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.

5 Easy Steps to Secure your Child's Future

In a world filled with uncertainties, you should take thoughtful steps towards securing your child’s future with thoughtful planning.

Whether you’re a brand new parent, you’ve been a parent for a while or you’re just planning ahead. There are so many ways you can plan for your child to have a great life both in your care and as they grow and learn about the world around them.

Here are 5 easy steps to secure your child’s future

1) Invest in their education: Education is the best gift and legacy you can give a child. There is a need for proper financial planning of their educational needs as the future is unpredictable.

Enterprise Life’s Educare plan is a way to achieve this. It provides an avenue for parents to save and prepare towards the aforementioned growing cost of education whilst giving them some life cover which guarantees the child’s education.

2) Teach them financial literacy: As a parent you constantly look out for your child’s best interest whether it’s selecting a school, shopping for clothes or deciding what meals to make for them. You’re intentional about setting them on the rest path for success in life.

This is why you should ensure you teach your children good money habits such as saving, budgeting and investing early in life. This way, you set them on a path to becoming successful and financially free adults.

3)Avoid debts: When saddled with debts it is difficult to make wise financial decisions that benefit your children. You also do not want to leave them with a heavy burden for when life happens. It’s best to avoid unwarranted debts by taking proper inventory of one’s needs and wants.

The Life Planners at Enterprise Life are trained professionals who help with proper management of finances. They are your go-to personnel to live a financially free life.

4) Have a Will: What is a will? A will is a legal document that sets forth your wishes regarding the distribution of your property and the care of any minor children.

A will is not just a piece of paper carrying out your last wishes. It’s the continuity of a legacy and it’s just right to do it the right way.

5) Get a Life Insurance Life: Life is full of the unexpected, so surprises are bound to happen. It is not uncommon for life to change as you know it in a blink of an eye. Unfortunately, many people do not prepare ahead and their loved ones suffer from this. A Life Insurance is simply the best way to ensure your family is well taken care of in case life happens. It is the best love letter written to a family.

So there you have it, life choices are often not easy to make as it requires a certain amount of consideration and deliberation. This is why you should ensure to seek the right people or personnel such as the Life Planners at Enterprise Life to help make those lasting decisions.

If you have a child or are expecting one soon, start planning for their future early. Invest in opportunities that will help in securing their future.

The sooner you start, the better.