We had an opportunity to speak with Mr. Otefia Oghoghozino, the founder of Aggital works, an organization passionate about the digital age and constantly innovating and we sure learned a lot.
This is an interview you would learn from. Lets get to it shall we?
Let’s meet you
I’m Oghoghozino Otefia, an entrepreneur and the founder of Aggital Works. I’m a result-oriented individual, ardent about creativity and project delivery. With years of experience, I have worked and delivered projects for various businesses, organizations and individuals in
Nigeria, Canada, Germany, India and the United Kingdom.
My passion is to continuously extend the limit of creativity and innovation through the provisioning of creative digital solutions.
Tell us about your business. [How did you come about the idea, what was your mission, what is your mission now, what prompted you to go into this industry? etc.]
Apparently I operate in the digital industry and my business is basically to drive creative improvement for the digital age. The registered business name is actually Age Digital Works, which is simply works for the digital age, so we had to marge Age and Digital to have us Aggital and then Works.
Aggital Works has just one mission which is to drive creative improvements for the digital age, and we do this by implementing industry standard services in the areas of Website Design & Development, Digital Marketing, Corporate Branding, Mobile and Web, Application Development, Graphics & Design, Ecommerce and Media Production. You can visit https://aggital.com to learn more.
Talking about what prompted me, I’d say I was called into this by God Himself as He made me understand there’s a need to creatively transform businesses, organizations, individuals, basically life in general and make all fit for the digital age, like we all know the digital age is now, it has come and organizations, businesses or people who fail to get themselves up to the digital age is likely to go out of business or become irrelevant. So I was prompted by this NEED which God called me to meet and that also forms part of my call in life.
How do you define success and what major challenges have you experienced growing your brand?
Success is actually subjective, but I’d say success for us as a business is when our products or services is preferred and used by every person, business or organization who hears about us. To be honest, challenges are part of growing or building a brand, but the way and manner you handle and learn from them determines if that business will survive the next decade. Two major challenges I had were finances and then hiring the right team.
You have been doing very great with your brand, what has been your expansion strategy and where do you see your brand going in the next few years?
One major strategy we’ve leveraged is industry standard delivery (quality project delivery) for every project we embark on, regardless of the size. This has helped us gained trust from the public which in-turn resulted in bigger projects and better clients and even some accolades. In 2018, we were recognized by the Nigerian technology awarding body as Web Design Agency of the Year and we emerged the winner of Website Design Company of the Year by the business excellence award board. And that’s due to our consistency quality project deliveries.
What concerns do you currently have about your company?
Currently our concern is funding; getting investors/investment to push the next big product we look to get out there.
What are your top 3 personal development tips aside reading books?
My top 3 personal development tips are definitely;
1. Attempt things; give whatever it is a shot.
2. Get use to people saying NO to you.
3. Research industry trends to remain relevant.
What is the toughest decision you have had to make concerning your business in the last few months?
Hmmm… The toughest decision has been the introduction of CHANGE in business justification as to projects. So, we do not take on every project anymore but those that meets our agreed business justification. It sure has reduced the number of project that we take, but has brought growth, so it was a tough decision, but we implemented it.
What keeps you motivated as an entrepreneur?
There are various things that keeps me motivated, one of them is the fulfillment and joy I get when a client is happy about his project and gives a review or seeing our digital product making people happy while they use them. Another motivation for me is the fact that there’s good ahead and I can only get that good when I continue to grind without compromise.
What were you doing the last time you looked at a clock and realized you had lost all track of time?
I do not get what exactly you mean here, but I can remember working on a fix for one of our digital product and I there I was for 6 hours without moving from my desk either to pee or even eat, I turned, looked at the time and I realized I lost all track of time.
How do you wind off from the day’s stress?
Oh well, I sleep or play with bae if she’s around.
What movie, no matter how many times you’ve seen it, do you have to watch when it’s on?
Well, I’m not a movie fan, I don’t do movie at all, but I think I can sit to see the UK series “The Apprentice; You’re Fired”
Describe a time you felt you were right, but you still had to follow directions or guidelines?
Oh yeah, I can remember I had to make a decision about partnering with an organization which deep down in me, I knew it will be a toxic partnership even though some cool money will be made, but I sort to follow some principles and guidelines which eventually made me turn it down, and unfortunately, the organization is out of business now.
At Developing Afrika, we believe so much in reading books, “What book would you suggest everyone on the team reads?
Well, I do not do well with books myself, I am more of a researcher than the regular book reader, so I’d rather I surf the internet to learn concepts and processes I need to learn which might make me read some portion of a book, but not an entire book. But then, I’d recommend Cashflow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki, but I’m sure you all have read this.
What is your advice to every entrepreneur and aspiring entrepreneur out there?
My two fold advice to every entrepreneur and aspiring entrepreneur is; one, WORK! You must WORK as WORK is the distance between your current state or position and the future you envisage. Secondly, be consistent in your deliveries irrespective of whatever happens, do not compromise and in no time you will see yourself growing faster than you imagine.
What issues would you suggest has to be tackled to bring about a better Africa?
One of the issues that has to be tackled to bring about a better Africa is that of “Education” not schooling now, but Education. If Education can find it’s true meaning in Africa, we will be a better continent.
What are your personal and business social media handles (Instagram, Twitter and Facebook)
Personal handles:-Instagram: @oghoghozino Twitter: @oghoghozino1 and Facebook: @oghoghozino
Business handles:-Instagram, Twitter and Facebook: @aggital
