Ijeoma joins me on The Iveoma Show to discuss why her boutique that she started in Enugu, Nigeria collapsed, how it took her life savings’ and the extremely useful business lessons she learned.   TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: Why Ijeoma relocated to Enugu, Nigeria in 2013 (:56) How the Enugu State Government told her that they will demolish her shop 2 days after the grand opening (3:23) How she was let down by her connections/acquaintances in Nigeria (8:00) How leaving America to go to Nigeria made her appreciate her life in America so much more (12:41) Advice for diaspora who want to build a business in Nigeria  (14:28) The importance of understanding the Nigerian customer needs and income (16:49) 

I Am The Diaspora

#18: I Lost My Life Savings & Business Nigeria (Move Back To Nigeria Story)

Chika Umeadi co-founder of TipHub joins me on I Am The Diaspora to talk about how entrepreneurs can find/develop their unfair advantage in business and gives advice to people who are moving to Africa to start businesses. Tiphub is an accelerator that focuses on African and African entrepreneurs that are building businesses in Africa. Tiphub also founded Diaspora Demo Summit, the largest gathering of African and African diaspora led businesses outside of Africa.  Find more: www.iveoma.com

#35: How Tiphub Helps African/Diaspora Businesses Find Their Unfair Advantage With Chika Umeadi

#33: How To Avoid Common Legal Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make In Contracts With Temi Siyanbade

#32: How To Become A Media Personality With Liz Akinbode

So you’re thinking about building your own business or investing in Africa? Nako Mbelle, the founder of the Invest In Africa Virtual Summit & Fintech Recruiters, joins me on the I Am The Diaspora show to talk all about why NOW is the time for the African Diaspora to invest in Africa. Learn why she decided to create the very FIRST virtual summit focused on how the African Diaspora can invest in Africa, what industries she thinks the African Diaspora should invest in, and the strengths of each speaker. Enjoy listening and find out more at iveoma.com. 

#31: Invest In Africa Virtual Summit With Nako Mbelle

The founder of Aso-Swap, chats with I Am The Diaspora about pursuing her creative passions. She broke out of the typical role expected of a Nigerian-American and pursued journalism, tv presenting, screenwriting and entrepreneurship. We talk about the importance of chasing your dreams, some of the challenges of following those dreams in light of family expectations, and why now is the best time to build your business. THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Iveoma – AKA ME LOL! Iveoma.com is a digital media company showcasing African business success stories and brands in order to empower the African Diaspora. My weekly talk show, I Am The Diaspora, takes a two-track approach to achieve that: It showcases business leaders who will talk about their journey to success in Africa in order to empower and motivate YOU! While at the same time, I seek to grow awareness and strengthen public relations for these African businesses and brands featured on my show, so they can introduce their products and services to a powerful African Diaspora market. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: Elizabeth’s path to becoming an entrepreneur How Elizabeth gets inspired from the African Diaspora How to keep yourself from being “boxed in” and keep evolving How to blend or combine your interests and not feel overwhelmed Choosing when to experiment with your business idea 

#30: Screenwriter To Entrepreneur

Today's episode is with Ismail Sabrie, the founder of Symian Electronics, chats with The Iveoma Show about what it takes to be an entrepreneur in Kenya, the tough reality that you must have some money in order to scale a business, and why he loves entrepreneurship. 

#29: Building Symbian Electronics In Kenya With Ismail Sabrie

Chigozie Ezugwu, the founder of Raadaa, talks about how to make money online doing research. Raadaa gives researchers, publishers, and students, an avenue to monetize their own research like video creators can do on YouTube. He has created an educational startup that ensures quality content and research from developing countries is available to everyone around the world. 

#28: How To Make Money Online Doing Research With Chigozie Ezugwu

Faideye Loum, the founder of KABIO, an engineer turned fashion designer sits down to chat with The Iveoma Show. I met Fadieye when she was a Mandela Washington Fellow a part of the Young African Leaders Initiative. There is a corresponding video as well available on iveoma.com and youtube (search for YALI Interview Series). 

#27: Creating Beautiful African Clothing With Fadieye Loum (YALI Interview)

Maria Makanjuola, the biochemist founder of Sweet Cake TV School, discusses how to build a Facebook community from scratch (she literally went from 0 to 25k+ members in one year).  Maria discusses how to create an online school from consumer feedback and how she empowers African women on the continent and in the diaspora by teaching them a profitable craft. TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: How I meet Maria Makanjuola in the Africa Business Academy (1:00) Maria's background (2:00) Why she started a Facebook group (3:00) How to build a community (5:19) How Maria built her website herself (9:00) How she became an entrepreneur (12:31) Teaching African women entrepreneurial skills (17:21) Why you should focus on 1 or 2 social media platforms (28:00) 

#26: How To Build A Facebook Community With Maria Makanjuola

Today I am talking to Toib Olarinde about how he built his multiple fashion businesses, doing what you believe in, having pride in being a Nigerian, and how to stand out in fashion.   TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: Why Toib left his 9-5 to pursue his own business full time (1:00) Why he created Nigerian Is The New Cool, Da Bottom Clothing, and a marketing agency called The Agency (3:02) Starting a fashion company with just a $1,000 (4:58) Why some American-raised people just call themselves American vs Nigerian (7:47) Starting a clothing line without being a designer (10:00) How to stand out in fashion (14:15)  

#25: Why Nigerian Is The New Cool With Toib Olarinde

Today's episode is for artists and creatives. Issouf Simpore, artist & interior designer from Burkina Faso joins me on The Iveoma Show. We dive into making money as an artist, how to sell art through art festivals and shows around the USA, and how his art is an expression of his world.

#24: Issouf Simpore Is The Painter From Burkina Faso

Emeka Ossai, the founder of the Nigerian Campus Enterprise Challenge, talks about his goal of training 1 million Nigerian entrepreneurs by 2020. He also discusses how the networks that he his building during his time as a Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders Initiative is helping him build his business.

#23: The Future Of Nigerian Graduates With Emeka Ossai (YALI Interview Series)

Chipokosa Tepula, the co-founder of the Kaychi Aquaponics, talks building the first aquaponics farm in Zambia, how is is going to become a distributor to major retailers, and training farmers in his region. He also discusses how the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders Initiative is helping him build his business.

#22: Aquaponics, Farming Without Soil, With Chipokosa Tepula (YALI Interview Series)

Nicholas Oghieakhe, singer, songwriter and finance guru, is on The Iveoma Show talking about how the Diaspora can invest in Nigerian real estate and Nollywood.     

#21: How The Diaspora Can Invest In Nollywood & Real Estate With Nicholas Oghieakhe

I Am The Diaspora is a podcast that showcases African business success stories and brands to empower the African Diaspora. Hosted by blogger and YouTuber Iveoma Okparaeke, you will learn from industry leaders how to make small investments in Africa, learn from African Diaspora entrepreneurs how to start a business, learn about important Africa industry events that serve the Diaspora, learn from people in the Diaspora who moved back to Africa, learn about unique consumer products for the Diaspora, etc. | New episodes released every Thursday | Show notes available at iveoma.com.

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I Am The Diaspora

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