From Student Influencer to Nigeria’s Top Marketing Mogul

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Idea to Empire with BYO

Bola Yinka-Obebe

10 episodes

1 day ago

Real stories, Real Strategies, Real success. Building a business in Nigeria is not for the faint-hearted. Idea to Empire brings you real, experience-driven insights from top founders, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders who have navigated and scaled successfully in Nigeria's unique landscape. Hosted by Bola Yinka-Obebe, each episode discusses real life experiences of the entrepreneurs and business survival strategies that actually work- beyond theory. If you're ready to turn your ideas into empires, hit follow and start listening.

Entrepreneurship

Business

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Entrepreneurship

Business

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From Student Influencer to Nigeria’s Top Marketing Mogul

Idea to Empire with BYO

1 hour 46 minutes 37 seconds

6 months ago

From Student Influencer to Nigeria’s Top Marketing Mogul

How do you sell bread then build one of Nigeria’s most powerful marketing empires? In this episode of Idea to Empire, Bola Yinka-Obebe sits with Tiwalola Olanubi, the visionary behind Dotts Media House, Trendupp Africa, and Zarafet Loaves.

Discover the untold story of a student influencer who cracked the code to digital marketing success. Tiwalola shares how he built multiple brands across media, food, and tech — and what it really takes to stay ahead in Nigeria’s fast-paced business scene.

From bootstrapping to billboards, this conversation is a masterclass in innovation, influence, and building an empire from the ground up.

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00:00 Introduction to Tiwalola Olanubi's Journey

01:09 Early Life and Education

02:26 Becoming a Campus Influencer

03:49 The Blackberry Ambassador Experience

12:19 Starting Dotts Media House

24:34 Challenges and Growth

30:54 Expanding Beyond Influencer Marketing

33:29 Transition to a Full Digital Marketing Agency

34:21 Becoming an Advertising Agency

34:56 Launching Trend Up: A Home for Influencers

36:34 Trend Up Awards: Recognizing Influencer Achievements

38:57 The Journey of Influencers and Content Creators

52:24 The Financial Potential of Influencer Marketing

57:57 Diversifying Beyond Media: Food and Real Estate Ventures

01:06:16 Expanding into the Francophone Region

01:09:05 Addressing Problems and Solutions

01:09:30 Breaking Free from Labels

01:10:07 Mantra for Success: Know Thyself

01:10:58 Diversifying Business Ventures

01:11:44 The Importance of Association

01:12:50 Balancing Diversification and Focus

01:14:41 Reviewing and Pausing Business Operations

01:17:14 The Role of Profit in Business

01:17:52 Rapid Fire Questions

01:18:24 Embracing AI in Business

01:19:35 Business Philosophy and Nigerian Slang

01:25:06 Partnerships and Working with a Spouse

01:39:21 Sacrifice and Mental Resilience

01:41:26 Reflecting on Business Decisions

01:44:12 Final Thoughts and Philosophy