PRACTICE MEDITATION

The Traveller · 2013 - 2016So...I almost died in Northern Nigeria taking pictures then ended up staying for 2 years.

Fresh out of law school, I was faced with the decision as to whether I wanted to carry on my career as a lawyer or dig deeper into my newfound fascination with UI/UX design. Although I enjoyed my time as a DJ and Graphics Designer I was certain figuring my next steps will require me to leave all my lives behind.

I traveled to northern Nigeria despite parental opposition. I knew Kano was where I wanted to be to see this country I've been living in for what it had to offer. With the help of friends and acquaintances from Twitter, I made Kano my home for two years. During this period I traveled to neighboring states in both the north (Jigawa, Kaduna, Bauchi, Borno, Sokoto) and south (Akwa Ibom, Benue, Cross River). During this period I had near-death experiences like my bike accident on the mountain road of Obodu Hills in Calabar and several roadblocks and close encounters through war-torn Borno.

Throughout my journey till its end in 2016, I got to know my country and myself in an intimate form, a gift I'm thankful for to this day. I also learned a new language, Hausa, which helped me get discounts and in some cases saved my life in close encounters.

Into The Radioverse · 2017 - 2022Biting The Apple

Moving back to Lagos from the North, I was energized with new experiences and perspectives. After years of freelancing as a Graphics and UI/UX designer, my first proper job was at Ellae Agency where I had the privilege of working with brands such as Coventry University, Tranos, Kaptain Foods, etc. I moved soon after to Steam and Globe Broadcasting Group (COOL FM, Nigeria Info FM, Wazobia FM, and Arewa Radio) Nigeria's biggest private radio company where I served as group head of digital. Although my career choice in media was a huge betrayal of my parents (especially my lovely mother who still doesn't understand what my job is till today ) they grew to accept it as the reality.

Radio offered a challenge I'd never imagined before but not one I wasn't ready for. The excitement of solving old problems with new solutions and also steering the newly formed digital team through the wave of changes in media and tech is what keeps me going. This drive helped the company and my team achieve a lot of firsts in the broadcasting industry in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. Some of these milestones include being the first radio station to launch a fully equipped visual radio studio in Nigeria and also being the first radio station to syndicate AM1 (Apple Music 1) shows Rap Life, Africa Now, and The Dotty Show in Africa. Some campaigns and activations i've been honored to work on so far include :

Biting Harder · 2019 - 2022 Chasing Clout

Off the back of the success of breakout stars such as Tems, Fireboy DML, Blaqbonez, Zinoleeksy, Joeboy, and many more from the AUX Africa platform. I pitched to the management the idea of Clout Africa, a music accelerator platform that'll promote artists through its content set. Clout Africa launched in 2019 and that began my new role as Head of strategy and Technology which then evolved in to the Head of business development. Never would I have guessed years ago that my journey into radio would get to this point but looking back I wouldn't trade it for anything.

My journey at CLOUT AFRICA was an educational one in being aware of the realities of the market in Nigeria and Africa at large. I have had the privilege of working with brands, labels, and artists both locally and internationally. I've gained education on release strategies, partnerships, leveraging and maintaining relationships, and meeting and gaining insights from collaborating with key stakeholders around the world. Watch my TEDx Talk for more insights on my career journey.

A New Legacy · 2022 till date 🦓

In September 2022, I accepted an offer from tech giant Apple Inc. as Business & Strategic Manager, Africa (Platoon). This is an opportunity of a lifetime and a dream come true! At Platoon, i've been privileged to work on marketing strategies for aristes such Ayra Starr, Asa, Khaid, Teni The Entertainer and other amazing artists on the Platoon roaster.

My time at Apple has been blessed with a lot of first for the region. We had the first African edition of community-focused DEI projects and market activations such as She Runs the Boards, Obi's House x Platoon, IMSS x Platoon and Platoon Dazzle. In 2023 i was invited to serve as member and mentor at the Recording Academy (Grammys). I was also listed as one of the Top 30 Music Executives in Nigeria in The Turntable Charts Power List. My focus going forward is on data and community and how the two can work together for the benefit of each.