“Ladybrille’s 15 Questions with . . .” is a feature that salutes some of the most important names in the fashion and entertainment industries around the globe, with a particular emphasis on Africa. We hope you are as inspired as we are with the brilliant men and women in these industries that make the world go round.
Our feature today is with Arinze Obikili, co-founder of Jaguda.com, one of the leading Nigerian entertainment websites. Jaguda.com utilizes innovative technology, visual documentaries, and blogging to keep its worldwide readers up-to-date with on-goings in the Nigerian film, fashion and music industries.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: Describe your career. What exactly do you do?
Arinze O.: I own and operate an entertainment website, Jaguda.com along with two partners Leeda Agunwah & Emeka Okpukpara. Jaguda.com is an all around predominantly Nigerian entertainment website that keeps the public aware of the latest happenings in music, fashion, movies, and all sorts of entertainment and social issues. I also work as a software engineer on predominantly insurance and financial applications.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: How did you end up in your chosen field?
Arinze O.: [I] chose my field kind of by default in a way. I graduated from college with Electrical and Computer Engineering which is pretty broad, and so the first job I got was in software. I took a liking to it, and decided I’d go all the way in that field of engineering. In terms of my career in entertainment, I have always been into it on the side. I used to promote in Atlanta, GA, with my partner Emeka, and in an attempt to broaden our wings, in 2009 launched Jaguda.com to cover african events in the united states. In an unexpected way, the website ended up morphing into an all-round entertainment site since we always tried to keep people abreast of the latest happenings.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: How do you balance the demands of your career with the demands in your personal life?
Arinze O.: I think I do pretty well with the balance. I work with a wonderful team that takes much of the pressure off me as work is fairly distributed. Work is important but what is the gain if you don’t have personal time to enjoy the fruits of your labor? So I always find time to “turn off from work” and relax with friends and family.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: What has been the most difficult challenge you have faced in getting to where you are?
Arinze O.: I’ll say the most difficult has been putting in the quality of work necessary to run the website efficiently. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s difficult but it’s more time consuming than anything, especially trying to keep up and stay up to date with every breaking news in the entertainment industries. But thanks to a wonderful team it’s not as difficult now as it was when we first started.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: How do you define success?
Arinze O.: Success in my opinion is being able to have a positive impact on someone that won’t be forgotten for a lifetime. Too often we attach a monetary value to success but essentially if what you’re doing hasn’t positively impacted someone then it’s hard for me to look at you as successful. Also being content with what you have is all you need to be successful.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: What is the one thing you wish most people knew about you?
Arinze O.: That I actually like the company of myself. Sometimes people see me and think this guy must be a people person and expect me to attend every event. I like to be by myself which is something I have not enjoyed in a long time as running an entertainment platform means contant networking with artists, producers and PR agents.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: Share with us your memory of the happiest moment in your life?
Arinze O.: That’s a tough one. There a lot of happy moments but I’d have to say one of my happiest was when Nigeria beat Brazil in the olympics in 1996. I’m a soccer junkie and that was probably the highest moment for Nigerian sports. Watching the game with family and watching us come from behind was just outstanding. It definitely ranks up there as one of the happiest moments of my life.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: What keeps you awake at night?
Arinze O.: Updating Jaguda.com. Apart from that, tv. I have a real problem with watching tv till late into the night.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: What drives you?
Arinze O.: Passion and love for what I do. The fact that I have the privilege to be among those in the forefront of the entertainment website business.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: What makes you get up everyday to do what you do all over again?
Arinze O.: Again I say passion. It’s just what I love to do. Even if I didn’t make a dime from it I would still do it.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: What are the daily principles you live by?
Arinze O.: Treat others how you want to be treated, and be content with whatever you have.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: What inspires you?
Arinze O.: People who changed the world they live in. When I see people who literally changed the “game” so to speak, it’s totally inspiring.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: When all is said and done, what do you want to be remembered most for?
Arinze O.: When it’s all said and done I’d like to be remembered as someone who did his part in putting the Nigerian entertainment on the global map when it comes to digital content and information. I’d like to be remembered as a good person. I never want anyone to look at me and say “Arinze is not a good person.”
LADYBRILLEmag.com: What is the best piece of advice you ever received?
Arinze O.: My mother always stresses being nice to people no matter the situation. If you’re nice to people you meet you always have a clean conscience and you never know in the future how what you did for someone will come back to you in your time of need.
LADYBRILLEmag.com: What do you do to relax and reward yourself for all of your hard work?
Arinze O.: I play video games quite a bit. Also I go to the beach, or waterside and just listen to music and relax. No noise, no one else, just me by myself having some me-time.
-Courtesy photo
~Copyright 2012 Ladybrille Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
Elfonnie Inokon Anusionwu is a Ladybrille Woman Alumna. She is also an engineer and fashion entrepreneur. Elfonnie cites her passion for Africa and particularly her country Nigeria as the basis for why she writes. She believes that it is only through journalism that Africans can change the world’s perspective about who they really are. Follow Elfonnie on twitter at @elfonnie.
