Top 5 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make in 2024

There are many mistakes entrepreneurs make especially when they're just starting or even along the line of the business and I've ran up to 5 businesses over the years and for some of those mistakes, I've made them too. Let's drive!

1. Creating a website too early.

Creating a website for your business is good but for a start, you shouldn't be thinking about that. We all know the cruel amount it is to create one and if that money is invested more into growing your business, it'd serve you better than creating a website to 'level up' your brand. Yes, level up is quoted because that's what they say but trust me, I'm also a blogger and I know what it means to get ordinary traffic on a blog, let alone a site. Let that come later! Focus on your business!

2. They want easy life with an every minute popping alert. Well, we all have that dream. We want to get alerts every minute but c'mon, you can't get that by staying at your comfort zone. You need to wake up and start rigorous study, meeting people, attending seminars that'd promote your business, go for trade fairs and work very hard in advertising your business. You of course cannot do that by sitting and chatting all day long. Go and check those on the Forbes list!

3. They are not time conscious. 

As much as they claim to be busy, they're are not time conscious. Over the years I've learnt of and worked with time. And I'm intentional about it. If you really want to move forward in entrepreneurship, you have to be time conscious and work the while with your time. You must have heard people say "Oh. I've been busy." Or "I don't just have time". That's the spirit. As an entrepreneur, you stop having time for frivolities. You stop unnecessary gists, talks, parties, turn-ups, etc. The only thing that runs through your mind becomes your business. Even in that light, never lose your friendship with people. That'd take us to our next point.

4. They start losing friends all in the name of 'I'm busy'. I know you're not obligated to anyone. At least, you're just friends. But then, if you're in business already, you'd realize most people who recommend or refer your product or service, are your friends. No other person can fill up the 'space of recommendation' in your business. Hold friendships precious but like me, don't get too committed to them except you're in a relationship with an understanding person (well, like me too. Lol). Enjoy friendships. Check up on your friends once in a while when you're just peep-chanced.

5. The last but the greatest- Giving in and giving up. If you ever want to be successful in this life, you need to be stubborn, strong and rugged. You heard me right. Stubborn that you set your heart to something and without listening to anyone or looking back, you're off to doing it. You don't care! Right, that's the spirit! Strong that you might fall on your way but  that thing go make you stand again. Kai! That strength is what makes you an entrepreneur. Rugged that you can do anything to watch your business grow and you can do anything to increase your account figures.

Evolufy Africa Opens Applications for Maendeleo Africa Fellowship 2024

Call for Application: The Maendeleo Africa Fellowship Program 2024
Are you a young African eager to effect meaningful change in your community? Do you possess a
vision for positive transformation and social action?

The Maendeleo Africa Fellowship Program offers a unique opportunity for youths committed to
addressing community challenges with homegrown solutions. Whether you're an aspiring
changemaker or already engaged in a social impact project, our program is tailored to support your
growth and amplify your impact.

Eligibility Criteria for Maendeleo Africa Fellowship 2024

To qualify for the Maendeleo Africa Fellowship Program, applicants must:

• Be between the ages of 18 and 35
• Be of African descent and currently reside in Africa
• Demonstrate a passion for social action in Africa
• Possess enthusiasm for peer-driven innovative projects
• Commit to dedicating 5 hours per week to the program
• Have access to Zoom/Google Meet and a reliable internet connection

Program Highlights

The Maendeleo Africa Fellowship program offers an array of features designed to nurture your potential and equip you
with the tools to effect sustainable change, including:
1. Knowledge Classes: Participate in interactive sessions to gain essential skills and knowledge.
2. Impact Live Sessions: Engage in meaningful discussions with other fellows.
3. Small Impact Communities/Projects: Collaborate with fellow participants to address
community challenges and apply your learning to real-world projects under the guidance of
mentors.
4. Alumni Network: Join a supportive community of like-minded individuals committed to
driving change.

Application Deadline

Applications for the Maendeleo Africa Fellowship Program close on March 3, 2024.

To Apply: Click HERE or https://bit.ly/MAFProgram2024

For more information, visit @EvolufyAfrica on social media or email [email protected].

Tsion Academy Hosts Children Christmas Party, Marks Close of School

On Wednesday, Tsion Academy, a completely free school in Ile-Ife, Nigeria hosted its students, parents, staff and members of the public to its first 

Earlier in September, NELOC News had reported the official launch of the Tsion Academy

Speaking with the founder of the academy, Abayomi Adeola Della, she expressed her excitement at the

You can connect with Tsion Academy via her official social media handles on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

I have Learnt from Every Challenge - Abayomi Adeola Della

Abayomi Adeola Della is a certified product manager, life coach and entrepreneur. She is also the founder of Taion Academy, a tuition free school in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. In this exclusive interview with our team at NELOC News, Della shares her story with us.

 

NELOC News: Can we meet you?

Guest: I'm Abayomi Adeola Tolulope. I'm a law graduate, blogger, entrepreneur, teens coach and humanitarian.

NNI: Could you tell us more about your brand, My Fine Wears?
Della: My Fine Wears isa brand that stands for a fashion store that is concerned about how people (with no age or sex limit) look in all affordability.

 

NNI: How challenging is running a business amongst other things?

Guest: Well, very challenging. But because, I've learned from every challenge, it makes the journey more interesting and helps my focus.

NNI: What motivation drives your businesses
Guest: I tell people that the big picture I have for my business, keeps me going. That's my driving force. Until I get there, there's no giving up.

 

NNI: Do you intend to practice Law or go the business way?
Guest: Both. I'm going both ways powerfully. They both cannot be a waste for my future. Law is my passion and it has every alignment with my purpose and so is Entrepreneurship.

 

NNI: A lot on your hands there, and still a student? How do you manage all of these?
Della: I just plan my time deliberately and I discipline myself to follow it squarely.

 

Read: Biography of Actress Kehinde Bankole

NNI: What's your view on advertising?
Guest: Advertising plays a vital role in promoting a business and could be cheap or expensive too. Either ways, calculated risks should be taken. Its worth it if its going to promote the business.

NNI: What do you think is the future of the fashion industry in Nigeria? Plus what sustainable advice do you have for studentpreneurs, fashion entrepreneurs and business men/women?
Guest: The future of the Fashion industry in Nigeria is comprehensively a growing one. Everyday, things come and on in vogue and I think in the future, we should be able to boast of international set up brands even from Nigeria.

My advice to fashion entrepreneurs is to be innovative and creative with it because whatever stands them out, can never be taken from them. I advice every other student entrepreneur like me to trust the process. It might not be so easy or smooth but focusing on tomorrow makes the journey smoother.

NNI: What do you for see in the future for My Fine Wears?

Della: A whole lot that words cannot describe yet. Basically, we want to satisfy every need in fashion in our best way. My Fine Wears is becoming more than a brand.

NNI: Thank you for having us.
Guest: Oh. The pleasure is mine.😊

Biography of Abayomi Adeola Della

Born on 23rd August, Abayomi Adeola Tolulope Della is a professional product manager, life and business coach. She is also an entrepreneur, and social workers who is interested in the progress of Education in Africa and loves to drive people into their highest potentials.

Adeola Abayomi has over 4 years of experience in Digital Marketing and Business Development. Currently, Adeola Abayomi is a Business Developer at Kolo Nigeria, where she focuses on creating business frameworks based on Marketing and Communications. She builds women in God through word and prayer to be trained for their unique positions in kingdom work

A graduate of Law from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Della was a fellow of Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) where she was trained in leadership, critical thinking and problem solving. She is currently a fellow of Women Techsters at Tech4Dev where she’s building a career in Product Management.

She has delivered speeches, lectures and opinions at the Skill Craft Advance Learning and Education under Desh Bhaget University, India and Liverpool John Moores University, UK and UCAM in Spain, including The Tribune Newspaper in Nigeria, Greena FM in Ghana to mention a few.

 

Abayomi Adeola Della is active on social media. You can connect with her via her official handles on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok and X.

Free School, Tsion Academy, Officially Launches, Resumes Academic Session

 

On Monday, 18th September, 2023, a tuition free school initiative created by The Education Fund (TEF) Project officially launched and resumed its first free school in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

 

Tsion Academy, the tuition free school, which is duly registered with the Corporate affairs Commission (CAC), is a project in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN), seeking to ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.

 

 

The resumption at the school centre in Ile-Ife was graced with the attendance of many out of school children from homes and families which couldn't afford good, quality education.

 

 

Speaking with the Team/Project Lead, Abayomi Adeola Della, she affirmed that the Tsion Academy seeks to provide free education to children that are unable to afford it.

 

 

Should You Use Your name as a Business Name?

As a Debut article in this Column, I will be sharing five reasons why you should use your name to represent your business and five others why you shouldn’t.

 

One of the advantages of using your name for your business is that you get to help people easily find you on google; especially if your business has a website and great online presence. Also, you become the face of the brand - this means that you have a lot to do with content- videos, pictures, etc and the business is what you want people to know you for. Three it allows people to know that whatever comes from the space of that name is your idea and no one else. This doesn’t affect your employment of others but the concept of the framework or structure must be from you. Again, it helps you push your personal brand as a person- your belief, character, view, etc. An example is Tom Ford known for Social Entrepreneurship, etc.

Five, you cannot run out of ideas so long as you’re sure of what you stand for and what you want to portray and so if as a person you love it simple, you might not find it hard making really simple dress designs. These are the 5 benefits you get from using your name as your business name.

Let's see the disadvantages.

If you are someone who would not love to remain as the face of the brand and appear very frequently, you might need to rebrand your business name. If you are camera-shy and don’t want to be at the forefront of your marketing campaign, it is advised that you do not use your name. You might just want to leave some others to work on it for you.

2. Secondly, you cannot run the business without you being there. You have to be there because people trust you not the business. It’s you they are used to. Building a business that eventually operates without you means hiring staff and training management teams and you can’t do that independently.

Again, when your company is more comfortable hiring staff and not just one person, you shouldn’t use your name. This means that when you use your name, it might not fit the mode of business you want to do. This is why you cannot find a bank with the name of just one person. The company doesn’t fit that mode.

Four, once you use your name for the business, you cannot use it for another line of business except it’s under the same enterprise. You might have to choose another name for the other business outside the former description. Five, using your name might limit you because your vision of the business you’re building is just for the now. You are not sure what’s going to interest you later and so it’s better to pick what you understand. So for whatever name you’re choosing, make sure it’s something you understand for now. Something you have full details about. Branding is beyond just having a logo, it involves your perception and how you project that perception to others. Please note that ‘name’ in this talk means something like ‘Abayomi Adeola (Della)’ not ‘Lekesticks’ or ‘Soladrums’. I’m talking full names.

Evolufy Africa Opens Applications for the Maendeleo Africa Fellowship 2023

Evolufy Afrca has announced its formal opening for applications into the Maendeleo Africa Fellowship 2023.

 

The Maendeleo Africa Fellowship is an international fellowship and initiative which seeks to train youths who are passionate about making positive changes on the African Continent. 

 

 

The fellowship brings together NGO Founders, Volunteers, and Leaders across the SDG. 

As a participant you will be taken on a  journey of self-discovery, skill acquisition, leadership development, emotional intelligence, and purpose definition that helps you  become intricately and extensively better at what you do as a changemaker. 

The fellowship will also serve as a platform for networking and collaboration - tools that are indispensable in affecting sustainable continental and global change. Is this something you are Intrested in? 

Hurry now and apply using this link:  http://bit.ly/MAFcohort3

*Selected applicant will be contacted. Deadline is 18th of February*

Abayomi Adeola Della, Celebrates Birthday in Orphanage

On Sunday, 23rd August, Life coach, Adeola Abayomi Della hosted children of the Covenant Orphanage Home to a party in celebration of her 22nd birthday.

The party which held following the COVID-19 guidelines was sponsored by friends and family to ensure that the children, who have been at the home since the pandemic, were brought under an atmosphere of love and extreme happiness.

According to her, the promotion of love and sharing culture amongst individuals has dropped in recent times, especially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the reason why she organised a party for the home, giving gifts and food items.

She further noted that happiness levels for various individuals have reduced drastically, coupled with high depression rates. For children, it could generate some boredom and influence social life negatively.