Today, we will be sharing with you a captivating interview we had with Adeolu Akinyemi; If you have been online for a while now in the country, you must have had about it. Deolu as he’s fondly called is one of Nigeria’s foremost brands in People and Organizational Development, Financial Empowerment, Network Marketing and Blogging. Adeolu Akinyemi is a light and one of the most influential young people in Nigeria on account of his personal development blog, www.deoluakinyemi.com . Adeolu Akinyemi is the Founder of the New Nigeria Club, Executive Director of Generis Solutions, An investor and Director in Nairahost, Xpal Africa, WGS, ShapeCD Africa and a number of other growing companies, Administrator of Deoluakinyemi.com and CEO of Holidays and Cash Ltd. Adeolu Akinyemi’s most outstanding virtue is Integrity.

Let’s roll!

WTN: You are a brand to recon with in the internet space in Nigeria, how did you start?

Adeolu : I started Nov, 2005 I believe. I wanted more than my Job was giving, I had the feeling that I could do more, and be more, and I needed a platform to express myself… the rest is history

WTN: Talking about money making, am very sure it’s very important and as such we need many ways to get that right in this country… what are basic money making businesses people can start with relatively small capital?

Adeolu: Yes, it’s important that we are legitimate, and pursue opportunities that add to us and give us an opportunity to gain value… remember it’s not what you get that counts, it’s who you become!

There are a variety of money making opportunities…. so many I don’t know where to start… but I can say that with Avenues to Wealth… you can access a lot of them…

WTN: I want you to share with us, the holidays and cash (now Avenues to Wealth) story… the current wave making network marketing business.

Adeolu: Hmmmm… it’s a long story… I think the story is not due yet though… it’s going to be a best seller but let me give you some highlights…

Two years ago, I got to hear about an opportunity… I despised the opportunity. I had just about had enough of Network Marketing… the taste of failure and the taste of success was not different… as far as I was concerned.

There seemed to be no difference…and I had decided not to be involved again… I paid to buy the “privilege pack” back then… knowing for sure that I had lost my money. I had decided not to be involved.

For 7 months, I held the bargain I had made to myself… even though I had read less than 1/20 of the books I have read today, I thought I knew it all. My cup was full! I held on to this bargain… until one day!

That one day, I am forever grateful for…

One day, I met someone who sold me another opportunity with the same reward plan… they had driven the opportunity for 9yrs. It had a similar model, but because it was new and had grown over time, I was drawn.

I took out time to check them out… the whole experience cost me over N1.5m… at the end of my research… which involved travelling to Malaysia… I knew that Holidays and Cash (Avenues to Wealth) could work. I knew that what would make the difference is how it is managed, and how the people who take responsibility for driving it.

I got back to Nigeria… had a series of meetings with the leaders; they were also willing and ready. And together, we began to recreate a world class opportunity from what we had then.

In the Last 1yr 10months, we have concentrated on adding so much value to the privilege pack that it would be ridiculous or plain ignorant not to still be a part of it.

Today… we have created something I’m really proud of… when I say we, I mean in the company of leaders like my dear Wife and partner,  Mr. and Mrs. Emma Chukwu, Mr. and Mrs. John Akwarandu, Mr. and Mrs Chilaka, Busayo Akanro, Ola Daramola, Mr. Matthew Abolurin, Solomon James, Tony Muoka and many wonderful leaders too numerous to mention.

Today the Avenues to Wealth Privilege Pack, has something for everybody… Can you imagine, that with N42,000 per year, you have a personal shop space online, you have free adverts that can be seen by over 50,000 people all year round, you have e-books worth over $3,000, you have discounts in over 200 local products, you have access to cashless distributorship in premier companies, you get access to become part of an exclusive cooperative that is committed to the prosperity of it’s members, you get access to world-class life transforming training for FREE… you don’t only get all these, you also get the opportunity of earning extra income weekly for telling your friends about it. It’s simply exciting!

WTN: cool!

Adeolu: Today, I watched, with almost close to tears, as members took turns sharing their testimonies of what Avenues to Wealth (Holidays and Cash) has helped them to achieve in few months to a year… it’s awe inspiring.

Is it extra income, personal development, more time for their families, family support, children moving up to best schools, opportunities to help people? There were loads!

One that caught my attention was a guy who got his dream Job while trying to market the advert space that Avenues to Wealth offers businesses. Just this week, he got the Job, was given a Hilux Jeep as his official car, and another support Jeep as backup… he came with pictures, fliers e.t.c. People were really touched.

WTN: Wow!

Adeolu: If you hear about this opportunity and find it easy to sleep the night after… you didn’t get it. If you do, it will keep you excited and awake! I thank God, for being patient with me and helping me to be involved in driving this business. Helping people is not lip service, I’m doing it… and I’m enjoying my life.

WTN: Talking about web hosting, with one of your companies (Nairahost) being a top hosting firm in the country, how is the business like competing with foreign firms?

Adeolu: Hmmm… I’m off Nairahost… Kayode Muyibi holds the reigns on that one.

WTN: Looking at our internet industry, what can you say about the potentials and the realities on ground?

Adeolu: There are huge potentials…. I believe we are on the brink of great times.

With the internet about to stabilize in Nigeria… it’s the birth of the under 35 internet billionaire era in Nigeria. If we position and synergize, with about 43million internet users in Nigera… we are about to experience our very own internet boom!

Main 1, Glo 1, and mobile technology alone… things are going to open up, and there will be an avalanche for fast movers!

WTN: People have discussed about investors, entrepreneurs and all that, how can internet startups attract investment or should they simply bootstrap?

Adeolu: Well they can bootstrap… and they can also attract investors. Investing in Startups seems to be a possible next step in my evolution

WTN: How can they attract investors?

Adeolu: The same way every other type of business attracts investors, by making a business case of their opportunity, and developing a win-win proposition for people to invest or partner with them. Internet startups are not very expensive to kick off, and with a crowd online, investors are getting interested in possibilities already

WTN: What next should we expect from you soonest?

Adeolu: Many things…

1. Expect to see a lot of me in 2011 on Avenues to Wealth. I didn’t market A2W this year, I simply focused on adding value, 2011 you’ll see me doing a lot more marketing.

2. I’m giving more time to my blog.. and starting an online newspaper… htt://www.saltofafrica.com it’s not yet finished… but watch out

3. I’ll be investing in a few online startups myself, and bootstrapping with some other entrepreneurs.

4. Politics. I’m going to be having a voice, and positioning some people for leadership

WTN: wow! That’s cool!

WTN: Looking forward; in the next 3-5years what do you see Nigerian web industry becoming?

Adeolu: In the next 3-5yrs the industry would be core and key. With the changes and their effects… MEGA!

I’m hoping that comes with a great leadership in the country… then it will be really great. I’ll say we’ll be slightly ahead of where SA is now…

WTN: and probably be challenging them by then…?

Adeolu: Oh yeah… we always had the numbers… what we need, is what we are likely to be getting

WTN: So finally, what do you have for budding entrepreneurs?

Adeolu: Plan to Fail!

Don’t build your dreams around shortcuts; don’t hope for the best to happen on the first attempt. Plan that you will fail, be ready to experience tough challenges, and make up your mind to simply stick with it until it happens.

Plan for 2% conversion rate… and make sure 2% is profitable for you…. success happens when we give ourselves no other choice. When failure doesn’t deter us, when giving up is not a choice.

If you are not online… you are not alive in 2010, you are living in the past. Get online, get a blog, join us at Avenues to Wealth, it’s the New School!

WTN: Thank you for the great time and insight.

Adeolu: It’s a Pleasure.