THE FURNACE SERIES: EPISODE 1

We will embark on a journey through THE FURNACE of some icons as I love to call them, icons because not everyone can come out of difficult life situations whole, strong and brave. We will hear from the horse's mouth what it means to be them as they take us through their triumph,path and maybe the price of victories beyond the eyes with the hope that it brings solace to someone out there. 

Here's an interview with OLEMU OGHENEOCHUKO, an entrepreneur and Founder of GISforAfrica sharing his journey so far.

Prettadnectar: hello OLEMU, it's an honour having you on the very first episode of THE FURNACE

OLEMU: Thank you for having me 

prettadnectar: you are an established entrepreneur, could you give a brief run through of your background?

OLEMU: I was born to a Christian family of Urhobo father and Yoruba mother in the city of Ibadan. My education was all from public schools except my primary education. My university days took me to Akure but I visited Port Harcourt a lot for my holidays. I've always been an entrepreneur starting 3 businesses in university including a music band. I started GISforAfrica immediately after university

Prettadnectar: That’s some impressive stuff, how did you manage 3 businesses together with your study?

OLEMU: Tedious maybe, but I've never been impressed by our education system and I didn't make good grades out. However, whenever I had presentations I blew the minds of my lecturers, I got an A in my final year project and I was first to present to the external supervisor

Prettadnectar: That speaks greatly of your public speaking skills

OLEMU: yea

Prettadnectar: How has the journey been so far?

OLEMU: It's been revealing, rewarding and refreshing. Sometimes feels tedious and I feel like just letting go of all the pressure but I keep my eyes on the goals and the joy of winning

Prettadnectar: Could you share some of those pressures you talked about?

OLEMU: Pressure of uncertainty, being called weird, stubborn, no funds, and of being misunderstood

Prettadnectar: Was or were there times you wanted to escape, Get away from all these pressures?

OLEMU: Sure...but it's almost as if I have no escape, it's grown to me to know it's my calling, that's why I see it as my ministry. However, just a few months before I came here during the pandemic, I couldn't get the energy from my team because we were down. After some weeks I started bringing together new sets of people just to keep the Fire alive. But one day I just felt I needed to leave where I was and that's how I began pushing my buttons to come abroad

Prettadnectar: Was that decision because you felt the dream wasn’t understood by your then team?

OLEMU: Not really, I just finished back to back calendar and we were able to convert our deficit budget to surplus but the pandemic put everyone one the low and I couldn't let it drag me down. I felt my mission was complete because what really kept me was me being sure my system could work

Prettadnectar: Simply put, you knew it was time, Interesting. Was there a “dark” time you’d never forget?

OLEMU: When I lost my dad.

Prettadnectar: That’s really a sad one

OLEMU: Yeah. I remember him everyday, he loaded my wardrobe with his books which I read a lot, I worked in his school for 5 years where I've mastered a lot of skills and discovered a lot

Prettadnectar: That’s inspiring

OLEMU: Also, I feel the commitment to keep his faith and legacy

Prettadnectar: Awesome. Would you say the journey has been smooth So far?

OLEMU: Smooth? No, it has had some friction but you know how important friction is to movement and success.

Prettadnectar: Can you share an important lesson from such frictions?

OLEMU: In solving the challenge, the systems become more formidable and as a person I become more confident

Prettadnectar: tell me more about your brand

OLEMU: Well, my brand GISforAfrica is about quality education for Adequate Production leading to sustainable health and wealth. We offer courses, events, consultancies, goods, services, labour and resource centers. In summary, it's about Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Olemu at a Green Space

Prettadnectar:That’s really deep. Great thing you’re doing for Africa, we need more people like you to make Africa great

OLEMU: Thank you for your kind words

Prettadnectar: Lemme quickly ask this, at what time did you know yes it’s GIS for Africa, I need to do this?

OLEMU: In 2011, I concluded I must explore GIS because it's a problem solving tool. I know Nigeria has a lot of problems that need solving. 

Green space 

I knew it was GISforAfrica and was not going back when I began to catch people's attention around the world and they began to see it even bigger than what I expected. Thank God I got some good mentors at the start

Prettadnectar: Shout out to those mentors, any names?

OLEMU: Oh yes! Richard Quodomine, Peggy March, Andrea Dawkins, Ian Usher, Efrain Tapaqien and Madrid Manuel.

Prettadnectar: Thanks to them

OLEMU: Yea, I'm grateful to them

Prettadnectar: What advice do you have for anyone going through a difficult time, be it in finding their purpose, depression or just some sort of personal experience?

OLEMU:First, our imagination is one of our divine powers to create. Also, in history a lot of people have had seemingly worst conditions but rose to the top, so why not you. Then connect with God, seek him, he's the rewarder of those who diligently seek him

Prettadnectar: Anything else you’d want readers to know?

OLEMU: I want the readers to know that they are part of the solutions for the world if they aren't lazy or give in to evil.

Prettadnectar: In other words, they should keep going

OLEMU: Not just keep going but keep going in the right way

Prettadnectar: Thanks for sharing your thoughts, truth and story with people out there, hopefully it inspires someone.

OLEMU: Hopefully, Thanks for the opportunity. 

You can follow OLEMU via social media, on Twitter @OlemuOchuko Facebook @ olemu 'chole' ochuko and on Instagram @olemu 'chole' ogheneochuko