adekunle adeniji's blog

A thought that arrived between laughter and family — Baylounge, Lagos Tonight, sitting with my wife and my mum, a conversation with my friend Sam took a turn I wasn't expecting. We were talking about charms. Voodoo. Spiritual practices. And then the real question surfaced: are these things truly supernatural  or are they simply sciences we have not yet had the discipline to study, structure, and own? Africa's Forgotten Laboratories Spirituality in Africa predates colonisation by centuries. Long before Western laboratories, long before peer-reviewed journals, knowledge was alive — passed from babalawo to initiate, from herbalist to community, from elder to apprentice. It was not written down, but it was not accidental. Then something shifted. That knowledge was labelled primitive. Demonic. Superstitious. It was dismissed rather than examined and that dismissal may be one of the most consequential intellectual errors in African history. What if our ancestors were not merely spiri...

What’s up, professionals? Times are tough right now. More than ever, we need empathy, perspective, and a level head. Dwelling on what isn’t working rarely produces solutions. It usually produces frustration. Yes, COVID disrupted retail sports betting. But retail is not dead. Recent data from Nigeria’s leading gaming companies shows shop sales have returned to pre-COVID levels. Retail is evolving. Like every other vertical, it must adapt. Data-driven decisions. Customer-centric branding. Omnichannel strategies. Faster operations. Creative thinking. These are no longer optional. Here’s one practical approach: Use retail to grow online. Let your agents onboard online users and earn affiliate commissions. Turn shops into deposit and withdrawal points. Instead of paying banks 1.5% for processing deposits, let your agents earn that margin. That’s part of what we implemented at BetBonanza. Retail can do better than it’s currently doing. Instead of running from it, we should be asking how to ...

  A lot of people don't know what is happening day to day in the Nigerian gaming scene and I think it's time someone starts to talk about it.  As the name implies, this is my opinion. I also understand my position as a thought leader, so I will be as factual as possible in my excerpt.  Please let me know in the comments what youwould like me to add or remove from my next weekend post. Lottery Commission To Clampdown On Underage, Remote Gaming:  There was a webinar last week, the focus of which was to educate stakeholders on the stance of the NLRC (National Lottery Regulation Commission) regarding underage gambling. Emphasis was placed on compliance, and operators were made aware of the punishment involved if caught violating the ethical standard.   I think it's a good development and something to take seriously before it becomes a serious issue.  Obviously, the first step to take is to talk about it, educate the stakeholders, then run a campaign on nat...

When I look back at my journey — both socially and professionally — which began roughly nine years ago, I feel a deep sense of gratitude. Allow me a little bragging right. I have done remarkably well in the Nigerian gaming industry. I've worked with the top two sports betting companies in the country, and today I'm helping build what could become the third major force. That didn't happen by accident. When I reflect on what made the difference, three things stand out. 1. Relationships I have always believed that relationships are everything. The best way to build strong relationships is simple: think more about others than yourself. Give first. Add value first. Then ask. When I sit at a deal table, my focus is not "How do I win?" It's "How do we both win?" Too many professionals approach business the wrong way. Someone connects with you on LinkedIn today, and tomorrow, they send a generic sales pitch. No effort to understand who you are. No ...

A lot of people ask me how they can start a successful business with little or no money. My answer is always the same: “I don't know.” And I say that honestly. Because the real question isn't about money. It's about intent. Why are you starting the business? Is it to get rich quickly? Is it to create value and build wealth over time? Is it to solve a real problem? Until you answer that question, no business idea will feel clear. Once your intent is clear, the right idea begins to form naturally. Test Your Hypothesis After clarity comes validation. Every business idea is a hypothesis. The next step is to test it. The best way to test your idea is simple: Put yourself in your customer's shoes. When you think like the customer, everything becomes clearer. Would you buy the product? Would you pay that price? Would you trust that brand? Would you come back again? If the answer is no, you already know what to fix. Experience Is Power I understand the...

I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be here. We live in the era of the internet — an era filled with opportunity. Access is no longer the problem. Information is everywhere. Possibilities are endless. Yet, many people are unhappy. I honestly believe one major reason is this: too many people are chasing money alone. Money is numbers. And numbers never end. If your happiness depends on money, your search for happiness will never end. Now listen — I like money. Let's not pretend otherwise. I understand what money can do. It creates options. It gives freedom. It amplifies impact. But I don't run businesses only because they make money. I operate businesses because I genuinely love building. I love creating value. I love seeing how people react to products that improve their lives. I enjoy the admiration that comes when people recognise real value. The money always comes. But value must come first. The Power of Giving More When you consistently give more ...