Abiodun Famojuro

@GbengaWemimo Happy Birthday GSW. Thank you for your uplifting and inspiring Communications. Remain A Blessing

Ten years ago today, I sat down at my office and took a stock of my life. I didn’t like the direction my life was going Poverty had a chokehold on me I began to fret, because I was just a few years away from turning forty and all the potentials I had shown since childhood had refused to bear fruit in my adulthood I had given birth to my children in poverty They were attending the cheapest school I could find I had a job that could best be described as that of a glorified messenger I had a degree that had not brought me any profit My life was a hard and unpleasant one Added to that I developed a mysterious illness and the doctors told me I had six months to live I was a pastor, a born again Christian and I was living that “It shall get better in the by and by” life I turned to the Lord and I had a conversation with him When Lord will Jacob become Israel? When Lord will potential turn to manifestation? The Lord said “I told you your destiny in 2007, you chose to live like others and not as I have ordained you to live. Hence, this battered life There is a space for you, preserved for you in destiny, if you will embrace it. I said “I am ready Lord, what do I do?” He told me simple things… Read that Bible daily for two hours Pray in the Spirit daily for two hours Start praying for people and nations as an intercessor Stop complaining and start appropriating my blessings to your destiny I obeyed. Today is the ten years anniversary of my freedom from rebellion I embraced obedience and the course of my life changed forever It is not too late to do the same. There is a destiny for you in Christ, it is not difficult to fulfil but you must be willing to trust and obey. Happy Birthday, GSW!

I refuse to be confused. Is the subject of indecency now repackaged as beautiful, attractive and every other thing in between? Is it impossible or difficult to be decent in appearance and still command the attention and respect of complete strangers? #RandomThoughts

@AyoBankole Dear Mr Akintujoye ,I have a solution recommendation with regards to the Mens Conference Event but i am unable to connect to your DM.

I'm inspired by the interests I'm getting in my DMs for this. I'm willing to donate 500k to make this happen. We need between 2-3m in total to make it happen physically and cover all expenses including venue and food. If you're interested in also donating, speaking (we want to hear your stories), or want to donate venue, etc please DM or reply here. Let's kick this off. Date may change depending on logistics.

@OluwatobiAjayiJ Thank you very much for this deeply encouraging story. It is a blessing to me and to many others to know that you must never lose sight of what is possible in faith. Within every beautiful Glory Lies a great story. It will get better,don't give up.

As I entered the plane, I asked the air hostess for some juice because I felt like I might collapse. I drank the juice, and a few hours later the meals were served. Eventually, I landed in Nigeria via Dubai. I remembered this story recently because of the situation in the Middle East. I began to think about what would have happened if, at that time, I was stranded in Guangzhou with almost no money, just waiting to finish my meetings and catch my Emirates flight back to Nigeria, only to hear that flights had been cancelled because a war had started. It would have been devastating. I honestly do not even want to imagine how much that could have affected me at that time. May God never give us more tribulations than our capacity can handle. Today, although I am in Nigeria, I am supposed to travel to China this weekend with five members of my team. We had booked Qatar Airways, but since Qatar could not go, I simply told the team to book all of us on another airline. We have come a long way, God is great.

I want to share a story. I have probably only told one or two people before. It was 2019. I was building Nord, I owned 100% at this time, and I had to go to China because some of our important suppliers needed to see me and discuss the way forward. I had spent months selling my dream to them, yet there was still no significant order. I had to fly to China to buy more time. However, I did not have enough money. I was very low on cash. Yet I knew that if I did not go on that trip, the suppliers would see me as unserious and the company would slowly just collapse. I have a good friend who has always been inspired by what I do and my accomplishments. He expressed interest in investing in Nord and I suggested that we visit the suppliers in China together. My plan was simple. I would pay for my flight and we would share a room where he would cover most of the room cost, while I showed him what we could do with our supply chain. He lives in London and I live in Nigeria. We were supposed to fly and land almost at the same time, although he was scheduled to arrive a few hours before me. A few hours before his flight, he called me to say he could not make it because of a logistical mix up. He told me last year, in 2025, that he actually had a serious medical emergency and might have died if he had not been in the UK where he was comfortable and had access to care. At the time, I did not know this. He did not tell me it was that serious. I simply felt he had abandoned me once the scale of the investment became obvious to him. Still, I was kind on the phone and told him it was okay. He remembered that. My already difficult but important trip suddenly became much more difficult, but I knew I still had to go. I flew to China and landed alone. We had initially planned to stay in a $100 per night room which we would share. Of course, I could not stay in a $100 per night room with my budget anymore, so I told my Chinese partner and friend to find me a really cheap hotel that was still close to town. He took me to one hotel that had a horrible smell. It was going for $25 per night. I was going to take it until I saw that the toilet was a pit toilet. I said, “No, e never bad like this.” I asked him to find me a hotel with a normal toilet. He took me to another one. The smell was ok, it looked neat, and it had a normal WC. It was $40 per night. I took it. I stayed a few days in Guangzhou, then took trains to other cities where my suppliers were located, staying in hotels that cost about $35 to $40 per night. A few days before my return, I had to visit an important supplier in a city that required a flight. I had to call Nigeria and asked that they send me some change I put somewhere. I think about $150 was sent through Western U. I used it to buy the flight ticket, attended the meeting, and then returned to Guangzhou for the last two days. When I landed back in Guangzhou, I had almost no money left. I probably had the equivalent of about $5. It could not buy anything meaningful, but I kept it just to convince myself mentally that I was not completely at zero. Psychologically, I was very low. The hotel had complimentary breakfast. That was what I would eat in the morning, and then I would go the entire day without eating. I would drink water all day and go for my meetings while my Chinese friend drove me around. He did not know I was that low on cash. Some days we would get complimentary lunch from the suppliers we visited. On other days, we did not. I just maintained an outward positive attitude even though I was tired and hungry, honestly I was just waiting for the day of my flight so I could finally return to Nigeria. On the day of the flight, my friend found a way to get me to the airport (that is a story for another day, as that was the day he suspected I was really low on cash). As usual, I had eaten only breakfast, and the flight was at 00:50 am. I was hungry and tired, I could not buy anything while we waited to board.

@asemota Thank you very much for this insightful write up. Thank you.

I don't know who started tribalism in Nigeria, but all tribes are guilty of it to a large extent. I have stated ours here many times and how we even have a very derogatory Edo word “eghoen” for people of other tribes and saw them as inferior. I later realized it was all rubbish. The craziest part is that the person who was instrumental in making me lose all of those beliefs of superiority was an Edo Prince and my first Philosophy lecturer, Professor Iro Eweka. He made me see the flaw in all of man’s beliefs and how culture was manufactured. Philosophy was my first foray into abstract and critical thinking rather than dogmatic beliefs, as even science as I knew it then was more dogma than experimentation and proof. We had textbooks that presented the theories, but didn't go deep enough to explain the history and struggles that led to them. Dogma is the root of all bigotry, and even science once had a lot of dogma, as humans were involved. It is why many black inventions were either stolen or hidden. One of my aunts was probably one of the reasons why I never got married on time, as she kept sabotaging my relationships by sowing seeds of doubt. She did it so well that I never saw her angle was tribalism. She was not married to an Edo man, and her mother was Yoruba, but she harbored a deep resentment for those across the Niger. It took me a while to unpack the fact that her problem wasn't just with other Nigerians; it was worldwide. She started warning me about Ghanaians, and I cut her off, then got married to one. Why was she that way? I later realized that it was more about narrative control than anything else. She wanted to be the one responsible for that part of my life and wanted me to seek her advice on my life’s choices. The root of all bigotry is the fear of loss of control. If you check throughout history, the people who pushed for dogma the most feared passion for other things. Dogma was always about control. All tribes are held together by shared beliefs, which tend to be dogmatic rather than objective. Before the last Nigerian Presidential elections, some friends surprised me in ways I didn't expect as their long-hidden biases came to light. I also have family members who became Trump supporters in America for biased reasons, too. I didn't invalidate their beliefs; I just tried to understand why, and it all came down to fear. People fear that what they believe most in and what defines them can be upturned, leaving them with no moral or tribal high ground. That fear is irrational, but they try to rationalize it. Almost everyone is guilty of it to some extent. I was studying a US Republican economist yesterday, who had predicted Russia's fall based on the data and had also predicted the rise of gold in recent times. She is a brilliant economist who has been denied a position at the Federal Reserve because of her politics. I went back to study politics, and I then understood why the other side would have concerns. Technically, she is one of the best and most objective researchers, but politically, she is firmly biased. Looking at how someone can have both traits made me understand why America has so many Independents who don't belong to either ideological political construct. If I were an American voter, I would be an independent. In Nigeria, they call those kinds of people “fencists” (another derogatory term) because they decide to think for themselves and not remain dogmatic. In life, you have to be a “fencist” in your thinking, always seeking the truth. Dogma only helps the powerful and deludes the powerless.

In life,I have learnt and I am still learning that , your life must be full of positivity and refreshing engagement with a great outpouring of love. It helps you to quickly identify those with negativity, bile and malicious intent.

@afamosigwe Happy Birthday Mr President Sir. I pray that you Continue to enjoy great health and your life shall Continue to define relevance and impact in all your undertakings. Have a fantastic New Year.

Happy birthday to me!

@DrJoeAbah Happy Birthday To You Sir. Thank you for being a blessing and for the unique perspectives that you bring to delicate conversations. A role model you are and I thank God for the gift of Life that He alone Has Given to you. Saying like Liverpool,You will Never Walk Alone!!!

Today is my birthday. I am grateful to God for another year of grace. I thank God for the miracle of walking away from a serious car crash in June, unscathed. I thank God for the love that surrounds me. Our purpose is not yet fulfilled. Like Arsenal, we go again next year!😀

@asemota Your Hmmmmm is very Pregnant. You cannot be quoted for what you did not say. I also did not say anything but responded by acknowledging your Hmmmmm.

Hmmm…

@gkbalogs "Never See A Complaint as an attack,see it as a Gift". Profound statement that rings true in many instances of life. The consistent defensive posture even in the face of overwhelming missteps needs to be addressed by everyone in the service industry. Feedback is critical.

Many years ago, a customer walked into our Lekki outlet, visibly very upset. She had ordered a smoothie and angrily complained that she could taste banana in it. The problem? That particular product wasn’t supposed to contain any banana at all. My team replied, saying there was no way banana could have found its way into that drink. We are very strict about following our standard recipes, but the customer insisted. She demanded a refund and said she would never come back. Then she added that she was actually allergic to bananas and was having reactions already. Allergic to bananas? That was a new one for us. My team collected the drink, tasted it, and held their ground. We can't taste any banana, ma, and it was simply impossible. We would never add an ingredient that wasn’t listed. But the customer remained firm, insisting she could taste it and was reacting to it. She left the store angrily, never to return. At that point, they reached out to me. I told them to call her, apologize sincerely for how she was feeling, and deliver a fresh drink right away. Then I spoke to her myself, apologise and reassured her that we would investigate, and promised to find out what really happened and her next smoothie order would also be free. So, I immediately asked the QA Manager to dig deeper. If the customer insists, I told the team, we owe it to her and to ourselves to find out why. The investigation revealed something we had completely missed: the person who made the smoothie had used the same knife to cut banana for another product few minutes earlier, then used that same knife to cut the fruits for her smoothie. Woah!! The smallest of cross-contamination. A tiny action, but for someone highly sensitive to banana, it was enough to trigger a reaction. That single complaint led us to introduce major changes in our production process. It changed how we handled tools, tightened our production and hygiene standards, and reinforced a stronger culture of listening. The best customers aren’t always the happy, smiling ones who never complain. Sometimes, the best customers are the ones who challenge you, who point out what’s wrong, even when it’s uncomfortable to hear. Never see a complaint as an attack, see it as a gift. The truth is a complaining customer still cares enough to speak up instead of walking away. And if you listen, investigate, and act, you don’t just fix a problem, you make your business better for everyone. So, the next time a customer comes back to complain, don’t dismiss it. Lean in, listen, and learn. That’s where real growth begins. Of course, you guessed right, she remained a very loyal customer.

@Orifunke Thank you for sharing this traumatic but life changing experience. The degree of intentionality that must go into food preparation and ingredients irrespective of the quantity is an area that needs critical examination. A dangerous chain reaction. Glad you're alive to share.

In 2023, I got cake from a vendor and began having an immediate anaphylactic reaction after eating it. Got hospitalized for many days, receiving the highest amount of injections I had ever received in my entire life. After about three or four days, all my veins had collapsed and the medical professionals struggled to inject me for my drip. I didn't know it was even possible for doctors to try to find vein in your feet. Everywhere on my fingers and arms was off. My feet were the last resort. My husband was in so much emotional pain from seeing me injected everywhere. It was God who saved my life and the doctors who didn't take my condition lightly. Husband had to go back to the vendor to request a list of every single thing that the cake was made with. We never bought from them again. So, I truly understand that woman. And I'm glad that you responded this way. It may look like such a slight thing but that small thing could be the difference between life and death.

@mikeachimugu01 @tosinolaseinde Good Morning Mr Achimugu, thank you very much for your consistency in generating solutions that makes a great difference in this space and your respectful engagement on this platform is appreciated.I am saying thank you for all you do and are doing.

For the longest time, Nigerian passengers have complained about the type of aircraft that the airline, Lufthansa, has operated on their Nigerian route. The Airbus A340-300 being used has come under a barrage of criticism. Lufthansa therefore, applied to the NCAA to commence the use of a newer aircraft; a B787-9. Approval was granted on July 1st, 2025. Looking forward to having Nigerian passengers enjoy newer aircraft across board. I will be glad to inform once the B787-9 begins operations into Nigeria.

@gkbalogs @abimsbalogun @sofreshng I was very curious to find out what organization you were talking about and couldn't help smiling, laughing, and applauding your creative communication. Thank you for all you do in the entrepreneurship space. you are both a beautiful inspiration.

I kept hearing about this amazing place on Instagram and finally decided to “see what the hype is about.” So I took my wife to check it out. She was skeptical… until the first bite, now she’s the one saying, “we’re definitely coming back here!” 😂 And honestly? Whoever runs this spot clearly knows what they’re doing (does anyone know the owners). If you haven’t tried their amazing delicious meals yet,… you’re missing out. The flavors, the freshness, the vibe, all 10/10 💚 Go ahead, turn your next meal into a fresh experience @sofreshng

@peng_writer Your style will be less about command and more about cultivation-fostering an environment where people and strategy align to create lasting impact.

@peng_writer This suggests a leader who is both visionary and pragmatic. You will likely lead by building a strong, coherent culture and empowering your team with a clear "why." .

Go to Chatgpt and type "based on my prompts so far, what kind of a leader will I turn out to be in 100 words?" Copy your result and quote this tweet. Let's have some fun.

@gkbalogs Thank you very much for this communication. The Love for "short cuts" and quick fixes that don't fix anything in the long run has made circumventing processes a delight. When Processes are ignored or treated with disdain the outcome is never good.

This week, I’ve been auditing a particular process in our business and, unsurprisingly, I found that people have boycotted parts of the process and started doing their own thing. It immediately took me back to my days at Chevron, process audits were taken very seriously. We had three or four levels: - Level 1: Self Audit conducted by the unit. - Level 2: Bi-annual Country HQ audits - Level 3: Regional HQ audit. - Level 4: And finally, Global Office Audits, done once every 4 years, I think. This just showed me that a process is only as strong as the checks and audits that back it up. It has to be tied to performance and backed with consequences for non-compliance. And it has to be done continuously without fail. The moment you slack off, even for 3 to 6 months, things start to revert. People naturally fall back into doing what’s convenient, not what’s correct. This isn’t about Nigeria or any particular culture; it’s just human nature. I’ve seen it play out in a global company with over 50,000 employees across more than 150 countries. Processes stayed intact there not because people were inherently better, but because the systems to enforce them were consistent and relentless. The lesson for me (and for all of us building organizations) is simple: processes don’t sustain themselves. You have to constantly reinforce, audit, and tie them to performance if you want them to live beyond good intentions. Back to work, business is hard!!

@asemota Thank you very much for this insightful, emotional and truthful expression of vulnerability. Generational trauma is amplified when denial is magnified. Many adults who vowed not to repeat the mistakes of their parents are walking in the same path unabated. Lessons to be learnt.

As an African child, your are likely to be shaped more by the dysfunctions of your parents than anything else. I couldn't read this book below properly because I became so sad. They have groups in America where people who have gone through it discuss it. I have had only one friend in my entire life discuss with me the sadness of what his father had done to their lives with alcohol. My advice was to extend him some grace. We went through a lot when my father was an alcoholic and almost died a number of times because of accidents. I never knew why he was doing it and we blamed him for it until his best friend asked me if I thought he did it because he was happy? He did it because he was sad. It was in understanding his sadness that I came to respect him. He stopped drinking when he discovered that he was diabetic at 60. The last nine years of his life without alcohol became one of repentance and devotion. I thank God he came back from the abyss after, but years of drinking caused so many health issues that eventually led to his early demise. I don't drink anymore because it was a choice I made after a vow. I was taking my 8-month pregnant wife to the emergency room in America and I had finished a bottle of wine that evening. I realized how one small mistake that day because of alcohol could have led to a massive tragedy. I didn't wait till I had health issues. 10 years sober this month.

From 12th - 14th November, the brightest minds in arbitration and ADR will be shaping conversations that define the future of business and governance in Africa. Will you be there — or will you miss it? Don’t get left behind. Register now: ciarbnigeria.org/conference/reg…

The Pursuit of Knowledge that Transforms, Inspires,Motivates and Challenges you, should be normalised . To be a Life Long Learner is Liberating and empowering and opens chapters in your life that you never knew existed. Stay Hungry, Greatness Awaits!!!!