Business
My Songs will ride the wave of Nigerian Music going global- Akin James
Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Akin James is confident that his music will ride the current wave of Nigerian and African songs taking over the airwaves globally. The performer whose genre of music can be described as soft rock mixed with African influenced sounds, also promises to keep delivering songs with meaningful lyrical content.
Akin who has a B.Sc. in Personnel Managementstarted singing in church as early as age 6. Many years later, he was part of the ‘Peak: It’s In You’ singing competition and came in third place. He recently got signed up with fast rising record label Outofline Entertainment which has affiliations in the US & UK to help him with his global aspirations.
He boasts of hit single tracks such as Iwo Nikan, Let Me Know and Abeg.
Akin reveals more in this interview;
Who is Akin James?
Akin James is from Osun State but has lived in Lagos all his life. I studied Personnel Management in LASU but now, music is my bread and butter.
I am a singer, songwriter and guitarist. My genre of music can be classified as contemporary rock, soul and afro-pop music. Even though I am relatively new in the music scene, I’ve been nurturing my type of music for years now and I feel I am evolving a type of music that is unique. I really hope that the people love my type of music. My team and I are trying really hardto give our best to all our fans in Nigeria, Africa and the world.
Wow! Lots of graduate professionals are opting for music these days. But for Akin James, when and how did music come into the picture?
Well, I’ve been singing since I was a kid. As a matter of fact, I feel privileged to have graduated from school because at a point, I was contemplating on leaving school for music.
As I said earlier, music has always been my first love. I was in the church choir as young as age six and that was when I started singing. And I soon discovered that I have an ability to write songs so, along the way, I also learnt to play many musical instruments. I play the guitar and the keyboard very well. Music has always been there through my life.
Age six? How easy was that? I mean playing many musical instruments, learning to sing and write songs too.
Well, for me it all came naturally. It was as if I was made for music and music for me. It was all self-taught for me. For instance, when I fell in love with the guitar, I just got one and started playing-not that it was so easy though but, constant practice brought perfection.
So, for how long have you been playing the guitar?
I have been playing for a very long time but, I started playing professionally about 9 years ago
Oh great. Let’s talk more about your music and what you are bringing to the industry. What makes Akin James’ music unique?
My lyrics and my voice. I particularly pay attention to the tone I produce with my voice and thankfully, I have this very smooth voice texture that is uncommon. I also have the skills to deliver on the lower registers; it is not the regular texture that you hear from most singers.
Also, I have this soul feel to my songs and that is equally unique.
So, where do you draw inspiration to do such unique songs?
I pick up inspiration from everything around me- life itself, people, my environment and basically, situations around me. I also love children and draw a lot of knowledge from them as well. And also from God.
Your songs; Iwonikan and Abeg. Are they out officially?
No, it’s not. I’m, currently working on my EP-the Akin James Project but for the sake of my fans, I asked my team to make them available on soundcloud and on the Outofline website.Iwonikan and Abeg are also gaining massive airplay on radio stations everywhere. The songs will be officially released with my EP. The team is working hard to make sure this happens soon.
Editor’s note:
Soundcloud streaming link: https://soundcloud.com/user-433071234/tracks
Website:www.outofline.com.ng.
Talking about your team, does this mean you are signed to a record label?
Yes I am, the famous Outofline records…
Oh! I was actually thinking of stealing you (both laugh) well, any messages to fans out there? What more do you want them to know about Akin James and his music?
Well, they can expect that I would keep churning out more beautiful sounds and to always deliver my best at all times.
And still talking about more songs, how soon should we expect an album from you?
Soon. I’m focused on releasing my EP for now
So how do fans get to follow you on social media?
Fans can follow me on @akinoutofline on IG and twitter. Please also follow @outoflineentertainment on Instagram and on twitter @outofline_entfor news and information and gossip about me
Finally, your positive notes?
Stay strong, Keep fit and always look out for good music which is the life of the soul, especially songs from Akin James
Precision and Heritage: How Fifi Stitches Is Rewriting African Fashion Narratives
A Nigerian-born designer is gradually carving out a cross-continental footprint in contemporary fashion, blending African textile heritage with British technical discipline.
Esther Fiyinfoluwa Adeosun, Founder and Creative Director of Fifi Stitches, is gaining recognition for structured womenswear and bridal couture that reinterprets traditional fabrics through architectural tailoring and precision construction.
Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Adeosun’s fashion journey began at home, seated beside her mother’s sewing machine. What started as childhood curiosity, sometimes jamming the machine just to understand its mechanics—evolved into a disciplined design practice now operating between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
During an interview with journalists the fifi Stitches once mentioned “I was fascinated by how flat fabric could transform into something structured and meaningful”.
In her Story , early designs made for her family, though imperfectly finished, were worn with pride—an encouragement that laid the foundation for her professional confidence.
Today, Fifi Stitches is recognised for sculpted bodices, controlled tailoring, corsetry construction, and the contemporary reinterpretation of Ankara, Aso Oke, and Adire textiles.
The brand challenges the long-held perception that African fabrics belong solely in ceremonial contexts, instead positioning them within global luxury and modern design spaces.
Adeosun’s training reflects this dual perspective. She studied Fashion Design and Entrepreneurship at the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Development Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, and earned a Diploma in Fashion Design through Alison Online.
In the UK, she undertook industry-focused technical training with Fashion-Enter Ltd and gained fashion business exposure through Fashion Capital UK.
Her technical expertise spans pattern drafting, draping, garment technology, structured tailoring, corsetry, and bespoke fittings—skills she describes as central to credibility in fashion. “Precision builds trust,” she says. “A designer must understand construction as deeply as creativity.”
Fifi Stitches has showcased collections at the Suffolk Fashion Show, Liverpool Fashion Show – FB Fashion Ball, Red Carpet Fashion Event in London, and through editorial features in London Runway Magazine.
The brand has also received coverage in The Guardian Nigeria and Vanguard Allure, expanding its visibility across markets.
Beyond couture, Adeosun integrates community impact into her practice.
She has facilitated garment construction workshops, draping sessions, and introductory training programmes for women and emerging creatives, promoting fashion as both artistic expression and vocational empowerment.
Fifi Stcithes Boss operates between Nigeria and the UK, in order to continue to shape her brand identity.
According to her “Nigeria provides cultural richness and expressive textile traditions, while the UK offers structured production systems, sustainability conversations, and institutional frameworks”.
Looking ahead, Adeosun said she plan to establish a fully structured fashion house spanning Africa and the UK, develop scalable production partnerships, launch capsule collections, and expand independent editorial visibility.
Her broader ambition is clear: to position African textile craftsmanship within global contemporary design conversations—through structure, discipline, and technical excellence.
GTCO Launches “Take on Squad” Hackathon 3.0, Opens Call for Applications
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (“GTCO” or the “Group”) has announced the launch of “Take on Squad” Hackathon 3.0, reaffirming its commitment to fostering innovation, empowering talent, and supporting the development of technology-driven solutions that address real-world challenges across Africa.
Now in its third edition, the Hackathon brings together developers, designers and entrepreneurs across Nigeria in a collaborative environment to build practical solutions across key sectors including financial services, healthcare, commerce and digital inclusion. Under the theme “Smart Systems: The Intelligent Economy,” participants are challenged to design and build intelligent, data-driven solutions that transform how communities engage with money.
Applications are now open, and interested teams can find full guidelines and registration details on the official portal at https://squadco.com/hackathon.
Speaking on the initiative, Eduophon Japhet, Managing Director of HabariPay, stated: “Today’s dynamic, digitally driven world demands continuous innovation, which is shaping how economies grow, how businesses scale, and how societies evolve. Through “Take on Squad” Hackathon, we are deliberately investing in the ideas and talent that will define the future. Our objective is not simply to encourage innovation, but to enable its translation into scalable solutions that deliver real and measurable impact. This reflects GTCO’s role as a financial services platform that connects capital, capability, and creativity to drive sustainable progress.”
The social coding event remains a cornerstone of HabariPay’s mission to foster creativity and problem-solving among emerging tech talents. Competing teams will leverage Squad’s advanced APIs to create scalable digital tools that address everyday challenges faced by businesses and individuals.
Through initiatives such as this, GTCO continues to position itself at the intersection of finance, technology and enterprise, actively shaping the future of digital transformation in Africa.
About HabariPay
HabariPay Ltd is the fintech subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), one of the largest financial services institutions in Africa with direct and indirect investments in a network of operating entities located in 10 countries across Africa and the United Kingdom.
Licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), our goal is to support SMEs, micro merchants, large corporations and other fintechs (Tech Stars) with the tools they need to thrive in an evolving digital economy and expand beyond their current market reach. HabariPay’s solutions include Squad, a full-scale digital payments toolkit to make in-person and online payments simpler, HabariPay Storefront, an e-commerce website to facilitate online purchases, Value-Added Services to help merchants access cost-effective and flexible airtime and data bundles to run their businesses, as well as a switching infrastructure that enables tech-focused businesses to optimise cost and make transactions more efficient.
HabariPay’s contributions to Accelerating Digital Acceptance in Africa have not gone unnoticed–it received Mastercard’s Innovative Mobile Payment Solution Award at TIA 2022 for its innovative payment solution, SquadPOS.
About Squad
Squad is a complete digital payments solution that is reliable, secure, and affordable, making receiving in-person and online payments simpler and convenient.
Thousands of merchants currently leverage Squad’s payment solutions for their daily business operations. Squad’s current products and service offerings include SquadPOS, Squad Payment Links, Squad Virtual Accounts, USSD, and E-Commerce Storefront.
Find out more at www.squadco.com.
Electric 8-Seater Tula Moto Keke Enters Nigerian Market, Targets Higher Operator Earnings
LAGOS — A new electric-powered tricycle with an expanded passenger capacity has been introduced into Nigeria’s urban transport sector, offering operators a potentially more profitable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional petrol-driven “keke.”
The newly launched 8-seater electric tricycle, now available in Lagos with plans for nationwide distribution, features a dual-row seating arrangement capable of accommodating up to eight passengers per trip—significantly higher than the standard three-passenger configuration common across the country.
Promoters of the innovation say the increased capacity is designed to boost daily earnings for operators, particularly amid persistent fluctuations in fuel prices. By running entirely on electric power, the vehicle eliminates dependence on petrol, reducing operating costs and shielding drivers from fuel price volatility.
According to the distributors, the tricycle is equipped with a durable battery system capable of covering extended distances on a single charge, making it suitable for commercial operations across high-traffic routes, residential estates, campuses, and marketplaces.
“The concept is straightforward—enable drivers to earn more while spending less,” a company representative stated. “With higher passenger capacity and zero fuel requirements, operators can maximise each trip without the burden of daily fuel expenses.”
Beyond its cost-saving potential, the electric keke is also said to require less maintenance than traditional models, offering additional long-term savings. Its quieter and smoother operation is expected to enhance passenger comfort and overall commuting experience.
Industry analysts note that the introduction of electric mobility solutions reflects a growing shift toward cleaner and more sustainable transportation alternatives in Nigeria, particularly in densely populated urban centres such as Lagos.
The distributors added that the product is currently available under a limited promotional offer, with delivery options across the country.
For inquiries and purchase: 📞 08153432071
📞 08035889103
Office Address:
📍 Plot 9, Block 113, Beulah Plaza,
Lekki–Epe Expressway,
Lekki Phase 1, Lagos
As transportation costs continue to rise and environmental concerns gain prominence, innovations like the electric 8-seater keke may signal an emerging transition toward more efficient and sustainable mobility solutions nationwide.
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