FROM GRASS TO GRACE: JASON NJOKU'S STORY( IROKO TV FOUNDER)

 

Jason Njoku is the founder of iROKO which is worth millions of dollars today. Here he writes about how in 2010 he had less than N10,000 in his account and how not giving up on his dreams changed his life. He shares his story and encourages others to keep fighting.

 

"My wife persuaded forced me to do a little spring cleaning this weekend. As I was going through my things rubbish, I came across this old account statement

for an iROKO Partners Ltd bank account in London. If you look at the date its 13 July 2010. The statement is for June 2010. That’s right. £60.25 paid in. £60.00 (my feeding money) paid out. And an ending balance of £0.25. That’s right folks. I literally had £0.25 in my account that's $0.42 or N63.

Needless to say life has improved somewhat, but as I go about trying to frame this statement, it definitely reminds me of how far in such a short time one’s life can improve. It doesn’t have to be as dramatic, but improve life can. It also should serve to demonstrate to anyone, anywhere right now toiling away in obscurity on a little project or something no one gives a flying f*** about that as long as you believe in yourself and your project then success (whatever that may mean to you) is or may be just around the corner. All you have to do is find the inner strength to stay in the game.

At this point I had toiled for 6 long years. Fast forward another 4 years and everything has changed. But then I didn’t know that. It was only pain.

Founders. Never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever give up. On yourself. You may migrate from project to project and you will never know which one is ‘the one’. But one day, someday. Your stars will align.