Young and In Charge: Ehidiamhen Uabor (Eazybwoi)

Posting this interview today has me grinning like a cheshire cat not only because this is the blog's first foray into the entertainment industry but also because I saw this talented musician grow. Meet our young person of the wee Ehidiamen Uabor aka Eazyboy, a fast rising Abuja Musician. Listening to Eazybwoi's music all I can say is, 'move over Davido, there is a new 20 year old in town'.


Tell us a little about yourself? 
My name is Ehidiamhen Uabor, I am come from Edo state. Am an artist and my stage name is Eazybwoi.

What was growing up like?
Growing up was cool. Was born in Benin Edo state, moved to Lagos for some years, then ended up in Abuja.

Tell us a little about your educational background?
Went to Nursery and part of my Primary School at Crown Gate School Shomolu Lagos State. Then started Primary 3 at Madonna International Nursery and Primary School Gwagwalada Abuja. I graduated from Christ The King College Abuja, where I had my Secondary education. Now I am in the University of Abuja studying Economics. I am almost done though.

So how did you go into music? Why did you choose music over say acting? How did you come up with your stage name?
I have been doing music since I was in my mothers tommy. When I was younger I was always on stage at one point or the other, either dancing, singing, talking or acting, I was also in a choir. In secondary school I was in a music crew called Effect Zone that's were I got the name Eazy. The Bwoi in the name came up later. Went into music professionally about 2 or 3years ago. Chose music over every other thing cause its my talent and its something I love to do and can do comfortably.

How do you handle music and school?
Well, its not easy but I always have to schedule my time. And it is working out for me.

How did your parents take it when you told them of your decision to take up. music?
They have been quite supportive ever since.

What is your typical day like?
Well, am in the studio most parts of the day. I usually go to play basketball in the evenings. Then I am back to the studio or I just hangout. And that's it.

What do you love most about you what you do?
What's there not to love about what I do. I love everything about it. I enjoy doing it, its fun and so much more.

Of all the songs you have put, which has been your best?
Emmm I cannot really pick out my best. I love most of my songs. Not all trust me.

What are the difficulties involved?
Some times inspiration could be a problem. Some times studio sessions could get stressful. But its all good.

If you weren't doing this, what would you have been doing?
If I wasn't doing this I would have been doing this. But seriously I really don't know what I would have been doing.

Have you ever felt like giving up on your music?
Nope. Not once.

Who or what inspires you?
God inspires. And also my love for the music. The dream of becoming a music icon some day also inspires me.

Considering the level of success you have attained, youths out there would be itching to know how old you are.
Well am really young. Am 20years old

Asides work, what do you do for fun?
I do work for fun. But also play basketball, video games, dance, go to parties and so on.

Advice to youths that wish to follow in your footsteps.
My advice to them is never give up. Keep pushing until you achieve your goals and have fun with it.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?
I see me closer to becoming a music icon.

Some more Pictures of Eazybwoi

Listen and download songs by Eazybwoi below:

eazybwoi-JEKAJO.mp3--http://www.hulkshare.com/6l6y32qbiiop

Sleamy-C_Ft_Eazybwoi _She Bad - http://www.hulkshare.com/svnnilmwfcao

Like a star.-EAZY BWOI - http://www.hulkshare.com/cojl0t6dps3h

Lets go=EAZY BWOI--ft-=PARANOMAL - http://www.hulkshare.com/uofwozrs5jj2

Celebration-- http://www.hulkshare.com/lbc9r28uvshs

Sexy Lady- http://www.hulkshare.com/7wwktrnbyi68

Eazybwoi can be reached on:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/eazybwoi

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dominic.uabor

Email: eazynick@yahoo.com

Just my 2kobo: And Lessons Were Learned

BY IPHIE MANUELZ

I learned some important lessons about surviving in Nigeria yesterday, I learned some pretty important things about the change I had been screaming about yesterday.

I got back to Nigeria recently and I had to go renew my driver's license because it had expired on my last birthday. So I go to renew my license on my second day back and without going into any story, my examiner already failed me the moment I sat down, but I also didn't have answers to his question so I had a role to play in his failing me. He asked me to come back on the 12th of February, after asking me to buy the VIO Road Sense to study and come back for an examination, which to me was fair enough, the only thing I had a problem with was the 12th February date.

I returned on the 11th of February as I had my date mixed up but he was kind enough to oblige when I asked politely if he could examine me on the 11th instead. And that was when my lessons in: Naija Survival 101 began. Yesterday I learnt that the only way to get things done in Nigeria was by flirting, kissing ass, having a phony British or American accent and by contributing to the 'ministry' called 'building for the Lord'.

I learnt these lessons yesterday in a matter of a few hours I spent in the VIO office. I was at the VIO office for less than two hours and I got my temporary driver's licence, a quest that some of the people I spoke with while I waited had been on for at least a few days. Ordinarily when things started getting difficult to get done, I would have called my Mum or Dad, who in turn called someone that works in that office to help me get what I wanted done for me easily. But this time I decided to do things on my own, I decided it was time to practice what I had been preaching, it was time to follow due process.

Due process failed me yesterday. If there is anything I learned in the year that I have been away, it is patience and respect for order, belief in first come first served. And I tried to observe these yesterday, but I quickly learned that I wasn't going to get anywhere. I quickly found out that in Nigeria, the only way to get things done was to flirt with the guys and kiss the ass of the ladies I happened to come across in my quest for a temporary driver's license. I learned that where ass kissing and flirting failed you, you switch to a phony British or American accent, it could even be a mix of both, its not like they would notice. The phony accent did the trick when ass kissing and flirting failed, it tripped a switch in d heads of these public servants, it was like they didn't want to mess with any one a foreign accent, phony or not. I also learned that before I could get my temporary driver's license printed I had to contribute to the 'Ministry', and by ministry I don't mean a government ministry, it was an appeal fund for a church building project. I am not even going to go into how many types of wrong it is for a public office to have envelopes for appeal for her church's building project out on her table and insisting that applicant contribute to her church building fund before she does the job she was been paid for anyway. I am very sure the Lord would not approve of this source of funding for his House. Did  I mention the lady that told me that the cost to laminate my temporary license was a hundred Naira but that she was going to take two Hundred Naira. I think I almost lost it then because I went 'what???' but it was the expression on my face that encouraged her reply ' I am just joking oh".

Yesterday I was lucky enough to walk out of the VIO office with my temporary license in under two hours, but I walked out with a few lessons. The most important lessons yesterday was that, Nigeria is ready for Change but Nigerians are not ready for change or to change. Until we are willing to change our ways, we should stop complaining about everything that has gone wrong with our country, we should stop cursing out our leaders. Truth be told our leaders are bad but we are no better either, we don't want Nigeria to move forward, we find ways to pull down anyone that threatens what we are used to, someone that wants things to be done differently, someone that wants to do things the right way. Until we are willing to change, we might as well shut up about Nigeria and her problems, complaining never got anyone anywhere. Getting my license yesterday shouldn't have been about luck, it should have been about a fully functional system that provided a replacement for a license that had expired after due process had been followed.

Lessons were learned yesterday: Nigeria would stay stagnant for as long as we remain opposed to change.

Better Nigeria: Undereducated Nigerians?!!!!

BY ADESUWA
I was opportuned to attend a civil society session and its theme was : 'Revitalizing Nigerian Tertiary Education for 21st Tertiary Challenges'.

I must say that whilst listening to the panelists like Mrs Yemisi Ransome Kuti, Dr. Nasir Fagge (president, ASUU) and a host of others,  and contributions from the audience, I became outraged. Maybe because they were saying the very things I have observed and have been suppressing, because I have had no avenues to express my disappointments.

I am a lawyer, I graduated from the University of Abuja, gone through law school and now called to the Nigerian Bar. These took seven years of my life and so I can talk authoritatively about the decaying tertiary education in Nigeria.

The rude shock I got when I left school, is that, after all studied and achieved on paper, I could not impressively express myself as an individual, as a graduate, and  a lawyer. I have discussed with my colleagues...their stories are no different. So I found myself undergoing some sort of self development education, to learn those informal things that I lacked by leeching on my seniors and gathering informations from all sources.
Another rude shock was that, alas! all I learnt is not what is actually in practice. Now let's disabuse our minds of my area of study, this crisis is prevalent in every area of study. Let's be sincere.

We are be-crying the issue of unemployment and I must confess my dear youths that we are not fully equipped to take on most of the vacancies out there. We have been poorly educated. That's the harsh truth. The requirements for vacancies these days surpass the education we received. That is why most of us have to be shipped abroad to do masters and phd...to better compete with our peers. Masters used to be some sort of feat in the old days. Today, it has become a necessity, which does not guarantee anything though. Soon enough, a degree would just be nothing till you have masters, that is if we have not reached that stage already.

Anyway, I still feel flying away to do masters is going to further worsen the problem. By so doing, we are admitting our deficiencies, fueling another's economy (and the fees would keep sky rocketing, afterall we want to do masters abroad), and Nigeria would not grow. Besides our leaders' children are all abroad studying, so that our educational system is rottening has not gone unnoticed. Who are we fooling anyway?  Now am not saying do not go abroad oh! Afterall, we are trying to help ourselves.  I am just gently reminding us, that the mess awaits us when we get back, after all if you won't clear the cobwebs hanging from your ceiling it would soon touch your head.

Government's irresponsibility and rascality is the main challenge and threat to our education. Corruption fuels it. Our institutions are ill-equipped, the curriculum is not self developing, its a cram-and-pour sort of curriculum. Practical exercises are not done, our lecturers would not go through the stress, and I do not blame them, if you lecture a class of about 300 students..to do practical exercises is to pass out. So a note or material is produced, the students are expected to read it, cram it and pour it out as it is, because most atimes if you deviate from it, you will fail the course and that's all. Education has gone beyond this. Through all my confusion and strive to gain a balance and to assert myself in the society, I have learnt witout being told that tertiary education is not an end itself, its a means to a whole world of opportunites. We need to start thinking, innovating, creating and working outside the boxes of our degrees.

I like a statement made by Abdulrazaqque Barkindo (Publisher, The Road Newspapers) at the the above forum : "Nigeria is a certificate reliant country...Education is not for you to graduate and get a job! its for you to be able to live successfully with others.."

The teaching conditions are not attractive, so most lecturers are now after becoming Vice Chancellors or atleast close to Vice Chancellors, so they can partake in the booty. So politics has entered the system, and no ground breaking change can occur if the main officers of a University are controlled by a VC who was appointed politically by the very Government that seeks to cover up its irresponsibility.

Another neglected aspect of tertiary education is, vocational. And technical education. So now we import chairs, tables, clothes, fabrics, food,  ideas, creativity, and so on because we are running out of professional carpenters, farmers, cloth weavers, we would rather not think but tap from the creativity of the western world, because we have been taught not to think outside our lecture notes or materials.

Its such a sad situation.

Although I do believe things could change. That is if we youths, can arise and clamour for a better education. If our parents would demand that government give their children the best education and not wait for ASUU everytime to do so. Our parents should be able to leave their busy lives and visit our schools and demand from lecturers why their children are not performing well. Should a lecturer threaten a class or an individual, the struggle should not be left for their children alone, parents! Get interested, so as to get value for your money.

The governing councils of Universities, should begin to involve students more in their deliberations..the Senate of Universities are not left out in this.  ASUU should try to hold training programmes for our lectures, maybe some sort of retreat, so they talk to themselves, because 50% of the change we really seek in our Institutions can be helped by our lecturers.

As for our Government, that has now taken shield under private institutions, arguing it cannot bear the burden alone and all that. I say, that it can not shy away from the responsibility of educating its citizens. No country can develop with private education. The best schools in the world are public schools. The best schools in the world are public schools. Government must see to it that our institutions have adequate infrastructure, lecturers are well paid, students study under good conditions and with proper security. Yes, this has been over-emphasised but should we stop saying it? No. 

There should be a law that prohibits Government officials from sending their children to schools abroad. This would help our educational system a whole lot.

Bans on Student Union Groups should be lifted, so students can actively air their views.

In all these, I would not go into primary and secondary education today. These are near extinction, and I mean quality primary and secondary education is near extinction, before you argue, just visit a primary or secondary school and compare to what was obtainable as at 5years ago. Yes, five years ago so as not to go too far, so that we can guage the steady decline of education in Nigeria. This would be a topic for another day. Maybe the reality that after tertiary education, we embrace the world is what gnaws me most at the moment.

The Committee on NEEDS Assessment on Nigerian Public Universities 2012, is an eyeopener for Nigerians. Try to get hold of it, read it! That report is not good for the image of Nigeria, but sadly, it is the truth. I would also not dwell on this report, as I need to digest and dissect it before making any conclusions.

As 2015 draws near, let's begin to psyche our minds and be sincere, and put the right leaders in power.

GOD bless Nigeria.

Young and In Charge: Kessena Omonode

Young and in Charge is all about inspiring young people with dreams and encouraging those already working on their dreams. I must admit that when I was introduced to Kessena, I was expecting to see beautifully decorated houses, but i was blown away by the art work and the attention to detail. Meet Kessena Omonode, young person of the week.

Tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Omonode Kessena Desmond, a christian by birth from  sapele, Delta state, I love nature music, fashion, and football. Not so quick at making friends, but a good keeper of them, I get hurt easily but I'm not easily deterred.

What was growing up like? 

Growing up was quite challenging, I had my ups and downs, I am from a polygamous home so I guess you can understand what I mean in Nigeria its a mixed feeling. I can say I had the best upbringing at the same time it was not all that rosy.

Tell us a little about your educational background?

I attended  University of Benin Staff School, proceeded to University of Benin Demonstration Secondary School. My University education was within he same premises, University of Benin, so I can say the university system is embellished in me.

So what is Kesgates Interior all about? What does it mean and how did the name come about?
Kesgates is coined out from my name Kessena and also Bill Gates the popular billionaire. When I was about starting up my own business, I just thought of it as a  good name for my business name, I wanted something catchy.

What inspired you to go into interior decoration?

Well I can say I have always been creative, I walked into a friends room some time back in 2009, already done with university I was a bit bored and her room had just been painted it was really neat and attractive so I asked her who did this and she directed me to him. Gradually I developed an interest in painting and I started designing as well and a couple of other stuffs in interiors.

How did you go from reading International Studies and Diplomacy!
I read international studies and diplomacy, I have a good negotiating skill so its easy for me to convince customers.

What is your typical day like?
Work and sourcing new clients.

What has been your best work ever?
I can't say I have a particular best job,  I can say that maybe with the jobs I have done of late, I keep improving. God has been my strength.

What do you love most about what you do?
It affords me my own time and I am not been bossed around by anyone. Its something that when I finish a job, I feel really satisfied.

What are the difficulties involved?
Actually convincing clients on why they should pay good money for a good jobs. In addition to that, the emergence of lots of competitors who make the job less creative and would do the job for just anything rather try to be professional about what they do.

If you weren't doing this, what would you be doing?
If I wasn't into interiors  then God help me I would have been a professional photographer like Elechi Amadi and T.Y Bello.

Have you ever felt like giving up on Kesgate Interiors?
Yes when the money has not been coming in i must admit its been challenging.

Who or what inspire you?
My first inspiration is God, I just know I cant afford to give up now I have come too far to go back.

Considering the level of success you have attained, youths out there would be itching to know how old you are.
I am 26 years old.

15.Asides work I play video games, football, and I love to watch crime inc.

16.Just stay focused and pray to God for guidance, the road to success is not an easy one.

17. I see my company  being on the world map. I know it's still small and it's God who enlarges our coasts not man, so I believe I would be the name on lips of eminent individuals. As long as there is life then there is hope, i hope you could in time to use a G.P.R.S to find my various branches in the world over.

Time to look at some of Kessena's work!

Kessena can be reached on:

Phone: 08059518145, 080123169310

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kesgates

Email: tradbrigs@gmail.com

Website: http://www.kesgates.blogspot.com/

Young and In Charge: Teju Tobun

As I interviewed Teju all that came to my mind was "here is a strong willled lady". Teju came across to me as one who sees no barriers, everything about her screams, "go for your dreams!" I must say, I am greatly inspired. So I bring you Teju Tobun, whose love for make up is taking her places, and I am sure I am not going to be the only lady who would be wowed by the pictures of her works... I have just this to say about them "Simply Beautiful!" Enjoy.

Tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Oyeteju Tobun, a Christian, from Epe town, Lagos State. I love Makeup up, Fashion, Music, Poetry, I can be very friendly and blunt too.

What was growing up like?

Growing up was good, I'll just keep thanking God. I am from a family of four, being the first female, with two sisters looking up to me, I grew up with a lot of responsibilities, looking out for them and all. I lost my Dad while I was in junior secondary school after a brief illness, but my Mum is a Strong woman, and I just Thank God for her and where I am today. 

Tell us a little about your educational background.

I attended Liham Preparatory School for Primary education and the prestigious Queens' College Yaba Lagos (set of 2006) for Secondary education. I Graduated From  UNILAG in 2011 with a Degree in B.A(ed) with a Second Class upper, yes! I read a lot, balanced my life, beauty and brains *winks* and did have fun too. I was the Faculty of Education Social Secretary at the time, and just made the best of it because, I didn't plan to study Education but ended up there. Life is about making the most of every moment. God always has a plan.

What is Make up by Teju about?

Make up By Teju, yeah, I am still Original with my name because all the ones that came to mind were either taken or sounded absurd. Then I thought, my mentors Tara and Banke Meshida use their names, why can't I just stay with it?... So, I Do Makeup for  Brides, Photoshoots, VideoShoots, Tv Productions, Bridal Hair, EyeLash fixing, Headgear and Beauty Consultancy. I have many talents. Besides makeup I Work with an EventPlanner (Oasis)and get hostesses for events,as well.

How did you go from getting a B.A (ed) in Adult Education to being a make up artist?

Wow, I actually didn't go from it, let me just say I was doing makeup right from Unilag, because I would put up write ups on my room door for ladies to come in and shape their eyebrows or have their makeup done if they were going clubbing or wanted to tie their headgear... I made small money then oh! and from there I just went for training @ Beautycook studios and started out on my own. 

What is your typical day like?

I pray, attend meetings with brides or clients for shoots to see my portfolio... Get necessary products I need for my box...bla bla. Lol.

What do you love most about what you do?

The joy and satisfaction I feel when a client looks in the mirror and sees the depth of the beauty they never knew they possessed.... I love that.

What has been your best work ever?

In this field, there's no best work for me, because I cannot say I have arrived. Humility is key, every makeover I give a client is the best!!!

What are the difficulties involved?

There's room for so many entrepreneurs in Nigeria now, and the issue of underpricing is something I and a lot of people out there face, many still don't see why they should pay to get their faces done. Though, I keep reminding them what's the essence of buying that expensive Lace, wedding dress or headgear, and not investing in a professional to Makeup Your Face that your guests want to see which will eventually compliment your attire?

If you were not doing this, what would you have been doing? 

Hmmn, I would be singing big time am sure... yes its still in my plan though.

Have you ever felt like giving up on Make up by Teju?

Yes. I am human, we have our ups and downs, but thank God I got through. Nothing good comes easy, but With God all things are Possible.

Who or what inspires you?

My Mum is my number one inspiration, then the key players in the field, awesome people that have shared their knowledge like Ewar, BmPro, Beautycook.

Considering the level of success you have attained, youths out there would be itching to know how old you are.

*shy face*...I was 23years old on the 22nd September 2012. 

Asides work, what do you do for fun?

Work. Ha! My work is Fun, I love it....I Have fun while working, I make people smile and make the money..Finito!

Advice to youths that wish to follow in your footsteps.

Hope and Pray. Hope is when you nurture a dream, and work towards it, even when it seems you're not close to it, hope is what keeps you going when you wake up in the morning. Prayer!!! God will back that hope up, just keep Praying... Let every youth out there see the best in him/herself and not dare give up!

Where do you see yourself and Make up byTeju in the next five years?

I see myself on the best platform, the best horizon and being the best MakeUp Artiste in the nation and beyond. Yelz! its my vision, you're allowed to have yours too!*wink*

Having heard from the amazing Teju, let's feed your eyes with pictures of her works...

Teju can be reached in the following ways: 

Address: 1,Tobun street Onike yaba Lagos. 

Phone no: 08038010569 and 08188179505

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tejuspluge

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/makeupbytejutobun

Young and In Charge: Jennifer Osarenkhoe

Interviewing the YICs for the past months has been fun, but it has also been fully loaded with lessons. With every interview I learn something new, from our YICs, that is the essence of these interviews, to inspire and to teach. Meet our beautiful young person of the week, Jen, accountant turned fashion designer. The lesson I took away from today's interview is, building a successful business isn't only about the talent, it is also about knowing your market. Jen took in the situation around her and decided to take her business online and in the process built one of Nigeria's first and fastest growing online fashion retail store. Did I mention that she designed the outfit of Miss Gombe in the 2012 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Miss Antoinette Igebu, who went ahead to become Miss La Casera 2012.

Tell us a little about yourself?
 Hehehe, I never know how to answer these questions, I'm Jen, accounting graduate turned Obioma, I love fashion, food, R'n'B. Proudly Nigerian from Edo state... think that's all the bases covered.

What was growing up like?
It was amazing, I always say I got the best of both worlds, I was fortunate enough but I also went to a semi rough boarding school which gave me loads of experiences on real life, last kid and the only girl with two elder brothers.

Tell us a little about your educational background?
 I have a degree in Accounting and Finance from Newcastle.

So what is Esosa Stores all about?
What does it mean and how did the name come about?
I like to call it E-S-O-S-A but no one ever pays me any mind hehehe, we are an online retail brand, providing affordable spot on trend female apparel to the Nigerian consumer, our products range from smart wear to day wear, evening wear and even lounge wear all produced locally in Nigeria. We also offer a bespoke bridal service offering wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses.
The name actually has a funny story, I had researched loads of fancy Latin names and put them in little pieces of paper in a raffle sock to pick from, when a close friend challenged me, that if I was really going to put my all into it I should put my name on the brand. I've always believed in separating a business entity from its founder so I was really hesitant, plus I like to stay private, but I thought my middle name would be somewhat discreet, so i threw it in the sock for good measure, gave my mum and two other prayerful auntie's to pick from d sock and all three picked EsOsa, so much for my fancy latin dreams

How did you go from Finance to Fashion?
It wasn't premeditated that's for sure, I had moved back from uni spent loads of money shopping for corporate Nigeria, then after a while I got bored of d cloths and needed bright colors in my closet so I made a few dresses with my mums tailor, wore those dresses to work and people kept complementing me, I never got that many compliments when I wore my fancy janded outfits hehehe, and when I told people I'd made them, people started asking if I could organize dresses for them.

Why did you decide to take your business online alone as opposed to have a fashion shop?
We live in a really traffic heavy city, most people work 7am-6pm spend 2 hours trying to get back home, weekends are parked with social events, when do u find the time to go to the high streets to shop, with the online portal your order comes right to your doorstep and saves u the Lagos hassle, also the online portal has no geographic restrictions.

What is your typical day like?
 Wake up, prayers, morning chores, go to the workshop and review what production orders are due in on the day,follow up with deliveries due in on the day with our courier partners, help with garment cutting and I just keep shuttling between the workshop and Bridal consultations, BBM consultations and trend research.

What do you love most about you what you do? 
The first sample production, Photo shoots and Bridal consultations, I have met so many amazing young women with amazing stories

What has been your best work ever?
Ahhh, I'd say that's yet to come.

What are the difficulties involved?
Making sure the business side of fashion tallies with the creative side, the struggle to stay affordable to the average consumer and profitable enough to grow the business, power, human capital.

If you weren't doing this, what would you have been doing?
Management consulting.

Have you ever felt like giving up on Esosa Stores?
OmG soooo many times!!!

Who or what inspires you?
My mum and the dream to have locally produced main street fashion.

Considering the level of success you have attained, youths out there would be itching to know how old you are.
Hehehehe, I wouldn't say I've attained that yet, but I am 24

Asides work, what do you do for fun?
Eat, Eat, watch ratchet tv, read business dailies, did I mention eat in there hehehe.

Advice to youths that wish to follow in your footsteps.
Pray, be determined and ready for the struggle, get a great support system.

Where do you see yourself and Esosa Stores five years from now?
God willing offering both apparel, leather wear and accessories and serving fashion lovers in Africa as well.

Lovely interview with Jen, now for some pictures.

Esosa Stores can be reached on:
Twitter- https://twitter.com/EsOsa__
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/esosa.stores?ref=ts&fref=ts
Email esosastores@hotmail.com
Pin: 2369244D
Phone Number : 07042181381
Website- http://www.esosastores.com/

Young and In Charge: Okang Ashiwel Ochui

I have been trying to come up with a suitable introduction for our first Young Person of the week fo the year 2013, but the words just seem to coming out wrong, maybe this has to do with the fact that he is a master of words. Meet Okang, our young person of the week, Lawyer turned consultant, what struck me the most about this interview was this statement 'I needed my law degree as a foundation for where I knew I was going to end up'. A lot of young people can relate to this statement from different angles, I, like Okang, personally needed my law degree because I needed a good foundation for what I wanted to eventually do with the rest of my life.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF?

My name is Okang Ashiwel Ochui. I’m from Obudu in Cross River State. Second son of four; Second Child of five. I am, in addition to being the Senior Customer Experience Consultant at MVRCK Consulting, a Writer, Lawyer, Poet, Blogger http://ashiwel.wordpress.com and shower time rock star (Laughs). I consider myself sapiosexual, a creative person, a lover of the Arts. Someone asked me the other day what kind of music I’d be if I was a melody, and I said I’d be a slow jazz song with no words, or a Beethoven symphony played on African instruments.

WHAT WAS GROWING UP LIKE?
Growing up was an eclectic mix of experiences for me. I grew up in small-town Obudu, where almost everyone knew everyone's parents or knew someone who did. It wasn't an affluent childhood; in fact, we lived it mostly below the poverty line. But there was laughter, and friendship, and songs around the dinner table with the neighbors' kids, and there was family; you know, the simple things that make life worthwhile. My parents were book lovers, and I inherited those book genes, reading everything I could find in sight including my Mother’s midwifery textbooks and Everywoman at the age of nine. And she would explain to me as best as she could whatever I had read and did not understand. It was all of those experiences that laid the foundation for the man that I am today.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND?
I went to a secondary school called Suleja Academy (now Federal Government Academy, Suleja) in Niger State. Like each of the school’s other nine hundred or so students, I was on a six year scholarship. The Academy was the country’s only Centre for Gifted and Talented children at the time. After secondary school, I was accepted into the University of Abuja’s Law Program, earning an LL.B degree in 2008. I went on to the Nigerian Law School Lagos that same year, and in November 2009, I was called to the Nigerian bar and awarded the BL Degree.

SO WHAT IS MVRCK CONSULTING ALL ABOUT? WHAT DOES IT MEAN AND HOW DID THE NAME COME ABOUT?
MVRCK Consulting is a Design, Creative Ideas and Customer Experience consulting firm. We help businesses create amazing customer experiences, corporate identities and branding. We also work with them on brand strategy, advertising, the design and production of marketing collaterals, and creative product and packaging design, The average Nigerian has become more exposed, more educated, more globalized. His tastes have become more refined, his expectations more demanding. And because the products and services available to him have become so alike that they fail to distinguish themselves by their quality, efficacy, reliability, assurance and care; the shrewd business must no longer rely on the above factors alone to win and keep customers but must give a unique identity to its products and create emotional associations with consumers. They must make brands of their products and services. Brands add emotion and trust to these products and services, thus providing clues that simplify consumers’ choice. It is these added emotions and trust that help to create a connection between brands and consumers, and consequently ensuring consumers’ loyalty to the brands. And that is what we do at MVRCK, we make brands.

HOW DID YOU GO FROM LAW TO CONSULTING?
Well, it was a quite natural progression for me, considering that I was gunning for experience in that area. I needed my law degree as a foundation for where I knew I was going to end up, but I also knew I hadn’t the patience for the slow pace of litigation as practiced in the country. I wanted to practice law at the speed of thought and not at a pace determined by endless adjournments and crowded cause lists. I arrived at this conclusion after about one year of legal practice. It was becoming increasingly apparent to me that I was headed for a career in consulting so I decided I needed to get as much experience as possible in as many related fields as possible. My first job after Youth Service was managing an upscale private hospital in Abuja called Kelina Hospital. I was Head of Operations there for about one year, after which I moved on to manage the offices of the overall event manager for the Nigeria at 50 celebrations who were working on a really huge project at the time that didn’t happen. In July 2012, I went off to Lagos for an internship at Alder Consulting. Before and during the period, I had begun to consult for friends, family, start-ups, small businesses and religious organizations, so it felt quite natural to set up a consulting practice at the end of it. That is pretty much the story of my transition.

WHAT IS YOUR TYPICAL DAY LIKE?
Most days usually begin with an email checking routine. Then I go online to read and do research. I follow a considerable number of magazines from Forbes to The Economist on Twitter and I usually read as much as I can daily. If we have a project, I begin to shape its general direction in my head; to give it creative direction, to coordinate the various members of the team working on it because sometimes, we can have them be in different cities and we have to sync them up. But generally, it is hard to define a typical day for me. Today doesn’t end until I go to bed.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOU WHAT YOU DO?
The fact that it is challenging, and creative and allows you to solve problems. The simple joy of being a part of someone’s success, the smile of the satisfied client. Those are the reasons I keep going.

WHAT’S BEEN YOUR BEST WORK EVER?
Well, we try to obsess over every single project we have worked on and to treat it like this will be our make or break project. So, technically, they have all been our best. However, my favourite projects will be the Havillah and Red Fever Projects. We had out-and-out creative freedom with those so we just took them and had a lot of fun with them.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED?
Well, we have our slow days and it gets financially challenging a lot of the time. I can’t tell you how many times we have been in the red, which is a nice way to say, broke. It’s a crowded market and it’s hard to win premium clients, especially because we are young, and because they generally prefer to work with the big names. Then there are clients who ask for the impossible, for example, good design will not cure a fundamentally bad idea, and all the great ideas in the world are of no use if the client won’t implement them and do what it takes to make them successful. People also make you offers based on business centre prices. They go, “Seriously? We can have this done in a cyber café and printed on conqueror paper for N5,000!” But then again, difficulties are a part of everyone’s journey, so…


IF YOU WEREN'T DOING THIS, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN DOING?
Hmmm, I think I’d probably want to work for one of those consulting firms, like KPMG or Ernst & Young. Chances are too that I’d be with an NGO, out there in the field, making impact, saving lives; anything that involves real problems that need creative solutions and long work days.

HAVE YOU EVER FELT LIKE GIVING UP ON MVRCK CONSULTING?
(Laughs) Of course! That usually happens when I'm drowning in an ocean of bills.

WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Simple things like friendship, laughter, music. My experiences, my mother and little sister. You know, beauty inspires beauty, and ideas inspire more ideas. So when I come across those, I often feel very inspired.

CONSIDERING THE LEVEL OF SUCCESS YOU HAVE ATTAINED, YOUTHS OUT THERE WOULD BE ITCHING TO KNOW HOW OLD YOU ARE.
Err… (Laughs)… I’m in my mid-twenties.

ASIDES WORK, WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN? 
Am I allowed to say work? (Laughs). Oh well, I write and I like to get together with friends every now and then. Sometimes I go see a movie, or go on an unplanned trip. But when work is fun, you tend to get lost in it.

ADVICE TO YOUTHS THAT WISH TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS.
The best advice I ever received came from my very senior friend, Mr. ‘Deroju Basorun and I’ll share it with everyone who wishes to walk this sometimes strenuous path. He said: the worst thing you can do to yourself is to let a little accomplishment make you feel accomplished. I also remember that Mr. Leke Alder said to me: “You cannot grow without reading…you have to keep reading broadly and extensively”. I have tried to let those words guide me ever since and I think they might prove useful advice to anyone who wishes to follow in my small footsteps. Finally, I’d like to add that you must disregard the clichéd thinking-outside-the-box buzz phrase and realize that there is no box at all. All of the “boxes” I have ever encountered since we began this were created by the same people wishing to think outside the box.


As always, let the pictures do the talking, pictures of some of MVRCK's final product.

Okang can be reached on:
Phone: +2347033114838
Email: wordsculpture@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/okang.ochui?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamashiwel
You can also check out his blog http://ashiwel.wordpress.com