Popularly known as Islimfit, Adetona Adewale Akeem is a Digital Technologist and Techporenuer with more than 8 years’ experience in Digital Marketing, Communications, Branding, and Media Management.
He is passionate about building brands and helping them attain their Marketing objectives.
Can you tell us more about Lagos Digital Summit?
Lagos Digital Summit (LDS) is an annual convergence of thought leaders modelled around the digital needs of the millennials. Our aim is to contribute to the development of entrepreneurs and businesses in Nigeria using digital as a tool, and I have identified Lagos Digital Summit as one of the avenues to help us achieve that. The support received for the last four editions has spurred us to organise this fifth edition. We look forward to welcoming everybody as we are set to make their attendance of LDS 2021 worthwhile through engaging discussions, valuable insights and transformative ideas that would emerge from the summit.
There is no gainsaying the fact that with the recent developments in Nigeria, digital media is well established as a tool for socio-economic prosperity – one that has been deliberately deployed via Lagos Digital Summit for us to maximise its potential.
This year edition of the Summit, we have carefully selected the best facilitators and speakers to sit on two different business-focused panel sessions on how entrepreneurs can leverage digital media to scale their business.
So far, what has been the major achievement of Lagos Digital Summit?
The impact of Lagos Digital Summit since inception cannot be overlooked. We have had more than 1,000 participants for each of the editions, who have been empowered with diverse digital skills for their businesses.
We have generally witnessed the vital role digital media has played globally this year – from updates to providing relevant information in the ongoing battle against the pandemic, and citizens holding their governments accountable for policy decision and societal transformation.
LDS has always been FREE to attend and targeted at Brand and Communication Managers, Techpreneurs, Digital Media Strategists, SME Owners/Managers, Start-ups, MDAs, corporate bodies, tech compliant and adaptive firms, and the general public.
What is the inspiration behind the establishment of the brand?
Lagos Digital Summit started 5 years ago with just an idea in my small shared apartment back then in Ebute Metta with my friend who is now in Canada. The aim was simply to facilitate a platform for the convergence of 50-60 digital marketing professionals and business thought leaders for the advancement of SMEs and Digital Media enthusiasts within our network.
Five (5) years down the line, although with plenty of challenges, it’s been a success story. We have had the privilege of empowering over 5,000 Businesses and Individuals with diverse digital marketing skills. I will continue this story another day.
How do you source for Sponsorship?
Consistency is key in any endeavour in this life. The consistency we have maintained in organizing Lagos Digital Summit annually is what has attracted relevant brands to be associated with us. These brands have seen our journey, our capability and the potential impact the Summit would have on them, hence their involvement and sponsorship of Lagos Digital Summit. Over the years, we have had brands from various sectors sponsoring the Summit – FinTech, EduTech, HealthTech, Real Estate, FMCG, and Banking.
Running such a huge project in Nigeria is not easy, what motivates you?
The desire to add value, make impact and contribute significantly to the digital economy of Lagos and Nigeria at large has pushed me into organizing LDS. Even despite the lack of financial resources when we started, we didn’t allow that to stop us.
You are a revered marketing professional, digital media practitioner, social commentator and social media influencer, how do you manage to run all these?
I am a man that wears many hats. The ability to function in different capacities as and when due is premise on my career journey and experience over the years. I started off my professional career by working in a Media and Advertising agency, after which I moved to the client side of the divide – a Fintech brand in Lagos. I spent few years as the Digital Marketing Manager before climbing the ladder to become the head of Marketing. My mentorship and social commentating activities outside my regular job also makes it easy for me to wear such various hats.
What is your best kept business secret?
My best kept business secret is diligence, prudence and the right attitude to work. No matter how good you are in your field, without the right attitude, you might not go far. The right attitude coupled with the spirit of excellence is most cases is what will make potential customers want to have anything to do with you. Also, the devil is in the details. Paying 100% attention and ensuring an excellence delivery and implementation are key for me.
What would be your advice to a freshly graduated Nigerian youth finding it hard to get a white-collar job?
My advice would be – equip yourself with relevant Digital Skills. The world has evolved and Youth all over the world are now positioning themselves for jobs in Tech, all thanks to the advent of digital technology.
Due to the effects of the covid-19 pandemic, companies in the world have been affected in one way or another, which has led to the digitalization of their businesses. That’s why in 2021, the demand for skills like AI, Python Programming, Data Analysis, Digital Marketing, Video editing, UI/UX design, SEO/PPC marketing etc. are still very high and maybe even more important than last year. Companies now need people with these skills to successfully promote and grow their business in the digital environment.
How did you get interested in cryptocurrency?
Nigeria is the biggest cryptocurrency market in Africa and third in the world behind USA and Russia.
I personally started Cryptocurrency trading as far back at 2017 when I bought my first Bitcoin. Before then, I have been doing intensive research and spending several hours daily watching YouTube videos and reading articles about Bitcoin. I think I started with around 600-700 USD back then. Although I later lost access to the wallet because of my naiveness and couldn’t trace the Bitcoin up till now. But that still didn’t discourage me as I invested more in 2020.
Like me, many Nigerian youths are turning to crypto trading for business, to protect their savings especially against the diminishing value of the naira, and more importantly to send payments abroad. The financial freedom and cross border payment option that has been derived by the virtue of trading in crypto is unrivaled.
Share with us your experience as a crypto holder, the good the bad and the ugly?
Let me start with the ugly lol. I lost all my first investment in Cryptocurrency in 2017 – about $700 back then or so. I bought Bitcoin worth that amount and left it in my digital wallet only to check back in 2020 when the price of Bitcoin had rose to $40,000 but couldn’t remember my wallet key phrase. Up till now, I still can’t recover the asset. I moved on immediate and got money to invest afresh. I have also had instances where I sold some coins at a loss, especially during this recent bear market where everything crashed.
But talking about the good, I have so far been able to raise my portfolio to about 250% of my initial capital, and I don’t intend to stop growing it.
For someone who has no experience with cryptocurrency, can you tell the best way to start?
First start by joining a cryptocurrency community. Whatever sector you play in, mixing with the relevant people in that field is very important. Also read more to understand the fundamentals of cryptocurrency and dynamics of the market. I will always recommend the crypto community I belong – CoinMata, where we do weekly free sessions to interact with newbies and also share necessary info via our WhatsApp and Telegram group.
What is your most recent accomplishment?
I recently accepted a Co-founder offer from a fast-rising Tech Startup in Nigeria – MenoPays. Due to my interest and passion for Tech entrepreneurship, I got the offer through a friend in the Tech ecosystem who knows the kind of potential contribution my skills would add to the company.
MenoPays is a Tech startup that is redefining Buy Now Pay later (BNPL) as a Lifestyle payment option across Africa. We are a data and analytics driven Web/App-based buy now pay later platform that helps smart merchants offer a line of credit to their interested customers instead of refusing a sale. The platform can be accesses via www.menopays.com, and also available on Google Playstore and iOS.
Although still in our early stage, we have only done some few pre-seed funding and are currently looking at building our merchant base before massive roll out for more adoption. It is also important to note that MenoPays isn’t just a BNPL, but we have taken up a just cause to fight poverty in Africa, starting from Nigeria.
Can you give us a brief about what you have done so far as a brand influencer?
I have worked with various brands to promote their businesses and also increase their brand presence in the Digital Media space.
With the use of diverse Digital Marketing Strategies, Branding and Social media promotions, I have been able to empower brands to spread the Unique Value Proposition of their Brands on digital media to increase visibility, top-of-mind awareness and ultimately have a desired ROI.
Looking ahead, what do you envisage yourself doing in the next 10 years?
To start with, I don’t see myself in this country (laughs). The dream is to love and admire Nigeria from the abroad while working very hard to build Tech solutions for Nigeria and Africa market, and also help brands achieve their desired marketing goals.
Can give us your comprehensive personal and educational background?
Popularly known as Slimfit, Adewale Akeem Adetona is a Digital Technologist and Techporenuer with more than 8 years’ experience in Digital Marketing, Communications, Branding, and Media Management. He is passionate about building brands and helping them attain their Marketing objectives. He hails from Ilaro, Ogun state and comes from a family of two. He holds a Computer Science degree from the prestigious Lagos State University, Nigeria, and recently completed his MBA at Business School Netherlands (BSN), Buren Netherlands. He currently works as the Head of Marketing at SystemSpecs, Nigeria’s foremost Fintech Company, and developers of Remita, an electronic payment and collection platform
Adewale is one of the first Digital Marketers in Nigeria to have his twitter account verified. His Twitter platform, with over 180,000 unique followers has an average monthly impression of 19.8 Million. As a social commentator, he also writes opeds. and articles for leading news platforms in Nigeria including BusinessDay, DailyPost, Guardian etc.
Few years ago, he partnered to found a Digital Marketing Agency: Mustardels Media www.mustardelsmedia.com.ng, focused on helping brands grow using digital tools and strategies. The agency has been able to expand the growth possibilities of over 100 businesses since inception.
Adewale is passionate about having relevant conversations around social, business and marketing issues, and raising awareness for advocacy in the new media.