Olawale has taken the initiative to help businesses thrive by training the next generation of marketing professionals in Nigeria. He shares with us updates on the initiative he began a few months ago.
In a statement by olawale he stated what inspired him to launch this initiative, and it started where he said “The inspiration came from seeing a gap in the market. I noticed that while many businesses were eager to leverage data for growth, they often struggled due to a lack of skilled professionals in the field. At the same time, there’s a huge untapped potential in Nigeria’s youth.
So, I decided to merge these two needs: helping businesses thrive through data-driven marketing and empowering young people with the skills they need to succeed in the industry. We started small, working with a few local businesses to demonstrate the power of data in their
marketing strategies. At the same time, I began training a group of 20 young people, mostly recent graduates, to equip them with the necessary skills. The goal was to create a ripple effect—improving businesses while also building a pool of talented, employable individuals.”
“We’ve made significant progress since those early days. The initial group of 20 trainees has done incredibly well; a couple of them have gone on to secure roles in marketing and data analysis with various companies, contributing to real business growth. Seeing their success has been incredibly rewarding.”
“ In terms of the initiative’s growth, we’re now expanding our training programs. We’ve partnered with several universities and organisations to start training our students. Currently, we’ve reached around 180 students, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. These young people are eager to learn, and they’re catching on quickly to how data and marketing can be powerful tools for business.”
Addressing his plans for the future, especially regarding his goal of training 2,000 students in the first three years, he said “The goal of training over 2,000 students in the first three years is ambitious, but it’s absolutely achievable. Our next steps involve scaling our operations. We’re planning to establish more training hubs across Nigeria, particularly in regions where opportunities like this are rare. We’re also working on developing an online platform to make the training accessible to even more students, regardless of their location.”
“Additionally, we’re exploring partnerships with more businesses to create internship opportunities for our trainees. The idea is to give them real-world experience that complements their training, making them even more valuable to potential employers. We’re also looking at ways to continuously update our curriculum to keep pace with the latest trends in data and marketing.
It sounds like you’re really building something that can make a long-term impact.”
he further explained that “The key to my success has been a combination of passion and collaboration. Passion, because I truly believe in the power of data and the potential of Nigeria’s youth. And collaboration, because this initiative wouldn’t have gotten off the ground without the support of the businesses, universities, and mentors who have partnered with us. It’s a team effort, and every success we’ve had is a shared success.”
“Another important factor has been staying flexible and responsive to the needs of both the students and the businesses we work with. By listening to their feedback, we’ve been able to tailor our programs to be more effective and impactful.”
“My advice to young professionals who are willing to make a difference i their fieldwould be to start with what you’re passionate about and look for ways to create value in that space. Don’t be afraid to start small, focus on making a tangible impact with the resources you have. And most importantly, don’t go it alone. Seek out mentors, build a network of like-minded individuals, and collaborate with others who share your vision. The journey won’t always be easy, but with
persistence and a clear goal in mind, you can make a real difference”
and then