Today I got the news that an old schoolmate and family friend of mine passed on! We had been out of touch for years until she found me on twitter just last year and we've been in touch since then. We even discussed how I would visit Kano, specifically Daura village for her father's 70th birthday if we could get him to agree to a mini-party. Aisha was married with a daughter or two, I think and I was happy that she was doing very well, working with a bank despite her health challenge.
Davida was a fighter, spiritually and physically. She just went ahead and did whatever she wanted to do with all boldness. She had so much faith that she would live and one day get married and have kids. Sometimes she would get really sick and we would think "this is it" until she bounced back again. She came all the way to Ondo from Benin for my wedding, despite the fact that I said noooo, stop jumping up and down Bib, it's not good for your health. But that was Davida, she did just what she wanted, irrespective. She was such a loyal friend, more like a sister. She was in the middle of her masters at the University of Ife when the crisis that led to the end struck. Her last days in UCH Ibadan were painful and sad, she gave in because she was tired of the pain.
Sickle Cell!! Oh Sickle cell!!
They just left, with little or no warning.
Surely there must be a way...... a ray of light at the end of this tunnel. Too many lives have been cut short. Before the researchers find a way however, if you know your genotype is AS, please I beg you, let your love have eyes! Do not put another child through pain because of blind AS vs AS love, please...... Unless you choose not to have kids or have a solution. I have once been told that there is a way to detect the genotype in the early stages of pregnancy, I haven't met anyone who has done it though nor can I imagine that it would be easy.
For all those I remember who have been taken down by this menace, I light a candle for you on my page today, RIP
1. Wendy (primary 1, St. Paul's Nursery and Primary School) I was quite young but I still remember her empty chair, same with Gifty's
2. Gifty (primary 3, St. Paul's Nursery and Primary School)
3. Tunde Ketiku (Primary 5, St. Paul's Nursery and Primary School)
4. Wale ( SS3, Ikeja High School, Ikeja)
5. Irewale (Year one, Electrical Engineering Unilag) This minute we were jacking all night in class, next minute he's not there to pick up his books....
6. Folakemi Muslimat Sumola (VDT, Ikoyi)
7. Davida Orobor
Life is in phases and each stage comes with it's own unique challenges.
Growing up, I had dreams, visions and goals I set out to achieve.
I had planned to write my best-selling book at 21 but I wasn't able to.
My dream was that at part 3 in the tertiary institution I would not have to call anyone at home to send me pocket money.
I sought out to be independent.
I'm yet to get there.
Overtime, I've come to learn a lot of lessons about life and about pursuing your dreams.
First is Do not lose focus!
When I launched my magazine, I had a 5 year plan that I'd focus all my energy, all my resources and creativity into it and see what comes out of it.
2 years down, I'm beginning to see laudable results.
I've been nominated two times as Most Enterprising male in 2 different awards.
The brand is growing bigger and people are identifying with our success.
More importantly, we have started making money which I believe we can make more.
I must confess to you that this year, I've been distracted.
My major distraction I must say have been girls.
The first and last time that I ventured into a relationship was in part 1, a year before I went into business.
This year, I decided to try new things.
I wanted to do what my peers were doing - dating.
I tried several attempts but have failed - reasons only known by whoever controls the universe.
Don't get me wrong, I've got lots of girls (friends) around me. But I wanted a committed relationship which I had never envisioned for myself. I came to discover that it's either I had been friendzoned or work-zoned.
Everyone said I was too engrossed with work.
The truth is I should mind my business and that is - building successful enterprises.
As a young entrepreneur, I've come to accept that isolation and success walk together. You can't be everywhere and achieve much. You need that solitude - to think, to create, to internalize your ideas and concepts, to make decisions and the likes. If you'd be a (young) leader or entrepreneur, you'd have to make lots of sacrifices - romantic relationships being one of them. You can't serve two masters.
Another lesson I have learnt is the essence of relationships
For most of us, we make it obvious that we are interested in people because of what they can offer us. The truth is, life doesn't work that way. You've got to earn peoples' trust. They know when you want to use them. The most important thing to them is themselves and if you don't care about them they won't give a damn about you or your product(s). Make it a task to make new friends everyday. Get interested in people and what they do. By so doing, you'd build healthy relationships and you won't have much to say when it's time for you to do business with them.
A note to guys:
You don't have to ask every you have feelings for out. Women are very powerful and they are God's greatest gift to mankind. Be friends with them and they'll be your most trusted friends and confidant. They are always there when everyone walks away. They always see the light at the of the tunnel. Despite knowing your selfish motives, they are patient enough to identify your good sides and leverage on it! I'm a witness. I wouldn't be here if I've never encountered these beautiful and wonderful beings.
There's much for me to share but I'll stop here for now and get a cup of coffee. (confirmed coffee junkie!)
Next week, I'll share my biggest ever business mistake with you.
Yes. You heard that! I made a silly business mistake last week. You need to know about it.
You don't necessarily have to wait till you're done with school before starting a business, matter of fact I have met quite a few successful business people lately who started from their school days. Not many people have a clue immediately what they want to do with their lives, but while they're at it they start experimenting with those ideas that come, make their mistakes early, learn from them, adjust, perfect their art in whatever and easily look like overnight successes! There is no such thing (unless you are a thief!).
Today, we share a story of a student doing her thing.
Tell us about yourself
My name is Kenny (Kehinde) Abejoye. A young lady, married (with a son), currently rounding up my degree in Business Administration from the University of Lagos.
Tell us about your business
Asantee Soaps basically sells different variants of the Asantee Range of Herbal Soaps. This business started over 5years ago when I was introduced to the soaps by my twin sister and she convinced me to consider selling the soaps after we had used a few. It has been quite challenging and rewarding all the way. We now have re-sellers and end-users who buy from us within and outside Nigeria
What is the idea behind the name Asantee Soaps?
We trade with the brand name of the Soaps - Asantee Soaps. But when I have to provide a registered name to do business with, I use my husband's - DESIGNED MODULES. so we can say Asantee is a subsidiary of DESIGNED MODULES.
How did you get into this line of business?
My Twin Sister introduced me to the Soaps.
What are the main challenges you face and how have you overcome them?
A) New Customers are skeptical about using the products initially. A tactic I employ is to give out free samples. Once they are used, most people are converted to repeat customers.
B) Nationwide Presence was also an issue, but right now we have distributors in different parts of Lagos as well as some major cities around Nigeria. This has helped us satisfy more clients. We have also employed the Internet, Social Media and recently +Konga.com Marketplace to reach the whole of Nigeria. West Africa and then the rest of Africa is the next target market once Nigeria is properly covered.
How will you summarize your journey so far?
Challenging and rewarding, with the promise of even better days ahead.
Where do you see Asantee Soaps in the future?
In the future, I hope to have these soaps produced (partly or totally) in Nigeria. At the moment they are imported.
Given another chance, will you do this again?
YES!!!
Don't even ask where I have been *covers face*. I am just a lazy camper, #dazall. Plus is it just me, or does any other person sometimes go through a phase where you simply do not feel motivated enough to do anything? How do you deal with yours? Care to share?
Anyways, here's an update from Ken!
Cheers guys.
Memoirs of a Lagos City Hustler - LCH 18
When we are vested with responsibility, or find ourselves in a position whereby we're entrusted with much...or better still, when we are always working to find solutions; deep inside, we want to believe that it's not going to last forever. However, Physics teaches us that unlike poles attract, so, if the opposite of problem is solution, that means problems are always attracted to only men and women in whom solutions have been deposited from constantly dealing with challenges without giving up.
You my friend you are not a coward, you're not elevated to demote yourself, even though you have been entrusted with much, you're not expected to loose grip, what you know now is nowhere near how much you have the capacity to know, there's more in you than you're willing to give today, you have the best solution in you!
Remember that the strength and usefulness of an ordinary rubber band/ring is made available only when it is stretched. Your best is yet to come..don't bow out when you are stretched.
(Alas, this man is talking to me sha!! Because, to be honest, I am just tired tired tired.)
I have been MIA because I simply can't get myself into the zone. The state of the nation is a major factor in this. Everything around is so depressing. I was even discussing this challenge with my sister earlier today and she said "so blog about just that".Still it was so hard to put any thoughts down, until this evening when I saw something and I'll share in a bit, first let's let out all this gloom.
Am I the only entrepreneur who is finding is difficult to stay upbeat and motivated in Nigeria right now? I am just curious. Do we still get up gearing to go and conquer? I saw some comment on twitter earlier and I was like huh?! Some have actually been capitalizing on the #bringbackourgirls campaign for personal benefits, not subtle ones like "me too, I dey here" type benefits but blatant advertising and marketing of themselves or their business. Someone tweeted a link with a catchy heading relating to the campaign only for people to follow the link and find it was just a link to a sales website! Na wa o! So I am guessing maybe, not many of us are really downcast by the mood in the air. It's still business as usual. Oma se oo.
I also noticed a struggle for recognition of the creator of the hashtag #bringbackourgirls on twitter and couldn't believe it! Does it really matter who created it? It's a nice to know, but perhaps we can get on with that once this is all sorted, maybe? Come on guys! Why are we letting this is become an opportunity to gain brownie points. This is serious! Of which, truth of the matter is the abducted girls' case (true or not, as there is another debate going on about this) is just a part of the whole picture. People have been dying in their 100s every other day! We need an intervention and fast! It's great that Nigeria is in the spotlight right now, let's make it count. Let's put aside all our shenanigans and focus on the matter at hand.
About that the I saw that lifted my spirit, I watched a video produced by +Kemi Adetiba and it got me excited! I remember the first time I heard @Olamide_YBNL 's rendition of Kwam 1's "Omo Anifowose" I couldn't stop listening to it. I rocked the track on the CD till it was too scratched to play properly, hahaha! The song is a story of the struggle of many. My favorite line in the song is - "Versace, Versace, you're rocking versace, your mummy is hungry, Oloshi" . Apparently the official video was uploaded in March! Where have I been? I just have to say, Kemi and Olamide, you guys made my evening! Besides today is Friday and I haven't shared any #fridaymusic in ages plus this'll be my first Nigerian track on the blog. Yipee!!
I hope you enjoy it like I have. I wish I could translate the whole song for the benefit of my non-yoruba readers, but omo, na long tin be dat. Look for a yoruba speaking friend and ask them. I'll translate a few lines.
Hey, so I created this version of his quote at the end of the video using pikochart! Yaay me.
I love the part where he gives someone a note and the person opens it and see a 5,000 naira note with Olamide's picture on it. I also love the quote at the end. I literally felt the hairs on my skin rise as I watched this video!
Bonus Transcripts
- Oga Ade, E wo bi ta ba de, Omo eru d'oba, Igboro d'emi lade Mr. Ade, look where we are now, the son of a slave is now king, the streets crowned me (I think that's close, hehe)
- Mummy t'aso e ati bata e fun paro, Daddy t'aso e ati bata e fun paro to put food on the table Mummy sold her clothes and shoes for barter, Daddy sold his clothes and shoes for barter
Meanwhile, times have changed o!! I just thought to try to see if I would get the full lyrics online and voila! Thanks to http://www.freenaijalyrics.com. I'll try to do a few more translations and corrections because apparently there are some lines I am almost certain are wrong. Kudos to the person who put these lyrics out though! It must have been quite a bit of work.
More translations are welcome, especially for those deep proverbial lines meeen!! Feel free to help us here.
By the way this gunman pose went completely viral when the album was released last year. While many were busy striking the pose and posting pictures via social media, others were out crying blue murder with claims that its was an Illuminati concept. What's your take?
Lyrics
Omo Anifowose
Omo Anifo
Iru ki le yi
Omo Anifowose
Omo Anifo
Iru ki le yi
Omo Anifowose
Won mu ewure dudu
Won mu re igbo ifa
Omo Anifowose
Won m’aguntan bolojo
Won mu re ile osun
Omo Anifowose
Osun o gba aguntan
Ema se gba emi mi
Omo Anifowose
Eni ti o le se bi alaaru l’oyingbo
Na na naaa na ( This ad lib by Olamide just has to be there!! I love it)
ko le se bi adegboro l’oja oba
Ayinde ooh eh
Ayinde ooo
eh
Won ni kilode,
Ki lo ba de, ki lo n wa n bi, ki lo fe ( They say what is it, what brings him here, what does he want?)
They never thought I’ll make it to the top but that’s not fair
To ri mummy wa o l’owo (Because our mummy didn't have money)
To ri daddy wa o l’owo (Because our daddy didn't have money)
Hustled from the house and every damn thing na sorrow
Mo ya je solo o
A de soro o
Highclass dem say we are so low o
Mommy ta’so ati bata e fun paro
Daddy ta’so ati bata e fun paro
To put food on the table
Ko ma d’abi pe won wa capable
Salary daddy o wa stable
Everyday ko la ma je vegetable
Mama a ni God is able,highest nkan ta ma fi mu garri lebu
Awon omo Landlord chance wa
Tor'on pass wa, won embarass wa,
Won ni e kuro ni house wa
Won frustrate mummy ati house wa
Awon omo alhaja
To ba so mi m’ole le yin, ma ja
Mi wa ja but t’owo mi ba d’eyan, wa ja
Chorus.....
Mo n da gba
Mo n da fa
Mi o mo ile onisegun, mi o mo ile alfa (I do not know any herbalist homes nor do I know any cleric's home)
Bo ya mommy ati daddy lo sise lori mi (Maybe my mummy and daddy worked on me)
Glory be to alpha
Before life hard
Poverty fi mi se cypher
Sorrows and pain ma fi mi ka ***
Ma tun se high five
So we roll up just to get high but
poverty no stop so man gats open eyes (I edited these lines, I think this is what he said)
Oga Ade
Ewo ibi ta ba de
Omo eru d’oba
Igboro demilade
Ema kun pancake
Me i am getting my cake
Niggas dem be like hey
When they see my picture on the ***
Them no reach God,
them know this
Won fe si office le mi lori
Se mo jo novice
I love this
I can be rolling like a borris
Versace, versace
You rocking versace…..
your mummy is hungry (I can almost bet my life that this is what he said here!!), oloshi
Emi tun flourish, awon parents mi jeun to nourish (edit)
As I was going through online petitions that seemed to be heading somewhere and signing them, a breaking news headline flashed on twitter! Another bomb blast in Abuja... Hmmmm. People, we can no longer continue to sit back and carry on with our lives as if nothing is happening. It can no longer be business as usual!!
Whenever issues like this are raised, many of us retreat into our shells or send curses and abuses to the government for failing us. To be honest, I feel the same way most of the time. But now let's forget these "people" and do whatever we can ourselves. Nigeria needs US!! I appreciate the efforts of the organised protests being held across the nation. I have seen pictures with people like #oby ezekwizili, +Seun Kuti, +Iruobe Waje in the fore-front, to mention a few. This is good. We must stand together and save our nation.
We may ask how? Now I am not proving to be an expert on this but I will share my thoughts on a few things we can do. I watched the bee movie recently again and one thing they kept saying there was it doesn't matter how small your job/contribution is, what matters is if you do it and do it really well.
Join the national discourse on the way forward. Hey, the advent of social media has changed the landscape for information. Share relevant information and links, information is power. Someone out there knows something that can help others, share!
Sign online petitions Here are the ones I signed tonight;
We may not all be able to go to Borno or Abuja to join rescue operations or protest, but we must support in every way we can.
Be vigilant, report suspicious events in your area. Don't look away.
I read a comment from someone today and I think it makes sense. Let us engage GEJ and his team. What are they doing to fight this insurgence? We need a clear cut agenda. Its been over a week since I read about the forest where the abducted girls are being held, why is there no visible effort to invade this said camp? Reuben Abati is on @abati1990 on twitter, let's bombard this handle with questions, not beer parlor type comments please! We need thought provoking questions that would lead to solutions. We can get a brainstorming session going!
Another valid point is to stop rumor mongering. We need facts. So many have said we do not know the names nor can we put faces to the abducted girls. The government cannot do this for us, where are our journalists? Its a shame that we've got more information from BBC and CNN than we have from our own. If you cannot verify the source of any information please don't spread it.
Hi guys, as usual, when I see an article that strikes me, I decide to share with most of the thoughts running through my head as I read. It's been a while yea? I completed my first online program on Coursera - Developing Innovative Ideas for New Companies: The First Step in Entrepreneurship! Yaay me!! I also got me a verified certificate for the course that I am so proud to share, hehe - https://www.coursera.org/signature/certificate/UMLUJGTPRV Yes ke!! The day you stop learning is the day you die.....
Back to the matter.... Fasten your seat belts, this is going to be mighty long. I'll try not to lose you.
51 Ways Ordinary People Reached World-Class By Robin Sharma #1 bestselling author of The Leader Who Had No Title
With comments from Mofolusade Sonaike...
Know what you want. Clarity is power. And vague goals promote vague results. As simple as this sounds, knowing what you want is one of the toughest hurdles to cross in life. Things as basic as what to wear, whether to relax your kinky nachi hair and give up the nachi hair crusade or no (yea, that's where I'm at right now).
Remember that every problem has a solution. Maybe you just can’t see it. Yet. I know right, the wait time or search time is just so tiring. You keep thinking, where's this solution already!
In this Age of Dramatic Distraction, the performer who focuses the best wins the most. Focus, Focus!!! In this world of #mimirod and #kardishian sex tapes (scandalous sumtins!), instagram flexing and the hard pursuit of wealth, we need God himself to help us focus in this generation. Lord help us.
Before someone will help you, you need to help them. Yea I agree. You can't expect to just call someone out of the blues to ask for help when you haven't been there for them ever! It doesn't always have to be monetary, sometimes all people need from you is some empathy.
Become the most passionate person you know. It’ll be contagious. Passion speaks for itself. If you really want to make a difference in your chosen field, you have to be passionate about it.
Know more about your craft/the work you do than anyone who has ever done the work you do…in the history of the world. Omo! More than anyone in the history of the world ke!! Mr.Robin, this one go hard small sha. Chai. To achieve this, one would need far more than Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 hours of practice! Pleeenty of work! Wheew.
But seriously, nothing good comes easy.
Join The 5 am Club. Your most valuable hours are 5am-8 am. They have the least interruptions. Before I started raising kids I was such a sleeper! I loved sleep and hated my bank job because I had to wake up early. My cousin and I would fight because I always made her late. Nowadays though, I am up without an alarm clock by 5, sometimes 4:30, life! lol.
I have read in so many books and articles that one of the habits of most of the successful people is rising early. Why does this make a difference? It's easy to get sucked into a daily routine that does not add value. The way you start your day makes the difference in how your day goes. Commit the day to God's hands, exercise (it makes you sharp! seriously), then plan your day in order of priority. You achieve more this way. Thank me later.
Devote yourself to learning something new about your field of mastery every day. Success belongs to the relentless learners. Because as you know more, you can achieve more. Nothing beats continuous learning.
Remember that when you transform your fitness, you’ll transform your business. Aha! I didn't even know this would make the list when I mentioned exercise earlier. I hear the Dutch are really fitness crazy, they ride to work most of the time - so says my friend who works there. They must be super productive, I imagine. We on the other hand are so lazy that even to visit a neighbor within the same estate we drive! SMH. Since I heard the gist about the cycling Dutch, I made a mental note to get me a bicycle. Yes! I can. (only on the good roads though, which is within my estate pretty much, lol!).
Don’t check your mobile when you’re meeting with another person. It’s rude. And rude people don’t reach world-class. Er.... I knew drawing up a list of 51 could not be that easy! That's how come "and rude people don't reach world-class.....because they check their phones" makes the list. It just sounds funny Mr. Robin. Not that it's not rude to check your phone when in a meeting but....
Every time you do what scares you, you take back the power that you gave to the thing that scared you. And so you become more powerful. Very true this!
A problem is only a problem if you make the choice to see it as a problem. Easier said than done, but true. Many battles are first won in the mind.
Stop being a victim. Your business and personal life was made by you. No one else is responsible. To make it better, make better choices. And new decisions. Think about this one deeply! Many times we wallow in self pity and blame everyone else but ourselves for our problems. Truth of the matter though is, where you are today is a result of the seeds you sowed yesterday - the relationships you formed or didn't, the books you read or didn't, the choices you made! Trust me, it's all YOU!! If you want a change, the change has to start from you.
You can lead without a title. Don’t wait to get a position to stand for excellence, peak quality and over delivery on every expectation. There are so many empty titles around us..... I bet you know one or two. Try not to carry one of them on your head. Has any of you seen the official houseboy of the federation one?!
Seriously, it's a real title. Lol.I saw it and was like huh?!! Only in Nigeria!
Find your own style. Be an original. Every superstar differentiated themselves from The Herd. And marched to their own drumbeat. Its so much easier to follow the herd/crowd. Want to be successful, you have to follow your inner voice. There's really no other way to say it.
Understand that when you play small with your success, you betray your potential. And the birthright you were born under. Hmmm, this one is a bit lost on me..... help somebody!
Eat less food and you’ll get more done. Hahahaha!! As funny as this sounds, I bet you agree that it's so true. Overeating makes you less active and creative. Try eating eba at 7pm and attempt to study that same night. Even the sleep that you try to sleep will be a restless one.
As you become more successful, stay really really hungry. Nothing fails like success. Because when you’re successful, it’s easy to stop outlearning+outOverDelivering+outthinking and outexecuting everyone around you. (Success is Beautiful. And dangerous). Don't think you have arrived just because you hit your target. Celebrate the success, but set new targets and keep moving or else you'll fall back.
If you’re not overprepared, you’re underprepared. Wooow!! This is a hard truth. That little extra crossed 't' and dotted 'i' is the difference between a strong second class upper and a first class.
The only level of great manners to play at is “Exceedingly Polite”. In our world, this alone will make you a standout. And differentiate you in your marketplace. We need more "Exceedingly Polite" people in Nigeria, what we have mostly is "Exceedingly rude" people. I was at shoprite yesterday waiting in line to pay for my goods, only for the lady at the counter to walk away without a word to those of us waiting! I was livid. When we confronted her, she said she was looking for change and she said this rolling her eyes! Gosh. Some people are so so rude here.
Remember that the moment you think you’re a Master, you lose your Mastery. And the minute you think you know everything, you know nothing. In simple terms, humble yourself...... I know this saying has been over-flogged, but "Pride goes before a fall". Remember that.
I have to break it at this point. The list is so long it should be digested in parts. Will post part 2 in a bit.
My Dad used to tell me this particular story as a kid, it didn't turn up as much use then as it does now.
“The obstacle is the path.” – Zen Proverb
Here's the story;
"In ancient times, a King had a large stone placed on a roadway. He then hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.Majority of the poor civilians loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way. (Very typical......) Then a peasant farmer came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the stone, the farmer laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the farmer picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the stone had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the stone from the roadway." (Yipeee)
Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition, retrace our steps and 're-concentrate' on our goals. Facing trials and challenges in life is a programmed aspect of our life...the only fateful thing we can do is our attitude towards the challenge when it rises.. When it rains, all birds take cover by staying out of rain, but the Eagle fly above the clouds pouring the rain!
As an entrepreneur, these choices are hard; do I quit now after this much effort? Do I let someone else invest and I do all the work? Do I go for cheap materials or risk running at a loss to maintain starndards? Do I sell online or get a shop? But when the rain beats hard you either complain about how heavy it's raining and reject the opportunity of getting a good umbrella...sometimes, the choices are not this clear, It all boils down to our attitude and will to survive.
On one last note...see every challenge as an opportunity!
He went to Hell with our sin-ticket on our behalf so we won't have to be there; He was beaten so we would not be beaten, He was condemned so we will escape the condemnation of the world; through His poverty we were made rich..and in His weakness we are made strong -- simply because we accepted His love for us and the gift of salvation.
Just like the Brazil nation is represented by 11 men, and when they win the whole country celebrates, likewise, #attheCross Lord Jesus Christ represented the whole World at the battlefront; sin and death were were conquered through the shedding of His precious blood..
He holds the key to death and eternal life; He championed over Satan and his angels; and handed the victory unto us never to fight Satan again. So if you are still battling a defeated enemy in area of your life, it's not worth it, it's just like using pin to pierce a mosquito net.. All you need do is to "rebuke him" and he will flee from you.
Jesus lives!
Enjoy Phil Driscol's rendition of he's alive again! I love this song. #throwback
My name is Akintola Fade-Aluko, the C.E.O of Naturebuddie Concepts, a landscape horticulture outfit based in the city of Ibadan, I am 28 years old and a graduate of horticulture from the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and currently running a Masters degree programme in Horticulture at the University of Ibadan. I love nature and I take it as a responsibility to protect it. Hence, the name nature buddie.
Tell us about your business
Naturebuddie concepts is about meeting the landscape needs of the ever increasing urban population, a lot of people want their property looking all beautiful with ornamental features but there are only a few professionals who would be able to meet such needs and at the same time taking responsible decisions about the environment.
What motivated you to pursue horticulture as a career
I grew up being passionate about plants but I never for once thought of making a living out of it, I was admitted to study horticulture in 2003 and that was the turning point for me, I got to know about the prospects of choosing horticulture as a career and that it wasn't about the road side thing I used to think it was. From that point I deliberately took steps to acquire skills in the field outside what the school curriculum was going to teach me, and that was it.
How did you get into it as a business
I had done a series of landscape jobs for free for family members, friends and churches but I never really saw it as what I could make money from, it was someone that liked what I had done at one of the places that gave me my first major landscape job and its been on like that since then, though I still do some Jobs for free.
What challenges do you face and how have you been able to overcome them
The major challenge I face is competition with already established players in the landscape industry and getting clients to believe you will deliver a great job, also most of the clients are used to the roadside gardeners that come up with a combination of plants with some of them not knowing how, when and why a particular planting material is used in a landscape. To overcome the challenge I had to do free jobs which serve as a part of my resume.
How will you summarize your journey so far?
So far it has has been full of highs and low. It’s a matter of time, with persistence and hard work we will get there.
Given the chance, will you do this again?
Making nature look beautiful is a part of me, it is who I am or how do you explain going for a job interview and the first thing you notice on getting to the venue is that they need a landscape horticulturist here..lol, I'll choose being a landscape horticulturist a million times again if given the chance.
