Kelvin Obasuyi learned entrepreneurship by failing at almost everything first

As I sat in the dimly lit office, surrounded by the quiet murmur of laptops and the faint hum of air conditioning, I couldn't help but think about the countless paths that Kelvin Obasuyi could have taken. Instead of following the conventional route, he chose to forge his own, often stumbling upon successes that were as much a result of hard work as they were of sheer determination.

Growing up, Obasuyi's mother had instilled in him a sense of dignity in labour, a mantra that would guide him through the years of work that rarely looked dignified from the outside. He began by launching a chocolate popcorn business, ChopChat, during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 2013. Despite the venture folding in 2014, Obasuyi recalls it as a defining moment in his entrepreneurial journey. "This [venture] also made me love business," he says, reflecting on the lessons he learned from the experience.

The business, which sold chocolate-flavoured popcorn at Iyana Ipaja Bus Stop in Lagos and some plazas, taught Obasuyi the importance of economies of scale. As demand grew, he realized that their small machine couldn't produce the quantities needed, and they were unable to invest in bigger equipment or more hands. The failure was a valuable lesson, one that would shape his future entrepreneurial ventures.

After the NYSC, Obasuyi struggled to find a job, despite graduating from Covenant University, a top school in Nigeria. He was picky about the roles he applied for, and when he couldn't land a banking job, he turned to freelance work. Between 2014 and 2017, he sold varsity jackets, marketed American career-guidance software to secondary schools, and even worked as a freelance data analyst. It was a period of trial and error, with Obasuyi trying his hand at various ventures to make ends meet.

It was during this period of freelance work that Obasuyi's perspective on entrepreneurship began to shift. He started to see his work not just as a means to survive, but as a way to create opportunities for others. "People [who] work for me are depending on the business to feed families," he says, reflecting on the weight of responsibility that came with being an entrepreneur. This realization marked a turning point in Obasuyi's journey, one that would eventually lead him to co-found 56 Capital, a finance firm lending to informal African businesses, and become the chief executive of Vector Innovations, a cross-border fintech company.

Today, Obasuyi's entrepreneurial ventures are a far cry from the humble beginnings of ChopChat. Yet, he remains committed to the values that guided him from the start: a sense of dignity in labour and a willingness to take risks. As I left the office, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for Obasuyi and his ventures. One thing was certain, however: he had learned the value of perseverance and the importance of staying true to his vision.

• Kelvin Obasuyi graduated from Covenant University in 2013 with an Economics degree.
• He launched his first business venture, ChopChat, during his NYSC in 2013.
• The business folded in 2014 due to lack of equipment and resources.
• Obasuyi struggled to find a job after the NYSC and turned to freelance work.
• He co-founded 56 Capital and became the chief executive of Vector Innovations.

As I reflect on Obasuyi's journey, I am reminded that entrepreneurship is not just about creating a successful business, but about creating opportunities for others. His story serves as evidence of the power of perseverance and the importance of staying true to one's vision.