UBA Business Series Highlights Key Strategies for Digital Entrepreneurs
At the latest edition of the UBA Business Series, a gathering focused on digital entrepreneurship and influence, Kayode Olubiyi, group head of Digital Banking at UBA, welcomed participants and panellists to an insightful session. He highlighted that this quarterly event continues to play a crucial role in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. The series provides practical knowledge to help individuals grow their brands and businesses in a competitive digital economy.
This particular session was themed “Content that Converts: Building Influence and Driving Growth Through Strategic Marketing.” It explored how authenticity, consistency, and passion are essential elements for success in the rapidly changing digital world. Content creators shared their personal experiences across various industries and markets, offering valuable lessons from their journeys.
In his keynote address, Dr Lampe Omoyele, managing director and CEO of Nitro 121, emphasized the importance of creating content that goes beyond aesthetics or trends. He stated, “You can create something out of what appears to be nothing.” According to him, content should focus on value, purpose, and agility. Creators aiming to make an impact must develop a clear personal brand identity and consistently deliver messages that resonate with their audience.
The panel discussion featured a diverse group of digital entrepreneurs and content creators, including Elozonam Ogbolu, a digital creator and actor; Chinonso Egemba, a digital health educator known as Aproko Doctor; Kenyan actress and media entrepreneur Catherine Kamau; Nasiru Lawal, a content creator known as Nasboi; and Enioluwa Adeoluwa, who also served as the moderator of the event.
Lawal shared his perspective on growth, stating, “Growth is very important. For the younger creators here, my best advice is to prioritise your growth. As a creator, the moment you become famous, you no longer move at your own pace; you move at the people’s pace. It is therefore important to ensure you grow consistently, and then over time, the recognition and the money begin to roll in.”
Elozonam agreed with Lawal, emphasizing the importance of storytelling in engaging audiences. He said, “Content creators have to engage their audience with proper storytelling, because brands are always out to carefully choose their creators. For the brands, you must pick your influencer or ambassador very deliberately and work together over time to grow. That is when you will see a proper return on investment.”
Egemba added that content creation should be treated as a business. He noted, “If you’re building a business or doing content creation, treat content creation as a business. When you treat it as a business, it needs a proper structure. Otherwise, it won’t last. If you don’t put structure in place, you’ll end up responsible for everything, and that leads to burnout. You have to build structure because if you want longevity, structure is essential.”
For Kamau, maintaining a balance between fame and real-life connections is vital. She shared, “It is important for content creators to find a balance and stay close to their community. What I realised is I have a community that keeps me grounded, and that’s family. When you get famous, you tend to forget where you come from. You know, social media is an illusion, and you start assuming that it is your real family until bad things happen to you. So please remember the real people in your life, because fame can get to your head, but those are not the people who are going to have your back when things go south.”
The panelists collectively stressed the importance of building a personal brand over chasing financial gain. They encouraged young creators to focus on originality and finding their unique niche rather than copying others.
Alero Ladipo, group head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, commended the panellists for sharing their insights and praised UBA for organizing such impactful events. She noted that these conversations benefit not only individual customers but also economies at large.
Key Takeaways from the Session
- Authenticity and Consistency: These are fundamental for building trust and long-term engagement with an audience.
- Strategic Branding: A clear personal brand identity helps creators stand out in a crowded digital space.
- Business Mindset: Treating content creation as a business requires structure and planning to ensure sustainability.
- Community Focus: Staying connected to real-life relationships is crucial for maintaining a grounded perspective.
- Originality Over Trends: Young creators should focus on developing their unique voice rather than following fleeting trends.