From Lagos to Abuja: Lessons from the Solar, Real Estate, and Tech Trenches

Hello and welcome to the podcast. My name is Tavishima Ayede. I'm your host. I'm a former lawyer turned business consultant. Today on the podcast, we don't have anything particularly structured per SE because we're still in January, or rather January is coming to a close, January of 2026. And you know how it is by the beginning of the year, you know, cleaning out some stuff and taking review. Well, actually I should have been taking review, you know,

November of December last year. So don't be like me. Do all your, your reviews at the end of the year, none at the beginning of the new year. So I was trying to take stock of the kinds of customers, clients, people that I've worked with over the last couple of years, you know, just trying to take stock about how much progress I've made and of course, planning for the future. Again, don't be like me. This is what I should have done November and December and not January of 2026.

So yeah, I looked at the list of former clients and I think it's, I think it's quite impressive. I mean, it's not bad. So I decided to come over here and share the kind of people that I've worked with in the past, just in case you happen to fall into any of these sectors, any of these segments, and you would like to hear my professional opinion on a couple of things that you might be going through at the moment. So that's just what we are doing over here on the podcast today.

And then, of course, as usual, the podcast is recording today's episode at home. And I have brand new neighbors. They're moving in. So they're making a bunch of noise, you know, hammering and screwing and sawing and buzzing and all of that. So expect to hear some noise in the background. Now I would say one of my longest running clients because I think we've had one form of engagement or another over the last. I say like 2 years as a chap.

I don't use his real name because the guy is publicity shy. He's enrolled in solar installation and inverter sales based in Lagos. And so the first engagement was how to try and see how we can get his, his team of three sales people. Let's see what's the first engagement again? OK, for the first engagement, we're trying to get them to adopt CRM. Now CRM is a customer relationship management tool and unfortunately lots of sales people do not know that it's important and that it is the key to you making progress in sales.

Now a customer relationship management tool or a client relationship management tool, it's just simply the tool that you use in your business to try and track who you're currently having conversations with, who you have had conversations with in the past. What stage of the business relationship are you currently at? Do the people have to do anything for you so that you can move this business relationship forward? And then what activities are outstanding that you need to do,

you know, for them to move this business relationship forward? So essentially think of CRM as your like an office assistant, you know where she keeps all the information and you use that to keep deals on track because lots of times the reasons why we're not closing deals is because we're forgetting little things you discuss with Madame Ogodengay on a Friday on. By the way, for those of you who'll be here, me say Madame Ogodengay actually is a real name is because moved to Lagos when I was about 13 and the church that we started going to then was Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Opera.

I can't remember if it was if I call or back. I think it's if I call, I think I can't remember. Anyway, So, yeah, one of the local governments in Auburn and it was one of those Holy Ghost fire kind of churches, you know. So that was really interesting. I mean, coming from Abuja, I was used to more solemn, more quiet homilies and masses, you know, Sunday services only to land in this Holy Ghost place. People are clapping, they're jumping.

I say I'm like, what's happening? This is not a Catholic Church. Like what's going on here. And one of the people in that church is not as if I was friends with how? Because, well, actually my mom who knew her, I can't remember. She was a lay reader or not, you know, people who read during the service and at the time was the weirdest name I ever heard, Ogadembe. So Mr. and Mrs. Ogadembe. So it actually is a real person.

So just in case you're listening to the podcast and you live in, if I call yeah, Oba or I, I can't remember where, and you happen to go to that church and you're wondering, is it this Madame Ogadingbay? Yeah, she's the one. That's the reason why I've never forgotten that name and that's why I keep using it. Oh, by the way, I remember Ogadingbay because I was listening to a podcast. I think it's the Founders Connect podcast.

Also, another interesting podcast you guys should be listening to because we Nigerians are beginning to make waves in podcasts. You know, we're doing our own thing. So it's not just my own podcast that is here, but there's also another podcast by the Nigerian Economic Support Group or something like that, NESG, Nigerian Economic Support Group. They have their own podcast. Then there's also the Afropolitan podcast by NHA and I

can't remember the babe's name, the American couple, and they interview lots of interesting people in the entrepreneurial space on the African continent. They've interviewed Woozy. Yeah. Some people say I look like Woozy. I don't see how because Woozy is ugly. Yeah, I'm a fine boy. Although, you know, Woozy get as a guy, get back serious money. So I like my looks, but I'd rather have Woozy's money at the moment. Who else also interviewed the founding chairman of Saplatz?

That's the oil and gas firm. Like they have interviewed some correct, like correct heavy hitters on that podcast. So Afropolisan podcast. That's also another good one. Then founders connect yes, this babe, I can't remember her name. So is he A-Team EA team E something? So she interviewed somebody who currently works in Nigeria and who currently works in be on works on Wall Street. I can't remember the name of the law firm, but the guy is in all these, you know, mergers and acquisitions and stuff like that.

So I think she was trying to interview him as per what is it like, you know, to be like a village Benny boy who gets a scholarship to Harvard and then now you're in this high flying career. So like, what is, you know, just getting his perspective sharp because of course, you know, the guy still based abroad in America. So where was I? The guy's son name is Ogadenbe. So that's why I remember miss Ogadenbe. So back to what I was saying now.

So my, my guy, now my longest running, one of my longest running clients are Julian. Oh crap. I said I wasn't going to say his name. OK, forgive me. Pretend I didn't say it. So we're trying to get his sales team on board because they didn't realise, like lots of Nigerian sales people, that your CRM is the key to building your sales career. Because The thing is, you will talk to Madam Ogadengui on Friday and Madam Ogadengui will say, OK, no problem.

This thing sounds interesting but I have to enter village sharp sharp because one or two things is happening. Then I'm going to be back in Lagos on the 27th. So let's talk around 28th. And you say thank you very much ma. But then you forget to put it in your CRM. And because you're a human being, you will forget. You quarrel with your babe or maybe you know your wife will have pregnancy scare or let's see what else. Or you fight with your landlady.

Or maybe you just watch Netflix and forget. And that's how one day you'll now wake up the next month on the 14th and be like, yeah, I was supposed to have called Madame Ogden be last month on the 28th. You're now scrambling. You call her, she won't answer by the time you get through. She said, ah, young man, I'd say you should call me last month. You didn't call now. So my son brought somebody else who is into solar and we have fixed the system and you lose deals like that.

In fact, I made a podcast episode. It was just a just a bloody mess about how I was on one of his salespeople. I was on the guys case like look, this Madame seems promising because I'm the one who made call myself. All I told him to do was on the day we are supposed to call her. Remind me the guiding put in CRM. Of course I'm a consultant. I'm doing my own thing. I mean I can't do your job for you. The guy forgot by the time one of the team members said how far would that woman Port Harcourt,

you say yeah, it's true. And then lo and behold, no man has has gone and I think she ended up buying the system for how much was it? Was it 10.2? I'll be 18.2 or something like that. That's how that system just just miss and I think really vexed my spirit, you know, and I should tell him that. Look, you see, this is the reason why sales people have to be married to your CRM. As a salesperson, as a business owner, you should be married to your CRM.

You have your spouse, but then once your spouse has gone to her office or has gone to his office, you go and meet your second spouse to CRM. You open up your CRM and then you start looking who are my customers, my contacts? Who are the people on file? Who are the people on system? Who am I supposed to be talking to? Who did I talk to last? Who am I supposed to call today? Who am I supposed to call next week? Look around and start arranging yourself and putting your ideas in order.

So yeah, that was the first time that I had to work with this friend of mine and his team. So what's on implementing ACRM? Let's see what else I can't remember. That was maybe 2323 years ago, but we've done some work since then, more work since then. We've also looked at lead management. So lead management is when you get people who have indicated that might be interested in your product or service, how do you follow up Shop shop?

Although for those of you who listen to the podcast for any length of time, you know that some of us traditional sales trainers prefer to say follow through. So how do you follow up in quotes or how do you follow through with these people so that you do not lose track of a juicy deal? So we've done some work on with that and of course we did done lots of other things as well. Then on the roster of people that I've worked with, I also have a web developer.

OK, that one was still currently in the mix because he's developing bus transport solutions for for Nigerian companies. And then he has some exciting stuff. Let me not talk too much. So currently working for a web developer and we're trying to see how we can improve his prospecting game. Like this is the service, this service works, this is the value proposition. It's a profitable thing because this is how much they pay you.

These are the permanent terms. And the guy on his own without talking to me came up with a risk mitigation strategy. Now, the idea behind risk mitigation strategy is this risk mitigation just means when people meet you for the first time, they think you want to collect plenty of money from them. And so because of that, they're afraid, especially since we're in a harsh economy. So everybody could play cool or play it tight to your chest.

They won't be talking too much. But then when you say now look, relax, relax, and then you come up with risk mitigation strategies by saying, oh, no, don't worry, it's not really a risk because if this happens, this is how we'll solve it. Or if this happens, this is the guarantee. Or if this happens, this is the warranty. Or if this happens, this is the indemnity that I'm giving you against this happening and this happening.

So risk reversal strategies or sorry, risk mitigation strategies, IB risk referral, risk mitigation. I can't remember if they're the same thing. I should go and study so, but the whole idea behind this is that when somebody is in front of you and the person, you know, the person they fear because or more this is risky. 1 is big. And then you come and say, Oh no, no, no, no, no, no. This is how we take care of this risk.

If anything happens, this is how you're protected. It just gets people to they calm down, then they can listen to you and hear whether this is a good deal or not. So let me not talk too much about this web developer because he has come up with the most interesting risk mitigation strategy I've come across in Niger. And when the guy told me I wanted to stand up and clap for the guy, he's just that, you know, was an online call.

So if I stood up my clap because we're not doing video, the guy will see me and then, you know, he won't feel the effect. But I wanted to clap and I said, I said, you know what? This is brilliant, brilliant. The ordinarily the solution that you're proposing, if other people were to charge this and I collect their money, they'll be charging, you know as much because I heard of some companies, I heard, OK, let me not call the company in case Digit is wrong.

I had one company that implemented a similar situation, sorry, solution. And the one who's collect, is it 5M or 15-M from him or something like that? You know, the first time I heard it, I shout, I said only 5 M for a website or 15-M. And then the developers who are around me at the time were saying that look, why are you? Is it because you see all of us here like this? There are no rate. There actually is hard worker that this was involved.

This was involved. You do this, you do this, you know, payment infrastructure, you know, wanting one thing, you know, Shade explained the channels like, oh, OK, I didn't know that building websites is that difficult. So ordinarily it should be something that where people will drop big, big, big, big, big money. But this guy came up with a very interesting risk reversal strategy. And once he said it, I said, my guy, this thing is a no brainer.

So I told him just draw up this list. Let us be tackling this people 1 by 1 by 1 by 1 by 1. I say no how we could close plenty deals on top of this thing. So yeah, currently working with the web developer. Then I've also done some work in the past with a creative creative director for music videos. For him, it was nothing directly sales related per SE. It's just that there were a couple of contacts in his space that he wanted to improve his networking with.

So excuse me because, you know, in that space now it's a matter of who you know. You know, it's not like websites or or solar where you can start chasing people down one-on-one. You know, you guys to network with people, you know, like for those of us who watch that documentary about Puff Daddy, you know, under Woods scandal. So you can see in the beginning, you know, how powerful, how both Puff that he was laying his connects, you know, connected to this guy from what's that record label again, the record label that signed Heavy D and all of them and Andrea and all those people.

So, you know, you go to network, go to network. So for the creative director, that's what we're focused on expanding his network and then also trying to take advantage of the networks that he already had. So that's the work we did with the creative director for music videos and the guy on the rise. I was surprised when the guy sent me one of the link. I said let me see who you work with. By the time I saw some names, when I saw Bados name, in my mind I was thinking, yeah, I

under charge this guy, I suppose charging millions if these are the people that he's running with. I said I didn't know that this guy's running Bados name if not for collect serious money for my hand when we're done has passed. So let's see what else OK, a fashion entrepreneur who wanted to increase his presence in the wedding space Abuja based then we've also done some work with someone who is into OK no, that's someone we're currently working with into audio, audio editing and production.

So his primary business is taking Nigerian authors who write in the non fiction space and then they make an audio book and they listed across several platforms. So it's supposed to be a way of getting secretary income from the book, not just book sales. And then it's also about expanding the authors sphere of influence and also giving the author access to a wider audience because you know, if it's just physical copy, you know, you will buy your book in Niger.

You know, if you, if you blow, maybe your book will sell in Ghana, maybe South Africa. But once you do audio book, you're available worldwide. So somebody in New Zealand can say, oh, ahead of this Nigerian author, let me see his stuff and then buy it and then have access to it. So I'm currently working with that guy and the focus is on how to learn how to sell better over the phone. And of course, we are currently looking at how to how to revamp their sell their sales process.

Then my wonderful brothers and sisters, I have done lots of, I've had lots of conversations with real estate professionals in Abuja. The first real estate training that I did was for Cairo's real estate. Supposedly that is the real estate development. All I call them now agency Abbey Player that is owned by Debanj and his brother. That's what I heard while I was in the office. I saw the bandage younger brother. Well, I did see the bands, you know, by myself.

But anyway, that's just I heard anyway, so the first, so the training that we did with them was in was how to close the deal in real estate. I think. OK, that was the biggest one I did because I think their sales team was like, I think was it like 131315? So that's the biggest real estate training that I did at the time a few years ago. But since then, of course, spoken to other real estate people. Currently working with a real estate professional in in Orca.

So Mr. Oguchuku, I'm healing you live on the show. I can't remember your surname, if now would have called called your surname too. So currently working with Mr. Oguchuku on how to revamp his sales process as well. Excuse me. And then he has one or two big deals that we hope we can help him close by the time we're done with our training session. Then also have some guys in Benin. I won't call his name because he seems like a very private person as well.

He is into mobile accessories, computer accessories, gaming consoles and accessories and music, you know, lifestyle and digital basically. And he had a store in Benin and we, the work I did with him was trying to get his sales team on point. He had a team of three females. Yeah, that was the first time I worked with an all female team. It was fun also because they were much younger than me. So that that was interesting.

That was interesting. That was the first time that organized training and somebody won't show and I say I like what's up. Like you didn't show up saying I was tired. I say, hey, I said I shouldn't be because I had hedges that I'm not called out Any particular generation, but I've heard that a certain age grade in Niger like they just can't be bothered. Like it's their job. But you know, if they're tired, they will come to work.

If you vex and you sack them and say no problem, then they move on to the next job. So that was my first time I've seen accounting that will call for meeting. The trainer will say show or guy will say show. And then the next day you say what happened? So I was tired so I was sleeping. So hey, so OK now. So I'm glad I'm not an employer anyway. But apart from that, it was really, really interesting. The rest of the team, I'm sorry for sales, yes, for sales reps,

all female. But the rest of the team were really on point. I like the way they took to the training. And I'll say the star pupil anyway. Let me not go too much into personal detail, but let me just the star pupil, OK? Let me call her name. So Alex, in case you're listening, Alex is you. Alex, you broke my heart or you really, really, really, really, really broke my heart because you know, anyway is a is a personal issue because I don't know why nowadays young people are afraid of marriage.

So Alex is afraid of marriage and she's making some personal choices that in my own opinion, she no suppose make. So I think I'll make a podcast episode about that. Young people stop being afraid of marriage. It is not as big and as scary as you people think. It's not that scary at all. Yes, we hear about the divorces and the this and the domestic violence and the blah, blah, blah. But truth of matter is for like, if you keep it simple, I keep it straightforward and you say you'll marry your friend and you'll marry a human being.

It actually is quite fun. It has the challenges with finances, learning how to build a home together, things like that. But honestly speaking, if you marry your friend and you focus on marrying a human being, then of course there are a couple of things you need to learn. It'll be OK. I'm not saying that there won't be issues that won't be problems, but it is not as big and as scary as you all are taking it. So Alex, if you're listening,

yes, I'm talking to you. And you know the questionable choice that I'm talking about. So you suppose make AU turn and I still will call you anyway later on on the personal note, so we can talk about these things. So the people in Benin City yes yeah, mobile accessories, computers, gaming, music. And that one was was an interesting environment because lots of the sales that they get was walk insurance because it has they had a physical location.

So it's people walking into the store. So basically just trying to increase the conversions. So how many people walk into the store, how many people buy? And then we start trying to increase conversions. Now conversion is when you get a potential customer to take the next step, the next smallest step that is required or that would help you close, close, close the deal. So if somebody walks into the store and say, do you have iPhone charger and you say no and the person walks out there,

you know that that's bad. That's very, very bad. As in no conversion at all. You do convert anything, but somebody wanted to shop and say, do you have iPhone charger? And then you say, hold on one moment, let me go have a look. Oh, by the way, what kind of iPhone is it? And the person says iPhone 17 Pro Max. You say, oh, actually, yes, we do have a charger. I kind of have a look at your phone. I just want to be sure, Is it a type C or is it a type something?

You have a look at it and then you go and then you come back with like maybe like 4 chargers. I say, yeah, we do have chargers. This is what we have in store. We have different options here as you can see, each of them ranges from between 50K to 170K per charger, you know, depending on what it is that you want. If the person shout I say 170 K, you say, my brother, it's iPhone 17, it's a Pro Max. You know, the economy is really,

really harsh, but how about we do it this way? Let me just walk you through some of these options and after that we can decide. We can decide on whether you know you're interested in picking up 1 today or not. How does that sound, Sir? And the person says, OK, no problem. You see that small step is a conversion. The guy said OK, he will stay in the store. It is a confession. He has taken one small step. So we had to learn how to teach the ladies how to get small conversions one step at a time because he does not pay you.

If every single day 20 people walk into the shop and then 20 people walk out, like where do you think your salaries come from? A guy has to pay you from somewhere. We need to be getting some conversions. We need to make sure that people stop. We need to engage people in a conversation. We need to do some need analysis. We need to show them a couple of options. We need as in you know the stuff we need to do to make sure that if every single day 10 people are entering the shop at least if like 6 or 7 are buying out of 20 every single day is not bad.

In fact, then your salary will be guaranteed. OGA will pay you on time, no stress. And you know lots of you who are employees in Nigeria, you will not understand the psychology of your gas. Let me explain. Nigeria is not like London, Nigeria is not like America, Nigeria is not like Australia or gas here are very cool and kind of informal. So anyway, that's part of reason why you know they shout at you employees anyhow, because you know we have this informal thing going on.

It has the disadvantages yes. However, this informal thing also has plenty of upside plenty of advantages. Like I told them I say Alex this iPhone something something you're looking at. Do you know that if you perform what to so so, so and so and you say, Olga, I'm liking this phone. Do you know that Olga will give you? She laughed. I said, if you don't believe me, ask him. Now the guy who owned the shop, he didn't tell me.

But you know, I've been in Nigeria long enough to know that that's just how it happens. And so one day when I was on the training, I said, you didn't ask her, but you said no. And then I said it. I said it live. I said, OK. I said, bro, this is what I told the ladies. True or false? And his response was, if you're giving me this kind of returns now, what is it is not just one phone. And then she said no, that actually she she's not really a phone person that she would like the money equivalent.

I can't remember how much it was, I think it was like 700K or something. This was a while ago and was not one of these iPhone Pro Mac something, something, something. And then he said, he said done, if you personally, personally are responsible for closing. So, so, so and so it is done. I'll give you the cash. So the advantages, you actually can tell your guy that, look, OK, this what's been going on, this what's been going on?

We've been good. I've done this, I've done this. How far? Now raise me something. Your guy will raise you. That's the benefit of being in Niger, in America, in London. It will be a whole formal process. You're running through HR, running through accounting, something, something. Then of course they'll be worried about discrimination because if they give something to Alexandra and they didn't now give it to to Anita, it will now cause problem.

But in this nature, if you're able to stay with your full chairs. Look, Olga, this is what I did last month is what I did, you know, encourage your girl, you know, support me Olga, I'll do something. And for those of you who still don't agree, there's this guy Circuit Motor he is a car dealer in Abuja is at his place that I saw on the purple Tesla Cybertruck that have been lost in over. It's just that you know, money have man, because the car is 430

million and if you if you carry me and squeeze me up and down, even if you sell my blood, you won't get that money. But anyway, I'll still continue to lost after the car. You know, we'll get there. So as I one day now while I'm still on Instagram, I noticed that there was a post circle motor, one of his sales girls. She was now saying that oh that she wants to thank circle motor because he just gave her the iPhone something, some pro,

something, something, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, you know, and then she turned the camera and then he was there and yes, he gave to her to encourage her stuff. These things happened in Niger. You can actually tell your guy that look, OK, 2025 was a very good year. I was your best seller. Look at the results here. You know, you suppose encourage your girl, encourage me. Say, what do you mean by encourage you? I say I want iPhone.

Something, something, something, you say OK, all right, done. Because superstars are hard to find. They are very, very hard to find. So when your guy knows that this person is a superstar and OK, what does he take? This year, I just she didn't ask me for salary increase. She just asked me for iPhone done. She asked me for salary increase. She just said I should give her 650K done because I want to keep a superstar. So that was my guy in Benin,

although he's moving over to Abuja soon, you know, for different reasons by any that's that's a podcast episode. They're moving their whole operations to Abuja. So it looks like me and him we're going to be seeing more often now. So let's see what else. OK. I want to work with someone who has a cyber cafe and a Co working space. To be honest, I didn't even know that cyber cafes still existed, especially since it's in Lagos.

I just assumed that everybody in Lagos, you know, you have your own laptop. Excuse me, you have your own laptop, your own Internet connection. But it looks like it's more about a socializing thing. It's no longer a practical thing because back when I was a teenager, cyber cafe was was because we didn't have Internet. So you go and then you buy time. You give me. You begin to browse Internet and it was very frustrating back then.

You buy one hour, but because Internet speed was slow, you use like 15 minutes to sign into your Yahoo account. Then you use another 15 minutes to open one e-mail. By the time you click reply, it will take another 30 minutes. Then before you hit send, Yeah, the thing will time you out. You don't have to go and buy another one again and start that whole process. I mean, those days are wild, you know? But then now everybody has Internet from their phone and,

you know, we thank God, making progress. So it's easy to do business now. Back then, man, it was hard. It was really, really hard. Those are the fun days. So now cyber cafes, people just go there, people chill. The guy is making money because he's selling coffee and he's selling some. OK, cancel alcohol because you need particular licenses in Lagos and in Abuja you need a license to sell alcohol. I think in Beno state too as well.

I've seen it in Beno State, you need licenses to sell alcohol. So the guy they sell coffee, you know egg bones, Sorry, I say egg bones. My wife said it's not egg bones. That is nothing like egg bones. My wife said it is egg. But anyway, you know in my family, some of us say egg bones because it's bones and it has egg inside. So the girl sell coffee, egg bones, meat pie, salad. What else is it? Kale, like some funny drink, you know, kale, You know, all this I

just got back, You know, people don't have to go on school abroad. They come up with some weird habits, weird, weird habits. You say you're drinking kale. I say, what is this? Is it not bitter leaf? It's not just blended bitter leaf that you're drinking. This thing is bitter as hell, but you say it's healthy. There's removing toxins for our system. Like that is just this blended bitter leaf. I bet you should stop deceiving yourself because before you want to go on school abroad, like your grandmother has already been grinding bitter leaf and drinking it, you know, straight and, you know, at affordable price.

Instead, you go somewhere somebody will tell you that they give you kale or they will give you this, they give you that, they give you some fancy name and I'll be drinking something. You say you're cleaning your toxin. It's too much money. There's a problem. So, yeah, this guy with the Cyber Cafe and the Co working space, OK. The work we did with him was this. When I first hooked up with this guy, he was part of a program in Lagos with the Faith Foundation.

Now the Faith Foundation is an NGO. They are interested in entrepreneurial development. So people who have business ideas, you know, they coach you up, give you classes, things like that. Now they started doing this program with the OCI F that is Orange Corners International Foundation. I think it's part of the real family of I'm really, really sorry. I really should get my facts together. And it's a good thing now those people don't listen to this podcast, you know, the good events.

They'll say, how can our partners not not know our name? So the Orange Corners International Foundation, royal family of Denmark, I be Netherlands or whatever. Mona Novak's by my own mind. You know, all of you are the same. When I see you guys, all I think about is Vikings and Thor and you know all that. Yeah, I know it sounds racist, but honestly that's just what I think about. And plus you guys are tall, like really, really tall.

I always wanted to be A7 footer. In fact, maybe I should check back to Denmark so that whatever it is that they are eating there, I will eat. Maybe I can catch up and be 7 feet tall. So Faith Foundation was in partnership with Orange Corners Innovation Fund. I'll be whatever fund they still are doing that. And so that's how I got hooked up with this guy through the program because I was one of the mentors and he had two business ideas that he was in the incubation stage though at the incubation stage at the time.

So there was this Cyber Cafe which was running and then he wanted to do sort of like a Pan African, I would say video game because yes, it's a video game, but it was more about like virtual reality and, and not virtual reality. What's this thing called when you have a, when you have a different life online, what is this thing called? You know, like the metaverse and you know, these sorts of things. I can't remember what the technology is called.

So that was the game. So I was just trying to help him figure out, OK, which one is a better idea? Which one has promised? Which one can we validate to be sure will get traction? You know, like are Nigerians really into all these thing, you know, living a double life online and you know, bloody blah, is Pan Africanism still a thing? Are people even interested in this idea of you know, we are Africa, we are one great united continent because you know, at the end of the day, this is this is business.

We can have all fancy ideas as fancy ideas as we want by the end of the day. Is this something that people pay money for? That is what market validation is around is about. You know, those of you in the tech space, you like to say product market fit. That is the whole idea about product market fit. I can think that this is a wonderful idea. I can think that this thing needs to be done. You know, me and my wife and my family members, we can't think this is a beautiful idea.

But if at the end of the day, people are not willing to pay Shishi, they're not willing to pay guy for this thing, then it's not going to work. So those are the things I was trying to figure out with this fellow was part of the Faith Foundation program and also with Orange Orange Corners International. Yeah, OK. Then there were also prizes. And I think that was the first time I got the prize winner because I can't remember how many euros he got.

I will call the amount so that people won't decode who the guy is and then go and start begging him for EUR. But the guy he got, he got a couple thousand, a couple €1000 and he won. And I've noticed that since that time, it's been, it's been like 3-4 years, I've noticed that anybody who passes through me through that program, the person wins the prize, the person wins the prize. So that's how this year now when the last winner, when she won, I

was looking at my wife, I was saying, babe, it'd be like, say, you know, be like, say I got the magic. Now anybody I touch, the person turns to gold. They win that money, they win their EUR. And then and I picked up the phone, I called on the organizers and I said harsh and the guy that look what's up now, every year, every year these people does they win, you know, thousands of EUR, thousands of EUR 8010 thousand 12,030

thousand 40,000. I say, how far now? So that money should come to us. The guy laughed. He said, I understand all that. I said, look bro, this one is beyond. I understand, I understand. I'm coaching people for you and see as they win prize up and down and then me meanwhile as what's going on. So anyway, that's how we left the conversation. And of course, God willing, I'm sure that the next person that I handle from Faith Foundation and OCIF is going to be a prize winner as well.

So if you are listening to this podcast and you are currently with the Faith Foundation, you have been accepted for the OCIF program. Ask for me by name. Ask for me. Let's show what we can do. Let's say we can make you win that money, win the thousands of EUR change your life. And if you're an organizer, you are an auger in Faith Foundation or you're on auger in OCIF and you're hearing this thing. People need to love us on up.

I say love us, love up, need to love up on us. See, as euros are just flying everywhere, some of those EUR should fly into our pockets. You understand, Help me to help you. I'm sorry about that. Recovering from a cold. So I was like, and eventually the guy jettisoned the gaming idea and most of the funds went back to promoting the Co working space and the Cyber Cafe. And the last time I spoke to him, everything was going OK and it was nice.

It was nice. But then the guy broke my heart. He broke my heart. He broke up with his longtime girlfriend. I said, what's going on? Are people afraid of marriage? It's not that hard. It's not that hard. But then I've already gone on the marriage run, so let me not go on that rant again. But seriously speaking, please, we should stop being afraid of marriage. It's not a hard. You find somebody. He's a reasonable somebody.

She's a reasonable somebody. You guys seem like your best friends. It's OK this end. Talk to your people, talk to mom, she talk to popsy, talk to your cousins, talk to a couple of people, hang out, go on a couple of dates. You know, it's not a hard. It's not a hard. Then let's see. OK. Also work with someone who is in the package snacks business. OK, I already mentioned that. I think that was my first podcast for 2026 because I

noticed that how products have been accepted into Z Crest. Z Crest have this thing they do at the end of the year, they call it the Taste of Niger, where they support Nigeria's Nigerian entrepreneurs. Z Crest they're into wealth management and so they send out hampers called the Taste of Nigeria and they only stock it with exclusively Nigerian made stuff. She was also a prize winner for the Faith Foundation and the OCIF.

So that was just that was just nice to see like 01 of my former students as in she don't make weave. In fact, I'm looking at her product now like this one is no more fury. She don't launch is all over Nigeria. So that that was really, really good to see. Then, OK, the last winner of the Faith Foundation OCIF program, she was into cyclical fashion. In fact, when I hear cyclical fashion, I was wondering, what does bicycle have to do with fashion again?

But actually, it turns out it's more about recycling that you can take waste that comes from, excuse me, takeaways that comes from fashion processes and use that to make new garments, you know, that people who sell and then things like that. And it was an exciting project to work on because well first of all I was totally ignorant of well first I have no fashion sense at all. In fact 2 days ago my wife was saying my wife's told me that babe.

So you know, you show me Shakey. I said sure, you shakey how that's usually marry. You have not heard of another woman, You're not heard of anything. I've never looked at any other babe. He said I know. And then my wife said I'm talking about dressing. That's when I squeeze my face. And then she said babe, you know, I said yes I know. She said you know you show me Shakey as I know. She said in fact you have shown me Shakey Pro Max.

I mean they laugh. I said, babe, what is all this now? She said. Look at the way you're dressing. Somebody will see you outside now and say that that's my husband. Are you being fair to me? Anyway, let's talk for another day. But don't worry, when I hammer, I will overhaul my wardrobe as when people see me, I will hire a personal stylist. Don't worry, just pray for your boy. When I hammer, When you see my wardrobe, oh, I'll be too much.

Where was I fashion. So I have no fashion sense because of that. I wanted to work with this lady, this fashion entrepreneur. And then at the end of the day, like I say, it's all about market validation. Is this a good idea? Yes, we should recycle, but these things that we're recycling, can we sell it and can we sell it at a good price? Does it make business sense is when you give revenue so that we can plow back into the business.

Then briefly try to do some work with someone who was in the dredging space and the marine construction. And that was the biggest lesson that I learned when it comes to managing a reputation because I said we spoke and then I said no problem, now sell for you. Now I was not me coaching him or anything, was me trying to sell his services on a percentage basis because all the contracts that happen in this dredging space, this one is not million,

million is not million million, 111 is not single, single. It is, you know, double digits, you understand, 200,000,500 million, 800,000,900, as in big, big, big money like that. So once you spoke, I look at the guy and say with these kind of figures, like I'm OK working on the percentage. And so we agree. And then I started, but then unfortunately something happened. I called the first guy. We started talking about the project, talking about the contract, the moment he heard my principal's name.

Principal, you know, in business when a principal is somebody who has an agent. So in that case, I was the agent. So the moment he heard my principal's name, he said he's no longer interested. So here you guys say he's no longer interested. That's so long as it is this guy. He called the company name. He now called my principal by name. So OK, I just, I just left it. Then I was working on another project, another prospect.

Then as we're talking now, he said, oh, did you say so, so, so, so, you know, maritime construction. I say, yes. He now called him again by name. He said, OK, He said this what? This what he told me. And I quote, he said, young man, I'm going to be very frank with you because you sound like you're a good person and I don't want you to rubbish on him. I say, yes, Sir. He said, that person that you're working for, just leave him.

And I said, of course, you know, I told him thank you very much for the advice. And I wanted to know exactly what was up. And the guy poured his heart out to me and he told me everything. And by the time he finished, I said, you know what, let me just leave this guy. So I didn't give him the feedback that bro, your reputation was things that I call to random contacts in your, in your space. And the first person said that so long as it's you, the guy know they do.

And then the second person said, leave this guy don't sully your reputation. So that's how I just moved down. I just, I just left. So I didn't actually close any deal in dredging and maritime construction work, but it sounds like good business and I didn't know that boys are making serious money doing things like this. So that one didn't go anywhere. Why did I include it in the list since we didn't work? OK, included in the in the in the list.

Just to let you guys know that look, when we talk about these things about trust and reputational damage, you know, like it's a big deal. It could have been a coincidence, but what are the odds? What are the odds that I had a list of people? Not many. I think I had five. The first two people I called had such a visceral reaction to this guy's name. They know the company name and they called him by name. The first person says so long as he's this guy, I am not interested.

The Circle person told me, you seem like you're a nice guy, don't rubbish yourself. And This is why. And then he gave me the horror stories. See, sometimes it's not worth it. You want to close the deal because of that, you do some sharp moves and then you collect an extra 1,000,000 here and there but then you rubbish your name and then you rob people of the wrong way and your name travels. Fine industry but like I said it could have been a coincidence so.

But man, I don't want to risk it, so I just left it then. OK, another person I didn't get to work with this guy, this person was in the refining space. They were distilling some oil and gas products so that he could make marine engine oil. So he was one of the first people who reached out to me on the podcast, not for consulting. He just wanted my opinion on a couple of things. So when did I put this on the list? OK, yes, I didn't work with him,

but the reason I put you on the list, Shah, these last two particular on the list was just to let you guys know that man, boys and girls are making serious bank in Niger. Serious bank. Different industries, different trades, different things you've never heard about. I had no idea that dredging was a thing. I'd never seen a dredger and I had no idea that like the only engine oil I know was engine oil for car and then engine oil for lorry.

I didn't know that there's also engine oil for for ships and for, you know, seafaring vessels. I didn't know that they have their own special kind of engine oil and that there's money to be made in refining those kinds of products and that you can build your own refinery and stuff. But in Asia, stuff is going on in Nigeria. So shine your eyes and be inspired. We can make it is we can make it anyway, so sorry for keeping here for 45 minutes, but like I

said, just clear my desk. And I've seen that these are the range of people that I've worked with so far. And I thought, OK, not bad, making some progress, but looking forward to even more progress in 2026 and beyond. I'm praying the same for you, your business as well then. Yeah, I think that's it basically. OK. Also remember, for those of you who are multi hyphenates, you have lots of business ideas. There's something I've been talking about today that I

mentioned a lot today, which is market validation. Market validation is proving that this product or this service has demand, that it is viable, that people are willing to pay for it. It's an idea that you've seen weaving through all these things. So for the guy who had Cyber Cafe and Co working space, OK, this gaming app that you want to do, is it viable coming here? Product market fit, is there market demand? How many people be willing to pay for this idea?

Then for the fashion entrepreneur, cyclical fashion, yes these things are nice, but is it viable? Can we validate the demand? Are people going to pay enough? Are there enough people who like these kind of things, who will pay for this thing, are so margin that will make this business make sense for you? So too many entrepreneurs, the reason why they fail is they start off with the wrong idea. Because of that, I have another training coming up and that is on how we're going to solve this problem in three easy steps.

We're going to make sure that you don't pick the wrong idea. If you have 3456 different ideas, we'll help you pick a winner. I'll help you validate demand, make sure that this is an idea that there is demand for that people are willing to pay for, and then we're also going to help create the selling system for you. The whole point of this training is I need you guys to stop juggling 34567 ideas. In fact, the reason why I'm coming up with this training is because too many of you are asking me all these questions.

I can do this, I can also do this, I can do that, I can also do that. My true self is this, but I believe that I have potential for that and my ideal calling is so, so so. So what should I do? That's the whole point of the training. So it's the training. Now let's sit down, let's iron out all these things. Stop juggling 3-4 ideas without making a single couple from one. All you have to do is call me, send me a WhatsApp message, send me a text message on 08064662140.

Just let me know you're interested and let's get talking. Let's get your business moving. So that's it. Thank you very much for listening and even if you're not interested in the program, but you just want to say what's up, you want to say hello, you just want to connect, it's not a problem. I like talking to every single person who finds the podcast and who likes the podcast. Again, the number is 08064662140. Thank you very much for your time and attention.

I will catch you all some other time.