Young & Cerebral: Recent Episodes
Young & Cerebral
Young and Cerebral is a clan of curious and imaginative storytellers based in Lagos metropolis. We help enthusiastic 18-35 year-olds to triumph by providing inspiration, empowerment, and opportunities so that they can achieve personal fulfillment. We preach “Self Actualization”.
We profile thought-leaders, inventors, influencers, founders, whose lives embody our message.
Young and Cerebral Podcast is a library of our Radio program. If you missed the On-Air radio version, don’t worry, a recap of the program via podcast below. To listen, click the play button on the respective media to listen.
A hearty discussion on fast food excellence with Kofi Abunu, an industry expert with over three decades of international experience in the food and hospitality industry.
As food prices continue to rise, we delve into the challenges faced by fast food chains and their efforts to provide convenience to customers.
Kofi Abunu shares his insights on the changing trends in the market and how fast food brands have adapted to cater to the evolving needs of consumers.
We also explore his journey in the food industry, from starting as a part-time job to becoming the Managing Director of Food Concepts, and Owning Chicken Republic. Don’t miss out on this engaging conversation!
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An episode with the Head of Brand/Communications at Parallex Bank, Ademola Adeshola, discussing the power of business branding, its ability to create a unique identity, build trust, support marketing efforts, differentiate from competitors, foster loyalty, enable premium pricing, boost employee morale, facilitate expansion, and influence purchasing decisions.
Join the riveting conversation as we talk about how investing in a strong brand is essential for long-term success and growth in today’s competitive business environment.
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Crafting a business plan involves building the blueprint for success, one detail at a time.
Join us in this all-together engaging episode where resident business plan expert Rilwan talks us through the importance of a business plan in the entrepreneurial landscape and all the necessities needed for a perfect plan.
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Behind the lens and chasing stories. Get ready to dive deep into the world of cinematography.
Photographer and Cinematographer Surudayo helps us step into the spotlight behind the lens, ready to unravel the magic of cinematography.
Each frame tells a story, and we are excited for this interview and the opportunity to share the bliss behind visual storytelling!
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Join the conversation with Moremi Elekwachi, a renowned personal branding expert, has transformed the careers and businesses of over 60 CEOs, executives, and public figures. She founded Mori Consulting and Coaching, a business dedicated to providing personalized guidance and support to founders and CEOs.
The discussion really centres on the importance of personal branding and staying true to oneself, as Elekwachi, explains the importance of personal branding for businesses.
In this spirited discussion, numerous key points that could transform the fundamental ways in which we as a nation approach business selling and marketing are mention.
Give it a listen...
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Delve into the rich conversation between Oshodi and longtime financier and corporate knowledge magnate, Yinka Ogunnubi.
From managing financial risks and ensuring liquidity to optimizing cash flow and making strategic investment decisions, corporate treasury is the backbone that supports the financial health and stability of an organization.
The brilliant Adeyinka Ogunnubi delivers an enlightening discussion on Nigeria's financial strategy, its overall objectives, and how we can seize opportunities in the current climate.
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Join the discussion in a new episode firmly centered on the recent 'Cybersecurity Levy' proposed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Oshodi and her guest delve deep into the nuances and nitty - gritty of the issues surrounding the proposal, implementation, and imposition of that government policy in a fact-laden and in-depth conversation.
The episode further touches on the intricacies of the cost of living crisis prevalent in Nigeria, with a bid to proffer feasible solutions. Enjoy
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An episode, introducing Tola Jimoh, an expert in information security and generative AI, who discusses the importance of cyber security and how it applies to everyone who owns a digital device.
Tola explains that cyber security is the protection of digital assets, including phones, computers, and information. She emphasizes the need for individuals and businesses to practice safe cyber security practices, such as multi-factor authentication, to protect themselves from potential risks.
Tola also shares tips, such as using passwords in native languages, to enhance security. Overall, the episode aims to demystify cyber security and provide listeners with a better understanding of its significance in today’s digital world.
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A discussion about writing God's heart and goals for writing, in which Tope Omotosho shares her inspirations and how she navigates through writing in English.
Discover the power of storytelling and faith with an in-depth conversation delving into what it means to write with God's heart.
Learn about Tope Omotosho's writing journey and how she brings her faith into her fiction writing on Saturday's episode of Faith Through Fiction.
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Tune in to a discussion with the outstanding Bode Abifarin, author of The Boys with the happy feet dance, talk us through AMothersLove and how all-encompassing it is. From ensuring access to education and safeguarding against abuse and exploitation, a mother's love serves as a powerful catalyst for change.
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The conversation with the founder and CEO of Green Pasture Kids Foundation sheds light on her personal journey and the mission of the organization. Initially driven by her love for children, particularly those in less fortunate circumstances, she recounts dreams that inspired her to take action. These dreams, including one where she was a bus conductor for underprivileged children, served as the catalyst for establishing Green Pasture Kids as a calling rather than mere charity work. Over the past 17 years, the organization has been dedicated to child advocacy and providing support for vulnerable children.
Green Pasture Kids has seen both successes and challenges in its endeavors. Success stories include helping children in slum communities and hospitals, paying their bills, and offering educational and vocational training opportunities. However, despite these efforts, some children still struggle in the slums, highlighting the ongoing challenges in breaking the cycle of poverty. Nevertheless, the organization remains committed to its long-term goals and initiatives aimed at holistic development and empowerment of children aged 10 to 16.
One significant aspect of Green Pasture Kids' approach is its emphasis on community involvement and collaboration. While acknowledging some government efforts, the organization works closely with communities, earning their trust over time to implement projects effectively. Looking ahead, the founder envisions expanding initiatives such as virtual adoption, where individuals support a child's education and well-being. By creating a network of support and empowerment, Green Pasture Kids aims to enable children to fulfill their potential regardless of their background, ultimately striving to make a lasting positive impact in their lives.
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The discussion delves into the intersection of biotechnology, healthcare, and economic challenges in Nigeria, highlighting the country's historical practices and potential in biotechnology. It touches on how biotechnology can mitigate agricultural issues, protect against diseases, and advance medical innovations. The conversation also explores Nigeria's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the population's apparent resilience and the challenges faced by the healthcare system. Moreover, it addresses concerns about healthcare accessibility, affordability, and quality amidst economic constraints, emphasizing the need for universal health coverage.
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A vibrant discussion on various aspects of the Nigerian creative industry, focusing on filmmaking, music, animation, and regulatory measures.
It highlights the importance of believing in the creative abilities of artists and the need for their intellectual property to serve as collateral for funding. Collaboration and quality are emphasized over mere volume in creative output.
The conversation also touches on the role of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) in regulating content to ensure it aligns with societal values and doesn't negatively impact audiences, especially children. There's a call for responsible portrayal in media and the need for platforms like YouTube to address the issue of inappropriate content.
Overall, it underscores the importance of quality, collaboration, and responsible content creation in the Nigerian creative landscape.
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In this exclusive segment on Signals, Onyinye Ejike, a leading event planner and entrepreneur, provides profound insights into Nigeria's events industry amidst economic challenges.
From her early inspiration drawn from her mother's catering business to her self-taught journey in event planning, Onyinye discusses the evolving role of planners in crafting memorable experiences for clients across diverse budgets.
The episode offers a compelling exploration of the resilience and innovation driving the Events industry's adaptation to challenging circumstances. Emphasizing the crucial role of creativity, adaptability, and client collaboration in delivering exceptional events that resonate with audiences.
For an enlightening discussion featuring expert and invaluable perspectives on the Events industry's resilience and prospects, tune in now!
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A special episode delving into the realm of real estateproperties and beyond, with a focus on the Nigerian Real Estate Market.
Anchored by Oshodi, joined by a special guest, Morenike Anekwe, a distinguished alumnus of Lagos Business School, real estate consultant, quantity surveyor, and builder. She's the founder of MJ Realtors, a real estate company specializing in property marketing, sales, portfolio management, construction, and interior decoration. With her remarkableexpertise, she's achieved significant strides in real estate sales and marketing since founding the company in 2020.
The conversation centered around the vibrant real estatemarket in Lagos. Our guest sheds light on why people are investing in real estate, emphasizing the ever-growing demand for housing in Lagos due to itsstatus as a commercial hub.
The conversation also explored the phenomenon of short lets and why they've become increasingly popular among investors.
Furthermore, the discussion touches upon the booming land market in Lagos, fueled by developments such as refineries, free trade zones, and infrastructure projects.
Tune in as we unravel the intricacies of the Lagos realestate market and gain valuable insights into a structure that many Lagosiansare adopting to ensure their financial freedom.
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An engaging episode delving into the dynamics of skills andemployment with our distinguished guest, Mr. Tunde Simoyan, an international attorney renowned in Nigeria and New York, shares profound insights.
With a career marked by extensive experience in law, banking, and entrepreneurship, he founded businesses such as Precise Associate Executive Search and AfricaSkills.com.
Boasting over two decades of professional journey, includingroles as Vice President and Chief Legal Advisor of companies, our guest reflects on the evolving Nigerian economy. He touches upon the challenges faced during different eras, highlighting the adaptability needed in a shifting job landscape.
From the era of electronic typewriters to the current tech-savvy landscape, his journey mirrors the evolution of opportunities inNigeria. Tune in for a retrospective exploration of the economic shifts and the missed opportunities along the way.
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In this episode, LASTMA's GM, Mr. Bakare-Oki, breaks down theintricacies of Lagos traffic, delineating punishable offenses and non-offensive actions. Gain insights into LASMA's multi-faceted approach, utilizing technology and collaboration to manage traffic effectively.
Explore the challenges faced by LASTMA officials and the protective measures put in place.
Discover how LASTMA addresses post-Third Mainland Bridge closure congestion, employing strategies such as awareness campaigns and stricter penalties.
This episode offers a comprehensive look into the dynamics of Lagos traffic, providing valuable insights for both drivers and pedestrians alike.
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Dive into the world of photography with Richard Eko as he discusses the resurgence of studios, the value of documenting history, and the untapped richness of African culture through the lens.
Explore the importance of niche photography, the power of uncommissioned work, and the challenges and realistic approaches in the photography profession. Richard shares insights into effective marketing strategies, the monetization of images, and the diverse perspectives on editing.
Take a glimpse into the future of photography, and the needfor adaptation and strategic thinking in this evolving industry.
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The episode welcomed Abira Omotayo-Benson, the accomplished Managing Director of TWPC HR Services Ltd. Abira provided a profound exploration of the current challenges within the Nigerian workforce. Beyond her professional achievements, she shared anecdotes about her family, adding a personal touch to the conversation.The discourse ventured into the pressing issues facing the workforce, encompassing the educational sector, broader economic considerations, and the expectations imposed by employers. Abira drew attention to the evolving landscape in Nigeria, where employers increasingly seek candidates withinternational exposure and educational backgrounds.
For those eager to gain deeper insights into HR dynamics, talent management, and navigating the intricacies of the modern workforce, the episode serves as a valuable resource. Tune in and listen here to the enlightening conversation...
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A special episode with a focus on cyber fraud advocacy, featuring Morakin Animashaun, CEO of Wimca RMS Technologies. The episode explores cybersecurity trends, emphasizing the need for heightened awareness during the festive season. Morakin, a seasoned professional with over 25 years of expertise sheds light on the evolving role of mobile phones and the rising threat of cyber fraud, particularly through spam calls.
As the conversation unfolds, Morakin underscores the critical gap in individual awareness, especially among older generations, and the necessity of promoting a culture of trust but verified in the digital space. The dialogue introduces the "Stronger Together Against Cyber Fraud" initiative, focusing on advocacy, community building, and a dedicated helpline. Partnerships with organizations like the Nigerian Police Force and EFCC reflectthe collaborative approach required to combat cyber threats effectively.
The segment also features Michael Adogie from Grumman Endowment Trust, discussing their partnership with Wimca RMS Technologies. Their shared goal is to support impactful initiatives that enhance cyber fraud awareness and prevention.
For valuable insights into cybersecurity and fraud prevention, listen here and join the collective effort against cyber fraud.
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Anchor Adewunmi Oshodi engages Ruby Agu in a discussion about fitness and wellness. Ruby, a certified weight management specialist and fitness trainer, aims to make exercise enjoyable for everyone.As the chair of the Lagos chapter of the Association of Fitness Professionals in Nigeria, she emphasizes the link between optimal health and preventive measures, asserting that "health is wealth." Ruby shares her personal journey of shedding the first 10 kg, stressing the importance of discipline and dedication for sustainable lifestyle changes.
The conversation shifts to nutrition, where Ruby advocates for affordable local options, challenging the belief that healthy eating must be expensive. Ruby recommends brisk walking for beginners and highlights the benefits of joining a gym for motivation. She dispels the misconception that fitness is only for the young, emphasizing the diverse age groups she encounters at the gym.
For a reminder that maintaining a balance with exercise is key for optimal health, especially during the festive season. Listen here for more insights into fitness and wellness as we approachthe holidays.
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Anchor Adewunmi Oshodi interviews Efeturi Doghudje, a key figure in the Nigerian film industry. Known for her analytical prowess and extensive experience, Doghudje discusses her journey and contributions to the industry, emphasizing theimportance of in-depth insights in her reviews.
The conversation explores the evolving landscape of Nigerian cinema, touching on changes in technology, funding, and storytelling. Doghudje underscores the need for research and understanding the audience to create impactful and resonantproductions. The interview also delves into challenges faced by filmmakers, addressing the delicate balance between creative freedom and financial considerations.
Doghudje expresses excitement about the mix of nostalgia and quality productions. She emphasizes the need for telling original Nigerian stories and exploring diverse genres to cater to different audience preferences. Listen here for a deep dive into Doghudje's insights into the Nigerian film industry, covering its evolution, challenges, and potential for growth.
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In this exclusive episode, the soft rock sensations A and B open up about their early influences, revealing how their parents' love for singing sparked their musical journey. Growing up with a passion for music ingrained in their family, the sisters share cherished memories of falling asleep to the radio, fostering a deep connection with the art form.As the discussion unfolds, A and B express their gratitude for theopportunities to perform both nationally and internationally. Their experiences alongside Johnny Drille have not only honed their craft but also given them a platform to captivate diverse audiences. Join Anchor Adewunmi Oshodi and delve deeper into the lives and artistry of A and B. Gain insights into the roots of theirmusical passion and the rich experiences that have shaped them into the sensational soft rock duo they are today.
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Join Anchor Adewunmi Oshodi in a crucial conversation on behavior and emotional wellness with the esteemed Dr. Mrs. Olufunmilayo Akinola. As the chief consultant psychiatrist with over 25 years of experience, Dr. Akinola delves into the intricacies of mental health and emotional well-being.
Explore the fundamental concept of mental health as Dr. Akinola breaks it down. The stigma surrounding mental health is discussed, highlighting the need for open conversations and dispelling misconceptions.
Dr. Akinola addresses the diagnosis and treatment process, emphasizing the importance of regular check-ins and personalized care. Gain valuable insights into behavior and emotional wellness. Join the discussion to foster a better understanding of mental health.
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Anchor Adewunmi Oshodi hosts entrepreneur Mona Lisa’s Bimbola Azeh on 91.3 Lagos Talks, discussing entrepreneurship in 2023.Azeh, founder of Monamachus, a leather brand, shares insights on the evolution of business from 2002 to 2023. She highlights technological advancements, the impact of social media on business visibility, and the transformation of Nigeria's fashion industry, particularly in leather products. Azeh also toucheson her journey, starting from personal shoe design due to foot issues to establishing Monamachus.
She applauds the global recognition of Nigerian fashion and accessories, attributing this success to the power of social media.
The conversation extends to Azeh's involvement in a federal committee focused on reforming Nigeria's leather policy and the positive shift towards embracing locally-made products.
Despite challenges, Azeh remains optimistic about the thriving business landscape in Nigeria. Listen to the full interview here.
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Step into the vibrant world of Adesola Balogun, the force behind Lagos' renowned bespoke tailoring brand, Outspoken. From an unexpected twist during his university days to launching the Coffee and Bean Podcast, Adesola shares his captivating path in the fashion realm.
Adesola unpacks the intricate dance between fashion, business, and branding. Whether it's the art of bespoke tailoring versus ready-to-wear or debunking myths about tailoring origins, Outspoken's commitment to quality, staff development, andswift 48-hour service shines brightly.
Take a listen here...
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Tune in to an enlightening episode of Signals on 91.3 Lagos Talks featuring legal practitioner and public commentator Lateef Oyefeso. Delve into a discussion on our rights and the complexities of the legal landscape in Nigeria.
Oyefeso sheds light on the legal intricacies surrounding rights, emphasizing the importance of due diligence, especially in property transactions. The conversation explores the challenges in the justice system, touching on delayed court cases, procedural issues, and the need for evidence in legal battles.
Gain insights into the threefold nature of justice according to Oyefeso - facts, procedure, and law. The discussion also touches on recent cases, such as election disputes, highlighting thesignificance of evidence and adherence to legal procedures.
Listen to the interview here.
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Join the insightful interview with Abraham Durosawo, a seasoned financial analyst and investment banker/venture capitalist, hosted by Anchor Adewunmi Oshodi on 91.3 Lagos Talks. Gain valuable insights into navigating Nigeria's financial landscapes.
Duro-Sawo discusses the challenges of Nigeria's macroeconomic space, emphasizing the impact on businesses and potential improvements in the next year. The conversationtouches on startup challenges, capital management, and the competence ofrecently appointed officials.
Discover practical strategies for business owners navigating financial difficulties, from facing brutal facts to evaluating financial statements. Duro-Sawo expresses hope for Nigeria's future, encouraging businesses to adapt and consider raising prices.
Listen to the interview here.
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In this conversation, the speaker discusses the changinglandscape of media and the role of technology in shaping the industry. The speaker, Savvy, is a serial entrepreneur, journalist editor, media manager, literary event organizer, and writer known for his books "The Red River Died" and "Spirit Walk." He has also served as the first head ofRadio Nigeria's strategy and Communications Department and the director of FRC and legal operations supervise three bands, Metro Bond and Radio One.
Technology has significantly changed the way media is producedand consumed. In the past, radio content was decided by an omniscientindividual who knew what was good for the listeners and designed itaccordingly. However, with the rise of digital technology, radio stations have become more diverse and interactive, allowing listeners to interact with each other and send messages online. This has led to a more flexible and agile media landscape.
Listen here...
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The focus was on beating poverty and how to do so. The speakerdiscusses with a business strategist, personal finance specialist, and anadvocate for driving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) on poverty, good health, well-being, quality education, gender equality, decent work, economic growth, and reducing inequalities.
Adeola Suleiman, the manager and programs directorate at Porsche Foundation is passionate about helping people and businesses make informed decisions that lead to sustainable growth, productivity, and wellness.Her industrial experience includes software development, project management, business and product development, strategic thinking, finance, and estate planning. She is also open to partnerships and collaborations and volunteers in various projects that promote creativity, personal growth, wellness, nation-building, women empowerment, and intentional living.
The speaker emphasizes that poverty is beyond money and thatpoverty is a mindset. To understand how to beat poverty, one needs tounderstand where they are financially literate. Financial literacy is only when individuals have knowledge and understanding that allows them to either make money, manage money, or multiply money. Without this understanding, it can feel like chasing a mirage.
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The Nigerian Bar Association Conference, held between August25th and 30th, focused on Getting it Right; Charting the Course for Nigeria's Nation Building. The event featured Habib Oloalomi Oyegbile, popularly known as Portable or Mr. Zeh, who performed his famous song Zazoo Zeh. Many people were not happy about the presence of Portable, as the Nigeria Bar Association is Nigeria's foremost professional membership organization and Africa's most influential network of legal practitioners.
The Nigerian entertainment industry has a diverse range ofartists, including Timi Dakolo, Olamide, Asake, Asa, Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Ade, and many more. However, the presence of Portable raises questions about respect for institutions and the relationship between the artist and the institution. Some argue that the presence of the singer may pass a wrong message to the public, while others question whether the institution should be respected.
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In this conversation, the speaker and her guest discuss the difference between sadness and depression. They discuss the importance of understanding the difference between these two emotions and how to distinguish between them.
Sadness is a natural human emotion that can cause emotionalupset or pain, while depression is a long-term mental illness that impairssocial, occupational, and other important areas of functioning. When sadness gets out of hand, it can lead to depression. Depression is a higher degree of sadness, which can be triggered by recent happenings such as business closures, increased school fees, rent, and fuel increases.
The speaker encourages listeners to talk about their experiences and share their feelings with others, as it can save their lives and the lives of others. They also mention that people's receptiveness to change is different from one person to another, so it is essential to find ways to cope with life's challenges.
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In this interview, Lakunle Ogunlesi, a graduate of OlabisiOnabanjo University discusses his journey from animal science to fashion. He shares his experience as a premium and luxury stylist at Gawd Studios, afashion designer at Yinka Samuel's, and working as a fashion creative for Tokyo James from 2017 to 2020. He has been on brand advertising as a premium stylist for over two years now for Budweiser, Hero Trophy, Samsung, Lacasera, Eko Hotels, and Power Oil.
Ogunlesi's transition from animal science to fashion waschallenging, but it was necessary for him to learn and adapt to the changing fashion landscape in Nigeria. He learned from Tokyo James and has since worked with notable brands such as Budweiser, Hero Trophy, Samsung, Lacasera, Eko Hotels, and Power Oil.
Ogunlesi's creative style is characterized by experimentaldesigning, which can be seen on runways and magazine covers. He designs more when he is heartbroken, finding a balance between focus and distractions. He also uses pop colors to create magic for dark-skinned individuals. His style icons include Alexander Macqueen, Frank Oshodi, Mai Atafo, and others who use much of the Ofi approach in their designs.
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In this interview, the presenter discusses the importance of health-related topics, such as mental and physical health, and how they can be addressed in a more balanced way. The guest, a pharmacist, shares his personal experiences and motivations for living a happy and healthy life.
The presenter asks the guest about his personal life and what makes him happy. The guest explains that he is happy with his job and the joy he gets from helping people, even when it comes to medication. He believes that the most rewarding part of his profession is helping people and providing long-term hope.
The presenter also touches on the topic of drugs and their role in the profession. The guest acknowledges that there are drugs available, but he does not prescribe them for individual patients. Instead, he worksclosely with doctors, mental health specialists, general practitioners, and surgeons to help clients through their issues.
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Our host had an interview session with Abosede Akinpade, a clinical psychologist at Akoma Health, who is a member of the NigerianAssociation of Clinical Psychologists, the Nigerian Psychology Association, and an affiliate member of the American Psychology Association. She has over nine years of experience in accessing, diagnosing, and treating various mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, personality disorder, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder, sexual trauma and dysfunction, pornography, sex and substance addiction, marital and family therapy, and neurogenerative disorders such as dementia.
Akinpade emphasizes the importance of maintaining mental health, as it is the seat of the mind and can control our actions, words, and reactions. She believes that everyone has mental health, but challenges can arise when we open ourselves up to negative thinking. These challenges can be acquired through various life events, such as trauma, abusive relationships, toxic relationships, and setbacks.
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In this interview, we discuss the work of Pharm Tobena Ezenwa, an award-winning sex and health educator and clinical pharmacist based inLagos. With interests in entrepreneurship, reading, education, innovation, and technology, he ensures the dissemination of health and wellness information, focusing on sex, medicine, conception, and infection control. With the help of his online health hub, he has helped over 100 clients and has built a message brand and community around sexual and reproductive health and wellness. With a vision to influence a healthier Africa, he provides innovative solutions and practical ways to live healthier, leveraging new media to create, impact, and influence.
The conversation revolves around the topic of sex education, which has been a contentious issue in Nigeria. The speaker, who is not married or single, started focusing on sex three years ago to address the lack of knowledge about the subject. He believes that educating the public about sex is essential to prevent errors and promote better sexual health.
In conclusion, the speaker emphasizes the importance of educating the public about sex education to prevent errors and promote better sexual health. By being open with the older generation and providing information about sex, the younger generation can make better decisions about their own sexual health.
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Temitope Omole an English graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, and, a food blogger joins our host to discuss the food and market pricing realities in Nigeria. The conversation centered on the rate at which things are now sold.
The guest shared her love for food blogging and how she learned to navigate market prices, she also shared her experience with her mother's method of pricing, and how it has helped her get the best bargain when pricing.
In summary, the conversation was about food and market pricing realities in Nigeria. The guest shared her experiences with food blogging and the importance of being honest and truthful when going to the market. The food blogger shares her love for food and the importance of navigating market prices while maintaining food nutrients. The guest also discusses the challenges faced by people in the market.
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The conversation revolved around the insecurity in Nigeria, particularly regarding the National Service Commission (NYSC) program. The program, established in 1973 by the Nigerian government to promote national unity and development, has been questioned due to concerns about its security. The conversation centered on whether NYSC has outlived its usefulness, and if Nigerians can pause for a year where everyone serves in their state.
The Anchor discussed the importance of NYSC and its role in promoting unity among Nigerian citizens. He believes that serving in one's state is already a good thing, but it is not a crime to serve. He questions thegovernment's plan to keep Nigerian citizens safe and the alternative to NYSC.
NYSC recently celebrated its fifty-year anniversary, and many people have enjoyed the program. However, there have been numerous kidnapping stories in Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger, Sokoto, and Katsina. The conversation highlights the need for a redesign of NYSC to ensure that everyone's lives are not at risk.
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Terae Onyeje, the managing partner of KraveX Limited, joins us today, who discuss the ever-evolving nature of technology and its impact onsociety. Terae is passionate about technology, transformation, and solutions, She has a background in IT infrastructure solution sales, business strategy, and management. She leverages her knowledge of the ICT industry to bridge the gap between tech innovation disruption and adoption. Terae focuses on tech transformation, using storytelling as a powerful tool for community impact.
Terae's journey began with Microsoft Connect, where people were interacting with the system to do physical things. When asked about herthoughts on technology, Terae emphasized that technology is life and that people should find ways to take advantage of what technology affords them. She suggests that for the future to be good for people, they must find ways to collaborate with technology and use it in some way.
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Onabuchi Adaeze, a certified dietician and nutritionist joins our host to discuss the importance of healthy living and eating. She believes that true well-being encompasses more than just a healthy diet and emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to health.
In Nigeria, there is a wealth of organic and healthy food options available for people to choose from. Many indigenous foods are also considered healthy, but many people are unaware of these options. To make rice healthier, one can add beans to it to balance it with vegetables, efo riro, and salad. This way, rice can be balanced with various proteins and fibers, making it a healthier option for those who enjoy rice.
Onabuchi Adaeze's holistic approach to health emphasizes the importance of a balanced diet and lifestyle habits for both men and women. By focusing on a balanced diet, individuals can reduce their risk of developing chronic diseases and improve their overall well-being. By incorporating healthy eating habits into their daily routines, individuals can lead healthier, happier lives.
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The discussion revolves around information security awareness, a crucial aspect of the business environment.Mr. Alex Akindumila an experienced IT risk manager with over two decades of experience in financial services, oil, and gas, emphasizes the importance of information security awareness and equipping people with safe practices for the daily use of technology as the first line of defense against cyberattacks, fraud, and other risks.
Information security is about protecting the security of information, classifying it, and determining who has access to it. This includes preventing hacking, web application fireworks, APIsecurity, and more. Technology continues to improve, making it easier toprotect devices with biometrics, retina scans, and fingerprints. These methods save users stress and make their security unique.
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In this conversation, the speaker discusses the potential for opportunities in Nigeria, particularly in the face of rising fuel and foodprices. The speaker explains that opportunities can mean advancement, progress, or profit and that Nigerians are hard-working. They discuss the importance of an enabling environment, such as roads and lights, to help people make do with what they have.
The speaker emphasizes the importance ofrecognizing opportunities in Nigeria and the need for people to take advantage of them. They also highlight the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in Nigeria, such as limited resources and the need for a supportive environment. By addressing these issues and fostering a sense of purpose and growth, Nigeria can continue to thrive in the face of economic challenges.
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Chef Amaka is a graduate of economics from the University of Lagos, who has a passion for the food and hospitality industries. She earned adistinction in basic culinary art from Wavecrest College of Hospitality and has hosted people in her home, hostel, and room, researching recipes and creating a fun atmosphere. In November 2015, she started Dish L’afrique to provide well-prepared, quality meals and deliver them to their doorsteps.
Chef Amaka is a goal-getter and strives to acquire in-depth knowledge of ingredients, recipes, creation, and food fusion. She took a pro chef course at Giggles Culinary and is currently mentioned among the 30 under-35 chefs in Nigeria by the Culinary Arts Practitioners Association of Nigeria. On today’s episode of the show, our host, and guest talk about the art of fine dining and the different types of dining, what it takes to be called a certified chef.
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In this edition, our host interviews Cottrell, an Afro-pop soul artist and mix engineer from Rivers State, Nigeria. Cottrell's unique blend of African soul and Western pop music allows him to paint pictures withhis vocals and lyricism. He began his music journey as a rapper in high school and composed his first song at age 9. He also began playing the guitar along the way.
Having studied economics at Bowen University, and graduatingas a first-class student. He is known for delivering breathtaking andemotionally provocative performances and has shared the stage with Nigeria's most sought-after performers like Ric Hassani, Johnny Drille, Praiz, Timi Dakolo, Chike, and Ladipo.
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In this interview segment on Dreamcity on UNILAG 103.1 FM, Ikenna Nwamuo discusses his career as a brand designer and his passion for creating visually appealing and impactful brand stories. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Nwamuo developed a passion for arts and design from a young age, leading him to pursue a career in the field of design. He gained experience working with established design agencies and collaborating with clients from diverse industries, refining his skills and understanding the importance of visual storytelling and brand strategy.
Nwamuo's unique design style combines minimal, clean typography with bold color choices, he believes in creating designs that invoke emotions, communicate the essence of a brand, and leave a lasting impression on the audience. His work often involves creating cohesive brand identities, including logos, brand guidelines, packaging, and marketing collateral. His journey as a brand designer showcaseshis commitment to his passion for design and his ability to create meaningful and impactful visual experiences.
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Uduak Umana Odungidi discusses her journey as the founder of a leading food company and a side business academy. She has served over 10,000 customers within and outside Nigeria and holds an MB in business administration from OAU, a B.Sc. from the University of Uyo, and certification from the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm, and Research in Benin.
Uduak is an accomplished entrepreneur, aggressive marketer, and video expert who has created videos for 200+ entrepreneurs. She has helped thousands of businesses grow their brand visibility, influence, and sales using video. In 2023, she was named one of the 100 most aspiring women in Africa by Leading Ladies in Africa.
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Opeyemi Makanjuola joins our host to discuss Adulting 101. In this conversation, Opeyemi shared how her journey began after working with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs. The conversation focuses on the everyday issues children and even young adults go through, ranging from puberty-related issues to sexual violence, peer pressure, addictions, suicidal intentions, and so on.
She also talked about the Bridging the Gap initiative a mentorship program for the aggressive social and emotional issues young people encounter as they transcend into adulthood.
The silence culture, whereby the victim has to hide their experience due to the stigmatization they would face was also discussed.
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Chinonso Ogbogu joins our host to discuss his journey to becoming an award-winning entrepreneur, start-up investor, gifted writer, author, and talent builder. He is the founder and CEO of Sabi Writers Africa, a leading award-winning writing solutions company that has grown from asmall bedroom in Lagos to a massive 13-bedroom twin apartment and serves clients across Africa through shared innovation, resilience, diligence, and courage. Ogbogu is unlocking new opportunities in the writing space for young talents in Africa.
Ogbogu talked about what drove him to rebuild and what was running through his mind to rebuild. Ogbogu said it was a voice in his head that said, "Life is not through with you yet." That statement kept him going, as he felt like there was something behind the curtain that was waiting to be discovered.
Ogbogu's journey to becoming an award-winning entrepreneur, start-up investor, gifted writer, author, and talent builder highlights the importance of innovation, resilience, diligence, and courage, inovercoming challenges and achieving success. By sharing his story and inspiring others, Ogbogu encourages others to follow their dreams and make a difference in their lives.
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Businesses need foresight and opportunities that enable them to develop and succeed. Nigeria possesses vast business opportunities which often attract investors and stakeholders.
Diversifying Business Options with Tech has not been fully utilized in the Nigerian Business space because of the ongoing transition into a fully digital society.
In this episode of Signals, Tumi Adeyemi, a business development strategist, shares how people allow tech opportunities to pass them by.
he gave insights on how businesses can key into using tech to upscale and make the best of their business.
In this discussion, Aladesanmi Joke, founder and executive director of the Centre for Legal Support and Inmate Rehabilitation (CELSIR), discusses the challenges faced by Nigerians in prison.
Joke, a criminal defense attorney with over 11 years of experience, has been involved in providing support to incarcerated individuals and recognizing the rehabilitation gap in Nigeria.
With over 73,500 incarcerated individuals in Nigeria, over 70% are awaiting trials, leaving over 50,000 people in prison waiting to either be convicted or acquitted. Joke emphasizes that the consequences of incarceration are not limited to convicted individuals.
The prison population in Nigeria is overly congested, and leaving an offender in prison can have a significant impact on the nation as a whole. The consequences of incarceration are not
limited to convicted individuals.
Joke advocates for rehabilitation skills development for incarcerated
individuals, focusing on skills that can be a survival tool when they are out. She advocates for resources and opportunities to be on the ground for rehabilitation.
One of the programs they run for incarcerated individuals is their prison educational project, which provides education, teaching, and exam preparation.
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In this episode of the show, Antonia, a rising star in the fashion industry, shares her journey as a model and the creator of Domingo, a celebrated fashion business in Lagos, Nigeria.
Domingo is known for bringing apparel to compliment women's identities and supporting their growth and confidence. The brand focuses on serving women who want to make a statement with modest and elegant looks in all body sizes.
Antonia has utilized her creativity in various ways, including being a creative director, baker, stylist, and TV producer.
Antonia's journey began when she was
outsourcing to tailors, but it wasn't working out. She took time to learn from a fashion school and started Domingo fashion house, which has since grown into a successful business.
Antonia believes that Nigeria ranks
among one of the biggest fashion industries in Africa and the world at large. She believes Nigeria needs to continue at the pace it is going because there is no other thing Nigeria is lacking.
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Joshua Ajiboye is passionate about creating mobile experiences that make people's lives easier, more fun, and more meaningful. Ajiboye is a senior mobile engineer and entrepreneur who have worked on various projects, including building apps that help people stay organized and creating games.
Tech is all about innovation, and focusing on solutions, as a beginner, programming languages like HTML and CSS can be learned through
various materials and free courses.
Techpreneurship at its finest involves looking at your environment and seeing what is lacking. Ajiboye believes that there are many untapped solutions in Nigeria, West Africa, and Africa, and that you can create solutions that benefit millions of people on all continents.
His passion for creating mobile experiences and innovation is a key factor in his success in the tech industry. By focusing on solutions and adapting to changing needs, entrepreneurs can create solutions that benefit millions of
people worldwide.
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Adanma Kadiri, a highly experienced certified document control professional with over twenty years of experience in managing
and organizing documentation for large projects in the oil and gas sector in sub-Sahara Africa, shares her passion for document control.
Kadiri has worked for NETCO NNPC, KBR, and Exxon Mobile before setting up her own business.
Organizing documents has been a challenge for many Nigerian corporations and organizations, but Kadri believes that the importance of document management has grown due to the Covid era.
Kadiri's passion for document control stems from her love for books and the organization of information in libraries.
Kadiri emphasizes the importance of attention to detail, organizational skills, and communication. Kadir's main focus with Doc Masters is on small businesses, emphasizing the importance of document control in ensuring the safety and efficiency of their operations. By implementing innovative strategies and implementing a strong backup system. Kadiri aims to improve the
efficiency, productivity, and cost of document control in Nigeria.
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Deremi, a Nigerian Afro-fusion artist and song writer, is a rising star in the music industry. Born 4th June 1998 in Ikare Lagos State.
His music has been influenced by his audience in high school and university.
He loves experimenting with sounds from different cultures, and his music is melodic and influenced by West Africa, East Africa, Middle West culture, and Northern America.
Afro-fusionism characterized by the use of violin, bass, strings, keyboards, and trumpets in music.
His biggest turning point in his music career was performing at an event with Caribbean vibes, where he was the only one on stage, showcasing the love and passion in the crowd.
He believes that the Nigerian music industry is doing well enough, but he believes there is work to be done to make it more of an African thing.
He also believes that the global recognition and appreciation of Afro-fusion songs can help maintain its uniqueness and appeal.
Rotaract is an international organization that has a significant impact in Nigeria, providing a platform for young individuals to showcase their inner abilities and develop themselves as potential leaders in various activities.
Abdullahi Afolabi, the current district Rotaract representative for Rotaract 9110 Nigeria is responsible for overseeing the activities and programs of about 86 Rotaract clubs in Lagos state and Ogun state, which are made up of young professionals and undergraduates committed to community service and leadership development.
The organization has provided a platform for young individuals to showcase their inner abilities and develop leadership qualities, fostering a sense of responsibility and responsibility in the community
Max Menkiti, is a serial entrepreneur with extensive experience in bootstrapping, hospitality, start-ups, and operations in the UK and Nigeria. He is currently the founder and CEO of Millennium Apartment and Studio Service Apartment, and the executive director of Radiance School, Festac. He has over two decades and seven years of hands-on, full-range business experience.
Max Menkiti shares his ideas about gradual growth for SMEs, such as the psychology of the mindset of entrepreneurs, the job of the brain to help you achieve what it thinks you want it to do, and the importance of taking failures the right way.
He highlighted the steps needed to address failure and shock the brain, the importance of looking at where you failed, and understanding what you need to do next time and what you shouldn't do next time.
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Yetunde Olorunleke, an economist, an ex-banker, an administrator, a business consultant, and a chattered tax practitioner, who is the managing partner of Happy Tax Business Services joins our host to talk about the ABCs of tax.
Most of the challenges that sole proprietorships have are when they have workers who are not educated enough to know that they need to pay taxes through pay as you earn scheme.
Small businesses are divided into two types: limited liability companies and sole proprietorships. To ensure proper bookkeeping, taxpayers should keep proper books and put aside some of the things they need to pay monthly, quarterly, or yearly.
Tax practitioners are supposed to be representatives of both the government and the taxpayer mainly tilted towards the taxpayer. They help determine or plan taxes, file returns, and represent the taxpayer with the tax administrators.
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The Nigerian Census is the official count or survey of a population, and the last census in 2006 was about 140 million people. Since then, the figures have risen to 220 million, and Nigeria is expected to conduct a national census this year.
Our hosts Tobore and Adewunmi discuss the issues of political influence and lack of transparency in Nigeria's censuses. They explained the importance of census for the government and the people.
The reason why the government wanted the census to hold at this present time and the fifteen million dollars that were meant to be used to purchase the devices to be used was discussed.
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The most important philosophies of life are embedded in sports and martial arts. These philosophies include resiliency, strategy, understanding oneself, one's enemy, and one's environment.
The philosophy behind mixed martial arts is that it is a combination of all the fighting and that it is a business and employment for the youth. This has led to the recognition of the mixed martial art federation by the honourable minister for sport, Sunday Dare.
Our guest is Dr. Ebere Bernard, a life coach and master of mixed martial art sport with over three decades of experience across the Western, Asian, Brazilian, and traditional African styles. He is the current director of grassroots development in the Nigerian mixed martial art federation and president of Akalaka Spirit of Warriors, a professional mixed martial arts promotion that grows local talents in Nigeria and Africa joins our host Adewunmi Oshodi to talk about Mixed Martial arts in Nigeria.
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Oluseyi Jolayemi is a mentor, life coach, and teacher with a decade of experience in branding, branding storytelling, coaching, creative expression, strategy, business mentorship, problem-solving design, project management, and event management.
She is also the founder of the Evergreen Legacy Africa social movement set to shape the lives and cultures of future Africans and the author of four books. The Reordering Your Life book series is a set of faith-based books that cover a particular subject matter that can be used to order our lives in the right direction.
She explains that meeting with people helps teenagers learn, pick up habits, and see how to do things differently. She suggests that parents should monitor the interaction their teenage children have, but not cut it out.
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The primary healthcare system determines how successful the healthcare system is, and it is important to identify why Nigerian doctors are leaving.
WHO defines good health as a state of complete mental and psychological well-being with the absence of infirmity or sickness.
On today’s episode, our anchor Adewunmi and our guest Dr Diya discuss why Nigerian doctors are leaving the country, how the primary healthcare system of the country is almost zero, what needs to be done in other to revive the healthcare system and also how people should be empowered to ease the burden on Doctors.
Dr Ololade Diya is a highly motivated and resourceful doctor who has a passion for writing, teaching, and travelling. He is the director of Atlantis Pediatric Hospital and the CEO of Celebrity Platinum Group. He has a passion for patient care.
Adeola Balogun, the Founder and Chief Operating Officer of LimLim Foods Production Company, is a chartered accountant with a passion for driving innovation, change, food, and security in the agricultural food processing value chain in Africa. With the mission to help reduce post-harvest losses in Nigeria by partnering with the right stakeholders, helping to build sustainable agricultural food processing businesses, and providing knowledge and guidance to new entries in the industry.
She started with dried bananas, which she turned into powders and chips. Today, the product can be used across many industries, such as cereals, baby food, confectionaries, drinks, smoothie makers, and yoghurt makers.
Balogun has done a lot of research and identified countries where they can get the machines. She has been to Dubai, India, and other countries to get the machines.
She has also launched certain products, such as a ready-to-drink pepper soup in a sachet, which take away 99% of the moisture while keeping the product structure intact and the nutrients intact.
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The CBN has instructed banks to open this weekend, allowing customers to deposit and withdraw money. However, people were struggling to gettheir money to the bank without having an alternative source to spend it, leading to issues with cash being lost in the system and people being stranded all through the period.
The hosts Tobore and Adewunmi discuss the CBN's indecisiveness and the need to give people time to adjust, ensure the banking system is up-to-date, and make sure people are tech-savvy.
They discussed the importance of cash circulating in the country, especially for the elderly. They both suggested that the CBN should compensate the bankers. Nigerians were also encouraged to go to their banks this weekend if they need funds. It was predicted that it will take months for cash to be back incirculation due to people's fear of suffering.
Join our hosts Adewunmi and Tobore as they discuss the cash crunch and CBN versus the people.
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INEC postponed the election to March 18, giving Nigerians more time to think about pressing issues. This week has been a time for candidates to canvass for votes. The cash issue is still a major concern, and Nigerians are demanding more fromthe state governors.
The election was postponed to reconfigure the bimodal accreditation system ahead of the governorship and state assembly polls. People have mixed feelings about the postponement, as it has given candidates more time to campaign. People are considering how to select their leader, based on merit, prospect, or regional or religious sentiment.
The postponement of elections in Lagos has caused people to postpone their weddings and other events due to theelections.
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A large number of people are not happy, and others are happy with the turnout of the just concluded elections. What lessons can we derive from the elections, and how can we use them to improve the forthcoming governorship and House of Assembly elections coming up? What are the mistakes that were made and that need to be corrected? How do we move forward starting now?
We were all Nigerians first before tribe, so as a nation, we must remain one. A total of 93 million people registered to get their PVCs, and 87 million of them were collected; this goes on to show that we made a statement, but it’s not just about making statements; it’s about exercising your civic rights and responsibilities, which can only be achieved by going out to vote.
On today’s episode of Signals, our host interacted with the listeners, asking them about their expectations for the forthcoming governorship and House ofRepresentative's elections. A lot of callers called in and gave their opinions; some voiced their grievances about the past election and hoped that INEC would use this governorship election to redeem its image.
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The show today was centered on the new naira redesign. A week to the general elections and the country has taken an entirely different turn with protests and riots almost across all the states. Most banks are not opening and the central bank has announced that the old currency should be submitted at their office. A lot of people are not accepting the old currency again, but the new currency is nowhere to be found.
Not only the masses, some senators as well as governors have expressed their displeasure at what is going on currently. Why are people rejecting the old notes, when the new ones are barely in circulation, was the redesign really necessary at this particular point in time? The aim or reason for the reason was achieved.
Our host Adewunmi Oshodi engaged the listeners on their experience and how they’ve been coping, some of the callers felt that the protests and riots were sponsored, and some urged Nigerians to endure it because they believed it was for just a short period, while others felt it was the masses that were at the receiving end.
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The country's continuous lack of cash has been generating many mixed reactions from people all over the country. The POS operators are also not making things any better due to the enormous amount of money they collect as charges. Our guest Comrade Olusoji Oluwole talked about his experience within the last week.
The challenges his association is still facing, the continuous burning down of banks and the attacks on its staff, and the destruction that is being done to banks and the possible way forward. He also talked about saboteurs and how they’ve been making things difficult while cashing out, going on he further encouraged people to go cashless and be careful of how they spend the little cash they have in this period.
In conclusion, he advised us to keep our fingers crossed and hoped for the best, and urged everyone to lend a helping hand, especially during this period.
Listen here for the complete episode…….
The financial situation in the country for the past few weeks has been bad and this is due to the naira redesign. Our guest Olusoji Oluwole the President of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks Insurance and Financial Institutions talks about the financial situation the country has found itself in, the pros and cons of the naira design at this particular point in time. The hardships Nigerians are currently facing and the transferred aggression his members are currently receiving from the general public.
A higher percentage of the old note is not in circulation, this is because only a specific few have them in possession, this is part of the reason that the naira redesign was necessary, also part of the reason the redesign has failed is that the amount of new currency produced is not up to the amount of old currency that has been returned. In conclusion, comrade Olusoji talked about his struggles so far as an activist, and the methods and ways he uses to get results.
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Working for smaller companies whereby you have to go to people at the base of the pyramid made me realize that people are lounging in Lagos because there are a lot more opportunities there than here. Creating value is selling the need for a consumer to buy a product not selling the product itself. Analysis has to be done on the product to know its targeted buyers. Passion and dedication also have to be considered in selling your market effectively.
Selling is a bit of a mindset, you have to have passion for what you’re selling, believe in it, and always look for the positive side no matter how negative the product is. Online ads and how they work, how to thrive in an online business, and the etiquette you have to have if your business is online.
Rasheed Adewusi a sales business development and marketing leader and join our host on today’s episode to talk about selling your market effectively.
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On today’s episode, our host Adewunmi Oshodi engaged our listeners on PVCs collection. She wanted to know if the listeners had collected their PVCs or not. For those that were yet to collect their PVCs, she wanted to know what was stopping them. She mentioned that some people that are yet to get their PVCs felt it was a deliberate attempt by INEC officials not to allow them to vote. Citing that people could volunteer themselves to make the process easier andfaster.
The listeners had an opportunity to call in and share their views and experience in collecting their PVCs. Most of the callers had a lot to share, and some praised INEC for an easy collection, while some faulted INEC due to the stress they had to go through to get their PVC.
In conclusion, the host wanted to know what happens to uncollected PVCs and encouraged everyone to go to the center they registered in, or go to their ward, if their center could not provide it.
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Everyone has their New Year resolution set for the year, and it is a fact that everyone wants to make money. In achieving your sales target, you must be able to do things differently, looking at your experience and pointing out what didn’t work so you don’t repeat the same mistake is one of the keys to achieving your sales target. A lot of businesses fail today because most business owners do what they like without realizing they’re not the ones buying their products.
Using himself as an example, our guest talked about how he puts his entire plan together before the New Year, then breaks them down and also prioritizes them in the order he wants. He talked about the need for regular surveys as an entrepreneur and how these surveys can help improve the producer-to-customer relationship. On this episode, our host Adewunmi Oshodi and our guest talk about the challenges in achieving targeted sales in business and the ways to go about it.
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Elections are civic responsibilities of citizens that shape the future of a nation. The independent organizations that conduct the electoral process must be free from any form of external influence.
Recently there have been reports of anomalies in the Nigerian electoral process. Some individuals took to social media to point out these irregularities and urged INEC to refrain from any unlawful practice.
Our host received the views of Nigerians on their preparedness for the 2023 elections and what they make of the electoral process amidst the alleged irregularities.
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Society consists of different classes of people, some classes need intervention and support for sustainability, while other classes provide support and hope to the needy, it is important to also create sustainable activities for them.
Social Entrepreneurs are individuals who pursue talents that have the potential to solve community-based problems, harness these talents, and ensure they become an important factor in problem-solving.
On this episode of Signals, Abimbola Ajala, a social entrepreneur with over 10 years of experience spanning shares with our host, Adewunmi Oshodi - Tapa how she has been touching Lives through Social Entrepreneurship.
She went deep into the prospects and challenges. Listen here.
October is a significant month to create awareness about breast cancer which is becoming increasingly rampant in our country. There are methods of detecting early breast cancer and lifestyles that can be adopted to reduce the risk of having breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month was created in 1985 to promote screening and prevention of the disease, which affects one in eight women in the United States every year and 2.3 million women worldwide.
Known best for its pink theme color, the month features a number of campaigns and programs — conducted by groups ranging from breast cancer advocacy organizations to local community organizations to major retailers — aimed at supporting people diagnosed with breast cancer, educating people about breast cancer risk factors stressing the importance of regular screening, fundraising for breast cancer research.
In our little contribution, through our radio programme, Young & Cerebral joined in creating more awareness about breast cancer
Our Host on Signals Adewunmi Oshodi – Tapa had a conversation on breast cancer with Dr. Laguda Olorunfemi Idris on Lagos Talks 91.3 FM
Some of the shocking revelations made by Dr. Laguda were that men could also have breast cancer though rare but is more dangerous than in women; women as young as 21 are now being diagnosed with cancer; living healthy is not a guarantee against bread cancer.
He gave medical advice that can reduce the risk of cancer to the barest minimum while also analyzing some myths about breast cancer
Listen to the full episode here…
Disabilities do not limit individuals' gifts or talents, it only requires special effort to enable them to achieve their dreams.
People with disabilities are often victims of stigmatization and segregation, which limits their potential to participate in social activities, proactive steps have been taken to create awareness and foster love among people living with disabilities in society.
On this episode of Signals, our host Adewunmi Oshodi – Tapa engaged our guest, Treasures Uchegbu in a conversation about Empowering People with disabilities (PWDs).
Treasure got into PWD empowerment when she encountered a young deaf HIV patent and she couldn’t communicate with the patient. She has since created several platforms of inclusiveness and accessibility for PWD. She is currently championing the adoption of sign languages in every gathering.
Treasures maintained that the society needs to see beyond medical and charity whenever they encounter a PWD but Create inclusiveness. They are not to be pitied but the be carried along.
Our churches and our mosques are even culpable, that is why Treasures cautioned religious organizations against the thought of miracles whenever they see a PWD but create an atmosphere where they can enjoy the same benefits as others. She said it is important to ask a PWD what s/he wants before rendering assistance.
She advised any PWD or their caregivers to reach out for therapy and there are lots of options in Nigeria. She added that PWDs have access to the same life as others and she has been ensuring every policy creates inclusion for PWDS.
She explained that there is yet to be a universally accepted sign language but the American sign language is used in Nigeria and can be learned by anyone.
Listen to all that she said including comments from callers.
October 1st, 2022 was another day to celebrate Nigeria, it’s the 62nd Independence anniversary.
Nigeria is a promising nation with a lot of potential and talent. Electing the right leaders who are compassionate about its citizens may restore the glory Nigeria has always been known for.
On this edition of signals with Oshodi on Lagos Talk, we took a journey on how far we have come, where we are, and where we ought to be.
Nigerians called in on the programme to share their thoughts about this nation, listen here…
Signals Lagos which was hosted by Oshodi Tapa began by asking the Guest Tumi Adeyemi why he never let an opportunity slip by, Tumi’s responded by giving a clear understanding of where he was coming from, indicating that if you come from a place of lack or survival, everything would present itself as an opportunity for you. The host further pressed harder by stating some individuals rarely see opportunity, and when they get this opportunity, they let it slip by. Tumi as a matter of fact asserted that grabbing opportunities is a matter of the mind and preparedness. He goes further to say the opportunity you are mindful of is what becomes your chance.
Besides being addressed as a business development strategist, the Guest also described himself as an Entrepreneur, who focuses on strategies that enable him to cut across several sectors in the principles that govern business. He goes further to address himself as a fortunate jack of all trades. Oshodi further enquired about what process means to a strategist. Tumi in simple terms gives an example of what a process is, which means setting a goal and combining all factors of productivity to achieve that goal. He likened this example to jollof rice and how jollof rice is cooked. The host also asked the Guest about Zeno, the technology used in powering the Lagosride, Tumi gave a definite response relating the major traffic on the roads to the number of private cars on the road, and this is a result of the unreliable transport system.
In conclusion, Tumi was quizzed on how enabling the Nigerian environment is for business by Oshodi, he claimed that the business environment is not really enabling, however, if efforts are made by each and every individual, we will experience change. His idea behind Zeno technology struck him the first time he visited Lagos and had to pay an exorbitant amount of money for a cab fare, he realized that Lagos would become a hub for his business ideas.
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, a governorship candidate of Lagos, representing the Labour Party was quizzed by our Host, Oshodi-Tapa. The show kicked off with Gbadebo being interested in knowing why it’s winning elections versus the people’s trust because in an election you need the people’s vote, he further stated that a politician must have the trust of the people already, or have an antecedent that can be used to measure one’s capability. He mentions gaining the people’s trust is about sharing the vision you have for the people and the consistency in the message you are passing. He relates this with the “Obidient” phenomenon which is taking over Nigeria.
Mr. Rhodes explained that running for senate in a systematic senatorial district doesn’t prepare you well enough to become a governor, albeit, he insisted that running for senate for Lagos-West which comprises ten local governments is bigger than some states in Nigeria, population-wise. He understood the issues people genuinely deal with in his senatorial district, the absence of some infrastructures, and he was exposed and human interaction to what the people of Lagos need. When asked about the power bloc by the host, he insisted that the election had nothing to do with the power bloc, Mr. Rhodes further ascertains the fact that if they had good dividends of governance, there would be no need to rig elections, and they also take advantage of voter apathy. Mr. Rhodes gave a valid point about the caliber of politicians who are out campaigning are not competent enough, and the competent politicians are not making their voices heard enough, also stating that the leaders are a reflection of the people that take politics seriously.
Mr. Rhodes made it clear that the new wave of competent politicians such AS himself are redefining voter dynamics and demography. When asked by Oshodi-Tapa if the people understand and want good governance, Mr. Rhodes gave a response that was very insightful, he said the people want good governance, but they have not been inspired enough to be bothered to get their permanent voters cards, but all of that has changed. He claims the people who have dignity in labour are the custodians of democracy because they do not vote with their stomachs, they vote with their minds and an idea of what the future should be. He enlightens his listeners with the fact that any political office holder who gets into power through vote buying and electoral fraud has no interest in serving the people, rather he will think of himself as an emperor who cannot serve the people.
Our Guest Lanre Olagunju was quizzed by our Host Oshodi-Tapa about the agenda going on by members of different political groups to de-market their opposition candidates, and also about the 2023 general election is a battle between the young vs the old. Lanre likens the situation to a popular musician’s masterpiece, Asa’s fire on the mountain. He says he hopes the fire can be put out and further states that there is no need for a battle, the only requirement is synergy between the old and young.
Subsequently, Oshodi-Tapa asked Lanre when Nigerians will be united for a cause as against vested interest. Lanre on the other hand had to admit that was a big question, he stated that from the history of Nigeria, we’ve always seen ourselves as a divided people. He states that politically and ethnically, we are the most divided people. He further went ahead to say when people go to the market, the prices remain the same for all ethnic backgrounds.
Without a doubt, Lanre vividly explained his thoughts on fake news. He goes on to tell to enlighten his listeners that many people think fake news just started, he also lists the type of fake news, which are:
· Misinformation,
· Disinformation, &
· Malinformation.
In addition to this, he explains that misinformation is a piece of information that has no intention to mislead you. Disinformation is a deliberate decision on falsehood. While Malinformation is saying libelous things against people or organizations. The Host also inquires about the motivation behind people creating false stories, which also leads to what fact-checking is about. Lanre goes ahead to tell the audience that the motivation behind sharing disinformation could be related to political reasons and economic reasons among others. Mr. Lanre highlights his discovery on the popular social media app, Facebook, making his claim that many Facebook accounts have been built around fake news to gather more followership and engagements, the owners of these accounts then sell these accounts during the election period to different political parties which they use to share political content. Sometimes, people create fake news and spread this news to become famous.
In conclusion, Oshodi asked the Guest how people can fact-check the promises politicians are going to make in the forthcoming election. Lanre on the other hand stated that Nigerians must hold public office holders accountable, he reiterates that the days whereby being unable to ask the elderly ones to be accountable are gone, and right now information can not be dumped on Nigerians anymore because people are asking questions.
Signals Guest, Oloruntoba Olubukola Motunrayo started off by saying Real Estate is a low-hanging fruit everyone can pluck, when asked why by the show’s Host, Oshodi-Tapa, she gives the reasons why which are:
· You can come into the space as an investor,
· You can also come in as a marketer.
Oshodi asked Oloruntoba an important question that is on the lips of many Nigerians concerning being able to afford a plot of land. Oloruntoba replied by giving an insightful answer, she said if an individual cannot buy the land out rightly, such a person can do land banking, which is also called buyback, and if an individual has about five hundred thousand or below, an individual can invest in land banking which brings returns, in some months, he or she will be able to purchase a plot of land. If an individual doesn’t have that amount of money, the individual can join the network marketing team to achieve the desired result.
She further tells us at least one hundred and twenty plots of land make up an estate. Our network marketing team is in a pool whereby we interact with a large number of people. One also has to be consistent and ready to put in the work. She also states that consistency is better than tenacity.
Oshodi asked our Guest about the current rate of inflation and how buyers are going to cope with the ever-increasing rate of properties. Our Guest also highlighted the fact that Real Estate is the surest way to wealth and as an individual, you will need to own a home and always live in a home. These factors will make the land business continue to be important forever.
Real Estate investors are futuristic thinkers, and this is why they buy plots of land close to a developing area, and in about ten to fifteen years, that environment would have opened up to development. She advises people that if they cannot afford to buy landed properties in Lagos, they can explore other parts of the country. Oloruntoba gives a historic account of what the Catholic Mission did, stating that they used to build churches in the middle of the bushes and that attracted people to move into that area and settle down.
Oshodi-Tapa further asked about the type of documentation required when buying land and Oloruntoba gave a simple reply by saying any document that doesn’t have an excision is not valid. Excision means that The Government has excised a portion of land stating that it is free and not needed by The Government.
Furthermore, there are certain individuals who are referred to as “Omo Oni le”, these set of people usually collect money from individuals after purchasing a portion of land, and the question of how to handle them was asked by the Host. The Guest stated that they also have to meet with developers and you as a network marketer also have to settle them so they do not disturb clients.
Lastly, Nigerians in the diaspora make up about ninety percent of our customers, she likens this to the African mentality of always having properties back in Nigeria. She also states that people should always make sure they do not turn their assets into liabilities, which deals with high demand in the market and space management.
The hosts Tobore and Itunu were interested in knowing how business owners in Nigeria thrived despite the current challenges they face in the country. The hosts mentioned a number of factors that made the ease of doing business quite uneasy, and sometimes stalls business operations for business owners. The fluctuations with foreign currencies, poor power supply, bad roads, and extortion transporters of goods face in the city and on the highway, to mention a few.
Some callers called in to express their opinions about how they’ve been coping, and the challenges they face. A caller by the name of Ranking from Apapa was unhappy about why educated people argue about why the cost of goods in the market, he says this is because of the cost of fuel in the economy, and these items do not go down, he says he expects a different argument from people in the corporate sector who are more educated and exposed. Another caller whose name is Tade from Ajah explains how his laptop had developed a fault, which made him enquire about the price of a new one in 2022 which was about half a million, he states that this same laptop now goes for about a million. Ekene from Lekki who was a first-time caller on any radio show said the problem is the government and its lack of regulation on the prices of goods. He goes on to say the government is less concerned about the welfare of the people, Ekene also expressed his displeasure about how expensive it is to clear his car which is a 2009 sedan from the port after spending a lot to purchase and ship it into the country. Dominic from Ikorodu who is into the bread business also lamented about the high cost of goods. He went on to say that they hardly make a profit because of the way things are. Finally, Ekanem from Lekki complained about the high cost of living citing an example of when he started working in 2015 and earned fifty thousand naira, compared to 2022 when he earns one hundred naira and there was more value for the fifty thousand naira back in 2015 than there is for a hundred thousand naira in 2022.
These were some of the experiences of some Nigerians who were either doing business or affected by the policies the government had put in place. This also encompassed the cost of living for citizens and asking the government to intervene.
There have been concerns about the state of Nigeria for a long time, but now it is getting closer to home. During the week some presidential guards were attacked and killed in the Nation’s capital. Killings, kidnappings, loss of property, and fear of the unknown have even compounded the economic hardship.
These terrorists are growing bolder to have carried out attacks on presidential guards in the Capital, that is how worst it can get; now what should be the concern of the masses?
When does this end? Is the President not also tired? We are a few months to the election and people are still worried, are we sure we are not sitting on a keg of gunpowder?
Our hosts Adewunmi Oshodi-Tapa turned the mic to the audience to air their views on the security status of their families, environment, and the country at large
The first caller was Ladi from Festac who said the government allowed this insecurity to degenerate, he said what could have been stopped in its early phase has now become massive insecurity. The right thing according to him is not being done because of greed by those in power. He called out on politicians to know that their office is determined by the existence of a people to govern.
Another caller Taoreed from Lekki insisted that the president was intentional about not acting, even after his envoy, the Presidential guard was attacked, nobody has been sacked.
Eloka from Surulere listed the characteristics of a failed state to be when a part of a nation’s territory is being occupied by foreign threats and when the constitution of a nation is partially or wholly suspended among others. He said these qualities are evident in Nigeria.
Oluwaseun from Ogba, having responsible citizens would ensure a safe country. He said the present day’s focus and quest to make money not minding the source has increased security threats around and many values have been lost compared to the previous generation. He urged governments to put structures in place to ensure that people are responsible on their own so that it can spread to society.
Remi from Ikorodu said many individuals who are not even so wealthy have security personnel attached to them, not because of robbery but to protect themselves from other security threats like kidnapping. He berated tagging the criminals as bandits in place of the name terrorists. He went on to refer to a memo from ECOWAS warning their staff about some insecure locations in Nigeria, this is to emphasize the height of insecurity in the country. He said Nigeria isn’t prepared for what is coming.
Also, Joshua from Ikorodu says the government has gagged the media, and people now find it hard to tell and admit the truth, people will rather protect one man at the expense of the country.
Everyone is encouraged to treat people well - guards, community members, and security agencies even if they are annoying, let’s try to be kind to them. Some of these security threats come from among us…
Listen to people’s opinions and recommendations here…
Nigerians are known to delve into trendy occurrences. There is a thirst for knowledge in the Nigerian community, which has depicted the en masse participation of Nigerians in tech, forex, NFT, and other opportunities.
Tech has been dubbed the new gold, hence the massive inflow of youths into this sector which solidifies its position as one of Africa’s fastest-growing tech industries. Tech is very diverse and it keeps growing. Digital Marketing has become a prominent factor in creating employment and sustainability in the Nation today.
Adewunmi Oshodi – Tapa hosted Temitayo Oyinyemi the founder of Prime click marketing and they talked about “Understanding Digital Marketing” on Lagos Talks 91.3FM.
Oyinyemi is a firm believer in harnessing the immense potential of the internet in the growth of the African economy. He believes digital marketing will be a key driver in small and medium-scale businesses having worked with different sectors.
In layman’s terms, digital marketing is the same as the traditional marketing except that it is done on digital platforms, the same thing you do in traditional marketing is the same on digital except that you can reach a lot more people and a lot more people can reach you.
Having practiced for eight years, he said Digital marketing is broad and there are lots of things involved because of the digital involved in it. The core parts are digital advertising, social media content which is what most Nigerians focus on. There is also content marketing as well as email marketing as well.
Digital marketing is not going to take over entirely because it depends on your strategy, product and market. At the end of the day, you will discover that the digital marketing audience is majorly Lagos, Abuja…if you want to reach people in the North and the East, especially if it is FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods), you still have to use your radio, TV, you won’t go far relying only on digital. If you are doing Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and some parts of Kaduna, you can still go digital. From experience, anything digital In Nigeria, you’ll discover that 80% of the audience is in Lagos. If your project is not Lagos market-driven, then digital marketing may be limited for you.
Oyinyemi derives joy in getting more clients, the fact that we can help them go from point A to point B, they can hire more staff, they can get more revenue and their business can grow to build the economy. He also derives joy in helping people grow.
Providing options for learning and opportunities for upskilling and reskilling are ways an individual’s talents can be grown. Growing and managing talents require leadership development exercises and performance coaching.
The need to always learn continuously is also a major factor in growing and managing talents. Ifeoma Martins was hosted by Adewunmi Oshodi - Tapa as she discussed "Growing & Managing Talents" on lagostalks91.3
Talent according to her refers to the people you have in your organization, everybody who contributes to an organization They can be classified into blossoming talent, talents that need to be developed, or plug-and-play talents. People who are the most important resources in an organization are referred to as the talents and they determine the success or otherwise of the organization.
Management of talent is not really taken as serious as it should in Africa because of the availability of many talents. Talent development comes from a lot of trainings, a lot of mentorships, encouragement, discipline, adjustment to time, their space to bring them to a point where they can deliver, it is critical to manage from the bottom to the top. Proper management of talents cut across board to earn you good returns on investment.
It is the responsibility of the CEO to grow and manage talents. CEO is not like a self-imposed title, it is a work-imposed title, The CEO is like an executor who makes sure that the strategy of the business is implemented on a day to day or quarterly basis. Assessing how a business has performed daily or quarterly is dependent on the efficiency of the CEO.
On talent discovery for an individual, Ifeoma said one needs to admit being a talent and then place yourself in a position of bidding for what you want. Talent discovery entails Personal development and it is not about certificates but knowledge gotten and how you are able to put that to work when given the opportunity. Explore opportunities to enhance what you have just learned and keep growing.
She said so much more and you can access all that she talked about here…
youngcerebral #signalslagos #learning #opportunities #upskill #reskill #talents #growth #talentmanagement #coaching #Development
Money is purchasing power, it could be a store of value, a unit of account or a medium of exchange. Whatever you call it will eventually be an end to human needs.
Money is not based on gender, it doesn’t matter if you are a man or woman, everyone thinks about money, but unfortunately, we don’t get to reason or ask why we actually think about money.
How often people spend and think about money was Tobore and Itunu’s discussion on Dreamcity Unilag 103.1 FM.
Tunde called in from Ikeja just before the conversation started and he said that he thinks about money every day. He said Everything we do is to make money, if we are not making money, we won’t keep doing what we do.
Money has been described as a motivating factor that makes people deliver their best to organizations and businesses. People won’t stop at making sure they have enough money. Economic hardship has also triggered the desire for money, so, everyone goes out to ensure they have money for food and other things.
Lack of money could make one moody or even fall into depression, nothing will make sense to them, everyone around will see it so obvious that something is not right with them but some manage it, they play along, and you won’t even know that something is wrong.
You shouldn’t let the lack of money take you to the line of depression, if you’ve made money before, know that there are chances of making money again, you don’t have to be depressed about it.
It is usually a difficult task making ends meet, it won’t be easy, the state of the economy among other things but it can actually be better, when you engage yourself in things, look for solutions and think it through.
It might but that’s the reality in Nigeria right now, there are lots of things not being factored in that make them think about money. People need money for so many things, it is this same money that doesn’t make people look after their health, it’s not until you break down, there are lots of health issues that we don’t care about because of money. Yet, we come across health challenges that were never budgeted for, the thoughts about money still comes. We think about money every day because needs arise on a daily basis.
The thoughts of financial implications have discouraged guys from getting married, they don’t want to get committed, some of them already have a certain amount they want to make before thinking about marriage.
Michael who called in from Oshogbo exaggerated that he thinks about money 27 hours in a day. He is married, so, he advised those who are afraid of marriage to live by what is in their pocket, they don’t have to build a house, buy cars, have money or be very comfortable before they marry, but should be able to afford basic things like food, house rent, the fundamental things
December is the season when people travel a lot, buy new things, do housewarmings and think about where they started and what they have achieved. There may be some circumstances that prevent you from achieving your goals but you shouldn’t let that stop you, you shouldn’t give up but you have to re-strategize.
The rains are back in Lagos with resultant traffic on the roads. The drainage system in some parts of Lagos is poor causing flooding. Fuel scarcity is hitting hard with unending queues at filling stations while fuel prices keep going high. Elections are eight months to go and everything seems not to be working in this oil-producing nation.
There are blame games here and there; Our host, Adewunmi Oshodi on our Radio Programme – Signals Lagos talk 91.3 received audiences’ views on the environment and fuel scarcity.
All callers agreed that the citizens were responsible for the present predicaments having voted for the present government in two elections
Peter who called while stuck in Ajah traffic was of the opinion that Nigerians would have been doing fine if the subsidy on fuel had been removed by the previous government and the situation will not be this bad.
To Peter Okon, the situation of the country has never gotten this bad, he added that those who supported the government into power, openly regret their decisions.
Bassey who called in from Lekki blamed the traffic in Lagos on ‘31 states relying on the Lagos port’. He linked the fuel scarcity and hike in fuel prices to the lack of a working refinery in the country. While listing the increasing prices of bills and commodities, he expressed ‘hope in the liberation of this nation and Nigeria will rise again to become that megacity in Africa.’
Maleek said despite the illegal increase in fuel price, some filling stations still won’t sell in full measures, he blamed this cheating on the inefficiency of those who have been saddled with the responsibility of monitoring. He encouraged Nigerians on the ‘need to start holding our councilor, chairman, honorable, senator and governor accountable; they will seat up. When we hold the leg, no part of the body will be able to move.’
Chinedu from Oworo said the government embarking on several projects simultaneously and abandoning the same should be blamed for the heavy traffic. He described as a lie the claim that the Russia -Ukraine war caused the hike in price and scarcity of fuel.
Rebel Jay said things will be better when ‘we have visionary and dedicated leaders of masses who are ready to revolutionize the system’. He called on Nigerians to be actively involved in the political process from the grassroots level to the top.
Sylvester urged Nigerians to tighten their belts and exercise patience to make the right decisions in the next elections.
Hear their views and add yours here…
signals #YoungCerebral #Fuelscarcity #economy #traffic #environment #leadership #election #2023 #radioshow
Mathew Mayaki, our Guest on Signals Lagos dissected the tech world in the simplest way possible. When asked about product, design, and technology, he stated the easiest way to explain them is problem-solving. He further explains the easiest analogy is similar to building a house, likening the different functions of the architects, builders, and the person who evaluates it. Also, design is typically about understanding users, because nobody wants to solve a problem no one needs. Product engineering means putting all the factors together to solve a problem. Mathew further explains the difference between UI and UX, UI stands for User Interface which is the navigation around the website. On the other hand, UX which means User Experience talks about the flow and sequence of the website or app, and how responsive it may be.
Product design is a very long journey and it starts with having a passion for it. A lot of people who fail in this journey do not have a passion for product design, many individuals go into product design simply to make money. Basically, a passion for product design has to be curiosity, asking the right questions about how things are done, this will enable one to forge ahead in the tech space. Likening this process to someone who wants to become a race car driver and hasn’t learned how to drive the manual transmission. The fundamentals required to excel in the tech space are to take the basic rules of programming, algorithms, and data structure. Before this, depending on the program, you have to learn the variables and the functions. As an upcoming tech person, Mathew learned Python before learning java, he confesses to Java being difficult because rules have to be followed religiously, adding that if you can learn java, you can learn any other thing in the tech world.
Mayaki advises firms in Nigeria not to think of themselves as local champions because Nigeria is a small country compared to others, your software engineer can be with your organization today and be in Germany tomorrow, also the organizations should train their staff as well as they can. He states that Nigerians are in search of greener pastures outside the country, and if there’s a healthy workspace, competitive salary, and the loyalty of the individual to the organization. Transitioning from a conventional job to the tech space will be easy because there are various departments where the required skillsets are still required, although there may be a need to take some courses.
I feel we have to conclude this with advice from Mathew Mayaki who stipulates that going into tech is not the easiest path, but it is a rewarding one if you put in the work. He also advises students who are affected by ASUU to take a course and learn about coding and product design.
People often think marketing has to do with moving out on the streets looking for whom to buy their products. There is more to Marketing than we know of.
Irene Aguh, the Global head of Marketing at Fuzu was with Tobore and Itunu on Dreamcity Unilag FM to discuss personal and brand marketing.
Irene said she discovered that Marketing is now being recognized as a field on its own, different from the idea she had while in school just like everyone else. Marketing has evolved from people walking down the streets into a job where you find brilliant ways to do things, you don’t have to stand from your chair or your house, you just have to keep thinking about the people you want to reach and those you will use to reach them, then tell them what to do.
She said a lot of people run from marketing as a job because they don’t have an understanding of what it entails. For marketing, you shouldn’t just be sent out to the street to make money, you need to be strategic. Marketing should contribute to the money being made by the company but watch out for the trap between sales and marketing.
Marketing through support sales, may not guarantee sales, it all depends on what you are trying to do. Ideal Marketing should go through the stages of awareness acquisition, conversion, retention, and referral.
Using herself as an example, Irene who is a graduate of the English Language explained that it is possible that one doesn’t get the choice, of course, to study at school or don’t get to work with the certificate obtained from the school, just like her. she once headed the branch brand management of a company and now into marketing, she said the English language was probably the only thing connecting her certificate to her current job.
she disagrees that youths in Nigeria are not employable but said many youths don’t have the chance. Companies need to start lowering the expectation of work experience from fresh graduates because some didn’t get the course they wanted but settled for what was offered to them and are probably not interested in the field till they see the opportunity.
When employers demand skills, there are specific things they are looking for and not just general ones. Professional courses can help but beyond professional courses, you can volunteer. You also have to grow on your own without necessarily spending money, and focus on what you really need. Not having the required skills does not affect the chances of getting employed. Present yourself in a great way, and keep talking to people, it’s another way to learn. if you can’t get a job experience, you learn from people or learn online.
There are certain things that will make an individual outstanding as a personal brand. One is dressing; people don’t understand that it makes a lot of difference. You should also watch the way you talk; you have to build a presence that attracts people. Another thing is to talk consistently about what you do. It is up to every one of us to help each other, go beyond what school has taught us, share knowledge, and exchange ideas. To be relevant in the corporate world today, you have to keep updating your skills because you are there to learn. You have to keep learning to stay relevant.
On Private organizations and civil service, she said the time of benefitting from civil service might have passed because the civil service though hires a lot of people, and limits the chances of growth. The private sector, on the other hand, has a lot of growth opportunities and you can also make a lot of money, so, it is left to the individual to make the choice.
The intricacies of Capacity Building in its simplest term are growing the skills and the abilities you have.
Capacity and capability are used interchangeably but are not totally the same. Capacity is basically what is contained in you or what you can contain and capability is your ability to do things.
Ibitayo Ogunbanwo, ACIPM, AITD, the head of development at Kennedia Consulting Ltd gave insights on Capacity Building as our guest on SIGNALS on Lagos Talks 91.3 FM.
He said capacity development is beyond just training but a continuous endeavor. He identified practicing what has been learned as a key index to measuring capacity development.
He advised students who are currently at home due to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike to see themselves as an entity, put in a little investment, and what is the investment? Time management, self-development.
There are lots of things to learn online. Free courses on YouTube, Coursera, Udemy, and the like. There are practically a lot of things to do and learn.
He spoke on the need for companies to tweak their policies so as to accommodate Gen Z, who he described as smart, sort-fused, and a must-have in the workplace.
Ibitayo Ogunbanwo, ACIPM, AITD, an ardent believer in teamwork said more success will be recorded if all team members are working on the same goal. With good coercion, each team member lets go of their pride and ego and aim at the goal to win.
The learning development expert shared with us the five stages of learning which are:
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Unconscious Incompetence
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Conscious incompetence
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Conscious competence
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Unconscious competence
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Mastery.
This and many more were shared on the radio programme (a production of Young & Cerebral) as hosted by Adewunmi Oshodi - Tapa
Watch the full video on our YouTube channel https://bit.ly/3zrhVaY
The Director General of the Youth Service, General Muhammadu Fada announced that the NYSC trust fund which has just been passed into law by the national assembly and awaiting Presidential approval will be of benefit to skilled Corps members.
If assented, it would mean 1% levy tax for NYSC Corpers imposed on corporate companies in the country. The 9th national assembly has on various occasions moved for the imposition different taxes on corporate companies, some of which were passed while others are still on the floor of the house.
Imposing of a new levy tax will be a burden on organizations and it will scare away foreign investors from coming into the country because the companies are paying a lot of taxes and now the national assembly is adding to it. This is heavy on these companies especially when you look at the cost of running an organization, paying staff, cost of production, and running diesel.
One can only wonder if they sought advice from experts in the field before thinking of imposing a tax on corporate companies. They may mean well for corps members but do corporate organizations have to bear the brunt with taxation?
A presidential aspirant said there is a need to first create an enabling environment to make sure the people have a means of generating income for themselves then you can tax them.
This is the 6th trust fund tax that the government will be imposing on corporate companies with no major credible support the government given to SMEs, or how SMEs have hugely benefitted from policies that the government has introduced, this would have reflected on the internally generated revenue.
There is a gap between the government and the people. The government needs to see what people are going through every day to survive in this country. They make rules without knowing the reality and impact of those rules on the citizens.
An expert on the Taiwo Oyedele said if you continue taxing organizations like this then very soon businesses will be out of existence. I said earlier that at the end of the day this will fall back on the end users.
The government claimed to have started an enabling environment for corps members with vocational programmes running for Corps members to learn certain skills because the token after their youth service will only be given to skilled Corps members.
Will the fund be enough to set up their businesses? How much will be given to corps members after their Youth Service year or how the cumulative 1% tax will the distributed hasn’t been in the discussion yet. This is necessary to align with the transparent agenda of the government.
These and many more made up Tobore and Itunu’s discussion on Dreamcity about the intricacies and implications of this NYSC levy.
Our Guest Chris Ogunlowo expressed his views on creatives in the political space claiming these creatives can develop the right message, with the right tone which would suit the medium in which the message will be conveyed to the audience. He describes the free will of any creative to work with any political candidate as reasonable because of the democratic system of government that Nigeria practices.
He further explained culture strategy doesn’t consume everything at once, he opines that there has to be a strategy in everything so that it doesn’t become one-sided, also the context may differ, which may require me to lean to a different angle. His view on cultural diplomacy is a way to use culture to bridge gaps between people and cultures generally. His encounter on this path made him understand political discussions or having ambassadors are not totally relevant, he realized we could deepen our culture in a way that allows us to understand people who are different from us, and we can move humanity forward. He defines cultural diplomacy as a way of using culture as a vehicle to bridge gaps and allow understanding of individuals at a general level.
When asked about the challenges creatives face, sometimes being careful about sensitive topics, Mr. Ogunlowo had this to say: “the creative space has always been tedious because there are people who create from nothing and there is a level of subjectivity to what is being created or sponsored”. He also says people have to be careful about the content they put out there in order to prevent political, religious, and cultural instability. He further states that Nigeria is in its political season and creatives should take advantage of this period rather than try to pass a message, either commercial or not. He adds that being respectful of the content you put out goes a long way in order not to compromise your work. He is fascinated by the creativity in Nigeria, content creators derive joy from what they do, their messages, dictions, and how people circulate their works all over the internet, from music to storytelling, to food content creators, they portray their messages in a very compelling way.
Furthermore, he was asked about why clients find it hard to accept new ideas, Chris stipulated that you have to train yourself well enough and put yourself in the position of the client to understand how subjective they are. His remark is not to try to change the client or correct them, and creatives do not like being subjected and unable to express their crafts.
Toyin Adebola, also known as the Black Rider popular for his motorbike adventures and his motivational thoughts was a guest on Dream City. He spoke with Tobore and Itunu about growing up, his work and music career, politics and the Nigerian environment.
He is engaged in the shipping side of the petroleum industry while doing music riding bikes and adventure as aside. Proud to be an Ijebu man, he has a deep passion for Nigeria and believes it is priceless to me as a Nigerian.
Adebola was exposed to responsibilities early in life as he had to look out for three younger siblings while he was barely 10 years old, a reason why he is always looking out for people till today. He took after his mom who had no social life but listening to songs from Luther Vandros, Jackson five and Michael Jackson and occasionally, Kolington Ayinla were his escape from boredom.
One of his hit songs ‘something big’ reflecting the Nigerian situation was a message to give hope and encourage us to do what is right, that people should not allow the Nigerian situation to change them, but for everyone to find strength in spite of the challenges and survive.
Fascinated about the creativity of Nigerian musicians, he picks inspiration and hope from the amazing sounds, the tunes and the meaningful lyrics. He would love to feature any of Fireboy, Joeboy, Burnaboy, Davido, Tekno, but according to him, he cannot afford them. He however challenged them to use their advantage to share positivity.
His idea behind Blackrider is to change the misconception about Nigeria all over the world, he wants to engage more talks about a good Nigeria, a positive Nigeria where things are working. He is on a quest for one good narrative that Nigeria can look up to irrespective of religion or faith.
On 2023 election, he said Nigerians have to be strategic in thinking, put emotions, religion and tribalism aside. His definition of the 21st Century leader is that with vision, you must have historical understanding of the story of mankind, the historical understanding of the journey of your people and where you want them to be.
The Nigerian Challenge is a combination of bad leaders or the reality gap. He opines that there is not bad leader but there are people who have failed at governing. ‘We need leaders, we don’t have leaders, we have people who govern our affairs but they are not doing that it in a responsible way’, Adebola concluded.
Security Concerns and measures were the main focus, as the security of the Nation continued to face crises by marauding killers who attacked a Church in Owo, Ondo State. Suspected to be armed militia, worshippers who were in Church on a Sunday Morning soon met their end, weeks after passengers were killed and kidnapped in the Abuja – Kaduna train.
Dreamcity hosts, Tobore and Itunu described the incident as unfortunate and urged the security forces to be proactive in carrying out their duty, and hoped there is no deeper plot than the coordinated attacks on citizens of Nigeria. Some safety tips were listed by the hosts, some of which were:
i. Always let people know where you are going and where you are. A lot of people have mysteriously gotten missing, and it was difficult or impossible to find them.
ii. Limiting night movements, these are times when security measures must be taken seriously, this reduces the chances of being either attacked or ambushed by criminals.
iii. People have also been advised to confirm interview addresses before going for interviews, if the interview location is difficult to locate or in an isolated area, go with someone you trust, or do not go at all.
iv. The need to change your locks when you move into a new apartment. So that nobody has access to your property.
These were some of the security tips discussed by the hosts to ensure that citizens are vigilant and stay safe.
A tax is a compulsory charge or levy imposed on a taxpayer, which could be an individual or legal entity by government organizations.
Sugar tax on the other hand is manufacturers having to pay a levy on every liter of carbonated sweetened beverages. This is to discourage the high consumption of these beverages.
On the 18TH of May, 2022, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the total ban on the operation of commercial motorcycles/ bikes popularly known as Okada in six Local governments and nine local council areas in the state.
The ban covers Eti Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, and Apapa, it also includes the city’s trunk roads and flyover bridges.
The enforcement of the ban wasn’t effective till Wednesday, June 1, 2022, two weeks after the announcement.
Previous administrations in the state had on several occasions announced the ban on motorcycles only for the riders to return to the Lagos roads.
Notable reasons for the recent ban were the disregard for the law by the riders which resulted in the killing and setting ablaze of David Imoh in Lekki Phase 1 and also killed Superintendent of Police, CSP, Kazeem Abonde, in Ajao Estate on September 24, 2021, during an enforcement activity. Okada riders were also accused of riding against traffic.
Tobore and Itunu were on Unilag FM for Dreamcity to discuss the impacts of the Okada ban on riders, passengers, the government, and even the environment.
During the show, they raised concern about the ban affecting members of the society who had been rendered jobless as Okada riding was a means of their livelihood and their families. The government has failed to provide succor.
Riders and passengers both bear the brunt of the ban because the Okada business has over time thrived because of the poverty level, bad roads, and the need to beat traffic in the reality of daily traffic.
From observations, the roads have been quite free and secured since the enforcement began, however, there were reports that the security agencies are acting overzealously by extending enforcement to areas not mentioned by the government and extorting in the process.
While there is still a need for more security in the state and the country at large, residents were urged to ensure their safety, and avoid taking Okada for transport as riders and passengers will be prosecuted.
On this edition of Dreamcity with Tobore and Itunu, the project director of Team Coby who had been involved in advocacy for girl child menstrual equality shared insights on menstrual hygiene.
One of the challenges in low-income areas is the knowledge gap is very obvious, so one of the things you will want to do is to bridge the knowledge gap. It could be through direct advocacy, social or behavioral change communication so that at the end of the day you can get across to the community you really want to get across to and you will see the impact effectively.
Adeniyi has been involved with girls in communities and even schools in low-income communities enlightening them about menstrual hygiene and education using social and behavioral change communication.
There are several sustainable menstrual materials (reusable menstrual kits) that can be used by any woman globally. There is the menstrual cups, tappoons, and reusable sanitary pads. Every woman will have to decide the one they want. Every female decided which best suits these options which has no negative impact on the environment.
Both the reusable and the disposable are used the same way, the benefit is for the environment in terms of reducing pollution, disposable pads contain chemicals and toxins that will contaminate our water. A lot of people don’t have access to portable water, they drink directly from streams.
Another benefit is the economic friendliness. The woman can save as much as 70% of the cost expended on disposable menstrual kits if she adopts the reusable ones.
There is also the security aspect, there had been reports of people scavenging for used pads or ladies being kidnapped and forced to remove their pads which ended up becoming materials for rituals.
There is a barrier that comes with having a man talk about menstruation, knowledge gap is the major cause of girls being victims because fathers and mothers are not engaging their children. The angle where the father will take it from is quite different from the angle of the mother but both males and females can enlighten them to bring awareness about this menstrual hygiene.
Male students shame female students because of their menstrual stains. Menstrual hygiene, period poverty education, and awareness should not just be restricted to girls. If we run the advocacy across the board, this challenge will reduce rapidly.
There is this cultural barrier where while trying to engage the girls, they will lock up if a boy is present but when you separate them, they open up, so we sensitize them differently. For the boys, we let them know of the peculiarities of the growth compared to ladies and then how they can help their sisters, to have understanding, and show care and support. For the girls, we teach them how to take care of themselves to avoid shame. Ideally, you should change every five hours but with this economy, people do 10 hours, that’s the poverty level.
🎖Oluwafemi Adeniba works with multi-functional teams to understand pain points and then proffer sustainable solutions that address the pain points by taking briefs and passing them through tried and tested dynamic frameworks till he gets an optimal output that addresses the issues raised in the briefs.
Signal's host, Adewunmi Oshodi - Tapa asked our Guest why he had decided to talk about understanding marketing, and the art and science of marketing, which opened up a plethora of information for us.
Oluwafemi Adeniba put us through a series of very educative and informative discernment about marketing which he expressed to his audience, as a process of determining what individuals need, the art is the process of marketing and the science of marketing is studying consumer behavior patterns.
He enlightened his listeners about the aspects of marketing, where the focus was on correcting direct marketing which is often misconstrued by the public as simply “marketers”, he further explained that direct marketers are the intermediary between sales and marketing.
Apart from this, Oluwafemi projected the need for every company to try to sell their products, but not leaving out the part that marketing is a process of identifying needs, and how best to meet up with the needs of the consumers. A lot of companies want results without the process which is going to create a mismatch between the organization and its consumers.
Oshodi also asked how people who sell Akara at their junctions about being able to identify their market, despite not attending a business school, the host was keen to know why people with the right resources haven’t gotten it right?
The individuals who fry beanballs AKA Akara at the front of many streets also go through the process of marketing and decide what the consumers want, they discover the gap between the product and consumers which enables them to take key decisions as professionals.
She asked the Guest to explain some mistakes made by advertisers in his article “Billboards are not”, and also what inspired him to write the article
“Billboards are not” an article by Adeniba was triggered by a billboard he came across, in which he highlighted the need for advertisers to do better by knowing the prospective customers, making the product known, and how they can reach the marketers. He made a claim about how billboards ought to be, not to contain more than 3 items so as not to distract individuals and passersby.
In addition to the information Oluwafemi Adeniba had disseminated to his audience, he advised individuals to launch products fast, fail fast, move on, get feedback and relaunch again till it is perfect.
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Sam Onyemelukwe, Managing Director, Trace Anglophone West Africa opened up Pandora’s box about the “Entertainment Business: Image vs Reality.
Sam emphasized that digital innovation has brought change to the entertainment industry with the click of a button.
Streaming will take on radio in a way yet radio offers something different.
There is a need to look successful in the entertainment business, it’s an image vs reality concept, you have to look at the part, and have the necessary packaging to attract prospective clients, sponsors, and fans.
People often associate with success and you must look successful, especially in Nigeria.
Streaming has also created wealth distribution for content creators who are not popular in their city or country but are popular in other parts of the world with the help of social media and digital platforms like Youtube, they earn a decent amount of money from the comfort of their homes unlike many years ago where you may need your music or video on broadcast platforms.
Record labels sign artists for various reasons, some for-session recording, some as instrumentalists, and others may fit the roles for live performances.
Emmanuel Macaulay Afemikhe, Our Guest on Saturday’s Signals Radio show on Lagos Talks 91.3FM opines that Creative People run out of juice – he describes creativity as the ability to create innovative ideas to foster individual growth and generate income.
Businesses need to be creative in order to thrive and solve problems.
Our creatives need to be allowed some opportunity to enable them to recharge and rejuvenate whenever there is a creative block, it may be taking a break or taking some time off from work.
He harnesses creativity for business growth in his field as a Voice Over Actor and Convener of the VoiceOver conference through his eloquence and voice dexterity.
His passion for voice-over is top-notch as he doesn’t hide his emotion about getting the job done perfectly. One of the tools to possess is the confidence in one’s voice which enables one to deliver the message seamlessly along with conviction and clarity.
ASUU embarked on a month warning strike on the 14thof February 2022 which has now been for a period of 75 days and counting. We always say students should make use of the strike periods to learn a skill or go into a business whenever there’s a strike, but when you think about it, why must there always be an unnecessary halt in the educational system every few months? Why should the Nigerian society tackle students who are on strike for being idle when education is a fundamental human right and should not be treated without regard. The strikes also give room for vices to grow such as prostitution and fraud amongst others.
Do you know that there are over 300,000 children in Makoko who do not have access to formal education? 😥😢😧😧
On Signals, @pricelessdeola made us realize we can all make the world a better place by making our own little sacrifices and efforts.Do you know that there are over 300,000 children in Makoko who do not have access to formal education? 😥😢😧😧
On Signals, @pricelessdeola made us realize we can all make the world a better place by making our own little sacrifices and efforts.
The 2023 general election is around the corner and we’ve been seeing several candidates declare their interest to run for the presidency. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) this week reported that 45% of the registered voters were invalid across Nigeria.
We are aware of the problems some of us went through this week, we couldn’t make phone calls which would have resulted in losing some opportunities and business deals, even some people who were traveling during the week may have been stranded along their way, how has your experience with the whole NIN palava been so far? Have you been able to get your NiN? How did you cope without being able to make phone calls?
Knowing the need of your target audience is the most important thing about selling to a client
Appealing to the need of your customer and getting them # to convince themselves that you are the best person to meet their needs is one of the greatest skills.
Retaining Clients and more are what we discussed on our Radio Show Signals on @lagostalks913 with Blessing (Chidinma) Emmanuel-Macaulay
The diagnosis and treatment of cancer have always been a sensitive and emotional process. It takes its toll not only on the patients but even families and loved ones.
Earlier today on signals Dr Omolola Salako-The People's Oncologist takes us through her personal and medical experience on this disease that can come in different and various forms
Technology is very important to the growth of any economy and various tech tools have played a very big role in the success of businesses, especially SMEs
These tools have aided in bringing the product closer to the buyers and even created more opportunities
Our discussions with these two technopreneurs gave us more insight on how to use these tools to the advantage of our various business
Did you miss our discussions Damola Ogunbambo and Odedrinde Oluwashina on #signals
The Nigerian economy has faced several challenges that have made businesses experience difficulties and sometimes fold up.
We discussed how to navigate these obstacles and also how to make the most of them.
We also discussed how Nigerians still keep their businesses alive despite the harsh conditions.
Let's demystify Human Resource Management and what we should know.
Are there unspoken rules when it comes to managing the relationship between Staff and Management?
Should companies go easy on staff this period as regards fuel scarcity?
What can the Human Resource Management team do to ensure that staff are not under pressure by getting to work late and not being severely punished?
What exactly is Journalism? What are the parameters for judging a good piece of journalism.
Making career choices is one of the most difficult things to do as it set's your professional life in motion.
What age should be considered mature enough to get into University? Should a child stay at home a while to learn a skill before going into the university?
Many people overlook storytelling in scriptwriting. As a script writer, it is the story in your script that really gets you noticed because they work hand in hand. Stories create deeper understanding about the things we experience daily.
With the current inflation in the country, what is the cost of doing business right now, how have you been coping? Did you have to increase the prices of your goods or services
Enhancing citizens participation and improving security governance in Nigeria is an important part of the Rule of Law
Do you sell to people on credit? How do you get them to pay back? What implications does it have on your business
Is leaving Nigeria the Nigerian dream? Did you leave and come back? Why do you want to leave, why did you come back?
Running a business takes more than manpower. Without proper knowledge of the business, such business is as good as doomed.
Mental health is a really delicate topic among individuals. In this episode, we looked at the impact and contribution of the society on our mental health
Are you a business owner having difficulty creating contents that will entice your target audience? Then this episode is for you!
Communication is Key to a lot of things and also a very important skill needed in everyones life. Do you possess the skill? How well do you make use of it?
We can all agree that the transport system in Nigeria needs to be revamped. But how is this possible without it affecting the citizens life and their means of commuting.
Our Guest is a marketing Guru and has come to talk to us about marketing strategies we need to integrate into our businesses in the new year.
What are your thoughts on the COVID-19, what rumors have you heard? Do you believe it’s real or not? Do you know anyone who had it?
With the economy gradually opening up, it is only right we know how to position ourselves to be employable and also to know what to do to have a winning career.
With the economy gradually opening up, it is only right we know how to position ourselves to be employable and to also know what to do to have a winning career
Many high school students wonder whether they should study engineering at undergraduate level, constantly weighing the pros and cons of studying engineering
As a writer, it is important you follow principles that can get you noticed. Writing includes all knowledge and abilities related to expressing one’s ideas
As business owners, how do you succeed in a highly competitive market? Do you have market implementation strategies to help you brand stand out? How do you also reinforce value through branding?
Real estate business is one of the most lucrative businesses in Nigeria and any other place in the world. The business is a money spinner to the highest level, and due to the fact that shelter remains one of the three basic needs of man, the real estate sector will always be a goldmine.
With the current percentage of unemployed graduates in the country, how can employability be improved
Have you ever thought of becoming a digital storyteller? Are you a content creator or videographer? Would you like to know more about digital storytelling?
Our guest is a certified food safety expert and the founder/ceo of terslyfoods, and we discussed what it takes to start and what license or permit you need to obtain before you venture into it.
What if you don’t have to queue at the bus stop to get a bus to work? What if you don’t have to be scared about entering a one chance bus?
Happy New Year Fam!!! Did you make any plans for the new year or the uncertainties of the times discouraged you?
Do you think self doubt is a medical condition? Is there anything one can do to prevent it? Does it have a cure?
Almost everyone in Nigeria operates “cashless policy”, yet they still experience challenges when it comes to making payments. How can payment methods be made easy and secured.
In this episode, New-Orleans writer, Activist - Artist and celebrity chef Tunde Wey will talk to is about Food as a Uniting Force
How did you spend your Christmas in 2021 was it better than the previous year? Did you spend it alone or with loved ones
How has it been working from home? Has it reduced work efficiency? Is it of more advantage to you or not?
As a Business owner, it is expected to face challenges in your business. The question is how do you solve these challenges? How do you develop solutions for these problems
As an Individual, it is important it is important to have multiple streams of income. Why
Can Music be seen as a tool to describe what is happening in the society? Is Music recognized as a medium that can be used for change?
What makes a good sales person? What are the qualities that a good sales person must have? Can everybody be a salesman or can it be learnt?
Have you ever wondered how the tourism sector in Nigeria is fairing? Do you even know if the sector still exists?
This Episode is eye opening as some people may end up being landlords and sales agents after listening.
What do you know about Insurance? Well we are here to tell you that there is a lot to it than just insuring.
We have a Numbers Genius in the Studio (Human Calculator), he can give the answer to just about any figure thrown at him in seconds.
We looked at the fashion business and explored the challenges that comes with starting and sustaining a fashion business.
What’s is the situation like in your environment, is it peaceful. Tell us what’s happening around you.
We explore issues related to what mental health really means, depression, suicide, abuse of substance, pressure from family, friends, social media and how to handle it and a lot more
People are very reluctant when it comes to trying new things, especially when they cannot see the money trail or what is in it for them. Some are naturally scared because they do not know what the outcome will be, for some are concerned about their jobs - job security.
As Children take a step out of the house, they start the journey called life where the face challenges, phases and most especially unexplainable emotions. In this jungle called life, where else will they seek solace if not in the arms of their own family. Thus the family is a very important factor in every individual’s life.
We are discussing health and exploring issues related to pharmacy as a profession, self medication, sales of expired drugs and more.
Our Skills determine the ability we possess and as some are common, some are unique. Do you think you possess the skill to market, how good are you in marketing?
The same way other things have process, is the same way Music has it’s own process. We have Olakira an Artiste, music producer, instrumentalist and song writer to tell us more about the music process.
What genre of Music do you listen to? What should a song entail for you to consider it a good song?
There are so many Business opportunities waiting to be grabbed. Are you ready to start getting paid for doing what you love; by setting up your own Makeup Business?
With the easing of the lockdown, schools are resuming, thus examinations are approaching. Have our students been able to recover, have they been able to learn? And most importantly are they ready for the forthcoming West African Examinations?
What comes to your mind when you hear the word “Branding”?, is Branding for everyone?, how much is too much to spend on Branding?
Digital Revolution remains one of the Key features of the 21st Century. With technology startups daily developing softwares and other solutions which companies and organizations are leveraging on to transform and improve service delivery and other socio-economic challenges.
Social media is vast becoming our way of life, but do we know the Value of Networking on Social Media?
Let’s talk about the serious struggle with Finance and Business. Tag a friend who runs a business to listen to this show.
Want to know how to Manage and Finance a Logistics Business? Listen and tap form the knowledge of an expert.
Realistically speaking covid-19 is here and if we agree to tell ourselves the truth, it might be here for a while. But do our lives have to stop because of it? What alternatives do undergraduates have to learning now since we can't have our classroom lectures due to the lockdown? For undergraduates, do you know that some universities offer online distance learning courses to students? For those already enrolled in different universities, has any of your lecturers reached out to you or proposed a virtual class? Before the lockdown has it ever been the case? Join Host, Comfort Uwakhonye as she discusses learning alternatives for Nigerian Students in the wake of the COVID-19 Lockdown.
We are in a season of transition, people are going to transition out to businesses, people are going to transition into new businesses, there is a lot of transitioning going on. It is one thing for us at this time to have smartphones but are we smart ourselves using this tools for the workplace. On this episode Host Adewunmi Oshodi Tapa holds the discussion as Nigerians share their thoughts on the workplace during the COVID pandemic and Post-COVID.
What has been helping you to beat the time? We know a lot of us are not used to being at home, not doing anything, or not moving about visiting friends or meeting people.What do you do when you wake up in the morning till in the evening when you sleep?
On this episode with host Comfort Uwakhonye read as Nigerians share their coping mechanisms during this period and learn how you too can make the best of this time indoors.
What are those little things that you have done that has kept you going this period? Now that everyday is now everyday, we don’t have ‘Thank God its Friday’, we don’t complain about Mondays anymore and the time just keeps rolling and rolling. So what have you been able to do for yourself that has kept you?
On this show with host Oshodi-Tapa we hear Nigerians talk to us about their own way of keeping body, mind and soul together amidst the COVID-19 Lockdown.
Do you know that the kind of Content you write or use to market your business can either make your business or lead to poor sales if there's no strategy? Running a business in today's world is nearly impossible without some form of writing skills. The biggest and most successful brands understand this and make use of Storytelling content to market their services and product and connect with their target customers. Join us on this episode as we discuss "Creating Opportunities for your Brand through Writing" with Lindsay Eke.
Will your business survive this pandemic? Due to the Recent outbreak of the Corona Virus disease, a lot of businesses are facing massive declines in profits, markets are crashing, world wide, various Country's Economies are being affected and there seems to be a high level of uncertainty for many business owners. On this episode Onomiwo Genesis Co-Founder of Auto sparkle, will be sharing some practical survival tips for businesses in the light of Covid-19.
On every last Saturday of the show, we shine the spotlight on two young individuals doing amazing things in their industries. Joining the host, Olamide on this episode we had Fadele Michael who is a UI/UX designer and Oyewale Mojolaoluwa, who is an entrepreneur. Listen as they share their experiences working and making ends meet in the Nigerian Market.
Looking back at the year so far, as we countdown to 2020 what are you grateful for. Listen in on the conversations as people share their thoughts and take you through what they are looking forward to in the coming year.
In the spirit of Christmas, we are asking the audience about thoughtful gifts one could share with their friends and loved ones in the season of Christmas. It was an exciting and interesting time with people sharing their thoughts while reciting the 12 days of Christmas Song.
Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi is 2019 TIME 100 NEXT honoree and the 2019 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year. As a gender equality advocate with over five(5) years' experience in sexual and gender-based violence prevention and response programming s well as sexual reproductive health and rights advocacy, Oluwaseun has worked with vulnerable groups and led several projects in IDP camps, schools, communities with the aim to find sustainable home-grown solutions to SGBV and facilitate system-level prevention and interventions. To further promote the well-being of survivors and vulnerable groups, Oluwaseun's organization, Stand to End Rape Initiative (STER) - provides pro bono medical, legal and psychosocial support to survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
Below is a summary of the interview Achieving Equality for All with Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi
Seun is a gender equality advocate who as a child had always questioned the relevance of gender roles and the disparity in gender norms. Always asking questions she grew up to understand certain roles were expected from the different genders and why it was so. She finally got involved in 2013 when she had enough of the injustice against one gender. She reveals that the world has grown from a place where conversations about sexual violence and domestic violence could not be held and survivors coming out were seen as taboo and because of this she hopes to build knowledge and help people unlearn certain attitudes and practices that have become part of them.
When asked as to the number of sexual violence cases that solved successfully, Seun revealed that not all gender-based violence cases come requiring legal action. She said that some victims would oftentimes ask that there be no legal action but, they are later counseled so they can see reasons why taking legal action was necessary.
She also reveals that Mental health therapy is usually involved when integrating victims back into society. She stated that the survivor’s mental and medical health was very important in their processes as well as preventing STIs and removing any unwanted pregnancies. She revealed that in cases where victims are to meet with their abusers in court, they are prepared mentally and with minimal questioning so they wouldn’t get to relive the abuse in the process.
Replying to a question about creating safe spaces for victims online she said that it required a change in attitudes, knowledge, and practices in the society so each party is held accountable for their actions. She maintained that some narratives and miscommunications needed to be dropped so that sexual violence cases do not continue as an endless cycle of violence. She revealed that they had cases where men would come forward saying they had been raped when they were younger. She was of the opinion that everybody had a role to play in ensuring that such crimes are stopped and the accused are brought to book. She gave credence to the fact that social media has helped in creating awareness around sexual violence and changing the narrative of individuals in the present generation.
She also spoke about the need to protect oneself in the workplace notwithstanding the fear of losing one’s income. She spoke to the fact that the HR department in every company was responsible for protecting the human rights of their employees. She maintained that for one to be able to garner the interest of the majority on such cases they would need to strengthen policies, communities and support systems.
Following the reaction of a caller into the show, she dismissed the saying that all ‘men are scum’ reiterating that men were not always to blame as there sometimes were cases of false rape accusations. She shared the optimism that equality was achievable even as the present generation was setting the pace with women getting into positions of power.
As the year 2019 draws to an end a new decade begins. The conversation borders around the past decade - 10 years in review. Host, Adewunmi Oshodi Tapa throws the conversation open to the listeners. In her words, "Where were you in 2010 and where are you now in 2019?". It was an interesting conversation with people sharing their before and after moments more so with voices filled with gratitude.
The conversation is around discussing the issues parents/wards face in paying their children school fees. Host, Adewunmi Oshodi Tapa throws the conversation open for listeners to be able to discuss how they are able to plan and save up for their children school fees when the need arises. It was an engaging conversation with parents/wards sharing varying experiences and ways through which they are able to sustain themselves when the bills begin to add up.
Yinka is a Caterer who studied sociology in the university and she says that cooking has some form of calculation that allows the recipes to come out a certain way. To prepare a meal you should first know the ingredients needed to create that meal, how much it costs so you can create a budget and where you can get those ingredients from.
She reveals that bargaining will be way easier when the ingredient you want to purchase is in season. It will be much cheaper and be more in quantity. She says in a situation where the ingredient you want to buy is too expensive, you could find an alternative and combine them to form a better product. She says that when budgeting for an event and the product is very expensive, the provision would have already been made for that situation.
Yinka says as a caterer you should have a standard price so when a client wants to order your services, you’ll let them let is their budget is below your standard. If they cannot afford your standard then you let them go. Your profits come in when you can manage the budget properly and still deliver quality dishes.
There is a perception that caterers horde the food at events when people are not getting any and Yinka replies that most times the host would have requested them to set some food aside for some special guests who have not arrived at the event.
She says caterers are usually hired on referral, someone who was pleased with the service delivered would suggest the caterer to someone that needs such services. If you still feel skeptical about their abilities, you could request a taste session, there you try out the food prepared by the caterer. She advises when upscaling a meal you usually prepare a small amount, make use of proper measurement so you retain the taste and integrity of the dish and over time, when you do it regularly, you perfect the recipe.
Yinka also reveals that management is a very important skill that a caterer or chef needs for their business to succeed and in a case where the chef cannot juggle both duties, they can hire a management professional. You could also consult women who have more catering experience than you for advice. She says persistence is equally important, always try to come up with new recipes and dishes. The more you keep practicing your trade the easier it becomes for you, you gain more experience and become way better at what you do.
On the other hand, a major challenge that caterers face is trying to get their clients to trust them to deliver on time or even deliver quality products.
Concluding, she says that catering as a line of work is not a bed of roses and passion is one of the things that will keep you going as the market is very competitive, therefore stay consistent, do not compare yourself to others and be prayerful
A lot of discussions surfaced after Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate for African Action Congress in Nigeria's 2019 General Election was detained without bail after leading a revolution campaign which he tagged 'Revolution now'. This Conversation comes however after Nigeria's Department of State Service stormed the Federal High Court to stop the trial proceedings of Omoyele Sowore so as to rearrest him. This move attracted a lot of backlash from many including the international community, and questions arose around the independence of the Nigerian court of law as a hallowed seat of justice - the last hope for the common man. People called in to express their displeasure with some others pointing out the ripple effect the move will make for Nigeria's image.
James Ogunjimi is a radical Nigerian who believes in the power of words to effect change. He writes poems, essays, shorts stories and political op-eds. In 2013, his poem: “Listen to the Whirlwind” was named “Poem of the Year” by the International Community of Poets (ICOP). In 2015, his poem, “Humanity’s Call” was second runner-up in the February edition of the Brigitte Poirson Poetry Contest. His short stories, opinion pieces, and poems have appeared in Sahara Reporters, Kalahari Review, Brittle Paper amongst many other publications.
Below is a summary of the interview Content Writing For Social Media with James Ogunjimi
James is a hype man and the lead noise maker responsible for making the public aware of what a business is offering on social media. He says a content creator is someone who creates or writes for brands or businesses. He creates the audience's needs in mind, he sells the product by appealing to the audience. You have to understand how to write from different perspectives and the different forms of writing. James has been writing for 6years and one of the challenges he encountered while writing is people disagreeing and challenging some of the content you come up with.
He says to create a good write-up, there must be a good headline to grab the attention of the reader’s attention, humans have a very short attention span and if you can’t interest them within the first 5 seconds, they’d pass your post by. Writing for social media is different from writing for any other medium, there are certain mechanics and strategies that should be employed for it to be successfully done. To easily attract attention, you should have a very catchy first line and it should be structured for the target audience.
James says the only way to make people interact with your content is by being consistent with the kind of content you put out. Your followers gravitate to you because they expect a certain kind of content from you, give this content in creative ways. Facebook as a platform supports longer captions, Instagram uses hashtags mostly, twitter is more limited and for career paths, LinkedIn works better. You just need to know how to utilize these different platforms to your benefit.
He said when taking up a writing job some of the things to ask are, what they want to achieve, what medium would they prefer to use, would a website be necessary, and many more. The best way to caption content on the internet is by taking a more conversational route. He reveals that video content is gaining more traction than any other because it is easier to watch something with your own eyes than reading about it.
James advises that when handling the social media accounts for a brand or business, you must have a content calendar to help you remember when and what to post. Even personal accounts can try this so they can consistently put out content and gain traction.
A caller asked about how to get inspiration to put content out on a blog, James said your blog should be something you are passionate about because once you like doing something, you’d consistently be on it. If you find it hard to come up with ideas, he says you should search up the latest trends on whatever topic you’re writing about. You can also use google to search up topics that people are searching for. Search up keywords and create ideas around them, also use these keywords in your title so that whenever people search up the word, your post will be one of the first to pop up.
Concluding, he says the major change he noticed in his field is the rise of video creation and he advises that people utilize this medium in their content creation. He ended saying originality is key and always write from different perspectives.
Every Last Saturday on the show we shine the spotlight on two young Creative Entrepreneurs/ Professionals doing laudable things in their respective industries. Joining Comfort on the Conversation is Danielle Ese, CEO of DyeGenie, a temporary hair dye brand, and Taslim Salaudeen, Co-Founder at E-Detectors and creator of UPNepa App, a data-driven platform that gives information on electricity supply.
Dayo Adedayo is a trained photographer at the Westminster college and the University of Westminster in the United Kingdom. With over four million images in his archives on Nigeria, he is the author of Eleven books. His photographic works adorn the pages of the e-passport of Nigeria, the one hundred Naira note released to mark the centenary celebration of Nigeria, the walls of the Lagos and Abuja International Airports and several institutions and homes across Nigeria.
Below is a summary of the interview The Photographer's Journey with Dayo Adedayo
On the show, Dayo, a renowned Nigerian photographer shared his journey into photography and why it mattered to him. He shared how his love for photography stemmed from his shyness, also how he used his camera as a shield. After studying agriculture, he traveled to the UK to study photography and that changed his life completely. Dayo revealed that common to the idea behind photography, it was not a job that gathers much income initially as it was a field that required passion. He added that photography was more of a legacy job as it was rooted in the creative arts like the works of writers and so on and would live on through many generations.
Responding to how his parents reacted to his career choice, Dayo revealed that he lost his father at a young age and because his mom was not literate, she had no problem with it, so he made the choice and followed his career path to success. When asked how he felt about how anyone in this generation could pick up a camera and pass for a photographer, he said they were wasting their time. He expanded that the field required technical knowledge, proper education, and certification to guarantee success in any form. He was of the opinion that technology has now allowed photographers an opportunity to be lax and uncreative compared to times when they would have to plan every shot due to limited resources. Dayo revealed that his choice of Nigeria as a career focus had stemmed from the fact that people often failed to see the country’s true potential as a land of untapped opportunities. He beckoned on citizens to look deeper than the surface and to make good use of the resources within the country. He later mentioned that the texts he had come across during his time overseas which talked about Nigeria were in a false light so he decided to take it up to rewrite the true Nigerian story. One of the callers a secondary school classmate to Dayo spoke to the testament of the guest’s work and legacy as he appealed to the government to make efforts to include Dayo’s story in the school curriculum.
This he said will ensure that new generations have an idea of our Nigerian history and culture. Dayo, when asked how he planned to preserve his legacy, he answered saying that he had published 11 books already with nine(9) sold out. He mentioned that he also made sure not to reprint his books so that it could garner the value and reception of people to his works. He also announced that he was planning an exhibition titled “There Is A Country” in the coming year. He recalled that during the period of traveling to record the Nigerian story he was not been sponsored. He had had to pay for the trips from his pocket coupled with assistance from family members. He mentioned that his wife had been the greatest support system in his dream and his best critic.
In conclusion, he explained that so far in his experience he had come to realize that the federal government was not aware of the treasures and monuments in many areas in Nigeria. “Only the locals know what is in their local government”, he said. Following this, he urged the Nigerian people to begin to explore areas in Nigeria. He showed optimism about the Nigerian future while stating that it is only the black leaders, we who can and will change the perception of the world towards Africa.
Olumide Lawrence is a Media Strategist and Content Developer. He is the Founder of Glowville communications a media strategy startup with a knack for creating and executing ideas that stand out. Since 2014 he has worked with top firms, brands on different social and digital PR campaigns. Notable among them are project fame, Gulder ultimate search, MTV Shuga, MasterCard, and many others. Popularly in many circles on social media as Glowville he shares rich humorous and educational content. Helping small businesses gain popularity through communications and sharing career nuggets for beginners. He also conducts media training within Lagos personally and within a team.
Below is a summary of the interview Keeping Up With Social Media Marketing with Olumide Lawrence
Olumide is a media strategist and content developer who has worked with many companies and brands in Nigeria ranging from Glo View to MTV. He explained that he had created the name “Glo Ville” in 2012 when he started a blog and wanted to give the blog a name that was catchy and over time people began to call him Glo Viile instead.
He recalled that his journey into social media marketing had begun when he discovered social media and PR in a special class he had attended to build himself. Though a friend of his had introduced him fully into blogging, content creation and content marketing he maintained that he had not looked back ever since.
He boasted of about 10,000 followers on his Facebook page, which he claimed to have built through sharing his life experiences and people engaging with his content. Replying to what instincts a social media marketer is required to have, Olumide mentioned that as long as one is able to sustain interest in a particular thing, they could succeed at it.
He went further to explain that if one has an interest in a particular field, is able to learn everything about that field and follows the right people their journey would be made easier. He stated that it was important for every social media marketer to understand marketing and to also understand their target audience and the language that appeals to them.
He mentioned that for one to be able to create marketable content, the content needs to have four motives in total; to humor, to educate, to inspire and to intercept. On how he keeps up with trends he maintained that it was about the interest in something as it keeps one going back to check for what’s new in the field so as to come up with new things for the audience.
On how people can market their products he said that stories serve as an escape for many people and if one is able to incorporate the marketing strategies he would sell. He went further to advise against repetitive storytelling patterns as it soon gets boring to the audience but they should make sure to switch their storytelling pattern.
On how to salvage a marketing strategy gone wrong he said that one should first identify why they are there, be clear on if they are apologizing or not and create a redemption strategy to aid continuation. He opined that Facebook was a better platform for small businesses as it made provisions to help small businesses within a low budget and gave the best engagement results amongst other platforms. Someone called in to the show asking how one could create viral content for demanding clients, Olumide said that the trick is to create something that is relatable and people are passionate about it.
Lanre Olagunju is a media and communication expert with years of experience in communications for development, governance, and advocacy. Over the years, he has made tangible contributions to different worthy causes which include the African Union’s Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa CARMMA. Presently he is the Head of Communications for Project Enable Africa, a community development initiative known for advocating for the rights and empowerment of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
Below is a summary of the show Advocating For Human Rights with Lanre Olagunju
Lanre is the head of communications at Project Enable Africa which focuses on enabling people with disabilities within Nigeria. He says having a disability means you’re incapable of performing a certain function in any shape or form, could be physically or mentally. A major goal of the company is to create disability inclusion for local people everywhere because they believe no one should be left behind. There’s this stereotype in the country that people who are disabled are beggars which are not true, you do not have to be physically challenged to beg, in Nigeria we’ve just gotten used to that narrative because it is what we see every day. Since there are no rules or laws that protect these people, Lanre says it’s necessary to apologize to the community because at many points in the life of a normal human disability set in. We need laws that punish discrimination and provide facilities all over the country that caters to their needs.
He highlights that PWD{People With Disabilities} are actually functional and well-educated members of the community. Usually, because a part of them is impaired, their senses are heightened and they can operate on a higher level than regular people. Efforts should also be made to provide education and good living conditions for these people.
He says the only ways things can change is when we begin to inculcate these values in children from a very young age, teach them to respect and offer help to these people, teach them to be more considerate and to have compassion.
Lanre went ahead to reveal some of the achievements of his project and how people that need their service can find any of the five disability clusters they have available. The government should make is so that regular people can have access to learning sign language so they can easily communicate with the disabled. He says having empathy is really just the best way to behave when addressing PWD, they do not want to be pitied, just be very respectful and open to conversations. Sometimes the caregivers can step up as translators for the conversations. He also spoke about ways that these people have begun to make a living for themselves and integrate themselves into society.
Concluding, Lanre advises that PWD and their family members caring for them should remain strong and also not give up on themselves.
Seun Awogbenle is a communications specialist with extensive knowledge of Media relations, Public relations, and Creative writing. Over the years, he has gained professional experiences spanning across various fields in media. He has a proven track record of excellent leadership and is looking to continuously improve his knowledge of various public policies and communications-related issues. In his free time, he is an effective public speaker.
Below is a summary of the interview Reawakening The Giant of Africa with Seun Awogbenle
Seun Awogbenle is a youth advocate and when asked what drives him, he says that the belief Nigeria’s young population can maximize the country’s potential and use it to our benefit is his major driving force. He believes that the country’s greatest assets are the youth and it is yet to be unleashed.
Responding to a question about whether Nigeria is the Giant of Africa, he begins to break down the numbers and percentages that represent the ratio of Nigerian youths compared to other areas of Africa and it shows Nigeria represents 40% of Africa’s GDP and by 2050 we would be the 3rd most populous country in the world. The issue now is most of these youth have no job or source of income because the government has failed the youth which has led them to turn to other alternatives. He says we haven’t been able to fully take charge because there isn’t inclusion at all levels, the Nigerian system does not encourage creativity or innovation and this has resulted in youths that are unable to create solutions for themselves in this problem-ridden system.
The fundamental problem in the country is job availability and the government has to begin to actively work on creating jobs and encouraging productivity. On the other hand, there are some outstanding young people that have begun to make an impact both in the corporate and entrepreneurial world and that is admirable.
Seun says as people we have the ability to force the hand of the government to attend to our needs, we can make them affect decisions that work to our advantage only when youths begin to understand their levels and stand for values. He stresses the fact that social media is the new way of work and things are changing, it is only natural that the nation changes and evolves along with the world that is if they want to survive.
He says nation-building is the collective responsibility of both the government and the citizens. He wants us the get rid of all the barriers and stereotypes that have been used to exclude young people over time. When asked about the Nigerian dream, he says he believes we do not have a Nigerian dream presently and only a strong purposeful leader can help us achieve this.
A question regarding the nonchalance of people to certain issues because they believe it is not their problem was raised, and Seun says it’s actually not their fault when we live in a country where our needs are barely being met and poverty is rampant. The basic man is struggling to survive, so most do not bother themselves with such issues, therefore, if the government stands up to their responsibilities things would definitely change.
The issue is youths using illegal means to make money under the umbrella of “hustle” was also raised and Seun clarifies saying the moral fabric of the country has been shredded. People no longer care about values and all that, and this needs to be changed for the better.
Concluding, he says he knows the economy is harsh but we cannot afford to lose hope. Hope is invaluable and priceless. But with hope, we must also put these things into action. Try to vote, stand up for your rights and change your standard of living.
Chioma Ogbonna is an alternative musician based in Lagos, Nigeria. She loves telling stories through music, she enjoys making music in the genre of soul, alternative rock, folk and country music with splashes of African sounds, born and raised in Benin to a family of seven she uses her music as a tool for social engineering, advocacy, and promotion of patriotism. Her single sound the alarm released in 2013 was inspired by her experiences while volunteering with an NGO monitoring election in Nigeria at the time. She believes in spreading quality music like wildfire knowing that someday good music will eventually chase bad music out of the Industry. She is gifted with a passionate voice that will take you on a journey through storytelling. She has shared the stage with various artistes like Olamide, Femi Leye, Isaac Gerald, Johnny drille, Nana Aisha and so on. She is now making her way up and is gradually becoming a known name.
Below is a summary of the Interview Storytelling Through Music with Chioma Ogbonna (CILL)
She described herself as an alternative musician, which she referred to it as music that was not mainstream and originated from rock music. She recalled singing for the first time in church at age thirteen and singing at the top of her voice leading to when she was able to build self-confidence over time.
She revealed that she had grown up listening to country music and would sometimes record herself singing but never thought anyone would appreciate her voice. She spoke further saying that at a point in her music career when she saw her songwriting was getting better she decided to build a community where songwriters could challenge themselves and get better.
She recalled that the first song she ever wrote was in the form of a story titled ‘Baby Girl’ based on the experiences she had back in the university when she tried to shut everybody out. So thinking about how the people she was trying to shut out might feel, she decided to sing from their perspective and was amazed at how people connected with the song.
That was when she saw that she could actually do more of storytelling in her music as it was the easiest way to communicate to people and people seemed to relate well with stories. She was also of the opinion that storytelling would be a good practice even in the music industry. She explained that the most effective way of telling a story would be to write from the first person so anyone who hears it will be able to connect.
She maintained that for one to become better at storytelling it was best that they learn by practicing and reading other people’s stories. Sharing tips on how artistes could position themselves for jobs in the industry, she advised up and coming artistes to be consistent in their work so as to stand out and carve a niche for themselves.
She went further to stress the need for artistes to have their own unique style believing that when it gets to their time they too will stand out. Speaking on challenges she had faced when she had first started, she recalled that it had been difficult at the time to fund projects and garner reputation amongst her audience.
She believed that it was the attitude towards excellence and giving her best at every point that put her in the spotlight. In the course of the show, a caller by the name Emmanuel called to ask her how she was able to write her songs. Replying to the caller’s question, she explained that a song usually started from an idea and so people should write out their inspiration as it comes because the more they write the more they get better. She advised up and coming artistes to start the process of music writing without thinking things out or canceling and they can then go back and build on what they have written.
Samson Adeosun is the Group Managing Director, ASQ Training and Development which launched a mobile app to support and train budding football players and agents. With the launch of the ASQ app in Nigeria, young talented boys can register and expose themselves to world-class football agents & scouts to recruit them for a professional football career abroad.
Below is a summary of the show Scouting For Talent with Samson Adeosun and Kazeem Ahmed
Samson and Kazeem are part of ASQ, a group of companies that focuses on the various ways of empowering & developing young talents. By organizing a 5-day tournament, they were able to scout over seven hundred players and provide them with opportunities to play overseas. They generally lookout for the way the player plays, their passion, the way they control the ball, and their enthusiasm to be involved in the game. Kazeem adds that their journey to scout talents has attained a good level of success.
Samson reveals that it is his love for the game of football and the need for improvement in the industry that he began to scout young talents. He believes football is a game that unites people all around the world. ASQ was created to keep the people informed about the technicalities involved in the sport. They are working to improve the stats of the players they scout so they can be hired to play for other clubs and countries. To make the process easier there has to be an agent, his job is to speak on the player’s behalf, he takes care of all the other processes so the player only focuses on football. He basically looks after the player.
Samson answering a caller talks about the app they have created through which people can join their league and get scouted. You could also apply to be an agent, register and then get contacted for their training classes.
Football is a very successful job even if the player will experience two lives: life as a player and life after football. Samson says that sport is a career choice and when you put in the effort to achieve your dreams, it will come to be.
A caller asked about players handling legal issues because the players do not fully understand how to handle them and Samson says handling legal issues is one of the major qualifications that ASQ handles for their clients, racism is a major issue presently in Europe so they’re working carefully to train their agents and inform them about the\ resources they can tap into to deal with these issues.
Talking about Nigerian players not getting paid, Samson says that the change can only be effective if it starts from the top, collaborations with the NFA will help push the message and affect change quickly. He also talks about how Nigerian football needs remolding, they need to do major restructuring, the people handling the industry are not qualified and are mostly in it for the money which is very wrong.
Concluding, Samson says as a country we should be more open to innovations that are coming up in different countries so we can become better in the sport.
Dr. Owolabi Abimbola is a family physician with vast experience in healthcare delivery in forms of home-based, community-based and primary care. As a Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, he is also a certified Patient-Centered Caregiver, Resource Manager, Coordinator, Communicator, Advocate and Researcher. He is also experienced in community-based and rural services delivery through public service with both profit and non-profit organizations.
Below is a summary of the interview Your Health & Well Being with Dr. Owolabi Abimbola
He explained the role of a family doctor as one trained and saddled with the responsibility to advise, manage and take care of women from the point of conception until after delivery.
He went on to lament on the attitude surrounding health in the country with little or no awareness and little provision for early diagnosis of certain ailments which has resulted in many deaths. He went further to say that, it was wrong for people to neglect their health on the basis of being busy. He expressed optimism saying that if the information is made available to everyone many more would become more responsible as it concerns their health.
He also shared hopes that infant and maternal mortality rates could be reduced if more mothers were to attend antenatal classes. This he said would ensure that mothers and their infants were monitored and administered the right doses of medication from conception to delivery. He pointed out that for mothers who fail to attend antenatal classes they ran a risk of Hemorrhage, heavy loss of blood during childbirth.
He continued by applauding mothers saying it was a stressful state when one is pregnant with a child as there were lots of changes that happen during the course of the nine months. He explained that with the many changes happening in the period of the nine months pregnant women were very susceptible to different diseases at that period.
A caller by the name, Nike had called in to ask of the existing natural ways through which progesterone in women looking to conceive could be increased. He responded by saying that at the point when a woman is trying to conceive a hormone profiling is usually done.
During the procedure, if such persons show low progesterone levels, with difficulty conceiving they would be given supplemental progesterone after all-natural solutions prove futile. Speaking further, he ruled out self-medication as a means to treating oneself saying that it was not advisable to use drugs without being certain of the condition being treated for.
He said that for people who indulge in self-medication they run the risk of taking an overdose or experiencing side effects from drugs that are not compatible with their system. Speaking further on pregnancy-related issues; he said that postpartum depression was a psychological issue common among new mothers where they would begin to act strangely after childbirth. He went on to list the signs that these new mothers exhibit as; starving and isolating themselves from others, leaving their baby hungry, exhibiting hostile behavior amongst others.
He said that during this time it was necessary for loved ones to always be around them and to always engage in conversations but when the signs persist, it is advised they see a specialist. When asked as to whether someone could be emotionally disturbed and still have a clean bill of health, he responded with the definition of health by the WHO.
He defined it as a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and as such, an emotionally disturbed person cannot be said to be healthy. That being said he explained that the aspect of wellbeing is pointing to the positive view or attitude we exhibit towards life.
As usual every last saturday of the month on the show we throw the spotlight on young individuals making laudable strides in their industries. Joining host, Comfort Uwakhonye on the conversation was Adegoke Mary Oreoluwa, a 3D Animator; and Sam Ewenu, A UI/UX Product Designer. During the conversation, the two creators were very open about their takes, experiences and the opportunities that exist in their industry.
Olashile Abayomi is a young lady led divinely (Holy Spirit) to touch lives and provide solutions to the needs/problems of upwardly mobile people who generally love Homemade Nigerian Soups and Stews but are restricted due time constraints and this led to the birth of Soupamarket. She uses her cooking talents to feed the underprivileged and she calls it #Soupastreetministry, she also travels to remote villages to empower orphans on how to make Ankara accessories for free(a skill she learned when she was serving - NYSC) amongst her other charity works. Her brand Soupamarket is a force to reckon with as she has worked with brands like Nestlé, Maggi, Cadbury, Google, Fan Ville, etc. Olashile also has a BSc in Political Science and an M.A in International Relations and world order.
Below is a summary of the interview Enriching Lives Through Feeding with Olashile Abayomi
She spoke through her passion for cooking which had been evident even when she was an undergraduate student. Now a graduate of Political Science, she recounted her journey from applying for one job to another. The dawning moment for she said was when she was invited for a job interview at an oil company and by chance, she couldn’t attend the interview.
She said that it was a turning point for her as she began to use her cooking to touch lives. She recounted that from that moment she began to purchase cooking utensils and started cooking. It had started from selling rice and stew in front of her church premises but then people were only purchasing the stews. The realization was spirit inspired that she start a soup and stew market which came to be Soupamarket.
She spoke about the doubts that arose from people looking to patronize the business until high profile people started patronizing only then was she able to break the market. She said the move to start feeding people through charity had started in November 2015 at a conference where she got the leading to feed underprivileged people.
At first, people took the charity feeding as a means to doing diabolic activities but they soon became open to the purity of kindness. She advised that in giving charity one needs to empathize with people more and have compassion towards their neighbours. She said that it was important that people give without taking the glory to themselves as this attitude attracts blessings.
She further went on to say that in giving charity people should be careful to give presentable items, that they themselves will be willing to accept from others. She spoke to the fact that the attitude towards giving cannot be faked as people could start with as little as one derica of rice and fourteen pieces of meat as she had started at first.
The conversation took to asking questions on the common issues that occur in the workplace, family and in the environment; on either seeking permission or begging for forgiveness after a deed had been done. Host on the show, Comfort Uwakhonye took the conversation to ask what decisions people would choose to take when they are being denied permission from something or some time or some need that seems important to them. Listen in to join the conversation.
We had Olusola Ipaye Director of Foreign Scholarship and the Office of Special Adviser on Education to discuss on the topic “Teaching Made Simple”. This discussion comes in a week after the International Teacher’s day was celebrated worldwide on the 5th of October.
She started by talking about the International girl child day celebrated this past Friday, 11th October. She spoke with respect to the occasion as a day where the girl child is been celebrated and encouraged. She went further to say that the day was declared to promote the girl child by teaching them and making them understand that they are girls, unscripted and unstoppable.
Going into the topic she spoke about the education sector in the 21st century in comparison with the education sector during her schooling days. She spoke of the dedication of teachers, the exploration of social media as being a major change in the educational system compared to her time as a student. Furthermore, when asked about her opinions on the current school curriculum she pointed out that it was important that a turnaround is made in the set of graduates the Nigerian educational system has since been graduating.
She said that in the case of most Nigerian Graduates their training within the school walls is poles apart from what they would often face outside. This she said even in spite of the clamoring and stressing for the need to pass exams she expressed her disappointment saying that graduates after getting out are later faced with another entirely different.
She moved on to speak about the method of testing that children are often put through in their process of learning saying that it was often very tasking. She spoke further saying that the need to keep children down and busy explains the volume of the homework that they are being given. She also said that these days children now have their own innate abilities that they are very quick to demonstrate but parents are suppressing their abilities.
This she said goes to show why the younger generation is not going in their parent's stead. She advised that mothers pay attention to every bit of detail, especially amongst their female children/wards. She said that females tend to have a change in their behavior when something happens to them but when mothers do not pay needed attention, they would miss these signs.
When asked to discuss the recent case of lectures giving sexual advances to their female student which was tagged #sexforgrades. She said that in such cases, the excellent academic achievements that certain students exhibit often puts them in trouble. She explained that when such students take to reading ahead of their classes such lecturers accused of wanting to have carnal knowledge of their students begin to take offense seeing their studious attitude as merely being too forward.
Adedayo Adeyokunnu is a Professional CV Writer and Recruiter. She helps individuals showcase their uniqueness on their CVs, Cover letters and LinkedIn Summaries. In the past 10 years since she started working, she has worked with different sectors in different work environments and in diverse capacities. She is currently the Lead Consultant at CV Makeover Services.
Below is the Summary of the Show Basic Tools for Acing An Interview with Adedayo Adeyokunnu
She recalled that her journey into human management had started from an agency where she had to step into the position of interviewing and handling Human Resource Duties. She spoke through her experiences in different sectors saying that this has helped her in her career as a recruiting manager.
She spoke on the different roles where a recruiter could play saying that a recruiter could either work under an organization as an in house recruiter or choose to work under hiring bases. She went on to explain that every recruiter is to ensure that the organization they are working with gets their preferred candidate.
She went further to say that in the process of looking out for suitable candidates, the many CVs they get often does not say anything about the job description being put out. She spoke on the need for graduates to take time to first analyse their skills and experience and to pen them down after which they can begin to draft a CV.
She described the process of sending in one’s CV as a means to answering a recruiter’s question. She advised that job seekers could also go on to google to find out the job requirements for any position they are vying for and tailor their CV in the same line.
In her advice to job seekers she mentioned that when drafting their CV they inform their referee’s before putting their names however if possible it could be left as ‘available on request’. She also explained that a good Cover letters is to contain the details of an applicant that could not be attached to the CV.
She revealed that she often times went on LinkedIn to look for people’s profile that match certain keywords, this she said is an advantage for recruiters and job seekers alike. She was of the opinion that even as there are tips to acing an interview they could give one a foot in the door but it would often not guarantee the job.
She went on to stress on the need for people to do research on their preferred job description so as not to walk into the interview room looking clueless. Going further, she advised that candidates practice questions, find out about the organization; the location of the interview and to go in for the interview with the mind-set of gisting with a friend. Finally, she advised against overconfidence during the interview process.
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On this episode of Conversations with Oshodi, it is the week when World Teachers Day October 5th is celebrated every year. A time to celebrate teachers and the work they do in raising sound individuals for the future and how to raise the younger generation to become teachers that would also impact lives in turn. Host, Adewunmi Oshodi Tapa took the conversation to ask the audience to share their fond memories of their school days and the impacts the lessons and experiences left them with.
Autosparkle - a Lagos-based innovative Autocare services company has already swung into action and is taking the lead in Africa. Autosparkle which was co-founded by two young Nigerian brothers (Genesis and Jesse Onomiwo) started operations in the Victoria Island part of Lagos in 2010 as a strictly-mobile waterless car wash company with an eco-conscious drive and determination to help Africans save water for better uses by starting with Nigeria. With the core focus on car interior and engine detailing services only, Genesis and Jesse have successfully created a new category in the AutoCare industry that never existed anywhere in the world before now, making Autosparkle a first mover and natural leader of the waterless car interior and engine detailing niche. In fact, Autosparkle is now a replacement for the word interior detailing.
Below is a summary of the interview Fighting Climate Change with Jesse and Genesis Onomiwo
Genesis one of the brothers was of the opinion that people tend to take lightly the critical state of climate change and are often thinking it unreal. He revealed that statistics showed that by the year 2030 about 700 million persons would be displaced by intense water scarcity with some areas currently experiencing high water stress.
He went into detail saying that the effects of climate change could be devastating ranging from drought to flood. To this, he stressed on the need for people to be aware of the effects of the present climate changes and join hands in averting the dangers that may come with it.
Jesse also came in to say to talk about their car waterless wash and detailing company, a common move, he said in other parts of the world due to shortage of water in those areas. He spoke to the fact that in other parts of the world people were already coming to terms with the issue of climate change as it concerns the usage of water.
He went on to say that even as water was critical for living, it should be used for only essential things. He recounted that the company had started as a mobile car wash business but they had difficulty sourcing for water most times, so began the idea of waterless car washing.
Using nanotechnology and special cleaning agents they have gone on to wash and detail cars without using water ever since. He recounted that at first, it was challenging, as most people had been skeptical around the possibility of washing their car without water and it affected their business.
He mentioned that during those times their family had been very open and supportive of the idea. Discussing the idea, he said that in a car there were areas that tend to sag, crack and harden in contact with water but with their waterless approach, this was prevented. They explained saying that the special clAeaning agents used in carrying out the waterless car wash were cleaning agents that are able to work on dirt thoroughly.
The two brothers revealed that working together in the number of years was possible because of their synergy of values, sense of responsibility and respect for the business. One of the brothers soon shared the sacrifices they made at the onset adding that a level of success was possible if one takes a tangible amount of risk.
Every last Saturday of the month, we shine the spotlight on two young creative professionals/entrepreneurs taking great strides in their respective industries. Joining the host, Comfort on this conversation is Abiola Adenugba, a photographer based in Lagos and Temitope Asaolu, Chef and CEO of Tchops and Ice Event. Listen as these two entrepreneurs share their journey from having an idea to creating and growing their business/Career.
Fola David is a seasoned Pencil Artist and Nigeria’s Foremost Speedpainter. He is well known for his hyperrealistic works and his ability to create paintings of his subject life and upside down in less than 5 minutes. He has worked with many local and international celebrities like TreySongz, Wale, Keri Hilson, 2Baba, Jidenna, Rkelly, Iyanya, Alibaba and Patoranking to name a few. His works are also in several academic institutions, galleries, and private collections worldwide.
Below is a Summary from the Radio show Redefining the Art Space with Fola David.
While recounting his childhood memories the speed painter and Medical doctor said that he had started out as a speed painter while in medical school. He spoke to the fact that he was only able to balance doing art while in medical school because he managed his time and was on the lookout for opportunities.
He started by creating art pieces and putting it up on the school’s notice boards for a while and after a short time; gained recognition for his art pieces. Speaking on his first pay as an artist, he recalled that while in Primary school, he once made a drawing of a man on a bike and his teacher liked it and gave him a 50-naira note.
To the inspiration behind his paintings, he said his paintings were inspired by his aspirations for the future and the pressing issues he experiences as a medical doctor. He spoke about the sense of fulfillment and happiness he derived when speed painting in front of an audience coupled with the financial freedom he enjoyed.
He was of the opinion that speed painting was very lucrative if one could be very creative in doing it. He revealed that he sometimes took breaks in between working as an artist and a medical doctor. He advised up and coming creatives to be creative with their art pieces all the time as people would soon begin to patronize them.
He urged up and coming artists to harness the power of social media, to start from wherever they may be and to make sure to let people see their artworks. He also advised young talents to ensure to be consistent as their day of recognition may not come easily but to continue so they can have a body of work to show in the coming years.
He explained that for one to create great art they needed to have the skill, the confidence, a perspective and a unique story with a message that can evoke a feeling from the audience. He announced that he would be having an art exhibition with his management by November at Victoria Island, Lagos.
In positioning oneself for jobs, he advised upcoming artists to always document whatever they do as people are looking to see progress, consistency before they give out jobs. Discussing the possibility of standing out in one’s space, he said that he had been able to build relationships while sharing his artworks on social media and is able to get referrals. He revealed that recently he was just able to sell some of the art pieces that he had done 4-5 years ago, to this he advised artists to keep creating art pieces and to never stop.
To get the Full Transcript of this Episode or If you liked this episode, Listen to more episodes of Y&C podcast www.youngcerebral.com
The discussion was around the pressure students face in the bid to excel in their academic studies. The host, Adewunmi Oshodi Tapa took the conversation to the listeners and callers into the show shared varying opinions. Some were of the opinion that beyond getting a university degree character was also necessary for bringing up a child. Others were of the opinion that students were only taught cognitive learning; reading and writing in schools despite the fact that they needed psychomotor skills to function properly outside the school walls. The conversation was insightful with a lot of callers sharing varying views around the topic. Still, the question still points at how students can excel in their academics without succumbing to pressures.
BellaRose Iyere-Okojie is a Mass Communication graduate from the Redeemer’s University. A seasoned broadcaster and cheeriest of the pack, BellaRose is the morning show host on City 105.1fm having started her broadcasting career as an associate producer with Africa Independent Television (AIT) and later co-anchored the Ultimate Morning Show on Raypower Network until 2013 where she moved to Inspiration FM. Famous for her unique laughter and versatility, she clinched a 1yr contract for co-host duties with ace broadcaster Dan Foster on Let’s go Naija, a nationwide syndicated CSR/music radio show sponsored by Shell Nigeria where she spoke fluent pidgin English. Once a writer for TW Magazine, BellaRose is also a contributing writer and editor on techcityng.com.
Below is a summary of the interview Building Social Capital Through Networking with BellaRose Okojie
Rose is a Presenter and this dream started since she was a child. She had always been exposed to the broadcasting world as her father was a studio manager and her older sister was always attending interviews and the likes.
She says social capital is the asset that you have, your norms, your outlook on life, your reciprocity and how they affect your immediate environment. You can then build a large network of people that share the same values as you. She says networking involves having a close connection with different people in different industries. By doing so, you can easily refer them to other people that need their services and in a situation where they have someone that needs the services you provide, they would be willing to connect you. She says there are no problem-saving people’s contacts based on the circumstance or environment you met them in.
In order to network, you must have confidence and this is something parents must imbibe in their kids to enable them to have the confidence to walk up to people and interact. When asked her thoughts about social media depreciating interpersonal skills, she says she believes it is one of the factors that is contributing to the problem and that it is something that can be remedied. Social media has done more harm than good and you can easily find articles on there teaching you to be a better communicator.
She advises that when approaching a celebrity do not turn it into a bragging contest, first ask yourself if you can add value to their lives and then articulate what you want to say. If you don’t know what to say then do not approach them, other opportunities to meet them will come your way.
Rose says in order to maintain relationships built with important people try to be relevant in their lives, don’t wait too long before you check up on them and involve yourself in their social lives. Don’t be a stranger. She advises that you don’t stop networking with them even when you’ve got what you want from them because there are other ways you can add value to them and vice versa.
Concluding, she says people should raise confident and courageous children who can do anything they set their minds to. She advises young people not to be intimidated because your values are not attached to money.
Ope wemi Jones has over 20 years’ experience working with the company's top leaders. So far she has been able to build relationships and trust to gain cross-functional alignment and drive change to help organizations demystify the buzz words "Customer Service", "Customer Experience". She has worked with several organizations to create a service culture that sizzles with measurable returns on investments. From the gate to the board room, she takes care to integrate service into the core of a business.
Below is a summary of the show Putting The Customer First with Ope Wemi-Jones.
Ope says that putting the customer first is greatly impaired by the execution and the ability of organizations to put their customers first. She then advises that businesses try to design their businesses around the customers and design products based on what the customers want. She says if there is no customer, there will be no service and if there is no service, there will be no satisfaction. Once the customer and the service are merged, then customer satisfaction can be achieved. She adds that in order to treat the customer asking you need to have a drawn-out plan of how you want to serve the customers and you must also define the kind of customers your business is looking out for. When you know all these, it’ll definitely affect the kind of people you employ and the way the business operates.
Ope says service is more than handbills, it is more of how are the people responding to your business regardless of the size. The demand for your product is what determines the quality of your service. The simple way to build your customer base is by making your customers happy, for every happy customer you make is one automatic life referral.
When asked about handling cranky or rude customers, Ope says you just have to put on a smile, focus on the problem and calm the person. When they see your calm reaction to their mood they begin to realize that you actually care enough to handle their problem and quell their fears.
She advises that when choosing employees, you should look for people who love customers, who can be very polite in handling problems and finally someone that focus while delivering the service needed. She also talks about the importance of training customer service employees so you can improve the quality of service the customer gets to experience.
Answering to a question about deceptive advertising, Ope says businesses should not promise what they cannot deliver, don’t say it for the sake of saying because people are going to hold you to your word and once you don’t deliver, they lose their trust in you. She then goes ahead to answer questions from various callers about service delivery, picking calls from customers and many more.
Concluding, she says that a customer-focused company is set up to guide the organization in involving service culture in its operation strategy which is a key component to the success of any business.
The Conversation comes after numerous attacks were made on Nigerians living in Johannesburg, Pretoria by South Africans. The attack saw many businesses suffer with some loosing their lives. As a result of this attack hatred was created in the minds of Nigerians and in retaliation some South African owned businesses in Nigeria were destroyed back in Nigeria with some shutting down for fear of destruction. Host, Comfort Uwakhonye calls on Nigerians to share their views in light of the attacks and why retaliating with violence would be detrimental to the Nigerian Economy in the long run.
Every last Saturday on the show we shine the spotlight on young career professionals and entrepreneurs taking giant strides in their various industries. Joining the conversation with Comfort we have Eniade Ajayi working with a Gymnastics club, Eagles Gymnastics in Lagos and Mark Ahamefula a creative director who organizes people's thoughts through the board games he makes. Join the conversation as they share triumphs and experiences in their individual industries.
Sola Adesakin is an experienced and versatile Chartered Accountant with about 17 years of hands-on experience on Personal and SMEs finance. She is a personal Finance Coach, Trainer and Conference/Seminar Speaker. Through her blog and The Smart Stewards Academy, (www.smartstewards.com), she has helped many men and women bounce back from stress to rest and from debt to wealth.
On this Episode You will learn:
- How to Make Money Work for you.
- How to Manage and Multiply your finances.
- Why you need to have financial literacy.
- Tips to Saving and Investing the right way.
Read a Summary of the Episode below:
While defining the topic of making money work, she said that money was just a resource like oxygen and water that one needed still one has to have a good mind-set to put money to work. She pointed out that people often saw a dime as 10 Naira as insignificant she ruled this out saying that if one is to be effective at making money value has to placed on every kobo. She spoke on the side of smart work and hard work, saying that although hard work is paramount, one still needs to put in smart effort to make money.
She recalled a time that despite earning on the high side she couldn’t manage money or invest because she had no financial literacy but now after, her mindset around money had changed. She was of the opinion that anyone could attain financial freedom if they read on financial literary adding that even with the richest people in the world there were financial advisers making financial decisions for them.
She said interested persons could take free financial literacy courses online with lots of videos discussing ways to manage and multiply money amongst others. She stressed on applying for financial literacy courses within one’s geographical location as financial factors within different areas vary. She ruled out the notion that only wealthy people could invest while describing the principle of investment as simply putting one’s money to work.
She went further to explain that with savings one is able to put money aside but with an investment one’s money is able to actively work beyond their reach. For starters who are looking to invest, she said they could start by investing in real estate, stock, shares or fixed income securities as treasury bills as well as mutual funds with as low as 5,000 Naira. While advising against money doubling schemes, she said that wealth-building was a marathon that has to consistently build on and form the habit so it becomes part and parcel of the individual.
To persons who found saving difficult, she said that people work and pay for taxes, rent, bills but seldom think of paying themselves adding that one’s savings, investment was compensation for hard work. She soon announced that she would be starting a four-month saving challenge on twitter, where people can be accountable and disciplined as they save within four months through Fintech platforms. She further advised persons who struggled with saving to start by deactivating their online banking and cut off triggers of excessive spending but to also ensure to be accountable to someone.
To get the Full Transcript of this Episode or If you liked this episode, Listen to more episodes of Y&C podcast www.youngcerebral.com
The topics surfaces days after the US charged 80 people, mostly Nigerians, in a $46m internet scam. On this show, host, Adewunmi Oshodi Tapa points the topic in the direction of ways that fraud scams could be curbed amongst Nigerians in the country and diaspora. This also with a look at how hard work can become a praiseworthy and emulatory attitude amongst Nigerians. Callers into the show also shared their dismay from the bad publicity this poses for the country, to the attitude were top-scoring students are not awarded in their academic pursuits to many other issues within the Nigerian culture.
Abimbola Balogun is a wife, mum, lawyer, entrepreneur and HR Professional and cofounder at SoFresh, the largest healthy food company established in 2010 with multiple branches in Nigeria. As a Principal Partner at AB Moore consulting firm, she has helped several businesses build great teams through her online consulting firm in terms of training, coaching, and consultations. She was listed amongst the 100 most inspiring women by YNaija in 2017 and 2019. She is passionate about human capital development and possesses a strong leadership, managerial and problem-solving skills. She is an associate member of chartered institute of personal management.
Below is a summary of the interview Standing Out in a Team with Abimbola Balogun
Abimbola is a Lawyer that practices HR and people management at So Fresh. She says growing up she loved to talk a lot and this prompted her to choose law but after a few years of practicing, she realized she loves working with people and helping them become a better version of themselves. From there she got the professional training and hasn’t looked back since. She adds she easily merges all the things she does because it comes naturally to her.
Abimbola decided to start HR in 2009 after being called to bar in 2006 and working in her law firm, she realized her strengths shone when she was training and helping people. She says a team is a group of people who come together with their unique strengths and skills to achieve a common goal. She adds that anyone can be part of a team as long as they have the required skills to contribute to whatever the team is specialized in. she also stresses the importance of learning to work with other people as operating alone cannot work for a long term business or venture. To actualize your dream, you must have a supportive team. She says in order not to remain passive in a team, you have to work on your personality, ask questions to clear your doubt, try to volunteer so you can come out of your shell. When you become involved, people will see the value you bring as a team member and gravitate towards you.
When asked the best approach to teamwork, Abimbola says you should have a positive attitude, working collaboratively with others to achieve the common goal and when expressing an idea, do so respectfully to avoid conflict. She says to manage conflicts or disputes in a team, the parties involved must listen closely to their opinions and try to understand what the other person is saying.
She stressed the importance of reliability, punctuality, thoughtfulness, and hard work in order to be exceptional in a team. You should be able to exceed expectations when assigned a role or job within a team, this shows you care about the job and the ultimate achievement of the team goal.
A question about some members of the team being under-utilized was brought up and Abimbola says a perceptive leader would have seen this and done something to avoid it but when it does happen the leader should find a way to assign more responsibilities to the individual or they could be reassigned, even moved to a different team entirely that would properly utilize their abilities.
Concluding, she says a team leader should love everyone on the team irrespective of social status or financial status. She advises young people to have a goal\plan for their lives, and they should find or create a team that will bring out the best in them and helps them achieve their goals.
The Conversation arises during the period when a new entrant into the bike hailing business in Nigeria aggressively recruited or poached so to say experienced hands from existing players in the industry. The move garnered attention as the people in question were top movers in their previous organizations. The question then came down to whether an offer of a better incentive was good enough reason for one to quit their job. Host, Adewunmi Oshodi Tapa threw the conversation open for listeners to call in to share their thoughts. Some gave reasons as to why they would choose to stay with an organization in spite of a better incentive at another place and some gave reasons as to why they would choose to accept an enticing offer instead.
Oluwatosin Agbalaya is a Professional Chef with a Diploma in Cuisine and Patisserie. She has a wealth of experience working as a Chef, Chef Instructor as well as a Restaurant Manager/Coordinator.
Below is a summary of the interview Mastering the Art of Cooking with Oluwatosin Agbalaya
Oluwatosin is a Chef who has a professional diploma in cuisines and pastries. She says as a child she wanted to be a doctor but watching her mother inspired her love for catering. Out of fear she didn’t let her dad know and God willing, she found herself in commercial class and when she entered the university, she began baking and selling pastries. She used to help her mother cook and serve food as a child. She began to use her mom's cooking book to practice recipes as she grew and it really fascinated her.
She says her love for cooking is what motivates her to get up every morning as there are a lot of people that rely on her to deliver food to them every day and she cannot disappoint them. The drive to create something new and fresh is a major motivation for her. She says in order to give the customers exactly what they want, communication is key. She takes the orders personally and asks for allergies, preferences and many other things.
Oluwatosin says in order to maintain the taste and authentic flavor her dishes have she creates a special recipe for each of them and always measures out her ingredients. She includes that cooking is fun for her because she finds fulfillment in the kitchen.
She emphasizing the importance of plating to the general appeal of a dish because we eat with our eyes first before our mouths. She describes cooking as an art that begins with the technique you use, the idea of the dish and finally plating.
She tells us that she tries her best to incorporate Nigerian foods that are slowly dying out into her menus to make people well aware of the rich cuisine we have in the country. She also tells us how all the ingredients she uses to prepare meals are supplied fresh to her doorstep. She uses this to create an experience for the clients as per their requests.. punctuality is also a key component of the success of her business.
Concluding, she says she believes that you can be anything you choose to be once you’re dedicated. Focus on perfecting the skill first then money would come along.
Ojurayo Alaba Iranlowo is an innovative and resourceful Human Resources Professional with extensive experience in Human resources practice, consulting and in-depth Human Resources knowledge for over fourteen years. He has also demonstrated expertise in HR generalist affairs with excellent strategic planning and leadership skills dedicated to maximizing productivity for the achievement of a company’s overall objectives.
Below is a summary of the interview Beyond Excelling At Interviews with Ojurayo Alaba Iranlowo
He began by saying he had started the business of managing people unconsciously from his undergraduate days and then grew to making a career in human resources. Going into the topic of discussion he said that first thing first in preparing for an interview one needs to find out everything about their job description. Explaining further, he said the next thing is to read on the organization, the vision, mission as well as their core values.
He went on to point out that in his experience, some applicants often were carried away and appeared nervous in interviews which were not supposed to be. He pointed out that an interview was just space for employees to ask questions based on abilities stated in a CV as such applicants need not fear. As to what interviewers lookout for, he said that it was dependent on the role as employees could be looking at English fluency for a front-desk officer position. In the course of an interview when one is asked ‘tell us about yourself’, he stated that applicants are expected to sell themselves briefly to the interviewers.
Moving to the question of one’s strengths or weaknesses, he said that applicants are to speak on their strong points and areas they can improve on. When asking questions, he said that applicants are to ask strategic questions that will forge the organization as others could be viewed on the company’s website. After the interview, he advised that applicants allow a space of two weeks for the organization to make their decision before reaching out to them. Still, He advised that job seekers take job rejections in good faith as it only meant they are not suitable for the job based on certain criteria. He stated the criteria were often a combination of character and temperament stressing that being qualified for a job just IQ alone.
When one is asked the question of previous employment records, he advised they give correct information because a background check is usually done. He advised against overinflating one’s abilities but to instead speak honestly about what one’s abilities without appearing too overconfident. He advised against speaking ill about one’s former employee as it often hampers on an applicant's chances of getting employed. Finally, he advised job seekers to take care to brush up on interview tips if they are to excel at future interviews.
The conversation saw two guests; Biodun Omolayo and Kunle Orimijupa joining host, Adewunmi Oshodi Tapa on this episode. With Biodun Omolayo, the owner of an Art Museum discussing the possibility of Art museums and Art learning for kids in Nigeria and Kunle Orimijupa an staff with the FIRS break down the details on the VAT charges that were imposed by the FIRS on domestic and international transactions made by Nigerians.
Cornel Ogar is a Multi-Instrumentalist, Prolific Songwriter, Producer, Singer, Vocal Trainer, Actor, and Model. He has won various singing competitions over the span of fifteen years. The notable one was Star Quest; a reality TV show sponsored by Nigerian Breweries Plc which was held in 2006. He led the band D'accord to win the contest. This gave him the opportunity to perform on the same stage with' A' list Artistes like 9ice, Tu Face Idibia, Psquare, Kcee, Banky W just to mention a few. He also performed with international acts like ll Cool J, Akon, Kanye West, T Pain, Nelly, and Ludacris. in 2016 finished the top 4 at the maiden edition of the International singing competition called The Voice Nigeria. This competition had the legendary Tu Baba, Timi Dakolo, Waje and Patoranking as coaches. He released his debut single 'Smile Again' in December 2016. He performed at The Future Awards 2016, AMMA Awards 2017, and Nollywood Health Summit 2017 amongst others.
Below is the summary of the Interview Audition! Sing! Win! with Cornel Ogar
He recalled that he had discovered his gift in music at a young age of nine and had been planning his music career ever since. He agreed that he had faced resistance from his Father during the early stage of his music career. He recalled his many failed attempts in writing JAMB until he finally got in after he sat for the Music option.
He started out with the classical genre of music, then to R & B until now where he sings at his church choir, he has been doing Gospel so far. He shared some of the challenging moments in his music career; failed record deals as well as poor attendance during organized music rehearsals. He said that in spite of the challenges which he said has helped him so far in his career, he still continues to learn.
He motioned on up and coming musicians to never give up but instead hold onto the belief that things will work out. He recalled his stint with musical instruments starting out with drums, the bass guitar and moving to play the piano. To this, he said that it was important for any good musician to have good knowledge of playing certain musical instruments as it will guide them in creating good music.
After every Music Competition, he said that it was common for him to go back and restrategize so as to do better in subsequent ones. In preparing for auditions he listed out that first one needed to be physically ready taking cognizance of their eating habits and appearance.
He went on to talk about the need to understand the songs one would be performing so as to bring out their best voice. He also stressed on the need to understand one's voice texture and pitch. He said that one also needed to be ready psychologically; having a positive state of mind and seek spiritual guidance. In his final words, he advised up and coming musicians to work towards finding their voice, maximizing their potentials and to keep believing that everything will work out.
We had Olukorede Sadiq Yishau Associate Editor with Nations Newspaper and Nigerian Author and Seun Odukoya, an Author and writer join host, Adewunmi Oshodi Tapa on this episode. They both shared their experiences as Nigerian authors whilst breaking the myths that often surrounds writing.
Every Last Saturday of the month we shine the spotlight on young entrepreneurs doing amazing things in their respective industries. Joining host, Comfort Uwakhonye we had Kayode Sadiq, Founder at Fxkay Tech, a watchmaker and Enebeli Chioma, CEO at Omathread. Listen in on the conversation.
Motola Oyebanjo is a passionate Communications Consultant with extensive strategic experience across Corporate Communications, Marketing Communications, and Development Communications. She has previously served as the Head of Corporate Communications for Lafarge Africa, Head of Strategic Communications and Media for Union Bank of Nigeria, Head of Corporate Communications for the British Council and as Internal Communications Manager for Unilever Nigeria. As a Consultant, Motola has delivered high impact brand and communications projects for local and international organizations including the Australian Trade Commission, United Kingdom Education Advisory Services, Kia Motors, NISSAN Motors, Haansbro Confectioneries, Edinburgh Napier University Scotland and BPP University UK. She is the Country Director at The School of Life – an unconventional learning academy that trains career professionals to excel in their careers. She is also the Founder of When Women Win – a women empowerment platform providing affordable access for women to the inspiration, knowledge, and opportunities they need to succeed.
Below is a summary of the interview The Importance of Communication for Business Growth with Motola Oyebanjo
She defined communications as a way or structure through which organizations pass their message across to key stakeholders; customers, government, media, community as well as their employees. She was of the opinion that for any organization set up for profit they would need to listen to and hear their customers if they are to deliver.
She advised business owners to always endeavor to ask for feedback from their customers as the information would be helpful in improving their business for better. She spoke on the need for business owners to understand where they stand and how they are perceived so as to always communicate the right brand personality to their customers.
In the process of attending to the customer, pushing out content she said that brand personality is being created and will go far to determine if a customer will choose to buy or not. She said that in this age of Social media SME’s can harness the opportunity to reach out to their customers at no cost by creating a structure of taking feedback from their customers.
She said that it was important for organizations to build an Employee Communications Culture around their business as unhappy employees often do not deliver on quality service. She went further to say that it was important for organizations to create structures that inform, educate, take opinions, engages and rewards their employees.
Speaking on strategies to growing one’s business network she said that individuals and business owners can start by creating value for others so as to leave lasting impressions in people’s minds. She said that if anyone was to find their career path, they needed to understand their personality type so as to guide them in discovering where they will best fit in.
To business owners looking to hire personnel, she advised that they look out for personality traits being that someone who isn’t a talker would often not do well in a sales position. She talked about the four major temperaments as the driven choleric, the sanguine talker, the melancholic thinker and the easy-going phlegmatic adding that there were 16 different personality types.
In changing business narratives, she advised that businesses begin to think in angles and look out for stories that will resonate with their audience. She advised business owners to avoid the attitude of always writing about themselves but to write instead with their audience in mind. She revealed that an online career course had been recently launched at the school of life where she is the Country Director and is set to guide people through understanding their career path.
On this show, Niyi Gbodimowo and Prince Kehinde Bakare of Project (LOUD) Lagos Of Our Dreams a program by the Lagos state government join with host, Adewunmi Oshodi Tapa to discuss Recycling Waste. Through Project LOUD, Niyi and Kehinde are looking to recycle the huge waste coming from houses and communities in Lagos, this they said still remained a collective effort. Their hope is to sensitize Lagosians through the project to change their attitude towards waste management and bring about a cleaner Lagos in the coming years. It was an interactive program with the host and the guests on the show.
Anita Kemi Dasilva is a specialist Obstetrician and Gynecologist with a medical background that extends to Public Health. She is a qualified physician with over 15 years of experience in private practice, where she dedicates her time addressing the needs of expectant mothers and women. Dr. DaSilva also runs a non- profit organization – the Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) that successfully tackles the issues of gender-based violence, rape and trafficking of young girls and women in communities throughout Lagos State and across Nigeria.
Below is a summary of the interview What Exactly is Rape with Dr. Anita Kemi Dasilva-Ibru
She said that the WARIF organization was founded as a result of the many cases of rape, sexual violence and trafficking of young girls and women in many communities across Nigeria. She said that in her background as an obstetrician and Gynecologist taking care of women and children she had seen many oppressed women across different backgrounds. According to her, the statistics in Nigeria shows that 1 out of 4 girls before they clocked 18 have experienced one sexual violence act or the other.
She defined rape as any form of sexual assault or penetration that is done against a person’s wish adding that it was also a tool of dominance over someone that is vulnerable. She mentioned that according to the Nigerian Law, prosecution for rape was Life imprisonment. As to what could be regarded as willful consent, she explained that consent was an enthusiastic agreement based on an informed decision between two persons that sexual activity will occur.
As to consent in a sexual act, she pointed out that a person under 18 could not give consent, bribery or force; a person under the influence of alcohol did not count as consent while adding that consent could also be given and withdrawn. She revealed that rape survivors were often filled with stigma because the act usually occurs in safe spaces like in the home, in school and the perpetrators most times exist around these environments. She went on to say that rape survivors are often led to feel ashamed and to feel guilty about the act and without an enabling environment most times they lose the strength to speak out.
She disclosed that WARIF had a rape crisis walk-in facility at Yaba which opened Monday to Friday offering free medical care, Counselling sessions as well as Shelter to survivors. While speaking about the need to educate boys on rape she said that statistics showed that 1 in 8 boys were survivors of sexual acts and as such when boys are educated on the realities of rape chances are high that they might grow up to become potential perpetrators. She mentioned the ‘Boys Conversation Café’ initiative at WARIF that was directed towards educating secondary schoolboys.
Through conversations with some of the secondary school boys under the ‘Boys Conversation Café’ initiative, she said that 1 out of 5 boys had shown that they would walk away if they saw a girl being raped. She called on individuals to always pay attention to signs such as; a child avoiding a certain adult, a neighbor becoming quiet when a name is mentioned so as to help reduce the number of rape incidents. In the case of a rape incidence, she said it is advised not to take a bath within 72hours but visit a Rape Facility as it will aid in identifying such perpetrator as treatment and diagnosis will also follow so as to prevent STI’s.
Host, Adewunmi Oshodi Tapa threw open the question to the audience to ask them what they did with their first pay. Listen in to hear the different callers share their stories, stories filled with inspiration, empowerment and opportunities.
Oluwatosin Olaseinde is a chartered accountant with 10 years of experience in accounting, corporate finance, auditing, and taxation. She has worked with several multinationals – Bloomberg TV, CNBC Africa, BAT. She currently runs Money Africa, a personal finance platform that teaches people to build healthy financial habits, cut down on unnecessary expenses and generate multiple income streams.
Below is a summary of the interview; Opportunity: An Avenue to Learn or Earn with Oluwatosin Olaseinde
She said that she had always looked forward to becoming successful and impacting lives from a young age. She pointed out that if someone is to develop an eye for opportunities they needed to have the knowledge and training over time in any given area to be able to spot an opportunity. In choosing the right opportunities she said that people needed to first calculate the risk, understand if it will be best for them, and the potentials involved so as to make informed decisions. She said that the mistakes most entrepreneurs make are expecting unrealistic outcomes without understanding their numbers.
She stressed on the need for entrepreneurs to understand their numbers that is their profit margin and their bottom line so as to be able to make informed and better decisions. She went further to say that if entrepreneurs can understand their business pain points based on the numbers it would help them concentrate their energy on opportunities that will give them the most output. She advised that business owners record, pay attention and check the statistics from their engagement so as to help them make the best outputs.
She spoke on the importance of doing market research as it helps entrepreneurs to curtail future mistakes and get the best outcomes from an opportunity. She spoke about the potentials of investing early on as it helps in training oneself in financial discipline. For people who are looking to start small investments, she said that with mutual funds people could come together to invest in a particular venture with the help of a professional fund manager.
Speaking about investment scams she called on people to quit expecting huge returns from any passive business investment especially when it doesn’t require their intellectual effort. Speaking further on the benefits under mutual funds she said that with some ventures like government bonds it is risk-free because the government is the strongest backer of any security. In her advice to students and young school leavers, she called on them to make quality use of their time as it is the greatest opportunity they have to create a living in the future.
Going further, she advised that while students prepare themselves to create income revenues in the future they should also endeavour to invest their earnings so as not to eat with both hands. Similarly, in her advice to young business owners, she urged them to take care to separate their personal finances from their business’, to pay themselves a salary and to ensure to track their expenses. In her final words, she advised business entrepreneurs to always think global while considering maybe the Entrepreneur of 25years in China and to always be deliberate in their decisions.
Abinoro Collins is the owner of an art studio based in the bustling city of Lagos. He is an incomparable artist who graduated with distinctions from the Auchi school of Art in 2012. He trail blazes with his sculptures in stainless steel cutlery, fiberglass, and bronze. Inspired by the fragments of the society, he captures moments that tell tails, patterns, and issues of life with his magnificent birds. Birds have constantly been a subject of his expression with cutleries because it is a symbol of creative freedom in his art practice. With it, he unravels in a tangible form, mysteries, love and passion, natural phenomenon and societal issues. He has exhibited in Nigeria, the UAE (United Arab Emirates) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Below is a summary of the Interview Art As A Luxurious Talent with Collins Abinoro
As he recalled his childhood days, he said that as little as when he was a kid in school he had already been able to picture what he wanted to be. This early realization he said had made it possible for him to make calculated decisions ever since leading to his present career path as an Artist. He said his love for art stemmed from a deep-seated feeling, something he could barely explain, something that gave him joy.
He went on to say that Art was the only thing that gave him confidence and allowed him to express himself. Discussing how his feature on BBC came about, he recalled at the time posting one of his art pieces on Twitter and receiving a huge response from the online community. He said that following the huge reaction from the online community, Twitter he got a call soon after from a Journalist at BBC asking that his story be featured on their platform.
From where he drew inspiration, he said that he was able to find inspiration for art pieces from his memories, his immediate environment as well as his personal experiences. Speaking on some of the challenges he was faced with as an artist he spoke about the little or no access to funds being that art was very expensive. He recalled that during his service year he had saved up during the one-year period so as to start-up his art studio.
He saved up to enable him to start an art studio in Lagos away from his residence at Delta. After the one-year service, during the period of finding his footing, he stayed in Lagos with friends and artists until he was able to raise enough money to start his own art studio. He revealed that in sourcing his working tools which were cutleries he used up to 2000 spoons to create an art piece and had used 4,600 spoons on a single art piece at one time.
While expressing optimism, he said that he hoped to transcend time and living fragments through his art pieces for generations to come. He said that art was a very lucrative career. Speaking for himself he said that since leaving school, he was yet to do a 9 to 5 job and even now married he still continued to create art full time earning monthly in seven figures.
On how art pieces were able to appreciate over time he said that it depended on the artist’s growth over time, the buildup of collectors’ interest in an artist’s art piece amongst others. In his advice to up and coming visual artists, he urged them to find themselves, stick to their career choices and be ready to make sacrifices with no regrets of failing.
Every Last Saturday of thr show is about shining the spotlight on young entrepreneurs taking laudable strides in their industries. Joining the host, Comfort Uwakhonye in this conversation are Olamide Omoyele, a beauty make-up artist; and Ononuju Chinyere Vivian, a shoe maker to share their individual experiences growing a business in the Nigerian economy.
Rahmon Ojukotola is the Founder and Director of StartCredits. StartCredits is an organization with a mission to increase financial inclusion in Africa through innovative technologies. In addition to his duties at StartCredits, he sits on the advisory board to the Florida schools group and is the lead creator at RooJ. He previously worked at the Bank of England and UBS. He holds a master's degree in Finance from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a bachelor's degree in Accounting & Finance from the University of Southampton. He is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and the Royal Economic Society.
Below is a summary of the program Optimizing My Investments with Rahmon Ojukotola
Rahmon runs Star Credit, an investment company and he debunks the notion that investments are a way to get rich quickly, it takes patience and consistency. He says the internet is now the easiest way to find information on investments and how they work. He advises that when not investing, spend right. Investing is simply a way to double or triple the money you already have, a way to prepare for a much better life and future.
The important elements you should look into when creating a dynamic portfolio is first investing in yourself, ask a lot of questions and put your effort into developing yourself. Figure out what your risk tolerance is, how much you’re willing to invest, how much loss you can take when the stock market is not in your favor.
He advises that any money you are investing should not be money that you need to run your current business or to do something crucial. Have a deep a good understanding of your expenditures and understand that the investment money cannot be what you’re using to sustain your daily lifestyle. You can start with as little as ten thousand naira, just go to your bank and make enquires on stock and investments. Rahmon stresses that it is very important for the investor to have people to talk to before investing because they would be able to advise you on what route to take. They’ll serve as guides on how to navigate the market.
He highlights that the investment market in Nigeria has some communication issues as a lot of the terminologies cannot be understood by those who are not in the field. To really succeed here you need someone that can translate the information from the stock market and easily teach you how to interpret it yourself. One of the major struggles of new investors is deciding what the right thing to do is, they struggle with decision making and the only remedy to this is taking your time to learn and put effort into perfecting the skill. They also need to consider how long they want to invest for, the time frame and continuity.
He says a major mistake he advises his clients not to take is to base decisions they make on numbers in the Nigerian commission which is detrimental because these numbers change depending on the situation in the country. Rahmon took out some time to answer questions from various callers and he said for people that find it hard to set money aside for an investment or to simply save for the future should get some mobile apps that will help them autosave and monitor their funds.
As part of her efforts to give back to the community, she currently co-runs www.mentallyaware.org. MentallyAwareNG is a non-profit organization that focuses on ending the stigma associated with mental illnesses and raising awareness of mental illnesses and disorders. She also shares her experiences on forcreativegirls.com, a platform that showcases the creatively courageous women.
Below is a summary of the interview Dealing With Emotional instability (Part 2) with Ifedayo Ward
Ifedayo works in an organization that focuses on mental health and as a child she always dreamt about being a model. She says mental health is very important to every individual but it is something that isn’t talked about regularly because of the stigma attached to it. She says everybody is unstable, we all have high and low moments, most have gone through childhood trauma they cannot share and this has affected their emotional stability. She said to determine the mental stability of a person look at their relationships, which is how they relate with the people around them. Emotional instability could be a mental disorder, it is a kind of personality disorder that sparks anxiety and behavioral changes.
Talking about how to handle hurtful comments people make, Ifedayo says you must first understand self-work, which is defining who you are so the words others use to describe you do not change your emotions. Everybody is going through something and they will most likely take it out on who they feel is the weakest around them. Learn to safeguard your mind and emotions by first finding yourself.
She reveals that mood swings can be caused by hormones and the only way to control it is knowing how to rein in those emotions. She says depression can be from pregnancy, grief from the loss of a loved one and even heartbreak. Pressure from families can also factor into depression, this is why you have to put yourself first, don’t let anyone mess with your emotions or hurt you.
Answering another question about handling break ups, Ifedayo says you first have to be complete as an individual before taking up a partner to support or guide you. Achieve your goals, dreams and aspirations before you begin to actively search out companionship. In a case where breakups happen, you don’t feel like a part of you has been taken away because you’ve always been complete. Your partner should complement you.
Shedding light on suicide laws in Nigeria, she says that it is very offensive. Many suicidal people do it because they can’t help the depressed state they’re in. Whatever mental condition they have blocked out everything else. The major cause of suicidal thoughts is depression. This has been aided by many attacks from social media, television, publicity and all that. Trying to sensationalize everything has affected a lot of people. Awareness is the only thing that can help when handling people with mental health issues and depression. She also acknowledges the presence of support groups in the country for such people.
Concluding, Ifedayo urges everyone to cheer up people around them who are going through emotional changes, say something nice to them, get them to seek professional help, safeguard your emotions and mental health.
The conversation comes after Nigeria's regulatory body for university admissions, JAMB -Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board releases the 2019 cut-off mark for admission into universities with changes in the cut-off marks. From the former cut-off mark of 200 out of 400 marks, it was now put at 160 a far cry from average. The host, Adewunmi Oshodi Tapa took the conversation to ask listeners in the light of the speculations surrounding the education system in the country on whether they still deemed important the learning within the four walls of the school environment in comparison to taking up a skill or a trade.
Aronke Omame is a multi-jurisdictional Solicitor both in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Her experience spans mediation as well as litigation in issues of commerce; community and family; among related fields. She constantly speaks to a wide audience on issues of family law, especially conflicts in the family; divorce, post-divorce; contested probate issues as well as planning of personal estates.
Below is a summary of the interview Dealing with Emotional Instability with Aronke Omame (Sisilawyer)
Sisilawyer shared with us her childhood dreams of being a tailor and how her father influenced her career as a lawyer as he was also a lawyer. She explained her reasons for picking a specialization in divorce, marriage and family law because of a divorce issue she had witnessed as a junior lawyer. She mentioned that she had qualified to be a solicitor in the UK.
She made mention of emotional instability being in everything saying that when someone was emotionally unstable it could affect their confidence. She mentioned that everyone often went through stress, while she defined Stress as an accumulation of emotions that one has not fully gathered together. She went on to blame parenting as a factor in emotional instability.
According to her, mood swing was a case of depression in most cases as well as anger. She also condemned a relationship that allowed for partners to experience mood swings. She was of the opinion that relationships were supposed to be a happy time between two persons, she made it clear on how important it was to have a stress free life.
She was of the opinion that the police force in this part of the world was hard in believing rape. She motioned on parents to be sensitive and unapologetic about making decisions as it concerns their female children. She also partially blamed emotional instability on the company people keep with women speaking negative words.
She defines self-actualization as being real to oneself without thinking of what your friends affirm of you.
Tolulope is an entrepreneurial communications professional, with exceptional skills in strategic business collaborations, business communications, and public relations. Tolulope has worked with several multinational organizations through the years and has founded and expanded 3 businesses over the last 10 years with an appreciable level of success. Tolulope is a strong advocate of organic online prospecting and customer-centric brand positioning for growing brands.
Below is the Summary of the Radio show, The Story That Sells The Brand with Tolulope Olorundero.
A topic that is needed for both new and existing business owners in order to help them scale through business hurdles that may surface. She was kind enough to share her knowledge and practicable experiences that are applicable to every business owner. During the course of the interview, she spoke on game-changing plans that can transform any business to becoming a go-to source. She pointed out some mistakes business owners make in their business while saying that a brand can be known only if it is relatable, understood, loving and friendly. She mentioned further that the way one captures his/her audience is paramount to business growth and development even in their methods of building followership.  
She mentioned further that the way one captures his/her audience is paramount to business growth and development even in their methods of building followership. The Story That Sells The Brand with Tolulope Olorundero A dignified brand captivates its customers by not only doing things that will promote the brand business but also doing things that will be helpful to the masses. Explaining further, she said that it would, in turn, play out to the company’s advantage, which simply justifies the saying that ‘one good turn deserves another’.
Therefore, strategies must be set out in favour of the company likewise, its customers. She was of the opinion that a brand should not just be a profit/money-making venture but instead a platform that gives and provides services. She cited examples of companies who failed to thrive mainly because they believe they have gathered enough strategy templates to keep the business going, but still fail. ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ and same applies to any multi-million dollar company dream one has in the future, she said. There are books to read, lessons to learn from, and skills to acquire in order to make a brand into a household name. A happy brand she said harbours happy staff.
To get the Full Transcript of this Episode or If you liked this episode, Listen to more episodes of Y&C podcast www.youngcerebral.com
Kafayat Oluwatoyin Shafau (born 30 June 1980), popularly known by her stage name Kaffy, is a Nigerian dancer, choreographer, dance instructor, and fitness coach. She is also the founder and owner of Imagneto Dance Company. She is best known for breaking the Guinness World Record for "Longest Dance Party" at the Nokia Silverbird Danceathon in 2006.
Below is a summary of the interview Commercial Dance with Kafayat Shafau Ameh 'Kaffy'
Recounting her childhood experiences, she said that she had always been a believer a habit that had seen her fulfilling her dreams. The one-time Guiness World-book record holder recounted that she had always looked forward to breaking a record and having an appearance in the book. Sharing her journey into becoming a dancer, she recalled that it had started from her primary school days. Although, she had faced a lot of challenges, she began to take dancing seriously when she realized she needed to loose weight.
It had started from joining aerobic classes and participating actively until a day came where she had to stand in for the instructor, with adding a little dance into the exercise class, she soon got the attendees excited. She moved on to continue as a dance instructor at the University and she soon began to get jobs as a dance fitness coach. She was of the opinion that everybody could excel in their respective career choices only that it depends on one's level of desire and hunger for greatness.
She expressed displeasure on the attitude of Nigerians towards to victim and entitlement mindset as anyone could have a better life if they would add value to themselves. To the business in dancing she said that dancing was a lucrative business both in entertainment, fitness, parties adding that so far there is demand, there will be supply. She went on to say that anyone could learn to dance if they put their hearts and mind to it. Going further, she said that dancing was a part of human body communication and each dancer has their strength as pertains to the different areas in dancing.
As to the level of dancing that people want to operate on, she advised that they put the equivalent work into it. She spoke about dancing, choreography, production, stage content management, administration as some of the options that were available if one hoped to pursue a career in dancing. Discussing further on the money side to dancing she spoke through the thought that everything in life was lucrative so far as a problem is being solved. Recounting the periods before landing major jobs she revealed that she had begun as a fitness trainer and later took to personal training to earn a living.
She called on dancers to endeavor to start from where they are, to make sure to take time to learn and understand the rudiments of dancing. Remarking further, she stressed the need to train and invest in oneself and even as training as a dancer was often expensive she urged aspiring dancers to ensure to have a means of sustenance as dancing often took a lot of time and could be quite expensive to learn. In her advise to up and coming dancers, she advised that they seek knowledge and to take advantage of the info around them and to also learn to run businesses in the right pattern.
Adekunle “Nodash” Adejuyigbe is the Writer, Director, and Producer of the critically acclaimed movie, “The Delivery Boy” which has become the classic of modern Nigerian cinema filmmaking. “The Delivery Boy” has screened in 4 continents to brilliant reviews and it won the best Nigerian Film Award at Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) 2018. Adekunle “Nodash” Adejuyigbe has won various awards and with commendations for his directing, writing, producing and cinematography talent-he possesses an uncanny ability to create artistic, emotional pictures, to deeply analyze stories and find a way to creatively and technically express them.
Below is a summary of The Interview Hacking The Film Business with Adekunle NODASH Adejuyigbe
Speaking about the different changes in the Nigerian film industry he said that people are now aware of the things that go into film making and the meanings that film creators often tried to pass across. He said that with every business where some form of investment was required they too in the film industry were looking to build trust with the audience so that they can be trusted in the future. On the cost of making a film, He explained that film budgets often vary as it depended on the type and length of the production.
He stressed on the importance of education for filmmakers even beyond film schools. He said that most filmmakers did not attend film schools and as such learned through reading extensively and using the internet to their advantage. He was of the opinion that one could hack the industry if they would study and experiment.
He explained that a great movie was often dependent on the storytelling as the intention of the filmmaker had to show through the finished product. Adekunle shared optimism about the Nigerian film industry saying that the reception of Nigerian movies so far in film festivals across different countries has been positive.
On the qualities film directors look for when casting for a role he said that it was important that an actor connects with the character, this he said will be evident with the actor’s mannerisms during auditions. He was of the opinion that an audition was a two-way process, as it was also important that a director understands his job in a film project and is suitable for the role.
He also shared his experience casting actors for certain roles in his movie, the Delivery Boy. He explained that in judging a scene there were two areas; what one sees on set and what they see after the film is edited. He said that it was important for directors to be their worst critic and to also trust their feelings.
Adekunle explained that dialogue was very important in filming as it could express what a person is saying and also what they are communicating but not saying. He said it was important for a film director to be able to distinguish this in a writer’s work.
He expressed optimism saying that compared to ten years ago Nigerian filmmakers are now making movies that project the future.
A caller into the show asked as to why as Adekunle stated earlier in the show why only 10% of the Nollywood workforce were credible enough. Adekunle responded saying that when things are done in a certain way over time others pick up the practice and even with the statistics things are bound to change and it only takes time.
As to why certain scenes as the Nigerian police scene are not portrayed well, he said it was due to carelessness on the part of producers as they failed to do adequate research before making a movie. Another reason he gave was compared to other countries where their movies were government-funded, but currently, some Nigerian stations had begun to adopt this method.
Femi Jacobs is widely known as a widely decorated Nigerian leading actor he is also known as a recording artist, a worship leader, a public speaker and most recently an author. His most recent book is RISE. He is a graduate of Mass Communication from Lagos State University.
Below is a summary of the interview Beyond Limitations with Femi Jacobs
Femi is an actor said to have been born into a family of people who already had admirable jobs it was hard for him to have a dream that would match their s but he chose to dream about being on TV because it was what gave him his first experience with the outside world. He adds nothing in his life was ever planned and he believes once you possess certain attributes as a person everything will just align itself to work towards your success. He got his first big movie role in 2010 while he was still working in the bank and suddenly the demand for his acting began to rise at a fast pace which convinced him this was the field for him.
Talking about what motivates him, Femi says in every difficult situation you are thrown into, there is always something to learn. That thing happened for a reason and it is to prepare you for something greater than you. He said his greatest challenge was selling his book when preparing the book he studied how to make it successful in the environment of our country. He said the more challenging part was overcoming the constant pressure of a peculiar environment.
He says an environment plays a very major role in the actions an individual takes and his behaviors. The environment builds up or breaks down an individual, it is meant to be a support system for people but we’re seeing a different case nowadays. People have begun to idolize the wrongs in the society and it has become easier to support wrongdoings, the society has become looser and culture has been thrown under the bus. He stresses the need to raise the last generation better than the last.
Femi reveals that when people say they’re limited it might be a faulty perception. We use all these as excuses to avoid actually trying. He empathizes with people that can’t actually afford the startup capital but he advises people to find an alternative way to get things done.
When asked about how to stay committed even when money, Femi says you have to prioritize learning, influence, and impact over income. He then advises businesses to at least compensate their interns in cash and kind to keep them interested.
A question was asked about dealing with approval from the public, Femi says it is very important to build your audience if you’re needing approval. Your business is a movement and you have to gather a band of followers that believe in your movement too. Believe in what yourself and what you’re doing then people will begin to believe in what you’re doing.
Concluding, he says never give up the quest to find yourself. Keep doing what you’re doing what you are doing and you will find yourself.
Every Saturday on the show we shine the spotlight on young entrepreneurs making waves in their respective industries. Joining in on the conversation on this show with host, Comfort Uwakhonye are Oloruntoba Malomo, A Fashion Designer and Yetunde Lemboye, an Author. Listen as they share their experiences creating opportunities and a means of income.
Odunayo Eweniyi is the co-founder & Chief Operations Officer, PiggyVest. She previously co-founded pushcv.com, one of the largest job sites in Africa with the largest database of pre-screened candidates. She has 5 years’ experience in Business Analysis and Operations and is a First-Class Graduate of Computer Engineering, Covenant University, Nigeria.
She was one of Business Day’s Spark 2019 Women to Watch and made the World Women in Fintech Power List for 2017; the YNaija Most Influential People in Technology 2017 and 2018 and she is a 2018 Westerwelle Young Entrepreneurs fellow. In honour of her work, she was named one of 100 most inspiring women in Nigeria 2019 by Leading Ladies Africa, one of 50 most visible women in Tech by Tech Cabal in 2019 and the youngest Nigerian on Forbes Africa list of 20 New Wealth Creators in Africa.
She works to support the inclusion of women in technology by working with hubs and female-focused networks like For Creative Girls, GreenHouse Labs, She Leads Africa, Itanna, etc.
Below is the Summary of the Interview Working. Saving. Investing. with Odunayo Eweniyi
She was of the opinion that every individual needed to save money because nobody was going to do it for them as the present state of the economy also called for that. Even as it is important to be able to avoid accumulating debts, she advised that people make a practice of putting some amount aside anytime they get paid.
She spoke on the need for people to have financial education especially young people around the issues of finance, saving, investing as well as budgeting. She gave credence to technology as a tool that can be used in automating such financial processes. Saying that with existing online platforms, one could save seamlessly.
Speaking on the right time to invest she said that individuals could invest any time as it is important that their money works for them adding that they should ensure to also diversify their portfolio when investing. She said that one could recognize a good investment if the returns are higher than the inflation rate at the time. She motioned on people to take the opportunity to register now even as the Nigerian Economy is not stable.
When investing she advised that people should carry out their research and play based on their risk appetite i.e. the amount of risk, they are willing to take, the interest rate and where they are most comfortable. She revealed that she often had the habit of planning for two days upon receiving money, this she said was important as a lot of people did not have a healthy relationship with money being that money was only a tool. She went further to say that she makes sure not to spend money that she has not yet seen or acquired yet.
Speaking about partnerships around their online platform she said that there are always a lot of conversations around every feature they released so as to serve their customers better. She went on to say that their users often appreciated these features as they made sure to always build their products around their customers even as it has helped them stand out over the long run.
Listing some of the lessons she had learned as a tech founder, she said that she had come to know when to put a business idea to rest, to understand that formal education could not prepare one for business and has come to see the internet as a very useful tool in learning.
On paying debts versus saving, she said that priority should be placed on both as she often referred to the 50-30-20 principle. She advised on people using 50% of their earnings for personal needs, 20% for savings and investments, then 30% for their wants and paying their debts. She reiterated on the need for people to develop healthy spending habits and to always learn to also say no to impulsive spending.
Akinbode Oguntuyi is the Executive Director – Administration, of SportVision, a Sports Production company based in Lagos. He has held editorial positions in reputable Sports magazine publishing organization, Complete Communications. He became the first man in Nigeria to have a weekly column on Basketball in 1994, with “NBA Showtime” in Sports Weekly. He has since become an accepted member of the NBA Press fraternity. He is one of the most informed analysts on the Nigerian football scene. Bode was the focus of a documentary by a Japanese TV Network during the 2002 World Cup, simply on account of his zeal for his job.
Below is a summary of the Interview The Thriving Business In Sports with Akinbode Oguntuyi
Bode described himself as a sports broadcaster who although studied English developed a love for it at a tender age of seven when a former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Bro Joe began to take him to games at Onikan stadium and UAC. He says Bro Joe is one of the major players that inspired his love for sports.
When asked about the changes he noticed from the Nigerian sports terrain of the past and now, he points out the obvious differences in crowd support. There was more support in the old days than nowadays, he adds that the interest in local leagues is dying and he wants to revive it. He continues when asked why the local leagues are fading saying that sports are tied to the social environment therefore the need of young people to leave the country is evident. Individuals will only storm the stadiums to watch their heroes, heroes, in turn, are built and many of these heroes are not getting paid in Nigeria, so they move overseas to play for countries willing to compensate them.
He believes that the government policies are restricting the provision of proper training facilities and equipment which in turn results in athletes moving somewhere else to become better. He spoke briefly about his love for the NBA and where it emerged.
When asked how he felt when he was called to start reporting, he replied that he actually began by accident. A friend overseas had been sending magazines with some basketball content and one day he went to work when his boss suggested he wrote a column and he agreed. Ever since he has been following sports.
He examines the importance of fans in sports as they are where revenue is generated. People will only spend money on what they are passionate about and once fans stop coming to games, a club will run down. He also adds that the government should play the role of providing infrastructure and enabling the environment. He says that they’ve turned sports into a political tool and in order to get full potential, this must stop.
Bode mentions steps that can be taken to ensure safety in stadiums and sporting arenas. Security personnel must be made available and enough money must be in the clubs account before the season can begin to ensure salaries can be paid at the end.
When asked how good the sports business is, he said it is very good despite the stress. He stresses that you can only get the returns you want only if you’re very good at what you are doing. You also need to specialize in a certain aspect of sports and have a wide knowledge of the different sports available.
Bode also speaks on betting saying it is here to stay, it is a vice and we can only pray there’s someone that can set people right because it can become an addiction. His advice to people who were looking to become sports professionals was that they should first study, either in school or through online mediums before embarking fully on their sports career journey.
Concluding, he said that although he is not rich, he has had the pleasure to train people who presently are editors and OAPs in many stations or magazines. He said it brings him a joy to see his former underlings get to the top.
Valentine Ubalua is the founder & CEO of Nicademia. He is an alumnus of Lagos Business School and a graduate of Computer Science from Nnamdi Azikiwe University. He is a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist and proficient in Web design, web development, PHP, Game development, mobile app development and lots more. He has over 10years of industry experience in ICT, Media & the Entertainment industry. He has worked for the government, Etisalat and other brands. He is the producer of Nigeria's most popular educational animation series 'MUDI Goes To School' with over 2million weekly views, showing on 7 local and international TV channels including DSTV.
Below is a summary of the interview Exploring The Business in Animation with Valentine Ubalua
He mentioned that his interest in animation had come from his early Fascination in Information and Communication Technology, ICT. He recounted that his journey into the animation industry had been borne out of the learning disability, dyslexia, that he was faced with while growing up. He always found himself at the bottom of the class but could describe a cartoon show minutes after watching it on TV. On reaching the university, He took to converting his notes to audio-visuals, with graphical representations. This eventually saw him finish among the top of his class.
He described the process of animation as a system of creating motion with different images or drawings while pointing out that animation was a very tasking job. He stated that they were different areas in animation and anyone could get into the industry if they had passion and time for it. He also discussed the dimensions in Animation such as 2D which are flat images and 3D which are 360 images in motion.
Speaking on the process of making animation he said that it often started from a good story as compared to filmmaking leading to the animation which is at the last phase. He said there was the conceptualization stage, scripting, after which a storyboard artist does a rough sketch of each scene, then the animatics after which the clients approve the project. He said that animation could be tasking as the client sometimes may not approve a scene and that would mean starting the process all over again. Even to rendering the final output he said that two supercomputers were needed and this often took two days to complete, this he said all added to the cost of production. Even as the industry was still young as compared to other countries, he expressed his optimism saying that he believed that Africa would soon be the next destination for future animation productions.
He went on to say that animation was a gold mine as it was the richest in the entertainment industry as the animation market was worth 404 billion dollars globally. He spoke further saying that animation productions lasted forever even as money could also be made from branding characters on valuable items and merchandising. He remarked also saying that animation was a lucrative business in Nigeria if one is good at it and is able to also show their works to the public so people can patronize them.
He called on parents to help expose their children and equip them with digital skills. He also put in that interested persons could learn the process of animation from start to finish over the web or they could go over to any training institute. He lamented on the dearth of animators in the Nigerian Animation industry as they were not enough skilled hands.
He also motioned on youths to acquire digital skills that would equip them and would also set them apart.
Oyindamola Asaaju has 4 years of progressive experience in the agricultural business industry. She holds a bachelor's degree in home science and management from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and also a Masters in Business Administration. She worked with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) youth in the Agribusiness office as Team lead where she coordinated all activities from production to processing to capacity building. She now serves as Founder and CEO of Farm Republic, an Agribusiness Startup based in Lagos established in 2018 with the aim of creating market solutions for farmers using technology.
Below is the summary of the interview Cashing Out As A Farmer with Oyindamola Asaaju
While recalling childhood memories she spoke about her plans to become a nutritionist at a time but this was not possible leading to her studying home science and management. She shared her passion for kids in rural communities lacking social amenities and how she had been able to support people in such cases. She recounted that her love for Agriculture had started while working at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture where she saw that there were many opportunities in the Agricultural space. Seeing this she began by meeting with people doing well in the field and in other African countries after which she became inspired. Now she manages farms for people and deals with crops and livestock farming.
She revealed that if one is to be a farmer they need to be informed on what to plant, when to plant and how to plan. She said it was important if one is to produce according to the market demands and avoid wastage while reiterating that market information was very important for farmers. She said it was also important for farmers to understand that agriculture is more than a hobby as it is a business with different areas to it. She said that before going into agriculture one needs to study their environment. Beyond having a piece of land or an idea of farming one needs to know how it is set up.
She maintained that farming was a very lucrative business if one had the right technical expertise. She spoke on the common challenges farmers face like lack of market information, bad roads that make it difficult to move their produce as well as a big gap in storage facilities.
For farmers who are just getting to start their business she advised against taking loans but they should instead start with what is available. This she said was not advisable, as most banks would shy away because of the risk involved and so she was of the opinion that farmers should have insurance instead of taking loans.
With respect to climate changes, she advised farmers to begin to look at irrigation systems, as the rains were not predictable anymore. She shared her tip on managing losses saying that farmers could look into processing their produce and when they are not able to sell their cassava, for example, they could process it into garri or fufu.
To people looking to go into farming, she advised that they have to first know the aspect of agriculture they would venture into and then they can begin to look out for experts in that area. Speaking on innovations made possible with technology she cited successes in genetics technology which speeds up the growth of cocoa seedlings from 4-5 years to 18- 24 months. She also mentioned the innovation of soil-less farming which allows crops to be grown in the air this she said has helped to minimize farming space.
The conversation was on the topic of How much do businesses save for their businesses with host, Adewunmi Oshodi Tapa. She threw the question to the listeners to share their individual journeys towards saving and raising their first seed money for their business. The conversation also took a turn with listeners sharing their money habits and how it helped them through their business venture. From the caller who needed to purchase a new phone to a supermarket owner who started out with money raised by his parents, their individual stories were inspiring, empowering and filled with innovative opportunities and ideas.
Oluyomi Ojo is a tech entrepreneur and the Co-Founder / CEO of Printivo, an online printing company that is redefining the printing industry and landscape in Nigeria. He is a graduate of Applied Mathematics from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Oyo State. He has received certifications from the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, Charted Institute of Marketing, Simon Page Business School, University of the Arts London and Digital Marketing Institute in Advertising, Marketing, and Digital Marketing respectively. Our guest has always been an entrepreneur right from his post-secondary education (starting at an early age of 16 years) from selling handmade cards to branding t-shirts and moving on to set up his own start-up enterprise. He has also built an advert agency and is a well-known personality in the print industry in Nigeria.
Below is a summary of the interview Business Relevance in 2019 with Oluyomi Ojo
He recalled that it was a family tradition to start a venture after secondary school and how he had read a lot of books on business, motivation, and how it had all shaped him. He said he welcomed the technology movement that was underway being that it had always been in existence with more industries going mainstream. He said that it was a common phenomenon as humans always tend to look for convenient ways to do things.
He was of the opinion that interaction with technology was in two ways, the creator and the end-user. He was of the opinion that businesses will gradually evolve with technology. Furthermore, he said that it was important for businesses to focus more on their customers and less on their competitors. He also advised that small businesses take into consciousness that irrespective of all the bad news they can always still make progress.
He said a pointer to a successful business is its consistency of paying customers and a strong team doing the job. He said ideation and innovation were very crucial to growth in any economy but when there is no market for such ideas people cannot use it. He spoke about a particular technology brand that had become too confident and was innovative and so lost to their competitors. This he said was a lesson every business owner needed to take note of is that competitors with bigger and better products or services may arise.
Discussing how he had been able to innovate Printivo over the years, he said that the company had started five years ago with the vision to make print super easy for customers. He said the vision had so far been possible as the internet had helped to scale the industry this even coupled with the technological innovations happening in the industry.
He advised that young people should take care when jumping on the entrepreneurial train as the path to entrepreneurship was not cut for every individual. Instead, he spoke on the need for others suited to nine to five careers to stick to that path and not allow the idea that if they work only for others they wouldn’t build their dream. He said such mindsets were skewed because any business one is to build, will be run by the nine to five people and as such it was important to appreciate them.
On another show with host, Adewunmi Oshodi Tapa, the topic of the conversation was what business owners feel makes their business stand out amongst other Businesses in Nigeria. People called into the show to share their thoughts and Experiences. One common thing most of the callers spoke of was the need for consistency when growing any business. Others also spoke of maintaining professionalism in business dealings.
Notey Akpotive is a Certified Human Resource Personnel with over 7 years experience in the industry spanning across healthcare, Oil and Gas and had worked at General Electric in the past.
Below is a summary of the Interview Recruiting Right with Notey Akpotive
Speaking through her experience as human resource personnel she described the HR profession as one that required accountability and a service mentality towards shaping the careers of others. She described the profession as a position where one acts as the middleman the representative of the employees as well as a voice for the employers. Speaking further, she said an HR personnel is supposed to ease the conversation between employers and employees alike. She remarked further saying that the HR position was a very powerful position where one is in the position to hire and fire.
She advised employees to take care to always have a proof of document in dealing with Human Resource issues in the case of a statement or a contract. She, however, expressed displeasure as it concerns owing salaries. Speaking further, she said that the terms between an employer of labour and any said employee were a contractual agreement and as such an employer is supposed to be responsible to his employees. She was also of the opinion that people would often take advantage of labour because of a lot of persons were in search of employment opportunities.
She motioned on employers of Labour to always take their employees’ wages and salaries as a priority and to also endeavour to treat their employees with respect. The discussion also revolved around issues that employers face in recruiting their staff. Speaking on issues employers are often faced she advised them not to get less professional in handling workplace issues despite encounters that might have come across with employees.
She described the relationship between employers and employees as a distrustful one by default as the individual parties cannot determine when the contractual agreement might come to an end and this puts each party on their toes. This she said was responsible for the communication gap between employers of labour and employees. She pointed out the need for employees not to burn bridges in their workplaces or wherever they find themselves.
She continued on to speak about the importance of sourcing channels when looking for a job candidate. To this, she spoke about the gap in skillset where job applicants claim to have a skill set for which they are not well equipped. She went on to point out the need to look out referrals from one’s network of friends and colleagues when planning to recruit someone.
She was of the opinion that recruiting was a daily mindset saying that one just needed to see another person’s work ethics and select him for the job. Speaking on the work culture in Northern America, The Canada-based HR professional described it as different been that there are laws and policies that safeguard the employee's interest.
She motioned to employers to take care as to how they treat their employees as they also have dreams and aspirations. She said that one could not know who was the right person to employ as it was a huge risk but still one needed to look out for available skillsets when recruiting.
On every last Saturday of the month we get to shine the spotlight on two young entrepreneurs doing amazing things in their respective industries. Joining the host, Comfort Uwakhonye in the conversation are Oluwalolese Ajala, a Baker and John Obiakonwa, a street photographer. Listen as the two entrepreneurs both share their why's and their how's.
A team of three University of Lagos (UNILAG) students have won the Hackathon4Justice competition organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in partnership with Facebook and AfricaTeenGeeks. The trio of David Popoola, Eyitayo Ogunbiyi, and Chukwudumebi Onwuli beat 47 other students from nine institutions shortlisted for the final at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Lagos last weekend. The students were challenged to employ technology to solve problems relating to achieving the rule of law in the areas of corruption, integrity, and ethics; crime prevention and criminal justice; organized crime; human trafficking and terrorism and violent extremism after a 29-hour coding marathon. The winning team developed a software, 'Let's Fight Trafficking' (TFL), to unmask traffickers. It features an e-learning planning platform on human trafficking; a facial recognition system that matches feed from webcams and other images to determine existing case with similar images in the database; a portal for victim's close friends to file reports about trafficking in their area and a heat map, generated from report data to let users know where trafficking is most prevalent and take preventive measures. The feat gave the winners a ticket to the Global Hackathon for Justice Event to hold at the Google Headquarters in Silicon Valley in August, where they will participate as mentors.
Below is a Summary from the Interview Competing For Greatness with Eyitayo Ogunbiyi, Chukwudumebi Onwuli, and David Popoola
They started by introducing themselves and how they met at the competition because they applied individually but soon became a team. They recalled learning about the competition from a recruiter on Facebook and applying after. While sharing their experiences, they recounted that the competition had lasted for 29 hours out of which they were allowed a two hours nap. They split the work into tasks and would meet to collaborate once there was any challenge.
The lady amongst them, Dumebi shared her personal experience at the Hackathon, she said she was able to learn a lot because there was space to ask questions. Speaking further, she said that through the competition, she was able to learn about human trafficking, corruption, justice for children, cybercrime and others. Discussing how they created the software ‘Let fight trafficking’ that won them the competition they said that the areas that were to be judged had guided them in creating the app. They said that they had to come up with a lot of features but the feature that increased their chances was the facial recognition feature. The Facial recognition feature they explained would allow trafficked people to submit pictures and through their database, it would guide them in following up on trafficking cases. They each maintained that their parents had been supportive during the process but initially expressed their doubts from fear of their studies suffering and others.
Tayo one of the participants advised that young people learning to code take care to always be dedicated especially if coding is not their main discipline. He also spoke on the need for up and coming programmers to take the learning process as number one priority and to learn to make sacrifices if they would ever ma.
Speaking on what they had learnt during the course of competing, Dumebi revealed that she had learnt about justice and this has helped her in becoming very open-minded as it concerns creating solutions. During the competition David agreed that he had learnt new things around the world of crime, there he also got to see the power of community as the final product was being crowdsourced. Tayo was of the opinion that what stood out for him was that he learnt how to work well in teams with people from different places, he learnt to communicate and connect with people.
Nana Annah is a management and strategy expert with a natural talent for idea generation, innovation, and execution, with an entrepreneurial drive & passion to see business systems running smoothly hence the creation of NER Logistics which bridges a significant gap in the provision of courier services to financial institutions in Nigeria using Technology to drive transparency and efficiency in businesses and organizations by Automating current Manual Processes Of Business Operations.
Listen as Nana Annah talks about;
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How she merges her Logistics Business with Technology
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The Importance of Technology in business
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Using Technology to Create Sustainable and Lasting value in business
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Product and Service Automation
Ayodele Adewale is a human rights activist, politician, philanthropist, and businessman. His relationships and early experiences defined and honed his passion and conviction to create a better social and economic environment. He became the youngest Local Government Chairman in 2008. He served two 3year terms from October 2008 – October 2014 as the Executive Chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government. During his tenure, Amuwo Odofin Local Government won the award for Best Local Government in Health in the year 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Comrade Ayodele Adewale’s efforts at repositioning the society have earned him several local and international recommendations and awards some of which include: African Grassroots Leadership Award, Icon of Humanity/Societal Development, BEST ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN 2009 amongst others.
Below is a summary of the interview What It Takes To Be A Politician with Ayodele Adewale
On being a Politician, he described politics as a medium and a platform to convincing others (the people) to acknowledge one’s view so as to take power. Explaining further, he spoke on objectivity in decision making and an ability to provide workable and practical solutions without demeaning the people. This he said is what would make the people naturally surrender their sovereignty and let themselves be led by such a person.
On recognizing such persons, he said that those who want to lead leave amongst the people and even as they decide to provide alternatives, they should be able to demonstrate that they can deliver. Speaking through the 2019 Nigerian elections, he said that even as people often aspired for political positions, there was a need to have deep knowledge of what it takes to hold such office. Speaking further, he said that one could only reach for any position if they could first understand the potentials needed to take such position and build structures across their concerned political wards.
Through his experience, he spoke on the need to build alliances in one’s political venture. Narrating his journey to becoming Student Union President, he talked about addressing issues while on campus, building support as he went and taking the President seat in his second year at the University. Supporting this, he said that people should start from somewhere, their community for example so when they decide to take a position, their community will support them.
In his experience working with youths and women associations, he spoke about technology as a useful tool in the political space. He said that when a person is able to commune and make an impact just on their social media platforms, people are able to see the value and identify with the individual. Discussing the issue of youth gangs in the Country’s political structure, he explained that youths would need to burn their energy and when they are not able to, they divert it to wrongdoing. He spoke on the need for available welfare support for the youth population, job opportunities saying that political thuggery was just a means of getting funds. Explaining further, he said that if there were sports centers, welfare support, jobs, and qualitative education, youths might be able to create something for themselves.
He motioned on people to make conscious efforts to look within the society and look out for the best person that can lead, though funds may not be forthcoming he advised that people lookout for quality in persons and support them. He recounted the days leading to his running for the office of the Chairman in his Local Government. He also spoke about alliances, sacrifices, and achievements during his administration as the Local Government Chairman, Amuwo Odofin.
Funmi Ilori is an educational psychologist and social entrepreneur. She is the founder of iRead Mobile Library Network, the first innovative and fully integrated 'books on wheels' for children in Nigeria, bridging literacy gaps, empowering teachers and enhancing quality education for the African child. She is passionate about education and the environment and she represents this as a green ambassador, teaching children and youths on Sustainable Development Goals and leading countless of youths to 'go green' by empowering them with entrepreneurial skills and practical knowledge of climate change, renewable energy and how they can contribute in saving the planet. She is a 2015 Mandela Washington Fellow and her dream is to build the largest network of libraries for children across Africa.
Below is a summary of the Interview Knowledge On Wheels with Funmi Ilori.
We had Funmi Ilori on the show to discuss the topic Knowledge on Wheels. Through her passion for children, she shared her experiences and dreams as it concerns children. Speaking about her journey to creating the iRead Mobile Library, she said that the dream had started from a Leadership Training she had attended at her church at the time. Although she didn’t have a passion for reading from the onset, she soon came to imbibe the culture of reading in the course of the training. She also recalled that during the training they had been required to write a big dream that they would not be able to achieve and so started her journey to building the largest library in Africa.
Before that time, she had been a teacher for a decade and noticed that in places were children often struggled to read, there was usually a dearth of libraries. Though she had been a brilliant student, she had come to realize that education was more than getting grades but about knowledge and enlightenment. In the course of the training at the Day Star Academy where she wrote down her dream to build the largest library, she also wrote down all the things she would need to set it going. She soon started off, with books and DVDs in a basket she went house to house targeting Adults. Although the adults borrowed the books and DVDs, they didn’t show enthusiasm for reading and she soon realized that adults were not her target audience.
She also talked about applying for the UWIN grant and winning with the dream to build the largest library. Although her dream to build a library was new and novel at the time, she also boasted of support from her family. At the inception, she had started with just books and DVDs in a basket this continued for 10 years until she won 10million naira at the UWIN program. Even as she received the money in trenches, she used the first 2 million Naira to get an office space, acquire some members of staff, purchase a vehicle and stock the space with books.
She had gotten a truck in which she converted to a library, she said that she had built a cabin over the truck, with shelves, fans, and seats in the cabin. Though people had been skeptical about the mobile library at first after her interview with Central China Tv, CCTV it had since helped to make people more receptive to using the Mobile library.
Remarking further, she said that the iRead Mobile library hoped to tackle some of these issues by taking books to people at their doorsteps. According to her, setting up a library just required a beautiful space with aesthetics where people can find fun as they read. She said that reading culture is often non-existent amongst adults because they failed to inculcate it at a young age.
She advised youths to start with whatever they have, to also write their dreams as dreams do come true.
Every Last Saturday of the show we shine the spotlight on youth entrepreneurs taking amazing strides in their different industries. Joining host, Comfort Uwakhonye in the conversation are Onyinyechi Emmanuel, songwriter, artist and producer; Aaliyah Olaniyan, visual Artist; and Yusuff Abdulwahab, Creative director of Papa Hand Made. The three young Entrepreneurs shared their individual stories building and sustaining their businesses.
Chukwuka Monye's passion for development in the African Continent led him to establish Ciuci (pronounced See you see) consulting with two objectives to provide advice to businesses in Africa and to develop locally-based human capacity amidst a challenging educational and economic environment. He has led the eleven-year-old firm which focuses on strategy and consumer intelligence to become one of the leading business advisory firms in the African Region. He is developing innovative programs to make small businesses bankable, he is an execution minded coach and an orator who speaks at different events around the world especially as it concerns youth capacity development and entrepreneurship. He is also an innovation strategist who helps with development and is a consumer intelligence expert.
Below is a summary of the interview Scaling Your Business with Chukwuka Monye
Chukwuka while speaking from his experience said that emerging markets have similar characteristics and problems everywhere regardless of the country they originated from. He explained further saying that it was important for people to understand such issues for what they are, as it will help them address it. When asked how business owners could nurture loyalty amidst their customers, he said that it was only through transparency and saying the truth about one's product that anyone could build trust amongst their customers. He advised business owners to learn when to move on from business opportunities regardless of the emotional connection they might have from creating and nurturing the business.
When asked how one could effectively track information from customer behavior, he recalled how one of his clients had created questionnaires based on his advice and how the data had helped them in relating to their customers better. He advised that businesses should always be abreast of their core capabilities and others before they make the move to scale up.
Chukwuka said that it was important for any business to first be fueled by passion, this he said was a key ingredient in the triangle of business success; with competence level and market coming after. A caller called in to the show soliciting for advice on how he could manage his failing businesses. Chukwuka responded advising the caller to look into the type of products he was marketing and to check if it was the right season for the product and to make certain that the product was attractive.
He revealed matter-of-factly that it had taken him 2years to figure out his identity as he was good at so many things and so he had to find the one that could be marketable. He went further to say that it was discipline and consistency that had kept him going all the time.
Replying to a question about getting investors and clientele, he explained the importance of putting out a compelling package with a good story and passing it through the right investment firms. He maintained that once the package was attractive enough, there will be no problems. He revealed that once there was a convincing selling point around an idea, there would surely be investors who would step forward to provide the necessary funding. He reiterated further saying that a business idea must have quality and be extremely attractive if it is to attract investors.
Concluding, he stressed on the need for unflinching focus when building a business. He said that a jack of all trade mentality was not advised when one is looking to build a long term business. He shared that his belief stemmed from the knowledge that there was a higher being that would help him think differently and come up with solutions that were not common.
Tayo Kola-Daisi cofounded COSEC Administrators Limited, a firm specializing in Company Secretarial nominee and administrative services prior to commencing her entrepreneurial journey. She had acquired legal experience in corporate and commercial law, capital market transactions, private and commercial trust, project finance, amongst others. She subsequently obtained a first-class in law from the University of Buckingham, England.
Below is a summary of the interview The Legal Side of Business with Tayo Kola-Daisi
Discussing the topic, she said that even as there were different types of businesses, the way a business owner decides to structure the business will go a long way to determine any legal backings. She adduced that law was spread across different specializations and for one to be a good lawyer there was a need to focus on an area and practice consistently to be able to provide good legal advice. To this, she opined that everybody needed a lawyer still it was dependent on the magnitude.
She implied that most business owners were oftentimes not abreast of the legal side of their business. She shared this while giving reasons as to why businessmen don’t seek legal advice, still, she urged business owners in specialized sectors like oil and gas to seek legal advice from early on in their business. She further explained that there were law firms were lawyers were available at every stage of the business even during most of the business transactions.
According to her, small business owners often do not seek legal advice at the early stages of their business due to cost and even those who do often do not seek out the best legal advice for their business. She went further to explain that not all lawyers could give legal advice on intellectual property in the business. To this she enjoined business owners to take care to study the industry they find themselves in before seeking legal advice.
She admitted that legal advice had helped in terms of the structuring of her business, insurance, pension for the staff, taxes and even to how she responds in situations. She affirmed that the Nigerian legal system was supportive of Corporate businesses with laws that spread across business registration, Insurance, etc. She pointed out that although these laws have since been existent some were already outdated and needed to be reformed.
She further hinted on the need for legal backing during every transaction as in written proof in the cases of an emergency so that one could still refer back to such documents.
Speaking on employee rights she advised that one should look out for their terms of employment, the company’s manual and policies in the case of an unfair dismissal adding that legal actions could be taken in such an event. She advised against the attitude where people looking for jobs go on to sign all the documents presented to them without reading through.
In taking steps to prevent a lawsuit, she stressed the need for documentation in business transactions with written terms to follow such as one needs to pay before a service or good is delivered and others. This she said will be the remedy or reliefs that one can fall back on in the case of a breach of contract. She explained that even when a lawsuit occurs there were faster alternative dispute resolution measures that could be taken where someone doesn’t have to go the law court and wait on a dispute for years.
In her advice to upcoming legal practitioners, she opined that although many study law just for nonessential reasons still beyond such reasons or for financial gain she motioned on persons who have a passion for law practice to pursue the dream. She, however, shared concerns about the dearth of great lawyers as there was a need for seasoned lawyers in the practice.
Seyi Banigbe is a Multi-Faceted woman who is passionate about Nigerians, women especially being financially empowered alongside living their dreams. She is a trained lawyer with an MBA from Imperial College London. She has a strong entrepreneurial spirit and as a result has started and currently oversees several successful businesses in Nigeria, the first and most popular being Bland2Glam.
Below is a summary of the Interview Growing Business in a Funny Economy with Seyi Banigbe
She recalled seeing her mum juggle so many things, it had all seemed natural to her and even up till her Undergraduate days selling clothes and starting out as a serial entrepreneur. She recalled that her transition into the workspace after undergraduate studies had not been easy; whilst her mates had done internships in the past, she had struggled to catch up. To this, she advised teens to take advantage of the long vacation breaks in between to seek out work opportunities.
On building structure in businesses, she responded saying that getting structure in business wasn’t the easiest thing still she advised business owners to always have the big picture in mind. This she said has kept her going as this mandated that she kept a ledger of every expense, deficit and in turn keep structure in her businesses. She revealed that in doing her business she often had to set goals and give a time frame.
In her approach to business in the Nigerian economy, she responded saying that she had always worked for the start-up capital needed in her business as opposed to soliciting for loans. She recalled that before starting her talk show, Binging with Game-Changers, she had met with over 50 companies at the time but they had not been encouraging. And so she decided to take money from some of her businesses and build the show until they started shooting the first series.
Although the Nigerian economy was a funny one she was of the opinion that if one was passionate and had a business idea that was scalable, they could definitely thrive. To the question of the story behind her motivation and drive, she said her drive came from a bid to create solutions to problems and see everybody make money together. Speaking further she maintained that if one was passionate about solving a problem in Nigeria, an income stream soon springs up from such.
To persons looking to move into other career opportunities, she advised that such persons be more deliberate with their network and to look out for something they love and start doing something. On a final note, she motioned that people should endeavour to put their minds at where they want to get to and be focused so as to achieve success.
This comes days after a new set of persons were deployed to various states in the country, Nigeria for the One year Compulsory National Youth Service Corps. With several conversations been raised around the need for the scheme, Host, Comfort Uwakhonye took to asking listeners to air their views. Some callers were of the opinion the scheme should not be scrapped as it held a lot of potential to bring unity among the diverse ethnic groups within the country. Many shared their experiences as former corp members and were of the opinion that despite the bad system of governance the scheme was still a good initiative.
Following The International Women's Day which holds every 8th March, host, Adewunmi Oshodi Tapa took to creating a discussion around the theme: Balanced For Better. The discussion was around gender equality, equal wage, changing attitudes towards women and the need to celebrate all genders. It was an interactive session with people calling in to share their views on the theme balanced for better.
Banke Alawaye is known for being an expert in exploiting digital tools for business growth. With over 20 years of work experience with many businesses, she has been helping personal brands and organizations make the best of digital tools for years. She has a B.Sc in Computer Science, a Masters in Business Administration from Edinburgh Business School, Scotland and a Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management from Pan African University's Enterprise Development Centre. Her work experience spans investment banking, software development, management consulting and digital marketing. Currently Principal Consultant, Innovative Solutions, an emerging digital consultancy based in Lagos Nigeria. She serves as program manager CodeLagos – an initiative to train 1 million Lagos residents to code. She is on the advisory board for Girl Code Academy and co-founder, SheProfitsAfrica – a Digital and Entrepreneurship Fellowship programme designed to assist women entrepreneurs in leveraging ICT tools to grow their businesses profitably. She is a passionate advocate for women in technology and was recognized as Digital Frontier Woman by DecadeOfWomen.
Below is a summary of the Interview Tech & Your Small Business with Banke Alawaye
She recounted her growing up days in Surulere, a suburb in Lagos state saying that it had been fun being that it had been easy moving around at the time as compared to now where the city had become congested. She recalled that she had developed an interest in computers at a very young age even as she had always wondered how they worked.
According to her, she had started learning to compute when it had just been the Ms-DOS operating system at the time before the advent of the Windows Operating System where it was just the black and white screen. At the time, she had a big brother who worked with computers and she had always been fascinated by what he did as she always wanted to know what it was about.
Sequel to studying Computer Science, she recalled that her first job as a programmer was at a direct marketing firm where she often sat down with the more experienced programmers so as to learn from them. Often times she took to dissecting the codes they had written only so that she could recreate them.
On the question of a good product or good service, she chuckled saying that a business needed both as if one could not keep their customers happy without having a great product. She remarked that often times small businesses tend to get excited about their product still it falls on the needs of the market at the time. She further remarked saying that if one’s product is not solving a problem and people don’t find value in it, then it is not a valuable product. Stressing on this, she maintained that no matter how good customer service is, if the product was not solving a problem, the customers would likely not trade with the business again.
Speaking about small businesses keeping up with technology, she advised that they keep it simple even as they use Instagram, Twitter, Whatsapp, they are said to be keeping up with what people are using that way keeping up with one’s target market. She however advised against taking more than can be handled as in the case of someone who could only attend to 30 people a day such persons need not be on all social media platforms but should take care to understand the kind of people that their product could appeal to and where they could be found mostly.
She advised small businesses to not be averse to the use of technology as it could be as simple as using a calendar, or the Whatsapp messaging platform and it was just about being deliberate.
She is a passionate Event planner with versatile management, strong and problem solving skills. She is a business development and administrative professional with over 5years experience in Consulting and Marketing. This Ogun State University Alumnus is a natural logistics person with excellent project management skills and experience include crisis management, budgeting, negotiation and sales. She has a degree in Sociology, diploma in Marketing, Strategic Management and an Alumnus of the Enterprise Development Centre of Lagos Business School. She derives joy from the beautiful memory she creates for her clients. Also from people she connects with the service she gives, the value she adds and the obstacles she overcome. She looks forward to making more impact and being a blessing to more clients. Her job strengthens the bonds in families and this is her calling.
Below is the Summary from the show The Money Side to Event Planning with Temitope Omotosho
Often times we are acquainted with the hustle and bustle of Planning events, but then we don’t know where the money is coming from and going to. On the show we had Event Planner Extraordinaire Temitope Omotosho to discuss the Money side to Event Planning.
She had described herself as a natural logistics; growing up in a family of six, five girls and a guy. She recalled at the time hosting Family and friends at their Christmas party every December 26th and she taking care of meat and drinks.
Still, even after the event she would often have leftover meat chunks in her care earning her the nickname ‘Iya meat’. She recalled working at a consulting firm, where she had to work at different capacities and later resigning. Although, upon taking this move, she was yet to discover her path to event planning.
During this time, she said that she had to stay home for six to seven months reading in the bid to discover herself. Despite the transition, she recalled that before starting at the time she had to take trainings on Customer centricity, Marketing and sales.
Hinting on her journey, she maintained that talent was never enough as there were a number of skills set needed to become successful at event planning. Speaking about her first professional event, she recalled that she was paid 50,000 naira for her services. Although, she broke down after the event, she had since learnt to delegate more.
According to her, Event planning was the fifth most stressful job in the world and there was need for one to build a strong support system, an army of staffs, she said. In her advice to up and coming event planners, she spoke about starting saying that she had done a lot of free work at the time as was allowed.
On the money side to event planning, she was of the opinion that when one was just starting out they couldn’t possibly charge same as veterans in the field. She maintained that it was not possible for event planners that were just starting out in the business to charge the same amount as persons who had gained a reputation over time. In her final words, she advised up and coming event planners to keep pushing, to work with established event planners and to also go for trainings.
Deji Akinpelu is a Photographer and a Documentary Film Maker with an interest in Urban Development from the perspective of the Urban poor. His body of work includes valid dreams; a photodocumentary on the forceful eviction of Otodo-Gbame residence between 2016 and 2017. Several of his works have been published and exhibited. He is a producer of the documentary film Kelechi's quest; a documentary that focuses on the growth of affordable housing in the fast-growing city of Lagos.
Below is the summary of the Radio Show The Lens & What the Future Holds with Deji Akinpelu
We had Photographer and Documentary Film Maker, Deji Akinpelu. Deji had described himself as a photographer with a deep interest in urban development. According to him, Lagos was always interesting, seeing how people live with their many experiences in housing, waste management and how everything was a mismatch of luxury and poverty.
On his choice to pursue photography, he revealed that he had always wanted to do something that will outlive him. He further remarked that he hoped to give back to society, capturing things for the future with the vulnerable people in the society as a touchpoint. Discussing challenges faced in the city’s housing sector, he described some of the challenges that an average person is faced with in securing housing in the urban city. Although the government is said to be making efforts to provide housing for the people even with the many constructions going on, people were not still moving in.
Recounting his journey into filming documentary, he recalled that it had started with a phone call, a young lady had called at the time to inform him about a place that was being destroyed and so he went, an experience he described as heart-breaking. He described documentary filmmaking as an interesting field as anyone could make a documentary about their street, the people, etc.
Speaking on the advent of mobile phones, he commented on the number of videos that were going around during the just concluded presidential elections in the country. This he referred to as documenting; people documenting through which news is being created. Although, photography and film documentary could be quite challenging as there were often harassments still he mentioned that it was all about understanding the environment, meeting people and interacting with them.
He further spoke on other challenges, he chuckled saying that issues such as when one pulls out a camera often appears as if a gun was pulled. Even with tools associated with the field such as drones and the regulations that guide their usage, there are often issues around it, he surmised. To this, he advised that the Government speed up with innovation as it grows.
He also commented on the topic of the show saying he believed it was a question of the impact a person carrying the lens could affect in the future of their society in terms of quality storytelling as an artist. He also commented on the issue of housing saying that the land use act needed to be revised as laws should also be enacted against forceful eviction. He maintained that the future of the urban poor fell in the hands of the middle class to help push the message for such persons to be helped in the society.
He also preached on the need for a rethink, as the idea of demolishing a place because prostitutes or area boys reside at a place was not reasonable even as they are first human beings. He envisaged that more and more documentary filmmakers were coming up however documentary filmmakers are sometimes caught in the web of doing events and wedding still the passion and dream remain to make positive contributions.
Although it could sometimes be daunting and challenging, he advised up and coming photographers to start in their space, to start with a small story as there are a lot of opportunities for youths at this time.
This conversation comes just some weeks to the 2019 Nigerian General Elections. Host, Comfort Uwakhonye started the conversation to hear the views of electorate on what will influence their choice to vote for their choice candidate. Their opinions bothered on the candidates reputation, credibility, and believability.
Gbola Lawson is the Managing Director and CEO of Fastizers food and Confectionaries Ltd. He is a certified project manager with over a decade of professional experience in Information technology and entrepreneurship. His leadership assets have fortified the business expansion with the company spreading into new markets and extending his product portfolio. He started his career with a financial ad tech company and subsequently garnered years in banking. He quit his banking job in 2014 to join his wife. He's a technology enthusiast with a passion for startups and SMEs, he provides strategic advice to many aspiring entrepreneurs
Below is the Summary of the Radio Show Money Making Recipe with Gbola Lawson
We had with us on the show Mr. Anthony Gbola Lawson, CEO, Fastizers Food and Confectionaries ltd. The CEO, Mr. Gbola Lawson is said to have started Fastizers Food and Confectionaries ltd with his wife, his girlfriend of 15 years ago. He recalled that his wife; girlfriend at the time had made cookies for his 21st birthday, he and his friends had enjoyed it and with less than 1000 naira she had started the business of making cookies. More so, as time went by, he began working in the banking sector and she continued in the business of making biscuit cookies at her sister’s place.
The CEO, however, recounted that during the process of growing the business he had to lend his wife money to buy equipment for making the cookies in which she returned. The equipment he said ranging from mixer, oven, and when he couldn’t afford the amount she asked for he started to solicit funds from friends and families; from baking cookies in her sister’s kitchen, they expanded to two shops in Oshodi until they built their present factory in Agbara Estate.
Speaking on how one could make a good turnover, Mr. Gbola listed Sales and marketing, Putting one’s Product out there as well as identifying the particular need one’s product is to solve. In a similar vein, he listed principles to gaining financial discipline in one’s business as; Looking at the bigger picture as well as separating business from self this he said while stressing on the need for structure in one’s business.
Responding to the question of a money-making recipe he stressed on the need to be hardworking, resilient, prudent as well as having a strong saving culture. He stated that one cannot grow wealth if they don’t keep wealth and he urged start-ups to always spend less than they earn. He ruled out profit margin alone as an indicator of business growth this he said was because profit was nothing as it is only one’s ability to generate income and reduce expenses that mattered.
Still, on raising capital, he advised start-ups to ensure they understand their business as well as their cash flow; the way the money in the business is generated. Mr. Gbola also said that there was really nothing to borrowing money from the bank, hence one understands how money is generated in a business. He however advised start-ups to consider family and friends first when borrowing as they are more understanding.
Abigail Mojisola Ohiero is an Author, Social Entrepreneur, and Politician. Her working career has with the Public Complaints Commission, Calabar, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), DBN TV, and as the Lagos Bureau Chief for South-South amongst others. She is a firm believer in training and development. Frequently she comes to the aid of women with small grants to help them start a trade with which they are able to support their family. As a professional writer and editor, she holds workshops to train talented people as well as writing enthusiasts. She is currently vying for the post of House of representatives- Ikeja Federal Constituency under the SDP party.
Below is a summary of the Interview Youth & Governance with Mojisola Ohiero
She spoke on issues bothering on the ‘not too young to run bill’, godfatherism, Youth Empowerment amongst others. Mojisola whilst recounting her childhood days, recalled that growing up, she did enjoy reading and in turn, loved to write as writing was a way of expressing herself.
The journey to Politics, according to her had started when she had looked around and discovered that things weren’t going on well, amidst this a number of them had gathered together to find a way to move the country forward, so in 2017 they began the process. Sharing her journey on youth empowerment, the social entrepreneur recounted a number of experiences where she was involved with youths in her early stages. Citing instances, she recalled at one time admonishing a male youth, encouraging him to go to school and now hereafter he had gotten a Ph.D. and now resides in the US. Similarly, she also recalled that during her first year in the University she had met a Lady who was at the time tending her cousin and upon several encouragements, the lady was able to go back to school and now hereafter she had become a graduate of the University.
Discussing youths in governance whilst speaking on the ‘not too young to run bill’, Mojisola opined that although the bill had been passed in the last year just a number of youths can be said to have worked on themselves. In a similar vein, she ruled out the popular motive behind the ‘not too young to rule’ bill saying that governing shouldn’t be handed to the youths without ado. She opined that the reason behind this line of thought looking at when the basic question of ‘what are you doing in the Student Union Government?’ is directed to the youths on campus, there is usually no response. “How many during the electioneering period have offered to volunteer to work for a candidate?”, she quipped. With this, she advised that youths start somewhere, hone their skills, be prepared, mentored, trained and equipped so when the time does come, they will be able to perform.
Speaking on concerns that youths are to deal with such as having their own party, she ruled out the need for it saying that it wasn’t of a necessity that the older generation steps aside for the youth to rule as it could be an infusion of the two. In a similar vein, she cited the electioneering process in Malaysia where youths were allowed to intern as public office holders while they are gradually prepared and equipped for office. Discussing the situation in Nigeria, she opined that although the same structure could be seen in Nigeria still it was a case of some person serving his boss who is then pushed into the society ready or not, to continue some private legacy of this boss and be only answerable to this boss.
Consequently, she urged the youths to get involved as they could only get experience and learn on the job if they are to ever run. On a further note, she advised that youths be united, forgetting the things that might divide them as if one is to continue to look within ethnic and religious ties, there will be a problem.
After the Nigerian President had made an open statement saying that Nigerian Youths were lazy. A lot of talks around the statement began to surface. This show are Nigerian Youths Lazy was an open discussion regarding the seriousness of Nigerian youths coming after the Nigerian President made the statement that Nigerian Youths were Lazy. The phone lines were open to get the opinions of real people. It was an engaging conversation between the host, Adewunmi Oshodi Tapa and callers into the show.
Tobi Adejorooluwa is a trained architect with a bachelor's degree from Unilag and a Master's degree in environmental design in Unilag. He has participated in numerous training in and outside of Nigeria. He is an alumnus of the prestigious pan-African university. He has done a lot of notable projects and is now currently running for the Lagos state house of assembly representing Etiosa constituency 1 in the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP)
Below is a summary of the interview Nation Building Through Politics with Tobi Adejorooluwa
Tobi is a political architect and a member of the Lagos state house of assembly working towards cohesive growth within his community and the country at large. He says everyone has a role to play in Nigeria so he’s stepping up to play his own part.
Speaking about the Nigerian dream, he said matter-of-factly that after thinking through it, his conclusion was that there was indeed no Nigerian dream. His reason being that the different tribes in the country seemed to be working towards divergent goals and dreams. He maintained that if the country is to achieve a single cohesive goal, the strong qualities of the different tribes will need to be combined together.
He spoke to the fact most of the electorate was not educated and enlightened, as they should be. He listed other factors such as PVC issues, traffic and the violence at polling centers that often discourage people from voting. He called on citizens to put more effort into choosing their political leader as it would go a long way to determine their standard of living.
He also spoke about some of the issues affecting people in communities such as education even as the quality of education being given to children in both primary and secondary levels is concerned. He revealed that there were moves to introduce new subjects like political sciences early enough so the new generation can be politically aware.
In response to a question on eradicating corruption, Tobi was of the opinion that the three arms of government should be free so that when certain issues arise they can be taken to the appropriate bodies. He went further to say that Transparency and freedom of information needed to be employed so everyone can be carried along in the decision-making process of the government.
Every Last Saturday of the Month we take time to shine the spotlight on youth entrepreneurs taking laudable strides in their industry. Joining the host, Comfort Uwakhonye in the conversation we have Elsie Ogianyo of the Elm Company, a brand that makes Custom inscription t-shirts and Louella Eze, the Ellapinkette Brand a beauty Enthusiast, Makeup Artist, and Blogger. The two young women shared their journey of how they each built their brand, how they were able to grow their businesses and their experiences in trying to satisfy their customers.
Gloria Durotoye is the Creative hands behind Glowando designs. She is a renowned fashion designer who is known in the Nigeria fashion industry. She has hosted a couple of fashion shows and has also featured in LEGENDARY GOLD a Nigerian fashion show. She has exhibited her wears here in Nigeria and abroad (especially in France). She represented Nigeria in UNESCO 2004/2005.
Below is the Summary of the show Staying in Business with Gloria Durotoye
She talked about how a nine to five job has never been her thing because she believed she could not survive in such an environment. She went on to say that she always liked to have her own space and be creative and as such a nine to five job was not really an enabling environment.
She talked about how she got her inspiration from the uniqueness of fabrics and how her love for the job had kept her going in business. She revealed that overtime she had been able to carve a niche for herself by making her service relevant in spite of competition and building relationships with everyone she met.
Furthermore, she stressed on the importance of character in business. She explained that reputation was what people perceived someone to be and as such if one's character was in place, people will know them for who they are. She went on to explain why it was important for people to know why they are in business. She said that the understanding of their why will guide them when it seems their competitors are dragging them down people will still be able to differentiate them.
She was of the opinion that her business, Glowando had since thrived because of her love for fabrics. In her advice to business owners she spoke about the issue of handling bulk orders and advised that they first have to be sincere to themselves and to map a plan out as they see to each client coming in.
In her opinion, she believed that everyone could be an entrepreneur so long as one's character was in place and they were true to the business and themselves.
She advised against going into business for the monetary gains but instead for the knowledge and flair they have for business. She finally reiterated that for anyone to stay in business they would need to have a good character and attitude towards business.
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Tylor Tayo Ilori is an applied social and human behavioral scientist and consultant.
Below is a summary of the interview Finding A Balance in 2019 with Tylor Tayo Ilori.
On finding balance in the year he motioned on the need for people to always give credit to themselves regardless of where they might be coming from, to also have a level of empathy and compassion for themselves and to take care to move away from the company of people who often think less of them. On staying focused on one’s goals, he advised that people learn to take small wins, leave their bed and learn to be disciplined in little things. According to him, success is in the mind and if and when someone is not able to achieve little things, their mind will believe that they cannot achieve anything but when one is able to achieve little things, the mind will grab the idea that the person is a success. He further stressed on the need for one to start small and start achieving little things as they will be able to achieve bigger goals in the end. As to finding balance, he said that balance was relative as some people might have success in one area and not in other advising that people look at places where they are not doing well and be honest with themselves. Despite the pressure that society puts on us he stressed on the need for people to find a balance, even when the society qualifies on the essence of the material one has, he advised that people should be focused on the mentality to building themselves gradually. According, the existent culture of materialism is not as a result of parents, still, he maintained that people should calm down, observe and understand how life works and they can then begin to see the wisdom within. He also said that people should be thankful for the little things in their life adding that people should endeavor to recognize the things they crave as it is another concept of attraction that will lead them to where they want to be. On the question of how one can come out of confusion, he emphasized the need for people to show passion to not just others but themselves as well as it was okay to be confused which is common to all humans. As confusion often leads to depression, he advised that people could talk to someone who has been in their shoes as they would have answers. Although, confusion is just a mental thought that goes on in the mind he maintained that a way to cancel out the negative thoughts that might come up is to always have more evidence of the good that one has done. He hinted on the need to start small as the grand goals can be put on hold but to ensure to do the things that can keep one alive every day. Speaking on the issue of shooting for the stars as opposed to reality he said that people should be honest with themselves. This he said while stressing on the need for people to increase in their area of strength rather than set goals. He concluded by saying that should try to shore more compassion to themselves, write down the things they want to do and work towards it.
Funmbi Faneye is a poultry farmer with an interest in crop farming. He started Joshella Farms Services Ltd in 2012 and started operations in January 2013 after he left banking. He has had over 13 years of combined experience in FMCG and banking before venturing into farming having had stints with Procter & Gamble Nig Ltd, Citizens Int’l bank ltd and Zenith Bank Ltd. His banking experience ranges from Retail Banking, Oil & Gas group, internal control & Audit, Public Sector, and Card Services.
Below is a Summary from the show The Fear of Starting with Funmbi Faneye
Funmbi Faneye shares his Story after losing 14years of Hard work in the Banking Sector and starting over. The CEO recounted his beginnings from Palmgrove Shomolu, a suburb in Lagos to waking up to a message of his end of service at the bank. He shared his thoughts after losing 14 years of hard work this without another Plan, a Plan b to fall back on. He adduced that his fear at the time was that he hadn’t been involved in any business in his 14years in the banking sector and this with the fear of Starting over.
Armed with the memory of rearing a number of chickens at a young age, his journey into farming began despite his many Qualifications and Work Experiences. He described his journey into farming as happening after a meeting with a poultry farmer at his friend’s event. Taking a liking for the venture, he took some lessons to learn the ropes prior to laying the groundwork for his own farming business.
He spoke on reactions from his family during his transition saying that they were of the opinion that his CV could still get him a job. Albeit, speaking on the fears of starting he referred to a quote by Franklin Roosevelt as, “the thing you have to fear is fear.” He advised against perfection tendencies while hinting on the need to start small by small. Although, he assented to fear as being of a good cause he hinted on the need for one to still prepare by reading books and collaborating with people.
According to him, no one was born a Successful entrepreneur, still, one needed to learn, have a thick skin, be Passionate and focused. He motioned on working-class persons to always have a Plan B seeing that the Nigerian economy was fast moving away from White-collar jobs. He further submitted that many businesses were failing and laying off their staffs still he advised that people take up other businesses on the side as they work. In his final words, he maintained that fear was only a feeling that keeps people in their comfort zone and only exists if they never try.
Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi is a Real Estate Mogul and the Lagos State Gubernatorial Candidate of the Action Democratic Party for 2019. He is also a Real Estate Developer & Urban Development Expert. He is the Chairman/CEO of Redbrick Homes International Ltd, developers of Amen Estate..
Below is a summary of the interview In Road To Winning with Babatunde Olalere Gbadamosi
Babatunde is a Politician vying for the post of Lagos state governor and his manifesto pushes prosperity for all because many candidates have been elected into government after making numerous promises and failing to fulfill them. He believes his manifesto will definitely be fulfilled as he knows what the people want. When asked how he battled godfatherism and corruption in Lagos, he says that the fact that he was not appointed or endorsed for the post by higher powers does not mean he couldn’t still run for the position. He added that his manifesto first targets civil servants who actually put in the work and are severely underpaid due to a system adopted from the British. The goal here is to afford comfortable living wages for civil servants.
He says the difference between him and other political candidates is that he has clear plans and it involves giving Lagos basic amenities and building its economy. He also seeks to eradicate poverty in the state and create prosperity for its citizens.
A caller asked about policies and how to educate masses on their rights to vote and not accept bribes, Babatunde answered saying they are doing their best to reach grassroots structures across the state and different local governments. He pleads with citizens to help themselves, we should educate ourselves because selling your vote will amount to getting absolutely nothing when divided over the four-year tenure of the candidate. He says his position in Lagos cannot prosper unless Lagosians are prospering.
Babatunde mentions that he is into real estate and for over 8years, there has been constant light in the area as they generate their own electricity, he says he would bring in that system when he is elected into government to generate constant electricity for Lagos
He urges us to wake up and smell the coffee by making the right decisions. Many government officials have sent their children abroad so they do not experience what others are within the country. We have to be wise and take actions into our own hands.
Babatunde concludes that he believes Lagos would vote him in because they want to do well and this prosperity is not so far anymore.