My first time at Connect Nigeria’s eBusiness Fair (#CNBizFair) 2018

A business fair is usually an opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their products and make some sales from those who attend the fair. The first time I witnessed a fair, I entered as an exhibitor. I didn’t make the kind of money I hoped for but was glad for the opportunity to showcase my brand and what I’ve done in my career over the years. So when I had to write up on the fairs organised by Connect Nigeria, I was thrilled. For the first time, I was an observer reporting what had happened. You can read those articles here.

The more I wrote about the growth of the #CNBizfair, the more I wanted to attend the program. Yeah, it was in Lagos, and I am based in Benin city. So it meant I had to travel. It was a hard choice because, at that time, one of my sons was ill. But with the green light from my husband, I finally boarded a bus last minute and headed to Lagos. Although I went late, I was fortunate to be right on time because registration for attendees was still ongoing. With over 20,000 registered participants, 1 hour 30mins was not enough to make sure everyone present was accounted for.

The thing I loved most about the #CNBizfair from my research on it was the discussion segments. Over the years, they had invited a certain calibre of CEOs thriving in the business space in Nigeria and the knowledge shared during the forums were outstanding. This year, although some of the guest speakers were recurrent invitees, it was a pleasure for the majority of first-timers to hear what they had to say. I learned so much from the discussions and went gaga for days after telling all who cared to listen to the things I learned.

We took a break, and I went around to get something to eat and visit the exhibition area. Oh, did I mention the event was held at Eko Hotels and Suite at Victoria Island, Lagos? I was amazed at how spacious the place was. Now I understood why they had been hosting the event there for years as the crowd kept on increasing. There was so much on display. If I had gone with the intention of spending money, I would have bought a lot. A particular stand caught my eye, and the CEO was very friendly and fun to engage with. Her Adire collection was most impressive. I just had to get a picture of her and her stand for posterity sake.

As I was heading back to the raffle draw segment to see what was going on there and get my Thank U card to join the Connect Nigeria Business club, I found out the discussion segment had begun again and former minister of Aviation and former FRSC boss, Osita Chidoka was speaking. I hurried back and never left that hall until the end of the event at 7:15 pm. I often wondered if the two parts of the fair were concurrently running because it was hard to navigate the exhibition hall and still be in the room for the discussion forum.

People were allowed to ask questions, and the panellists were terrific. I can’t write all I learned but here are some things I garnered from this annual fair:

The program began with Eyo Bassey, the CEO of Payporte. He said 5the ebusiness scene in Nigeria changes very fast so we should be ready to innovate, iterate with the trends, get the right associations and advice. He reminded us of the insatiable need of the Nigerian market and how we should not be discouraged if it felt like everyone was doing the business we wanted to start up. Although he took a jab at the banking sector, claiming it will be redundant in 20years time, his train of thought for startups was continued by Mrs Akpan Ikhoabasi, Sales Manager, Air France - KLM. She spoke on the need to carve a niche for your business by meeting a particular demand or meeting a need uniquely. She said, “People don’t buy products, they by the benefits of the products whether it is real or perceived.”

Speaking of meeting needs, Mrs Ngozi Princewill Utchay, the CEO Artelier Lifestyle Consultants in Abuja, continued that train of thought by explaining how proper customer service is the lifeblood of any business. The more you treat customers right, the more loyal they become. On the issue of loyal customers, Simeon Ononobi, the Co-Founder Thank U and CEO of SimplePay Payment Gateway, explained how important it was to collect customers’ data to track their purchasing cycle for targeted marketing purposes. The analytics will help business owners know when to expect clients and better plan.

It is impossible to cover the wealth of knowledge shared in an 8 hour period with over 12 speakers in one article. That’s why I referred you to the connect Nigeria site to read up more. You can also visit their YouTube channel to watch the panellist discussions live for yourself. But the things I will never forget was Mabel George (VP Business Development at Sigma Pensions)’s charge that we don’t have to wait till we are old to start a pension fund. As soon as you start earning, get one. Mr Adeyinka Fisher (State Coordinator at SMEDAN) helped me understand that I run a Microenterprise. Not all businesses are SME by specific indices, and this affects the ease at which companies can apply for funding from organisations. Eric Edokpa (Principal Consultant Fintech at Ventures and Allied Solutions (FVAS), NEXTZON) echoed a concept that I started the year with, the need for collaboration with others when building your platform. 

 

Tale Alimi (CEO Tale Alimi Global) pointed out that we need to change our mindset to succeed in business and my younger sister’s friend Tolu Onyeacholam (Product Manager eTranzact) gave a classic example using the rural area as a money spinner. I didn’t go there with the aim of making money yet I was able to sell The Quilt at the event. If you love knowledge, don’t plan to miss the next #CNBizFair.

LEAD THE CHANGE: THE EXECUTIVE SQUARE

Remember the Brian Tracy seminar organized by Leadership 300 (an arm of Benson Idahosa University aka BIU) I attended a while back that I blogged about and you loved? Well, I had the similar privilege of attending another powerful seminar held on the 23rd of August and organized by BIU’s Knowledge Development Centre, only this time I paid so don’t expect me to spill all the goodies I learned.

This seminar was titled The Executive Square and the Guest Speaker was Julian Kyula, the CEO of Mo-DE Africa (Mobile Decisioning) and the winner of IBM’s 2012 Global Entrepreneur of the Year Award. His company is the owner of the Telco, “Borrow Me credit” feature so whenever you borrow any amount from your network he gets richer, hehehe.

I had never heard of this Kenyan before but I felt a strong urge to hear what he had to say. Most millionaires make their money silently away from the watchful eyes of the paparazzi, while improving different sectors of countries economies. Enough of my philosophies, here’s an overview of what he taught or shall I say what I learned from my two hour session with him.

Starting out as an entrepreneur
The world of e-commerce is going global due to the value placed on people to share information e.g. Facebook - pictures and stories. The saying that entrepreneurship is not for everyone is a lie. We are moving into a world of partnerships, no one can do business alone, so anyone can become an entrepreneur. The world of entrepreneurship is one no one is prepared for. It feels like a lot or responsibility thrown at you very quickly once you decide to start a business. You don’t have to do it alone. The world is full of people that have the potentials to make your dreams come true.

Your passion/business is personal; nobody else is as passionate about your vision as you. Don’t confuse it for other people’s passion when talking to people like future investors/partners. Do not personalize your business plan; make it factual because people are driven by bottom-line (aka profit). Study who you are speaking to – what excites them, what their passion is, how your passion can be relevant to them and listen when they speak. Investors are serious about investing in people who will bring result and they spend a greater percentage of time assessing the risk factors associated with your business. Be ready to rewrite your business plan over and over again.

On your journey as an entrepreneur
Look at your business like a science, do your maths, get experts to partner with you, know your market size, get statistics on the sector you are venturing into to enable you position your business and break into the market. Get an accountant, history of your longevity in the business, a clear analysis of your competitor and outline the risk factors associated with your business in your business plan. Deliberate planning for positioning is vital for the survival of your business and it prevents you from being sidetracked by success when you’ve not attained your ultimate goal. Have a structure for your business and put people into it, people who will question what you do not yes men. Failure is part of your journey; it teaches you when you don’t get it right. You need to be resilient when venturing into business and plan to live off the interest of your interest. E.g. let’s say your seed is 1 billion and your interest is 10% (100 million) take 10% of your interest (10million) and live off it then invest the remainder or save part of it in Trust funds for your future generation and invest the rest.

What you must do today:
1. Take Charge of your dream because no one else will care about it until you’ve made it. Your passion is more important than your enterprise.

2. Take responsibility. Your time is very precious; don’t waste it on things that won’t add to your life. Find your compass and your true north, you’ve been inspired enough.

3. Take the fire. Don’t let your dream be crushed by external forces. What you have will be rejected so many times but you must have the fire to keep your dream alive.

4. Study your dream. Is it the solution to a problem that a bigger company is looking for? Start looking for global problems to solve. Whose problem are you solving?

5. Pray over your plans.

Lessons of Life
 Relationships are paramount for your next level. Ask yourself, who is my introducer? There will always be someone that will take you to your next level so be careful about ‘burning bridges’.

 Be grateful for the sacrifice of your parents but ensure you are living your dreams not theirs so you don’t pass yours on to your children.

 Spend time writing out your plans. Think trans-generational, let the legacy you leave for your children, their children and their children’s children be your focus and motivation.

 When people say you’ve changed, it means you simply stopped living life their way.

 Stop trying to perfect things, get it out there. There are people out there who are willing to put money into what you started that isn’t perfect.

Now that you have all this information, what do you do with it? Position yourself.

LEADERSHIP 300: LEAD THE CHANGE

I firmly believe that leadership is not the exclusive right of people in positions of authority rather it is everyone’s responsibility. That is why when Benson Idahosa University (here in Benin City, Nigeria) began a Change Nigeria Seminar series on the 30th of August 2013, I didn’t think it strange that I should attend (with my baby of course; I don’t have a nanny yet).

The speaker for this event was the accomplished bestselling Author, Business Consultant and Motivational Speaker, Brian Tracy. He spoke so eloquently on a number of topics and trust your girl, I took notes like a secretary poised to transcribe all she heard into the creation of a book or into a publication. I’d like to share a few keynotes that made quite an impression on me (paraphrased of course).

“As you improve yourself, you improve the workings of society. The most valuable and rewarding work you can do is think. Thinking determines the quality of choices which in turn affects the results you produce. The most important part of attending seminars is the action you take i.e. what you do with what you’ve heard. When you take action towards your goal, you get feedback that allows you to self-correct; you get ideas (to make it better) and your confidence goes up. This is why some people are more creative about achieving their goals. When you take a step, it helps you see the next step and see ahead better. The 7 most important qualities for success include: Vision, Focus, Courage, Integrity, Responsibility, Communication and Network. Even if you have only one person looking up to you, you are a leader. As a leader, it is your responsibility to set and achieve your goals, to solve problems and make decisions. You have to lead by example, set the standard for everyone to emulate (e.g. be harder working than your subordinates, complete all your tasks, be punctual, etc) and perform effectively so as to get results. Results are everything and people who get results get respected.”

I didn’t get a chance, like a few people I know, to have a personal shot with Brian Tracy but I’m glad I was in the video coverage by NTA Benin, Silverbird Television and Iwo Media. The next seminar promises to be interesting as plans to get John C. Maxwell are well underway. I don’t intend to miss out on such an awesome seminar. I’ll leave you with a popular direct quote from Brian Tracy, “You are the architect of your own destiny; you are the master of your own fate; you are behind the steering wheel of your life. There are no limitations to what you can have, do or be. Except the limitation you place on yourself by your own thinking”.

Rising star (I)

In Nigeria, it’s becoming clear that the Government cannot provide enough jobs for the teaming population of its citizens. Hence, a call to entrepreneurship has been made. It has been discovered that small and medium scale business are just as important in building the nation’s economy as is the rehabilitation of large scale manufacturing industries.

In the Spirit of productivity, a few Nigerians have taken it upon themselves to not only talk about the change they expect to see in different spheres of endeavours but are also doing something about it. By being actively involved, these set of people do not only start businesses that create employment opportunity for others but they inspire and empower like-minded people to do the same as it is also their passion to see the dreams of others come to life.
I introduce to you one of such persons. His name is Kingsley Okotie and the name of his business is Design 360. Here is a clip of an interview I did with him for R.E.D. Magazine in 2011 which is yet to be released.


Every designer starts off by catching the eye of potential buyers by advertising unique self-made designs on themselves. This is no exception for Kingsley Okotie, the mogul behind the brand known as Design 360. His brand speaks loudly of his creativity in creation of suits and jackets, native attires, corporate design and much more. Putting his degree in Business Administration from Ogun State University to use, he established a brand that goes beyond dressmaking. Seven years ago, in his quest for a better life, his first taste of fashion began with the humble beginning of merchandizing second hand foreign suits popularly known as okirika. The dissatisfaction of his clients - who were capable of purchasing high quality brand new suits – coupled with unrest for him to sell better products, drove him to observe the fashion industry. He teamed up with the likes of his mentor (Mudi) and learnt the tricks of the trade. Eager to impact the knowledge gained, he sought a platform to be heard. Hence he went into Fashion consultancy while he worked, quietly in the shadows, on his brand using any good fabric. Drawing inspiration from not only within himself but other designs and things around, he was able to create masterpieces that gained him a well deserved clientele. One of which was the present Honorable Commissioner of the Ministry of Commerce and industry, Barr Osikhena Boih Donald. He presented a business proposal to brand the Edo State Traffic Agents (EDSTA) which was approved by the governor and implemented in 2011. Also in 2011 on the 28th of November precisely, he organized the program, Fashionista, maximising fashion opportunities in Edo state. It drew in a crowd of over a 100 fashion designers and tailors within Benin City who had the pleasure of meeting with the Managing Director of Trustfund Micro Finance Bank, Mr Sunny Idehen and a few walking away with brand new sewing machines.

He intends to impress his presence on the Nigerian Fashion Industry by becoming the conduit between various designers, creating synergy and making resource materials available to all designers both established and up coming in Nigeria. His 2012 collection was youthful and stylish. Currently he is working on a book that embodies his passion which is Fashion Education and Enlightenment, here’s a sneak preview of his thoughts on what he hopes to share in his upcoming book.

“The current fashion trend is impressive because it shows creativity at its fullest/best. The world is becoming a global village and this has positively influenced the African fashion industry. Before now the African outfit has been strictly regalia but with westernization, African fabrics are now used to create smart outfits with great silhouettes. This makes it possible for African designers to export their products to a wide available market. The fashion industry goes beyond just making the fabric, to selling it, designing with it, selling the finished goods, accessories and accompaniments. Fashion merchandizing is an aspect of fashion that isn’t taught in most of our fashion schools; abroad it’s a course on its own. The Nigerian designer needs to know that fashion goes beyond dressmaking, it includes selection and management of tailors or seamstress, how you treat your clients, how you sell your products etc. When you sell a product, you are actually selling yourself - charisma, character, carriage. I’m working on a book at the moment, it will contain the total package of what makes up the fashion industry and it will be available for everyone who is interested.”


Hope you enjoy it? Now go out there and get inspired to affect your world!

I FEEL PRETTY, SO PRETTY, SO PRETTY....

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If you’ve watched the movie Anger Management starring Jack Nicolson and Adam Sandler, you’ll definitely be familiar with the title of this piece. As a writer, I’m always seeking for different sources of inspiration for subsequent article material. Of course, i know that actually living my life everyday is one of the best ways to get material to write about. Life is so full of moments and experiences to share that being engaged rather than watching on the sidelines is the most fulfilling way to be inspired. Enough of the philosophizing, I bet you are wondering what has all this got to do with my feeling pretty.

A friend of mine was planning the first edition of her colourful online magazine,Ardent, and I had the privilege of being featured in it. For once, I wasn’t writing for the magazine. My role was simple: get dolled up and pose for photo shots. Since we were all to be ‘el naturelle’, I stretched my hair at the salon and headed to another friend’s beauty studio for the makeup session. From then on, it was a matter of hanging out with a bunch of cool and beautiful lady friends. Having the touch of a professional make-up artist has a way of making even a beautiful woman look more gorgeous and making everyone want a snap shot of their beautiful self. So I got to play armature photographer taking pictures of friends with their phones.

Though it seemed like fun, it soon turned into something meaningful as I found myself being helpful in organizing the ladies being transported to the photo-studio of another friend of mine where I ended up playing hair-stylist on set. What started at 10:30am ended up taking the whole day with me as the last person to be photographed. How best to end my day than a meal of Scotch Egg, Cake and Ice Cream. Now I not only looked pretty, I felt pretty for being helpful. To end the day, I kept up my appearance to impress hubby when he returned from work and when he saw how pretty I was, he went ‘wow’. But these amateur shots of me and a few others are nothing compared to the professional shots taken.

Check out my one day of fame day as a ‘celebrity’ writer by visiting www.jemimasemoy.com