In this episode of OnPeople, we have a conversation with Michael Sani, better known as MC Lively, one of Nigeria's most recognisable comedy voices. From his humble beginnings as a church altar server who discovered his gift for making people laugh at age seven, to creating the iconic "Agidi" character that made millions laugh on Instagram, MC Lively opens up about the raw, unfiltered journey of building a comedy career from scratch.
He shares how his law background (and a degree he earned "by the skin of his teeth") shaped his perspective, the pivotal moment at OAU's Odudua Hall that proved he could make people laugh on a large scale, and why law school in Yenagoa became his "last hurrah" to prove whether he was truly funny. He also gets vulnerable about running away from home to pursue comedy full-time, choosing instability over the safety net of legal practice, and watching lawyers earn less than what he made hosting a few events.
But the conversation goes deeper, MC Lively reflects on the struggle of staying relatable while evolving, the pressure to keep playing the same character that made you famous, and how losing his brother changed everything. He opens up about the exhaustion of being typecast, the loneliness of trying to express new dimensions of his talent while people kept asking for "Agidi," and what it means to keep finding new forms of expression even when the old ones made you successful.
If you're an artist wrestling with evolution vs. expectation, building a creative career with no roadmap, or simply believe that your gift deserves full expression — this conversation is for you.
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In this episode of OnPeople, we discuss with Oyinkan Akintola-Bello, a governance and technology expert operating at the critical intersection where policy, regulation, and innovation collide in African tech. From leading the governance and digital security practice at Co-Creation Hub (CC Hub) to becoming country manager of the UK-Nigeria Technology Hub under the UK Foreign Commonwealth Development Office, Oyinkan has spent her career building bridges between government, tech ecosystems, and international development across Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, and beyond.
She opens up about her unconventional journey from accidentally choosing law (thanks to a secondary school friend and a book she never read), to discovering her passion for systems thinking through a master's in Conflict, Security and Development, to landing at Konga where she witnessed firsthand how transformational technology can be — watching a cleaner become a product manager.
Oyinkan shares the power of strategic career moves; including taking a pay cut for roles that added to her "catalogue," the superpower of being an Executive Assistant early in your career, and why having been an implementer makes you a better program designer. She also breaks down what makes companies "infectious" (hint: it's intentional care for people, not ping pong tables), and the governance blind spots that African tech companies consistently miss until it's too late.
If you're navigating non-linear career paths, learning to question systems rather than accept them, or building in Africa's tech ecosystem, this conversation is your playbook.
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In this episode of OnPeople, we sit, with Louisa Kiwana Olafuyi, the Ugandan-born innovation specialist turned children's content creator who is building Africa's edutainment empire. As co-founder and COO of Kunda Kids, Louisa has gone from researching consumer insights at Unilever and Cambridge University Press to creating world-class African content that lets children see themselves in the stories they watch.
She opens up about how the pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement sparked the mission behind Kunda Kids, what it's really like building a business with your spouse (and why she wouldn't recommend it to everyone), and her steepest learning curve: mastering fundraising and overcoming the intimidation of investor conversations.
Louisa also shares the power of extracting value from disappointment, how missing the top 10 at Africa's Business Heroes (after making it to the top 24 out of 32,000 applicants) became the fuel for even greater determination.
If you're a founder navigating co-founder dynamics, learning to embrace the unsexy parts of business, or believe that representation in children's media can change the world, this conversation is for you.
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In this episode of OnPeople, we sit with Ayo Bankole Akintujoye, Strategy & Transformation Expert, Founder of Caladium Consulting, and one of Africa’s leading voices on business growth and SME development.

With over 15 years of experience across KPMG, PWC, Philips Consulting, and FMDQ, Ayo shares his incredible journey from growing up in a struggling business household to leading Caladium, a firm that has supported over 10,000 African SMEs.

He opens up about the experiences that shaped his clarity and resilience, from watching his mother rebuild her life through entrepreneurship to building systems that help African businesses thrive. Ayo also breaks down what it really takes to be an entrepreneur, why clarity is the ultimate edge for young people, and the difference between building for noise and building for impact.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, strategist, or emerging leader, this episode is your blueprint for growth, discipline, and purpose-driven leadership.

If you’re ready to learn from one of Africa’s sharpest strategic minds, tune in!
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In this episode of OnPeople, we sit with Damilola Teidi-Ayoola, a driving force behind Africa’s tech ecosystem. With over 14 years of experience enabling startups across the continent, from leading roles at GoMyWay and Co-Creation Hub to her current work at Ventures Platform, Damilola opens up about building scalable support systems for founders, balancing empathy with accountability, and what it truly means to be an ecosystem builder.

She also reflects on her entrepreneurial journey, the lessons from running a mobility startup before its time, and the non-financial supports that will shape the future of African founders.

If you're a founder, ecosystem operator, or just passionate about Africa’s tech evolution, this conversation is your playbook.

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In this episode of OnPeople, we sit with Mayowa Alabi — the self-taught, multidisciplinary visual artist better known as Shutterbug. From photography and painting to animation, design, and fashion, Mayowa’s creative journey is as layered as his art.

He talks about growing up in Lagos, discovering his artistic gift as a child, and building a career that’s taken him from CcHub to BBC, with collaborations spanning Meta, Balmain, Uber, and more. We also discuss the deeper side of creativity, structure versus freedom, the need to constantly evolve, and what it means to build a life where art and purpose align.

From his 10 Days of Shutterbug exhibition in London to his philosophy of being a “vessel for the work,” this episode is a 40+ minute masterclass in curiosity, discipline, and creative growth.

If you’re a creative, dreamer, or builder at heart, Mayowa’s story will remind you that real art is evolution. Tune in!
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On this episode of OnPeople, we do something different, we host two guests for the very first time. Meet Deborah and Elias Awili, a powerhouse couple shaping Africa’s product, fintech, and design spaces.

Deborah is a Product & Operations Lead driving digital banking and payments growth at Moniepoint, while Elias is a Product Design Leader, Educator, and Founding Partner at Cora, mentoring the next wave of creative talent. Together, they share sharp insights on career transitions, leadership, curiosity, seasons of growth, and how they balance ambition with family life.

From how they met in a male-dominated tech space to leading teams that design for impact, this episode is packed with wisdom, laughter, and lessons on love, purpose, and leadership in Africa’s evolving tech scene.

If you’re building a career, leading a team, or figuring out how to thrive in work and life, this one’s for you. Tune in!
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It’s the first episode of a new season. Here we sit with Francis Sani, ecosystem builder, venture strategist, and current Technical Advisor to Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, where he leads the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Initiative.

We discuss Francis's unconventional leadership philosophy, conducting "therapy slash philosophy sessions" that shaped lives, to leading global partnerships at CcHub, Helium Health, and Magic Fund. Francis shares with us how philosophy, curiosity, and a deep sense of purpose have guided his journey. We explore his reflections on leadership, trust-building, Nigeria’s tech future, and why he believes the country will be the success story of the 21st century.

If you’ve wondered or are wondering, what it takes to build systems that empower people and scale innovation, this conversation will leave you inspired, challenged, and hopeful about Africa’s future of work.
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