The Editor’s Pick

2 months ago, a friend of mine called to ask for a favor. He wanted me to speak to his friend’s wife – Grace.

Grace makes organic soaps and according to him, she is very good at it. He had met a couple of friends that had testified to the efficacy of her soap before he tried out for himself and he too has been won over.

So you dey bleach? I teased.

You no serious. Na every locally produced organic soap dey bleach?

He went on to explain that Grace, based on her principles had refused to venture into bleaching soaps. Not that I have anything against people who bleach their skin, but I was impressed that she could stand by her principles. These are the type of people I like to meet. People that are not all about the money.

“She just needs to be guided on how to make sense of it all” he continued.

My friend knows me well. He knows that I am always open to working with SMEs in the real sector. Especially those creating products from locally sourced raw materials.

He gave her my number and she reached out to me on whatsapp. It took a while to align schedules but we eventually met. She came to our office at Yaba about 2 weeks later. I was running late but she waited patiently

When I met her, the first thing that struck me was her face. It was smooth and glowing. She is very light skinned and these days it could be difficult to tell whose complexion is original and which is enhanced. But for one of the first times in my life, I could easily tell that this her yellow is “factory fitted/follow come” as our people will call it. She had a glow that is natural. The kind of glow that you only get after your graphic artists had done some magic editing on photoshop. Her skin was flawless and she really looked good. She also looked very young and to think that she had teenage kids. She didn’t need to tell me about the efficacy of her products. She was a living testimony that her organic soap works.

She told me about her business. It started from a personal need. She and her husband had sensitive skin and they had gone from dermatologist to dermatologist looking for solution to no avail. She was pushed to research on her own, she learned how to formulate and was able to develop something that worked for them.

Then she formulated for her kids.

Then family and friends who saw the improvement on her skin, started to ask for the secret to her youthfulness. She was always happy to formulate for them.

Then they asked for more. She obliged

Their friends asked for and she obliged and by word of mouth, the demand increased and she was forced to start asking them to pay. And they were happy to.

The classical entrepreneurs’ story

She set up an Instagram page for the business and been promoting her product but she knew that she wanted more. She loved what she was doing, she was very passionate about it and she was getting repeat sales, but she knew that she wanted more.

I could tell that she loved what she was doing. I could see that she had a working product. But I could also see that she was not making any money and although she was selling her products and she sells out, she hadn’t moved from having a hubby to being an entrepreneur.

All the ingredients are there. All that was needed is a chef that will mix them and make magic. I am already thinking that I want to be that chef

I had been listening attentively without interrupting. I wanted her to pour her heart out so that I could understand what she really wanted for the business. By the time she was done, I could tell that there was potential enough to make a winner.

“Grace, what you have here is commendable. I am really impressed. I don’t even need to try your product to tell that it is good. The testimony is on your skin. Thankfully, you are wearing a sleevless top so one can see the evidence of your work. This is the first thing that I always look out for – a product that works. A product that solves a problem and evidence that it does”.

She was her own POC (proof of concept)

“But Grace, you need to decide what you want for this business and there are 3 options. I will explain using a barber.

There are 3 men- all barbers and all equally good and passionate about giving haircuts.

The first one is so passionate that he will cut peoples hair for free. He doesn’t mind because he loves cutting hair. In fact, sometimes he feels that he should pay people for cutting their hair. Success for him is the satisfied look he gets from people that come to him for a haircut after he is done. This man has a HOBBY or NON-PROFIT. This was you when you were happy to formulate for people for free. There is nothing wrong with this if you have some other source of income or funding. But if you don’t, SAPA will eventually become a key member of your family

The second man also loves to cut peoples hair but is not willing to do it for free. In fact, he set up a barber shop and resumes there every day and charges people a fee to cut their hair -day in day out. And because he is a very good barber, a perfectionist, he alone cuts his customers hair and over time, his customers will not allow anybody cut their hair because he is the best. This man is SELF EMPLOYED. He might make money, but he will never really have the time to enjoy that money and he will most likely never be able to expand that business.

The third man is also passionate about people’s hair. So passionate that he gets a shop, employs barbers, trains them and creates a process for them to follow so that there is consistency in his offering. He spends his time getting new customers and promoting his barber shop and as he makes more money, he sets up more barber shops and employs more barbers. Over time he employs a team to market, train barbers, manage his brand, handle customer service and HR. This man will eventually become a millionaire and is able to go on a vacation and still make money because he has a Haircut company.

Notice that all three offer the same service. The only difference is how they are set up.

So Grace, which of these men are you and which of them do you want to be?

She had been listening wide-eyed and I could tell that she was excited

Grace: “The second man is where I am but I want to have a skin care company”

Me: “Well, I don’t think so, I think you are somewhere between the first and second man.”

Grace: “Why do you say that, I already ask people to pay for the products”

Me: “I can already tell that you have not properly done your costing and you are most likely running at a loss”

Grace: How is that?

Me: Well you operate from home and you use free power and your personal equipment on a small scale so you naturally will not factor that into your costing. You also will not factor in your time and intellectual property as well. If these are done properly, you will realize that you are most likely still the first man.

I could feel her morale dropping

Don’t get me wrong Grace. You have a good business. You are on the right path.

I went on to share the story of Precious Akele , MBA.. a friend since 2011. Precious is CEO of Maya Organics Limited and has done very well for herself.

“At some point, I will get you to speak with her but for now, I need you to have an open mind and be ready to give it your all. Is that something that you can do?”

Her smile of relief said it all. I could see that she was inspired

I went on to share with her the 3 ingredients that I personally look out for when I talk to small business that create products. The baseline that (in my opinion) must be met for an enterprise to be worth of my time and energy.

1. A Product: A working prototype. It helps if the driver of the enterprise is a user and we can see the testimony on them. You cannot be an Orobo and be selling weight loss tea
2. Demand: People must need this product. It has to solve a problem that is big enough for people to want to pay money for it
3. Economics: When you combine your raw materials and manufacturing process to create your product, and the factor in the cost of sale and other associated costs, the economics of the entire process must make sense both at micro and macro levels.

For Grace, I could tell that 1 and 2 are sorted. So, I told her to go and work on 3. I could tell that she was excited. She told me that for the first time, she could see that this would be something big and that she will not disappoint.

The story of MAYA Organics Limited inspired her.

Funny that both of them could pass for sisters.

Once you are done figuring out the Economics, we will move forward to SKU sizing, Pricing, Package design, Regulatory approvals and route to market.

The more I think about it, the more excited I get. I am optimistic that Grace will do big things.

There are many talented Nigerians out there doing amazing things. Many of them just need to be guided. Some actually just need to speak to people that will understand their journey and encourage them.

Doing business in Nigeria is like climbing to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. The process is grueling. The elements do not favor you and you will almost always choke on your problems. But if you are able to find the right guide, talk to the right people and keep on the path, no matter how tough it is, you will eventually get to your own Uhuru. And trust me, the view from Uhuru is AMAZING and worth it. I know. I have personally seen that view from the top of Mount Killimanjaro – this is why I am relentless at getting to the Uhuru of my own business.

It was in 1992, towards the end of October. 6 weeks into resumption at Nigerian Military School, (NMS) Zaria. Life as we knew it had been altered forever. Things changed so fast that we had almost forgotten what life was before military school.
The first 2 weeks of resumption was bliss. We had resumed ahead of the old students for what was known as a “Cadre course”. A crash course that was meant to bring us up to speed with basic military knowledge and traditions so that when the school resumed fully, we would not be new to activities and nuances. Talk about fattening the lamb before taking it to the slaughter house.

We were not alone though; we were with some final year (class 6) students (boys) that had also come for their own cadre course – except that theirs was to prepare them to take on appointments (what is known as senior prefects).
These “appointment holders” were nice to us. They laughed with us, played with us, gisted with us and made us feel like we were in some private school.
Some casually warned us that “parade will change” when school resumed, but none of us really believed that it would be that bad. They did not prepare us for what was coming. Many of them made us feel like all was well when actually, it was the calm before the storm.
And then the rest of the school resumed.
Everything changed
We realized that the class 6 boys that we had been mingling with were LORDS and we were CRABS. Very far apart in the food chain.
We saw SHEGE!
And every time we thought that we had seen it all, the SHEGE was tuned up a notch higher until it got to SHEGE PROMAX- then they would rinse and repeat.
I must have received more than 100 knocks and slaps cumulatively on the day they resumed. One of the such slaps made me appreciate the level of research that Disney does in producing their Tom and Jerry series – You can actually see stars and hear birds chirping if the slap or knock is intense enough.
But back to that fateful day, 6 weeks into our resumption and one month post full resumption. It was durbar. A durbar is like a townhall meeting with the commandant. All boys and staff must be present for his address. Feedback will be requested but whether it was expected is a different kettle of fish.
Everything went smoothly.
The commandant welcomed us. Shared some updates. Motivated us. Then asked for how we were faring and if we had any issues.
Everybody kept quiet. And all would have been well if the devil had not decided to use one of us.
“Excuse me sir…” he raised hand
There was tension in the room. Everybody froze. Over 500 eyes shifted to this unfortunate scruffy looking crab. The silence was deafening. If only he listened to the eyes that were staring at him. I remember hearing one of the class 2 boys behind us saying “Shieeet” under his breath
“Speak up young man” the commandant said. I think he was more curious to know the crab that displayed such confidence. I am not sure.
“Excuse me sir, why don’t they all us to bounce (walk) on veranda.”
Each company or hostel had a veranda and a quadrangle. Junior boys (Class 1 to 3) were not allowed to walk on the veranda. Junior boys were not even allowed to walk. But this was like the least of our problems. I didn’t think that it was an issue but apparently, this crab thought it was
I cannot remember how the commandant reacted.
What I can never forget and why that day is memorable however is the Job(punishment) that we all served afterwards and how it was cascaded down the rank and file. We had the effrontery to open our smelling mouths at a commandant’s durbar.
The punishment had nothing to do with the school authorities. It was from the Boy RSM (Headboy) and Appointment holders and it cascaded downwards. The punishment was for failure to have groomed the crabs enough to understand that we were to be seen and not heard.
The appointment holders first dealt with the class 5 boys. The class 5 boys unleashed their venom on the class 4 boys. While classes 1 to 3 were handled by Regimental Provosts. The provosts were every junior boy’s nightmare.
One thing that struck me though and this is at the core of military training and the basis of a life lesson that we all learned – is the fact that at no time during this punishment was the culprit alone singled out.
We all served our equal share. It was blanket punishment.
One for all – All for one.
And this has always been the tradition.
One person can get the whole squad into trouble and as a set, you were always as strong as your weakest link. This made it easy for us to bond despite our different backgrounds.
This bond will follow us through the years. It is the reason why Exboys (Alumnus of NMS) are very close to each other. We went through difficult times together in our formative years and had to work as a team to survive and thrive.
30 years has passed and this bond is still strong.
Last month, our course mates who went on to be members of the 51st Regular course in the Nigerian Defense Academy were promoted to the ranks of Colonel and Navy Captains or rednecks as we call them. As with military tradition, a day was set aside to decorate them with their new ranks and it turned out that 3 of our course mates in the navy were to be decorated in Lagos. That day, at NNS Beecroft. Apapa, we gave them a show. You needed to see the applause that followed when each of our course mates was called up to be decorated. We were like randy men cheering topless model doing a catwalk. We would clap, cheer and whistle as their citation was being read
The FOC (Flag Officer Commanding), upon inquiry, smiled because he understood the clapping sequence and rhythm because he is also an Exboy. That is probably the reason why we were not bundled up and locked up for disturbing the peace with our excitement. That is the kind of show of love that comes with having a circle of friends with whom you have walked through fire with.
Last week, one of my course mates and arty man – Adewumi Mobolaji was nominated for Mortgage bank MD of the year and his company, Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc was nominated as Mortgage bank of the year. He was up against 2 other contenders. Truth is, Abbey is easily the oldest and biggest mortgage bank in West Africa with over 30 years heritage listed on the NSE but the prize was open for the MD and company that could pull the highest votes.
Immediately the news came out, exboys swung into action. You need to see the level of mobilization. My set – the 40th POP (Passing Out Platoon) organized quickly – with one of members taking on the role of campaign manager and started to mobilize our individual networks.
Military officers pushed their course mates and subordinates. Some even appealed to their seniors.
Professors and Lecturers campaigned to their students and colleagues
Those in Government agencies mobilized their colleagues
MDs and CEOs cajoled their staff.
Even diaspora community was not left out
University alumni networks, friends, families were all rallied to push the votes for one of our own.
We were pushing people to vote and demanding for screenshot as evidence. Our campaign manager asides from mobilizing was also tracking the votes. At a point it went from being a 40th POP campaign to being that of the entire Exboys’ community campaign.
A member of 77 set passed the message to his network. NMS 77 will mean that most of my classmates were not conceived when he got into NMS. That was the level of “all for one and one for all” that was came through for Bolaji.
At the end, even though it was keenly contested – He had the highest votes. At least at the last count when voting was closed. To us, regardless of what happens afterwards, it is a Win. He won.
It was a win for all Exboys.
I guess that the blanket punishment that we served 30 years ago is eventually yielding benefits, right?
Wrong!
If you think that every Exboy or member of the 40th POP that has needs to mobilize support like Bolaji or the Newly promoted officers did will automatically get it then you are wrong.
The truth is that many of our members, including Exboys, will never be able to garner this level of attention or support, if any at all. Nobody will even attend their wedding or even turn up for them on a Friday night to drink and eat catfish.
Don’t get me wrong. What we learned and experienced at the Military School plays a part in how close we are but it doesn’t guaranty any type of support or turn up in your time of need.
Some people may expect and be disappointed when they believe people should help them solely because they were classmates or grew up together. They will always be disappointed because you can only draw from what you have invested in
Bolaji and the freshly minted rednecks did not get this level of support because we served blanket punishment together 30 years ago.
They got this level of support because over the years, they have built up what is known as SOCIAL CAPITAL
This is the cruxs of today’s write up
Social capital can be thought of as the potential ability to obtain resources, favors, or information from one’s personal connections. But this can only happen if one has invested/ made deposits into their connections’ emotional bank account. And just so that we are clear, social capital has got nothing to do with throwing money or giving expensive gifts to buy peoples friendship.
Because the truth is, how you make people feel is more important than what you give them.
Social capital is investing time and emotions into the things that matter to people. So Bolaji and the newly promoted officer will turn up for events/ hangouts even though we know that their schedules are super tight. They will respond to WhatsApp messages, pick up the phone, listen to you, attend your events, like your Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn posts, patronize, promote, and support your business, and the list goes on. They do this not just for exboys, but all the circles that they have a leg in.
There are people in life for whom you will go the extra mile, and those for whom you will not lift a finger. When you think about it, the ones you will remember are the ones who have touched or impacted your life in some way.
Social capital is very important, It gives you leverage and can opens doors for you.
Unfortunately, you can’t fake or buy social capital. You must invest your time and emotions.
And it is never too late to start.
So start today to be more intentional about how you treat your connections and people in general. Be a part of their solution, do not amplify their problems in any circle you find yourself then see how your social capital will grow and very soon, just maybe you too will have people fighting your battles when the need arises.

The Lagoon is peaceful and seems to have agreed to be the final resting ground for troubled souls.

Recently, it has played host to at least two wondering souls. I first saw the baba who jumped in depite pleas from his fans.

He jumped to his last hooray and swam to safety into the bosom of his maker- whoever or whatever that may be

Last night, I began to see and hear stories about a brilliant young lady who was even just very recently engaged and how she was said to have also jumped into peace.

Me i really will not bother myself with the reasons or justifucations if any of those who suddenly think that the smelly ambience of the Lagoon is befitting as a last vehicle to the beyond

My issue is the new job description of the Lagoon. During its engagement, i remember very clearly that its work was to serve as a beautiful tributory to Lagos.

It was expected to provide a veritable ambience where Lagosians could sit on its shores, make love, sing to each other and generally just find solitude

It was not as violent as the Atlantic Ocean, its big cousin just down the road.

Its sweet mellow surface made us allow it spread inner city with the hope that it would be a partner of progress

But today, it has on its own changed its job description and making itself an undertaker with no licence and giving Ebony Caskets stiff competition

We have summoned it to the panel. We must get to the bottom of this. Why would the Lagoon on its own decide to take on greater responsibility

Its not its fault. It had first started by turning itself over to dirty fishermen who use its wide tentacles as a watery pit laterine.

As if that was not enough, it started providing succor for the underworld down in dirty Makoko and became a sand pit for greedy land grabbers who disvirgin its shores seeking sand to build wobbly brothels and naming them Banana Island and the rest

So it did all that and got away with it. Now it wants to be a watery hearse. Calling and pulling our citizens as it aimes for market leadership

It is no wonder the other day, the hapless drunk went on the bridge choosing to have his brains splattered on the cold tar for LASTMA operatives to walk on.

A brilliant man if you ask me. Id rather have my brains stepped on by errant LASTMA officials who work around with no underwears than have a homosexual fish chew out my withered penis in the Lagos Lagoon

The Lagos Lagoon has a lot of blame cos it is the one not sticking to its JD. It shd be engaged and made to throw back the pitiable souls as they jump in. failure which, we will do the needful- castrate it.

The allure of the Lagoon indeed

Duke of Shomolu

Duke writes to 10,000 Nigerians,, inviting them to join the history play this December. Will u be there?

If you know Dr Akindele you will agree with me that he is imbued with boundless energy.

I hadn’t seen or heard from him in a while so i reached out. He asked me to come to see him in his office and i went.

He wasn’t there for the first appointment and we agreed to meet the next day. I went there and met his son who was ‘working’ there on holiday.

The handsome young lad looked up at me and said, how can i help you? He couldn’t be more than 13years old but his confidence and deep interest in my welfare struck me

I said, ‘I’m looking for Dr Akindele’he said ok, sit here and wait, he will soon be with you. Impressed, I asked, do you work here? And he said,’ yes for now

I smiled. Dr walked in, looking like a holidaymaker in Maimi. He has always been a colourful dresser his Valentino shirt striking envy in me and his jeans which were graffiti adorned a class act. He tampered it down with classic white sneakers.

His fashion sense has always been impeccable. You could see that he enjoyed life and loved life.  His expensive hand bangles all attest to his robust  approach towards life

Edgar, it’s remarkable he enthused. I said I can imagine. He was talking about his new project – Energy Park.

I had seen the model when I visited his office in Victoria Island and in his absence, one of his top officers had taken me on a tour.

Edgar, screamed,’ it has a  Refinery, CNG, and Power generation capability and would soon start LPG. It’s a complete Energy park that we have dropped in Edo State.

I could see his pride and his enthusiasm to engage with me on this new project.

We are partnering with Summit Oil as we move hydrocarbon from their fields, convert them, and push them out. With time we would be able to sort out the flaring of gas and pump domestic gas into homes

We already can compress gas and power trucks and other large machinery. We are employing about 100 people directly and another 1000 indirectly as suppliers, vendors and other such cottage industries tied to the massive project.

As he speaks, he comes ever so close to my face and I can look into his eyes and see the excitement as he narrates this success story

But Edgar, this is not the main thrust of my joy, he enthuses. It’s a fact that Nigerians can achieve a lot if we rise above our limiting factors and work together.

Ok….. I said. Where are you going with this doctor, I asked.

See, this is a project championed by a South Westerner, In a PDP state and heavily backed by an APC Government at the centre

That hit me. I could see his spark. All contending forces have put their differences aside to see to the success of the Energy Park cos of its immense potential for impacting, infrastructure development, creating jobs and earning strong revenue streams amongst others.

The Governor of Edo came personally to inspect the project and promised to give us roads and lay fibre cables as their contribution to Edo State.

The Federal Government through its Local Content Board is an investor and has also imbued the project with strong technical support without which it would have been very difficult to hit the milestones the project has hit.

All concerned Federal agencies from the old DPR have been wonderful on the project allowing for ease of securing relevant authorisation and permits, pushing in technical support and generally supporting in strong ways that have brought the giant project alive

Edgar, I believe in Nigeria.  We must begin to learn how to work together as a people to tell beautiful stories. This project is a perfect example of what can be achieved if we as Nigerians agree to work together as a united force.

I could not agree less. As I walked away, I marvelled at his Energy, his Energy Park and the uniting symbolism of pulling contending forces together for the greater goal of the country.

Nice one, I say to him. Nice one bro.

 Edgar Joseph

I woke up to her message. Edgar, can i too support you with N100k? I was weak. Why i asked.

The Peter story has further energized me. She recanted. I had wanted to ask all week after reading the story if your friend and his Head of Corporate Comms but with the millions you call every day, I say make i respect myself.

I laughed and said lets deal. She continued, when i read your story about your friend who ridiculed you, i was touched. It reverberated cos i am in the same space – looking for funds for my programme Woman and a Half with the attendant frustrations.

I smiled. Chile has over the years founded two initiatives- the woman and a half and the 1k miracle group.

The 1k miracle group of which i am a member is the most exciting. It takes 1k lunch money from its members and pays hospital bills for patients in various hospitals in the

Country.

She has diligently grown the franchise from the two of us to over 700 people. Raising over N60m in the process. A true nightingale. 

Then her Woman and A half initiative which is an initiative the allows professional women to express themselves while building very powerful careers.

The franchise has taken women all over the world – Dubai, Germany, UK and recently sequestered women in the beautiful island cove of Inagbe off the coast of  Lagos. She is planning Zanzibar and other exotic locations next year.

Doing all these while still carrying on with an exciting career as a banker throws her up as a modern woman. The type of woman that positions herself as a help mate and not a dominant sphinx in the home

So i said to her, I know you are looking for money for your Woman and a Half Event this Dec are u sure i shunt be giving you the N100k

She smiled and said, ‘ Edgar i know you don’t need my  N100k but i want to stand up to be counted. The lives you touch, the way you inspire people and remember you are my mentor. So if peter is your rock, let me be your Mary Magdalene.

I just send the account number before she changes her mind.

I left that conversation feeling warm. My budget is over N100m, i have the reach and network to pull out the money.

Her budget is N10m and she is struggling to reach 50% of that but like Peter, she feels the need to be part of the movement   whatever movement that my story with Peter may have evoked

Just like Clem the talented Fashion designer who after reading about Peter gave him a contract and Seyi who sent N100k to Peter and Janet in Abuja who sent a huge N3k, and now Chile sending N100k, the love and warmth of Nigeria is beginning to evolve into something quite remarkable.

I thank Chile and all those who have been touched by Peter as they move even as i exhort the rest of us to also move – not give me money o, but look at your neighbour and just say, ‘ how are you, bro?

It will go a long way

Thanks

 Duke of Shomolu

Yesterday i was invited by my sister, Harvard Trained Developmental expert Bosede  to join a panel to discuss Men as Allies to women in Politics

It was a beautiful studio and on the panel with me was a representative of Bloomberg and the youngest Commissioner in Ogun State at some point- a pleasant man

The discussions were heated and sound.  Bosede the moderator did her best to hold down the discussions and keep them from straying.

However, it seemed that i was the only loner on the panel. Their position was pro-women. They felt that women have a raw deal with their ambitions beset by institutional barriers leaving a pitiable story for women in not only politics but in almost all spheres of endeavour

What was lost to them, was that we were seated in a multi-million Naira studio with women in full charge of the project

The moderator was a woman, a producer woman indeed women called the shots almost from top to down.

This was lost on them. I reminded them and stated very clearly that i do not think that women are at any disadvantage and that what we were mistaking mostly for institutional barriers were natural barriers.

So simply women are usually bogged down by physical impediments, cultural barriers, outlook and approach and the like

Today women are claiming to be independent and free. They are financially empowered and have taken leadership in many sectors.

That they have not had a stronger showing in politics is strictly their fault cos power is not transferred on the table of emotions.

Men lose their lives, driven by inordinate ambitions and sweat blood to achieve power. That struggle is uncanny so if you now ask that man to cede a portion to somebody on the platform of gender, you can as well guess his response

Women have achieved sexual freedom. They have broken those barriers and have told us simply that they are now very aware of their sexuality

The question here now is, the sexual freedom that they have attained, did anybody give them? No, they worked and suffered for it. They burnt bra and went to Beijing to fight for it

The same most be done in Politics. Citing 49% of women in the general population and only one female presidential candidate is childish.

Also talking about the 35% rule in gender-based electoral positioning is an exercise in futility simply cos if the women are not coming out, how do we fill the positions?

Politics is even harder for the man. He will struggle and risk everything. Politics is not for the light-hearted and as such we have to be very pragmatic on this issue

We have had women leaders who have shown sufficient seriousness and the system has embodied them.

Funmilayo Ransome Kuti broke all of those barriers when the system wasn’t this open. Ever since i don’t think we have seen sufficient levels of seriousness from the women folk bar appointments to warrant consistent loyalty from pro-female men like me.

I think the women folk should put off the pity party and begin to work towards a serious approach towards political power.

Politics has never been an emotional laden journey.

Thanks

 Duke of Shomolu

The NGX has announced Umaru Kwairanga as its substantive Chairman following the hullaballoo that occasioned its recent AGM.

Umaru is a friend and brother. I have known him forever. As a young stockbroker at Unex Securities around 1996, Umaru was our client. He was PA to a very big client and as such we interacted very closely with him.

Umaru was so passionate and hardworking that my MD, Dr Chukwujama gifted him a tokunbo car. Even those days, his integrity was impeccable and he managed the accounts with so much transparency that it wasnt long before his boss nominated him into Boards.

I know for a fact that he has been on the Axamansard Board and also Lafarge and many more i cant remember just now.

Last night, we had a chat. Edgar I am now the Chairman of the NGX Board so you will calm down.

I laughed. This Alhaji. We were to meet in Abuja at Sardauna. I told him clearly that he had never come to any of my shows and he gave me his words that he would make it this time.

My sister Meena Fodio who is the great granddaughter of Sardauna also mentioned that she had spoken to him and that he too had told her that he had disappointed me severally but would do everything within his powers to attend this one.

Then as expected and true to nature, I got the text. Edgar, I have to rush to Lagos something came up and I replied, Alhaji no be you dey go.

I flew into Lagos to hear of his appointment the next day and immediately forgave him. This was a national assignemnt

So last night as we chatted, I told him he was a good man and that I will sheathe my sword and rally for his support.

The NGX is at its lowest ebb. Oscar the grouch had driven it aground, alienating key stake holder groupings and turning the hitherto revered CIS into a rubber stamp house of muppets.

He has superintended the most indecisve and decidedly corrupt era in the history of the exchange second only to the hedonistic tenure of mummy Onyike who happened along with allegedly dodgy qualifications.

From utopian heights, the exchange had recoded a loss position, ramped up costs and had become a laughing stock within the financial community.

So Alhajis appointment sign posts a reawkening. Kwarianga comes to the Board with a huge network, years of experience and an ethical resolve that is admirable.

With very strong stakeholders like Cardinal Stone and VFD who own substantial stake on the NGX, looking very likely to be better involved in this new dispensation, will definitely herald a wake up call.

I expect Oscar’s incompetence to be muted by these forces and a stronger platform for Temi Popoola who is one of the most brilliant people you can find to begin to flesh up and fly.

Yesterday also, I thanked my brother Akin akinfemiwa MD at Geregu for listing by introduction the Shares of Geregu on the exchange.

This listing shows the renewed confidence of the markets in the Exchange and should herald a new dawn

The NGX has more than it needs to be a powerful African Bourse if only it can find the right leadership.

My prayer for the Umaru Kwairanga-led Board is for it to look very closely at the operations of the exchange, ramp up Corporate Governance and free the management up so that it can be more innovative and creative so that it can be better positioned to attract the emerging players who would rather do their business away from it.

While congratulating my brother once more, let me say that we are watching and that history beckons on him and his Board to help rebuild our NGX.

I wish you well bro

Duke of Shomolu

I have just been asked by my brother Cyril if I am not afraid of donor Fatigue?

This seems to be the looming fear in most people’s minds as Theatre continues to be fuelled by sponsorship Naira as against ticket sales.

Sardauna, my play first hit the N29m mark at the cutting of the budget. But as we are about to open our doors we would have crossed the N40m mark almost rivaling Emir Sanusi at N42m

So far, I have been told that we have sold only N150k at the box offcie and one young girl just sent N100k to me directly for 5 tickets.

Emir Sanusi broke our box office records by selling N1.5m at the gates beating previous record held by Emotan which sold N800,000.

Awo and Aremu didn’t give me up to N200k at the gates combined despite both taking almost N70m in budget.

On the back of this, we announced a N200m budget for this year and looking at ramping it up to N300m by next year making Cyril ask the question.

I however remain highly optimistic that by Dec 2023, we should be looking at N500m for 2024.

This dec we will be adding a full documentary of back stories to be handled by Olisa Adibua and that should ramp up the budget by another N10m

How do we plan to continue to fund all of these, seeing the dismal ticket sales.

It’s simple. We have seen that attendance has increased by over 200%. Emir Sanusi filled up the halls in both cities, and we turned back over 200 people.

Sarduana will fill the 1000 seater Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton for the two days it will run

Two filled the Glover Hall to the brim and we had to turn people back.

For Emir Sanusi, even the Gov of Kwara State didn’t get a seat. What this means is that the market is growing deeper and that strategies need to be devolved to harness it.

For us at Duke of Shomolu we are more of an impact platform..our vision is dual driven

We want to tell the stories to impact, energies and inspire people into a new Nigeria hence our emphasis on filling the halls as against ticket sales

Our shows out of Lagos are mostly free. In Lagos and Abuja 60% of tickets are complimentary and our messages are designed to just get pple into the hall.

This is working as we have recorded over 150,000 attendees. We are hoping to hit the 200,000 mark with sardauna and the four shows in December with Nnamdi Azikiwe and Ladi Kwali in March 2023

So for us sponsorships and bulk wholesale ticket sales remain the key strategy.

We have taken over N2b from corporate Nigeria in the last 4 years and another N300m from high networth individuals

So do I fear Donor Fatigue from this market? I will say NO

Simply because, as the brand continues to grow, it’s building strong goodwill with corporates wanting to climb more on it to not only push into their markets but also keying into the impact part of the franchise

We have worked with over 1000 actors becoming one of the largest employers of thespians in the market second may be only to Bolanle Austen Peters Tera Kukture, enabling dreams within the sector and fuelling hospitality, Media and other such players in other sectirs including SMEs

This year alone, we have spent over N8m on graphics alone, berthing the Katunga Media design firm. We have opened over 100 bank accounts in many banks who support us to mention a few.

It is this empowerment that the corporates are keying in. They have huge social impact and marketing budgets and the trick is to build relationships that takes you to those areas that they see value both material and societal driven.

Another startegy is to tie the productions to specific markets. So for example Awo will attract a huge conglomerate like Odua Investments for the impact reason and an Emir Sanusi will attract Access Bank for same reasons

So we design productions and face the markets. Ogiame Erejuwa II tickled Itsekiri elites and pple like Juluis Rone and Amaju Pinick came out strong

So for these reasons my brother Cyril, I do not fear Donor Fatigue but instead do not even belive we have scratched the surface

The industry is N3trillion by some estimations. Sponsorships make up about 40% of these with international flows, ticket sales, product pkacements and data driven revenues taking the rest.

How much of these does Theatre take? A paltry and roughly estimated 3% so there is room for growth and this is why I can dare to dream to target N100m in 4 productions in one month

Another strategy is the high networth individual targeted startegy. With an individual network of about 10,000 people who can all easily drop N200,000 for bulk tickets, I can easily raise N20m from these sources.

This strategy is what I aim to deploy during Annonymous Nipples my sex driven play to be directed my Elvina Ibru

With Ufok Ibaan in uyo, 16 individuals gave us the over 25m budget. Sardauna one individual gave us 95% of the budget and another individual finishing it off.

We will hit 2,000 actors by Dec 2023 and begin to position our digital arm which will prerecord these preoductions for online digital release.

We will also be archiving them so that I can donate them to the National archives when God is ready to call on me to come and help him with a huge producion in heaven.

So Cyril my brother, hope I have answered your questions

Thanks for your concern

Duke of Shomolu

I got a call from the Hotel in Abuja as I Landed . Mr Edgar what would you like in your room they asked. We already have a bottle of Red Wine and fresh fruits. Is there any other thing you would like.

Why won’t they call? I had just paid a tidy N750k just for accomodation and by the time I would have finished with them after my show my bill would have hit N1.5m. So they will call.

As I checked in, I saw a lot of white people. The place is luxe and inviting and my two room suite is a testimony to south aftican taste.

I am doing well for a jobless man. Yes, I am truly jobless as I was asked to resign from my last place of work completing a full circle of suspensions, queries and two earlier sacks

Some pple reading this will say I am gloating and boasting. Those are the very stupid ones. Others will read and see what I am trying to do, which is not only further inspire myself but to also push someone this morning.

My father lost his job twice in banks. The first was the Cross River State owned Mercantile bank and the last was the Kaduna State Government owned Nigerian Universal Bank

He stayed for a total of 14 years without a job and I watched him very closely. He was a very handsome and gifted man. Honest to a fault and a fine dresser.

I saw him wither. The pastors came and said it was an ancestral curse and prescribed fasting and prayers.

We did all of that to no avail and I remeber very vividly one of those sessions in Surulere and they said we shd stay the whole day without eating fasting and praying to break the curse.

By noon, I rebelled and walked away. My father was angry with me as he really needed the curse to be broken since he didn’t want me, his first son to suffer same fate.

So when my first sack came thru the hands of Nicholas Nyamali, I knew the time had come for the fight.

This ancestral spirit will meet a different Edgar. This was not Sampson Edgar but Joseph Edgar. It had better be prepared for the fight.

The Pastors came. They reminded me of the curse and one even took me to a church in far away Mowe where I was told that the grace had left me like it had left my father.

I waked away abusing the foolish Pastor and went home and put on my thinking cap.

I was down. I was in debt and I had no job. What were my strengths. I could talk, write and sell igredients for a fertile mind to make magic and as such I had no business being jobless.

I started the rounds of interviews and found myself being interviewed by pple I was stronger than. I would become impatient and walk away in the middle of the interview.

Then Gboyega Balogun at CSL gave me a job. I bought a very expensive BMW that week to announce my arrival and 15 months after I was asked to resign

Then I went to Aquila. My worse odyssey and ended up in an Efcc jail and that Saturday night inside the cell while my colleagues were busy sleeping, I said enough.

I woke my partner up and said let’s register a firm. Let’s go into advisory. I have raised trillions in this market for thieves who have rewarded me with disgrace. So let’s do it for ourselves.

That night H&G was born inside the EFCC Cell. Today we are now being propositioned to be bought in a multi million Naira acquisition deal

Then I started writing and producing. Duke of Shomolu today has crossed the N2b mark in sponsorships and is the biggest theater franchise in the country all without a job.

Today I live my best life within my means. I am happy and can afford anything I want all still jobless.

So what did I do differently. We have a 20% unemployment rate amongst employable Nigerians which is about 60m.

We have a huge market that is deep depending on how u see the market and your strategy of engagement.

I looked at myself and turned my weakness into strength. I am a talkative and I turned it to marketing skill. I love people and I used that to build a huge network, an Edgar Market.

I am resilience and have built stuff from an 80% rejection in all projects.

Every sector I have been sacked in, I am now playing and playing very well – Finance, Media, Entertainment.

Some of u dont know that I used to write for City People and they drove me. I was Gani Fawehnimis PA for 3 hours, I was sacked in the presence of Dr Beko Ransome Kuti.

What Is the difference between me a jobless man and many jobless people- outlook.

Simple. The way you see your life and the way you see the world. That’s the difference.

This is all I will say for now as I stare at my wonderful N26k South African breakfast.

My people you are what you say you are, it’s not Nigeria happening to you

From a jobless man to you this morning.

Duke of Shomolu