My heart bleeds seeing people living in poverty — Imo Records boss, Imo Mike

Imo Recordowner, Imo Mike, has expressed his determination to keep using his label to create platforms for young and talented music acts in the country.

This, he said, would help to shape the minds and nurture the dreams of many youths, who yearn daily for their voices to be heard.

With less than two years when the label came alive, Mike said he had reasons to be happy as his vision to set up the label was gradually manifesting following the huge success it has recorded with the release of songs and videos of artistes on the label, which according to him had been greeted with success.

Mike, a young entrepreneur whose interest cuts across hospitality, brands and entertainment, said he floated the record label about two years ago having experienced poverty in the early stage of his life, and had vowed to use his success and status to help the underprivileged.

Speaking with R on the journey so far during an interactive session, the business mogul hinted that he loved seeing growth in people and businesses, hence the need to keep pushing himself to break new grounds, adding that “I know if I can improve just a little bit every day, my growth will be exponential over time.”

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On his passion to keep supporting the young ones, he said there were many talented young people out there, who only needed a platform to grow their talent and hone their skills, pointing out that “when nobody is there to give these people the much-needed support, they tend to lose focus and become something dreadful in the society.”

“I am glad that we are growing with the label, because that is the essential reason IMO Records was formed about two years ago. Growth is key to human existence and I know that many youths are talented but they lack the platform that could guide them into making them fulfill their dreams,” he said.

With a humble beginning that saw him engage in menial jobs to survive, the chubby entrepreneur said he feels sad whenever he sees people around him suffer. “My heart bleeds when I see that others around me are suffering or lack opportunities. I hate to see people go through what I go through, that’s why I am committed to lifting people through my platforms, which Imo Records is just one of them,” he said.

“I remember when I was in 100 and 200 Level in the university; I did several jobs at constructions sites just so I could feed. It was terrible the way I lived in school at some point. But when I think about it now, I just give thanks. Now that there is wealth around me, I feel sad whenever I see people go through poverty like I did. And what else can I do than to help people in such situation. My heart bleeds when I see that others around me are suffering or lack opportunities. I focus my philanthropy on anybody who is less fortunate, whether they are children who need love or adults who are unemployed and homeless,” he said.

David Olagunju