Nkiru Asika, Onyinye Ovbiagele, Tope Oshin Inspire Participants at Freelance Friday

 

The November edition of the British Council and First Bank of Nigeria supported Freelance Friday clinic might have come and gone but for participants, it was an unforgettable experience judging from the turnout and calibre of professionals at the clinic.

The clinic enjoyed an impressive turnout at its November edition as a host of entrepreneurs and freelancers representing a cross section of the creative industries showed up at the British Council office in Ikoyi.

Despite a last-minute change in schedule which saw the first session postponed to a future date, the clinic got off to a flying start with Enterprise Creative founder/CEO Nkiru Asika leading a lively discussion on business principles.

The participants at the clinic were asked to examine their brand principles, and if these were being communicated in their business dealings. The entrepreneurs also shared ideas on how to communicate these principles through business transactions, client selection, and even pricing.

The second session of the day was led by Onyinye Ovbiagele who spoke to entrepreneurs about Funding Challenges and Options for SMEs. In her session, participants were made to understand the dynamics of business, which include short and long term funding needs, and she walked them through the most common options for entrepreneurial funding. While showing entrepreneurs how to calculate start-up costs and determine start-up needs, she also emphasized the need for emergency funds as a way of managing unforeseen situations in business.

The final session for the day was facilitated by multitalented producer and filmmaker, Tope Oshin Ogun who spoke about Multitasking for the Multifaceted Entrepreneur. In an exciting and interactive session, Tope outlined the characteristics of a creative entrepreneur and examined the merits of identifying various talents with the aim of ordering them according their strengths and potential for commercial return. Drawing on her experiences in the Nigerian film industry, she advised entrepreneurs to seek help in carrying out tasks, while stressing the need for self-development in order to transform raw talent into a marketable skill.

The next Freelance Friday clinic has been scheduled for December 13, 2013 and details on speakers are expected to be announced soon. To participate in Freelance Friday, simply register on the Enterprise Creative website.

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By SAMOD BIOBAKU