Creative Focus Africa 2014: Esther's Chat With Omowunmi Imoukhuede, Pioneer CFA

The Creative Focus Africa event is an exhibition based platform where young Nigerian entrepreneurs in the early stage of their careers are rewarded based on their creativity and impact on the economy.

This year’s exhibition will showcase and promote young start up entrepreneurs in the following  sectors of the economy: interior design, architecture and landscape, publishing industry, photography & arts, food & beverage, agriculture, fashion design & accessories, lifestyle products, graphic design, website & blog development and beauty and hair care.

The exhibition attracts about 5Million applications out of which the 50 most inspiring SMEs are being selected from across the six Geo-political zones of Nigeria before 10 winners finally emerge. These 10 winners get a cash grant of N10,000,000  at the end of the 5 day exhibition which started on Monday 24th November which lasts till Friday 29th November.

I had the opportunity of chatting with Miss Omowunmi Imoukhuede, Organizer of Creative Focus Africa.

Miss Omowunmi Imoukhuede - Interior Architect and Pioneer, Creative Focus Africa (CFA)

Esther/ED: Please introduce yourself.

Omowunmi/CFA: My name is Omowunmi Imoukhuede. I am an Interior Architect by profession.  Urban Dice Designs is my Interior Architecture firm. We’ve been in operation since 2010. When we set up in Nigeria in 2010, we wanted to find a way to be seen and to give back to society.  Giving back is very important to us. Creative focus is a Cooperate Social Responsibility of Urban Dice Designs ( D.I.C.E: Design, Interior , Concept  & Excellence) designs.

Press Conference for CFA 3

Esther/ED: Do tell us briefly about Creative Focus Africa.

Omowunmi/CFA:  Creative Focus for Africa is a platform that promotes young entrepreneurs and teaches them the power of business intelligence. For example, if I give the average entrepreneur 5millon naira, he might not know what to do with it and would probably misuse the money.  Instead if the entrepreneur who has business intelligence is given 1million naira and with the right team of people that will tell him how to use it, his business will have mileage. 

For example, last year we had thirty exhibitors and we picked our five best businesses.  Access bank in collaboration with Creative focus gave out a million naira each to these five businesses as a grant.  We also set up a team of people that would tell them what to do and guide them on how to use funds made available to them.

The Creative Focus Module

There are 5 days dedicated to the core areas of business.

Day 1 is dedicated to Business Development

Day 2 : Human Capital

Day 3:  Branding and Selling Techniques

Day 4: Business in the Digital Age i.e How to use technology to make money for your business

Day 5: Tax, Finance and Law

Basically what we are saying is that as an SME if you have vast knowledge in all these areas concerning your business, you are bound to build a structure, you will be sustainable, you are credible and you will be able to grow eventually.  It’s not just about the money but more. You are able to give leave a legacy for your kids because you have a structure on ground. In Nigeria, businesses do not last beyond the owner; they are not passed down to the next generation.

We are trying to inculcate these values into the system in an interactive way.

Esther/ED: I understand this is the fifth edition of CFA. I believe there has not been much awareness, like this one, for the last editions.

Omowunmi/CFA: This is the 5^th Year Creative Focus Africa is running.  Yes, there is a reason why it is so. This is the year that we’ve now gotten the model fully. In 2010, we had 9 entrepreneurs. In 2011 we had 18, in 2012 we had 25, in 2013 we had 30, and now in 2014 we’re having 50. Now, CFA is always going to be packaged this way because we spent the last five years building. The next five years is going to be about implementing. This is the system and this is how it’s going to be. Each year we will choose ten businesses that we are working with all year round and help them with cash grant. So, this year we are picking out the ten best entrepreneurs.

To Entrepreneurs out there: Be Involved. Be Inspired.

You are invited to apply and attend the event. Also, you can still register as an exhibitor to be able to win the grant.  If you have your product/service ready and packaged, you can come and be involved.

Visit www.creativefocusafrica.com.

Also, get instant information concerning #CFA2014 by following @CreativeFocus1 on twitter.  Like Creative Focus on Facebook