Just back from winning this year’s Global Student Entrepreneurs Award held in Washington DC, USA, Prince Joshua Oyeniyi, shares with Medinat Kanabe his exciting experience, great unforgettable moments and how the global competition for young entrepreneurs has impacted his life.
Congratulations on winning the Global Student Entrepreneurs Award. Did it ever occur to you that you could win?
Oh yes, I had high hopes. And I was fairly prepared too. Five years ago, I was pretty much a very confused young man, who almost gave up on life. But I have learnt a lot and now teach other people to never let their background put their backs on the ground. So, yes, I thought I could win!
Tell us more about the award, not too many people know about it.
The Global Student Entrepreneur Award is the world’s premier award given to high school, undergraduate or post-graduate students, who run a business enterprise and also are positively influencing their communities. This contest is held annually in over 42 countries globally. However, the GSEA contest is an outreach arm of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, a network of over 10,000 entrepreneurs from around the world, with a combined annual turnover of more than 500 Billion dollars. The EO Nigeria board is chaired by Mr Vincent Molokwu, with Mr Olurotimi Martins and Anthony Okoye being the Presidents of the Abuja and Lagos Chapters respectively.
How did you know about the Global Student Entrepreneurs Award?
I attended the Young African Leaders Initiative network forum at the American corner last December and met a young man called Ademulegun Olowojoba, Founder of oppotunitiesforyounths.com. In February, he shared the information of the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards 2015 with me. I applied and got shortlisted in March.
What was your experience like during the competition?
It was one of the best moments of my life. With over 300 brilliant young Nigerian Student entrepreneurs from higher institutions nation-wide, I could sense the heavy aura of raw talent and success during the contest. I exchanged ideas, rubbed minds and interacted with young people who have decided not to let their fate be determined by either their government or surrounding circumstances. I felt truly privileged and extremely blessed to have been a part of the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards 2015 Contest in Nigeria.
Was there any time you felt you wouldn’t make it?
The truth is that when you go in for such big contests, different things run through your mind. I never doubted myself but I wasn’t going to let it be a do-or-die affair. When I saw other competitors coming in with nice cars and all I had were my legedes Benz (my legs), I knew it was a serious one. At the semi-finals, I was told I wasn’t good enough in my presentation, so I was not in the list of the finalists; but divine favour shone on me at the last moments and I was shortlisted to go into the National Finals.
What were the prizes you won?
I got a National Champion Crystal plaque, a Winner’s Certificate, a Microsoft High Tech 1 Terabyte Laptop, a Business Management Training Scholarship at the Business School Netherlands, Lagos, a One million naira prize money, an all-expense paid trip to the Global Finals of the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards Finals in Washington DC, USA, in April, 2015, plus mentorship from members of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization.
Let’s talk about your experience at the Global Finals in USA.
Best moment of my life thus far! I got to New York and then Washington DC on the 11th of April, 2015 and my hotel was two blocks away from the White House! I met other national winners from around the world: Singapore to Japan to Canada to Kenya and the United Kingdom. One of the judges of the Global Finals nicknamed me the Most Famous Student Competitor of the contest. After checking into my hotel room, I immediately got a call to come on an exclusive LIVE interview on the Voice of America Television and later on to the World Howard University Radio 96.3FM. I was the only national winner from around the Globe who got this level of media attention. I went on to win the Global Finalist Award and a Scholarship to the Jolley University, where I had a two day course on Public Presentation, emerged the best student and was given a Certificate of Excellence by the Chancellor, Dr Willie Jolley (one of America’s top public speakers and best-selling author of ‘A Setback is A Set Up for A Comeback’). The networking was amazing, the food was great and the people were nice.
What are the new things you learnt?
In Washington DC, I didn’t just see young people with dreams far bigger than the dreamer’s resources, background and present abilities, but young entrepreneurs who were working diligently to fulfil their dreams. I learnt to dream bigger, learnt further and networked higher. I have also learnt to believe more in myself and be more assertive in future situations.
How did you see other contestants?
This award contest was presided over by top international entrepreneurs. At the national finals, we had big guys like Jamie Douraghy of Lifework Integration, USA, Miranda Barrett of Entrepreneurs’ Organization, USA, SriramBhataram of KushzaBiashara in Kenya amongst others from around the World. I saw my fellow contestants as respectable eggheads and prospective winners in their own rights and that gave me no space for laxity.
How do you see the impact of the EO GSEA contest on the participating individuals and countries?
It is a true builder of economies. How many governments can meet the job needs of their countries without the invaluable support of entrepreneurs. Imagine how many thousands of people will be jobless without entrepreneurs like Aliko Dangote or Dr Cosmas Maduka. The EO Global through the GSEA flagship programme helps to encourage young people to enter the world of entrepreneurship and take their future in their own hands.
What is your general view of the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards?
I never knew there was such a contest of this global magnitude. The EO GSEA contest is unarguably one of the best platforms for developing, growing and recognising emerging young entrepreneurs anywhere in the world. They go beyond the norms to look into the lives and personalities of the contestants. They want to know your motivation, your story and your life-long ambitions. They want to know how you impact your community presently and how you want to continue to do so. I appreciate Microsoft Nigeria and its Citizenship Affairs Division under Shoal Amusing, a former National Winner himself, for supporting this year’s contest in Nigeria. Well, to win this contest, you don’t need to be making so much otherwise, I wouldn’t have won. Just be assertive, have a good plan, be consistent and confident and you will smile through the contest.
Who are your inspirations?
Fast backward to my high school days, I give credit to Ms Lauretta, my English language teacher, who took serious interest in me as a student (as I had just lost my father). She inspired me to aim for the scholarship prize of the School. I became the best student in my school through that. But in recent times and as regards the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards 2015, I was inspired in no small way by Prof Pat Utomi during and after my personal encounter with him on my weekend radio show. Mr Akinwumi Ambode, the new governor of Lagos was also a guest on my show just before the elections. He shared with me how the loss of his father at an early age didn’t deter him from following his dreams. Dr Ayo Ogunsan, a higher education consultant and CEO of Executive Trainers Ltd, has been a consistent source of inspiration and a pillar of support.
What are your present challenges and dreams for life?
I am in dire need of patronage! I need partnerships! I need funds! I need business support! I am building a media brand with a PR arm, as well as a printing and publishing branch. In the nearest future, I want to build Africa’s largest inspirational network of both radio and television stations. I want to build a media conglomerate big enough to cause a significant drop in the African market share of global brands like CNN and BBC, provide thousands of jobs to Africans and cause a positive revolution in society. I am in search of partnerships to syndicate my radio show on other radio stations and start the television version of it. It is through this show I got these global recognitions. I currently run my enterprise without an office space and no equipment, all of which I need in order to be fully operational. I am convening the Season 2 of The Ambassadors Summit in Lagos this August. We had about a thousand people at the last edition who were inspired by stories of celebrated Nigerians. Young people got jobs, internships and seed capital for their young businesses. I need sponsorship and partnership to make this work again and spread the impact. I want to go on to put Nigeria on the global map again within the shortest possible time.
Tell us more about yourself and growing up?
I am a media entrepreneur and host of ‘The Ambassadors Radio Show’ on UNILAG FM. My registered business is Abortion Media Global Enterprises. At Amborion Media, we specialise in offering cutting edge professional services in Public Relations, Advertising, Publishing, Printing as well as Radio and Television production. I am the founder and host of The Ambassadors Radio Show, where I interview very distinguished persons, using their success stories to inspire millions of Nigerians.
Growing up for me wasn’t a bed of roses. I was born in Ajegunle area of Lagos, lost my taxi-driver father at age 15 and as the first and only son of a family of six; I had to do extra things to help out my poor mother. I hawked Moin-moin (baked beans) and sold tomatoes to survive. I thank God I didn’t end up a miscreant despite my less-privileged background. I attended Barachel Model College, Iju-Agege, where I graduated as best student and got admission into the University of Lagos in 2007 to study Mathematics.