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Joseph Edgar

CorruptionLaw & LegalPublic Policy

Saheed Osupa, Portable and the Ekiti Terrible Experience – A Call For Reforms

by Joseph Edgar
written by Joseph Edgar 10mins read

This is exactly the reason I kept faith with my brother Dele Farotimi during his dance of madness in Ekiti. When elders act in one way, the effects usually transcend the immediate but spread to the younger ones, who will now take the lead and perpetuate the act.

The emergence of the Tinubu administration has come with it a very worrisome variant for intolerance to dissension. For a leader who built a career on opposition touting democratic credentials, his administrations impatience for dissent is really contradictory. Warnings, threats, strengthening of muzzling laws, outright bans, social media stalking and pseudo-regulation have been the order of the day

However, unlike their military cousins, they have used the law and the courts to a devastating effect falling back on things like libel, defamation and criminal defamation as triple weapons to wrestle down opposition. This achieves a double victory for them – allows them to boast of being democratic in the way they treat dissent as against the soldiers who will hide under their Decree 4 or some draconian decree to trample on free speech.

The second victory for them is that it throws fear into the minds of the people who would not want to add months of struggle within a vexed police and judicial system battling allegations of defamation to the struggle to breath under severe economic hardship. Now while there is concrete reason to be worried about this aberration in governance a new kind of monster has reared its head.

Civilians now, at the slightest opportunity, are grabbing their fellow citizens and charging them for criminal defamation. As of the last count, Chief Babalola, Burna Boy and now Saheed Osupa remain very high-profile examples of this worrisome trend. I am not sure the Falanas did the same with VFD; I think they just went the route of libel- I will have to cross-check that.

Now, when a charge of criminal defamation is alleged, the police are empowered to pick you up, move you across state lines and secure remand orders from the nearest Magistrate court and boom, you are in jail just because you pointed out that someone has a boil on his bum.

Saheed Osupa is reported to have gone this route with his junior colleague-Portable and the police secured an order, moved into one state and dragged him to Ilorin where he was charged and given very stiff bail conditions which he could not meet and ended up in Ilorin prison – reports have shown that he has been released after Mr Osupa withdrew the charges.

For Burna Boy, the same tactics and his ‘victim’ ended up spending months in detention. My brother Dele Farotimi spent 21 days in prison under the same tactics. A big bank also used the same tactics on four bloggers and got them remanded in prison. The tomato saga is still fresh in our minds, which led to the loss of a pregnancy and jail time just cos she offered her thoughts on a product

Some legal minds have argued that there is nothing like criminal defamation in our statutes while others have affirmed its existence. The aim of this write-up is its current abuse as it is now being used by civilians who have taken a cue from the government to unleash on Nigerians a very robust rape of our rights.

The police and the Judiciary have been willing accomplices in this matter as the enthusiasm that is showed by them in railroading people into jail in these matters leaves a very bitter taste. Whole teams of policemen are deployed to pick just one loudmouth, he is moved to a far-flung precinct where it would be difficult to rally support and resources to fight and then he is confronted with very terrible bail conditions designed not to be met, earning him jail time. The whole thing looks very punitive instead of an exercise to safeguard a maligned reputation

Our Police and Judicial authorities should do better. They must be seen to play a mediatory role and not allow themselves to be used as weapons of revenge and wickedness. They owe the rest of us the full responsibility to be fair arbiters and not just koboko-wielding enforcers. When you look at all the bail conditions in these cases, as I have mentioned in these article you will get a clear understanding of the probability of persecution instead of the whole exercise being a journey for redemption. I do not understand how a verbal supposition can ever be criminal. Yes, can affect reputation and impact very negatively, incomes and influence but criminalising it to the point of abusing it is what I really don’t understand

As the NBA is gearing up for its next National Convention, this matter should be looked at very seriously. The high command of the Police should also immediately throw up investigations as to the possible abuse of this process by its people to reform it. The Judiciary should also do the same while the National Assembly should revisit this law if it truly exists with a view to reselling it. It is just another Decree 4 in make-up. Simple

Sad

Duke of Shomolu

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Business & FinanceEconomy

Banking Trillions – Now Let’s Blow This Table

by Joseph Edgar
written by Joseph Edgar 10mins read

In the last few days, Nigerians have been assaulted with the humungous sums our Banks have been declaring as profits. Almost all the big banks collectively termed – FUGAZ have crossed the N1 trillion mark in top line revenues leading them to declare billions as dividends leaving their stakeholders smiling to the bank while making the rest of us feel lost. It’s so ‘bad’ that even ‘little’ Ecobank declared profits in excess of N900b making the banking sector the most lucrative in the economy. Reasons for this ‘anomaly’ are not far fetched. People who are raising eyebrows and wondering why this is the case especially with the reality of a deflated economy and its attendant effect on pocket spend, investments, businesses and the rest.

A quick run through of these figures shows that these huge revenues are coming from two major sources. Above the table and under the table transactions.

Above the table, you can break into about 4 major areas: Digital banking, Interest income, fees and commissions and increased investment in IT which can be linked to the first one.

A quick research throws up the fact that seven major Banks generated N109b from e-banking 2023 showing a 24% increase from the previous year. As internet penetration deepens, this will continue to go up and costs will continue to go down and this will ultimately impact operating cost esp human capital costs as they continue to downsize as technology ramps up. Another reason is interest income. Access Holdings for example have recorded a rise in its interest income to N719b from N254b showing a growth of about 189%. Other Fugaz have done same.

A quick discussion with a former Treasurer in one of the Fugaz paints an expert understanding of the markets by the treasury of these banks Interest income from investment is the real bomb for GTCO and the rest. GTCO according to her ‘doubled their deposits and was able to neutralize the increased liability costs by very high rates on Tbills’

She continues –
It’s only if you generate significant cheaper liabilities that you can take advantage. That has been ZB Plc’s bread and butter!. I’m a seasoned treasurer o she screams with glea on the phone.

But I was confused so I ask – does Zenith have cheaper funds than GTCO

Zenith used to she averse. They were heavy on demand deposits! I think GTCO has found a way to ramp up DDA ( demand deposit accounts). DDA – that current accounts- they are the cheapest o. If you have big companies, and public sector accounts. Then loads of retail accounts. You can invest in short term govt securities that are risk free at good yields. Huge retail savings account balances can go into staggered maturity bonds too. All carry the least risks and are profitable. So you see where most of these huge revenues are coming from. With yields at between 35% pa and 45% pa and cost of borrowing to govt hovering at 23% even with the CRR at 50%, the banks are basically minting money. Fees and commissions is another aspect with some Banks recording increases of up to 37.9%. The report I have seen has attributed this to increase in technology which has significantly boosted efficiency, penetration, TAT all impacting revenue growth. So for instance, GTCo from the report that I have seen have increased it’s IT investments by 115%.

Another area the Banks would not want you to look at is the forex hedging part of their business. During the Emefiele era where regulation was lax with a lot of loopholes, some of these Banks had leveraged this to build huge portfolios denominated in hard currency. These portfolios are traded both locally and internationally throwing up average returns when benchmarked against international returns but report huge margins when benchmarked against a dying Naira. So a Naira that has declined from N600 to N1, 500 would impact say a $500m portfolio returning just 5% massively. They recognise that as investment and interest income on their books without even touching the funds and this is why you see, despite the trillions reported the whole banking sector cannot underwrite one major Aviation transaction or one major oil and gas transactions. It has been reported that some of them would even take a 24 hour period to credit a request withdrawal of a huge size and also bank borrowings from the CBN is at an all time high despite all these trillions being declared up and down.

Now the below the table reasons –

Increased political activities and the stringent International money laundering rules has perfectly positioned these banks as quassi legal conduits for these below the table transactions. What with their efficient digital transfers playing key roles in these dark alleys. Some people I have spoken to have adduced 20% of the huge increase in digital banking revenues to politics and its several payments at all levels of government. The case of the missing N500m in the Ministry of Humanitarian affairs being a case in point. The funds went back and forth the banking system with the banks collecting their fees each time the funds went missing and were found in different accounts. When you now extrapolate this across all levels of public sector activities, you begin to see what I am saying

How does all of this impact the real sector?

The CBN’s money and credit data report revealed an expansion in credit to the private sector. Bank lending to private businesses and individuals reached N75.96 trillion in November 2024, marking a substantial increase of 27.3 percent compared to N59.68 trillion recorded in November 2023. On a month-on-month basis, private sector credit grew by 2.6 percent from N74.07 trillion in October 2024. This increase palls to insignificance especially when you juxtapose it with the double digit and in some case triple digit increase on most revenue lines by the Banks. With a seemingly collapsed regulatory environment, a funny judiciary and a distressed macro economic environment occasioned by policy summersaults, hara kiri in policy formulation and execution you cannot really blame the banks who would rather work with their treasury in playing the markets than taking risks no matter how calculated in the macro economic environment. This has now thrown up the expansive Bank CEOs who now wants to intervene directly in developmental issues. You see them playing in infrastructure – National Theatre, roads, bridges etc. You see them funding education, Technology, Media and hospitality as a way of bridging and making atonement.

In all of these, as technology deepens its impact, the Banks are well positioned to keep making this brazen profits and with regulatory weaknesses that pervades the system we will continue to see the trillions flowing in which leaves us with no other option than to now ply more pressure on these mega banks to do more in the areas of impact, CSR and bridging vulnerable sectors and communities since for all intent and purposes, they are now a quasi-government.

Thanks.

Edgar is founder of Barnaby and Edgar a thought leadership consultancy playing within the investment banking sector

Www.barnabyandedgar.com

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Business & FinanceEconomyThe Editor's Pick

Tony Elumelu – hmmmm!!!!!!

by Joseph Edgar
written by Joseph Edgar 10mins read

I received notice from usually very reliable sources within the UBA Group of the appointment of Mr Elumelu by the IMF into its Advisory Council on Entrepreneurship and Growth convened by its MD, Kristalina Georgieva late last night.

On scanning through the document, I saw that he was to join such massive global personalities like HRH Reema Al-Saud, Prof Ufuk Akcigit, co-founder of Salesforce, Mr Benioff, Executive Chair Santander Ms Ana Botin, Chairman Tata Group, Mr N. Chandrasekaran and CE of Vodafone Group, Ms Margherita Della Valle to mention a few. It is in such distinguished gatherings that we find Tony these days.

I remember that Sunny day when the CBN made the announcement rendering him and his other colleagues jobless. It was as if he was waiting for it and was first to announce a successor and went ahead to build what is today one of the most terrific international careers; forging a new pathway straddling the triplet tombstones of Philanthropy, impact and entrepreneurship.

I have always wanted to sit down with Tony to better understand how he evolved from a swash-buckling Bank CEO to an internationally regarded persona who has massively leveraged thought leadership into a veritable vehicle of massive global impact. A foray which has now given him facial recognition within the hallowed halls of global power.

Most Nigerian bank CEOs would retire into the Ministry, go into Real Estate, fight for political appointments, struggle for Board seats or go for the most slavish of all – set up a Finance house or start up a microfinance bank to start all over again.

What we have seen in most cases has been the end of the road for vision once the top post in a financial institution has been achieved. But for Tony, it seems as if that end was just the beginning – the energy surged, the spark to engage at an international level was ignited, and today, we see a figure bigger in stature than most and even more respected than some African Heads of Government where it matters the most.

The undying push for media exposure, which sometimes could be draining being a little side effect to all of this energy but a tiny speck in this white cloth of gallant engagements

The document says he has empowered over 25,000 African Entrepreneurs since 2015 on the back of his ‘concept of Africapitalism’ and his belief in a private sector-led role in Africa’s economic reformation puts him in stead for this highly distinguished appointment.

For me, it’s the unique crystallization of the tripod in building a superb personal branding that is the niche for me. Pushing on philanthropy, engaging with visibly captivating entrepreneurial pursuits with manifest and penetrative effects on such varied sectors like Oil and Gas, Power, Finance and Hospitality and then pushing the impact button with the training and mentoring all now wrapped around a robust aptitude towards thought leadership stands Tony out as a serious African figure.

You would be surprised at my effusive praise of thus fellow but then again, you would be more understanding of my praise, if you as I have, taken the time to study this trajectory from its humble beginnings at the All State Trust Bank through to the guilded halls of global finance and leadership to where we see Tony in a front row of a picture taken with International Heads of Governments perched at the back row, you will then see very clearly the reason behind this uncharacteristic splash of praise this hot afternoon.

What spices it all up is his playful approach towards Fashion and music, where he has been known to dance with the biggest African stars while adorned in some very chic ensembles, which makes me salivate throwing up an image of a fun loving, jet set African James Bond like character but with the focus and the eagle eyed passion for ethical fulfilment.

Let me now calmly send my congratulations to Mr Elumelu even as I look forward to discussing the very urgently needed push to attempt an institutionalisation of this newfound pathway to building an enduring and very influential global brand from the aforementioned tripod with nothing but passion and genuine interest as fuel.

Well done, my brother. Well done

Thanks

Duke of Shomolu

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The Editor's Pick

The Yorubanization of Nigerian Theatre

by Joseph Edgar
written by Joseph Edgar 10mins read

Lets break some tables.

The young and glib student sits in front of me in the Board Room of my Ikoyi office. I am trying to write my final year project on the influence of dance drama and the musical on cultural expression and I’ve been asked to speak to you and Bolanle Austen Peters, she says.

Ok, I’m listening. I want to see its influence, the statistics, attendee ticket sales then the concepts and all its effects on cultural expressions.

What is cultural expression? I ask, feeling the anger well in me.

She tried to explain, but I didn’t get it.

I think your topic is laced with ambiguity, I say to her. I think you are lucky to be born in this age and to belong to a generation that applies adaptive knowledge unlike mine who work with knowledge in a highly regulated template

So, when you say cultural expression, that is filled with ambiguity.

What expression, which culture, what are you trying to say or prove?

If I were in your shoes, you would not end the influence of dance and musicals on cultural expression but must pull it down to its impact on quantifiable and measurable indices like job creation, infrastructural development, tourism, hospitality and then conclude by trying to show us how theatre using the genre of your study could increase its paltry share of the much-heralded N3trillion valuation of the Entertainment Industry.

So why me and Bolanle, I ask. Why did your lecturer choose me and Bolanle. She gave me an answer most people would say; because nothing is happening in theatre outside Lagos

I screamed this is a fallacy. It is also a fallacy strengthened by the premier role Lagos plays in the commercial and artistic life of Nigeria. Because it has the market, the infrastructure and much more importantly the media does not mean that richer things are not happening out there. This fallacy is the new turn in a shallow-minded aggregation of superiority in the arts to not only Lagos but to the Yoruba tribe.

This argument drew parallels between Prof Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe. It pushed a debate that, although it has been muted, needs to be thrown open again, especially with this young generation, as represented by this obviously intelligent young lady seated in front of me who is already being misguided.

I lean in – sending you to Bolanle and myself is a lazy approach to your very beautiful work. As it would only state the obvious and would give you an average result.

There is nothing new Bolanle will tell you and myself.

Her Saro and Waka were watersheds in Nigerian theatre as they signposted the rebirth of theatre on such a huge commercial and technically accepted forms. For me, it was the third coming of theatre. The first two are what I would call the Hubert Ogunde era which terminated with Festac 77.

The second era will be the Nigerian International Bank-led resurgence which brought theatre to Nigerians annually. This is not to say that productions were not happening between these eras or during these eras but in my estimation they did not capture the imagination of mainstream audiences like these ones which led the way.

Now, almost 100% of mainstream attention-grabbing productions in this era happened in Lagos, hence the blackness that has bedeviled theatre in other parts of the Country. The Ife/Ibadan connection also thrived and contributing to the myth that the Yorubas ‘owned’ theatre.

The great efforts of the aforementioned Soyinka and other such leading lights of the Ife/Ibadan movement plus the huge commercialization of theatre in Lagos have now contributed very succinctly to giving the Yorubas the seeming appendage of ‘owning’ theatre which has led to this lecturer telling his student that theatre is Lagos so go to Bolanle and Edgar and do your research.

This is a concept that must be corrected. The fact that the Yorubas have been brilliant in documenting their rich trajectory in theatre does not mean that ‘nothing’ is happening elsewhere. The Yourbas have been able to funnel their rich traditions and culture into theatre, their dance, and their traditional ethos and have used the University system to entrench this to the detriment of other cultures. This is not their fault o, its just their ability to understand the richness and sturdy nature of their cultural ethos and then flow it through such a powerful medium as theatre which has now given them a great and brilliant advantage over others.

You see works like Langbodo emerging as a legendary addition to Festac 77 and other such great yourba literary giants all pushing classical works adapted to brilliant plays and cementing their leading role as theatre evolves. But it would be a great disservice to other ethnic groupings if we don’t try and look beyond the south-west. The Ijaws, the Efiks, the Ibos, the Nupes, the Igbira, fulanis and the rest are doing phenomenal works. All we need do is just stop being lazy and look beyond Yorubaland and see the phenomenal work that is going on in the hinterland

Yibo Koko’s Seki dance for one is a rich kaleidoscope of enthralling performance

We have traversed as Duke of Shomolu. We have gone hinterland and have seen dance in Benin, Warri, Uyo, and Abuja and have marvelled at the dexterity of Fulani storytelling, the wondrous magic of Itsekiri and Ijaw dance, the deep drama that is the Fulani ensemble and also marvelled at the sanguity of the Nupe culture in our Ladi Kwali. People like Prof Yerima, Dr Erojikwe and a host of others are doing great work out there, harnessing talent, telling beautiful stories and capturing the imagination of the people and audiences.

This lecturer just had to tell this very inquisitive, obviously brilliant girl to go see the wedding festivals in Sokoto or go watch the burial ceremonies in Taraba or listen to poetry in Igalla land and better contextualize the origin of varied dance forms that permeate the Nigerian stratosphere. It is for this reason and more that we decided to bring in six professors in different spheres of theatre to give us plays from all over the country. The University of Ilorin, Ahmadu Bello, UNN and a host of others will be presenting plays drawn from their cultural milieu as we force a peek into stuff outside the Yoruba colony.

Theatre has a life outside Lagos and the Yoruba enclave, and the life is rich and thriving; it just has to be better sold.

Come and beat me.

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BrandingThe Editor's Pick

Omoni Oboli’s Love in Every Word

by Joseph Edgar
written by Joseph Edgar 10mins read

By Duke of Shomolu

Rarely do Nollywood films catch my attention but I must confess my effusive love for this work.

Apparently, I had stumbled on set somewhere in a hotel in Lekki where I had met the very handsome and charismatic Uzor Arukwe. Didn’t know they were shooting this blockbuster as I engaged him in discussions about Nollywood and a possible showing in one of my stage plays. Rarely would a film hold your attention from beginning to end. The neatness of this production was quite engaging. The casting was perfect although I wondered why almost all-female cast had big bums. From the unnecessarily obnoxious boss to the assistant and to Bamike the lead female cast all came on set adorned with very beautiful but at the same time distracting bums.

Bam, as she is normally called, was a true star. Her deliberate delivery of her lines, her positioning, her diction, her calm disposition and her infusion in the character won me over. I cannot stop pouring accolades on her. Her beauty and huge aggressive sexuality began to make me wonder if something was wrong with Odogwu, who kept refusing her offer to ‘come in’. The last time I saw such deliberate sexuality and delivery in Nollywood was with Genevieve Nnaji who achieved celestial adoration with her standoff sexuality which came with a birthing delivery that made you just quiver watching her. Bam made me more than quiver; she made me want to jump into bed with her, transforming me into an Odogwu without an accent.

Uzor, on the other hand, owned the film. His strong portrayal of the stereotyped Igbo wealthy man, complete with his costuming and his strong facial sweetness delivered an epochal performance that kept rushes of the movie in your head hours after watching it. Uzor is a strong character actor. His charismatic entre in movies is usually remarkable and it is no wonder that today he is Nollywood royalty. One would not have expected such a brilliant attempt at comedy. He really was excellent in pouring a serious character into a comedic flow which kept the viewers attention. His Odogwu was romantic, he wasn’t a deep end of the road stark illiterate Odogwu with the big purse under his shoulders but a modernized Odogwu who although still a little bit below the ‘freshness’ of the modern-day paramour was likeable and relatable unlike the obnoxious Odogwu of say Kanayo Kanayo, E-money and Obi Cubana who go about strengthening the hair-brained money miss road reputation of the Igbo wealthy class

This Odogwu was kind, understood how to treat a woman – I just came to listen to you, knew how to support a woman – focus on your job and think about me after. Knew how to encourage a woman – why not concentrate on your own business and had class, self-respect and dignity – I cannot continue to beat a drum that has no sound. So it is a wonder that I have heard that some people especially Igbos have gone on rampage as to the so-called negative vibes of these stereotype. If you ask me, I would say the writers cleaned up the Odogwu, modernized him, and made him gentler and more likeable before introducing him to us in a role we have never seen him and they succeeded

Normally, the stereotype of the sort is more of the Okonkwo of the very old TV series Second Chance. He would be brash, stark illiterate, and believe in the power of his wealth rather than in his intelligence, which was limited to his street smartness, which he deploys in trading. As earlier mentioned, the Cubana chief Priests of this world and his type who bury their mothers, celebrate their titles, wed their daughters and the rest with such crass show of wealth and brashness do more damage to the Igbo man’s reputation daily than Omoni’s Odogwu

Anyway, let me talk about the little mistakes in the film.

The storyline was a tard predictable, throwing some form of boredom into it. I knew that Bam Bam would eventually open fire on the wicked Boss during the first interaction they had early in the film. I knew that Bam and Uzor would fight in the middle and end up in a climactic embrace at the end of the film – classic Mills and Booms. It would have been more electric if they never found themselves. That would have been magic, leaving us crying for part two.

The weakest characterization was the entitled boyfriend. His acting was cringeworthy. He was averagely acceptable when he was begging for $2,000 to make it up, but his acting bordered on buffoonery after he was stripped naked and kicked out. That scene was lame. The idea behind it was stupid as no man that size would strip himself down to his undies on the words of an angry girlfriend. Yes, he could be kicked out, but strip? That was too far-fetched. His characterization was excellent, though – those kinds of people dressed, talked and carried on that way, but I guessed the casting people just looked at his looks and said – oya, he looks the part, let’s manage him.

The boss was too wicked. There was no need for all of that unprovoked madness. Even if you didn’t like her or were shagging Seun, someone we didn’t see, it was just too much. But Uzor delivered an Oscar-winning performance with the 3am call. Mbok, I nearly died from laughter with the – repeat after me. That anger was pure, it was real and well delivered and he looked so handsome doing it I’m sure that moment, gave Bam Bam her independence leading her to finally stand up against her more beautiful boss with a bigger bum

Let me address the issue of stereotypes which this film has thrown up.

Nigerians have beautifully arrogated certain stereotypes to our major tribes – The Igbos are what we just watched; the Northerners, we call them Mallam and all that comes with that. The Yorubas have been seen as party-loving empty heads who can do anything for a party and for us in Akwa Ibom we have ours as the sex-loving, funny speaking tribe of housemaids and houseboys. These are sometimes very derogatory and the creative industry has played very wickedly into these with their characterization that are sometimes wicked and not funny at all. Examples are Nedu’s mai guard, Okon Calabars performances, Kate Henshaw’s depiction of the ‘Carraber’ girl and the slew of Yoruba actors who have done a lot of damage to the Yoruba nation with their illiterate bellicose characterization. From the Baba Sala era down to Baba Mero to Papi Luwe down to Saka and the rest, the slapstick routine of these actors didn’t do too well to the way we see the Yoruba Nation

But guess what, the comedic appeal brought in some level of unity as we laughed at these actors and at ourselves and we began to mimic them. You will see an Igbo man yell at his Yoruba neighbour – oya Owambe man come and move your car, and the Yoruba man would shout back Odogwu, I am coming. There is fun in these stereotypes even though we in Akwa Ibom do not really like them cos of their derogatory notions – we are more than just sex and domestic servants. Same as others, the northerners are more than coloured teeth denizens who speak English with an F in every pronunciation. But therein lies the fun of being Nigerian as we still rise above in unity as we sing our afrobeats together, watch the super eagles together and marvel at Nollywood together

Omoni Oboli’s Odowgu was funny, beautiful, likeable and relatable. Even me writing, started calling myself Odogwu when my daughter Zara walked up to me to ask for something and I said talk to me like an Odogwu. Well done to the cast and crew, well done to the Producers and well done to the scriptwriters. I give it 5 star and strongly recommend it not that they even need my recommendation as the movie has crossed the 10m viewer mark.

Wow.

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BrandingThe Editor's Pick

10 Ways To Go Past Your Target’s Personal Assistants

by Joseph Edgar
written by Joseph Edgar 10mins read

By Duke of Shomolu

The salesman’s natural enemy is the irritating personal assistant, who is even busier than the oga.

He is also usually used by the ogas to deflect or push you back without looking like the bad guy

In my over 39 years in Sales, I have designed tactics to neatralise them and go past the annoying fellows

  1. They always have insecurities which feed into their egos, so find it and play it – for example, if u notice she has pimples – say, I can send u a cream that will solve it cos I suffered from it.
  2. When u walk in or call on the phone, ask for his boss in his first name. So you say I am here to see Aig or Femi or Bola . Immediately he feels you are close and he will relax
  3. For some, you must be aggressive – I hear you are very difficult fron a lot of people who come to see Oga, I sincerely hope you will not bring it to me cos I have zero tolerance… U will see panic immediately
  4. Others especially the female variant, you move in with compliments – mbok who is your hairdresser, I need her numbers for my wife
  5. Gifts, gifts, gifts – little perfumes, small accessories, tickets to shows, small cash esp civil servants and u will see the way they will sell their bosses
  6. Smalltalk around their interest usually breaks the ice and pulls them closer
  7. Make them self-important through serious and formal greetings and engagement
  8. Try to keep boundaries firm but not firm enough to push them back but also not loose enough otherwise u will start paying sch fees and hearing lamentations
  9. When you finally meet Oga, drop some nice compliments about them – your PA is so professional, and I like the way he handles me. If he is not good, the oga will strengthen it, and if he is terrible, the oga will express surprise. Either way, you have him under your control
  10. On your way out, always stop to say thank you. Show appreciation and say – I’m so so grateful even though I didn’t get what I wanted, you were the highlight of this experience

Personal Assistants are the gatekeepers, and your relationship with them is usually the make-or-break thing in sales.

Should I do a Zoom masterclass on handling Personal Assistants?

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Joseph Edgar
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The Duke of Shomolu replies Prof Ojo Bakare

by Joseph Edgar
written by Joseph Edgar 10mins read

Prof ur treatise is well received and well researched. i am sure that this must have taken a lot of work to churn out but sadly it still reeks with the ignorance of my position in this sector and on this group.

I have never contested the history or the rich pedigree of ‘your sector’ but have always stated and very clearly the need to accept the new paradigm Bolanle and I represent which is the need to structure business around it.

All the remarkabke achievements you have labelled were all made possible by business and business minds and i am sure you would not have stepped into France without Air France understanding the structure and benefits monetary and otherwise to them.

Advocating legislature is to take the industry back to the old Village Headmaster days when massively takented actors were paid N100 per episode to perform

It also shows ur lack of understanding the economic paradigm of the Government in which u serve. The Government is pushing for less involvement and making laws that enables private sector participation and here u are trying to shield your sector with entry barriers.

I dont need to have a degree in theatre to produce just as i can own a hospital without bieng a medical professional . U can put ur entry barrier with the guilds within ur sector. So i cannot direct a play if i don’t have requisite qualifications nor can i be a set designer and while u are at it tell Davido and tge rest to get a music degree bf releasing an album or RMD to akso get an MSC in drama bf making our women swoon on screen. That to me is backward, it would still not serve ur purpose

As a Produxer, you have described my role very clinically and i thank you but were we differ is the supremacy on both sides.

Granted its a partnership but in a deadlock who superceedes. Yes me and u have fought severally where u want to increase cast size and i say no money and we go back and forth in search of a middle ground.

Like i alwsy tell u, Prof if u put 60 pple in d market scene and i cant find money to pay them nko?

Prof Yerima does phenomenal olays for me with 4 people and i cant cut cast size by just 4 out of 40 when a sponsor pulls out?

In Zik i owed N12m two Months after. I knw the abuse i got from ur pple and im sure its some of those abuse Mufu alludes to. Luckily yhe director Ikuku was more amenable and was patient until i paid everybody.

The bulk stops at my tabke and dts why i am aggressive cos nobody shares it with me. Today, i owe FIRS N19m in back end tax cos no actor or director would allow me deduct withholding tax from their fees. I take the heat and u exoect me to now come and allow u run my budget anyhow u want cos u are a theatre practitioner?

In budgeting Awo-UK, i say to lukman the producer, let’s hold at £80,000 and we hit £90,000 thats over N150m and then Makinde says ohhh i need to bring 13 from Lagos cos they understand the Play

Makes a lot of sense, but that throws in another N25m into the budget. At that point who takes precedence .. Me or makinde and me and makinde fight. We must fight. Real fight and at the end we hug and go and bath

So my dear prof, ur sector must come down from its high horse and enbrace change the way Nollywood has so dt it can grow phenomenally, so that opportunities can emerge and so that your members can find fulfilment

I am not the enemy infact i am the messiah and Bolanle is my forerunner . That is why i say that she is the mother of modern day theatre and i am her son.

Nb prof get ready the fight for Ekiti International Theatre Festival go hot, get ready o. Na N200m and not one kobo go pass am.

I don tell ur Governor last two nigts when he call me and he laugh. So ready

Seriousky, i think its time we sat down in a session to talk physically. Im ready, we need to better understand each otger so tgat we can grow. I am ready to host anytine and anyehere.. Lets talk.

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Sponsorship and CSR – the new Terror Weapon

by Joseph Edgar
written by Joseph Edgar 10mins read

Sponsorship remains very critical to a very large part of the Economic ecosystem. It fuels the oil of production especially in key strategic sectors like entertainment, sports, philanthropy, technology and others.

If you take into consideration the fact that the above mentioned sub sectors form a critical part of the new economy which is today generating much more employment, contributing significantly to the GP and impacting infrastructure, tourism, hospitality and media you will begin to understand the very powerful nature of Sponsorship and CSR as we try to rebuild our economy.

Anywhere in the world, sponsorships provide that last mile push for massive events and in some others also provides the trigger momentum for these events which massively impact economies and people

The mathematics of these events never tally cos if you factor in the cost of production and ticket sales which is usually the primary source of revenue, you will see a huge gap that would be filled attimes by advertising and other such innovative revenue generating platofmrs but sponsorship provides very mostly that much needed ‘gap- filler’ and outlier gains for promoters.

For the Brand providing the sponsorship, what they get in return are quantitative and qualitative. Most brands especially local ones feed on the qualtitative cos their brand custodians are usually pulled from media, PR, advertising and such allied fields.

So what drives their sponsorship push is eyeballs, brand awareness, image and positioning.

But recently, Quantitative benenfits have started taking a more serious positioning in decision taking and this is being led by the banks and other such financial brands.

For the FMCG, Marketing has always been the leading lights in their sponsorships. They have tried to tie a nexus between marketing and sales, that is why the marketing people are the main drivers in FMCGs but even in that, marketing initiatives must impact in volumes of sales

Now CSR in the last twenty years have come into play as brands begin to see CSR as a below the line marketing strategy . An effective CSR policy would put your brand much more favourably in a powerful marketing position.

These now takes us to the general structure internally of Brands, marketing, CSR, PR in most of our local brands – this is a masterclass I will give one day based on my practical exoerience

In most brands except for maybe the FMCG, Brand custodians really do not have approving authority.. They defer to higher authorities who are mostly not marketing professionals but who will rely on them in taking final decisions which are usually based more on emotional, political and other such considerations.

This is so because the whole ecosystem even the professionals do not really see sponsorship and CSR as a strong marketing tool but rather see it as an instrument for dispensing favour and rewards.

This shows very clearly in the laissez fairez approach in building relationships within the space.

The brand custodian assumes a position of authority while the seeker of sponsorship goes into strict servitude.. His calls are not taken, he is summoned like a slave, spoken down to and generally just maltreated by people who usually do not even have the authority to sign off N5, 000

Now the man looking for sponsorship also not knowing the impact his project would have on the target brand will also go willingly into servitude cos he too is seeing himself as being favoured in the ecosystem.

Both sides can really not see their role in the bottomline hence the nonsensical relationship that breeds corruption, nepotism and favouritism amongst others.

I once approached the MD of a top tier Bank after I hadnt heard from his people and told him very clearly that N160m had passed thru my accounts within the last three months prior so what is the N10m that I was asking for that I am being humiliated like this.

I further told him that I had opened over 200 accounts in one day something that would cost him much more than that N10 in human capital cost , fuel and other logistics cost to achieve.

As a banker to banker he could see it but his people could not see it since I wasnt pulling in the eye balls a football match would pull in without the expected impact on revenues.

The MD did his maths very quickly and saw that I was more profitable than a Super Eagles match at N10 as against the N200m minus cost of activation they would shower on that one but with usually no direct impact on account opening or in the distribution of other ancillary products and services.

A Bank who sponsors me once gave a huge Afrobeat star N20m endorsement and when I enquired how many accounts where opened as a result, they were kinda sad.

It is the lack of cognitive understanding of the role of Sponsorship and CSR that would make a brand pick up a proposal and respond one year later to say – sorry we cant deal at this moment-the ignorance of the arrogant and that can be quite annoying.

A decision that could be taken within 24 hours now takes one year to arrive at with a terse email trying to strengthen the landlord – Tennant relationship.

Granted, the traffic from the demand side far outweighs the supply side thereby putting so much pressure on the supply side, the need for effective planning, strong communications on policy direction viz a viz sponsorship and CSR amongst others would largely dwindle the gray areas which allows for such humiliating relationship between both parties.

Brands must come to the realisation that they must begin to empower their custodians with robust budgetary and decision taking authorities but with necessary risk management and controls with performance management structure in place.

This would engender professionalism, maximising it within relationships in the space and also further impact the push towards profitability

And those on the demand side must also start pitching professionally and leave all this – na my guy strategy cos that is what leads to all the insults and humiliation.

In pitching you must align draw down objectives to the brands objectives. Work your network to be given a platform to pitch and professionally engage instead of the usual
Personally, I have blacklisted some brands due to their unprofessional approach towards the relationship.. You can’t keep treating me like an Ethiopian Eunuch and expect me not to fight for my dignity cos – if he no give you today, he go give you tomorow. It’s not begging for alms please.

Go with your sponsorship. I will only deal with custodians who respect what I’m bringing to the table and deals with me with the full dignity I deserve anything short of that, I move.

Thanks

Duke of Shomolu

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Mudi – he doesn’t sell clothes -A sales case study presented to The Duke’s Sales Hub

by Joseph Edgar
written by Joseph Edgar 10mins read

My phone rang out and I hate it ringing out esp at that time. It was 5.30am and only Mudi would dare call me at the time. I was already feeling guilty, cos I didn’t attend his mother’s burial in Delta state so I picked.

Check, I don send u a pic. I need caption. That was Mudi for you. He had moved beyond the emotional and it was work. I said yes sir.

I checked and it was the famous Obi Cubana who had come to his ultra modern show room in Lekki in search of a befitting outfit and he needed the pic with a perfect caption out in the media esp the blogs where Odogwu was king.

I sent him the caption and in minutes the biggest blogs where awash with the pics complete with numerous comments and ‘likes’

This morning, a young designer called. He had sent me samples of his work and I promptly dashed it out. He didn’t take the time to profile me and my fashion out look before he went to sew me a caftan that they use to break Ramadan fast.

He wanted to study my sales technique, the way I build my network and basically get me to mentor him as he tries to buikd a sustainable fashion platform

Then Mudi came to mind. How has Mudi been able to achieve relevance in several markets. He has not only gained the elusive longevity but broken into strategic markets within the continent

When u think of other brands like Dakova, Sophisticat who ruled the markets same time as him, you will begin to see the need for this article.

Mudi has always been very strategic. His success formula in my estimation has been on a tripod – media, network and craft with the craft playing a very insignificant role.

You will want to ask me why is his craft insignificant after all, is that not what he is selling, the clothes. Wrong

The clothes are a given. The market knows that he designs very exquisitely and is most likely the best with linen which is very popular amongst a certain demographic and income strata

So what he sells is his NETWORK and now uses media and strategic relationships to oil and push the network towards his clothes

When he dropped billboards all around Lagos with some very famous and relatable personalities like Okey Bakassi, Mozes Praiz and the ever brilliant RMD, he was pulling in a certain market segmentation.

Now this market segmentation opened him up to the politcal class. He once said, he loves democracy cos the Senators, Governor’s, councillors, states house of Assemblies, SAs, SSAs, and all sort will wear trades.

This was very reflective in the whats app group that I formed working very closely with Patrick the debonnaire lawyer to gather support for his mother’s burial.

A cursory look at the list, and u will see this class well represented and also a huge showings by professionals, media people, entertainers with most of them above the 45 year band.

Mudi meticulously works this age band while still keeping his foray in social media where he goes to farm for aspirational clients hence his push with the Obi Cubana clip.

His networking skills are second to none as he attends every social events, calls u out of the blue to discuss politics and life issues and in most cases never ever mentions the need for u to buy clothes

I’ve known him for almost 10 years and he has never for one day asked me to buy his clothes but has built a relationship with me which makes me his brother. This he has replicated across the stated class of people with his ‘brothers’, firmly placed in different markets.

Another thing he does so well, in getting his brothers is identifying those who bbbfh. ycan afford his clothes. His clothes don’t come cheap as what u would get from the normal designer, you would be spending x 10 to get one with his label.

So if u are strategic to him either as an influencer or media person you will be a brother even if you cannot afford his clothes – this is where I firmly play. Me and Tade and Scott who calls himself Scott of Warri.

Now his media foray is his key strength. He has built very strong relationships with media people. Almost every serious Print media person have once been gifted with his designs and have been made brothers.

The new media influencers are also ‘brothers’. These ones get invited, receive surprise visits and calls and generally get curated and pulled into the enclave and they in turn become missionaries for the brand

Mudi’s grestest strength is his ability to evolve. Using the Warri enclave which houses the core of the comedy industry which has gained world wide attention, he has built very strong relationships with the leading lights of the industry from which he pushes out to their high net worth adherents converting them into clients.

Just watch out any of the big comedy shows-from Alibaba thru to Bovi and even AY whose brother is a junior competitor, you will notice that most VVIP ticket holders are Mudi clients and you will see him work the halls, shaking and back slapping in the very latest of his designs eliciting envy and the expected – Mudi abeg do another five for me na.

He is also very deliberate with the media, hosting them to media parleys, supporting their causes and once in a while dropping the two page pull out in Thisday and Guardian giving him the fresh look and a continuous top of mind positioning in the market.

To round up, pls note that Mudi does not sell clothes but sells relationships within an ever expanding network that criss crosses the Continent making the eventual sale of the clothes a given and something that you don’t even discuss before your bring out your cheque book.

So when next you drive past one of his delectable designer outlets either in Lekki, Nairobi, Accra or Abdidjan or you see him drive past in one of his antique cars splashing mud water all over you, know that the man doesn’t sell clothes – he is a deliberate man.

Thank you

Duke of Shomolu

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Femi Otedola and the Chronicle of the Wheelchair

by Joseph Edgar
written by Joseph Edgar 10mins read

From no where yday, I got two clips on this very prominent Nigerian, Mr Femi Otedola. The sender said, Edgar watch this and I watched.

The clips where of two clergy men telling the same story about Mr Otedola and his gift of wheel chairs to a group of young people.

What first struck me was the contradiction of the Asian clergy man who looked more like a Bhudist monk in his long robes than the Catholic priest that he was and the boisterous almost drama like presentation of the Nigerian clergy man in the second clip.

The monk like Catholic priest was calm and methodical in his presentation as he reeled out Mr Otedola’s answer to a question asked him about the four stages of life. He was calm and angelic not making the message about himself and there by not distracting us

But our Nigerian brother was In a performance as he said, ‘ I’m not sure Mr Otedola is here and then it looked like he got a positive affirmation and he went into a full Oscar winning performance complete with voice modulation, aggressive and punchy gesticulations and a faux admonition to his listeners as if he was warning us that if we were not like Mr Otedola we would have ourselves to blame.

Now this was certainly not the Femi Otedola we all know that he was talking about. Very far from the noisy presentation is the Mr Otedola the public knows.

The first preacher reminded us more of Mr Otedola who carries along with his philanthropic activities in a noiseless but massively impactful manner.

So I went back to the ‘monk’ and listened very carefully to the story.

Mr Otedola had stated in response to a question, the four stages of his life all leading to the pursuit of true happiness.

The first being the wealth creation stage, then the value acquisition stage, then the big budget stage where according to the clergy man, Femi controlled 95% of Africa’s diesel import and then lastly, he told us the story of the wheel chairs

Apparently, a friend had asked Femi to buy 200 wheel chairs for some young people and he decided to personally go present them. It was here he met thru happiness, the joy in giving and the warm and pleasant feel that cascades thru your soul as God leads you to impact lives

He also now told us the part where as he was leaving, a young man held on to his feet and he stopped to ask if he needed any more things and that one said, no I just want to look at your face so that when I see it in heaven I will remember you.

What a lot of people don’t know especially the big moguls who create a media frenzy when giving is the studendously calming effect of righteous giving. Many will not feel it cos they ‘give for a purpose’ . They will never see God in the eyes of the recipient and will never shed tears as they watch God use them as vessels to touch lives.

Mr Otedola is arguably the biggest philanthropist on the continent. He once called me very late at night and said, Duke, what is the essence of wealth, if you can’t impact. Tomorow, I will be throwing a challenge…

The next day, his beautiful daughter announced the massive N5b fund which I do not think has been replicated or matched.

So for me and most watchers, it’s not as much as what he gives but the way. His push into society does not come with the sometimes obvious – look at me as I give or the annoying – I am giving now o, I am the one giving o that comes with most givings in that his social strata.

The last stage of happiness as epitomised in the story as told by this clergy men and as personified by the monk is the quiet, very simple and engaging giving which leaves the recipient and indeed society with the warm glow of cascading humanity which is very key in a period of constant rife and chicanery.

I have watched Mr Otedola’s brand of philanthropy with guided interests especially as he even struggles to make most of his impacts under the cover and with no real or deliberate media cover. I fact I have come to discover that majority if his engagements are not even announced.

For him is not the public adulation, for him it’s the silent effectiveness of the impact that drives him and the attendant effect on society that fuels his drive for good.

It is no wonder the boy held on to his feet to see his face again so he will recognise him in heaven.

For me, since we are not sure of heaven just yet, let me recognise Mr Otedola here and now for being who he is and for inspiring ‘little ‘ philanthropists like us who remain driven by his selfless, non ego and penetrative leadership in the era of impactfull giving.

Thank you sir

Duke of Shomolu

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