Business
SPIDS LOGISTICS BOSS, AYO AKINRINSOLA RECOUNTS GRASS TO GRACE STORY +Why He Is Eyeing Ondo Governorship Seat
The grass to grace story of SPIDS LOGISTICS LIMITED boss, Ayo Akinrinsola is not only inspiring, it is also must read for those who want to build their business from the scratch. Having graduated from The Obafemi Awolowo University his search for jobs without success led him to start a Logistics firm on a small scale and today the business has grown beyond his expectation. He also stated why he will be contesting for Ondo state governorship in the next election in this interview
Why did you decided to set up a business after school and not search for jobs?
Of course i do searched for jobs after i graduated from the Obafemi Awolowo University but the jobs are not coming forth. The expectation was that i get a job,but i realised it was not easy as i thought it would be, after my NYSC I came to Lagos and did some job tests but at the end I was not shortlisted for the job I applied. I have a friend who was into Logistics, I joined his team instead of staying at home on a voluntary basis. With that I learnt the rudiments of the business, I also did teaching job because I don’t like to stay idle, at that time I got a scholarship for a Post Graduate course in Netherlands, after the course I came back to Nigeria and I decided to leverage on my experience on the business to start immediately, I reached out to my contacts and thats it. Fortunately for me I got a contract from a Telecommunication company, they needed a warehouse which i got for them, that was my first job and from there we were expanding gradually.
What would you say is working for you in this kind of business this far?
The grace of God has kept us going, Apart from that you must be a very good resource manager to succeed on this job, accountability also matters, transparency and discipline. Another thing that has sustained us is the good name, I have a name to protect, you can give me your job and go to sleep. We have got referrals from big organisations, multinationals, it is because we have integrity. I don’t also joke with staffs welfarism their salary is very important because they too have to make a living.
Could you please define the exact nature of the task at Spids Logistics?
We are into warehousing management, supply chain management we do warehouse sourcing and management, we do customize warehousing, distribution of goods and services. We source for warehouse for multinationals and big organisations, we help them keep their goods and also help distribute to the end users
Does one need a lot of money to set up a business like this?
You don’t need a lot of money to set up business like this, I started by understudying somebody who was also into the business, in the process i met so many people who took interest in me. The most important thing is if you meet people who believe in what you can do, you don’t need huge capital to start the business, the business is all about trust and integrity
You studied Accounting in the University, how much of that would you say has helped you in this business?
It has in a way, I studied Accounting at Obafemi Awolowo University, I did Financial Management in Netherlands, I did other course that is related to management.Yes my educational experience has helped and is still helping me in the business especially in the area of cost management. But it is not always what you study in school that come to play outside there, it is all about what you can do, the people you relate with and your perception. Because of competition I sleep less, I am always looking for new ideas that can give us the edge over others.
How would you describe life as the CEO?
It is quite challenging, when you have a lot to think about, the business, staff welfarism, family, the growth of the business matters to you more. It is not all work and no plays, I play golf for relaxation, nobody is perfect but i try as much as possible to strike a balance between my work and family.
How would you describe your lifestyle?
I live a simple lifestyle, i don’t drink alcohol,i don’t smoke and i don’t womanize. During my leisure time i like to dance, i play indoor games like Basketball, Scrabble, Chess. I love gadgets, cars but i only buy them when i think it is necessary.
Give us a brief about your immediate family?
I got married in 2005, to the glory of God we are blessed with three children
Why the sudden interest in politics?
I have being following politics since the days of SDP and NRC in the early 90s, I remember when i clocked 18 i was excited that i would be able to vote. I am from Ile Oluji in Ondo state, i was born with a silver spoon but I wasn’t trained with a silver spoon, i am from a Polygamous family. I joined Politics because i want to impact in the lives of my people especially in Ondo state, that state is blessed with natural resources that if well managed will create job opportunities for the youths in that state. People will not run to Lagos to seek for job again, this is the time to make impact. I admire people like Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, he is the Architect of a new Lagos that is why people like me can succeed in this environment. I am a supporter of well organised Political Party, APC as a party understand the plight of the common man.
So why do you want to contest for the Governorship and not from a lower profile?
This is the time that i still have the energy, i want to manage the endowment of the state, i want to bring my experience as a resource management to bear in the governance of Ondo state. In Ondo state we have oil, bitumen and others, we need accountability in governance of the state, who says we cant have sea port in Ondo state? I have thought about it very well and i am convinced it is possible.
How would you describe the current political situation in Nigeria?
If you see the manifestoes of the two major political parties in Nigeria the All Progressives Congress APC is the only party that has the interest of the people in their plan. APC is a party of highly intellectuals who know how to meet the needs of the common man, they know what it entails to make the common man relevant, they know the pain that the common man is going through. You can see leadership by example since APC took over, President Buhari and his Vice Yemi Osinbajo led by example by cutting their salaries by half, the wind of change is blowing and i am ready to channel that wind into my state Ondo so that people will also enjoy the new things, there is no better time than now.
Was it because you want to contest for an election that you set up an empowerment scheme for the youths?
Before the end of the year we are going to launch the scheme fully and it is called, AYO AKINRINSOLA YOUTH EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION. I am concentrating on the artisans, market women, petty traders, farmers, commercial drivers, unemployed youths, civil servants, pensioners, widows. This is what i have being doing before now, it has being part of my lifestyle to help people, it is not because i want to run for an elections. I just want to extend it to the state and allow more people to benefit.
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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