Adeniyi Alaba is
the Chief Executive Officer of Lakraft, a digital entertainment
company. With two degrees, Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Civil
Engineering from Yaba College of Technology and a Bachelors degree in
Building from University of Lagos, the 27 year old said his passion to
proffer solutions motivated him to establishing Lakraft in 2008.
Currently participating in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps,
Adeniyi speaks to X2 about his business.
What do you do at Lakraft?
Lakraft is a
digital entertainment company that specialises in video game
entertainment. Lakraft offers video game parties, e-game and events
that are associated with sports. Lakraft is the Nigerian face for
Electronic Sport World Cup (ESWC). Also we use the concept of video
games to build events for brands.
What motivated you to go into business for self?
It started way back
in Yaba College of Technology. After my programme, I had to do a one
year Industrial Training program (IT) with Nego Construction. During
the period, my boss who is the CEO of the company inspired me to want
to start up my own business. I am from a family that loves playing
video games. One day I bought a game and on the jacket, I saw ‘Video
gamers converge for tournament in Norway’ like an headline, though I
use to organise tournaments in my house where I bring game lovers to
play on my gadgets but I never thought gaming was serious business.
After I saw that, I suggested to my friends that we could organise
tournaments also in Nigeria to see who is best in video game. That was
it, later we came up with an Ikorodu tournament, had another one in
Ketu, and then University of Lagos and from there we have been moving
on.
Did you face any opposition when you became serious in video gaming?
Yes, there were
lots of opposition. If I had started my business as a construction
engineer, there would not have been opposition. My family could not
fathom the relevance of engineering to video gaming , they often wonder
why I opted for the latter. There was a time when I would go home and
they would pass comments like “the video game boy is around”. It was a
serious battle for me until one day my family saw us on television and
that changed the perception of everybody around me that we might not be
making money but there are lots of prospects in the business.
Did you
have a regular 9-5 before starting Lakraft?
I did not have a
9-5 job before starting Lakraft. I had working experience with Nego
Construction. During my stay with Nego Construction, I had the
opportunity of supervising some big projects and my boss always used to
tell me about the importance of starting my own thing.
What are the upsides of running the business?
I won’t call it
freedom but the fact that I can do whatever I set target to do. Also
that I can help bring out the best in young people
What are the challenges you have faced over time running Lakraft?
Because of our
environment, it takes lots of guts as a young person to want to start
something. Firstly, there is the finance issue, no bank will want to
support you. Since inception, Lakraft has been living on family
sustenance. There is also the issue of enlightenment, at first, people
did not believe we are credible. Some even sent mails to the
international body in France that “there is a group in Nigeria claiming
to be affiliated to you” just to confirm our credibility. But now we
have passed that stage, people now know that prizes can be won from
gaming.
Have you ever thought of packing up in frustration?
I have, a couple of
times. There are times when I would feel like the whole world is on me.
There was a day I was to attend a meeting with a particular company and
two hours to the time, we still could not print the proposal.
There are times,
when you would have ill feeling towards your business especially when
you are not making profit but at the end we still have to keep pushing.
What have you learned that they don’t teach in books?
Naturally, video
gaming aids mental skills and some are designed for professionals. Like
doctors, who conduct surgeries, it was said that they should always
engage in video gaming.
There was a
research done in the US that students who engage in video gaming
perform better than those who do not in Mathematics. These facts are
proven that video gaming helps mentally and brings people with
different personality together.
What projections do you have for the future?
In the next five
years, we intend building a Lakraft Gamers Centre like the E-Center
Mall, where people can come to play games. Also, we are organising
Electronic Sport World Cup Nigerian 2011 and whoever wins would compete
with other gamers in France. We are also looking at establishing
Lakraft Gaming in urbanised cities in Nigeria and we are collaborating
with four African countries to start like an African league- Electronic
Sport African World Cup.
What advice will you give potential entrepreneurs?
What is important
for young people since there are no jobs anywhere, whoever wants to
start his or her business, should look at solving a problem and doing
something that is unique. Then start pushing it even though it might
take a while for people to buy into it.
