Besides running a sports betting platform, Nigerian serial entrepreneur Akin Alabi has turned everyday experiences and learnings into profitable how-to guides online.
Don’t tell Akin Alabi there isn’t enough time in the day to do everything. He just might tell you off.
At 41, he has built multiple businesses and has the time for more.
Alabi is the founder of NairaBET, Nigeria’s first an leading sports betting platform, a company he started in 2009 after he identified what he calls “a starving crowd”.
By that, he means a customer base willing and able to pay for services enough for him to make a sizeable profit.
Besides NairaBET, Alabi owns a small football club, has a book-writing business, is into digital marketing, business coaching and seminars, and is also contesting for a seat in parliament in the 2019 Nigerian elections.
The entrepreneur-investor likes to spend his days identifying specific gaps in the market and providing solutions to address them.
Over the years, he has identified many ‘starving crowds’. He found the first one just after completing a diploma in business administration in 2001. At the time, there was a growing desire for Nigerian youth to travel abroad, especially to Canada, in search of greener pastures.
According to data from the Canadian immigration service, as many as 27,625 immigrants from Nigeria were residing in Canada by 2011.
Alabi tried his luck too.
In 2001, after his visa got rejected, he decided to collate his experiences navigating the complicated visa application process and sell that knowledge online to first-time applicants.
“I started downloading information tutorials and videos about the Canadian application process. I put all the information together and said ‘some people will be interested in this so let me put it out there for sale’. So in January 2003, I launched my first business, which was selling information products, and the first was this Canadian visa package,” says Alabi.
This story is from the August 2018 edition of Forbes Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2018 edition of Forbes Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
HIP-HOP'S HOTTEST HUSTLER
The Memphis rap star runs one of the biggest music labels, owns a piece of an MLS team and is looking to expand his empire like his billionaire mentor Jay-Z. But first, he's going to business school.
Kigali Triennial, The Ambitious New Event On The African Cultural Calendar
Rwanda has rightly earned the nickname of \"a land of a thousand hills and a thousand and one opportunities\" because of the country's impressive economic progress. However, after the recently-concluded celebration of arts which was the inaugural Kigali Triennial festival, you can now add culture to the list of things the country offers for tourists and investors.
The dark Side of AI
There is a thin line between innovation and abuse. A look at how large language models (LLMs) are making cyber-criminals even better at mastering the art of deception.
Gene Gamechanger
Disease-resistant crops? Cows that can withstand climate change? Here's how CRISPR is already transforming the continent, and why building a network of skilled scientists can help position Africa as a key global contributor in this frontier of crop development.
Women Empowerment And Transformation In Mining: A Distinctive Perspective
GMDC is a mining company that specializes in tungsten (wolfram) and operates in the city of Kigali, Nyarugenge District, Mageragere Sector.
How The Mining Sector Contributes To Community Development Initiatives
It plays a significant role in Rwanda's overall development, contributing to infrastructure, job creation, health, education, and even environmental conservation. It's not just about extracting resources; mining is mandated to build up the communities and nation alongside its operations.
Reflecting On 2023 Milestones And A Look Ahead
Last year solidified Rwanda's position as a prime African mining investment destination and a burgeoning hub for mineral value addition. What will 2024 hold?
Rwandan Mining Regulator Unveils Three-Year Mineral Exploration Campaign
A holistic approach to responsible mineral resource management in the country.
TASTING SUCCESS
Paul Siguqa has had an unlikely journey in the wine business in South Africa. His mother worked in the vineyards as a laborer during the apartheid era and now, his fully black-owned wine farm sells premium products.
Creating Stronger Communities In Africa Through Digital And Financial Inclusion
In Sub-Saharan Africa, a silent barrier to economic inclusion and social mobility persists: one in four adults lacks identification, according to a World Bank report.