THEWILL DOWNTOWN JUNE 27 EDITION

VOL 1 NO.20 • JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2021

Celebrating World SME Day

VOL 1 NO.20 • JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2021

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VOL 1 NO.20 • JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2021

Photo: @HairByUgo

EDITOR’S NOTE

“NOBODY TALKS ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP AS SURVIVAL, BUT THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS AND WHAT NURTURES CREATIVE THINKING. RUNNING THAT FIRST SHOP TAUGHT ME BUSINESS IS NOT FINANCIAL SCIENCE; IT’S ABOUT TRADING: BUYING AND SELLING”

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CONTENTS

COVER STORY: CELEBRATING WORLD SME DAY

- Anita Roddick, Founder of The Body Shop.

Bet you didn’t know that June 27th was set aside as a day to spotlight, celebrate and encourage entrepreneurs globally!

According to UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development), micro, small and medium enterprises represent a staggering 90% of businesses and more than 50% of employment worldwide. However, with the outbreak of COVID- 19 pandemic, the entire globe underwent a major economic transformation, changing how people commute, communicate and consume. Small businesses were most affected by many downsizing or simply ceasing operations.

In Nigeria, where over 50 percent of the population are under the age of 30 and unemployment at an all-time high, most people are forced into the entrepreneurship space with little or no knowledge, training, or even financial assistance. In these Lagos streets specifically, it’s literally a case of ‘survival of the fittest’ with more than half of most businesses going under within the first year of their operations. Sustaining a business anywhere requires tremendous effort but Nigeria’s unique business terrain poses a lot of challenges ranging from epileptic power supply to poor infrastructure, lack of skilled and educated labor, the skyrocketing cost of living, inflation, insecurity, and so on. One then wonders how the little businesses we patronise truly break-even and then begin to turn a profit. We at DOWNTOWN spoke to 6 young business owners to get better insights on what life is truly like in the cash flow lane and hope it illuminates for some, a few key things to note, before setting off down the path of business and commerce.

So the next time you want to make a purchase, before you haggle (as we are all want to do), remember that small business owners- who really are the bedrock of our economy- are going through a lot!

Take care, and you’ll see us next week.

LATASHA NGWUBE @latashalagos

AUSTYN OGANNAH

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Editor: Latasha Ngwube Editor-at-Large: Chalya Shagaya Beauty Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa Contributing Editor: Odun Ogunbiyi @oddbodandthecity Senior Writer: Chisom Njoku @inchisomwetrust Contributing Writer: Boluwatife Adesina @bolugram Uzo Orimalade @uzosfoodlabs House Photographer: Rachel Seidu @rachelseidu Graphics/Layout: Olatunji Samson Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun Interns: Kehinde Fagbule, Tilewa Kazeem Guest Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘ SunZA’ www.thewilldowntown.com thewilldowntown thewilldowntown

D O W N TO W N ZODIAC

Do Cancerians Make The Best Music?

O D D B O D & T HE C ITY

Coffee Lovers Anonymous: I Love the Java Jive!

FAS H ION A Visual Guide to Styling Denim On Denim For Women L IVING

What These Cars Say About You (Female Edition)

T H E R EVIEW: Fast and Furious 9 Big, Dumb, Fun

B EAU TY

SHEA BEAUTY T H E S C E N E D O W NTOW N

Yeni Kuti’s Diamond Age Celebration

04 05 06-07 12 13 14-15 16 PAGE 3

VOL 1 NO.20 • JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2021

DOWNTOWN ZODIAC

Do

Cancerians

Make The Best Music?

DATES: JUNE 21 TO JULY 22 SYMBOL: CRAB PLANET: MO ON ELEMENT: WATER COLOUR: WHITE

BY TILEWA KAZEEM

A

s we bid the Gemini season adieu and welcome the beautiful month of the crabs, we must understand that Cancerians are the crustaceans of the zodiac family. With their ability to exist in both the physical and material planes like their celestial spirit animals, crabs are largely self-protective of their energy. Although they don’t protect themselves with large pincers, they have hard external shells which often makes them seem prideful. However, Cancers just hold off on revealing themselves until they’ve read the room. They are highly intuitive and are often classified as proud and distant but if you stay long enough to know them, Cancers are pure, gentle and they ooze genuine compassion.

Cancers are big on self-care, comfort and protecting their maternal energy. They create a cosy haven for themselves with family, friends or alone. Just like a crab retreating into its shell they cherish and spend a ton of time there. A major trait of these crustaceans is loyalty. Cancers can cross an ocean for those they love and hold dear even if it means forgoing their beliefs. These crabs are the emotional sponges of the zodiac and are also very protective of their sanctuary. This can be misread as overbearing and annoying but it comes from a loving place.

Just as the good is much appreciated, no one is completely rid of bad habits and Cancerians are no different. The bad thing about being an emotional sponge is that all they do is absorb and empathise until they are shackled by the weight of it all without also dealing with their stuff. This results in them being moody, over-sensitive and sometimes vindictive because they expect a Give-and-Take relationship with those they care about which isn’t always the case.

Other behavioural traits include the urge to care for everyone. They have the strongest 6th sense of all Zodiacs. That gives them the ability to read in-between the lines and spot the fakes. Having this crab as a second option in your life isn’t going to work. It’s either they are number one or lose them. Some examples of Cancerians are Mr Eazi, Johnny Drille, Israel Adesanya, Emmanuella and Olu Jacobs.

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Wizkid Burna Boy

Born on the 2nd of July, Damini Ogulu stands as one of Nigeria’s most controversial artists. He has a ton of statuettes that buttress his exceptional musical prowess, yet he still gets dragged in the mud quite frequently.

Following the traits of a Cancer his outbursts are not without reason. For 29 year old Damini who has made music his sanctuary, his reactions are very on-brand.

These Zodiacs thrive on a give-and-take lifestyle and they expect something in return for their hard work. Which in this case is the respect of Nigerians.

In as much as they do respect his genius that doesn’t mean he can’t be checked when his adult tantrums get out of hand.

When that happens, these zodiacs suck it up and that fuels them to attain new heights which in Burna’s case is a Grammy award.

The height, attitude and talent. It all makes sense. This is one very gifted crab. Wizkid is one of the greatest artists out of Nigeria and his zodiac symbol might have a part to play in his success.

Being born on the 16th of July makes him Cancer and although he doesn’t live in Nigeria, a huge part of his success comes from where he planted his roots and he has never let go of that.

On countless occasions has he spoken about political issues ailing Nigeria. He even went as far as joining the ENDSARS protesters on the streets of London. Nigeria has shifted from being just a country to becoming family. It has become a safe place for him.

The discussion of his attitude can be linked to his zodiac.

No matter how many jabs you try to throw at Wizkid he simply ignores. Crabs have a 6th sense and can avoid things that negatively affect their energy and disrupt the balance of things in their lives.

That pretty much puts into perspective why he reacts the way he does, how original he sounds and why his social circle is really small.

VOL 1 NO.20 • JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2021 VOL 1 NO.20 • JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2021

FASHION ODUN OGUNBIYI

ODDBOD & THE CITY Coffee Lovers Anonymous:

I Love the Java Jive!

The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing. – Socrates.

I was last week years old when I found out that being a coffee lover is way more sophisticated and involved than having a favourite and fancy-sounding order at Starbucks. It all started with the usual search for somewhere new to have a little something to eat. My partner in crime suggested we try out a coffee shop called Mai Shayi on Adeola Odeku in VI. I wholeheartedly agreed because, truth be told, this spot had been making a regular appearance on my social media feed and I was already curious (Brownie points for a very well executed below-the-line subliminal messages delivery).

Mai Shayi is Hausa for a roadside tea seller,

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but that is as far as any roadside reference goes. Still, the northern vibe and homage to the culture are apparent in the staff uniform and the food offerings.

The interior is tastefully done, with a decidedly modern bent and strong masculine energy, paired with gorgeous artwork on the walls and clever resin tables with suspended coffee beans. It smells divine, of course, thanks to all the coffee-making activities.

In one corner, a glass-walled partition houses a huge coffee grinder where a continuous stream of beans was getting ground and bagged for what must be a loyal following during our stay at least.

On to ordering the coffee! Turns out what I know about java could be written on the back of a postage stamp; the good news is the staff are super knowledgeable and enthusiastic about educating. I was convinced to live a little, so I bypassed my usual cappuccino order and tried my new guilty pleasure, the coffee chocolate. I have snuck back in a couple more times to have my fix of this yummy goodness since its arrival in my life. It’s all about the little pleasures, right?

My lunch partner participated in the whole pure coffee lovers experience; there is a range of coffee beans to choose from, up to the Jamaican Blue Mountain, which you can enjoy for a moderate *cough cough* ₦26,000 a cup.

Any coffee bean grown in the cooler mountain region is considered of superior taste. The cooler weather will have caused the bean to take longer to mature, which imbues the bean with more complex sugars and a smoother rich taste.

It is also harder to grow the bean at these altitudes, which is why it costs more.

The range of unique flavours and aromas between regional varietals is as expansive as the variety of wine available from different vineyards.

I am proud to say that Nigerian grown coffee is also on the menu, and I have it on good authority that the Mai Shayi is in the process of acquiring their land to grow coffee.

Back to lunch. There was talk about filters, water temperature, aeration, slow drips, roast times, grinding techniques, and all the equipment needed to brew the perfect cup of coffee. If coffee is your kryptonite, this is the place to come and satisfy your cravings. There is no need for shame; it’s a safe space, and there are already addicts making twice-weekly runs across the bridge to get their fix.

So far, I have only tried items from the breakfast menu.

I went in for the full English breakfast on Saturday morning, and I have to say there is much to be said for the experience. I have also had, and I must highly recommend, the Masa and Misa Taushe. Fresh fried rice cake with traditional pumpkin leaf and tomato soup. It’s a hearty meal, and one portion is enough for two.

VOL 1 NO.20 • JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2021

FASHION

A Visual Guide to

Styling Denim On Denim For Women

BY CHISOM NJOKU Ever since Britney Spears’ and Justin Timberlake’s infamous 2001 matching-denim situation, the look has suffered its fair share of bashing but in reality, denim-on-denim is one of the coolest looks to wear if you know how to put pieces together properly.

The concept of pairing one jean item with another is part of the

audacity of fashion and may not be ideal for people who still think “rules” matter. Although the denim-on-denim look infamously called the Canadian Tuxedo is not new, it is certainly noteworthy because it provides variety and allows for a lot of experimentation with style.

Here are 10 denim on denim looks to inspire your inner fashionista A denim corset, a ruffled denim mini, and a denim jacket create an unexpectedly chic ensemble.

An alldenim look wrapped together with a bold coat is always a good idea.

A three-piece denim outfit that consists of cuffed jeans, a top, and a jacket all in the same shade of blue coupled with a pair of ankle bootties. A recipe for fab.

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A slightly early2000s vibe consists of cool glasses, loose denim, and air forces. If you check all these you’re lit.

VOL 1 NO.20 • JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2021

FASHION Try playing with matching denim pieces in colours other than blue - that’ll help you stand out.

Dark jeans and a light-wash denim shirt looks cool no matter how you style it, but a designer bandeau takes it up a notch.

An oversized denim jacket paired with distressed denim shorts is an effortless yet tasteful denim on denim look.

A denim jacket, pullover, or top looks very elevated halftucked into jeans.

An oversized denim jacket over a short dress will give you a badass look.

Adding a belt on a denim ensemble pulls together your look and makes it even more stylish.

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VOL 1 NO.20 • JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2021

COVER

CELEBRATING WORLD SME DAY All over the world, businesses are run. The concept of buying and selling has been around since the beginning of time. Ideally, born out of the necessity to provide solutions to everyday problems, businesses in Nigeria have different motivations and modus operandi. However, one thing stays the same regardless: the cashflow that floats the economy. To echo the importance of entrepreneurship globally, 27th of June was declared as the Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) Day, to raise public awareness of their contribution to sustainable development and the world’s economy.

To celebrate entrepreneurial growth and tell the beautiful story of building enterprises from the ground up, DOWNTOWN’S Kehindé Fagbule spoke with six business owners across different industries in the country.

market. I did a lot of that as a stylist. I was also what you could call an influencer as I recommend fashion brands people could buy from. I never ran a proper business until my present brand.

What are the growing costs of doing business now and the associated risks? Tell us about a few challenges you face.

I don’t have a physical shop of my own as of now, so I sew from home. I also have a 9-5 which I go to every day and juggling that with my business is super hectic. Sometimes, I don’t even change from my work clothes and I’m on the machine already. There’s a health risk involved in it that I’m aware of. There’s also the money factor involved as I have to offer to make my friends’ dresses for free just to win their trust and get referrals from them. The associated risks involve my time, sleepless nights and my finances because I’m still growing. Gaining people’s trust is not an easy task.

Why did you choose entrepreneurship over corporate work?

I’m still growing, I haven’t started making so much money, so I can’t leave 9-5 yet because it is still paying my bills. Ultimately, I’d love to choose entrepreneurship because of my love for fashion, however, that isn’t feasible for now as I am still trying to get my clientele up and build my brand to the point where it is self-sufficient. I look forward to when I could make that switch fully though.

Abimbola Quadri

Fashion: Abeni The Tailor (@abenithetailor) How old is your business and how did it all start?

I’ve always been a self-acclaimed stylist from my university days, styling my friends and family. My mum advised that it was better to style people in my own clothes, so I decided to learn how to sew. I did that for a year before my service year in 2016.

Abeni The Tailor as a brand was born in 2017/18. It was an off and on thing as I was trying to get a 9-5 at the time.

How many businesses have you/do you handle(d)?

I was involved in petty trades, I don’t think that constitutes running a business. Also, I was more of a personal shopper for people. They trusted me enough to ask me to get them readymade clothes from the

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Is the idea of apprenticeship or understudying other business owners something you practised or did you just jump in?

No, I did not understudy any business. I had no formal experience in the business. It was born out of me making good clothes, people seeing them on me, liking it and offering to pay for it; to which I felt “Okay, this is cool.” Thinking about it now, I’d have loved to understudy someone or a particular business first to see the whole process of it, but because I have a 9-5, it doesn’t afford me that much time, so I just basically offer my services for money, for now.

Apprenticeship is something everyone should subscribe to because it can be frustrating when you don’t understand a lot of things in business. How to charge most especially is something you learn from apprenticeship. In 2017, I did a one-month sewing course with Toju Foye. Although I learnt a lot, my sole motivation was to get the co-sign that comes with learning under a big name. I wish I had learned more but the timing was too short.

How do you handle the customer relations side of the business?

It gets overwhelming as I’m running a sole proprietorship. Although I just got someone to help out recently, before that, I was the only one who cuts, sews, takes care of delivery, and talks to the clients. Everyone wants everything at the same time, some customers are complaining, sometimes it’s difficult to keep up. I have to always write down every single detail so I don’t mix up customer requests. Some customers can be a lot and you have to beg, but thank God I’ve not had a problem with delivery time so far; when you want it is when you get it. Sometimes I make mistakes but I try to rectify that as soon as I can. I’m always open to take corrections.

Aside from social media, what other tools are you employing now to foster business growth?

For now, it is just social media. I meet up with my clients and take their measurements. The ones I can’t meet up with, probably because they stay outside the country, I instruct them on how to go about taking their measurements. So, sometimes we get on a video call and I’m demonstrating the different body parts they need to take measurements of on another person and then they get someone on their end to help them take their measurements.

You mentioned that you got an extra pair of hands. To work in what capacity? Are you looking to employ more labour?

Yes, I just recently employed labour as I mentioned but it’s not someone to sew with me yet. I got someone to help with errands. Someone to pick up fabrics from clients or go get them from the market, help out with delivery, and other petty errands. To get someone to sew with me is going to be a much more tedious process as I have to supervise them to make sure they understand the assignment.

Because I work 9-5, that hasn’t given me the time to do that.

Ultimately, I intend to do that when I get my annual leave.

What are 3 key things to note when starting a business?

Passion is most important. There are times I just want to throw everything away like I’m done but my passion drives me. Whenever I see people in my clothes, it brings me joy. I go through my page, realise how far I’ve come and figure I can’t back down. You have to be passionate about what you do. Once you have passion, every other thing is secondary; even dealing with difficult customers.

Customer service is second; be ready to deal with different kinds of people. Be ready to take the insults that come with it.

Lastly, you need funding. You want to put out a good job, you want to earn people’s trust to build up your clientele, so you need money to be able to get the tools

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COVER to make that happen. A good sewing machine and quality fabrics to work with take a lot of money. I’m able to get by because I get steady pay from my 9-5 in the form of salaries, so I invest heavily in my business thanks to that. When I first started and would make mistakes, I had to get another fabric from my purse to make it right with the client. Budding entrepreneurs need the finances to cover these costs of business.

Personally, if I had clarity earlier on in life I would have gone for an apprenticeship, learned the skill faster, and then built it.

This would have helped me in countless ways that I can’t even begin to list.”

– Chioma Helen Nwakwesi such challenges. Take my logistics business, for example, there’s no shortage of new documents that are always required by the related authorities.

Another challenge is human capacity, finding the right talent to execute tasks as one would desire is genuinely frustrating. Lastly, the ability to structure and scale my businesses, which is a challenge that I believe can be overcome by learning from experiences and being more disciplined and committed.

Chioma Helen Nwakwesi Beauty: The Oil Place (@scnaturaloil)

How old is your business and how did it all start?

My business is about 3 years old and it started from a place of need. At the time, I had just given birth to my daughter in the US and came back with a huge medical bill. I had a 9-5 which wasn’t enough to live on and take care of the medical bill at the same time. I figured an extra stream of income would be necessary. I have always had a passion for beauty and lifestyle, from which I was able to acquire some relevant skills. One day it occurred to me that I could actually monetize the skill, I did some research, took action and here we are.

How many businesses have you/do you handle(d)?

In addition to my beauty business, I also have a logistics business @ sxslogistics. As the beauty business grew, it demanded efficient delivery of my products to my customers, which I was able to provide internally. I would later go fully into logistics, providing other businesses with an efficient and effective avenue to deliver their products.

What are the growing costs of doing business now and the associated risks? Tell us about a few challenges you face.

Hmm, there are loads of challenges I face but I’ll attempt to keep my response short. Government operational structures are one of

but we are always open to employing any successfully proven sales strategy.

Are you running a sole proprietorship or you employ labour? If it’s the latter, what’s your recruitment process like? How do you meet salaries? At what point do you decide to scale?

We work with a recruitment company to help us with staffing.

Our marketing strategy helps us to reach clients that way there is continuity with business development and we can meet our salary obligations.

Right now scaling is extremely important to us.

We are working with all the right officials to help with all the necessary registrations so that we can scale.

What are 3 key things to note when starting a business?

Hunger, discipline, and commitment.

Why did you choose entrepreneurship over corporate work?

Passion. I have always been an entrepreneur for as long as I can remember.

I have been fortunate to work with multinationals and have developed a skill set that I feel has built me better which I am grateful for, but I have always felt boxed in the corporate world, I have a lot to offer the world and I believe I can best execute these as an entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurship is for me, I have always known this and the time feels right.

Is the idea of apprenticeship or understudying other business owners something you practised or did you just jump in?

Well everyone in one way or the other has understudied a business whether through Youtube, Google, etc. There are a couple of successful businesses that I have understudied and due to my admiration of them, I look forward to building my businesses to achieve even greater success stories.

I have gone through several international and local training. Personally, if I had clarity earlier on in life I would have gone for an apprenticeship, learned the skill faster, and then built it. This would have helped me in countless ways that I can’t even begin to list.

How do you handle the customer relations side of the business?

Our customer experience is key to us, without our customers we have no business. We are constantly working on strategies to ensure that we improve our customer relations and provide the best experience for our customers. Every member of my team has to undergo customer experience training and understand that the business is everyone’s.

Aside from social media, what other tools are you employing now to foster business growth?

Having good communication with our customers is a core part of our business strategies, this has in many ways helped grow our businesses. Therefore, data collection is very important to us, constantly improving our customer database enables us to effectively keep the communication going.

Have you adopted e-commerce solutions? Between e-commerce and traditional offline sales strategies, which do you prefer and why?

Every medium is a sales strategy for us, we are currently working on our e-commerce platform,

Onyekachi Okorie

Photography: Onyekam Photography (@onyekamphotography) How old is your business and how did it all start?

This year would make it 2 years I started photography as a business.

How many businesses have you/do you handle(d)?

I currently run two businesses: Photography and a Handmade shoes business.

What are the growing costs of doing business now and the associated risks? Tell us about a few challenges you face.

Purchasing equipment in order to render better services is becoming increasingly expensive due to the current state of the economy. This is becoming a challenge because as these costs increase, our rates also have to be adjusted in order to remain profitable in our business - and clients don’t always want to understand why we charge the way we charge.

Why did you choose entrepreneurship over corporate work?

I have had my fair share of the corporate world and gained some experience, however when I ventured into entrepreneurship (at a point I did both), I really enjoyed the thrill and adventure entrepreneurship provides. I then decided to fully focus on my business and work on growing it. It’s been a rollercoaster so far but I guess that’s part of the journey.

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VOL 1 NO.20 • JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2021

COVER Is the idea of apprenticeship or understudying other business owners something you practiced or did you just jump in?

I think I did what most people did - just jumped in and learnt the ropes along the way; however I’ve always sought advice and counsel from various people in the same field and that has really helped me.

How do you handle the customer relations side of the business?

I see every booking as an opportunity to grow my business and network. Delivering to and beyond my customer’s expectations already gets you half way there in maintaining relations.

Being consistent especially to the ones that return, keeps them and being “human” opens the doors to referrals.

Aside from social media, what other tools are you employing now to foster business growth?

Asides social media? Email marketing, cold calling and word of mouth.

Have you adopted e-commerce solutions? Between e-commerce and traditional offline sales strategies, which do you prefer and why?

I haven’t adopted e-commerce yet, but I intend to some day. Word of mouth has always been my most effective and preferred sales strategy to date.

Are you running a sole proprietorship or you employ labour? If it’s the latter, what’s your recruitment process like? How do you meet salaries? At what point do you make the decision to scale?

Still running a sole proprietorship.

What are 3 key things to note when starting a business?

• Understanding your strengths, skills and weaknesses.

• Get a mentor or mentors.

• You need to be passionate, as sometimes your passion may be your only driving force when the going gets tough.

beautifying women. People started paying and I realized I could do this as a business. That’s how I started.

How many businesses have you/do you handle(d)?

I have done several side businesses from tailoring, sale of human hair weaves, Ankara fabrics but Makeup artistry has remained my main trade.

Currently, I run 3 businesses @Beautycook studio, @noriaita_ and @selebybeautycook.

What are the growing costs of doing business now and the associated risks? Tell us about a few challenges you face.

The growing cost of business has been greatly influenced by the constant rise in FX rates, other challenges include staffing which has driven me to remodel my business structure.

Why did you choose entrepreneurship over corporate work?

I never gave myself the chance to choose because I started when I was in university. It was simply the only way I wanted to express myself as an artist.

Is the idea of apprenticeship or understudying other business owners something you practiced or did you just jump in?

Makeup was not common and widely accepted when I started back then, so it was something I simply walked into and learnt on the job with a few masterclasses.

How do you handle the customer relations side of the business?

Customer service is the heart of every business.

I simply let dedicated/trained staff handle that aspect. I also put in the work one-on-one for clients that I get to handle myself.

Aside from social media, what other tools are you employing now to foster business growth?

My business grew from referrals even before social media became this big and it remains our number one source of growth. I also take advantage of Google search engines. I have used magazines and soft sell.

Have you adopted e-commerce solutions? Between e-commerce and traditional offline sales strategies, which do you prefer and why?

I have adopted e-commerce solutions. The current booking application I use for appointments works like an e-commerce module. I genuinely think that e-commerce and traditional offline sales work hand-in-hand. Relying on just one can limit your ability to achieve your business goals significantly.

Are you running a sole proprietorship or you employ labour?

If it’s the latter, what’s your recruitment process like? How do you meet salaries? At what point do you decide to scale?

I run a sole proprietorship model which avails my sole task of making decisions. I have worked with several artists under the internship model who with time grow into full staff and earn salaries.

In the last 2 years, I scaled down on fixed salary and adopted the commission system. This really helped during the pandemic year as staff members earned based on work done.

What are 3 key things to note when starting a business?

• What structure your business will run with.

• Flexibility: The business terrain changes, be ready to diversify and tackle challenges.

• Adopt the right bookkeeping/accounting methods early on.

Omontese Ita

Makeup: Beauty Cook Studio (@beautycookstudio) How old is your business and how did it all start?

My business is 16 years old. It started naturally, from making people’s hair to

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Ejimonye Ofodum.

Tech: Fichaya Cleaning Company (@fichaya_service) How old is your business and how did it all start?

Fichaya is 2 Years and 3 Months old. It was founded on the foundation of Time management. We spend a lot of hours at work and depending on your commute, you may spend an average of 3-5 hours daily. We have a lot of mundane house chores that take up the better part of the day that should be spent with family and friends. The idea of Fichaya is to give individuals time to handle every other aspect of their lives while we handle the cleaning.

How many businesses have you/do you handle(d)?

I co-founded Fichaya.

What are the growing costs of doing business now and the associated risks? Tell us about a few challenges you face.

I’d say, people. It takes a village of dedicated and highly skilled people to build a big vision. Fichaya is looking to be the go-to tech-enabled brand for home cleaning and organizing across Africa and more often than not, it is expensive to attract and retain the right people.

Why did you choose entrepreneurship over corporate work?

I think I have always had the entrepreneurship bug even right out of university. So joining a corporate environment was instrumental towards improving my skills. Starting my career in Telecoms and then, being a founding

VOL 1 NO.20 • JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2021

COVER member of a Fintech company was a great experience to have as far as having a decent understanding of building a company from the ground up is concerned. So when it was time, it made sense. I still miss the corporate environment sometimes, I’m not going to lie *laughs* Is the idea of apprenticeship or understudying other business owners something you practiced or did you just jump in?

Both. As I mentioned, I might have just simply had the DNA for entrepreneurship but I have also always loved listening to the journeys of other entrepreneurs globally. One of my favourite podcasts of all time is How I Built This

by Guy Raz and I remember always listening to stories coming back from my corporate job and being so intrigued.

How do you handle the customer relations side of the business?

Fichaya is super customer-focused and we strive to create the best experience for every customer from enquiry to managing a customer’s home or office monthly. We are also deliberate about the experience of our community of cleaning associates. We pride ourselves in a Customer Service Team that is centred around three “p”s: Professionalism, Patience and a “People-First’’ Attitude.

they have someone assigned to them, outside HR, to help them settle in properly into the company. We support our staff as part of the cost of running the company.

The decision for continuous growth and scale is decided quarterly where we have company targets and everyone is aligned to hit our target in our respective roles.

What are 3 key things to note when starting a business?

The three things to note when starting a business are; • I’ll be honest, I didn’t write a business plan but writing your business plan is important because it is documentation that truly helps you see where you are going and what you need to do to get there.

• Start small and have a mindset to always just EXECUTE. • Be intentional about your team. I cannot overemphasize this point. You will be worn out and frustrated.

Are you running a sole proprietorship or you employ labour? If it’s the latter, what’s your recruitment process like? How do you meet salaries? At what point do you decide to scale?

Fichaya has a team of 10 employees and we support over 50 cleaning associates that clean and manage the homes and corporate buildings of our customers in Lagos & Abuja. For our team, our recruitment process is rather easy. We put out ads via Linkedln and other job sites and we identify the need for the specific role. Once we receive applications, we screen and shortlist them. We then have about two interview stages where we look out for three things: Knowledge on the job, passion/execution/ growth mindset, and the culture fit. The last process when candidates have been selected is the introduction and onboarding of the new employee. We recently adopted a thing called ‘work buddy’ for new employees. This means

Why did you choose entrepreneurship over corporate work?

I chose entrepreneurship over corporate work because of the lack of jobs.

Is the idea of apprenticeship or understudying other business owners something you practised or did you just jump in?

I was able to jump into healthy cooking from my background of a family of hoteliers and with the help of my friend who studied Nutrition in the UK.

Aside from social media, what other tools are you employing now to foster business growth?

At Fichaya, we are leveraging the use of technology to provide cleaning and organizing services. One of our major tools is the Web for seamless bookings; where you can sign up to be a user, select the type of cleaning services and frequency, then proceed to make payment. An associate is assigned who executes the job and cleaning is done. We also have our mobile app for cleaning associates. We leverage Slack for internal communications within the company.

Have you adopted e-commerce solutions? Between e-commerce and traditional offline sales strategies, which do you prefer and why?

The business world is evolving and being digital is the present and future. Our priority is digitizing the experience of how our customers and cleaning associates get to connect with us from when contact us initiated to the point of executing a cleaning or organizing job. All of these are done through www.fichaya.com.

However, we understand that some customers may prefer contacting the Fichaya Support Team via our Social Media handles or Whatsapp to book for our services and we are available to serve them too.

I chose entrepreneurship over corporate work because of the lack of jobs.”

– Beauty Johnson

How do you handle the customer relations side of the business?

Having a good customer relationship requires you to hear your customer out and fixing the problem or compensating for it.

Aside from social media, what other tools are you employing now to foster business growth?

Google has also been seen as a major tool for business growth.

Have you adopted e-commerce solutions?

Between e-commerce and traditional offline sales strategies, which do you prefer and why?

We have an e-commerce platform but because our business requires consultation for dietary requirements, we find that the old fashion way of chatting on WhatsApp works for us.

Beauty Johnson

Food & Nutrition: Diet Munchers (@dietmunchers) How old is your business and how did it all start?

Dietmunchers is exactly 6 years this month. We started from my house, where I lived in Lekki Phase 1, with my passion for trying out recipes which I got compliments that they taste good.

How many businesses have you/do you handle(d)?

I have three other businesses, @ gifts4specials and @stylebybeautilicious @ thriftbybeautilicious.

What are the growing costs of doing business now and the associated risks? Tell us about a few challenges you face.

The growing cost of businesses varies with the kind of business. The economy has become a major risk associated with businesses.

Are you running a sole proprietorship or you employ labour? If it’s the latter, what’s your recruitment process like? How do you meet salaries? At what point do you decide to scale?

Dietmunchers has employed labour which we get through a recruitment process of inviting candidates from an agency with the knowledge of cooking, we invite girls because we pride ourselves in empowering women.

We interview to get knowledge of candidates’ health background, ability to learn our cooking method, and if they have the same values as our company.

We narrate job descriptions and food recipes to see which candidate understands our process better.

What are 3 key things to note when starting a business?

The need of the business in the society: • Entrepreneurs are problem solvers, so the business should solve a problem.

• Having an experienced knowledge of the business is a key factor in starting a business.

• Understanding the various risks associated with the business.

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VOL 1 NO.15 • MAY 23 – MAY 29, 2021

LIVING

What These

Cars Say About You (Female Edition)

Toyota Corolla 2014 With over 40 million units sold worldwide, it’s not a surprise the Toyota Corolla appears to offer a little something for everyone.

The 2014 version of the Corolla however is designed to suit the female taste with its fancy array of colours. Cruising around town in this is a basic and most affordable option. An automobile starter pack if you will. Female corolla drivers don’t really care about the ins and outs of cars they just want their jumping bus era to be over.

J

BY TILEWA KAZEEM

Toyota RAV4

ust like everything with a price tag attached to it, a car is a mirror that reflects who you are without ever being asked “ what do you do for a living?”

With times rapidly changing and women rising to top positions on the social and professional ladder, picking a car that screams their daddies with subtlety and elegance can be hard. Well, to help you decide, here are a few options to before you hit the dealership.

9 out of 10 times you see this car weaving through Lagos traffic it’s usually driven by a woman. Similar cars like the Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue are also Yuppie-Mummy cars.

Driven by mums that want the SUV thrill but can’t go all out for a Mercedes Benz suv or a Porsche Cayenne because they have the kids school fees and rainy day savings to think about.

BMW X Series SUV

Range Rover Evoque

BMW or Be My Wife (not the official meaning) as it is popularly known in this region is just like its German counterpart on this list.

Its X series SUV lines are big and bold and it offers a preponderance of options.

By now you’d have picked up that women don’t like saloon car cliches. They like it sleek, chic, and pretty, and this car is all of that and more.

Just like the Mercedes-Benz GLK, this car exudes confidence and is for bold and adventurous women.

Some men find women in this intimidating but they couldn’t care less. It’s the height of their actual daddies!

Mercedes Benz E Class Class, elegance and sophisticated. These are the words female drivers of this car are accustomed to. The fact that it is a status symbol makes it the ultimate choice for corporate women.

You can only catch a glimpse of them through the windshield. All other windows are tinted. In this category, you have young chief executives and self-employed women killing it at what they do. A befitting chariot if you count the horsepower under the hood and its luxurious look.

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Mitsubishi Pajero A great car for women who want a monster of an SUV. Everything about this automobile is right for women. Does it ooze that big woman vibe? It sure does and it’s a nice height off the ground as well.

VOL 1 NO.15 • MAY 23 – MAY 29, 2021

Movie Review: BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA

Fast and Furious 9 Big, Dumb, Fun

Directed by: Justin Lin Cast: Vin Diesel, John Cena, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sung Kang, Helen Mirren, Charlize Theron

L

et me get this out of the way immediately; while Fast 9 is the dumbest movie of the year, I thoroughly enjoyed it. After a year filled with constant fear and trepidation, I was all too excited to turn off my brain and watch the latest installment of what at this point is now a superhero movie franchise. I saw the film in 4D at Filmhouse Cinemas, Lekki and I must say the viewing experience was significantly heightened by it. A definite recommend.

I frequently hear complaints about disillusionment with just how outlandish the stunts and storylines have gotten in the Fast franchise and I completely disagree. I have a strange kind of respect for everyone involved in this saga. It takes a ludicrous amount of self-awareness to be as increasingly over-the-top as these movies have become and I for one salute them for it. From jumping on rooftops in Edinburgh to swinging on mountains in El Salvador, to literally going into space, if you come into these movies looking for some kind of cerebral experience, you’re in the wrong place. I mean, there’s even a scene where one of the characters hints at the fact that they might be literal superheroes.

I appreciate that sort of winking acknowledgement. Long may it continue.

franchise is built on isn’t easy, but Lin does a really good job. The film begins and ends by focusing on the familial ties that anchor the characters and even extend to us, the viewers.

Speaking of familial ties, the big bad of this movie is Dom’s (never mentioned before now ) brother Jakob. They are pitted against each other in a desperate race for yet another McGuffin.

John Cena is quite good as Jakob, even if his stunt work is noticeably better than his acting chops. I’m definitely okay with his introduction to the franchise. The rest of the Fast family are all up to their usual standard, earnestly delivering their lines even when those get pretty corny.

Back for One Last Ride™ is the entire (and I do mean entire, alive or dead. ) Fast family. After 9 (nine!) films, honestly the plot really doesn’t matter anymore and I’m glad the screenwriters know what we the audience are there for. Fast cars, ludicrous stunts and of course, #Family are all present in spades.

Returning with a bang after taking the last 2 movies off, director Justin Lin brings back the daring, anything-is-possible energy that he started with Fast Five and this movie is all the better for it. Balancing globetrotting action with the Mi Familia ethos this

built up a robust level of enthusiasm in his fans and lovers of music.

UY Scuti

BY TILEWA KAZEEM

C

onsidering how much of a huge success Carpe Diem was, a lot was expected when Olamide announced he was releasing his 9th studio album a decade after the release of his premiere song Eni Duro. The father-of-one had to turn to his son, Batifeori for the album name UY Scuti after learning from him that it was the biggest star in the galaxy.

The tone of the album was pretty much set with Rock.

Dropped as a single off Uy Scuti, it was evident Olamide was taking a different route and experimenting with new sounds.

A soft piano track serenades you into its groovy beat. That then leads you to his signature sonorous tones perfectly cushioned in a melodious beat. With a voice that has fermented well over years of churning out anthems consistency, Rock was a piece of this unusual puzzle and it

PAGE 13

However, with the release of the 10-track album, it’s been welcomed with various reactions, some good and some not so good. The album opens up with Need for Speed. A cool mid-tempo tune where he sings about chasing dreams and he recalls a time before he had attained fame and popularity. Considering the entire message of the album, you can’t help but wonder why it was included on the album. His label wonderkid, Fireboy also imbues the track with his background vocals.

You don’t have to wait too long before the first feature on the album. Jailer feat. Jaywillz, an artist who earns his second Olamide feature having appeared on his 8th album “999” understood the assignment and oiled the track with his silky voice.

On this track, the aura of the album begins to set in and you uncover the tenderness of the project. Jaywillz’s vocals float in synchronicity with the beat, making the song one of the standout hits and the best feature of the album.

Track 3 is the pre-released single Rock. This is clear evidence of the fact that this was a love-themed project and was definitely the centrepiece of the album. It’s little wonder why it came out as a single.

Julie is Olamide’s approach to a sensual song. The beat is a warped sample of Gyptian’s Hold Yuh and he flaunts his lyrical dexterity for as much as the beat allows, but it doesn’t live up to the standard of the first two songs and the more

Had Fast & Furious 9 come out in March 2020 if things had been ‘normal’, perhaps I might have been more critical of its overly familiar plot. But by delivering the cinematic adrenaline that’s been sorely lacking over the past year, it’s easier to give it a pass for being so much fun.

With a two-part finale on the way (something that’s set up with a delicious credits scene here), we’ve no doubt the series can get even more outlandish for the epic conclusion. Welcome back Dom’s familia, it’s so good to see you again.

Rating: Great, dumb fun /10

the track unravels it the more you begin to realize it.

Songs like Rough Up featuring Layydoe and Cup of Tea and his verses on Somebody featuring the ever-present Phyno sound like lax freestyles. A series of harmoniously welded bars. This became quite obvious on the penultimate track. The lack of energy gradually weighs on the beat and becomes boring. Certain songs like PopPon featuring Fave, Julie and Rough Up, however, carry traits of a Caribbean influence and sound.

There is good news for newcomer Fave who appeared on two songs off the album. She as well as the other guests on the album delivered decent verses and influenced the overall feel of the album. Want, which also features Fave and Rough Up, however, are an acquired taste. With that in mind, it’s no wonder the album takes a little while to get going.

The project ends with a reggae track in So Much More. A simplistic track that tells women they are worth more than gold. The saxophone element makes the track enjoyable.

After multiple listens it is safe to say Uy Scuti is a decent album.

It’s not Carpe Diem great because not all the songs immediately speak to your soul like Jailer, Rock and maybe Ponpon do. A great thing about the project is Olamide starred talented artists that complemented each track graciously.

To conclude, areas like execution and production were clean and crisp. It checked all the boxes that make the album a decent listen for music lovers, a great body of work for his fans but would eventually be remembered as a sub-par body of work for people expecting a catalogue of bangers.

VOL 1 NO.20 • JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2021 VOL 1 NO.20 • JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2021

BEAUTY

SHEA BEAUTY

BY ONAH NWACHUKWU

A

Image from Instagram @iamhamamat

lot more people are leaning towards natural products for their skincare essentials and one that has remained quite popular is shea butter. Could this be a result of the anti-oxidants and anti-aging properties found in shea? From easing muscle aches to soothing dry skin and reducing fine lines and wrinkles, shea butter has multiple benefits. Cosmetic brands have used it as an ingredient in their products for ages because it is very high in vitamins and fatty acids. Whether you use it in its raw state or it is incorporated as an ingredient in your beauty product, you can’t go wrong with this miracle product.

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VOL 1 NO.20 • JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2021

BEAUTY

SOME BENEFITS OF SHEA BUTTER

Shea Butter Beauty Bar DOVE

It’s An Anti-Aging Agent

Shea butter is rich in vitamins A and E, which are antioxidants, and antioxidants are antiaging agents. They basically protect your skin cells from free radicals that may lead to premature aging and dull-looking skin. It is even known to be a fantastic eye cream to remove under-eye wrinkles and reduce eye bags.

Reduces The Appearance Of Stretch Marks

Shea butter has been known to stop scar tissues from reproducing while encouraging healthy cell growth, which may help your skin heal, minimizing the appearance of stretch marks and scarring.

Shea Butter Ultra Rich Comforting Cream L’OCCITANE

Leave in Conditioning Repair Cream CANTU

A Great Moisturiser

It works wonders on dry skin and other skin types, and has been known to help protect the skin’s natural oils. Because it is a moistirising agent, you will find shea butter in a lot of products including hand creams, lip balms, body creams, conditioners, the list is endless.

Whipped Shea Butter Body Cremes MADAM ORI Raw Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner SHEA MOISTURE

Shea Lip Butter THE BODY SHOP

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VOL 1 NO.20 • JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2021

THE SCENE DOWNTOWN

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu giving a speech

Yeni Kuti and Theo Lawson

Yeni Kuti’s Diamond Age Celebration

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

Y

Yeni Kuti

Seun, Yeide and Adara Kuti

Kikelomo Atanda-Owo and a guest

Femi Kuti and Omo Baba

Caroline Olisa Adibua King

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

eni Kuti, iconic Nigerian dancer, media personality, businesswoman and daughter of Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti, turned 60 recently and she celebrated her birthday in style. The event, which happened at the New Afrika Shrine, had top dignitaries, friends and her colleagues within the entertainment industry join the Kuti family. These are some faces from the event.

L-R - Keke Ogungbe, Yeni Kuti, Dayo Adeneye, ID Ogungbe

Yeni Kuti’s daughter, Rolari Segun together with her husband, Benedict Jacka

Babajide Sanwo-Olu taking a selfie with Morayo Afolabi-Brown

Book Signing of Fashion A Second Language

BY TILEWA KAZEEM

C

Godson Ukaegbu

PAGE 16

reative artist, photographer and author Godson Ukaegbu held a book signing for his body of work titled Fashion A Second Language.

The event was held at Temple Muse in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Derin from Isale Eko

Ejiro Amos Tafiri

Kelechi Amadi Obi