Success is something that everyone strives for, but the definition of success changes from person to person. For one, success is inventing the ‘big new thing’ that revolutionises the market. For another, success is owning a small corner shop. Success can even be seen in the individual who managed to get out of bed in the morning. Everyone succeeds in their own way, and for Prof. John Kester, 63, success has been the centre of his life.

Born in Nigeria, Prof. John Kester approached the world with enthusiasm. Eventually, travelling to the former Soviet Union to study at Moscow State Agro-Engineering University, Kester would dedicate himself to his studies. While many higher education students spend their years achieving their degree sitting in the school's library, Prof. John Kester travelled.

In 1986, Prof. John Kester received the opportunity to represent his school at the American Society of Agriculture conference being held in New Orleans. It was at this conference that he discovered his passion for consulting. The very thing he would dedicate the rest of his life to.

During his time in the United States, doors quickly began to open for the then, still student, Prof. John Kester.

“They offered me an associate professorship while I was still studying in the Soviet Union. They wanted me to move to West Lafayette, Indianapolis, to continue school and then, at the same time, begin working,” says Kester.

Kester went on to say that because he was waiting for his wife to finish medical school, he didn’t go.

Kester also became a member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ASABE). Upon meeting the Vice President of ASABE, Kester was convinced to return to the US to begin a career in consulting. That was when his company, Uniqconsult, was born.

In 2005, Prof. John Kester returned to his home country of Nigeria, where he sat down to discuss the future of Uniqconsult with then-President Olusegun Obasanjo, whom Kester had met previously in the US.

Prof. John Kester says that former President Obasanjo was “one of Nigeria's best presidents.” Kester discussed his vision of sending students to study abroad, knowing firsthand the positive opportunities and experiences that could present to the students.

Prof John Kester says, “I asked President Obasanjo if I could speak with the Southern Group of Governors. So I spoke with Governor Peter Odili and Donald Duke. When I met with them, I said, “I want you to grant scholarships to students.”

“Thanks to this, I was able to train almost 1200 students abroad in nine universities, some in Russia, in the UK, in the US, in Malaysia, and a few in Canada,” says Prof. John Kester.

With help from other African Governments, students from all over the continent began to study abroad and achieve success through this program. 500 students from Nigeria alone went to study in Russia.

Today, Prof. John Kester continues to achieve success through Uniqconsult. He has built the stepping stones that helped thousands of others achieve similar success and derives a true sense of fulfilment from his work.