Page 46 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 1

YOUNG AFRICAN’S IN BUSINESS

interview with

YEMI

ABRAHAMS

In an exclusive whatsapp interview, Chioma Phillips had
a lengthy chat with Yemi Abraham’s, the CEO of Cititech
Communications Lagos, Nigeria. He spoke at length about
his walk with God, his life, business and his music.

Popularly known as bands, attended rehearsals and
dcomputerguru, the 31 year old so on. It wasn’t easy at first. I had
Adeyanju Adeyemi Abraham, or some challenges at first, people
Yemi, from Nigeria is a graduate didn’t like the way I played but
of Computer Science, certified I persisted and got to the level
Google Digital Marketer, a where I played well.
Volunteer facilitator at Ready Set
Work (RSW) Lagos State University I tried several times from 2005 I didn’t have anyone who could
Campus (an initiative of the Lagos to 2007 to gain admission into sponsor me. In order to pay for
State Ministry of Education), the university, but nothing was my annual tuition I worked in a
head of Technical department at working. I was very frustrated school as a teacher, I was a paid
Classic JAMB CBT Center, CEO and at this point wanted to give instrumentalist in Redeemed
of Cititech Communications, up academics. Most of my mates Church, I helped students to do
president of De Royal Family were graduating that year and I their assignments - for a fee...
interdenominational Youth Forum, hadn’t even secured an admission and by 2010 I finished with Upper
music manager at Blaze Records, for myself! Then, one day I had a Credits.
bassist, inspirational speaker dream and I saw myself preaching
and serial entrepreneur. He also on the altar to multitudes of people. That’s how the serial entrepreneur
has a Diploma in Theology. We I didn’t understand this dream, so I bug bit you?
were curious to learn how such a went to my senior pastor and told (Laughs) Yes o. I worked in a
diverse profile came about and so him. He said, ‘It’s God’s call’ I told school as administrator and IT
we asked him. him I don’t understand, ‘The only head until 2012, then I got an idea.
call that I can relate to is the call to My salary was very low at the time
Computers, Theology Music and a higher institution.’ and I thought to myself, can’t I
Purpose... that’s an interesting start a tech business?
combination. How did you get That year, in June, my brother
there? finished school and said he and a Is that where Cititech was born?
I finished high school in 2003, at friend wanted to set up a computer Yes. I started to do my research,
the age of 15, with the desire to training center at Ogun State and since I didn’t know anything about
study medicine and surgery, but that he would need me to work business. Then I went to the
unfortunately that year I failed with them. I shouted “Yes, I’m in!” Corporate Affairs Commission
my West Africa Examinations Because I knew this would be an of Nigeria to pick up a business
Council (WAEC) examination I opportunity for me to gain more registration form. The name
had to retake it the following year, knowledge while working and that Cititech Communication was
but I failed again so I had to wait was where I became very solid in approved among all the other
another year. While I waited, I found the use of computer systems. By names. I got the business
out that my church was looking for the time 2008 rolled around, I had certificate for Cititech in October
young people who they could train decided not to do JAMB, instead and decided I would resign
to play musical instruments, so I I applied for direct admission to in January the following year
applied in order not to waste my Lagos City Polytechnic Ikeja to (2013). I started to save the little
time at home. That’s how I began study computer science. I chose money I could raise that year
my journey into the music world. I to take weekend classes so that to do documentation, branding,
trained well enough to start going I could work during the week in purchase of equipment and in
for events, I joined two different order to pay for my tuition, since January I resigned and started