My story, like that of many of you here, started from the scratch, gaining momentum in 2005 when my cofounders, now Adebola and I, began the journey for Red Media Africa, with nothing but dreams and prayers. Without a kobo in savings, in capital, in equity, or even a bank account.
In a country where we were told you needed to have a Godfather, connections, old Ibadan or Onitsha money, or probably a degree that smells of America or (we can manage) London.
But we believed, first in ourselves of course, but more importantly, in the possibilities that always exist wherever the human will, and the human spirit can be harnessed. In October, we will celebrate 10 years. 10 years of running The Future Awards Africa, or working for some of the biggest brands across the continent and the world.
More importantly, we have built a sustainable business, which is in the process of expansion across its four offices in Lagos and London, employing dozens of our peers to build a media company that is front and center of Nigeria’s Generation Y, and has become the go-to company when trying to reach them.
All of these without short cuts, without selling our values, without all those things they said we had to do. All of this from Nigeria, by Nigerians, in spite of Nigeria.
Along the way, my partner and I have been privileged to be part or in front of some of the most consequential moments of this emerging generation of Nigeria’s youth, a population that first had to find its voice, raised it, and is refining that voice to demand better from its corporate and political leaders.
I have been asked to share some of the lessons that this journey has taught me, and so I have picked three of the most important.
The first is people.
I thank God I read everything through. Chude is an example of that true Nigerian who rose from being a nobody to a great person we all admire today. I also love the fact that he rises together with whoever choose to go with him. I found great inspirations from this. God continues to keep you Mr Chude.