Kingsley Ndimele is a Personal Finance Coach and Business Consultant. He is one of Africa's youngest entrepreneurs and Chairman, NOVEL Nigeria (a fast growing event company in Nigeria). He has spent about one-third of his entire life teaching diverse topics on various podiums across Nigeria. He has written several business articles published on different media platforms.

He holds a B.Agric. (Agric. Economics) from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. He also holds a Verified Certificate in Entrepreneurship In Emerging Economies from the prestigious Harvard University and he is currently running his Professional Diploma in Business Management at the International Business Management Institute, Germany.

Kingsley is the convener of YES! Festival (The First Online Business Summit in Africa). He is committed to building lives and businesses across the African continent.

Have you ever picked up a business book written by a foreign author whose thoughts and principles could not be applied in the African market? Have you ever been lost in the internet trying to find business ideas or advice on how and where to improve your business, only to discover that maybe you were not looking at the most reputable sources?

Coupled with his experience in the entrepreneurial field, Kingsley Ndimele has consistently studied the African space and why most African businesses fail and he has shared in this book lessons learnt and proven strategies for Africans who are about to embark on the entrepreneurial journey and those who are already traveling through this adventure. These practical strategies have shown demonstrated records of significant success and has continued to help many African entrepreneurs build profitable and sustainable businesses.

The most outstanding feature about this book is that it discusses extensively challenges peculiar to most African businesses and practical solutions to navigate through them have also been proffered. Even if you do not have a business, your personal life is a business. This book is a must-read for every African.

I know right!

Pimpstar:
Hmm..

This one has to be chewed slowly.

Thanks so much for reading.

dcrested:
Nice write up

You are right!

Folzye:
Well said, dangote has many things working for him infact when he started his business only the kind of connection he had was enough to take him to the next level.

[Connection with people that mattersquote author=emperorblog21 post=94072605]Connection matters alot[/quote]

Absolutely!

Mide3367:
GBAMsolutely

Yes, it is

post=94069634:
This is deep and revealing.

Aliko Dangote is powerful not because he has access to huge capital, but because of his political history. If you want to go far in business, you need to be involved in some politics. Dangote is a brand, but Aliko Dangote is a politician. He funds the campaign of many African presidents. It is called the Politics of Business.

What he does not have, he can never give you. He comes from a wealthy family with a strong political history, yet he claims that he started from the scratch. Aliko Dangote, teach me something else but not how to raise capital for my business. According to Wikipedia, Aliko Dangote's Uncle was the wealthiest man in West Africa as at the time of his death in 1955.

#500,000 in 1977 is not a scratch. In case you don't know, #500,000 in 1977 can buy 100 Mercedes Benz cars. Calculate the current value of that #500,000 and tell me how many entrepreneur today in Africa started with that kind of capital. #350 million is the current value of #500,000 of 1977. Even as at now, #500,000 for an average entrepreneur in Africa is a little above scratch. If you dreamt of becoming like Aliko Dangote, please sleep again.

Do you have an uncle that can loan you #350 million? Ok! Do you have an uncle that can loan you #500,000? Ok! Do you have an uncle that can loan you #350,000? Ok! Do you even have an uncle? If your dream is to become like Aliko Dangote, please wake up. The reality of many African entrepreneurs today is that we Start Small, Dream Big, but Remain Small.

There are many potential Dangotes today with beautiful business plans and ideas that may never see the light of the day. There are many potential Dangotes today selling boxers on their WhatsApp status. There are many potential Dangotes today selling bread and akara in OUI roundabout. There are many potential Dangotes today selling sausage roll and bottle water on the Third Mainland Bridge. ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS HARDER FOR THE POOR AND POWERLESS.

I know you are passionate about entrepreneurship and business, but if your passion cannot pay your bills at the moment, please put it on hold for now. Go and make money. Go and get a job. Then, come back to pick up your passion. Nigeria is real!

© Kingsley Ndimele
#buildinglivesandbusinesses

Many businesses have folded up in the last few months. I mean, big and small businesses. Covid-19 is real but more real is the impact of this global pandemic on several businesses. We never planned that it will last this long, and we still cannot predict when normalcy will be fully restored. This may seem like a justification for giving up on your business, but it's really not. There is still one strategy that you may not have considered. Let me show you.

In Obafemi Awolowo University, rather than becoming a dropout due to poor academic performance, you have an alternative of changing your course of study. We call it "crossover." This strategy has been a saving grace for many students, especially for the medical and pharmacy students.

Dear, I know that you have tried your best in saving your business from failing but I need to remind you that in business, unexpected weather change calls for change in direction and strategy. Why should you quit your business, when you can crossover?

Don't give up. Change lane! Real entrepreneurs don't back out, they rather change lane when there is a 'hold up'. If you are traveling the entrepreneurial journey, understand that there is no harm in changing your products and services, especially when market conditions change unexpectedly. Gokada moved from bike-hailing service to logistics and delivery when the Lagos state policy hit them suddenly. Nokia was initially into paper production. Colgate used to sell starch, soap and candles but now they sell oral hygiene products.

Do you know that even Dangote stopped producing noodles? He sold the production lines to his competitors - Dufil Prima Ltd (producers of Indomie noodles). Dangote intends to focus on flour milling and pasta production where it has a competitive advantage. Dufil controls a large proportion of the noodles market with its popular Indomie brand, and the move will increase its market share.

My dear, those who change lane have a higher chance of success than those who quit. Before you quit your business, go to the ant, consider its ways and be inspired. If you put your finger in an ant’s path, it just walks around it and ‘soldiers' on to where it is heading. It won’t let your finger hinder its walk. Put another obstacle in its way and it still ‘soldiers’ on to its destination. Whether it takes a route around or over that obstacle, it just keeps changing lane and crossing over. Dear, nobody celebrates an abandoned project. The world only celebrates finishers.

Join me THIS SUNDAY in SATURN MASTERCLASS. Let's discuss how to build a profitable and sustainable business. Participation is � free. Click here to register /saturnmasterclass

© Kingsley Ndimele
#buildinglivesandbusinesses

Sometimes ago, I, alongside my boss traveled to Patigi Village in Kwara State for a humanitarian assignment. On getting there, we lodged in the only guest house in that neighborhood - ECWA Guest House. We couldn't believe our ears when the attendant told us that one room per night cost just #1,000. Guess what? Apart from the fact that the room had no TV, it was not less than the standard room we had lodged at Rockyson Hotel in Akoko, Ondo State where we paid #8,000 for a room per night. Despite the ridiculous amount, the room service provider still worshipped us like a god.

After our duty at Patigi, we traveled to Jima Village at Niger State for another assignment the following day. By the time we got to Abuja to catch up with our flight at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, I was already very hungry. While waiting at the departure hall, I walked up to the airport restaurant to get some food. "How much is a plate of rice?" The guy replied, "Just #700 per spoon." Initially, I thought he was joking. Trust me, I stylishly reversed my legs so that he could attend to other people. I asked myself, "Kingsley, how much is a congo of rice?"

I didn't even know when my hunger disappeared. There, I knew the value of Iya Ibeji who sells food in my street. With #700, Iya Ibeji will give me a VIP treat.

Was the airport restaurant wrong to have charged such price? No! Was the management at ECWA Guest House wrong to have charged such price too? No! Was the manager at Rockyson Hotel wrong to have charged such price? No! What about Iya Ibeji who can perform wonders on your stomach with just #700 - was she wrong too? No!

Their different locations made the difference in their prices. Dear, location remains a strong determinant factor in price strategy. Don't just take your products or services into the market without first considering the location of your potential customers. Else, you may be selling a time bomb.

In my new book SATURN, you will learn more about how this and many more topics that I have discussed extensively. I mean, practical solutions to survive in the African market. SATURN is The Best Business Book For African Entrepreneurs. Pre-order now at a discount price (#1,000) via kingsleyndimele95@gmail.com

© Kingsley Ndimele
#buildinglivesandbusinesses

Have you ever used a Nokia phone?
Where is Nokia today? Can you go to a phone store today to buy a Nokia phone? What happened to the Nokia Symbian OS?

This was what happened; While Nokia was still enjoying the market and making big sales, Andriod OS and iPhone gradually took over the market?

Nokia failed to innovate and it has never recovered.
Listen, the market is fierce. Innovate or be kicked out is the language of the market.

Customers don't care much about your company, they only care about your product. Once a better product from another company enters the market, they divert their attention from you immediately. Customers don't forgive your sluggishness or unwillingness to evolve.

Yinka Ayefele charges as much as #5 - 6 million per event depending on the location and time of the year. He charges #2.5 million for events in Lagos. And he charges about $10,000 for events abroad. Please, is he coming to sing any newly composed song?

The difference between other music artistes and Yinka Ayefele is INNOVATION. They sing the same song, but in different ways. In fact, other music artistes compose their songs, while Ayefele mostly picks it up from there, gives it a better vibe and sound and make millions from it. Other artistes INVENT, Yinka Ayefele INNOVATES. And this is how Ayefele makes his money.

In Agriculture, it is called value chain. According to recent study, for every $1 (#400) spent on food, a farmer gets less than 12 cents (#60) for the raw product.

Maize is the raw product, Custard is the innovation. Orange is the fruit, 5Alive juice is the innovation. Okada is the invention, Gokada is the innovation. Bottled water companies do not produce water, they produce plastic bottles.

Crude oil is the raw material, but crude oil does NOT bring the value and money. The money is in the refined products (kerosene, petrol, petroleum gas etc.)

So what is INNOVATION? INNOVATION means REFINING an INVENTION. INVENTION means something NEW. INNOVATION means something FRESH. Your job as an entrepreneur is either to create something new or something fresh. Your job as an entrepreneur is either to create a new product for an existing market, or an existing product for a new market.

It takes a innovative entrepreneur with a flexible mind to survive the threat of COVID-19 pandemic. One of the industries mostly affected by this pandemic is Event Industry where my business (NOVEL Nigeria) belongs. Due to the pandemic, most events have been cancelled. Without events, there will be no event planner. However, event planners are now creating packages for "Tele-events" such as online wedding, funerals and birthdays.

"But it already exists" was never spoken by any successful entrepreneur. Open your heart to new ideas.

I have discussed this topic and more extensively in my new book titled; SATURN (The Best Business Book For African Entrepreneurs). Make sure you get your own copy now. Even if you don't have a business yet, your personal life itself is a business. DM (kingsleyndimele95@gmail.com) to pre-order now at a discount price.

© Kingsley Ndimele
#buidlinglivesandbusinesses

SavageResponse:
Well said!

Thanks for reading

gnykelly:
yeah you are right. during Jonathan administration when there was free money if you enter a barbing salon to have a cut was 7k. everything was just up. now dem no dey telli pesin

You sabi...e be things

Johnny1013:
This is some nice piece .......Love this

Thanks for reading, Johnny

Hardly will you meet any Nigerian youth these days without a title. Even Hushpuppi says he's an entrepreneur (Real Estate). Everywhere is littered with Content creators with no content. Entrepreneurs with no enterprise. Project Managers with no project. Even a WhatsApp group Admin is a CEO.

If I should save all the 'Tosins' and 'Davids' on my phone contact with CEO or Entrepreneur, I will just end up having multiple mistaken identities. Yet, whenever I need to call a tailor, I don't remember anyone of them. I simply call "John Tailor" because that is what I can remember easily. This is why Uchekinze Plumbing Works gets more patronage than Uchechi Water Expert. This is why Bayo Photography Studio gets more patronage than the B.A.Y Imaginations. You are a Twitter Influencer not a PR Expert. If you sell "Ewa Agoyin", be proud to introduce yourself that way. Don't use "Nutrition Consultant" on your bio. Stop doing yourself.

Your potential customers are confused. They want to know what you really do. What do you mean by "I am an Innovation Manager and Mentoring Consultant?"

If you make shoes, you are shoemaker. You are a clothier. You are a caterer. If you bake cake, you are a baker, not a sugarsmith. You are a plumber. You are a fish farmer. You are a graphic designer. You are a makeup artiste. You are a trader. People relate more with you that way. Entrepreneur is a generic name and CEO is the most deceptive title. People remember you easily that way. Always resist the unnecessary urge to "shalaye" yourself. Make it simple for people to remember. Stop doing yourself.

I have discussed this extensively in my new book titled; SATURN (The Best Business Book For African Entrepreneurs). Make sure you get your own copy. DM (kingsleyndimele95@gmail.com) to pre-order at a discount price.

© Kingsley Ndimele
#buildinglivesandbusinesses

Recently, I approached a tailor to in my street to sew a cloth for me and he gave me an overwhelming price. He said, "Don't you know how much Yomi Casual charge per cloth?" I jokingly reminded him that I am not a yahoo boy, Besides, if I wanted Yomi Casual to sew for me, I know the road to Lekki.

This is the mistake most entrepreneurs are making: comparing themselves with bigger brands in terms of pricing. Hey! How much have you poured into building your business and brand that you want to make 70% profit from just one deal. When did you start business, that you want to bill me like Yomi Casual. If those big brands started with a high price tag, they will most likely not be where they are today.

Before you place price tags on your products and services, consider your location. If your customers are majorly low income earners, you cannot give them a 'Banana Island' price.

I remember a classmate of mine, who told me that her 3 in 1 boxers is #5000. A student selling to a student in a federal university where the school fee is less than #30,000 per session.

The average Nigerian spends the larger percentage of his income on food. That means that, for the average Nigerian, everything you sell or offer competes with the price of food. Forget about our packaging on social media, the average Nigerian is very price conscious.

I came to relax in your bar where I can afford my class of beer, yet you want to sell Goldberg to me for #700 per bottle. Haba! If I can afford that, I can also afford one bottle of water at Quilox for #1000.

As at 2014, photographers in Port Harcourt charge at least #300 per hard copy whereas in Ile-Ife, the maximum price of a hard copy is #200 today (except you are being charged per studio time).

During my undergraduate days, you dare not organize a show and sell a ticket for more than #300 even if it is Beyonce that is coming to perform. Else, you will perform for the ghost of your ancestors. Many organizers understand this strategy. But when they go to other campuses, they charge more than 300% of what is being charged in my school. It's just about location.

In a competitive market, whoever has a quality product and an affordable price wins the market. Bigi cola used price strategy to compete with Coca-Cola. Cowbell used price strategy to compete with Peak milk. BOVAS Filling Station uses price strategy to compete with other petrol stations in Nigeria, especially during petrol scarcity. Dangote uses this price strategy to step up his game of monopoly.

At NOVEL Nigeria, for our kind of business, we don't have a fixed price for our services. The average Nigerian will prefer to set up a committee of friends and family, rather than hire an event planner and we know why this is so. Hence, for us, we work within the budget of our clients irrespective of their class. This has been a winning strategy.

The larger population in Africa is made up of largely low income and middle class guys. And we all can't be chasing after the VGC and Maitama guys. These are just a lesser fraction of the market. It is better and easier to make #1000 each from 100 customers than to make #100,000 from one customer. This is the secret of Toyota Company and Dangote Company. Where do you think MTN make the most sales? From the #100 recharge cards or from the #1000 recharge cards? Dear, make your products and services distinct, central and affordable, if you must win and retain more customers.

There's a reason why Facebook, Twitter and Instagram were made free to sign up. Have you suddenly forgotten about the "zero account" strategy that GTBank used to win most of us. Do you think the average Nigerian would have welcomed Uber or Gokada if it was not affordable? Apart from taking pictures, why do you think most of us prefer to buy from Shoprite? Shoprite sells quality and affordable items.

Because your friend sold his plot of land at Yaba for 20 million naira per plot, you too want to sell your plot of land at Modakeke for the same price. Ogbeni, las las na government go convert that land to public cemetery.

Dear businesspeople, stop overcharging your customers. Not all of them are yahoo boys. Price is the biggest challenge of an average customer. If you don't see your customers again, it's most likely they have moved on to a place where they can get same or better quality at a cheaper price.

I have discussed this extensively in my new book titled; SATURN (The Best Business Book For African Entrepreneurs). Make sure you get your own copy. DM (kingsleyndimele95@gmail.com) to pre-order at a discount price.


© Kingsley Ndimele
#buildinglivesandbusinesses
#Saturn
#Anticipate
#october2020

I was standing at the junction of the road, waiting for Tobi. It was my matriculation day at Obafemi Awolowo University in 2015. My mates were getting prepared to enter into Amphitheatre with their matriculation gowns. Parents were trouping in through Road 1 of the university.

Prior to that day, while everyone was thinking about how they will celebrate, take pictures and enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime event, I was busy thinking about how I was going to make money from that event.

I had learnt event photography but I had no camera yet. I remembered Oloyede Tobi - my photographer friend whom I met during our UTME tutorials. He had moved to UNIPORT. However, he was the only option I had who could lend me his camera.

I reached an agreement with Tobi to rent his camera for that day. I agreed to pay his transport fare to and fro Port Harcourt to Ile-Ife. It was a big risk. I was also a fresher who was matriculating that same day. Besides, I have never done any photography business in Ile-Ife. I did not know if I would succeed. I was even told that the Association of Photographers in Ile-Ife may harass me and even seize the camera. I was really scared. But I had no option. I must at least pay for Tobi's transportation.

While the matriculation session was going on inside the hall batch by batch, I was busy making money. I even used my matric gown for students who wanted to take pictures but had no gown. I beat my price so down that it attracted the 'union' guys. I was their major competitor that day. They threatened to seize the camera and drag me to the Division of Students' Affairs. Everyone who was around me pleaded to them to pardon me. I also showed them my student ID card to prove to them that I was not really an outsider.

My elder brother who showed up for my matric met me taking pictures and surprisingly he helped me to convince more people. Tobi also joined me to convince more freshers to patronize us. Mehn...we made money. I paid Tobi for his transport and rent. I had more money for myself. That was the first business I ever did on OAU Campus.

After the whole sèrèrè, I went to submit my matriculation oath to the Faculty Secretary. I did not step my feet into that hall for a second.

Dear, risk has been built into my DNA. I live by taking risk. I live my life every day like a wolf. I believe that everything is possible. Although, sometimes I fail and sometimes I succeed. However, whenever I fail, I don't sit and cry, I stand and try again. In this entrepreneurial journey, there is no giving up. I have just two options in life; it's either I succeed or I die trying.

In business, if you don't venture anything, you can never gain anything. Why are you afraid of starting, trying or failing? Listen, for every debit, there is usually a corresponding credit. In business, you do not lose. You either win or learn. For every loss you incur, there is usually a corresponding lesson to be learnt. Life is a constant process of trial and error. Don't exaggerate your failure and don't settle for mediocrity. Whenever you fail, bury your past quickly and move ahead, no need for a prolonged burial ceremony. I do not guarantee that you will succeed if you strive harder, but I can guarantee that you will never succeed if you give up now.

Today, the event photography business has taken me to places. My first flight ever was solely as a result of photography. I have stood before kings and queens of high places. I have successfully trained 10 other guys in the business of photography. I am not the best event photographer in Nigeria, I am just an amateur who has refused to give up. I am still going places. This is just the beginning.

© Kingsley Ndimele
#buildinglivesandbusinesses

I visit the school yearly courtesy of IMPACT AFRICA FOUNDATION. Oba Abolarin is rare king! I have over 100 pictures of the school to validate this incredible truth