Interview With The CEO of The Travel Guide
“Concerning principles, I’d say they’re the same principles that guides every traveller; That there’s more good than evil in the world; more to gain than to lose in every adventure; there is growth in every effort made; That there’s never harm in trying, and that there is more to be discovered.”
Why did you decide to be an entrepreneur?
Photography happened to me as a serendipitous career. As my best hobby, travelling enabled me to have vivid details of my subjects (people, places, events, nature etc.), so I came up with a way to transform those mental images to visuals. Hence, photography.
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What inspired the idea of the “Travel Guide” and when did you start your initiative?
Prior to the name I was (and still am) an explorer. Exploring the wilderness (mountains, rivers, forests and countryside) in search of Nature’s beauty had been a routine to me. In 2013, I started working with a friend who runs a tour company based in Bauchi state, “Bauchi Friends Tours”. After that I decided to start my own company in 2017, this was when I came up with the brand name “Travel Guide”.
What motivates you and what are the principles that guide your business?
The desire to discover more keeps me going. As everyday expedition brings back a new discovery, a new milestone achievement or a new story, the oomph stays high and the gear always accelerates.
“Concerning principles, I’d say they’re the same principles that guides every traveller; That there’s more good than evil in the world; more to gain than to lose in every adventure; there is growth in every effort made; That there’s never harm in trying, and that there is more to be discovered.“
In your industry, what makes you unique?
The principle that makes me unique in photography is that always try to see my subjects in a way that ensures I capture their essence in the pictures.
Thus, I say, “There’s no such thing as a perfect picture, but there’s that which we can call a perfect moment” which is what I capture every time I take a picture.
What has been your greatest entrepreneurial success?
My favorite aspect as a photographer is the realization that with every pressing of the shutter button, a moment in “Time” has been rescued from being totally erased, and that I have played a role in rescuing a memory for whatever sakes it serves for someone somewhere someday.
What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Most of the stories I tell are from the tourist attractions centers I explore. As a tour guide, I also publicize tour attractions to people everywhere in the world. I provide tour services in Nigeria but I’m mostly in the North. History and mysteries are my most favorite aspect of the game.
What is the most challenging of being an entrepreneur?
Well, I must say that there are tons of challenges in this art, but the worst of them all is the inability to rewind time. I started a style of Photography I call, ‘Transient shots’. In this stories I get to catch images of people, places or things whilst I am moving (in a vehicle or on foot), hence, getting the images as natural as they come, without any adulterations nor effect is very important. So, whenever I miss something very intriguing, I regret, sometimes I even dream of them.
Tell us about your products/services?
As an upcoming photographer myself, I’d like my colleagues to understand the importance of information and knowledge in whatever they engage in. Going into the photography industry, I had to enroll in some online courses in order to better understand how to take good photographs. Today I have four (4) certificates in photography and they were all acquired online.
I have packages for leisure, vacation, and honeymoon travelers I also organize group tour trips during public holidays for interested clients.
I also have engaged many photography websites and organizations to know the new updates in the industry. In 2019, one of my photos made the semifinals in the WMO 2020 calendar competition.
Interview With The CEO of The Travel Guide