You Don’t Have to Leave Ilorin Before You Make it in Life – Akots Print CEO

Many were born great and many carved the paths of greatness and success for themselves through self-realization and development, in an interview with The informant247 the Chief Executive Officer of AKOTS Prints, Otunba Oloruntoba Adeyeye made some catchy revelations as regards his entrepreneurial breakthrough.

Why business? What is your motivation and passion for the business?

Basically, business is something I enjoy, it is something I have passion for. Because I get bored easily while working for someone and I like something more challenging which would make my brain work to it’s fullest capacity. That has been my greatest motivation so far, it has never been because of the money, fine money can come afterward. I just like solving problems and challenging myself.

Wow that’s fantastic, so his long have you been in the business?

Officially Akot prints and design is 4 but have been in the business for over a decade. It started in the university days, when I helped my colleagues in printing posters and flyers.

In 2008 or thereabout, my brother and I did the first set of unilorin wristbands, this is over 10 years ago now. It has been a journey all through this period, till I now finally understand the rudiments of printing business which made me decide to set up Akot prints in the year 2015.

Basically, there is no business without its own challenges, so what are the challenges faced so far on this path?

Funny enough, I face none, it might be funny, but that is the truth. I don’t see any problem as challenges, I take them as a step to where am going to. What people call challenges, I call it a test to get better. that’s my own mindset, so when I face any one, I don’t get scared, I rather see them what would make me better. Challenges makes one an entrepreneur especially in this country that we are.

I really love your perspective, so apart from Akot prints and designs what other services do you render to people?

Am more of a business person, like I said earlier I started the company in 2015 before then I had a stint in photography and videography. I once run a procurement and hiring services which is still running, but only Akot prints is well known to the outside world. Sometimes, I help in supplying sand, cement, and other building materials to people but this is as popular as Akot prints. All these are what I did before I started akots print officially. Akots prints and design helps people in printing, branding and providing solution to people’s businesses.

At Akot prints, we don’t focus majorly on printing we are not printers, we believe we can use our skills and ideologies to make your business run better. Our focus is on business growth.

What other services should the populace be expecting from Akot?

I don’t want to spill the milk yet, just anticipate.

What advise do you have for people who has interest in this business?

Don’t go into business because of the money. Always ask yourself, why do I want to go into this business? If you know you are not solving any problem, I would advise you not to go engage yourself in such business.
Business is simply solving people challenges. Anybody who would pay for your services, would have a need and your business should be catering for that need.

Some people deceive themselves by saying if Akot can make this happen in four years, it means I can make it too. That is a wrong mindset because, you are not solving any problem. You would be more of an underdog. If one is creative, you would find out that, a lot of packages are still in the box waiting to be uncovered in printing.

For any business, one want to attempt always ask yourself, what solution am I bring to the world.

To the outside world, just believe everything is possible. It does not necessarily mean you have to leave Ilorin before you can make it in life.
I graduated from the University of Ilorin, where I did both my undergraduate and postgraduate. And now we are doing well, am sharing this story as that we should know that we don’t need to leave our comfort zone before we are successful. Yes, places like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt are ready made business area but Ilorin is emerging and it would be good for starting business, mistakes can be made and also be corrected with proximity to both north and south, one’s business can go far and wide.

Raw materials are cheap while the government too is trying its best to be supportive.

Advise to those looking for white collar job?

It is difficult for me to advise them because we also need them amongst us.

Look at your surrounding and you would see that alot of people admire business men and women rather than those working in offices. If you know you have gotten the strength, be an entrepreneur but not everyone would be some people who are weak in nature would rather go for the white collar job. White collar job is an easy way out, running a business involves a lot of risk but for me if you want to stand out of your peers, get ready to do the extraordinary and be ready to sacrifice alot. If you want to be an average person, you do what every average person does.
Yes they might be issues and problems but if you keep improving yourself, you would feel satisfied and happy at the end.

What’s your staff strength?

About 30, intern training about 10-15 making a whole total of 40 thereabout.

What is the difference between you and other printing outlets?

This is a technical question, what we do is tailored towards solving a business problem, helping business grow. Am so sure none of them offer this service we offer to others.
What you would see is that a different company offers an aspect another company offers the other. But we do both simultaneously.

I don’t know much about other people, so I would speak about ourselves only. We see ourselves as our biggest competitor. We try as much as possible to be better than yesterday and that is what keeps us progressing.