Seun’s first interview actually caused a snow ball on this site heated with accusations and counter accusations. Are all these allegations true? Seun decided to chat with me to clear the air on these accusations; he also talks about his dreams, future ambition and comments on HYIP. You really need to read about this young guy that has built one of Africa’s largest online forum- this forum is the second largest populated site in Nigeria (Alexa ratings). Why not sit back and enjoy the Nairaland King speak his mind……..
1. Wow, it’s been sometime now so what have you been up to?
I’ve been trying to find a real-life business to complement Nairaland.
I’ve researched so many businesses: comics, movies, sales agencies,
concierge services, libraries, video rental business,… and that’s
just the tip of the iceberg. But I’m yet to launch any one.
That’s because I’m too risk-averse. I’m so afraid of failure.
2. Do you know the nairaland.net admin personally or otherwise?
I know he’s a Nairaland member who got into a fight with me in the
webmaster section and got banned, but I’m not sure which one exactly.
I’ve not really done much to unmask his identity, though. If I really
wanted to know, I would in 30 minutes or so. but his beef is very
personal, I must say.
Because he’s paying for the nairaland.net domain, he has to keep
fighting me in order to grow his site. He can’t afford to forgive and
forget anymore. Isn’t that sad?
3. The nairaland.net admin has laid some accusations against you? Have you
heard them? What do you think of them?
Which accusations specifically? I’d like to respond to them one by
one as you raise them.
4. In one of the accusation, he calls you a liar and sees himself as a
protector of truth. What is your response to these allegations?
I’m not a liar; I’m an ethical businessman. I believe that trust is
the foundation of business. You can’t go to the market to buy
tomatoes if you’re afraid that the seller will take your money and run
away! You can’t partner with an untrustworthy person.
I strive to tell the truth at all times so I can in turn demand the
truth from others.
5. There is also one Paul Ola that described you as uneducated and
your forum is for uneducated people. What is your pick on that?
That’s not worth responding to. Educated people don’t say such things.
6. What are all these spams and bots and how can they covertly
register themselves to your forum?
As I indicated in my last interview, I spend a lot of my time deleting
spam accounts. This is a battle that every popular wiki, blog or
forum has to get into. And it’s no big deal, because I’m currently
winning the battle. I have made registration a bit more complex.
Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spambot for more info.
7. So let’s move to other juicer stuff, so how far with your career?
Have you started the movies, plays, etc?
Alas, I’m yet to get the right script, so the dream has been suspended for now.
8. What challenges are you facing right now on film production and
what are you doing to ameliorate these challenges?
It’s easier to make money if you’re a film distributor or marketer,
but I want to be a producer. Yet, I don’t have a tolerance for the
financial risk involved, nor do I want to swindle investors into
sponsoring a movie that may fail to make a profit. Obviously, I’m
stuck!
9. Have you gotten a story for your film and what is the name of this film?
I believe I need a great story because that’s where Nigerian movies
are weak. You don’t need special effects and such, but you need a
good story. I don’t have one yet.
10. What is it like producing films in Nigeria and do you think your
film would be a second rated film?
It will have a first class story. In that respect, it won’t be second-rated.
11. What is your experience so far between e-commerce and traditional
marketing style?
Hmmm.
12. Do you believe you have done well for your age in terms of
entrepreneurship?
My age is not something I consider. Sometimes I feel I know nothing
about entrepreneurship and that I’m lucky to have Google Adsense to
save my neck. I seem to lack what it takes to do business with
Nigerians, but of course I’ll keep trying until I succeed at something
new.
13. If you have a chance to mentor someone (assuming you are not
mentoring anybody) as an entrepreneur; what would be your first advice
i.e. entrepreneur 101?
Advice: Read the Bootstrapper’s Bible:
http://www.nairaland.com/img/bootstrap.pdf
14. What do you feel about the rankings of Alexa.com stating that
Nairaland is the most populated forum and second most populated site
behind This Day?
I’d like to say “take that” to the people who claim I inflate my
traffic statistics.
http://www.alexa.com/browse?&CategoryID=25813
15. Apart from Alexa, what other prestigious rankings or accolades
have you bagged?
I’m not really into awards these days. As a webmaster, I think the
best award I can get is to see people falling in love with my site and
getting the advice they need.
16. Most people say you are cruel and stern in your approach to
corrections; if true, is there really a reason for all this?
I’m not cruel. How could you suggest such a ridiculous thing! I’m as
sweet as sugar! However, I can be very brusque because I just don’t
have enough time. I wish people could understand why this has to be
so. The time to cajole people to obey is just not there. If I have to
apologize for every post I have to delete, I will have to spend 72
hours a day just apologizing and Nairaland will never grow. Why
can’t we all just obey the rules?
17. What are your opinions as a business man towards schemes like
Nospetco, Treasurlink and Sefteg; would you get involved in these
schemes?
I think all pyramid schemes are scams. Even if you manage to make a
positive return, the people you introduce to the schemes will probably
lose their money. If they lose their money despite your assurances to
the contrary, then you have scammed them.
The scammer is not just the person who starts the scheme; everyone who
invites people to join the scheme is a potential scammer, because the
only way to avoid being scammed is to scam others. What a dirty
game!! People should avoid them at all costs!
18. Is there romance in sight for Seun and what are Seun’s
perspectives to marriage?
Send your CV to seun@nairaland.com for processing. (pretty ladies only!)
19. One last word, on the political situation in Nigeria and how it
affects you as an entrepreneur?
The government is ignoring its primary responsibility of maintaining
law and order and moving into industries best served by the private
sector. It is sad that with the police, courts and prisons in
disarray, our government has time and money to waste on white elephant
projects that will never work such as PHCN. It is sad that some
industries have been declared out of bounds to those of us who don’t
have billions. However, I am optimistic that hardworking people will
continue to thrive in this country. Somehow, we are still stumbling
in the right direction!
I’d be happy if you can help me invite more people to Nairaland:
http://www.nairaland.com/ <- the number one Nigerian Forum!
Listen to this podcast
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37 comments
No ping yet
May 12, 2007 at 9:42 am (UTC 1)
Dipo,
Please keep up the good work, much appreciated. Seun comes here to run his mouth as if he is an angel, the guy is a big idiot. He complains about people not obeying rules on nairaland, what rules?
Rules made for adults as if we are his kids?
Seun is immature and irrational in running such a promising forum like Nairaland. I very well agree that he has done a great job starting the website, but he needs to develop PR skills to deal with a wide range of subscribers especially those whose opinions differ from his. Seun is stubborn and deletes post once you disagree with his archaic capitalist mentality. That should be illegal. He also needs to seperate the persons of Seun Osewa and Nairaland admin., i think it is stupid that a web admin.bans me because i constructively criticise the opinions of another member (Seun). He has banned me indefinitely but i would still tell him to his face that he knows nothing about the world of business, he’s a mere engineering drop-out who has read a book or two in business and got lucky with Nairaland.
The guy who started Nairaland.net is silly in my opinion, why clone Nairaland when you claim to hate the owner, They are lots of things you can do instead of clonning another guy’s website.
Have a good day.
May 12, 2007 at 9:47 am (UTC 1)
Seun needs to admit that Nairaland was not his own doing but an element of luck. If he is as smart as he thinks he is, why hasn’t he succeded with all his other conflicting business ideas ?
And he needs to explain why he seems to mostly ban people that are smarter than him. I have a long list if required.
May 12, 2007 at 12:12 pm (UTC 1)
Thanks, Dipotepede for bringing this interview out in Seun. No doubt, you need a combination of ruthlessness and stubborness to excel in business and it also involves risk. I guess that is the risk Seun has to take whenever he is banning those who wants to spoil nairaland for him. The guy had said it times without number what he went through before nairaland excel till today, and I wont blame him in whatever action he took so long as it is in the best interest of nairaland in other to make it continue to excel.
Long time ago, people like me had ignored nairaland.net because my dad has told me times without number that anything formed out of treachery does not last, i guess that would be what will come of nairaland.net. Ride on, Seun, keep the flag flying, I am greatly proud to be associated with nairaland success, and thank you once again Dipo for publishing this interview.
May 12, 2007 at 12:39 pm (UTC 1)
Please, Wale dear, bring on “your long list” and let’s scrutinize it. Then, this query Wale: did you really break the rules Seun set before you?
Never mind whether they are for kids or not. Didn’t you subscribe to these rules? And permit my ignorance: I, I mean I, don’t think Seun has to succeed in other ventures to be truly successful. Differ?
So what would you say about those who follow their careers conscientiously and make a happy, comfortable lives out them? Being “a mere engineering drop-out”? We can’t all go to school, can we? Name-calling only belongs to those whose sanity should be doubted for a moment…please, let us never equate palusible argument with shameless maligning of character!
I must say your opinion is filled with venom for someone we all know too well….
May 12, 2007 at 1:18 pm (UTC 1)
I’ve always known this Seun guy to hate HYIPs with a passion. Not that I like them either.
Good job, Dipo.
May 12, 2007 at 2:10 pm (UTC 1)
Seun,
For you to succeed in business you have to educate yourself be ruthless and never be scared of taking a risk or losing money. At the moment I see you as an engineer that is making money through google adsense but you can turn this return into great profit beyond your imagination. A mistake most budding tycoon make is thinking they are the best or King midas once they become successful in one project. Please for your sake and the sake of your future go out and educate yourself financially. Bill Gates and the google guys are not just great engineers they are also very great business men. Without their business acumen they wont be where they are today. You are young, brilliant and able. Good luck and pls once again invest in your future.
May 12, 2007 at 2:15 pm (UTC 1)
Wale,
Most great businessmen drop out but that does not mean they are not brilliant. If you are a businessman you really dont need a certificate to succeed but if you are chasing a career then that is different.
The moment you register your name on his site then you have agreed to go by the rules. Lets encourage the man. I have personally gained a lot from nairaland and still gaining. And I hope the site continue to go from strength to strength.
May 12, 2007 at 7:05 pm (UTC 1)
Loads,
Well said.
Wale,
I’ve learnt in life that to “listen to all men but also filter all i hear on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through”. However, with the way you responded to the article, people would most likely be seeing the animosity you have towards seun and would not listen to the points you’re making no matter how valid they are. Calling him a mere engineering drop-out i think is a little off the edge on a public forum like this. By the way, The Bill gates and the Duo that started successful IT related businesses didn’t achieve their level of success from completing school so it really doesn’t matter. I understand how you feel about someone being dictatorial on a forum that is intended to serve public interest but there are better ways to go about issues like this. You never can tell, you guys might just have a lot to offer this generation if you put your isues aside and do a few projects together.
May 12, 2007 at 7:07 pm (UTC 1)
Loads,
Well said.
Wale,
I’ve learnt in life that to “listen to all men but also filter all i hear on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through”. However, with the way you responded to the article, people would most likely be seeing the animosity you have towards seun and would not listen to the points you’re making no matter how valid they are. Calling him a mere engineering drop-out i think is a little off the edge on a public forum like this. By the way, The Bill gates and the Duo that started “google”as well as other successful IT related businessesmen didn’t achieve their level of success from completing school so it really doesn’t matter. I understand how you feel about someone being dictatorial on a forum that is intended to serve public interest but there are better ways to go about issues like this. You never can tell, you guys might just have a lot to offer this generation if you put your isues aside and do a few projects together.
May 12, 2007 at 10:50 pm (UTC 1)
Wale,
whatever d beef is between u and seun, i think u should either grill it or fry and have some meal 2gether!
May 13, 2007 at 5:23 am (UTC 1)
If you never come across seun on Nairaland, then everything will be fine.But its funny how we seem to meet on different threads, and i wont suck up to him just because he is the admin. I dont even have a problem with Seun being a professor or a drop-out, my point is that he should know better that critiquing is common place in the social sciences. If he’s gonna edit post and ban people because they raise an academic dialogue that opposes/critique his supposed capitalist mentality, then he should stick to his field of engineering.
Those that want a list, here goes:
Clocky
Loverbwoy
Walelead
Havila
All intellectuals who argue sensibly, all banned indefinitely.
Debosky
4play
Davidylan
Gamine
All banned many timesfor trivial reasons which mostly include disagreeing with Seun. How can you run a public forum where everyone fears YOU.
I used to praise Seun as well until i realised that he uses his position to intimidate nairaland members. That, i dont agree to.He should ban people that disobey rules,cause a nuisance and insult other members, not bully people that are of similar or higher mental orientation. And if you ask him he will pretend as if he does not know what you are talking about,” Oh, you must have disobeyed the rules of Nairaland”.
I still reccomend Nairaland.com to my friends but warn them not to ever disagree with Seun.
May 13, 2007 at 5:43 am (UTC 1)
Ademife,
1. i know name calling is lowly, but so is bullying and coercion by banning.”
2. Seun has to succeed in other ventures to be truly successful according to “entrepreneurship principles” which he subscribes to.
An aveage nairalander (1year or more ) fears Seun. We need to stop cowardice in Nigeria, this is how the likes of IBB started. Because he is smart and owns nairaland does not mean we should all bow to his dictatorship. For all those that still don’t get my point.Here goes:
SEUN SHOULD STOP USING NAIRALAND TO FORCE HIS IDEOLOGY ON PEOPLE.
Don’t ban people cos a certain girl prefers em’ to you or bcos you can’t get the attention you want from females
Don’t ban people cos they think entrepreneurship is not for everyone
Don’t use the excuse of “Nairaland rules” for you personal beef
May 13, 2007 at 3:39 pm (UTC 1)
Girly issues too…. interesting.
May 13, 2007 at 7:59 pm (UTC 1)
Wale,
Hmmmmn Interesting.
May 14, 2007 at 6:53 am (UTC 1)
This one na serious matter, I hope Seun and Wale will not go to the wrestling bout soon?
May 14, 2007 at 7:34 am (UTC 1)
@Wale……….’Don’t ban people cos a certain girl prefers em’ to you or bcos you can’t get the attention you want from females’. I am quite surprised by this statement. Both of you are obviously in a truce over a babe. Interesting what you people have decided to turn the site into. You people are really putting me off from getting to that site again, if trivial issues like girls can be the cause of such great animosity between the 2 of you. Just curious, the supposed females in question, have you gotten to see them? Both of you are fantasing over what you have not even seen, how funny and very childish, I think both of you should grow up.
@ Seun, I think you sould leave your opinion out of the forum and let people express themselves freely, thats not to say they should abuse the forum by using languages that are not reasonable. For example, Dipo has his personal beleives and makes it known but he does not impose it on other neither does he mind if anyone disagrees with his personal opinion. Thats the way it should go.
The probs I belive is that majority of the contributors are very young people who do not act with maturity.
As for education, though not so important in business, can give you an edge. It also gives you a personal sense of acheivement. Its never too late moreso that you are still very young.
Keep the flag flying, wishing you all the best
May 14, 2007 at 11:26 am (UTC 1)
Use the link below to find out a little about what nairaland users think of seun. He started this thread to allow us air grievances, yet he banned and openly threatened some for their posts.
What Do You Hate About Our Moderator[Seun]?
May 14, 2007 at 12:22 pm (UTC 1)
I advice you guys should read the comments on the link provided by @ Unanimous and you will see what old nairalanders have to say about Seun. I don’t hate him and we are not fighting over any girl, Seun will never step up to my game as regards females, Never.
I started the crusade of advising him to seperate the persons of Seun (an ordinary nairalander) and Nairaland Admin. so that he stops banning people that disagree with Seun views. I.e Stop taking forum disscussion and issues personally, and you can now see that more nairalanders are asking him to do the same thing. He deleted my comments and banned for 3 days cos of that. When i returned i asked him to apologise for deleting my post and banning me then he banned me idefinitely. Thats all that happened.
Now more
May 14, 2007 at 12:28 pm (UTC 1)
http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-52534.128.html#msg1102968
May 14, 2007 at 1:11 pm (UTC 1)
here are the views of another nairalander,
PS: My nairaland username is Walelead and Seun is free to state his case if i he thinks i am lying. at least he cannot ban me here.
http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-52534.224.html#msg1110505
May 16, 2007 at 5:05 pm (UTC 1)
I believe i dropped a comment but I can’t find it.
That makes me sad.
So, anyway, I want to thank all of you for reading my interview.
May 16, 2007 at 8:55 pm (UTC 1)
as matured minds, i realy think u guys should settle your differences amicably and let life go on.
if u continue like this, u’ll keep digging up old wounds and this can go on forever!
dipo, as a neutral party, pls help wale and seun out of their differences.
May 17, 2007 at 5:18 am (UTC 1)
In my line of work, I have to ban several people every day, and Wale is just one of them. I don’t think there’s anything I can do to make him happy.
May 17, 2007 at 1:56 pm (UTC 1)
Seun, the only way u can make me happy is to listen to the views of others, you may learn new things. You are human like the rest of us, u dont know everything and you can’t always be right.
May 20, 2007 at 1:59 pm (UTC 1)
Wale,
Relax……..
May 20, 2007 at 5:10 pm (UTC 1)
Really love this well done dipo, atleast we get to know more about seun…
May 22, 2007 at 12:59 pm (UTC 1)
I have never gone to nairaland but think i shd now.
Wale,
Take it easy on seun i believe with time he would grow up with circumstancial effect which he would have no other choice but to learn.
Seun,
In this world i know there rules amd laws guiding all to put us in the rite way,but there is a great difference in LEARNING FROM WHAT PPLE VIEWS ARE AT TIMES LIKE THIS, WHICH YOU ARE NOT AGREEING TO AND GOING AHEAD BCOS YOU THIMK YOU ARE IN CHARGE .I am not taking sides but do have a rethink when handling issues that have to do with the public .It would go a long way in showing maturity and levelheadness.
I wish you the best in nairaland and other endevours.
Cheers
June 8, 2007 at 10:22 am (UTC 1)
Guys, let encourage each other in good works and be a good listener.
Respect for other views/opinion likewise abide to the terms & conditions of our subscription. You guys are doing great. Bless you all.
GOD BLESS NIGERIA
June 15, 2007 at 9:47 am (UTC 1)
Hi guys,
I have never visited the nairaland website but I am now kinda curious after reading the comments on Seun.
My take is that in dealing with people we must adhere to the golden rule “treat others the way you want to be treated.” I also believe that it is Seun’s site and he has a right to create his own rules. If one feels that one cannot obey the rules, then the right thing to do would be, take a bow to other sites that seem more flexible. Seun yes you have your rules which should be respected but do try to relax a bit.
Wale, I think it is very unbecoming for someone who claims he is well read to call another person an engineering drop-out. That is so not kool. There are better ways of presenting opinions. Maybe you should believe God to start your own website where you can be yourself and project “YOU” while taking all the beef from diverse kinds of people.
May the good Lord propel us to our destiny’s and cause us to shine in the path He alone has destined for us to walk in, in Jesus Name.
Dipo, that was a lovely pic of you and your cute wife and child. May God’s everlasting arms continue to lift you up as you promote the cause of humanity. You are doing a great job. May your website continue to bless souls all around the world. Nations where God has laid a table before you will beckon you to come. Stay focused and plugged to His presence in JESUS NAME AMEN.
I wish all of you the best.
July 8, 2007 at 1:54 pm (UTC 1)
Wale, I am sure you are smart enough to resolve this. That is if you want to go back to the blog.
Think about it, things could have been said in a different way and manner yet passing the same message and catching the attention of the recipient.
Regards,
Mathew
August 7, 2007 at 2:12 pm (UTC 1)
@Seun,
Get a proper job, get a wife and get get a life !
Sell the http://www.nairaland.com site to a Venture capitalist who would be able to take the site to the next level.”The Peter’s principle” states that a person can not be promoted beyond the level of his incompetence.Dont hate !!
December 9, 2007 at 1:20 pm (UTC 1)
And the seun guy just disabled postings in nairalnd and to me this is disrespectul to members that come there daily to pass away time
December 18, 2007 at 3:36 pm (UTC 1)
Seun really need to bend down and learn a lot from people.He seems to be arrogant and doesnt want to learn from people.
Seun insults severyone because it is his site.He deletes any post that works against him. A people’s forum should allow all post no matter whose ass is gored.
The site is not bad but there will be no improvement without teamwork.
March 28, 2008 at 8:28 pm (UTC 1)
I have know Seun since the days of mobilenigeria.com, and I am definitely on the top 10 list of people that migrated to nairaland.
I am sure if you give Seun my name(axeprince), he will recognise it,
One Word: Leave Seun to grow up, same reason I left and lots of others that started nairaland.It is not new to a lot of us.
Hope he will learn from this criticism.
AxePrince 4 Life
June 18, 2008 at 12:11 pm (UTC 1)
i think people should just leave this guy alone, the site is his own for God sake if you know you are not contended with his conducts why simply leave his site like axeprince and co.. I dont know why some people specialise in pulling others down.
@londoncool
it’s you that should go get a life instead cos the young man already have one.
June 25, 2008 at 10:03 pm (UTC 1)
dear relative offcer
i have an infromation about these site for job oppouinties .pls help me lam seeking for job .i read microbiology .
June 14, 2011 at 1:06 pm (UTC 1)
There other young Nigerians doing a lot in the social networking industry. For example, http://www.naNAIJA.com (“na” “NAIJA”) launched by young AJ Adeyinka is totally cool and growing fast. I commend Seun for his creativity and tenaciousness. If he got lucky along the way, that was well deserved too.