Insightful Articles - ParrotMouth

How to Monetise Your Personal Brand Without Wearing Yourself Thin

Nendirmwa Dakup / October 4, 2025

As a freelancer, creative, or professional in any field, having a personal brand is of utmost value. Most successful individuals in any chosen field are usually known for something specific—a voice or a unique way of presenting themselves. That is their personal brand and is the reputation people associate with them. It is a combination of their skills, experiences, and stories that makes them stand out. However, monetising your account goes beyond just having a strong personal brand. You need to build systems that enable others to contribute to the success of your business without having to constantly put in work. Posting every day on social media or working long hours will only make you feel frustrated and worn out. Interestingly, you don’t have to wear yourself out to make money from your personal brand. This article will teach you how to work smart as opposed to working hard. It will also teach you the right strategies, systems that work, and mindsets with which you can build a sustainable income stream while living your best life. 1. Choose the right monetisation path Knowing what income stream will suit you is vital, as not every income stream will suit your lifestyle. One major step to monetising your brand is by achieving clarity. Instead of trying to do everything at once, pick one or two monetisation strategies that are in sync with your strengths and audience. Some proven ways to monetise a personal brand include: Digital products Gather solutions to common problems your audience faces and create e-books or templates that can be downloaded. These can be repeatedly sold without effort. Online courses or workshops Create online courses where you share your knowledge and skills with your audience. This approach provides an avenue for you to reach out and help many people at once. Affiliate marketing It involves promoting products or services, and you earn a commission for every sale made through your referral link. Speaking engagements With your brand authority, you can get opportunities to speak at seminars or webinars and get paid. Memberships or communities You can also create a membership community, where subscribers pay monthly to access exclusive resources, live Q&A sessions, or mentoring. The more value you provide, the more learners will recommend your courses, helping you gain more income. By keeping your personal brand focused on one or two of these instead of all, your content becomes more precise. This also keeps you from overworking yourself while still growing your income. 2. Build systems, not just presence Many people believe that posting every day on different platforms is all they need to do to monetise their personal brand. But visibility without systems only leads to burnout. A sustainable personal brand thrives on systems and authority, not volume. Instead of posting 15 different pieces of content with little value, focus on creating one in-depth and detailed post. This showcases your expertise, attracts high-value leads, and, crucially, can be repurposed infinitely. Some other systems include: Automated sales funnels You can set up your landing pages and email sequences to sell your products even while you rest. This replaces the manual selling. Batch content creation Contents and posts can be written, recorded, and posted in batches and also scheduled. Delegation Get hired workers like virtual assistants and designers to handle simple and repetitive work. This gives you more time to focus on more valuable work. The goal is to let your personal brand work for you, not the other way around. 3. Create evergreen content Amongst the most effective ways to monetise your brand, creating content that works even after you post it is most valuable. This approach increases your income without wearing you out. For example: Blog posts optimised for SEO (like this one). YouTube videos or Instagram reels that answer frequently searched questions. An insightful and valuable podcast episode that remains relevant years later. This kind of content builds authority and attracts new followers without requiring constant reinvention. 4. Set boundaries with your audience To avoid burning out, it is important to set limits in relating with your audience. It is normal to feel obligated to respond to every comment on your posts or reply to every message in your DM, but doing this will rapidly wear you out. So, you need to devise ways to set boundaries; some of them include: Setting office hours: You use this time to decide when and how you respond to messages. Premium access: Offer free content to your audience, but you can monetise your personal brand through paid products, services, or subscriptions. Clear communication: Clearly inform your audience what they can expect from you to avoid unrealistic expectations. Healthy boundaries ensure your personal brand serves you and protects your energy while still building your community. 5. Repurpose, don’t reinvent Another secret to continuous growth is repurposing. This involves creating a well-detailed post and breaking it down into different posts. Instead of creating fresh content for every platform, repackage one idea in different formats. Doing this maximises your efforts and keeps your brand active on all mediums. For example: A blog post can be converted into a podcast episode. A webinar becomes a LinkedIn post. This allows you to remain consistent with your personal brand without wearing yourself thin. 6. Leverage your audience Focus on engagements over follower count. Once you have an established and engaged audience, no matter how little, you can introduce sponsorships and affiliate marketing. Authentic affiliate marketing Before you begin affiliate marketing, remember that integrity is of utmost importance to your personal brand. Promote only products or services you use and love, tools that solved a problem for you. Doing this makes your audience trust your recommendations, hence generating a passive income stream for your brand. Sponsorships You can get paid by brands to build on the trust you’ve built through your personal brand. This income is very beneficial because your payments are based on the audience you have already built. However, when considering sponsorship deals, you need to be cautious because bad sponsorships ruin reputations even

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How to Turn Your Side Hustle Into a Profitable Business in Nigeria

Naheem Akintoye / October 2, 2025

When it comes to making money, turning your side hustle into a profitable business in Nigeria requires some measurable actions and cannot be done overnight. Due to the current economy, having a side hustle has become a common practice. This can involve selling fashion items, books, etc. on Instagram, running delivery services, freelancing, or offering digital skills, as more young people are finding ways to earn extra income outside of school or their 9-to-5 jobs. However, while most of them start the side hustle just to be stable and afford a good lifestyle, only a few take a bold step in transforming it into a profitable and sustainable business. This article provides a straight-to-the-point roadmap for turning a side hustle into a profitable business—from validating ideas, planning operations, to securing funds—to make any business stand out. 1. Decide whether the side hustle deserves capital and time Before investing time, money, or even quitting a 9-to-5 job, entrepreneurs need to ask themselves these three questions: Does this side hustle solve customers’ real problems? Is there a repeatable demand and not just a one-off sale? Can it scale beyond the founder through systems, people, or partners? If the answer is positive to at least two out of the three, then the side hustle should be treated like a business experiment—like setting financial goals, e.g. replacing 30% of salary in 12 months, then measuring weekly. Treating a side hustle like a business from day one forces clearer decisions. 2. Create a lean business plan This is the one-page version—you don’t need a 50-page document; all you need is a one-page document with these characteristics: Value proposition: What does your side hustle really do and the type of audience it is for? Revenue model: How do you make money? Is it through sales, subscriptions, commissions, etc? Unit economics: How much do you earn per sale after costs? Customer acquisition: How will you get your customers and at what cost? Milestones and KPIs: A 3-month, 6-month target for revenue or customers. This simple plan makes pricing, fundraising, and hiring decisions easier, and this is what partners and grant programs will ask for when you apply. 3. Get your legal basics in order Legal basics like registration, tax, and banking are essential because in Nigeria, officially registering your side hustle early protects you and unlocks grants, bank products, and better supplier terms. Use the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), which was established in 1990 through the Companies and Allied Matters Act, to register a business name or limited liability company for small operations. The CAC is an online company registration portal where you can reserve a name, complete pre-registration forms, upload documents, and pay filing fees. Registering gives you an RC number and a certificate of incorporation, which is essential for credible B2B deals and grants applications. 4. Your capital (that is, start with what’s available locally) When it comes to funding a side hustle, most side hustles begin with personal savings, but in Nigeria, there are several ways or channels that you can use once you are ready to turn your side hustle into a profitable business: Through personal savings and family: This is quick and you won’t have equity dilution. Microloans and fintech credit: This is faster for small working capital needs, in which POS or merchant loans are common. Government and development programs: Examples include the Bank of Industry’s MSME interventions and youth entrepreneurship schemes that offer loans or grants. This lowers your operating expenses and increases profitability and also fuels your entrepreneurial dreams with strong business financial solutions that drive growth. These programs mostly require a registered business. Grants and accelerator programs: There are grants like the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme (TEEP), CBN Youth Entrepreneurship Support, MTN Y’ellopreneur Grant, etc., that offer seed funding plus training and networks—all they need is clear traction and a registered entity. Identify the lowest cost, least dilutive option first, and fund growth with revenue, then use loans or grants when revenue is not coming in or not working out. 5. Payments, marketplaces, and distribution For your business to work, accepting payments and being visible to customers are very important. For payments, you can use Paystack or Flutterwave to accept cards, bank transfers, USSD, and QR-codes—both platforms are widely used by Nigerian merchants and make market setup fast. Mobile POS and fintech banking like Moniepoint also offer merchant services and working capital. For marketplaces, you can sell on Jumia or Konga, which can help scale your reach quickly—and this is only applicable if your business is online—both platforms provide vendor registration, seller training, logistics integration, and what you will need is a KYC or CAC document. These marketplaces accelerate demand testing for many Nigerian hustles. With these, you can pick at least one online payment gateway and one marketplace to integrate into your operating model within 30 days. 6. Build a minimum viable operating system Systems can turn founders from the bottleneck into the CEO. These methods can be used in building an efficient operating system: Use a basic CRM, e.g. Google Sheets or a free tool, to track leads and repeat customers. Automate order confirmations through WhatsApp templates or email autoresponders. Outsource logistics or fulfillment initially to local couriers and later consider in-house for margin control. Keep simple SOPs so freelancers or employees can be trained quickly. These operational upgrades reduce missed revenue and protect margins as order volume grows, which helps businesses stand out. 7. Customer acquisition When it comes to looking for customers, pick 1-2 channels and double down—you don’t just try every shiny platform, as it might lead to confusion. Instead, test one paid channel, e.g. micro-ads on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, and one organic channel like TikTok, Instagram content, or referrals. After that, you need to track cost per acquisition (CPA) and customer lifetime value (LTV). If the LTV is three times greater than or equal to CPA, scale that channel. 8. Price for margin, not just to win Price using cost

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Top Car Finance Options: How to Choose the Best Plan for Your Budget

Nendirmwa Dakup / September 29, 2025

Getting the keys to a new car comes with a lot of excitement but it requires the right car finance agreement; otherwise, it becomes a pain in the neck. With the right plan, paying for a car becomes much easier; you can pay in instalments while enjoying the comfort and rest that comes with owning your own car. As confusing and overwhelming as it might sound, this is basically what car finance is all about: finding a plan that fits into your budget for a car and implementing it. However, an understanding of your full options and what they entail is required to make a smart decision. This guide explains the major car finance options, how they work in simple terms and the steps involved in picking the best plan for your budget. Car Finance Options You Have When shopping for a car, you will come across different car finance plans. Each one has its benefits and drawbacks. Below are the most common options: 1. Hire Purchase (HP) Hire purchase is one of the most basic forms of car finance. You first pay a deposit, about 10-20% of the price of the car, followed by fixed monthly payments for a stipulated period of time until the whole payment is made. After the final payment, the car becomes your own legally. Its benefits include It is easy and simple to understand. It’s easier to budget for, since payments are fixed. The car becomes yours at the end of the contract. But it also has some downsides; some of them are You do not own the car and cannot sell it until the last payment is made. Monthly payments may be higher than other options. This option is suitable for buyers who want to own the car fully at the end of the contract and for buyers who have no restrictions and prefer fixed payments. 2. Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) PCP is a popular form of car finance that is flexible and has gained popularity because it offers the lowest monthly payment. You first make a deposit, after which you begin making monthly deposits. But these payments are not made for the full car value but for the depreciation of the car during the period of the agreement, including interest. This is known as Guaranteed Minimum Future Value and is usually lower than the full car price. So instead of paying for the full car value, you only cover part of it. At the end of the term, usually 2-4 years, you have three options, which are Own the car: Pay a final lump sum (known as the balloon payment) to own it. Hand the car back: Give it back to the dealer with no extra cost, provided you returned it back in good condition. Part exchange: Trade it in for another car, using its current market value as a deposit for another car. Its benefits are It is easier to upgrade to a new car more often. It offers the lowest monthly payments amongst the major car finance options. Its downsides include Damaging the car or exceeding mileage limits can incur extra charges. You do not automatically own the car unless you pay the balloon payment. The final balloon payment is usually large. This is most suitable for people who like flexibility, who love to change cars after a few years and are not interested in owning the car immediately. 3. Personal Contract Hire (PHC) PHC involves renting a car for a period of time. long-term. The car would not legally or officially be yours; you just pay a fixed fee monthly for a set period. After the contract is over, you have to return the car. Some of its benefits include The monthly costs include a maintenance and servicing fee. The drop in car value (depreciation) over time is not a concern. Ability to upgrade or change the car after a few years. Some possible disadvantages are You will never gain legal ownership rights. Terminating the contract early is costly. It has very strict mileage limits and wear-and-tear rules. This type of car finance agreement works best for people who are not keen on car ownership, who love to drive the latest model of cars and people who want to avoid the stress of selling later. 4. Personal loan This is an alternative to the typical car finance agreements. You simply borrow a fixed amount from your bank or credit union, and you pay for the car with it. After which, you make payments for the loan to your bank monthly. Why choose it? The car becomes yours immediately you pay. You have better negotiating power at the dealership. You have the liberty to shop for the loan with the best interest rates. The repayment terms are flexible. It has no restrictions on mileage. Some possible disadvantages are Monthly payments can be very high depending on how long the loan term is. To get the best loan deals, you need a good credit score. This plan is best for those who have strong financial discipline and those who want to have complete ownership of the car from the onset. 5. Salary Schemes Another form of car finance agreement is salary sacrifice and can be offered by some employers. This involves using a certain percentage of yours to cover the car cost. It comes with benefits like insurance and maintenance. Why choose it? It is tax-efficient. Since payments are deducted directly from your salary, it is easy to manage. Its downsides are Not all workplaces adopt this method. Leaving the job terminates the plan. Things to Consider Before Choosing a Car Finance Option Choosing the right car finance option goes beyond just looking at monthly payments. It also involves looking at the total cost of ownership and considering if you have a budget that will let you comfortably afford it each month. Some important points to consider first are: 1. Your budget How much can you afford monthly without straining

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The Role of Venture Capital in Driving Startup Growth in Emerging Markets

Olawale Moses Oyewole / September 26, 2025

Starting a business anywhere is hard, especially in emerging markets. This is because startups are often interested in solving problems peculiar to their locality and this often require a large amount of investment as capital before they begin. However, unlike well-established companies, startups find it difficult to access funding from the government or financial institutions mostly because they lack collateral or a track record. Hence, these institutions consider investing in or funding them as a risk. This constitutes one of the major barriers to growth faced by startups in emerging markets. To overcome the problem of inaccessible funding, venture capital plays a crucial role. This article will explore the role of venture capital in promoting startup growth in emerging markets, the diverse opportunities it provides, the challenges it faces, and its future in driving growth in emerging markets. What is Venture Capital? Venture capital is capital given by firms or investors to startups or local entrepreneurs to get their ideas off the ground and begin building on them. Investors take calculated risks, leveraging the ideas and potentials of the startups. This becomes an opportunity for entrepreneurs who would have never had a chance to build on their business ideas. However, venture capital is not just about the funding; it opens doors to a wide network of invaluable industry connections and other added advantages. By creating a link between business ideas and exposure to the market space, venture capital is vital in converting visionary concepts into products or services that boost economic growth and promote advancements in technology. Over the last decade, venture capital has gone beyond focusing on developed economies to emerging markets. This is mainly because investors now recognise that these markets also possess innovative and untapped potential. The added value of venture capital Many people think venture capital is only about the financial involvement; however, in reality, the best venture capital firms provide more value. In emerging markets particularly, the value added far outweighs the capital itself. Here are a few ways venture capital adds value to startups in emerging markets: 1. Strategic guidance Startups are often inexperienced in building businesses. Venture capital firms have experienced partners who can provide mentorship and guide startups on everything from product development to complex local operations and financial planning. 2. Access to networks Venture capitalists connect startups to potential partners, clients and opportunities. In emerging markets, these networks are valuable for startups hoping to establish themselves in competitive markets and can also promote growth. 3. Talent development Venture capital firms often help startups build strong teams by offering trusted and structured growth strategies. This instantly builds credibility for startups and attracts highly talented individuals to the business. The venture capital’s involvement shows others that the company has potential. 4. Global expansion For startups that intend to expand globally, venture capital can grant access into international markets through cross-border relationships. 5. Accountability and discipline Venture capital funding promotes a system of accountability. Scheduled board meetings and draughting financial reports instil discipline into a startup. This is important in building a business that will thrive. In summary, venture capital is a trigger that promotes the growth of startups beyond the funding and financial investment. Challenges facing venture capital in emerging markets Investing in emerging markets requires courage and an in-depth understanding of how it works. Because, as important as it is, venture capital in emerging markets faces a variety of challenges that limit its operation. Some of these challenges include: 1. Regulatory hurdles Some markets do not have clear legal frameworks stating the mode of operation of venture capital investments. This makes venture capitalists hesitant to invest. 2. Infrastructure gaps Regions with poor internet access, an unstable supply of electricity, or limited logistics networks typically slow down startup growth even with investment from venture capitalists. For venture capitalists to thrive in such regions, they need to be patient and build not just the startups’ products but also the infrastructure of those regions. 3. Currency instability The exchange rate between currencies is not fixed; hence, this instability and these fluctuations can affect returns on investments, discouraging foreign investors. 4. Early-stage risk Most startups in emerging markets are at very early stages, making it harder for investors to assess viability and reduce risk. 5. Political instability Political instability and unrest cause uncertainty and risk, discouraging investors and complicating business. These challenges outline the need for well-established legal policies, better infrastructure, political stability and more collaboration between governments, venture capitalists, and startups. Opportunities for venture capital in emerging markets Despite the challenges, venture capital in emerging markets still provides a number of opportunities which naturally attract investors. A few of them include: 1. Underdeveloped industries Emerging markets have a lot of untapped opportunities and underdeveloped industries like healthcare and agriculture, which have the ability to yield high returns. 2. Large youth populations The large number of youths in emerging markets often boosts economic growth due to the rising demand for digital and innovative solutions. This attracts venture capital firms to invest in startups in these regions. 3. Rapid mobile adoption Mobile phones are one of the first channels to access the internet. The large population of youths in emerging markets makes this an opportunity for startups to begin accessing the internet, giving them access to venture capitalists and other vital information. This is largely due to the fact that youths are more digitally inclined. These opportunities reveal why venture capitalists continue to invest in startup businesses in regions which were once considered “too risky” or unproductive. How venture capital transforms entire economies For every successful startup that was promoted by venture capital, the impact goes beyond the business to transforming the entire economy. Some of the ways it does this include 1. Job creation Rapidly growing startups are massive job creators. They hire locally, not just in tech, but also in sales, marketing, operations, and customer support. These high-quality and skilled jobs help in boosting the middle class and creating job opportunities for unemployed citizens.

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How to Write a Winning Business Proposal that Secures Investor

Olawale Moses Oyewole / September 26, 2025

If a statement like “business proposal” makes you think about long PDFs filled with unnecessary content, then you need to stop. Investors seek strong and compelling evidence, clear economics, and a creator who can execute operations in an AI-accelerated market. You need to write a proposal that catches the eye , a proposal that answers the three important questions, especially on the first page. Questions like: Can this team win? Will the market let them grow? Will my money return, and how fast? Writing a Winning Business Proposal In this article, I will be showing you a practical, step-by-step method to build and write a proposal that gets attention and is also funded. 1. Start with the single best one-line hook (the first 15 seconds) Open with a strong value statement that answers: who, what problem, how, and why now. For example, “Green cart reduces their last-mile food waste for Lagos supermarket by 35% using cold-chain micro-hubs and AI routing and we are asking for 50 million naira to scale 10 stores in 12 months.” This matters because it catches the attention of the investors and they can decide fast. That one line sets the stage and frames every follow-up number, you just have to keep it tight and quantified. 2. A one-page executive summary that they can scan in 60 seconds For starters, treat the executive summary as your brief presentation on paper. Put this at the very front; A one-sentence mission statement, for example, what you do and who you serve A clear question like; how much capital, for what milestones, and proposed equity or instrument. Three key traction or validation points; for instance, revenue, pilot or customer commitments, MVP (Minimum Viable Product) metrics. A one-line exit or a return thesis is how investors can make their money. Investors see hundreds of proposals and if your first page doesn’t stand out like this then they might just skip your proposal as well. But if you have a single page that answers “what, how much, why now, and why you” they will read that first and if the summary is compelling, they will read the rest. 3. A problem, market, and opportunity (prove it matters) Don’t just theorize, prove. You can use these three concrete items; Size the market; TAM or SOM or SAM (Total Addressable Market or Serviceable Available Market or Serviceable Obtainable Market) with sources using public reports, then Demonstrate the pain with customer quotes, competitor failures, or unit economics that don’t work without your solution Timing is a must because now is the right moment with regulations, tech, consumer behavior, AI tools, and inflation. With the statement that says figures speak louder than words, if you say “$200M market” show the source or the math that leads to that estimate. A credible third-party data source builds trust. 4. Your solution and product-market fit (make it tangible) Explain your product or features in plain simple language, then show evidence of the fits like; LTV: CAC, or letters of intent but if you have none, you can show a quick feasibility study or a customer development summary, for instance, the interviews, or where they are willing to pay. You could also include a simple before and after example that shows how the customer benefits in monetary terms, for example, “Store A reduced waste by 300k naira/month, increasing gross margin by 7%”. 5. A Business model and unit economics These are numbers investors care most about, they want to know how you make money whether unit economics scale. With the likes of; Pricing model e.g unit price, subscriptions, margins Customer acquisition channel and CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost) LTV (Lifetime Value), payback period, and contribution margin A 3-year financial snapshot in revenue, gross margin, and EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) Realism equals optimism, also includes assumptions and sensitivity, for example, what happens if CAC is 20% higher or growth is 30% slower? This clear, conservative projections and break-even analysis makes you credible. Your business must be able to solve a real problem or even fulfill a significant need in the market. 6. Traction and roadmap These should be milestones that de-risk the business, you can do this by showing what you have achieved and what comes next in timeline form e.g product milestones, customer commitments, platform launches, key hires, and regulatory steps. Investors buy progress which is why each milestone should potentially reduce risk or increase valuation. 7. Team and advisors You need to find a team and advisors because investors often bet on people. List founders, core hires, and advisors with one-line credibility statements with past exits, relevant industry experience, and technical domain expertise. These help you explain any gaps you will hire and why those hires are realistic because many investors decide on team fit before numbers. They also want to see biographies of the owner and key employees, the legit structure of your business, an organisational chart, etc. 8. Funding ask and use of funds You need to be specific with these, state the exact amount you want, the instrument (that is it should have equity, be safe, and a convertible note), and a clear breakdown of how the money will be used in products, hires, marketing, runway, etc. Also, you need to state the expected milestones that funding will deliver and the next raise timeline. An example breakdown (50M naira ask): 40% product and engineering, 30% go-to-market, 20% operations and hires, 10% contingency, this is because investors prefer a clear ROI path. 9. Exit or returns (show investors upside) You need to be honest about likely exits such as acquisition, IPO and buyout, and the timelines because investors expect a range, not a promise. You can also use comparable exits or multiples where possible and if it is a long play, then show mid-term monetization strategies. 10. Use of appendices and backup This is the “fat” appendix that answers the question. Put detailed financial models, unit economics, competitive analysis, customer interviews, legal

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Content Marketing for Nigerian Startups and Small Businesses

Olawale Moses Oyewole / September 21, 2025

Running a startup or small business in Nigeria isn’t a pleasant task. It requires patience, wisdom and the ability to work smart, not hard. You need to have an edge over businesses and adopt a method to reach your ideal customers even while working within your budget. One of the ways to do this is through content marketing. As complex as it may sound, it is basically building a reliable relationship with your audience and positioning yourself as the solution to their problem. You can think of it as planting seeds which, when watered properly, begin bearing fruits for you even while you are resting. That is exactly what content marketing does for you; your Instagram reels and blog posts go a long way in driving sustainable growth for your business. In this article, we’ll explore easy and practical content marketing ideas that are cost-effective and resonate with the Nigerian market. Content Marketing Steps for Nigerian Startups and Small Businesses 1. Understand Your Audience The first thing to consider before starting content marketing is your audience. You need to define your audience based on their demographic area or the problem you solve. Understand their pain points: What are their major challenges? Your content should be able to speak to these challenges. Speak their language: Relate with them using slang and cultural references that they can relate to. This drives engagement in Nigeria. The Nigerian market is very vast; hence, speaking to an undefined audience will not be effective. For example, the marketing idea that works for a small-scale gardener in Kogi might not work for a ‘tech-bro’ in Port Harcourt. 2. Share Your Story Nigerians are naturally interested in stories; you can leverage this to grow your business. Use stories to sell. Talk about the founder’s story: What motivated you to start? What problem were you trying to solve? What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them? Share customer success stories: Feature your satisfied customers to give reviews on how your business has helped them (with their permission). This can be in the form of short videos or written case studies. For instance, a financial institution can share their journey from a one-room apartment as an office to a big office and how their customers are happy with how they help them manage their finances. Doing this establishes trust and builds emotional connections, making your brand stand out to the audience. These stories can be posted as short clips on Instagram or Facebook Reels, while longer versions can be posted on YouTube and LinkedIn. 3. Educate Your Audience through Blogs or Short Posts Content that educates and provides solutions to problems is highly valued. For many Nigerian customers, the need to purchase products is usually accompanied by the need to be educated and to solve problems. You can tailor your content to address these needs; create blogs or publish articles that answer questions related to your business. For instance, A skincare brand can blog about “How to get rid of dark spots”. They can also clear misconceptions about the use of certain ingredients in skincare. A restaurant can share “10 quick and easy Nigerian meals to prepare with 3000 naira”. A beauty brand can write, “Step-by-step guide to achieve the best gel for a wedding.” This type of content marketing gives you an edge in your field while also making you an authority. It drives traffic to your website and social media page. Even without a website, you can publish your articles on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. 4. Leverage WhatsApp Broadcasts and Status Updates Nigerians use WhatsApp a whole lot. Small businesses and startups should be able to maximise it for content marketing that will grow their business. Create broadcast lists or a WhatsApp group where you share short educational posts and give exclusive tips on products and discounts for early subscribers and the most active members. Doing this will drive traffic and boost the engagement rate of your content because of how frequently WhatsApp is used by Nigerians. While Instagram and Facebook are essential, don’t ignore the unique power of local platforms and trends. 5. Video Marketing Nigerians love visuals. It is a non-negotiable approach in your content-marketing strategy. Despite the increasing price of data, it has not deterred Nigerians from consuming video content. However, short videos have been seen to drive more traffic and engagements. Create Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and TikTok videos; they can be either inspiring, educational or funny. The key is to make them visually appealing, engaging and related to your line of business. For example, a baker can record how to bake cookies or what running a bakery in Nigeria looks like. Creating videos for your business is cost-effective and doesn’t require much, your smartphone camera and natural light are all you need. Consistency matters more than perfection. 6. User-generated Content One of your most effective tools in content marketing in Nigeria is user-generated content because Nigerians love proof. User-generated content (UGC) is any content created by your customers that speaks about your brand. It builds credibility and trust. You can encourage your satisfied customers to share testimonials and reviews. They can be in the form of photos or videos of them using your product or talking about how your product solved a particular need. Feature these reviews on your social media pages. For instance: A make-up brand can repost photos of customers with their make-up on with short clips showing the make-up process and the customer’s satisfied comments about the make-up. An eatery can encourage customers to share videos of their meals alongside reviews of the meal and customer service. This type of content marketing is very effective because people believe people more than ads. 7. Email Marketing Social media is great for content marketing but is not reliable. Algorithms can change; hence, building an email list is important for email marketing. It gives you direct access to your audience and keeps you away from the changing algorithms

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7 Bitter Kola Health Benefits You Should Know for a Balanced Lifestyle

Olawale Moses Oyewole / September 21, 2025

Bitter kola, also known as Garcinia kola, is a small, hard seed that has been a part of West African culture and medicine for centuries. People often chew bitter kola after their meals, mostly using it for coughs, or to keep it in their house “just in case”. Bitter kola seeds have a bitter and sharp flavor that mellows into a slight sweetness as you chew, as they are typically eaten raw. But what does science say about this bitter kola? In this article, we will be discussing the top 7 bitter kola health benefits that have the strongest backing, plus practical and smart tips on how to use it safely as a part of your balanced lifestyle. 7 Bitter Kola Health Benefits It is a Powerful Antioxidant Protection One of the best bitter kola health benefits is its antioxidant activity. It is used to treat numerous diseases e.g, fever, malaria, gastric disorders, bronchial diseases, etc. Its seeds contain flavonoids and biflavonoids notably kolaviron that neutralize free radicals, reducing oxidative stress that brings about chronic diseases and aging. That antioxidant action supports other reported benefits, from liver protection to improving cellular resilience. Other different classes of compounds such as vitamin E derivatives, benzopyran, benzophenones, xanthones, benzofurans, and phytosterols have been detached from bitter kola of which many have been found only in this species such as kolanone (fruit pulp, roots, seeds), garcinoic acid, garcinianin (found in seeds and roots), garcifuran A and B, and garcipyran (all in roots). A practical tip for you: You should chew a small piece or take a regulated extract occasionally rather than taking high doses daily, antioxidants are helpful but too much of them isn’t good. It Provides Antimicrobial and Respiratory Support Traditionally, people mostly chew bitter kola to cure coughs, colds, and throat infections but multiple studies have shown that the seed has antibacterial and some antiviral activity in lab tests. This makes antimicrobial activity one of the most commonly mentioned bitter kola health benefits, especially as a home remedy for mild throat discomfort, early coughs. There is some clinical evidence that suggests symptom relief when it is used with routine care, and not as a replacement. A practical tip for you: If you have a sore throat, chew a small piece of bitter or you can combine a sliced part of it with warm water and honey, use it as a complement, and see a doctor for persistent or severe infections. Anti-Inflammatory and Pain Relief This is useful for arthritis because bitter kola has compounds that reduce irritating markers and pain in small clinical studies and also in animal models. In the past, there has been an increasing number of patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) who don’t want to take long-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) treatment but would prefer to use herbal anti-rheumatic medicine. There was a clinical trial that was reported to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory benefits in patients who have knee osteoarthritis, making this a potential bitter kola health benefit for people who are seeking complementary approaches to joint pain. A practical tip for you: Treat bitter kola as a complement to proven therapies like exercise, weight control, prescribed meds, etc and also you should not stop your doctor’s meds without consulting them. It Provides Blood Sugar Regulation and Metabolic Support There are several controlled animal studies and experimental models that have shown that extracts from bitter kola can help in lowering blood glucose and improving markers related to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance and insufficient insulin secretion are the basic unhealthy characteristics of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Some plants are traditionally considered antidiabetic or are used in treating the complications of diabetes. Bitter kola stem bark, seeds, and roots are part of these plants, widely used in traditional pharmacopeia in treating diabetes mellitus. That puts blood glucose control among the promising bitter kola health benefits, especially in early or preventive contexts. Human trials are limited, so these results should be viewed as encouraging. A practical tip for you: If you have diabetes or you take blood-sugar medications, then you should speak with your doctor before using bitter kola because there is a risk of interactions or unexpected glucose changes. Liver Protection and Toxin Modulation Some clinical studies suggest bitter kola parts may protect the liver from chemical insults and provide support in detoxifying enzyme systems. This liver-protective action is one of the often-reported bitter kola health benefits, and it connects tightly to the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties of the seed. Bitter kola heckel is a multipurpose tree that is usually found in tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests of Nigeria, Cameroon, and other countries located in sub-Saharan Africa, this tree can also provide support in the detoxifying enzyme system as well as protecting the liver. A practical tip for you: Use bitter kola as a part of an overall liver-friendly approach with examples such as moderate alcohol, a balanced diet and you should avoid unnecessary medications. You shouldn’t use it as a standalone liver cure. Eye Pressure or Potential Glaucoma Benefit A small human study found that oral ingestion of bitter kola significantly lowered intraocular pressure in healthy volunteers by 21%. While there is a need for more research, this suggests a possible bitter kola health benefit for the health of the eye and glaucoma risk management in low-resource settings and should be used as a potential supplement and not as a replacement for ophthalmic care. This effect of bitter kola may be of therapeutic benefit to patients with ocular hypertension or POAG in low-income settings. A practical tip for you: if you have glaucoma or high intraocular pressure, you should continue your prescribed eye drops and tell your ophthalmologist before adding bitter kola. Possible Weight and Appetite Effects and Other Traditional Uses Bitter kola may contain compounds that may affect appetite and metabolism, in some cases, traditional users claim it helps control hunger. Combined with its antioxidant and metabolic effects, appetite modulation is another reported bitter kola health benefit.

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How to Leverage Influencer Marketing for Business Visibility

Nendirmwa Dakup / September 19, 2025

Did you know that businesses today need more than just likes and follows to build their brand awareness, enhance visibility and drive sales? This is because the digital space, now more than ever, is crowded with so much noise and activity. An effective strategy that has helped businesses stand out and ensure real visibility in recent times is influencer marketing. It is beneficial to both small and large businesses. In this article, you will learn the actionable steps to practise in influencer marketing that will make your brand undeniably visible, build credibility, and ensure growth. What is Influencer Marketing? Influencer marketing involves collaboration. It has to do with working with individuals who already have a strong online base and are very influential over a particular audience and using their voice to inform the audience that already trusts them about your brand. Influencers could be celebrities, activists or politicians. This approach uses their ability to influence their community to engage with your brand, boosting real visibility and generating returns on investments. Influencer marketing, unlike traditional ads, builds on the trust and authenticity that influencers have established with their followers to promote products or services. It can be seen as advice from a reliable friend, hence is more likely to prompt action. To effectively utilise its potential, cautious planning, diplomatic execution and continuous optimisation are required. Why Does Influencer Marketing Matter for Business Visibility? The digital space is crowded. A lot of businesses that offer similar products and services compete with each other. So visibility goes beyond being seen or heard as a brand, it is about being seen in the right spaces and by the right people. This is where influencer marketing plays a role. It builds credibility and trust, as audiences are more prone to believe an influencer they are familiar with than a random brand ad. Also, influencers are more likely to attract followers who have similar interests; hence, their posts are more engaging than local advertisements. Steps to Leverage Influencer Marketing Effectively Step 1: Define Your Goals Clearly What do you intend to achieve by contacting a creator or influencer? Carefully list them out. Do you want more brand awareness? Or more sales? Or is it increased website traffic? These goals each require different approaches before they can be accomplished. These approaches include determining the type of influencer you choose and how you measure growth and success. For example, partnering with macro-influencers helps to improve brand awareness, while working with nano-influencers helps in grassroots campaigns and local events. Without a definite goal, influencer marketing might appear to be a waste of resources and time. Step 2: Identify the Right Influencers One of the most critical steps in any successful influencer marketing is finding the right influencers to partner with, as not all influencers are a good fit for what your brand represents. To find the right influencers, look beyond follower count and focus on: Relevance: Determine how relevant the influencer is by comparing their content and the value they provide with what your brand represents. Engagement Rate: How engaged are their audience? Are they actively or passively engaged? It is vital to observe how involved they are in liking and sharing the influencers’ posts. The comments should involve consistent and genuine conversations. Not just stickers or emojis Authenticity: By simple observation, you can check for follower fraud. A profile with 100k followers and only 100 likes per post should be a turn-off. You should also observe if they are genuinely connected with their audience. For example, a micro-influencer would greatly profit a small bakery whose tutorials boost conversations more than a celebrity with millions of inactive followers. Step 3: Build Authentic Relationships The mannerism with which you approach an influencer will set the tone for the entire partnership. Influencer marketing is more relational than transactional. Avoid starting off with a generic pitch. You can begin by engaging with their content, leaving thoughtful comments, and making sure to establish a certain level of bond before making your proposal. You can establish this bond by proving to them you are a fan and not just a brand looking for an influencer. When your brand genuinely interests influencers, they will treat your endorsements with all genuineness, making their audience connect more to it. Also, beyond making payments for their services, offer value. Think about other ways through which you can create long-term value. This will come across as a collaboration. In addition to this, you should grant the influencers freedom to creatively interact with their followers. Carefully explain and provide a creative brief, let them know the do’s and don’ts and your campaign goals, and trust them to speak to their audience in the language that resonates. Step 4: Co-Create Engaging Content To fully maximise influencer marketing, you need to create engaging content alongside the influencer. An amplification plan is very necessary; with this plan you can: Share it on your brand’s social channels: Post the content on your channels and give the influencer credit by tagging them. This validates them to their audience and exposes their content to yours. Repurpose it into ads: Incorporate the influencer’s content into your social ads; this will significantly increase the efficiency of your ads. But ensure to get the influencer’s permission before doing so. Use it in email marketing. Feature it on your website. This extends the period of the campaign and ensures maximum return on your investment. Step 5: Diversify Influencer Partnerships To make the most of influencer partnerships, be careful not to put all your eggs in one basket. Do not leverage only a specific influencer tier; use as many as you can. The influencer tiers include Nano-Influencers (1K-10K followers): These influencers are best used for grassroots campaigns, local events, and authentic user-generated content. This is due to the fact that they are highly trusted by their followers, and their endorsement usually feels like friendly advice. Micro-influencers (10k–100k followers): These influencers are usually niche-specific, and they drive strong engagement rates. This

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Automotive Technology and the Future of Mobility in Nigeria: What It Means for Businesses and Everyday Life

Naheem Akintoye / September 19, 2025

Automotive technology means the set of digital, electric, and systems innovations being applied to vehicles and mobility, for example, electric vehicles (EVs) and charging, fleet management and telematics, connected or IOT cars, vehicle-to-grid and energy integration, ride-hailing and platform-driven mobility, and the software or systems that connect those pieces. In this article, you will know how automotive technology is changing transport in Nigeria, the type of businesses you can do, and how everyday life will change in the next 3 to 7 years. Notable Insights on Automotive Technology in Nigeria EV infrastructure is fast developing and accelerating, with government considering charging ports and hubs in hotels, private malls, and private firms that are rolling out fast chargers in Lagos and Abuja. Despite the problems, there is an increasing awareness of the pros and cons of electric vehicles and the need to improve the necessary infrastructure to support their adoption. Over the past decade, the global electric vehicle (EV) market has experienced significant growth, driven by increasing environmental awareness, technological advancements, and supportive government policies. Alternative fuels are an active policy response because the government has encouraged CNG conversion of vehicles to reduce petrol-cost shocks, which will create a pragmatic stopgap that affects taxi and haulage economics. In some states, transportation costs have increased rapidly as the price of petrol has tripled in the months that followed last year’s decision. According to the government, they said they would eventually reduce transportation costs, which is where the Nigerian authorities introduced a compressed natural gas (CNG) initiative to tap into its large gas reserves. Telematics and fleet software are mainstream for businesses, transport operators, and FMCG or logistics firms have increasingly used vehicle tracking, driver scoring, and usage-based insurance to reduce theft, lower fuel spend, and reduce accidents. Insurers also use telematics to collect data on driving habits such as harsh braking and speeding to determine risk levels, make a profile for the fleet, and set premiums. Fleet insurers use the number of vehicles, usage and mileage, travel zones, type and value of vehicles, driver record, claims history, types of goods being transported to determine your premium. Ride-hailing and delivery platforms remain powerful demand compilers but margins and regulations are a risk. Digital platforms create huge, predictable demand for vehicle owners and fleet operators, yet they focus on bargaining power and regulatory pressure. Nigeria’s ride-hailing market appears to be a promising space for new rivals with drivers facing reduced earnings and riders looking for more affordable options, but despite these sweet conditions, many ride-hailing startups have struggled to be successful, with over 2500 apps launched in the past decade that have failed to gain traction. What This Means For Businesses If you are running any business that owns vehicles or depends on transport (logistics, courier, retail, e-commerce, construction, public transport), then you should treat automotive technology as a strategic tool and not an option. 1. Immediate (0-6 months) Measuring what you have by deploying basic telematics to about 10-30% of your fleet to get baseline KPIs like fuel per km, harsh braking events, idle time, and route efficiency. This allows you to ensure drivers’ safety and monitor how they operate their fleet which is the best way to avoid regular insurance claims. This also allows you to identify risky driving patterns, discuss with the drivers, and put them in training sessions. Additionally, you can also get real-time alerts of your engine failures, worn-out brake pads, water and oil fluctuations, and other problems. By auditing energy and fuel resources; in a cost example, rising petrol prices vs. CNG conversion vs. EV pilots. With these examples, you can use simple per-km cost sheets to identify which section like last-mile, trunk haul, or staff transport could switch fuel types profitably. Though in some cases, drivers have shown fear that their car might explode due to the CNG conversion which is not likely unless the equipment is installed inappropriately. If you operate a depot or retail sites, you can talk to charging providers and landlords to host charging stations because early deals often include subsidies or revenue sharing. 2. Short term (6-18 months) Use EVs where they fit, for example, city shuttles, staff vans, short-range delivery, and fixed-route buses are ideal EV pilots because they predict routes and reduce range anxiety. You could also partner with local assemblers or import-lite suppliers for trial units. Using telematics data to negotiate better, this is because insurers in Nigeria are beginning to offer usage-based premiums for monitored fleets by passing savings to drivers or reinvesting in safety training sessions. Telematics data also gives insightful information on where vehicles travel, the conditions of the road, and how safe it is. It also mitigates accidents and has faster claims resolution. Your staff should partner with technical schools or NADDC training pilots and mechanics should go through a core team for high-voltage safety and EV basics. 3. Strategic (18 months) Re-evaluate your fleet composition with sufficient charging access and cheaper batteries, the total cost of ownership for EVs can beat ICE vehicles on high-utilisation routes. Developing EV infrastructure can impact the economy by creating jobs and reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. You could also design mobility-as-a-service options if your business has movable assets like buses and vans. Impact and Cautions on Automotive Technology The Impact on Everyday Life Lower day-to-day transport costs for some segments; if CNG scale or EV charging becomes more widespread, drivers, especially the commercial ones, will see lower per-km costs. Cleaner urban areas and quieter streets in areas where EV taxis, shuttles, or mini buses operate. A faster and safer delivery where telematics plus routing software will make it easy for deliveries to be more predictable, which naturally improves e-commerce reliability and customer experience. It creates job opportunities and new skills; EV maintenance, charger installation, and telematics analytics will create jobs but businesses must invest in training sessions to fill the gaps. Why Planners Must Be Cautious Infrastructure problems: EV uptake stalls if the charger is absent