In a world where social media has become an integral part of our lives, it’s not uncommon to come across individuals who have leveraged these platforms to build successful careers.
Meet Ifeoluwanimi Ogunjebe, a 23-year-old social media sensation who has taken the digital world by storm.
Born into a family of five, she grew up with a strong desire to succeed and make a name for herself. Despite facing challenges and setbacks along the way, she never lost sight of her goals and continued to push forward with determination and perseverance.
Ifeoluwanimi’s academic journey began at Methodist Girls High School, Yaba, where she excelled academically and was awarded the best overall student in the West African Examination Council (WAEC) exam for the 2016/2017 set. Her outstanding performance earned her a spot at the University of Lagos, where she pursued a degree in Physics.
“I was born into a family of five, my dad, mum, a sister and a brother. My Dad is late. I attended Methodist girls high school Yaba where I completed my secondary school in 2016/2017. I was awarded the best overall student in the West African examination exam for 2016/2017 set in MGHS, Yaba. I went on to study Physics at university of Lagos and graduated with second class upper,I was among the best three as there was no one that came out with first class in my cohort.”
During her time at the university, Ifeoluwanimi began to explore her passion for social media and content creation. At 18, she started creating content on Instagram and TikTok, leveraging her creativity and talent to build a loyal following.
Ifeoluwanimi said her mother is her number one supporter, and she credits her family for their unwavering support and encouragement.
Ifeoluwanimi’s big break came when she won a contest organised by one of Mavin Records artists.
The opportunity not only catapulted her to fame but also opened doors to collaborations with numerous local and international brands.
She said: “I started influencing on social media at 18 and it did not come by chance,it was a big effort, hard work and God on my side.I have always loved taking pictures , I love music and I love acting. Any collaborations that will make me feature in any of these I was ready to work on since I finished my secondary school. My Senior brother gave me my first iPhone during ss3 summer and I began to take pictures with it, on getting to Unilag I knew I needed a better quality one, I worked, and saved up my allowance and invested my allowance, got one, I opened my IG and tiktok and was just open to collaborations regarding acting,dancing,entertainment and creative stuff. One time I heard Mavin records was looking for students that would make videos to their Artists songs and they’d repost your videos so I decided to do it. Later I got fame through a particular contest from one of their artists. I was regularly jumping on artist’s new releases and had no intention of winning but I did. Fame is never enough if you have nothing to feed your audience,fame is never enough if you are not creative,cutting edge and abreast with the latest trends on social media. Therefore I took my creativity as a career,even though with a smaller audience at the start I had a manager and my brother helped with creating content to ensure my all jobs are well planned and organized and my clients are attended to, all promotions I carried out are well executed with campaign objectives in mind. All personal and creative works by me speak volume about my dedication to my craft”.
Today, Ifeoluwanimi is one of the most sought-after social media influencers in Nigeria, with a portfolio that boasts collaborations with top brands such as Coca-cola, Spotify, and Techno.
As a social media influencer, Ifeoluwanimi has leveraged her online presence to build a lucrative career. She believes that making money online is more convenient than a regular 9-to-5 job, but notes that it still requires hard work and dedication to meet clients’ deadlines.
She said: “I am a lifestyle influencer and I work with local and international recognized brands. The monetary benefits are so good but it comes with quality and standard content creation. Making money online as an influencer is more convenient than a regular 9 to 5 job if you have a passion for it. There are still sleepless nights doing shoots to meet clients deadlines. There is an opportunity to make money online with the skill because there is a global market for it. I work for international brands who only got to know me through my social media platforms, I deliver and they pay me according to agreement”.
One of the most impressive aspects of Ifeoluwanimi’s story is her ability to balance her academic pursuits with her social media career. Despite the demands of creating content and managing her online presence, she remained committed to her studies and graduated top three in her class.
When asked about her secrets to balancing academics and social media, Ifeoluwanimi credits her strong belief in her abilities and effective time management. She recalls late nights and sleepless nights spent working on content creation and managing her social media presence, but notes that it was all worth it in the end.
She wrote: “I have a strong belief that I can excel in anything I choose to do, and I live by the quote whatever is worth doing is worth doing well. I give my time to both school and the media. Late nights, sleepless nights, whatever it took to get the work done I was happy to do it. I believe in planning and I do not do everything myself. I can be writing exams and my manager would still take promotions and campaigns for me to do and we would plan shoots and all other things required.”
With a strong presence on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, Ifeoluwanimi has not only built a massive following but has also collaborated with numerous local and international brands, solidifying her position as an influential figure in the digital landscape.
“There are so many and I have lost track but, I can mention few. Coca-cola,Spotify,Foreo,Techno,Mavin, Snappy exchange,Hennessy,Goslo,Ariel Nigeria, Chivas Regal ng, Star radler, Indomie cafe, FCMB, NBA Nigeria, Stanbic IBTC, First Bank, primevideo, rixari,music artists etc”, she said.
Ifeoluwanimi stated that she never doubted her abilities and capacity since becoming an influencer, adding that she is self-motivated and visionary.
“I’ve never doubted my abilities, I learn, I grow, I ask questions where they are unclear, I experience and I continue to develop. I am self motivated,even though I have my vision”, she said.
Ifeoluwanimi’s success has not only brought her financial rewards but also a sense of fulfillment and purpose. She is passionate about using her platform to inspire and empower others, and is committed to continuing to create high-quality content that resonates with her audience.
Speaking of her future plans, Ifeoluwanimi notes that she may consider working with her degree in Physics later in life, “Yes I can work with my degree maybe later in life”, she said. However, for now, she is focused on building her career as an influencer and exploring opportunities in the digital space.
Ifeoluwanimi’s advice to aspiring social media influencers is to keep pushing, collaborate with others, and focus on creating high-quality content. She also emphasises the importance of understanding one’s audience and engaging with them effectively.
“Keep pushing,keep doing it,one day it will pay off,don’t ever stop. Be open to collaboration and putting yourself out there. Focus on finding your voice , create high quality content no matter the amount paid to you to build a strong brand identity. Understand your audience needs so that you can tailor your content towards their interest and engage with them to the best of your ability”, she said.
