had it no other way because it has laid the foundational believe that: ‘failure is only a pathway to success.’” He discloses.

With Randolph’s new found love as a professional speaker/corporate coach, and Founder of ORATOS-US, it is his desire to not only brand the name of the organisation by opening up next year, centers in at least five states in the United States, but he also plans to establish a centre for motivation called ‘Orators-NG’ in his home country, Nigeria. “I do wish to obey Nigeria’s clarion call by educating our youths and the country at large about the enormous benefits in effective communication/presentation skills and how it could help in economic growth. I also intend to start up an NGO that will aid to encourage talented persons to stay the course of their dreams by fishing out ways to not only finance their crafts, but also use these crafts to enhance commerce in Nigeria.” Randolph tells me.

Randolph Finecountry

Burdened about Nigeria, Randolph has this to say “I sincerely believe, given the enormous progress in democracy and technological advancement in Nigeria and most third world countries, especially in the area of electricity and telecommunication, we can say that government is doing it’s absolute best in creating the comfort and stability needed for her indigenes based abroad to come back home but a lot more needs to be done.”

“Comfort and stability therefore becomes the missing link between Nigerians abroad returning more often to the motherland. Having gotten used to constant electricity, good roads, well structured system, good schools with well conducive learning environment for their children, affordable health care system with necessary amenities needed to save lives, we must agree that it becomes a challenge to relocate to an environment that finds it’s self short of aforementioned qualities that create comfort and stability.” Randolph says and continues “However, it is also our duty as foreigners abroad to continually seek ways to contribute our little quota- constantly sharing ideas learnt from the developed countries, invest in stock exchange of companies that do business in Nigeria, try to see the good in government and it’s effort – to ensue that the process is expedited and actualized in no distant future so long as we are given the opportunity to do
so.” Says Randolph.

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As an education ambassador, Randolph and a host of other Toastmaster Ambassadors are mandated with the task of informing and training members of Toastmasters around the world on the new changes being made and the learning manuals that will accommodate leadership techniques that members can use to meet their personal and professional goals in life. As conference Publicity Chair, his job was to inspire and register over 4000 members within the district to attend the 2014 spring conference and as 2015 fundraising Chair, Randolph will be looking forward to reaching out to potential donors and sponsors looking to promote themselves or business. “Honestly speaking Kemi, I can never give back enough to Toastmaster International for creating the needed practice ground in areas I’m most passionate about which is Leadership and Communication however, having served and currently serving in aforementioned positions is my ‘widow’s might’ in saying-Thank
you!” Randolph tells me.

Randolph has many unforgettable moments but as we brought the discus to a conclusion, he shares a tear-jerking incidence with me and it was very poignant. Hear him “The sudden demise of my high school sweetheart and mother of my two beautiful children (Darrel and Ethel) will remain indelible in my heart. An occasion that was supposed to be one of our happiest moments in our marriage (the birth of our second child Ethel) quickly turned into a nightmare after doctors noticed her developing an uncontrolled high blood pressure while performing a caesarian session.”
“Having the hope through my unwavering faith in God we shall meet again. Also, sharing precious moments with the kids that God gave us, has actually kept me going till this day; And for this and many more blessings(support from family and friends) I remain eternally thankful and grateful to God.”

Kemi Ajumobi