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OloriSuperGal: My life experiences turned me into a super girl

By Ijeoma Thomas-Odia
18 September 2021   |   4:11 am
I have great memories of my early childhood. I grew up with five siblings and I am the first child.

Tosin Ajibade is the founder of OloriSuperGal, an entertainment and lifestyle blog. She is a new media entrepreneur, blogger, digital content strategist, writer and an author. The graduate of Accountancy from the Lagos State University (LASU) also obtained a certificate in Media Enterprise from the School of Media and Communications, Pan-Atlantic University. She is also the organiser of the New Media Conference that is held yearly in Nigeria.

Ajibade created her blog in 2010 and in 2016, she won the Future Awards Africa Prize for New Media. She is the author of two books, From Social Misfit To Social Media Hero and The Influencer Blueprint. In this interview with IJEOMA THOMAS-ODIA, she shares her passion for entertainment and the new media industry.

Share with us your memories of growing up?
I have great memories of my early childhood. I grew up with five siblings and I am the first child.

Winning in my academics was an exciting journey because I had to repeat a class and at the end of the day, I had to see beyond failing, which was a huge milestone for me.

What influenced your decision to start out OloriSuperGal blog?
Thankfully, my first job has been in the entertainment industry and so I have been in the industry for years. Gathering all these experiences, blogging came in. It moved from just posting to becoming a website where people could go for references and then I get paid for it.

Everything evolved over the years and I am really glad. My foundation has always been entertainment, so I am glad that my interest led me to the new media platforms where I am actually striving and doing well in my space.

Are you fulfilled blogging and being in the new media space?
Yes, I am. But, if I wasn’t doing the thing, I would have preferred to be an investigative journalist or working in the police investigative department because I have always had that on my mind.

How easy was it for you to create a brand for yourself through the blog?
Nothing good comes easy. It took a lot of time building the personal and business brands, facing the challenges and taking risks. It’s a 360° way of building a strong brand.

How did you come up with the brand name ‘OloriSuperGal’?
The name Olori means Queen in Yoruba and it represents royalty. I love royalty, which is why I chose the name Olori. SuperGal came from the name Superman. My life experiences and the bridges I have had to cross have turned me into a super girl.

You are the convener of the New Media Conference. What has been the impact so far?
The impact is that attendees have opportunities and they maximise them. The event has created job opportunities for people and also added value to the new media industry. Growing up, it used to be that you wanted to be a lawyer, doctor, accountant or any other ‘notable’ profession so you are seen as a responsible person, but now, the story has changed. We have start-up companies that are making millions from leveraging in new media. We need the education sector to accommodate the new media. Let it be taught from secondary schools to the universities so they can become relevant with the changing times.

What inspired your books?
I wrote the first book published in 2018, entitled OloriSuperGal: From ‘Social Misfit To Social Media Hero.’ The book is about my personal and professional experiences. New media is here to stay, I write my own story to inspire someone out there and how things turned around for me, especially after studying accounting and becoming a new media expert which was more of a hobby. My second book is called ‘Influencer Blueprint’. I spoke with top influencers from Ghana, Lagos, Abuja, Nairobi and Johannesburg. I shared their success stories on how one can become a content creator, find a niche and know the audience, so that anyone who is starting out can have a complete guide.

What do you hope to see done differently in the digital content space?
Those who want to learn can pick up skills like editing videos or pictures, creating content in their niche, knowing the target audience, using a platform that suits their type of content. As a digital creator, your story will only be stronger if you can back it up with quantitative results.

What does fashion mean to you?
It’s an expression of oneself and also being confident about how you feel in outfits that make you comfortable.

What is your style?
Simple, elegant and classy

What is your favourite fashion piece?
Bold statement earrings

What is your favourite local dish?
My favourite local dish is pounded yam with Efo-egusi soup.

Describe Tosin in three words.
Ambitious, focus-driven and creative.

What key advice do you have for young people seeking to build a career path in the industry?
In building a career path, have a professional mentor who is interested in your journey. Build business relationships that will last longer, take risks. Know about your business and work on your self-development.

What is your life mantra?
I am grateful for the body that carries me through life.

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