What is your full name?
Anthony Otaigbe
What is your age range?
21-30
Where were you born and raised?
Northern Virginia, United States of America
What countries/states did you school in?
USA only
Did you go to university? If so, where did you go and what did you study?
Yes. George Mason University (Accounting) and the University of Pittsburgh (Business Administration)
In what countries are you based?
USA and Nigeria
What do you do to earn a living and when did you start?
http://www.otaigbe.com (The Otaigbe Group, founded in Manassas, VA in 2017)
http://www.izesan.com (Izesan Limited, founded in FCT, Abuja in 2019)
http://www.izesan.com (Izesan Limited, founded in FCT, Abuja in 2019)
What did you use to do before you did this?
I was an accountant.
What inspired you to move back home and start your business?
Boundless opportunities came in the form of affordable labour, cheaper cost of living, and black empowerment.
Why should anyone use your service/product?
Because Africa is the next frontier and you need to be well-versed in our languages and culture.
What is something you wish you knew before starting your business?
Not sure — an answer would imply I regret my decision which is not the case.
Would you advise other people to start businesses or invest in Africa? Please also share the drawbacks.
Yes, I would advise other people to start a business but be aware of the cost of energy and security.
Did you experience a culture clash with homegrown Africans?
Yes
Are there things that you can get abroad that you miss whilst here? How do you deal with it?
Yes. Convenience and efficiency are nascent concepts. However, therein lies the opportunities.
What’s the biggest piece of advice you can give to other Africans looking to start up?
Don’t give up.
What’s the biggest piece of advice you can give to other Africans in the diaspora?
Come back home and develop our country so that we can hang our heads high to the rest of the world.
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