Many thriving youth in the country have kept the main thing the main thing and keep mostly out of the media. But anyone with his finger in the entertainment pie cannot hide from the media for long, so it was when News and muse tracked the CEO of Ace Stage Oil and Gas and the Managing Director of Ace Stage Entertainment, a music producing outfit, Prince Adeyemi Arogundade. The unassuming young man, calmly welcome us and in this interview bared his mind on the Nigerian entertainment industry and the challenges confronting aspiring entrepreneurs.
Can we meet you?
I'm Prince Adeyemi Arogundade, the CEO
Ace Stage Oil and Gas and the Managing Director Ace Stage
Entertainment.
What do you do?
I'm an entrepreneur and a great lover
of fun. That's why I venture into the Oil and Gas business as a
mainstay and Entertainment as a hobby. But, you know in Nigeria, a
young man must explore every opportunity to make money and still be
happy, so I try to monetise my love for entertainment and that's what
birth Ace Stage.
What's your view and evaluation of
the music industry since your entrance into the mainstream?
Nigeria entertainment industry has been
very vibrant and dynamic. It's more or less the only sector in the
Nigerian business firmament that has been driven by the private
sector and truly open to investors with all kinds of stake, both
financial and talents. Although there have been several attempts at
monopolising the industry but the economics of demand and supply
makes it almost impossible. You may have all the money, but you must
produce what the people want to see or hear. So, the people and the
endless talents that exist in the industry keep determine the
paradigm shift. To me that is fun and good. If only we could have
such sincere dynamism in governance and politics.
Several young people await their
chance in the music industry but very few have been able to make the
big impact. Why?
Like I've earlier said, the industry is
not straitjacketed. You may think you have something good to offer
but you have to prove it using all industry mercenaries. A good
lyrics, good voice, good production, good PR management and
packaging, then a good deal of good-luck. Some have problems starting
while some find it hard staying relevant, it all boils down to how
prepared you are for the big stage. That's why we bring up Ace Stage
to help young people with genuine dreams and passion for
entertainment.
Do you have artists on your label
yet?
Of course we do. Ace Stage, though
young, has been around for a while. We had Samklef, Eronx and some
other guys. We are currently working on bringing a breath of fresh
air into the music industry. You know the trend now is predictable,
the beats, the lyrics, the rhymes everything is becoming predictably
boring. Just like the galala and the macossa era, we are at the peak
of it and the inevitable downward trend is on us. So, Ace stage is
gearing up to infuse a new kind of melody, rhythm and lyrics that
will be fun and won't be far from the social ethics and value that is
lacking in this current genre. We are working with artists across
Africa; some from Ghana, Ivory Coast and Cameroon. You know it's a
global village, so we are working on evolving a truly African brand
of music. Ace stage will equally stage a reality TV show, we are committed to promoting quality entertainment; that's all we do.
You said you're also into oil, how
easy and profitable have you been finding it compared to
entertainment?
As I've earlier hinted, entertainment
is my hobby, it gives me great pleasure to be part of the making of
fun and making people happy. But beyond that is the need to be
productive and pay the bills. Oil and Gas business thus provide me
the opportunity to make a living as a man. Both ventures have been
rewarding.
Government has been preaching
self-employment and entrepreneurship as a way of job creation and
enhancing the private sector for a vibrant economy, but millions of
youth still remain unemployed as several businesses fold up everyday.
How have you been able to stay afloat?
In Nigeria, most
things are easier said than done. Starting a business in Nigeria and
keeping it afloat could be likened to a chick conceived in an egg
with coconut shell, breaking through will take more than light
pecking. Giving the harsh economic condition, most business ideas do
not see the light of the day, those that do with impeccable tenacity
are quashed by lack of operational capital. Government need to do
more than talk, effort must be made to engage and empower the youth.
We are at our troubling and restless best, full of energy which if
concentrated to a profitable venture would be an asset to the country
but in the contrary would spell doom for us now and later. An example
of this is the growing trend of terrorism across Africa. Youth
empowerment is the only panacea I can suggest. So, it's been a daily
hustle to keep the businesses running and healthy too.
What has been your personal
philosophy?
Take care of the pennies the pounds will take care of itself. When little things are well done the big things will fall in place.
Thanks for your time
It's a pleasure. You are welcome.
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