Mike (O) A.

Founder of Ivara and Livarachi Farm | Co-Founder @0tisoft Avid reader, Lifelong Learner and Business Enthusiast

[Mike (O) A. @POIIATC]

What if nigeria developed a pilot Special Economic Growth Zone (SEGz) with its main focus on driving FX from agro-market segments with a 7:3 Foreign & domestic tenant ratio.

[Mike (O) A. @POIIATC]

You matter. Your work matters. Every project done well strengthens the bridge we’re building for the continent.

[Mike (O) A. @POIIATC]

Because if clients get tired, they’ll simply switch to other markets and the money flows with them.

[Mike (O) A. @POIIATC]

African freelancers who want to win globally: take your quality seriously. Deliver what you promise. Protect your client relationships.

[Mike (O) A. @POIIATC]

It was disappointing, yes, but also motivating. Because it showed how much room for improvement exists and how quickly we can fix it.

[Mike (O) A. @POIIATC]

I thought it was exaggerated — until my company personally invested in a project to test it. The experience was eye-opening.

[Mike (O) A. @POIIATC]

But there’s a problem I keep hearing over and over: mismanaged funds, inflated costs, and underwhelming delivery.

[Mike (O) A. @POIIATC]

Many of them want to launch businesses, import goods, source talent, and even invest in areas like boxing. I’ve met people ready to fund Nigerian fighters.

[Mike (O) A. @POIIATC]

Nigerians in the UK send over $20B home annually (Moniepoint).
Black Americans have a spending power of $2.1T (Nielsen).
These are not small numbers.

[Mike (O) A. @POIIATC]

That experience taught me something important: the diaspora wants to work with African talent more than most people realise.

[Mike (O) A. @POIIATC]

The pilot was both a success and a failure. But the host understood the mission, embodied it, and today they’re thriving.

[Mike (O) A. @POIIATC]

I’d already been investing in African freelancers since 2020, so I started a pilot with a Twitter Space host who had traction.

[Mike (O) A. @POIIATC]

When I founded my company in 2022, my goal was simple: create a real bridge for opportunities from the UK to Nigeria.

[Mike (O) A. @POIIATC]

Your portfolio is a must. Get on live projects, intern if you can, find ways to keep yourself afloat. You can “fake it till you make it,” but in real work environments, the rules hit different.

[Mike (O) A. @POIIATC]

As an advocate for growth in Africa, my work is about bridging the gap. But that bridge is only as strong as our education, trust, workforce, and investment capacity across the continent.

[Mike (O) A. @POIIATC]

My approach with businesses is personal, I genuinely want them to succeed, so I walk them through the process. What I’ve learned is many SMEs don’t just need someone telling them what to do. They need someone who shows them how to do it.

[Mike (O) A. @POIIATC]

With the UK economy under pressure and inflation rising, many SMEs can’t afford full-time specialists. This creates an opportunity for freelancers to take on the non-core tasks businesses still need to get done.

[Mike (O) A. @POIIATC]

Electricity issues, system failures, and delays are real challenges when exporting services from emerging economies. But freelancers targeting developed markets must remember: the competition is intense.

[Mike (O) A. @POIIATC]

I often review freelancers’ pain points, and I’ve noticed a trend that leads to bad client experiences. Sometimes the platform fee you lose actually protects your finances, it’s a safeguard, not just a cost.

[Mike (O) A. @POIIATC]

The job market is tough. Freelancers in Africa must focus on delivery. You can sell hard to close a deal, but once a client feels taken for granted, the relationship is lost.