Stories That Touch: "I never imagined life without my father"

Tell us a bit about your childhood

I like to think my childhood is my favourite part of my entire existence. I was an only child for 10 years and had all the attention to myself. I remember my dad traveling and returning with lots of toys and chocolates. My mum made the best yam porridge, and she made it whenever I wanted. She was a stay at home mum. I remember the day she told me she was pregnant with my little sister. I was so excited, finally I’d have someone to play with. Little did I know I’d get more than I bargained for.

So, what happened?

Well, my mum had twins, a girl and a boy. Next thing I know, I was mum number 2. It wasn’t so bad though because we had two helpers at home at the time. Also, it was only for the holidays, as I got enrolled into a boarding school. Boarding school was amazing, I went to a private boarding school in Victoria Island. My dad also worked there so he dropped at my school quite often with gifts. I like to think that’s why my love language is receiving gifts. My dad loved to spoil me silly with gifts.

Daddy’s girl, so you grew up rich.

Yes, I don’t recall a time we ever had to struggle for money. My mum didn’t work but I remember she enjoyed hosting parties. She also used to buy a lot of clothes. I remember seeing different vendors in our house trying to sell to my mum. I think my dad started a new business at this time. We also started taking family vacations abroad during this period. Life was perfect! I didn’t think I’d ever have to worry about a thing, my daddy was always there to provide. Well, that was until everything changed.

What do you mean by life?

My dad died in a car accident in my second year in university. My mum took a while to adjust to our new reality. She sold some of my dad’s property and started a retail fabric business. She had a hard time managing the business. Soon we had only the house we lived in and one car left to our name. I’m still amazed at how fast our lives changed. I sometimes feel like my mum could have managed our funds better but how can I blame her; no one prepared for this.

My mum was adamant about retaining my siblings in their highbrow private school while I was in a private university. This meant we had very little to run the house after paying school fees. At some point, my allowance became irregular. So, I stopped asking.

How did you survive then?

I started selling Shawarma in school.

Shawarma?! How did that start?

Shawarma wasn’t allowed in my school. However, I had my way of getting one for myself. If you went to my school, trust me you’d understand how big of a deal it was to get hold of anything that contained meat. People started asking me to get for the

m as well. So, I doubled the price. I’d buy the Shawarma at the price of N500 and sell it for N1000. Soon, word spread and I was making at least 30k a week. I did this till I was in my final year. I had to stop because I couldn’t risk being suspended at my final phase.

Wow! Talk about a Risk Taker. How’s life going now?

I interned at my late dad’s friend’s agency. This was where I picked up an interest in design. I started learning on my own, started with graphics design. During this period, my mum’s business started to fair pretty well so I was able to pay for Product Design classes.

Ahn Ahn! Tech sis in the building

*laughs* Don’t start o. I mean the journey has been good, I can’t lie. I now work with a startup fintech and I run a couple of side gigs once in a while.

I send money to my mum regularly and I started a poultry business with her supervision. I also have investments in stock and crypto.

That’s really nice. How often do you miss your dad?

ALL THE TIME! I miss him so much. I never imagined life without him. I was pretty sure I was going to be a daddy’s girl for life but life has its way of surprising us. Sometimes I wish he saw the future and made a backup plan for us to fall back on.

Wow! There you have it, don't wait for life to happen.

Get a backup plan with Enterprise Life today to secure your family's future.

Life Behind the Lights, Camera & Action

There is no script on becoming an actor - Zainab Balogun

We are Enterprise Life, and we are delighted to present another episode of our podcast, This Is Life.

This episode brings diverse voices from Television, Film and Production to sit down and discuss creating value beyond the screen, and give a fresh, exciting take on life in the movie business.

Our host Akah Nnani, actor and presenter extraordinaire, gets cozy with residents of Tinsel town - Deborah Odutayo, Deyemi Okanlawon, Ufuoma McDermott, Zainab Balogun-Nwachukwu and Bolanle Olukanni, as they take us through their journey in Nollywood; the highs, lows and everything in-between.

We take a look behind the scenes on the cost of working in Nollywood - double crossing, building relationships and funding.

Listeners are given exclusive insights into the workings of the film industry, and a peek behind the lights and glamour. Insights that may prove useful to those intending to become players in the industry, or anyone curious about life behind the Lights, Camera, Action.

Learn from actress, model and TV Presenter, Zainab Balogun, as she speaks on becoming a better performer and the importance of networking. Hear her speak about letting go of attachment to a scene, being vulnerable by putting herself out there for criticism and how having high standards have been mistaken for diva behavior.

Veteran producer, Deborah Odutayo shines light on relationships with people. She talks about working with difficult actors and how treating her cast like family helps. She also opens up about her victories and the betrayals during her stint as the president of Electronic Media Content Owners Association of Nigeria (EMCOAN).

Ex-model turned actor and filmmaker, Ufoma McDermott, brought a practical approach to the table, speaking on the stigma around competition, as well as the lack of funding and support for Nollywood. She also highlighted how applying the ethics she picked up in business school has given her an edge in the industry.

Deyemi Okanlawon tells us about his transition from the corporate world to that of film and the importance of his wife’s support in the process. He also speaks about protecting his brand, and how he draws the line between inspiration versus competition, and losing important scenes during editing.

Presenter, Bolanle speaks on her stint as an actor, the dilemma of turning down passion projects in favour of paying ones; on choosing gigs based on what aligns with her values, and winning without compromising her values.

How do you distinguish between healthy competition and bitter rivalry, in an industry where being at the top of your game is important? Get the answer and other exciting tit bits and so much more on this episode.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify or stream it on YouTube.

The Business Side of Life

Speed and Execution is the currency - Ayo Akinola

We are Enterprise Life and we are pleased to present to you the latest episode of our podcast- This is Life.

On our latest episode, industry professionals discuss life, relationships and mentoring in the corporate sector.

Our host, actor and presenter Akah Nnani gets serious with Dr. Chinonso Egemba aka Aproko Doctor, Ayo Akinola, Ejiro Kunle-Hassan and Bukky Akomolafe as they discuss mentorships, practicality and relationships in the corporate space.

Listen to medical doctor and educator, Chinonso Egemba, popularly known by his online moniker: Aproko Doctor, as he speaks on navigating his novel field, why practicality works better than theories, the dangers of bad bedside manners and the edge corporate life gave him in his creative endeavours.

Hear the Head of Business Development at Piggyvest, Ayo Akinola, give a candid take on leaders outgrowing their company and the progressive work culture of Piggyvest.

The Tech Entrepreneur engages us on how he manages to balance work so it doesn’t spill into his personal life and the effects of work culture on a personal brand. He also discusses his transition from mentee to mentor as well as his secret hack to levelling up.

We are treated to an insider’s view of Oil and Gas as Ejiro Kunle-Hassan, a young expert speaks on avoiding the pitfalls of being mediocre and why result-oriented people make the most success. She then explores why she has a work persona, why her skill set and knowledge are her most useful tools and learning the unwritten rules of the workplace.

Finally, we have Bukky Akomolafe, the Country Manager for Travelstart, who relates her love for growing companies with her beliefs on why the next generation of Nigerian Corporates would change the workplace.

She also debunks the notion of the laid back Nigerian youth, while touching on the evolution of personal brand for the modern corporate space plus the need to always perform.

Our two female panellists shed light on the pressure of appearances of women in the corporate sector, inappropriate workplace interactions, and how they stay true to their brand while putting their best foot forward.

Our guests who have excelled in their chosen fields touch on the very vital topic of mentors versus sponsors, a topic which corporates would find useful and applicable as they scale up the work ladder.

What is the difference between a role model, a sponsor, and a mentor?

Listen to the full podcast here: https://bit.ly/3AhMVIc

This is Life: Turning Passion To Profit

We are Enterprise Life, and we are pleased to serve you another sizzling hot episode of This is Life, where thought leaders and industry professionals discuss life in content creation.

On this week’s episode our host, actor and presenter, Akah Nnani, settles down with Chef Gbubemi Fregene, Yemisi Sophie Odusanya, Winifred Nwania and Jimmie Akinsola to discuss monetizing hobbies and pioneering their fields.

Chef Gbubemi Fregene popularly known as Chef Fregz serves us a story, more like an epiphany when entering his field during NYSC; how he deals with overconfidence and making the most of his platform as a Nigerian chef.

Food content creator, Yemisi Sophie Odusanya, known online as Sisi Yemmie speaks on turning her hobby into a lucrative business, dealing with the fear of public failure and becoming a face for Nigerian cuisine.

Vlogger and food entrepreneur, Winifred Nwania, talks about changing the Nigerian food space and her journey towards becoming a certified food nutritionist. She tells us how she uses social media to boost the local food industry and create an authentic African eating experience.

Then we have Sports Desk Manager and host Jimmie Akinsola, talk on monetizing his passion for sports and TV.

The sports enthusiast also speaks on how he uses his performance jitters to improve his performance on stage and his dream to put Nigerians in his industry on the same footing internationally.

Join our guests as they speak on opportunities to be found in the Nigerian creative space and hear how they transformed their regrets into something better.

How do you scale up your platform and content to an international level?

Find out these and more on the This is Life Podcast.

This is Life: The Art of Life

Know yourself and your value, the world will adjust- Wofai Fada

We are Enterprise Life and are pleased to present to you our brand new podcast: This is Life.

On This is Life we bring in thought leaders and industry professionals to give an unfiltered perspective on life. From the music business to spoken word and poetry, comedy, food and lifestyle…they all find a common ground on this podcast.

In this premiere episode, our host Akah Nnani the famous actor and presenter explores with celebrities- Ric Hassani, Precious Emmanuel, Wana Udobang and Wofai Fada on the different aspects of being entertainers or creatives as we love to call them.

We take a deep dive into our guests’ raw emotions, their joys, laughter and mental space; the feelings behind the art and the creators of the art.

With applicable insights for budding creatives on their journey to self-discovery and freedom to be themselves.

We invite you to share the life of Wana as she lets us into how she was able to turn her past trauma and vulnerabilities into powerful art, and learning to accept herself.

Precious Emmanuel also discusses how his father's love for music pushed him to find his voice, as well as his unique way of handling trolls and body shaming.

And it gets more interesting as we catch a glimpse of the world of Wofai Fada.

Wofai spoke about the misconceptions of being a female comic, dealing with toxic friendships, putting herself out in the world and living her authentic truth while inspiring others to do the same.

It didn’t end there as the “Thunder Fire You” crooner, Ric Hassani narrates his growing pains in the industry, establishing his self-worth, and the long journey into becoming his own person.

Our guests are full of advice for newcomers in the industry, the advice they noted their younger selves would have found useful when starting out.

But, as they noted, their trial by fire made them into the people they have become today. Without the hardships and experiences, they might not have found out who they truly are.

Topics like being seen as a tool of their craft rather than individuals, navigating difficult and overzealous fans; to bullying and the weight of expectations, were just a few of the issues that our guests had to tell us.

How do you know your worth, pricing your art and upscaling your creation?

Click this link to watch the first episode of This is Life and find out.

Enterprise Life: Your Access To Ease and Convenience

How would you define ease and convenience?

A life where struggles no longer exist or a world where everything can be achieved without difficulty?

A reality where you can accomplish whatever you desire because all the pressure that comes with “what ifs” have been taken away, and now you can do the unimaginable?

Imagine a world where you have access to everything that speaks ease.

No struggles, no difficulties, no worries just because you are part of a New Life that wants you to have an advantage over “what ifs”.

With a well-thought-out plan and guidance from professionals, you can have the capacity to create a future for yourself and your loved ones that revolves around ease and appropriate planning.

What are the features of this New Life?

Picture a life where you have a partner who constantly guides all your decisions and takes away the weight of life’s uncertainties.

This partner understands your struggles and wants to ensure that you achieve all your goals regardless of the limitations you face.

Our motivation is to take away unnecessary pressure and replace it with absolute convenience. This entails giving you the direction you need to make well-informed decisions that are in your best interest. Without guided decisions, it is almost impossible to live your best life.

When you think of Enterprise Life, think of a partner that invests much effort and time into helping you live your life to the fullest and leave a legacy that your loved ones will cherish and appreciate.

How is this achieved?

First, we give you unrestricted access to Life Planners who have experience in helping you choose and create policies that best meet your needs.

We ensure all our Life Planners foster relationships with you to effectively understand your specific needs because one size never fits all. Whatever conversations you need to have concerning your needs, our Life Planners are readily available to provide any clarity you might require.

Also, our Life Planners are professionals who remove the burden of trying to navigate through numerous decisions and introduce you to a New Life where struggles and difficulties do not exist.

Furthermore, we have provided clients across Africa with Life Insurance solutions that are superior, unique, and relevant.

Imagine your current reality turning around for the better in a nick of time because of a particular relationship that exposes you to different levels of advantage.

Finally, we understand the struggles attached to complex insurance services that customers barely understand. This puts you at a disadvantage because you are left with insurance services that do not cater to your specific needs. At Enterprise Life, we understand these peculiar limitations, which is why we offer you the exact opposite of that. “AN ADVANTAGE” that cannot be enjoyed anywhere else.

Providing ease and convenience is a key priority for us at Enterprise Life. With this, you can utilize your true capacity and focus on other vital things instead of constantly worrying about “what ifs”.

When all your concerns are being taken care of, you can Live Your Best Life and enjoy all the beautiful moments life brings.

Now is the time to take that bold step and change how you live. A better life actually exists and it's with Enterprise Life.