Stories That Touch: "How I studied in Canada as an orphan"

How long have you been in Canada?

I came to Canada as an undergraduate in 2012 and got my PR three years later.

Wow! That’s a decade.

Yes!

How has staying in Canada been?

It’s been great.

I have enjoyed building my career and growing my family here. The exposure and opportunities are endless.

Did you always know you were going to study abroad?

I grew up as an only child who had financially comfortable parents. My dad worked at an oil and gas firm while my mum worked as a dentist in a private hospital. We usually spent our family holidays outside Nigeria. My parents wanted me to have my primary and secondary school education in Nigeria to understand our culture. In my mum’s words, I had to become a proper Naija boy. We, however, always spoke about the family relocating after my secondary school.

Soft Life!

*laughs.

I have my parents to thank. They took care of me even in death.

I was going to address that but I didn’t want to be too direct. Are you okay with me asking how it happened?

It’s fine.

I have made peace with it. My parents died in a car accident back from a wedding. They were travelling back to Lagos from Ibadan. I still believe they could have survived if we had fast and reliable healthcare in Nigeria. It’s one of the reasons I knew I had to leave.

So sorry to hear that, but how were you able to even after their death?

I was already done with secondary school and had gotten admission to study in Canada when the accident.

I had to defer cause I wasn’t emotionally stable.

During this period, I got a call from an Insurance company informing me that my parents had opened an education plan right from when I was born. When the firm’s representative told me how much I had as a claim, I couldn’t believe it.

Why did that shock you? I would have expected that your parents left you with enough.

Sadly, they didn’t have a will. Hence, my dad’s family members took advantage of this and took everything. I was living with my mum’s younger sister when I got the news. It was just perfect timing. I was already planning to apply to a school in Nigeria cause I could no longer afford to study in Canada.

Talk about planning for the unforeseen, it feels like your parents saw the future.

Yes, I could say that myself. I’m grateful for how they were intentional about planning for my future. I have extended the same to my children. I set up an education insurance plan for all of them.

That’s nice! Thank you for talking with us.

Stories That Touch: "From Serial Entrepreneur to Serial Debtor"

Tell us your first experience with making money

Well, I used to take a lot of contrabands such as sweets and chocolates to my secondary boarding school. I noticed my dorm mates weren’t good at sneaking theirs in. Hence, they would result in begging from me. So, I started offering it to them at a price and they jumped at the offer. That’s how I got the nickname Contra Mama. I became the go-to for contrabands and I made sweet money from it. I was selling an item for over double the price of the initial cost.

Impressive! So was that when you decided to be a Business Owner

No, I wanted to be a Lawyer. I studied law at the University of Lagos. However, right from year one, I was into one business or the other. I always took advantage of my environment and created opportunities for them.

Do you think it has anything to do with how you were raised?

Hmmm! That’s very possible. My mum is a Medical Laboratory Scientist but she runs a SuperMart. Thinking back now, I think my mum has dived into several businesses. I remember her selling gold, fabrics and even paint at different times. So maybe you’re right, she may have had an impact on me.

Now, let’s talk about running a business while being a Law Student. How was that?

I actually ran 3 businesses.

What!!!

*laughs, Yes. I sold wigs, jewelry, shoes and bags. That’s 4 businesses actually.

Well, it was pretty easy for me. I had a lot of referrals and made use of social media to promote my business as well. I did that till I graduated. My business was doing so well that I decided to skip Law School and focus solely on being an entrepreneur. If only I knew, I’d have chosen differently.

Really?! What makes you say that?

Well, I guess it was pretty much a lack of information on my part or maybe I knew and I just chose to ignore it. My business was doing so well; I never thought about saving. So I always reinvested the money into the business or used the profits on funding my baby girl lifestyle.

Sometime last year, I made a huge purchase of human hair from China. However, I got scammed and I lost a lot of money. It’s been difficult to bounce back as I have no savings. I had to borrow money from friends and family to pay my customers who made early payments for preorders.

That’s sad to hear. What’s the next step for you?

Well, first I have to settle all my debts. I’m running sales so I can make some money selling off some old wares.

My elder sister already promised to support me with capital to reorder the goods. So, I'm going to start my business again.

What do you plan to do differently this time?

It’s a case of once bitten, twice shy. This time around, I’m saving as I’m making a profit. I can’t afford to let what happened repeat itself.

I already opened a LifeTime Savings plan with Enterprise Life. I’m really excited to get back to my regular way of doing business.

Stories That Touch: "How I missed out on going to my dream school"

What was growing up like?

I am an only child, and I attended a private primary and secondary school. My dad worked at a Telecom company and mum is a lab scientist. Hence, we lived well above average. When I was 9, my father was diagnosed with Lung cancer. He died shortly after. After he died, I also spent some time with my uncle at Ikorodu, where I had lots of friends to play with, and it was fun.

Sorry about your dad, how did your dad’s death change things?

Well, it was just my mum and I so we were able to survive with her salary. That was until she had an emotional breakdown which made her lose her job. This was when things got really messy. It affected me as well as I started to lose focus in school. I remember I was preparing to write my common entrance exam.

That’s really sad to hear. How did you survive?

A few months after she lost her job, things went really bad. She had exhausted her little savings and family members started to withdraw. We moved out of our 2-room apartment to rent a self-contained room.

When I was in SS1, my mum took me to my uncle’s place at Ikorodu to start living there. I finished secondary school at my uncle’s place. I gained admission into a German University to study computer science but I lost the opportunity.

How?

Well, even though I had a scholarship. We couldn’t afford the travel expenses.

So were you away from your mum throughout your stay at Ikorodu?

No, she came to visit me from time to time. I always missed her. I visited her once in a while too.

So were you away from your mum throughout your stay at Ikorodu?

No, she came to visit me from time to time. I always missed her. I visited her once in a while too.

How do you think she managed without you?

She always tried to convince me that she was fine whenever she came around but I could see she wasn’t.

She was able to set up a small lab with the help of her siblings and that helped us a bit. I went back to stay with her to help with the lab while preparing for university.

Which university is that?

I got admission to study Mathematics at Obafemi Awolowo University and graduated in 2016. I attended a free coding training session in school and that’s how I started coding.

Interesting! I love that you jumped on the opportunity. So, why tech?

Well, I’ve also been fascinated with computers. My uncle was a Computer Engineer and while I was at his place; he noticed my interest in computers. This was why he advised me to study Computer Science in university. He’d always say that computers will make me more relevant in the future.

Nice, did they really make you more relevant?

When I was in my final year, which was 4 years of learning how to write code and working for free. I got my first freelance job as a Front-End Website Developer. The company paid me N145, 000. I thought I was dreaming. I still clearly remember calling my mum to tell her the good news. I also sent her my first salary.

Now that I look back at it, that job was my breakthrough into the industry. The client liked my work and from there I got referrals, built a strong portfolio. By the time I was serving, I was already working with a Fintech company. Safe to say I was a Lagos Big-boy.

Oshey! Tech bro. Share this money now.

What would you say is the greatest lesson you’ve learnt in life?

I think I’d draw my biggest lesson from my parents’ life. When life is rosy, always prepare for the rainy days cause life is full of surprises. I don’t think anybody would have guessed that my dad would leave us so soon. I know he loved for me to go to Germany to study Computer Science.

I’m inputting these lessons into how I raise my family which is why I already know I’m getting a Child Educare plan for my children immediately after they are born. It’s really never too early to plan for your child’s future.

Stories That Touch: “ Losing my job ended my dreams of relocation”

Tell us a bit about your childhood

I was a very inquisitive child and luckily for me my parents encouraged it. As the last born, I got a lot of attention and that meant whatever I wanted I got. So I had lots of toys and I remember dismantling them all in the name of trying to find out how they were built. My siblings would be furious especially when it was a gift from them but then my mum would always cover for me saying I was going to be an Engineer. Hence, they should let me be. To be fair, I did manage to assemble most of the toys I dismantled, plus I remember fixing my dad’s radio at age 11.

How many siblings do you have?

I have 2 siblings. Two elder sisters, actually.

Nice! What else were you interested in?

Books!!! I loved reading. I think I was influenced by my environment. My dad studied Literature and he loved reading as well, my sisters also loved reading. We had a library filled with old books and he always encouraged us to read. As far back as primary school, I had read Pride and Prejudice. Even Though, I didn’t fully comprehend it. I always enjoyed traveling to new places through books. I knew I wanted to live abroad when I was older.

You’re one of the few people who actually practiced their childhood ambition. How did that happen?

Well, I think my parents played a huge role in this. Although, we were of the middle class, they ensured I never lacked anything when it came to my education. I remember falling behind in Math in secondary school. I had two lesson tutors, one at school during break and then one at home after school and during the weekends. They were really invested in my education. I think it also helped that my nickname was Engineer. I put in so much effort into my admissions exams that I was really surprised when my name was on the Merit list of Mechanical Engineering courses.

How did school go?

School was good to me. I have always been invested in my books and my lecturers seem to take a liking to that. Hence, it was easy for me to ask questions even outside classes. That really helped with my grades. I started topping my class in my second year and it stayed that way till I graduated.

Ahn ahn! You didn’t tell me I was talking to a genius.

*laughs. Please do. We’re all geniuses.

No o! You’re a First Class graduate. There are some levels to this. *laughs

It must have been easy to land a job. So tell me, how did you kick-start your career?

Well, to be honest it was. Remember, I said I was close to my lecturers. During the break before my 3rd year, one of my lecturers had gotten me an internship with a top multinational company. They were impressed with my output and every break I’d intern with them. Immediately after I graduated they sent me on a 3 months training course in Korea. It was an amazing opportunity for me, my parents were so proud.

I worked with them for 5 years before I got an offer I couldn’t resist on LinkedIn. It was for an oil and gas company.

God When! Should I say you had it easy.

Well, maybe then but certainly not now.

My plan was to work with the company for another 3 years, save up and then relocate to Canada.

But life had other plans, sometimes I wish I didn’t take the job but we can’t change the past.

Hmm! What changed your plans.

I got posted to Port Harcourt to work on some oil tanks. It was pretty exciting and the experience changed my career, not just in the way I had expected.

How so?!

In my second month, there was a technical mishap on the field as a result of an error from me. I was one of the few gravely affected and was in a coma for two months. When I woke up I realized I had lost both of my hands. It took me a long while to adjust to reality but what made it even worse was that I couldn’t go back to the job I loved so much.

That’s so sad. What did you do next?

At that point, I didn't really do much thinking. I moved back to my parents who were very supportive. I realized that my dream of relocating was going to be harder than I had imagined. I didn’t have so much savings from my previous job as I was living a Lagos big boy life.

I’m currently trying to adjust to living with no hands and trying to get prosthetic hands with the money allocated to me from the company.

Is there anything you wish you knew earlier?

Yes, I wish I didn’t take early success in life for granted. I would have been better prepared for anything life would have thrown at me. I mean I didn’t think anything could change my lifestyle.

I mean now, I know better. I recently spoke to an ex-colleague and told him to get an Income Protection plan from Enterprise Life so he can always have a backup to fund his dreams and lifestyle incase of any critical mishaps during the course of work.

I’ve also started saving with the Enterprise LifeTime Needs plan with the money I get from friends and family. My dreams of relocating are still valid; they may just take longer.

4 Bonding Activities for Newlyweds

Marriage is full of many ups and downs, adventures, and incredible memories with the person you love.

The awesome joy that comes with being newlywed is indescribable, finally together with the one you love, no limitations or restrictions, you can both finally do all that you had planned to do once married. But is that where it ends? What happens when you have ticked every item off the list?

Well, here are 4 bonding activities to try out:

1)Cooking:

This is a wonderful activity a couple can use to spend time with each other. It not only helps them to nourish themselves, but it also allows them some time to interact with each other. Cooking with your newly wedded wife or husband is so romantic in more ways than one; it also provides you with ample time to bond and let your love for each other grow deeper

2)Cleaning the house:

Just like cooking, cleaning the house is a chore that has the advantage of helping couples stay organized and neat while it also allows them time to interact with each other. It’s not just a repetitive process of getting rid of dirty dishes or dusting out the house, having fun with the chores and flirting with your partner. It adds more joy and brings you closer to yourselves.

3)Watching a movie:

Watching interesting programs on television is another fun way couples can relax and have a good time together. Some newlyweds make find it awkward or tense to talk romantically to their partner. Movies can make it easier and a lot more comfortable. It also helps couples prioritize time together to make a connection and open a little. It sometimes sheds some light on the vulnerability and romanticism of your partner.

4)Saving and investing:

The great marriages are partnerships. It can’t be a great marriage without being a partnership.

Saving and investing together is the perfect way to partner in marriage. As a comfortable family is a happy family and poor finance can lead to a drop in the joy and happiness of a new couple as they will be saddled with numerous expenses. When couples set futuristic goals together, they have something in common to look forward to and to work for. This not only makes them feel alive and happy, but it also reminds them that they are teammates in their relationship.

Marriages require endless love and intentionality to thrive. All of these activities will assist you and your spouse in bonding easily. Some of these activities may necessitate proximity and understanding before being attempt. So, have a conversation with your partner and then make a strategy together.

4 ways to express love to your family

We find it very easy to say we love our families, but do we show them that we do. The love amongst families comes with its unique feelings, behaviours, challenges, and rewards. You must be intentional about finding ways to show and grow love in the family.

And guess what? Family isn’t just about blood relations, as friends become family.

It’s easy to get consumed with our busy schedules and dream chasing that we forget what’s important to us- FAMILY. You should also realize that there is no perfect time to show love to your family. It shouldn't be reserved for just holidays and grand gestures. It’s the little things we do and how we do them every day.

Here are 4 ways you can express love to your family all year ‘round.

1- Communicate daily- As simple as this sounds, many of us hardly find time to actively listen to our family members and friends. By taking an active interest in their lives whether it’s listening to details of their long day or just letting them vent. It could also be as simple as asking your parents about their new interests and hobbies or listening and talking to your children. It will help the family feel closer and develop a deeper emotional connection.

2- Show physical affection- Sometimes, all you need is a hug or smile to brighten up a person’s day whether it’s your parents, spouse or child. Being physically affectionate will also encourage the whole household to do the same. When kids see their parents being affectionate it shows what a loving relationship should look like.

3- Spend quality time together- The lack of quality time takes a toll on all kinds of relationships whether between couples, parents and their children, or siblings. Take time off and spend it performing bonding activities such as cooking together, going for walks, shopping etc.

4- Secure their future- The greatest love letter ever written to a family is a Life Insurance. By having a life insurance you’re making sure your family which includes your spouse, parent or children will be well taken care of in your absence. When you prepare for life's surprises it shows how deeply you care about your family’s well being. You can call a Life Planner on 0700 3683 777 473 to find a plan that works for you and your family.

Remember to not only show love to your family but to say it as well. Don’t expect your family members to know just because you think you are demonstrating it through your behaviour. People need to hear it, say the words, ‘I love you’ as often as you can. When you say ‘I love you’, it is the ultimate validation and confirmation of their feelings about your action. It is like an unwritten contract of affection between two people.

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.

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.