Most teenagers are worried about school fees and weekend plans. Mr Eazi was busy losing ₦19 million in a business deal gone horribly wrong.
The Afrobeats star recently shared one of his most painful memories – how a diesel business venture at just 19 years old cost him and his partners nearly £40,000, teaching him lessons that money can’t buy.
Young Mr Eazi, full of entrepreneurial dreams, convinces his uncle (a doctor) and the man’s wife to invest their hard-earned money.
His friend OC brings his father’s life savings to the table. Together, they raised ₦19 million with one goal – supply diesel to telecommunications giant MTN.
The plan seemed foolproof. MTN needed diesel, they had the cash, and Lagos’s Apapa port was where the magic would happen. What could go wrong?
Just as they were about to close the deal through port agents, Nigeria’s government decided to deregulate fuel prices. The timing couldn’t have been worse.
Prices crashed overnight, their money got stuck in the system, and MTN walked away from the supply contract.
Instead of counting profits, the young entrepreneurs watched helplessly as they were forced to sell their diesel at a massive loss. The entire ₦19 million investment? Gone.
“It was painful, especially knowing we had disappointed my uncle and OC’s dad. But that loss built my mindset. It was a turning point,” Mr Eazi reflected.
Imagine having to face your uncle and your best friend’s father after losing their life savings.
The guilt alone would crush most people. But Mr Eazi chose to see it differently – as expensive tuition in the university of hard knocks.
The internet had plenty to say about his revelation:
“At 19 most people are still asking parents for pocket money. Even though the business failed, the experience Mr. Eazi gained was worth more than the ₦19m.
No wonder he built himself into a global brand later,” one user noted.
Another simply said: “I never still see ₦19 million” – capturing what many Nigerians were probably thinking.
“₦19M gone, but the experience turned him into the man he is now,” someone else observed, highlighting how failure can be the best teacher.
Looking at Mr Eazi today – a global music star with his own record label, successful business ventures, and international recognition – it’s clear that ₦19 million loss was actually an investment in his future self.
