FreeeAfrica, FreeeAfrica, FreeeAfrica

Let’s go Hollywood for a minute.

One of the best scenes ever captured on the big screen was in the movie Braveheart as William Wallace was asked to beg for mercy or his life as he knew it would be over. As on-lookers and the locals chanted and pleaded for him to just utter the word MERCY; William, a man of great conviction yelled out FREEE-DOM!!!!

And just like that his legend grew and his life was celebrated.

So why did I bring this up?

Ok people; let me get focused...

How many centuries, decades and lost generations have we as people thrown away due to greed, hypocrisy and discontent? Myself, I am three decades into musical chairs of propaganda. If there is one thing that I want in my next three decades, it would be the experience of seeing a rebirth of life put back into my beloved continent.

This week’s post is not about Nigeria and Nigeria's problems alone. It is about the birth place of man, AFRICA! You know that one place people often typically consider an after thought and make there way around in their travels as if it does not exist.

Growing up, I had difficulty understanding the concept of "TEAM" playing amateur sports. Well; “TEAM” stands for "Together Everyone Achieves More" and in Africa it is imperative that we come together and work collectively as one.

A young man that lives by this principal and is working to better the continent is the founder of Freeeafrica Mr. Hamid Bundu.  In recent months we have connected and shared with one another our ideas and vision for our respective countries, people and homeland. Mr. Bundu’s energy, commitment and passion for the continent of Africa is unwavering.

Here are excerpts from a recent interview recently conducted with the man promoting his Freeeafrica Enterprise.

Panko:         Tell me about Freeeafrica

Hamid:         Freeeafrica is an organization that encourages Africans to contribute to their communities through entrepreneurship. Our motto is: Entrepreneurship – Enterprise – Empowerment. These three components can solve many socio-economic ills which continue to plague our communities while providing Africa with a permanent seat in the global economy. As part of our research on the success of entrepreneurship in Africa, we identified groups that are vital to its success:

1.      Entrepreneurs – Individuals and groups that have the ideas, the passion and a burning desire to see projects through

2.      Advocates – Individuals and groups that believe in the ideas of the entrepreneurs and provide endless resources and support towards the projects

3.      Investors -  Individuals and groups that invest in projects

Freeeafrica provides an online community where African entrepreneurs come together and crowd source on entrepreneurial ideas and/or ventures that can solve economic and social problems in Africa.

Panko:            Why did this type of work interest you? And how did

                   you get started?

Hamid:           We believe that Africa can sustain itself and provide durable solutions for its problems. We believe that Africans (In Africa & Diaspora) can contribute by building Small & Medium Sized Business (SMEs) that will create economic opportunities and satisfy consumer needs. We wanted to create an online community that gives information on entrepreneurship and the benefits of having enterprises that can drive innovation and empower the people of Africa.

Panko:            What part of this work do you personally find most satisfying? Most challenging? What do you like/not like about working in this industry?

Hamid:         It is my passion to help Mother Africa in every little way that I can. The most challenging part of this work is connecting the groups. It is difficult to get people to work together; “it’s tough”. Here is the thing, it’s like we (Africans) are all in the same classroom working on the same project (Development). We are all unique in our special ways, and instead of working together towards the common goal we choose to work separately. This makes it challenging; we often fail to see that we need to work together. Africa needs a paradigm shift; - we need to change our approach and how we perceive African economic problems. Synergy.

                        The most satisfying is definitely connecting the dots and helping others.

Panko:            How does Freeeafrica make use of technology?

Hamid:           Our platform revolves around technology. We strive to use Information and Communicational Technologies (ICTs) to bridge the gap between the continent and the Diaspora. We believe in Project Management and we understand the importance of technology in the context of economic development. We use technology to connect Entrepreneurs and also to help them manage and execute their projects.

Panko:            What changes are occurring in your industry at the moment?

Hamid:           We are seeing more entrepreneurs stepping up to the plate. Africa is rising; in Africa we have approximately 900 million consumers and the market is flexible, meaning there is a demand for various products and services in every sector. Technology is coming to Africa at a very fast pace, the use of the internet has grown, mobile penetration is increasing. Moreover, the digital divide (the difference between those with access to internet and those that do not have access to the internet) is narrowing and that is good for entrepreneurs, business and African economies. We are looking forward to governments introducing policies that will encourage e-commerce. The business culture is changing, many African countries are rebranding, the new message across the board is “Open for Business”; a good example of this transformation is with post conflict countries like Rwanda and my home country Sierra Leone.

Panko:            What are the keys to advancement for Africa in your

                   opinion?

Hamid:           In the field of entrepreneurship, we need more Venture Capitalists.              
1. The Entrepreneurs are dedicated. They have the drive to see their ideas come to life.
2. The Advocates are buying into innovative and sustainable ideas of the Entrepreneurs and the
last piece of the puzzle.
3. The Investors, they hold the key to allowing these ventures to grow. After all is said and done, Africa needs political stability for Entrepreneurship to thrive.

Young men/women between the ages of 18-40 are the key to Africa’s advancement. This group wants to have a stable political and economic environment in order to flourish.

Panko:            What advise would you give someone interested in your profession? Are there any written materials you would suggest as a good resource?

Hamid:           The main thing is to do what you love and evidently Africa can use your skills. So whatever line of business you are in, there is a good chance that there is a demand for it in Africa. It’s a win/win situation, you can fulfill your dreams while satisfying consumer needs and creating a better life for millions of people.

                        The following books are very informational and they can certainly help:

1.      The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novogratz

2.      Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo

3.      Africa Rising by Vijay Mahajan

4.      Africa’s Greatest Entrepreneurs by Moyo Makura

Take Charge!!!

What Your Vote Truly Represents

This week on the blogspot we go-in and touch on politics a little bit (I promise to get back to the interviews next week). Just my observations on the state of leadership and governance here in America and back home in Nigeria. Nothing too deep or serious; however, what is important is the role we play as individuals in all of this.

Ok people; let me get focused…

So the much anticipated and highly controversial Nigerian elections will conclude after this week’s gubernatorial races are decided. What does all this mean for Nigeria going forward? The fact is there are so many parallels one can draw from in the month long Nigerian elections that are eerily similar to that of the United States. It is now to the point I am having difficulty distinguishing one from the other. 

Here are a few things to consider:

Why is it that in Nigeria & United States elections when the opposition loses; all that is ever presented to the public is allegations of rigging or cheating that propelled the winning side to victory? Sad to witness that with all the sophistications and technologies that have been amassed over the years there is no such thing as “Free & Fair” Elections.

In Nigeria & United States the masses never target the influential and/or corrupt elite when voicing their frustrations or resentment at the aftermath of elections. It is always innocent lives of children and poor families that are made victims.

As much as we claim to be a melting pot of cultures, ideas and values; never has it been more clearly stated and made evident that at the end of the day Nigeria & United States are simply Christian vs. Muslim societies.

Voters in Nigeria & United States continue to basically cast their vote under the old idiom; “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me”. Truth is the idea of voting for the lesser of two evils rather than the “BEST QUALIFIED” is a village idiot mentality that needs to cease immediately (Me Included). 

We (Nigeria & United States) remain SUCKAS for attractive catch phrases like “Yes We Can & Yes We Did” or novelty acts with funny looking fedora hats that hold public forums on FACEBOOK. But once our beloved new heads of states take office, we are quick to throw them to the wolves & under the bus at the start of the engine.

Think for a second; why do people (Nigeria & United States) immediately correlate the idea of a new face in the presidency to a power shift toward his/her Race, Religion or Region? Last time I checked, gas prices are now over $4 per gallon.

In closing; rhetoric and teleprompters can only take you so far before you get exposed as a fraud. The (Nigeria & United States) national debts will continue to paint a picture of disaster as we drown in a sea of over-spending. Voters of both respective countries have clearly expressed their lack of confidence in the leadership of their elected officials in all branches of government (local, state, federal). At the end of the day it all comes down to simple math and in the words of former president Bill Clinton “It’s the economy stupid”.

There is no TRUST…

I am African & I Suffer from Allergies

Oh yes; its spring all over again so goodbye WINTER. It’s that time of year once again for the females to bring out the short shorts; sun dresses and open-toe. Yeah fellas, ME LIKES! Ah-choo; excuse me, Ah-choo; excuse me, AH-CHOOOOOOO; EXCUSE ME! Oh, I also forgot that this also means its pollen season all over again for yours truly “P”.

Irite people; let me get focused…

What is a Allergy? I mean what is this? (In my Nigerian accent) Loool…

Allergies are abnormal reactions of the immune system that occur in response to certain foods, pollen or micro-organisms. Common symptoms include sneezing, itching and skin rashes.

 

It kills me to now just find out more than 20 years later that I actually have food allergies (seafood), seasonal allergy (pollen) and get this I am allergic to “Grass” and not the s**t you smoke either. I mean WTF? Who is allergic to Grass?

So the question that I pose this week is since when did African people start getting allergies? Better yet, how many of “My Omo Naija” family, viewers and supporters have suffered from allergies all these years without recognizing it?

It all started really when I first moved back to America to live. The image remains fresh as if I was back in junior high. All I heard from my new school mates were how they couldn’t eat or drink this, their parents would not allow them to play with or touch that and they need an inhale for this… Na Wa O!!! The list is too DAMN long. Guess what; as they shared their testimonials, all that would cross my mind was how soft and weak these group of American kids were. I was like man these American kids like to COMPLAIN about everything. Man up; you BIG BABY! I swear…

Fact is the medicines available to us in Nigeria such as Alabukun (can someone tell me what exactly is in this packet?), Piriton, Panadol, Camoquine and Fansidar bought at the local markets can and would more than likely cure whatever was troubling you and wash away your ills. But to treat allergies? I seriously do not recommend going this route.

Growing up in Nigeria , I never heard of a kid talking about how he/she can’t drink milk because they would get a reaction or someone telling his/her friend of how eating certain foods would lead to their body breaking out in hives. Can you just imagine mentioning this to someone who deems it a luxury to even have one nutritional meal in a day? The facial expression on that individual would be priceless. Truth is no one I knew had the audacity to even make such a proclamation because they knew they would be ridiculed by their peers as snobs, pretentious and just far too pompous.

So now fast forward to the past 3-5 years in my life and I see my nieces and nephews (Kool Keeds what up???) at birth already getting medical attention for allergies their bodies are unfit to fight off. Man, am just glad their parents are not from the Chris Rock School of Health which explicitly states; “Ain’t nuffin a little Robitussin can’t fix. Put some Tussin on it and walk it off”. LMAO!

To all my African peoples that have to put up with the ordeal of living with seasonal allergies such as myself, please make sure you go see a physician and get the proper care.  As you already know, that pollen is a beast and will break your body down seriously. And to add insult to injury, I have now become the source of entertainment for my family and friends as they crack jokes at my expense in the same manner I used to amongst my so called “weak & soft minded” classmates.

Panko don become a je butter boy o…

Good Health, Long Life!

My Worthless Naira

Mr. Engineer, I need you to drop that beat!

Let’s go there…

Oh (eyyy)

I’ve been travelin’ on this road too long (too long)

Just tryna find my way back home
(back home)

My “Naira” is dead and gone, dead and gone

Oh (eyyy)

I’ve been travelin’ on this road too long (too long)

Just tryna find my way back home
(back home)

My “Naira” is dead and gone, dead and gone

T.I. & Justin Timberlake “Dead and Gone”.

Irite people; let me get focused…

So a famous boxer was once asked, why do you continue to fight well into your 40s? Is it for the money? His response - “you know people always say money ain’t everythang, well you try living without it and let me know how that works out for you” LMAO!!!

For real though; whenever I hear someone utter such rubbish around me that money is not important, all that comes to my head are the infamous words of my girl Fumi “B**** STOPLYIN”. 

And in Nigeria the only thing moving faster than Usain Bolt in the 100 meters dash is them Hausa (Mallams) of Nigeria and their calculators. These dudes are always on stand-by ready to change your “dough” (currency) on the black market. 

It’s total laughter when my non-Nigerian friends ask me the name of the Nigerian currency. My response, “we don’t have one”. You should see the puzzled look on their faces. They usually follow up with another question such as what do people use then? My response; the same thing you use, US Dollar, Euro and Pound Sterling.

Ok ok ok; yes we have our own currency in Nigeria called the Naira and just like the chorus above “My Naira is dead and gone”.

Bros, how much for this? N5,000. Bros, how much for that? N10,000. Before you know it N35,000 for a  pack of chewing gum and a bottle of water? Man, this is some bulls**t for real…

The state of the Naira is so bad that an average dude such as myself on my visits to Nigeria can have a momentary lapse in judgment and really start to feel like a “Baller” with $200.00 in his pocket. So when everybody here in America talking about “Make it Rain”, man I “Make it THUNDER”.

I am really going to date myself now but when I was attending primary school in Nigeria back in the day; having 50 Kobo (50 cents) in your pocket for lunch meant you were “Ballin” on school grounds. You could get your self some puff puff in the morning en route to school, treat yourself and lady friend to a complete lunch and still have change left over for a snack on the bus ride back home.

“Can’t it be all that it was all so simple then” (Wu-Tang Clan) Classic. 

I am no finance guru nor do I play one on television; so I do not have some grand idea of institutional reform, regulation and shift in banking system practices that will cure the ills of the failing Naira. I do know someway – somehow, it would be better for Nigeria’s economy to see those same Hausa (Mallams) thirsting for our once powerful Naira the way they desire foreign denominations in US Dollar, Euro & Pound Sterling with their same calculators instead of freely giving it out like its Tom Tom candy.

It is so disheartening to hear the older generation talk about the glory years of the Naira, when the Naira doubled the value of the US Dollar in the late 70s. This is all now a part of our distant memory but more troubling is how this same cast of characters never take ownership for the current conditions in present day Nigeria.

Fact is those were the wonder years and we now need a new blueprint for success.

Destroy & Rebuild…

Check for Part II of the Money Series Coming Soon.

The Queens of Africa - Coming to a Household Near You

The Queens of Africa



Turn up all the lights in here…

The lights on?

Extra bright, I want the world to see the face of Nigeria as told by the “Queens of Africa” and the man behind this out of the world creation. Meet its architect and mastermind Taofick Okoya, born into Nigerian royalty and son of one of the richest men in Nigeria; multi-billionaire businessman, industrialist and real estate mogul and chairman of the Eleganza Group Razak Akanni Okoya. Okoya’s vision led him to branch out into a very novel but gutsy idea and the launch of his Fico Solutions LTD with an eye for international conquest. His compilations of dolls, comics, music and animation have fruitfully penetrated the ever so hard Nigeria commercial industry. Only difference now is Mr. Okoya and his “Queens of Africa” collection line are going global in hopes of telling their heart felt compelling stories to a bigger and broader audience.

Ten minutes in the company of this brilliant industrialist; one quickly realizes that there is no concoction of Red Bull or 5 Hour energy drink that can compete and stay as lively and spirited as this flamboyant “My Omo Naija” from Lagos state.  Having always had a keen eye for the arts and fashion, his climb and ultimate triumph as the leading manufacture in the market of creative arts for children of color is only a matter of time.  

“My Omo Naija” blogspot recently caught up with the C.E.O. and President of the “Queens of Africa” franchise to reflect, celebrate and discuss exciting plans in the works for this very busy, humbled family man and entrepreneur.  

PANKO:        What are your goals both individually and as a company in the next five years after the launch of the Queens of Africa?

TAOFICK:      Fico Solutions Ltd major goal has always been to make a positive impact first in its immediate environment and beyond. Within the next 5 years, we plan to have reached at least 10% of Nigerian/African children between the ages of 4-12 through our 4 main medium (Dolls, Comics, Music and Animation) around the World, especially in the UK and US.

My personal goal is to be successful! Success to me is how many lives I am able to touch and impact positively in all that I do. Within the next 5 years I want to have moved the Queens of Africa project visibly onto the international stage, with great influence and power in the development of the Nigerian/African girl child.  

PANKO:          Where/what do you draw

                        your creativity from?

TAOFICK:       God! As in it’s in built. I have always had the ability to see things from multiple perspectives, and in the process see things from a new perspective. This by others can be termed creative, and could rightly be justified as such. I am usually not satisfied with the “norm” or “status quo” This drives me to new, challenging and interesting frontiers.

PANKO:        What are your outside interests besides growing your Fico toys brand?

TAOFICK:       I find that I had always enjoyed and found fascinating everything that involves creating; these range from concepts, design, events, interior decor etc. I am positioning myself in the area of fashion at the moment, I realize that Nigeria has a lot of creative talented people in this field, but due to lack of structure in the industry, they are unable to tap into the international market which in turn creates an avenue for increased income and investment. I am working with a partner who is a designer (Ituen Bassi) to organize workshops/seminar with international practitioners in the international scene to educate and shed light on what the industry requires to be able to penetrate the system. So yes, I’m into the fashion industry.

PANKO:        Who has inspired you in

                        your life and why?

TAOFICK:       My immediate family, simply because I love them! My father. He built a business empire with his basic educational background and lack of finance from anybody, considering he came from a very humble background. I learnt a lot from him, business wise. International- Barack Obama. Far from the fact that he is the first African/American president of the United States, but for his bravery and determination. He is focused, savvy and a performer.

PANKO:        How many hours a week

                        do you work normally?

TAOFICK:       Hmmm…that’s a tricky one. I work at various times, as in work does not end till my eyes are shut (and even in my dream... Lol!) I get an idea and I am in front of my system ready to go…and sometimes, it could be a Monday morning and my system is shut down. I am not a workaholic, and I don’t slave over my job. It’s got to be fun and enjoyable.

PANKO:        What was the toughest

                        challenge you ever faced?

TAOFICK:     On the Queens of Africa

                        project, two major

                        issues

1) Distribution- We have had to rely on one on one marketing due to lack of proper distribution channels, we don’t have the chain stores with many branches around Nigeria, so we literally have to do direct marketing to individual privately own stores from state to state (considering we have 36 states)

2) We have about 25 books ready for publishing, but we don’t have proper publishing houses, with necessary support so we are considering publishing from UK or US. The first comic was self published and trust me it was difficult. 

PANKO:          How do you define

                        success?

TAOFICK:       Success to me is how many lives I am able to touch and impact positively in all that I do. Not by how much money you make or have in your bank. In the process of acquiring the wealth and lives are destroyed...that is definitely not success.

If your business touch and impact lives positively in the process on making money...It’s a win, win situation. That to me is success!

PANKO:        What’s most difficult part of running a business or company in Nigeria?

TAOFICK:       That will be industry infrastructure and standards. More often than not you have to deal with unethical/unprofessional people. There are a great amount of intelligent people but not appreciated or recognized so they end up taking advantage of lack of proper system for personal gain or profit to the detriment of the country. Logistics for effective distribution of products not readily available, so getting products to circulate is a major problem, which affects turnovers and eventually the business as a whole.

PANKO:        How do you see the emerging market place with Africa compare to other parts of the world?

TAOFICK:       It’s a lot better compared to 5 years ago, especially in Nigeria but the rate of growth is rather low. This could be due to the fact that Nigeria is expensive to live in and to operate from. This could be as a result of lack of lack of technological solutions, which in turn make basic infrastructures a luxury i.e. power supply. Industries are struggling to stay alive cause they can’t meet up with demand and even when they do, they are not competitive. If the growth rate improves this will surely enhance trade local and international thereby improve the African/Nigerian market.  

PANKO:        What do you want people

                        to know about your

                        company?

TAOFICK:     Fico Solution is a company whose vision stemmed from my personal core values. At fico solutions I encouraged my staff about the need for the kind of work we do and why. Our goals and value include the list below but not limited to them.

1) What can we produce and sell that will meet and support our clients effectively

2) Great customer service and care…make clients feel happy about their patronage

3) Make a positive impact always as an example to those who might be watching

4) Each customer is

unique treat them

as such

5) Impact your immediate and wider community in the course of our business

PANKO:        What core values and advice do you have for future start-up companies in Nigeria?

TAOFICK:       1) Research

2) Don’t compromise

3) Stay true to your vision

4) Consistency and

     quality

PANKO:        How can one purchase the “Queens of Africa” dolls for those who live and are outside of Nigeria?

TAOFICK:       The Queens of Africa dolls will be available for the website (www.queensofafrica.com) within the next one month. Pending that time orders can be placed from our facebook group page. We have a special arrangement with DHL (at a discounted tariff), so dolls can get to buyers within 3days -a week depending on location. We are also looking into possibility of having agents in the UK and US for effective distribution to stores in these areas. Enquiries can be sent to taofick@queensofafrica.com

Reach One; Teach One...