Adeyinka
| credits: File copy
| credits: File copy
Twenty-six-year old Adesanmi Adeyinka is the Chief Executive Officer of the Arena Group. He spoke to Tope Omogbolagun about his business experience
How did you come about the name of your organisation?
Many years ago as a child, I was
watching a programme on television then I was came up with the idea of
owning a business of my own and later, a friend of mine brought the name
and I came up with the idea of starting my own company. But at that
point in time, I had no particular name in mind. The friend then
suggested ‘D ARENA’. But I modified it to ‘THE ARENA’ because it
translates everything I had in mind perfectly. So I adopted the name.
So what does ‘THE ARENA’ entail?
It’s a group business that ventures into
satisfying the basic needs of human. Presently it’s into three aspects —
The Arena automobile, The Arena Pets and The Arena Beauty Home.
Did you study anything related to business?
No. I studied law at the University Of Abuja.
How are you then able to manage three different businesses under the same name?
It has been God. I only read a lot of
books on my own, browse the Internet and also learn from people. I read
through people’s success stories and failures so as to know how to cross
the bridge when I get there. I have been able to lift the burden off
myself by getting other people to do the work for me.
Why did you abandon the dream of becoming a lawyer for business?
Law was a profession I loved dearly as I
had always adored it as a child. However, there was this part of me
that never wanted to work for anyone. I wanted to be a boss of my
myself. It pained me greatly while growing up to see my mother wake up
early for work and come back very late at night. This made me desire to
be an entrepreneur. Unemployment was also another factor that made me
venture into business. I didn’t want to join the league of those who
walk around the streets, instead I wanted to create employment for
people
How did you source funds to start your business?
‘The Arena motors’ started in 2010,
while ‘The Arena Pets’ commenced in 2011. The funds were majorly from my
personal purse. And all gratitude to my mother. She was also very
helpful in raising funds. All wasn’t done without the help of God. I
came to realise at the early stage of my life that there are just two
categories of people who exist in life: Enemies and immediate family.
That alone has kept me going and it has really made me a strong person. I
grew up to learn that in this life, you are on your own, if you want to
achieve anything and become a respectable person in life, you have to
be independent because the more you depend on people, the more you get
disappointed.
Is your business capital intensive?
My type of business is capital
intensive, especially the automobile and the pets’ business. That
doesn’t mean everyone who wants to start a business must necessarily
start big. One can start a business small with maximum discipline,
hardwork and overtime, it will expand.
What are the challenges you have encountered so far?
I face a whole lot of challenges daily.
The thought of the month coming to an end every month is really a big
challenge. Handling errant workers, competitors, customers, their
suggestions, observations, and most times offensive comments and
thoughts of how to move to the next stage are very challenging. Managing
different types of business at the same time is also an endearing task.
How have you been able to overcome these challenges?
The only thing I do to overcome these
challenges is prayer. Putting God first as the leader, keeping my head
above the waters, focus on the goals and having the end in mind right
from the beginning, that’s it.
What are your guiding principles?
I believe in possibility. When you
believe that things can be done automatically, it becomes a driving
force. Diligence is also another thing that has helped tremendously.
When my companions slept; I was toiling upwards in the night.
How has the government been helping entrepreneurship in Nigeria?
Government presently has a whole lot to
deal with and so has not been of much help or influence to young
entrepreneurs. The question is, how many people will the government
sponsor? We are in the dispensation where people should not think of
what government can do for them but what they as citizens can also do
for the government to make the nation a better place.
The truth is that Nigeria is nothing to
write home about. It’s a place or the situation where that the rich are
getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. It seems every
opportunity out there is designed for the rich. The poor and those on
the average cannot make a quick grab at any opportunity majorly because
of lack of funds.
What is your advice to unemployed graduates?
It is good enough that
you have acquired the certificate as stipulated by parents but the
question remains. Certificate for which job? Education merely educates
you, which is not enough for you to survive in Nigeria. School doesn’t
test our knowledge, it tests our memory. So my candid advice is for them
to keep the certificates and explore other possibilities, because
institutions don’t teach us how to succeed in life or how to make ends
meet, rather they impact us with knowledge and then we make the grade
our parents desire. One thing I have realised overtime is that grades
doesn’t make you successful, but grace. Think of multimillion naira
ideas and meet with the right people. Prospective entrepreneurs should
take time to study all I have said, discover themselves, be determined ,
be original and different, have a goal and above all put God first in
all they do as He is the only way.
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