“…I feel like each and every one of us has the need to be unique in our own way, that’s how I came up with my identity “theseunfakorede”. I am “theseunfakorede”. There could be other Seun Fakoredes but I am the definite SeunFakorede…”- Seun Fakorede.

 

Seun Fakorede, a young entrepreneur and public speaker, who has a passion for building Africa. He is the founder and CEO of Home Advantage Africa – a non-profit organization with a vision to help African Millennials on their quest to dominate their locality and the world at large. therosespetal had the opportunity of having a conversation with him. Below is how the interview went.

 

therosespetal: what is the compelling force behind the birth of your identity “theseunfakorede”?

theseunfakorede: When I started I just wanted something unique. I wanted to live and lead a life of example because the best form of leading is by example. And I feel like each and every one of us has the need to be unique in our own ways; that’s how I came up with my identity “theseunfakorede”. I am theseunfakorede, there could be other Seun Fakoredes but I am the definite Seun Fakorede. Just as we have other ways, truths and lives but Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

 

therosespetal: When did you start speaking publicly?

theseunfakorede: I’ve been speaking publicly since 2003.

 

therosespetal: Who are you apart from being a public speaker?

theseunfakorede: I am theseunfakorede and everything I do is inside that brand, that wholeness. I am not a public speaker, yet I speak because public speaking for me is not a career, I do not make money from it. Truth is if you do something that has value whether you like it or not, people will call you to speak and share ideas on that value. That is just one of the ways I express my gifting and the values I have to bless people.

I run Home Advantage Africa, a non-profit and non-governmental Organisation. Home Advantage Africa is set up for promoting local dominance and global stardom in Africa using digital story-telling and other civic engagements. Basically that is what I do.

 

therosespetal: How did you start Home Advantage Africa? What are the challenges you faced?

theseunfakorede: I started Home Advantage Africa as an undergraduate, and of course just like every start up, there are always challenges like getting resources, and the things needed to run the organization and even resource persons. We look at our community and the things that are really needed. And one of the ways we can reach out is through conferences, seminars, training and projects of similar irk.

The outstanding thing is that we were not waiting for some big money or big resources. We started with the available resources. It wasn’t easy, we had our highs and lows. We had times we felt disappointed, times we lost our targets. Just like every normal challenges a person starting a phase faces.

 

therosespetal: Through all these highs and lows, what keeps Home Advantage Africa going?

theseunfakorede: What keeps us going practically is the love for Africa, and the love for what we do because we believe that until you conquer your locality that is when you become an exportable material  and that is why we want to see more Africans conquer and tell their stories to the world. I would be so glad knowing that there are lot of Africans in the world doing so well, smartly well, and then telling their stories will be a joy to me and to Home Advantage Africa.

 

therosespetal: Recently politics in Nigeria has been undergoing a radical shift with calls for younger, brighter visionaries with strong zeal to take charge of political offices, and as a natural leader that you are, who has ventured into politics dying your time in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Do you have any plans to participate in Nigeria’s politics anytime soon?

theseunfakorede: I have been into the Nigerian politics for a couple of years now but I have never ran or occupied any official office. I’ve only been deeply involved in the polity, but I will be running for office someday by God’s grace.

 

therosespetal: Your interest seems to lie in the African youths at large? Any charge for us?

theseunfakorede: My interest is not necessarily to the African youths but in the entire Africans, whether young or old. And if there’s anything I look forward to- it’s to see Africa grow younger as I grow older.

 

therosespetal: Your relationship status?

theseunfakorede: SINGLE 🙂

 

therosespetal: Any advice for public speakers and writers?

theseunfakorede: Writers should keep writing- speakers should keep speaking- nothing but the truth.

 

therosespetal: It is a pleasure interviewing you sir.

theseunfakorede: I am honored