Entrepreneurship not for the weak—An Interview with Abideen Olasupo, CEO OPAB Global Consult
Posted by Ahmed Iyanda | 3 years ago | 1,438 times
Abideen Olasupo
Editor's notes: Olasupo Abideen is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of OPAB Global Consult, a business advisory and career consultancy company. In this interview with AHMED IYANDA, he shares his story and experience as an entrepreneur.
WNP: Can you tell us about your business?
Abideen Olasupo: I have investment in the oil sector. I also sell cooking gas; I call it domestic Liquified Petroleum Gas, I do business consultancy service, I have a business advisory and career consultancy service, that is OPAB Global Consult. What we do there is to do business and advisory for startups, we train them on investment readiness, how to write business plans, how to pitch before investors as well tackle some challenges that happen to small medium enterprises during the first two to three years of their existence. We also help them write Business Grant applications. I have an innovation centre where we use technology to develop solutions to solve IT sustainable development problems. That is the OPAB innovation centre. I am the co-founder of the innovation centre. I am also engaged in issues around sustainable development goals as an SDG Expert. I've worked with corporate organizations before.
WNP: How long have you been into business?
Abideen Olaaupo: I have been in business roughly since 2019. I have a computer centre in my community, Ifon Osun, because I grew up in Osun State. The computer centre still exists. I established that to bridge the gap then because I noticed any time you go to the computer centre to type,the computer centre is always laced with grammatical blunders and errors. What gave me a unique value proposition was when you come to my centre, I edit for you and I correct the errors I noticed in your letters.
My business is a small business. I grew up in a conglomerate of four businesses. I have like 40 staff on my payroll, 20 of them are full time staff, while 25 work on a part-time basis. So there's this initiative that we do that is called student work experience. Students come on Sundays to open for us and we pay them based on the number of kg they sell. I will pay them and there is also the student Ambassadors program where the students get a Cooking Gas from the hostels, so we will fill them and we also pay them based on the number of kg they sell as well.
WNP: What has 2021 been like for the businesses of Mr Olasupo Abideen?
Abideen Olasupo: 2021 has been super exciting and busy because since the beginning of this year, I've been working from one consultancy job to another.
I have been able to bridge the gap to allow my business to conform with the new normal, trying to sign different partnership deals and making proposals. I have been speaking across different global platforms and continents. So it has really been a busy year so far although not without its own challenges.
WNP: Considering that many parents want their children to concentrate fully on education and seek white collar jobs, do you think there is any hope for entrepreneurship in the country?
Abideen Olasupo: I don't agree we can all be entrepreneurs, because some people are not meant to be an entrepreneur, so it is nothing bad if they want their children to focus on whitecollar jobs. The question we should ask is are they giving their children the necessary skills that will be able to make them compete favorably? We cannot all be entrepreneurs, everybody cannot go into business. Business is not just something that we should make compulsory for everybody, so if they are fine with their children doing whitecolar jobs, the concern is if they are really preparing them with skills that will be needed at the workplace beyond their university degree.
WNP: What’s the next level of growth you forecast for your business?
Abideen Olasupo: The next level of growth I forecast is focusing on African countries, because I am building a tech solution that I hope to leverage AFCFTA to expand on and revolutionize the climate and green economy in Africa. So, I look forward to expanding it to more African countries and reducing unemployment as well as trying to make an impact with regards to the adoption of cleaner form of energy.
WNP: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would that be?
Abideen Olasupo: The road is going to be rough, things are not always going to work your way but be determined, be humble, be empathetic, be hardworking and always imbibe the spirit of creativity and innovation in anything you do. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted. One would likely encounter more of what would discourage one rather than what would encourage one. However, the good news is that if one can persevere, one would eventually succeed. Remember that it is always a factor of favour, grace and mercy. Prayer is the key.
