Category: Sunday Interview

Chinenye chukwuemeka-Arih is cancer survivor now passionate about helping others in her shoes. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she goes down memory lane to recall how it all started, the setbacks, surgery, getting support and the things that kept her going inspite of challenges encountered.

Let’s go down memory lane. How did you discover you had cancer?

In the year 2014, I had my third child after waiting for 8yrs and at her sixth month, one day; I was breast feeding her and noticed that on my left breast was a lump. Two days later when it didn’t come down because I thought it was breast milk accumulation, I went to the hospital and was referred to go through some medical examination and was diagnosed of breast cancer. I went through surgery and some very expensive medication called Herceptin after that. A year later, because I was so scared of this disease called cancer and how it could spread, I kept checking the other breast and wishing if it could even be taken off too so I can at least have some peace of mind and to my surprise I noticed a very small seed as small as a grain of rice on the right breast close to the armpit and fear griped me. The next day I dashed off to Lath where I had my first treatment, showed the doctor, she checked and couldn’t even find it and I had to find it and placed her finger to the exact point. When she saw it I had to start another process of series of diagnosis, this time my fear increased so much that I thought it has metastasized but luckily for me the result came and doctor said it was still (insitu) a medical terminology meaning no spread. I got a little relieved and faced my fear of going through chemotherapy and that very expensive medication called Herceptin all over again. Meanwhile, I refused to take the chemotherapy the first time because I was scared of the side effects but I believe that everything work for good, for those who trust in the Lord because if I had taken that treatment my family probably would have lost me because the initial fear combined with chemotherapy would have been it…but God is always faithfully.

What were the initial challenges?

My challenges then was first how to take care of my children in the midst of the problem  because I was frequent to the hospital and there was no helper at home, financial involvement for the treatment was much that it left my husband and I bankrupt . I couldn’t continue my business and the job I was doing at that time was terminated. It was a period of pain and sorrow.

Who or what kept you going?

Prayers and meditations helped me. God saw me through the treatment and my husband was always by me giving me every support that pulled me through.

What are some of the experiences that are now unforgettable?

I had hair loss that made me look different and funny. My eye brows and lashes were gone and so many physical changes.

I will never forget leaving my six-month old baby for two months to travel to Benin for radiotherapy and when I came back she was already used to my husband’s cousin taking care of her that when I wanted to carry her, she refused my first hug. I felt so bad about the whole situation.

Tell us about your husband and the role he played?

My husband was a military officer then and despite the very busy nature of his work as a Signal Master, he still played the entire role in this world that at a point I pitied him so much. I knew he observed that I was extremely terrified and so he went to the extent of going online to find people or Organisations that could help him talk to me and that was how we came across one wonderful woman called Mrs Betty Akeredolu-Anyanwu who spoke to me, in her very soft voice encouraged me and when I got to know about her story as a survivor. I became more courageous. Today, I  am the Chairperson Lagos Chapter of her foundation, Breast Cancer association of Nigeria (BRECAN) giving hope and saving lives to and of the challenged.

My husband is very good at taking fears off someone and that helped me a lot. He took care of the children with the help of his 2 cousins from the   East.

How do you feel today, surviving against the odds?

Today, I am totally grateful to God for His Mercy. I can tell you that some people who know me and thought I should have come to them one after the other to tell them what I was going through could actually say to my hearing that I was hiding my sickness. I quote them “person no de hide sickness, if you hide sickness, sickness goes kill you”. When I heard that I told myself “if am hiding sicknesses I won’t go to my church for help when I needed financial help” so I am not hiding my sickness. Today, against all odds I feel like a warrior, a Champion, a Survivor and a symbol of God’s grace.

If you could change anything about that experience, what will it be?

If I could change anything about this whole experience it would be to have my breast back. My hair is back. My breast is not back but I still remain eternally grateful to Almighty God for keeping me alive for my entire family.

What lessons has life taught you?

Life through this experience has made me to have an in-depth knowledge of what it means to care for those who are sick in anyway and also to hold onto God tight in days of trouble.

What dreams did you have while growing up?

My dream while growing up was not clear but I remember that I’ve always wanted to be rich because I find myself extremely happy whenever I am able to help people with one need or the other. But now it’s clear to me that I want to be a model for Breast cancer Survivors.

Tell us about life before cancer?

My life before Cancer was actually a very interesting and lively one. I was full of energy, outgoing and hard-working to meet the needs of my loved ones. My parents are so proud of me for that and that fuelled my efforts. I used to work with NNPC as temporary staff years back and when it was time to make us permanent staff, other people from the corridors of power was used to replace some of us and I took up my father’s company certificate, registered with NNPC. I did one job from time to time and when Cancer came I stopped, at a point after my treatment I went back but COVID came and the entire job was terminated leaving me searching for what next to do.

Tell us about the things that drive you?

I have a very powerful desire that drives me towards my wholeness, I see myself wanting to do a lot of personal development so that I can grow and be able to excel in all of my life chosen career because I  have that desire to win and not lose in anything  I do.

Lastly and the one that drives me most is reaching out to People. Helping people succeed by inspiring them to better their lives. I do enjoy volunteering.

What are some of the changes that you will like to see in Nigeria today?

One of the changes I would like to see in Nigeria is that people while in office as a Government official or position of Authority should do what they are supposed to do not only for themselves but for the benefit of the masses that they are meant to serve. For instance, I can’t forget a man who is forward thinking, faithful and Loyal to this country and that is the then Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General. Tukur Buratai who, when my case got to his table, approved funds for my treatment after seeing all the effort my husband and I made from the onset of this challenge. Not knowing who we are and have never met any of us. If not for him I will not be telling my story today. There are few others like him I would love to mention. Today they are no longer in service and they are part of my success. What I am saying is that people should use their position to save and better the lives of others. We live for others, because our success is also from others just as others.

You must have had a great support system.  How did this influence you?

Apart from my husband, there were  other great support system who did amazingly well for me and I can’t forget Rev. Fr. Anthony Fadairo, Rev. Sis. Gladys Osagie and members of  St. Agnes Catholic Church family Maryland who supported me morally and spiritually. All this support system gave me so much value to life and now I see the worth of having people around you, living life in agape Love.

What advice do you have for young people about the current challenges in the economy?

My advice to young people about the current challenges in the economy is that they don’t waste any moment of their life galavanting, thinking they still have so much time before them. Every youth who have reached the age 18 should look for an honest job, craft, skill or business that could profit them and occupy their spare time so that before they become full adult they would have been able to have some level of financial freedom.

What are some of the other things that occupy your time?

My responsibility as a daughter, wife and mother occupy my time but some of the other things that am involved with is volunteering to giving hope and saving lives through Breast Cancer association of Nigeria (BRECAN) and I belong to a Nongovernmental Organisation Century 21 Freedom Group helping people to live a good life through their mentorship program and leverage system.

What advice do you have for government about our health sector?

My advice to government about our health system is that they should improve the remuneration system for doctors in Nigeria so the genius amongst them don’t all go out of the country in search of a better living and at the same time, provide the best medical equipment and infrastructures so that government officials will stop paying huge money to go for treatment abroad. This should cover up for the exorbitant hospital bills that the poor masses pay to get treatment here in Nigeria.

Aĺl Progressives Congress chieftain and former Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture in Lagos State, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, hit the milestone age of three scores and ten (70) today July 17th, 2022. The Ikorodu-born educationist and founder of Kith and Kin Schools, whose daughter, Abisola Olusanya, is currently the Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, recalls his journey through life in this interview with Assistant Editor, ‘Dare Odufowokan, revealing how meeting with the presidential candidate of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, turned his life around for good. He also recalled the tough times he experienced after serving as a commissioner in the Civil Service Commission for five years.

By tomorrow, you will clock the milestone age of 70. How do you feel becoming a septuagenarian?

I feel extremely grateful to God almighty to have come this far. It is by the grace of God. I will forever be grateful to God for finding me worthy of this huge favour. It is God’s design that I will be alive and well today. I also thank my wife and my children for being their wonderful selves. Whenever I look back and remember where I am coming from, I cannot but give thanks to God almighty. I will continue to enjoy the grace of God as long as I live.

Nothing really has changed. I had gradually been adjusting long before now. I had quit drinking alcohol long ago and I had also limited my socialising, though I do not miss important functions of my social clubs. The general meeting of Oriwu Club, Ikorodu holds annually and I do not miss it.

I am also a member of the Rotary Club and the Island Club, which I joined when Chief Babs Akerele was the chairman. He was one of my leaders in the National Republican Convention at the time. Chief Akerele had so much wisdom to share. I was constantly in awe of him.

At the end of my tenure as Commissioner for Agriculture in Lagos State, I returned to my hometown, Ikorodu, permanently to be with my family and be close to my school, Kith and Kin. It was difficult to go to Island Club at Onikan from Ikorodu, so, although I retained my membership of the club, I stopped being a regular participant. I go there whenever I have any business around there. And when it is time to vote, I go there to vote.

I will continue to strive for new targets. Setting and pursuing new targets are what drive me. New targets make me want to live for something. I will continue to run after something till I die. I do not want to retire. I want to go on working.

When I observe the life of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, I see how he is dedicated to work and growth. He never rests. Although I am a Celestial Church man, I go to Redemption Camp every now and then, and there is a more recent development every time. That is the man I am emulating as I grow older. I have decided to forge on because it gives me energy and the reason to live.

In all these, I always have the support of my darling wife. That is another great encouragement.

How did you meet her?

My wife, Kemi, as I call her, is God-sent. The first time I saw her, I was struck with her awesome features. I was a Commissioner at the Civil Service Commission when she came around in search of a job. I was immediately smitten and we began courting almost immediately. Of course, after the initial coyness, she said ‘yes’ to me. Our courtship lasted five years.

Many people attempted to dissuade her from marrying me. They bombarded her with warnings and she later confessed to me that at a point, she became afraid to marry me. They asked her why she, a spinster, wanted to marry a man with six children after two failed marriages. I also had my fears. I was particularly worried over how she would relate with my children. I was also scared of failing again in marriage. But we continued our courtship and it blossomed over the years.

She visited my official house in Ikoyi regularly. She also came with me when I moved to my house in Ibeshe after my tenure. My house in Ibeshe was a carcass when we moved in. No windows, no toilets, no electricity even. It was almost uninhabitable but she stayed with me. The living condition was far different from what we had at the government quarters in Ikoyi.

My children were to later tell me they had cried often because of the stark difference in our condition of living after I left office in 1997. By then, Kemi was working at the Ministry of Education as an Inspector. She did a lot to ensure we ate good food. She would bring foodstuff back home and cook for us. I also brought food home from my sister’s canteen in Surulere each time I stopped by to visit her.

Kemi was so supportive during those very trying period after office. She always complimented me. Whatever is good for me is what she wants. And we discuss our goals and aspirations together always. It was her who suggested I start a school after I left office as commissioner. She reminded me of my love for children and the way I taught my children regularly at home. I took that advice and that became Kith and Kin Schools today.

In 1999, I went with my family to see her people in Ibadan, and that was how we got married. We didn’t have a church wedding; we wedded at the Ikoyi Registry, and that was my first legal marriage. We are blessed with children. She joined me in the Celestial Church in spite of her background in The Apostolic Church.

From being a commissioner who lived in Ikoyi, you went to start a makeshift school in Ikorodu. How easy was this change in fortune?

Kith and Kin, as the name connotes, started as a school for my children and some other children in the neigbourhood. I went about speaking to my friends and neigbours about the school and invited them to bring their children. From July 1997 when we started till September, it was free. We started charging N2000 in September so that I could put food on the table for my family. We started very small. My first child and I were doing the teaching. My son, Lookman, who later became a Vice President at Google, was in his early twenties and had just graduated from UNILAG (University of Lagos) then.

His siblings were also supportive in many ways. My uncompleted house was the school location. I made blinds to cover the bare windows and dug a pit at the back of the house for toilet. There was still no electricity and no running water. I had to dig a well. I painted the walls black in some rooms to function as blackboards. Subsequently, during holidays, myself, my wife and my children served as teachers. Everyone had a teaching role. That was how the school began to grow.

Years after years, what started small grew in leaps and bounds. In those years, I taught all the subjects except French and Yoruba. Even till today, I go into the classrooms to the delight of the students. I walk around the school and when there is a need to intervene, I do that. I still teach briefly, supporting the teachers.

In spite of the need for financial breakthrough back then, I was largely encouraged by my wife and my love for education. Those were the twin driving forces. Education is a process that helps to develop the human mind, and this development is the best thing one can offer to humanity. This is why I am devoted to education.

The best way to get people out of poverty is to give them education. I had experienced abject poverty while growing up in Isale-Eko, and education was my means of escape. Thus, I try to help people in a similar way through my school. Some children desire education for themselves, but because they do not have anyone to care for them and their parents do not have the means, they become vulnerable and out of school children.

That was what encouraged me then, and what I do today is to regularly help such children with what God has given me. “Bring your children here; bring them,” I would say to indigent parents. Then I would put the children in the hostel, feed them and do everything for them. It does cost me a lot, but my prayer is that they make good use of the opportunity I have given them.

Many of them are doing well, and that is the source of my perpetual joy. But there are others struggling to catch up. We continue to pray for them and support them in every way we can. Kith and Kin School is now 25 years old. I look back to the way we started and I give all glory to God.

You sure had some low moments during that difficult period. What kept you going at such moments?

I was no longer in the Civil Service Commission, I could not return to poultry farming and I didn’t want to be dependent on anyone. So my wife’s advice that I start a school was it for me. Since it was something I loved doing, I put my soul into it. Although I knew it was a private enterprise that would have to be sustained, I wanted my school to impact the society. Above all, I had the education I had always desired and I wanted to give it back to the society. Education is my passion. In every home I had lived, my blackboard is always more conspicuous than my television set. If there was ever anything that would be as conspicuous as the blackboard, it was my bookshelf.

Books, notepads, writing materials and other things like that were always on my shelf. I invested a lot on books and made my children fall in love with reading. I used the whip on my first two children but later I learnt to stop flogging as the whip hardens the heart and make children rebellious. And it was then I learnt the beauty of corrections, monitoring and discussions with children.

So, what point in your journey through life will you describe as the turning point?

I will say it was at the point I first met Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu through Chief Mufutau Ajisebutu, a close ally of mine, in my earlier days of electoral contests. The year was 1998 and I had established my school the previous year. So it was still in the early stages of operation.

It was while I was engrossed with the work at the school that Ajisebutu, my political godfather at the time, asked that we meet Tinubu. He just called me one day and announced with determination that it was time for us to meet Bola Tinubu. He seemed confident that the meeting with Tinubu would help my political growth. So, reluctantly, I agreed to go with him.

I had twice contested elections in politics and failed; I was not sure I wanted to try again. All I wanted was to be allowed to nurture Kith and Kin School. It was also my venturing into politics that hastened the failure of my farming business and left me indebted to the bank.

So, we met Tinubu at Sunday Adigun Street, Ikeja, Lagos. He exuded confidence and his word was his bond. And to put me more at ease with him, he called me by my first name only a day after I met him. “Kaoli”, he called me as he gave me my first assignment. I was amazed because people don’t usually remember the name ‘Kaoli’.

Soon after tasking me with assignments to ensure his victory in Ikorodu during the primary election of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), he asked for my CV. He seemed impressed as he looked through it. He was contesting for the ticket of the party with Funso Williams of the Network Alliance. I worked hard for him alongside Ajisebutu in Ikorodu. I gave it my all and was glad he won the primary election. In that same election, Ajisebutu nominated me to contest the House of Assembly. But I eventually stepped down for Ola Animashaun after Rauf Aregbesola hinted that I had been penciled down by Tinubu for appointment.

Eventually Tinubu won and was sworn in as Governor of Lagos State in May 1999. He nominated me as the Commissioner for Agriculture in keeping with his promise, and that was a big one for me. On the day we were sworn in, it rained endlessly, but all that was on my mind was the journey of my life and where I was proceeding to from that point. There were many people who vehemently wanted the slot I got as commissioner. Some of them made so much effort and went through all the eminent personalities anyone could think of. I did nothing and Tinubu kept his word. That was why I viewed and considered myself lucky that he decided to pick me ahead of others.

Also, the reconstruction of my life was earlier predicated on a happenstance of a meeting with one pretty, black complexioned, tall, big-eye-balled, busty lady that crossed my path around 1995 when I was in the Civil Service Commission. It was a time I was emotionally traumatised and struggling with taking care of six children as a single parent. I had distanced myself from flirting around and this lady that crossed my path was not sure whether she should marry me or not. She was to later tell me that what she saw me doing with my children at lesson time prompted her to say yes. The lady is Kemi, my wife.

At the expiration of my tenure in 1997, she decided to start living with me. She was the balm that made the transition of my family from the opulent official residence at Ikoyi to a dingy unfinished house in Ikorodu bearable. I salute the courage of Olukemi. Her display of optimism in those days was rare and infectious. It helped me greatly and made things easier for me. She had a baby boy in 2000 and I named him Samuel Ayowole. Above all, my overall belief is that without God, nothing can be achieved. The travails of my life taught me to believe so. I believed and I found my purpose.

Upon your nomination by Tinubu, did you foresee your posting to the Ministry of Agriculture?

I had guessed that my portfolio would be agriculture, especially with my qualifications and career. It came as no surprise when it was announced. I assumed office the following Monday morning, the day the governor held a meeting with all new commissioners and inaugurated the executive council. The structure of the Ministry was such that the Commissioner was the political head, in charge of policy and the Permanent Secretary was in charge of administration. Alhaja Titilayo Agbalajobi, wife of the famous Dr. Femi Agbalajobi, was the Permanent Secretary when I assumed office.

When I took over from the previous commissioner, I had to study the state of affairs in the ministry. That was the starting point for me. One of the greatest tasks before me was learning how to harmonise old projects with new ones. Some projects we inherited were in different stages of completion. I had to continue them and start new ones. So, I had to find a way of aligning them. My past experiences helped me. I managed the affairs of the ministry well. I was in office for two terms of eight years and my ministry was not changed at any time.

The first thing I did was to determine areas of priorities where I could make impact within the time I would stay in office. Rehabilitation of farm settlements was my greatest priority. Farm families were already there in their units while facilities were in very bad state. So, I taught that it was best to rehabilitate them instead of starting new projects. So I set about doing that and Tinubu supported me with approvals for funds. Five farm settlements in Ikorodu, Badagry, Ojo, Imota and Epe were rehabilitated and the result of this on the agriculture of the state was massive.

I then faced the Agege abattoir. I ensured that the governor went there with me to see things for himself and that did the magic. So we also worked on the rehabilitation of the abattoir while also exploring the field of piggery. We reviewed the use of government lands through the Agricultural Land Holding Authority. We put many of the lands to good use for piggery, farming and other agricultural purposes. I set new targets and priorities different from what has been set before, and I endeavoured to meet them all. I made it a point of duty to go for inspection regularly, and this helped my performance a great deal.

What manner of man would you say Asiwaju Tinubu is, going by your experience while serving in his administration?

A people’s man. Asiwaju Tinubu could not live an isolated life. He loved having people around him all the time. We used to eat together during his lunch break back then. While eating, we would discuss burning and contemporary issues. Those who were usually present at the lunch time meetings included the current Vice President, Yemi Osibajo; Muiz Banire; Rauf Aregbesola; Dele Alake; Opeyemi Bamidele; Wale Edun; Yemi Cardoso and Kemi Nelson. We spent the time arguing about and arriving at solutions to many issues. Tinubu would listen and contribute to the discussion freely.

So, the governor’s lunch break helped us bond together as a team in a relaxed atmosphere. It was always more than having a meal together. Tinubu was as approachable as he was accommodating. He listened to everyone and was always open to criticisms.

Mariam Adeyemi is CEO of Techavily and a technology enthusiast who is motivating, empowering and mentoring young people with tech skills. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she talks about her passion, how COVID-19 pandemic inspired her,working with entrepreneurs, memorable moments as well as her experience in the tech space.

Tell us about life as CEO of Techavillý?

Yes, I get a lot of attention that I would ordinarily not get if I don’t own a tech start up. But I try to shy away from the CEO title because honestly, there is still a lot of work to be done. We are still at the building and formation stage and it’s a lot of hard work and sleepless nights. As a Tech start up, we put in a lot of work at the back end. I hardly sleep and sometimes I get migraines because I must make sure nothing goes wrong especially when we have programs running. We partner with both individuals and companies for different program at different times. So, it’s not all-time merriment for us. It’s more work, at least,  at the early stage that we are in right now.

What inspired you to start the initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic?

It wasn’t planned. It was just an initiative to engage people the right way online because we observed that people were stuck at home and got tired of staying indoors. So, we rolled out the tech training program for free and the enrollment was unbelievable.

It started as an initiative to help people learn new skills and be ready to take up any entry level tech job at the barest minimum. Fortunately for us, we got few sponsors who took care of the logistics, so we rolled out in 3 cities (Lagos, Abuja, and Ibadan). We ran the online sessions concurrently and it was a huge success.

How can this help Entrepreneurs fit into the current job market?

There is always a seat for everyone at the table. Remember we are niched out, meaning that our programs are for only entrepreneurs within our target segment. They can make as much money as they want if they freelance and render services to people with the skills they acquired. There are lots of platforms to register to provide tech services. Some of them are Fiverr and Upwork. These are good platforms tech entrepreneurs can make cool cash.

Let’s talk about your experience as first Female Educational Tech founder and the App that you developed?

Well, I must admit that EdTech ( Education Technology) is one of the fastest growing sectors in the tech space today and I am excited to be a player in this industry. There are lots of founders currently focusing on one aspect or the other within the industry but being the first African female EdTech Founder is something I am proud of.

Our Product, Discorz App is a fantastic tech solution for schools that was built to solves communication problem between the school and the parents. I am not saying there are no similar apps in the industry, but Discorz is one of the best solutions I have come across even in the US. I have kids in American schools, and I know how the educational system works. That’s why I said Discorz app meets global standards. There are inbuilt functional features like checking your child’s homework, grades, school events, announcements, lost and found items, two-way communication, email integration, behavior management in the app. Let me also say this, Discorz App is not a social media platform but a tech solution for school communication and nothing more than that.

So, the experience has been a fantastic one even though it’s an ongoing process. If you are familiar with how tech products work, it’s a non-stop innovation – there is always an upgrade and new add-ins. That’s the beauty of building a tech solution. We are currently looking to hire a product manager and Analyst for the App. The bigger we get, the more we empower people and create job opportunities.

What are some of the challenges encountered in the sector?

It’s a highly competitive industry; it’s very easy for people to copy your idea. Like one of my mentors always say, competition validates your idea. It shows that there is a big market for your product. For me, I am not afraid of competition, you can steal my idea, but you can not still my vision.

Tell us about some of the memorable moments?

Our biggest product for TechaVilly is the Data Analytics Training. It’s one program that gives the highest enrollment since we started the paid training. Our Bootcamp 3.0 remains the most interesting bootcamps we’ve had so far, and the students made it fun. They worked together as a team and made the program interesting for themselves. I love the class of Bootcamp 3.0 too. They are still our best set.

What or who inspires the things you do?

I have a couple of women I look up to, some of them are Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, the former chairman of First bank. I love Aunty Mo Abudu as well. These are women I look up to and they inspire me a whole lot.

What are some of the other things that occupy your time?

I read a lot. I spend over 65% of my time researching and reading. If I am not reading, I am creating a new online course or meeting with our developers and re-strategizing.

What would you consider as the turning point in your career?

That moment I switch to Tech changed my life entirely.

Did you feel like quitting at any point?

A lot of times. This happens when I get stuck, and it feels like nothing is working. What I do when I get to this point is to pack everything aside and occupy myself with something entirely different for as long as possible. Then I return when I get the inspiration again.

What are you looking forward to in the next few years?

I’m looking forward to expanding my two brands. I am looking to scale both businesses. The good thing is that they address different audiences, so we are good. No conflict at all.

What advice do you have for young people who want to come into the sector?

My advice for them is to identify what part of tech they want to pivot into. I hear a lot of people saying they want to switch to tech. What aspect of tech do you want to pivot into? Tech is broad. They need to seek mentorship and speak with people who understand the terrain to guide them, so they don’t end up wasting their precious time doing the wrong things at the right time.

What lessons has life taught you?

Life has taught me so many lessons and that’s exactly what shaped me today. I have also failed many times. I have launched several businesses that didn’t make it to where TechaVilly is today. Life has floored me severally. I have lost a lot of money and even lost some good friends. People have underrated my capability and mocked me. I have been called names and insulted, but all that moulded who I am today. Some people still can’t marry the Mariam they used to know to the Mariam they see now. (Laughs)

Who or what do you consider as the greatest influence in your life?

This is funny but it’s the truth. My husband is one of my greatest influences. He is my coach from the backstage and I can’t but appreciate him for being a strong backbone. He picked me up when everyone abandoned me. He trusted me and pushed me to achieve everything I have achieved today. You need to see how he drills me during our sessions.  It’s always a long session with him and I come out of his sessions all pumped up.

How would you describe Nigerian women today?

The Nigerian woman of today is full of energy. 95% of people who enroll in our trainings are women. The Nigerian woman of today wants to be empowered, wants to be highly skilled, wants to have a say, wants power and she wants to be seen and be heard. I am confident that we will have more women doing bigger things if they have the opportunity both financially and psychologically.

Sighetu Edu’bane Edeke is Creative Director and CEO of the Sighetu Company, a designer now manufacturing undergarments for export. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde he takes you into his world, how the inspiration to diversify came during COVID lockdown and challenges.

When did you move from designing to manufacturing?

Quite honestly, it was happenstance. We were under lockdown and I was forced to make face masks like everybody. But, I went a step further to package it. I put it in a box. The whole idea, Concept, producing and packaging it pushed me to think of something else that I could do.

Of course, you could not take the face mask beyond the lockdown.

How did the face mask go, was it different from others?

It was nice. It was produced exactly like the surgical one. It was made with fabric but it was reversible. It had two sides with contrasting colours. One could be Ankara and the other plain. So, you could switch it and it was packed individually in cellophanes and then packed 12 in a box.

What was the response like?

It was good.  In fact, I got a particular order from a gentleman who is well known in the society and the support he gave was to direct me to a hospital, where they gave me specifications. We went through approval and all that. We produced it in a large quantity and sold them. That is apart from the individual products that I sold to family and friends.  It also sold relatively well on WhatsApp.

What inspired you to go into manufacturing boxers?

From that experience, I wanted to do something that was pocket friendly, affordable but could target a large audience. But, before then, the kind of clothing I was doing was a niche thing. African inspired clothing, not everyone was into that. But in this instance,  it’s everybody’s thing. So, I now thought of something that I could do, that was everyday use, for everybody. So, I eventually thought of boxers and I had to start from scratch and learn the skills.

Where did you do this?

I am a clothier, so I had to start with the concepts. What type of boxers do you want to make and the quality. We started with export quality and automatically you have to think of the patterns. You are producing them on tens of thousands. So, equipment must come in, how they are produced must come in, costing and all that. It took over a year, from the concepts to the market.  We had to buy new equipment, do test productions for the first set took them to the market, got feedback, came back and restructured it. Then went back to the market with the second set. So, from all those back and forth are we got feedbacks and got better. All that process took a while took my focus for a period.

Did you consider training with Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) for export?

In fairness, there is a CBN scheme financing that I was part of. So, the boxers are just a little part of Program and I wanted to do something much larger. But, while we are waiting for the funding, which is yet to come. I said, let me take a part of the business plan and run with it. Haven done clothes, that is sold all over the world, you don’t know where they would end up and the export quality thing has always been a priority.

What are the challenges?

I had to sell about half of my equipment to start this. You needed specific equipment to do this. For example, the machine that runs elastic requires 12 threads and 4 needles. So, there are specifics to doing this and you had to look at what you could let go and that was where basically the funding started from. So, funding challenge was number one. Then you also had things like designing, you are using patterns to produce and the patterns are your templates. Here, you go to the market, buy everything that is available, come back, dismantle to see how it is done, employ people, pattern makers to get the first sample.

What about the workforce?

To keep cost down, I have had to use contract workers. I went to art school and have the technical know-how for some of these things.  I make patterns and if I need extra hands, I bring them in, they do the job, and I pay. The boxers are sown by women; I have an all female production crew.

Let’s talk about the exhibitions and fairs that you have participated in?

The product is still in the early stage and you have to engage the public and there is the Agege trade Fair coming from July 1st to 7th at the Agege Stadium. The idea is to test the product out there, to a larger audience, at the same time; we are going to offer one or two other fashion products, clothing’s and more. For the boxers, we have two brands, the premium brand, Sighetu and the other which is the regular and more pockets friendly. Then is done in tens and hundreds of thousands, while the number for the premium is lower because the quality is different.

What is the niche that you have in the market?

I want to believe that we are the First Made in Nigeria underwear brand that is export quality and at the same time made for Africans, Nigerians in particular, where the sizing is favourable to us. We are therefore occupying a niche where they are specifically made for us in terms of size. In totality it is undergarments for men and women. We have a store called underwear depot that stock this. For women, we have things like tights, bras, nightwear that is still in development stage. So, we would have something for everybody but the products would come out, one at a time.

Let’s go back to your fashion brand when exactly did the brand start?

Sighetu as a company was registered in 2005 but before then I was doing foreign things. My friend and I, Abdul Funsho (ABD), we started doing a clothing company. We made waistcoats, chinos trousers and all that. Then sometime in 1979, I pivoted to being African and I now made African inspired clothing which was what Sighetu was known for. We used wooden which is about the best African print , apart from hollandaise, in terms of quality. And the kind of quality you want for export. Then I sold to different people, I had an item that ended up in Japan. Interestingly, it was the wardrobe for the person, she took it out and never came back with one item. I sold things, most of them in the US, Canada  and UK where Nigerians are. It’s a global village and a few things go out from time to time.

How would you describe your experience as a designer?

Fashion has been good to me but it could have been better. The industry is unstructured and the way to go is production. We need to scale and produce and if we don’t, all of us would probably be employed by one or two Chinese companies that would just swop in and sell ready made agbada or IRO and buba. We have to think in mass because if you stop second hand clothing, clothes would not go round. The bulk of what we wear are clothes that are not made here. That is the honest truth.

What did you study?

I studied Geography and Town planning at the University of Lagos. I never practiced, never applied for a job in my life. At that time, I was in school but always art inclined. I almost dropped out but I was persuaded otherwise. Then, I always found myself at Yabatech with the arts student in textile and fashion designing. I went to audition courses there, hanged in there with my Friend called Frank. After NYSC I went to Art school, an institute of textile designs. But, I didn’t finish the course; I was too busy trying to make money. I partnered with one of my lecturers, my pattern teacher and his wife was the one making our waist coats, trousers and other. We made waist coats for sale and my friend was in Advertising, Rosabel. It was called The Dude Clothing Company, we ran that for a few years, did one or two contract sewing. Then I went into making white packet shirts but the competition was stiff. I made shirts, packed them and sold them to boutiques. Then the things from Dubai came in and I couldn’t compete, then I just closed shop for about four months. I now pivoted to the African thing , it was trendy then and I wore a cap. It has always been fashion.

Yeside Laguda is a fashion designer, textile/adire producer who recently presented her latest collection titled Dawn to the public. Laguda, daughter of Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, make use of timeless adire fabrics to churn out contemporary styles depicting the African heritage. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she opens up on her passion, mentoring, inspiration, memorable moments and coping with challenges.

How do you feel presenting your latest collection to the public today?

Excited. I’m relieved.  It usually takes me about four months to do a collection. It started with the fabric and we started printing our own fabrics for this collection. So, most of the fabrics are our own. We did the Eyo print and it is beautiful. My husband is a Lagosian and we are paying homage to our own. So, if we go abroad people can ask what Eyo is all about. I conceptualized the fabric last year October and it didn’t arrive until January this year. Obviously, we had a lot of work at the store and we were doing other things.

So, I have been working on and off on it.

What inspired the name Dawn for the collection?

I turned 40 this year and I just felt a rebirth.  I also felt that in life, there are ups and downs.  The most important thing is to pick yourself up, when you fall and that is exactly how I felt. I have had moments when I felt I wasn’t living my fullest potential.  Even as a business person,  I  have always  had opportunities to bring myself up. So, this is usually what Dawn was, picking myself up and doing this. Just owning my space and understanding that I can do what I want to do.

Are they all adire fabrics?

Three years ago, I started doing mainly adire fabrics. Everytime, I tried to do a collection outside adire, it didn’t do as well as adire. But then, we have had a huge  problem with  production of  adire because it is hand dyed, the production is always late. I found that my tailor would literally be waiting for Dyer’s.  So, we would have backlog of orders and I was very proud to produce adire, produce something that is novel.What I found was that I would always have to wait. The production capacity was not good enough in Nigeria. So, last year we had to resort to Printing adire. It is very unfortunate, but there is no infrastructure support and there is work to do but nobody to do the work. We are still dying locally but if I need 500 yards of adire, it will take me like a month with 6 different vendors and then 200 yards will come out bad. So, they could not meet the  demand and  supply was not matching up.

Also, the typical adire marketplace is the hard adire but people want the soft one. What the soft one does is that you can mould any shape or form, while the hard one just does more of boubous. But with the soft one, you are able to do more. It’s a better canvas as a designer.

Why did you go into adire production?

Every time I wanted to do something, fabric was always important for me. I always wanted to control the layout of my fabric and you are not able to do that when you buy fabric. So, with adire, I can say that I want a mood on the dress and I get it. That is the difference with adire and regular fabrics. In another, you have ankara that people really like but it finishes in the market.

Let’s compare when you started and now, what has changed?

I think there is a deeper appreciation for adire. I don’t think much has changed. But then, it is in vogue, unlike in the past when many would say I don’t wear adire.

Maybe it’s getting more expensive?

It has always been expensive, that is the truth. If adire is done on this high quality fabric,  then it’s expensive. What has happened is that the demands for the fabrics have grown.  So, they got more expensive.

Are your ready to wear for export?

Yes. We are stocking in Ghana at the moment. We are going into Senegal as well. Also, we occasionally have orders from London and America.

Let’s talk about your personal style?

I am quite conservative because I am a Muslim. It affects my style to a large extent. My comfort and faith come first. I also like feminine cuts.

A lot of our designers are making waves in the International market.  How would you rate them?

Amazing. I think that is going to be our next greatest export after music.

How would you rate the performance of your models this evening?

Perfect. This girls have worked for me in the past.

How would you describe the collection?

I don’t think I am the best person to describe it. As a designer, your work is never done.

What can government do to make the sector better?

Basically, it is infrastructure. At the beginning of the year alone, we spent about 60,000 naira on diesel, now of diesel bill is about N180,000 in 6 months. Tell us about your experience during the COVID-19 lockdown?

I think COVID was good to me. We discovered that people were buying a lot during COVID and we put a lot of items for sales. Another thing that happened for us was that we were able to regroup. You will always need that pause in life. You always need to stop at a point. I think the stop was good for me, as a creative. What happened was that you were constantly going on and it was a good time for reflection for me.

Your mum is also very stylish, how did she influence your sense of style?

Yes! She is more stylish than I am. My mum’s shakara is not from here. Mum is super stylish.

What are some of the things you share in common with her?

I think we are both very passionate and respectful people.

Tell us how Mentoring has helped you and how you are reaching out to others?

I see a lot of myself in young people and there are so many women who have supported me along the way. People who have taken me under their wings. Women who have coached me consciously or unconsciously. They have done so much to make me a better person and a better designer It is very easy giving back.

Where do you see your brand in the next few years?

I see us around the world, on every catwalk.

Are there International designers that you admire?

A lot. I admire too many designers, no favourites. I think designs are a lot of personality and a lot of intentionality. I also think that your body if work, the amount of marketing and PR that you do is almost more important than your body of work now.

Enifo Agodo, known as Nifty, is an artist passionate about issues affecting women. She recently organized an exhibition on contemporary arts and avant-garde fashion titled Adorn at Freedom Park Art gallery in Lagos. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde she goes down memory lane to talk about how it all started, how creativity runs in her family and being mentored by famours artist Bruce Onabrakpeya.

What inspired your passion for the arts?

I would say it is in my genetic code. We have so many people in my family that are creatively inclined.

I have two uncles on my mother’s side that are sculptors and metal workers, Uncle Kevo and uncle Aseve. I also have Uncle Ejiro Agodo who is in his own rights, an artist. So, basically, that is where I learnt from. I started with them and they inspired me.

What did you see at the beginning?

My mum used to be a banker and when she’s busy, she would drop me with my aunty who is a fashion designer or with my uncles, the sculptor or the artist. There, I would sit down and they would engage the small girl in their midst by giving me crayons or tell me to design a dress. So, that was part of what I did while I was growing up. So, it kind of nurtured this creative side of me and that really helped.

One of your works captures your grandma, how did she inspire you?

My grandma is my champion. There is nothing that you want to do that my grandma would not support you, and that is what she does for all her children and grandchildren. If she is nervous about it, she would tell you in a loving way, that doesn’t discourage you from doing it. She was a housewife but she also made clothes, she is a fashionista who loved handbags and jewelry. But one thing that she loved so much was her clothes gallery and it represented everything that she did. Everything, she did is for her children, she has called me like three times today.

Apart from learning from members of your family, where else did you develop your skills?

When I was in Primary school, they weren’t teaching us arts and my mum felt that I needed more in-depth education. She used to enroll me in art based summer camps and I learnt how to knit, sew, beadwork and all that. Funny enough, I think that has helped me in the type of media that I use now. Sometimes, I use fabric, needlework and I like texture. So, I put as much texture into my works as much as possible. By the time I got into secondary school, I met Mrs. Idohi and she is the strictest arts teacher anybody has met. She is an artist now and was very strict. Out of the 34 students, she picked only 6 students to do arts. She literarily picked us and told every other person that they should leave. So, she kind of nurtured that talent and she put it in my head that arts could be a career. I never considered arts as a career despite having uncles and being creative. It never occurred to me then that arts could be a career.

Is this the only thing that you do?

I have a side hustle. I am a media consultant, I do Social Media Management for Chuck Gallery in UK and everything I do is still arts related. To be honest, I didn’t go to any art school. I went to Roger Williams University in Rhodes Island to study Media Communication. While, I was there, I decided to take some courses in Arts. I minored in Arts in the University but even then, I still wasn’t taking it seriously. I think the point in which I can pinpoint that I started taking my arts seriously was when I was with my brother in Florida. I printed something I had done and posted it online, for the first time. One of my old professors asked how much it was. It then occurred to me that I can sell this thing and I sold it to him. After that, I put more online and people were buying it that was in 2014. Then we came to Nigeria and I wanted to move my business here but it didn’t work out that way.

However, I have learnt a lot and I have become surer of myself as an artist. I have found a way to communicate with art and I have found what elements of arts are important to me.

Most of the works on display focus on women. Is this your focus or it is in line with the 2022 IWD theme?

First, I would like to say that it is in line with the theme. But to be honest, I am just in an inspiration mood when the subject revolves around women. These include women in my family, people I meet on the streets and I must say that women are doing a lot especially this year. We have made a lot of impact; we have stood up for ourselves especially in topics that we don’t usually talk about like sexual violence and domestic abuse. We are speaking out in a way that has not been seen in years. So, I just wanted to celebrate us, celebrate our gender.

In addition, I also like to focus on discussions on our bodies. Usually, when I paint a woman, it is not just because her body is beautiful, it is not meant to be sexualized in anyway. Instead, it is to start a discussion on her control. How much control do we as women have over our bodies? It is usually dictated by everybody but the woman. We never know what the line is with what you are wearing. Some people would say that you are too conservative, while another would say that you are showing off too much skin and the goal post is always shifting. So, for me it is actually a conversation.

Let’s talk about year 2020 and COVID-19 lockdown. What did that period offer you as an artist?

I feel very guilty about this because for a lot of people that year was difficult. For me, COVID-19 lockdown was amazing. I didn’t have to socialize, I was by myself in the house, painting, drawing and I went live so many times on social media and were so inspired by the silence. I was churning out a lot of works and didn’t feel it financially because people were doing a lot of impulsive buying because they were locked in the house. They would see it, like it and buy it.

You’ve said so much about your mum and grandma, tell us about your dad?

My father is the practicality of my works. He is the reason why I know how to value my talent. We also like to joke in my family that the women are right skilled, which is creative and the men are left skilled, which is analytical. My father and my brother are very analytical. My brother would look at an item and say the price is this or that I have not priced it well, I should increase the price. They see things from the business point of view, not just creative side. I am lucky because I have a family that supports each other.

What are the other things that occupy your time?

I love travelling. I love the beach. I love my friends. Sometimes, we can just go to somebody’s house, sit down, eat and gist. I have a list of places that I would like to travel to in future.

Mentoring helps a lot. Did you get people to mentor you?

One of the people that come to mind here is Papa Bruce Onabrakpeya. He is part of the inspiration for the works. During my first exhibition, I met his aide who introduced me to him and he has been a wonderful person. I think because   have had such bad experiences with people before I met him. When I met him, he was so nice, so helpful and so outgoing compared to where I was coming from. He is such a lovely person, always willing to help and he gives you the impression that we are all supposed to help each other.

Let’s talk about women and the political space. What do you have to say?

I believe that women in politics are doing very well. It’s the same for women in technology, STEM, TECH and everywhere. We should be in every single field. We should shine because we can shine. Women are creative, we are strong. We have managed to run households and organizations. We can build empires and we have really broken the glass ceiling. I think we should just continue doing more of that. Today, there are more women in tech, engineering than ever before and I am very proud of that. I think that for me is great.

What are the other areas that you are likely to go into in future?

To be honest, I really want to go into the tech space .I was just talking to someone, who is a technologist about how technology is changing and we are moving to the next level. I am also watching the metaverse closely. Mark Zukerberg is breaking grounds with it and making it more realistic every day. I am looking forward to a point where I can have my arts gallery in the metaverse because it is better than it would be here because I am constrained by time, constrained by a certain group of people locally. It is digitally opened to everybody, brings a broader audience, and creates arts that cannot wane overtime. I think technology is where I would like to push into next.

Creativity makes her would go round. From churning out pieces that are sustainable, Tina Ugo shares the secrets of her success, converting simple things into exceptional items , exploring different areas like interior decoration and lingerie production, business coach, travel consultant photography and more. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she takes you through her journey especially her passion for designing in the past ten years.

Tell us about the recent achievements in the sector as a designer?

Some recent achievements in the sector would be that the brand is now retailing in over 20 countries including the UK, USA, Nigeria, Canada, 15 countries in Europe, North Africa and the UAE.

Another highlight for me was when  I was contacted by the Facebook business team, so they could showcase my brand during the Black history month as part of their  “She Means Business” event to celebrate successful Black Female business owners.

Also my recent feature in Yahoo also means I am definitely doing something right with the brand.

What was the experience like at the beginning?

At the beginning, it wasn’t easy to get trusted artisans to work with, both in Europe and Africa. It took a few years to eventually sort production out, then I had to deal with figuring out how to get my pieces on the shelves of retailers amongst other things.

You are also into interior designs. How would you describe the experience?

Interior design has always been my passion. Designing and Redecorating a space is actually one of my escapisms apart from travel and photography.

When I was younger, my late mum would always be amazed at how I changed and arranged the layout of my room every other week.

After I became a mum in 2015, I decided I would start monetising my interior design skills at some point, so I had to prep myself and enrolled for an online Diploma course at the Interior Design Institute, London.

What inspires your designs?

My designs are inspired by Colours, Vintage pieces, African Arts and Culture, hence the colourful, retro and afrocentric theme that runs throughout our designs.

What are the challenges you encountered?

Some of the main challenges I have encountered in my Entrepreneurial journey includes; raising funds to scale up the business and getting trusted and reliable team to work with.

The fashion industry is a capital intensive sector and because I operate with the global fashion calendar, I will always design new collections irrespective of the stock we still have from previous collections.

Tell us about some of the memorable moments as a Business and life coach?

I mentor and coach a number of people including budding Entrepreneurs, I’m passionate about teaching people about Start Ups and it always gives me joy each time my mentee launches a new Business.

I feel fulfilled listening to them tell me about their visions and helping them actualise it.

You are also a travel consultant.  What are some of the changes you would like to see in the sector?

I’d like to see a more inclusive travel sector.

As a Travel consultant, I would like to sensitise more people, especially my Black community on the importance of travelling as that is the easiest way to learn about other people, culture and diversity.

And the myth that one has to break a bank before they can travel or have a vacation is false. Travel requires long term planning in order to benefit good deals.

What has been your experience making lingerie?

My lingerie business is one of my most fulfilling ventures because it was one of the easiest to set up.

There was a gap in the market for it and I just went for it.

I decided to launch it during the pandemic in 2020 because people didn’t need to go out at the time and needed to feel good while at home.  Hence the sale of lingerie, sleep wear and lounge wear increased.

What are the new areas that you are looking at?

The new area I hope to delve into in the near future will be the Real Estate.

Tell us about the people you admire?

I have great respect for people operating in the property market. I admire resilient and hardworking people: Because I have studied most successful entrepreneurs across the world and they all point towards these attributes as part of the reasons for their business success.

Who or what do you consider as the greatest influence in your life?

My late mum remains my biggest influence. We had a very close bond throughout her lifetime and I learnt a lot from her.

What is your definition of style?

Style for me is a way of saying who you are without saying a word. It goes beyond fashion and should be a reflection of one’s lifestyle.

There are lots of prospects in photography, what are some of the lessons learnt as an amateur photographer?

As an Amateur photographer, I’m aware there are absolutely lots of prospects in photography.

However, at the moment I use photography as a form of escapism.

I am not monetising my photography skills yet, I hope to do so in the future though.

What message do you have for young people who want to be serial entrepreneurs like you?

My message for prospective Serial Entrepreneurs would be to take one step at a time; Entrepreneurship is a journey and not a race or competition.

Always Start Up with something you are passionate about. It’s easier to monetise something you enjoy doing daily.

What are some of the other things that occupy your time?

I’m an Extroverted Introvert, so I absolutely enjoy spending time alone in my own space.

Hence one of the other things that occupy my time is reading. Most times I’d rather spend time reading than meeting up with people to be honest.

What message do you have for Nigerian designers today?

My message for Nigerian designers would be; keep doing what you do as African Fashion is the new Cool.

Literally all the Big names in fashion today have created pieces and collections that have clearly been inspired by African Fashion.

What is the secret of looking good?

In my opinion there are no set rules for looking good; to be honest as the term itself is quite relative. What works for one person may not work for another, so I guess it’s an individualistic choice and what routine works.

How often do you visit the Spa and how does it work for you?

I visit the Spa once or twice monthly because I’m a workaholic, so I need to de-stress as often as I can. My mental health is very important to me as much as my physical health. So, I understand the importance of Spa visits.

How do you pamper your skin?

I don’t have a strict or rigorous skin routine. However, I have a relaxation soak weekly and my daily skin products include vitamin C capsules, Collagen serum, Tumeric cream, and Shea butter or Argan Oil lotion

What are the things you avoid in your diet?

I try to avoid salt in my diet as much as I can. I also opt to grill most of my meals rather than frying. I eat more fish and sea food than I eat meat. I love my fruits and vegetables as well especially as smoothies.

What won’t you do in the name of fashion?

I won’t be caught dead in a fashion trend that does not resonate with my personal style.

Do you have an exercise routine?

I do brisk walks daily and usually walk a minimum of 5km-8km every day.

Sometimes I use the treadmills especially when I’m on vacation though I prefer my brisk walks to be honest.

He saw and conquered. This aptly describes the experience of Dennis Aikoriogie, the co-founder of Go Read Information Technology limited, a tech company that impacts education across the world. Inspite of the many odds, he was faced with early in life, his determination to excel kept him going at different times. His experience cuts across marketing, Civil Service, business and maritime.
He is also CEO of Global Hobnob Nigeria Limited and Global Hobnob LLC New York involved in shipping, residential services, household items and portfolio investments.
In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, the serial entrepreneur takes you into his world and passion for the less privileged.

How did your childhood prepare you for the things you do now?

Having lost my dad after secondary or high school, many people thought I will not have a university or college degree. My Mom, who was a civil servant, had to see me and my sibling through school, though the resources was not too lacking plus support from relatives, we acknowledged it would have been easier and better if my dad was around. My Christian background as a Catholic also shaped what I do right now, the brotherly and agape love taught had a deep root in me. I understood the importance of the corporal of works of mercy.

What is the inspiration behind your Foundation?

I have relatively fair number of friends and followers on Facebook, very frequently they kept on asking me to show love, which I did by sending call cards and cash support. While growing up I have seen many people struggle through school and everyday life. This coupled with the experience of losing my dad and how my mom had taken care of us, made me come to the realization that I must give back to the society no matter how little. On June 2021 to mark my birthday that year the Dennis Aikoriogie Foundation was born, and I reached out to widows and the needy, before the launch of my Foundation, I had supported other charities in Nigeria.

What impact had your foundation had since inception?

As an emerging non-profit that is solely funded by me we have been able to impact the lives of the underserved and unserved in Nigeria, with fundraiser I have initiated. I have had the support of family and few friends and we have served people in Benin, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Uyo, Imo and Abia. We believe we could do more with the right sponsors and partners.

Tell us about your companies GoRead Information Technology Limited and Global Hobnob Nigeria Limited?

GoRead is an emerging company I co-founded with a friend to introduce an innovation to private and public schools, that makes learning easy, educational materials accessible and affordable. Global Hobnob Nigeria Limited is the production and exporting arm of Global Hobnob LLC New York, where we ship food and cash crops overseas.

You’ve worked in different capacities, across sectors, how did these work experiences impact your life?

I have worked in the banking, insurance, public and private sectors, every sector comes with its own unique experience and these experiences have shaped and impacted me greatly.

Kindly tell us about your other projects and activities?

I am working on an outsourcing and HR companies in Nigeria and the United States to provide services to American companies and provide jobs to teeming Nigeria youths. I also intend in the nearest future to dabble into Oil and Gas, Fashion, Real Estate and invest in some Franchises.

As a businessman with vast experience, how would you rate the economic growth of Nigeria in the business world?

Post-independence, Nigeria has not experienced much economic growth. I believe we have the potential to compete in the business world, we have not had the right policies to put us in the right footing, issues like access to capital, ease of doing business, lack of industrialization for which epileptic electricity could be the contributing factor have hindered our growth and development . We keep on exporting products with no value addition which makes Nigeria products less competitive on the global stage.

Tell us some of the things you have done to touch the lives of the less privileged ones?

The has been a number of free medical missions and outreaches, which we have organized in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Benin.

In addition, we have scholarship and tuition assistance programme. What we do here is that  we have helped indigent students pay their tuition and have given scholarships to see them through school. Recently, we also distributed free notebooks, pens and other materials to Ancilla orphanage school in Imo State.

In addition,  we have a programme for widows and from time to time, we have reach out to widows in the community. They need support, encouragement and counselling. We have also  provided food items and cash donations to support their families.

Also, we have a program that focuses on youths and women empowerment. For this,  we intend to equip youths and women with the right kind of entrepreneurial skills and financial literacy to survive in modern business world. And upon completion of such training we set up them up in the skilled area they have just acquired knowledge and  we also intend to leverage on fintech.

Water access, sanitation, and hygiene is also very important for us. So, we are working on providing clean and portable water to rural communities and educate them on sanitation and hygiene.

These are short and medium term or operational goals, the long term or strategic goal is having an orphanage, in the orphanage we are going to build school and hospital to provide services freely to the community.

If you could have an audience with the President of Nigeria, what would you tell him to do differently?

I would advise him to ensure that there is stable electricity in the country because it plays a catalytic role in small and medium enterprises, which are the drivers of any economy. To ensure a credible electoral system is in place, strengthen and liberalize democratic participation and try as much as possible to demonetize the political process, simply put. It is also important to build strong institutions.

Lastly, my word to him will be to ensure the security of lives and property, appointing capable people in position of authority.

How do you relax?

I try as much as possible to spend time with my family despite the busy schedule. Occasionally, we go out to events church, parties and watch movies together. I plan to spend more quality time with my family, going on vacation, sights seeing etc. We are currently working and building the foundation to financial freedom to enable us ample time for family and leisure.

What drives your desire to support the poor?

I wanted a platform that is official and recognized to give back to the society, a system and structure of goodwill I will establish and even outlive me. I have supported other charities in the past, I wanted a legacy that can outlived me and will be proud I set up even when I am not around.

How will you describe  the journey so far?

We started on the right footing, we did the registration fully in Nigeria, we have done some registration in the United States and still working to get it in full compliance.

We have carried out free medical missions in Benin, Abuja, Port Harcourt. We also did menstrual education and free distribution of sanitary pads in Owerri. We have equally distributed free notebooks, pens and other materials to Ancilla motherless and orphanage schools in Owerri.

One memorable moment was the children Christmas party organized for over 48 orphanages in Benin. This was done in collaboration with Edo State Ministry of Social Development and Gender issues, during the 2022 Easter celebrations. We supplied food, toiletries and cleaning items to orphanage homes and also  partnered with another foundation to distribute hot foods to rural communities in Uyo, Akwa Ibom. We are working on setting up our operational base in Benin City. We also intend to operate from Buffalo New York, where we will address substance abuse and helping people find their purpose in life.

How many lives have you impacted and where?

We have impacted close to 10,000 lives, particularly we have impacted more than 5,000 lives with our free medical missions across Nigeria. We hope to impact many lives in the upcoming months and years.

What are some of the challenges?

Funding is a major challenge, because most programmes and activities are driven by funding, there are a thousand and one charities out there and people are jostling for the little funding available coupled with the issue of trust, most grant makers find it difficult to spot the right foundations who have put transparent system and internal controls in place and actually doing the job.

Who are the beneficiaries of your benevolence?

Anyone who is in need can benefit from the foundation, we do not discriminate against color, tribe, sex, and religion.We accommodate people with diverse background and orientation.