Info Products and Seminars is what is making waves in Nigeria now. Every Tom, Dick and Harry wants to replicate (maybe the right word is imitate or fake) the success of Dr. Sunny Obazu-Ojeagbase who is well known as the pioneer of Info-preneurship in Nigeria.
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Dr. Sunny Obazu-Ojeagbase spent years working to establish himself as a reputable Infopreneur in Nigeria. His vision according to him is to empower the jobless and unemployable youths (unskilled graduates and non-graduates) in Nigeria. This is evident in his approach to his information business. Everyone that has come into contact with this man testifies of him as a man of Integrity! His efforts over the year has finally paid off as he has now become an authority in the packaging and sale of info-products in Nigeria. His passion for improving the lot of youth has yielded fruits in so many lives.
Unfortunately, the same tools which he successfully, used in empowering many jobless youths are now being employed by some new self-proclaimed Infopreneur Gurus to exploit unsuspecting Nigerians. The major cities of Nigeria are now filled with advertisements of InfoProducts and Seminars that promises to turn the fortunes of Nigerians. Unlike the pioneer’s product, these promises are just empty promises as the people behind those adverts do not value or care about INTEGRITY in business.
This post is an attempt to discuss the role of INTEGRITY in the business of an Infopreneur., especially in Nigeria and the coming judgement for all the cheats exploiting fellow Nigerians. I will first explain who an Infopreneur is and what I call INTEGRITY.
Who is an Infopreneur?
An Infopreneur is a person whose primary business is gathering and selling information. He identifies information needs, gather solutions for such and package them in a way that will satisfy the end users. Of course, he sells his packages for profit.
Wikipedia explains that the word InfoPreneur is a term coined from the fusion of two separate words “Info” from information and “preneur” from Entrepreneur. So we can simply say that an infopreneur is an entrepreneur who makes money by selling information to a targeted audience.
The wares of an infopreneur can be packaged in physical medium such as books, manuals or as digital products. The target audience is what really determines the kind of package that is used.
What is integrity?
Integrity is a virtue. It is the ability to remain true to ones word and principle of living. It is maintaining honesty and fairness in business deals at all time. Saying what you mean and meaning what you say. Giving value that you promised for money collected.
It is a virtue that is recognize by others. You can only pretend that you have it for a short while, in the long run, people will know if you have it or you are just faking it. It is not a virtue you can get overnight. It takes time and effort to build business integrity.
Nigerian Infopreneurs and the burden of Integrity
Infopreneur as a form of business promises great riches. The first impression a non-initiated gets is that it is an easy way to make quick bucks. Let’s take use a common example.
- What does it really cost to use Google to gather information on how to make thousands of dollars using Google Adsense? It will probably cost about N100 worth of internet browsing time in a cybercafe.
- How long will it take to repackage such information and brand it as the New Magic Formula for getting rich? Maybe another N100 worth of airtime in the cybercafe.
Since the cost of production can be less than N200 ($2) it is easy selling the finished product for N500 ($5) each to unsuspecting Nigerians who are looking for a way out of the present economic hardship (the undisputed dividend of Democracy in our nation).
So, the self-certified Nigerian Infopreneur packages all manner of junk information (recycled and untested information) and sell at premium to his fellow citizen. After a successful initial sale, he is now financially empowered to defend his packages as being authentic. So he moves to the next phase to organize Info-Seminars where more people are brainwashed into parting with N2,000 or more for Magic Formula that will enable them spend their next vacation in Hawaii.
If you are wondering why people that know better are quite, the answer is simple. His critics are silenced as he shows off the material things he has purchased with his ill-gotten profit. Nigerians belief in what they see (never mind if it is a charade on display). Sounds like a hopeless case. The scammer has succeeded and he cannot be tried! You are wrong.
Judgement Is Coming Soon!
I am not a seer, but I can tell you what will surely happen to this fake infopreneurs. The good thing is this post will be on record that I predicted it.
As the cost of Internet connection is getting cheaper due to competition among Nigerian Internet Service Providers, more and more Nigerians are getting online. The implication of that is that the same garbage that was sold for a premium is soon discovered on an abandoned one page website. The highly touted website representing the bedrock of the Fake Infopreneur business empire is also discovered to be a poorly designed and partially abandoned website that is lacking in content and overcrowded with Advertisements.
The fake Infopreneur will be exposed and sentenced in the Public Court of Opinion as a fake that lacks integrity. He will be blacklisted and disfranchise from participating in the fellowship of true Infopreneurs and Entrepreneurs. Remember it takes just a post by a former victim of the scammer (probably in a blog) to pass judgement online. The post will be ruthlessly STUMBLED, DIGG, REDDIT etc. And that will spell doom for the cheat. If you doubt this, use Google to find out how one article by an unknown blogger has brought companies to their knees online. Online, power trully belong to the people.
If you are currently engaging in selling worthless info-products to the unsuspecting Nigerian public, be rest assured that your sins will eventually find you out. All your fake promises will be exposed as lies and you will have no place to hide your face in shame. You are better off spending your time to build a business that will stand the test of time because it is built on INTEGRITY! You don’t have to like me, but I have said my piece. Cheers.
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Tags: Entrepreneur, Infopreneur, Nigerian Business
Great post!
A few years back, I parted ways with one such “infopreneur”. I was in his office when he was putting up an advert on his website. In the ad, he mentioned that he had made “millions” on the internet. At the time (and till date), his office was a one-shop outfit, he was driving a very used car, and though I had made more money than he had on the internet, I could not honestly say that I had made “millions”.
He attempted to defend himself by saying it was just “marketing”. That was it for me. I won’t be associated with such “marketing”.
Time will tell.
There are so many scams coming out of Nigeria (who hasn’t “won” the Nigerian lottery?) where do you even begin to build credibility?
Matt
@Yomi
I admire your courage in calling a spade a spade. Telling lies to defraud people is no MARKETING! It is FRAUD. That guy is a cheat and a shame to this nation.
@Matt
Thanks for visiting and bearing your mind. I have a few things to say in response to your comment.
First, there is no nation that can boast that it doesn’t have SCAMMERS. Any individual can decide to be HONEST or FRAUDULENT.
Talking about scam, I have received several SCAM letters from outside Nigeria, but that doesn’t make me label those country. Nigeria as a nation has not scammed anybody. So the nation cannot be held accountable for the atrocity of some black-sheep. Upon close examination, majority of those black sheep actually learned their trade outside the shore of the country.
Talking about building CREDIBILITY, it starts from HERE and it starts NOW!
If I tell you the truth, I am building my CREDIBILITY in the online community. Take the example of YOMI who has the first comment. I have more respect for him because he refuse to continue relating with someone he has found to be wanting in character.
If we choose to tell the truth and expose lies, the FRAUDULENT ones in our midst will have a tougher time succeeding in their fraudulent activities.
1. I think Matt’s comment is totally out of place. It does not address the topic of the blogger’s post. And what the heck. I have been scammed of $4,200 by a registered American Company.
2. Back to the post. I share the blogger’s sentiments. I was a student of Dr. Ojeagbase in 2002 and what I see today is different from what he taught us. As events continue to unfold I foresee a day of reckoning. Our people seem to have sold their conscience and shame for money.
@Naija Ecash
You posted my mind. Nigerian infoprenures are successful, don’t mind the fake ones, anywhere there is 12, there must be a Judas. Sunny Obazu Ojeagbase is the pillar of internet marketing in Nigeria. He has contributed a lot and is worth rewarding. He is a man of integrity. There are also some guys that have transferred their yahoo-yahoo tactics to infoprenures,they are every where mainly in online forums, looking for some newbies (who are their prey to devour). I cannot control myself when one guy I have not know before (though he said he knew me) dropped into my office and bring a complaint on how he bought an e-book which turns to be rubbish. Is this an encouragement to our youths who wants to leave their Yahoo-Yahoo deals and turn to online marketing. I don’t wish to make much post here,only that you posted my mind. I think that the simple answer to this is the ever hearing IMAN (but I don’t know the plans of the guys behind this, if it is a social group or a categorical association)
@ Matt
I wonder if you are a Nigerian,why do you have these negetive mindset about Nigeria?Though you have your point but you are too negetive about Nigeria.
@Oga Toye
Glad to see you here.
@NaijaEcash
You have really said your piece. The day of reckoning will definitely come for those ‘fake’/dubious infopreneurs who have nothing to offer. Though I have not attended any of Dr. Ojeagbase seminars, I have heard lot about him.
You have taken your time to reply Matt, so no need creating a post here again.
I see REAL Naija Infopreneurs emerging soon.
IfeOluwas last blog post..Popularity among bloggers – Is it more money?
[…] PayPal. (You can collect local cheque or physical cash, if that makes you really comfortable as a Naija Infopreneur!). Those local small scale business owners will love you for helping them promote their business to […]
Took me time to read all the comments, but I really enjoyed the post. It proved to be really useful to me and I am sure to all the commenters here! It is usually nice whenever you cannot only be informed, but additionally engaged! I am certain you had joy writing this article.
Hi
Your post is a breathe of fresh air.
It’s nice to know there Nigerian Online Marketers who stand for something in this country. Keep up the good work.
Tuff talk there, Admin.
You really took a swipe at the info marketers out there and you mentioned Sunny as the only genuine info-preneuer you know. Not fair !
Yes! information marketing is easy, yes! It requires less capital and yes! there are fake info-preneurs out there. Yet there are CREDIBLE marketers doing good stuff and info-marketing is not their main stay as they have other businesses too. I bet you don’t know you can automate the delivery of your information products, when customers pay into your bank account? See orderomatic.com
The bottomline is in any industry as easy as this, i.e information marketing in nigeria, quacks and charlatans will abound. only time and action from the authorities (like association of internet marketers nigeria) will keep them out.