Olalekan Oliwo, a 52-year-old entrepreneur with Nigerian roots, spoke on the challenges he has encountered as the founder of a new startup in Nigeria.
Born in England but deeply connected to his Nigerian heritage, Oliwo acknowledged that adapting to the local culture and identifying potential employees have been among his most significant hurdles.
In the early stages of recruitment, Oliwo admitted to feeling overwhelmed by the seemingly impossible task of finding the right candidates and effectively communicating the unique opportunities his company could offer.
However, as time passed, his startup began receiving an influx of applications, with over a thousand submissions from interested candidates.
While this was initially encouraging, the high volume of applicants presented a new challenge for Oliwo, as he was forced to navigate the difficult task of selecting the most suitable candidates from a pool of talented individuals.
Speaking on his company Lifted Horizon, Oliwo elaborated on the UK-based business, which comprises subsidiaries such as Pixel Perfect, Finverge Advisory, and plans to expand its operations in Nigeria through the addition of shipping and logistics firms and a trainee accountant firm.
He affirmed that the company aims to offer competitive wages and a transparent career progression system for its employees, ensuring an attractive and supportive work environment.
With this expansion, Lifted Horizon seeks to contribute to the Nigerian economy by creating new job opportunities and providing high-quality services to a wide range of clients.
Furthermore he emphasized that every new business will inevitably face challenges, and the key to overcoming these obstacles is to develop effective strategies, adapt to the local environment, and assemble a strong problem-solving team to tackle any issues head-on.
Additionally, Oliwo discussed the importance of fostering a respectful relationship with his staff, emphasizing that each employee is not only a colleague but also deserving of respect.
He highlighted the company’s practice of rewarding employees on full-term contracts with bonuses, reinforcing their dedication to making the company a better place.
While the CEO mentioned ongoing discussions with potential future investors, he acknowledged that his current focus is on finalizing the recruitment process and ensuring that Lifted Horizon starts generating revenue.
