Titilope EjimagwaFor over 22 years, Titilope Ejimagwa has been a multi-level network marketer. She started from scratch and her experience is vast. Over time, she worked with six different multi-level network marketing companies. She became the world Number one in the sixth one. Her trajectory is such that she is called the ‘Mother of Network Marketing in Africa’. She was not given that panegyric for the fun of it. She worked to clinch it; she is the First Black 5-Star Director and Global Icon of Longrich Bioscience. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Physical and Health
Education from Lagos State University, LASU. She proceeded to Regis University, Denver, California for her Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Recently, she spoke on her educational background, how she started business, even as an undergraduate, her religion, family and other issues.
How did you get your seed capital to start business?
I didn’t have a dime to start a business. I was so poor that I could not even afford to eat. I started business when I was in LASU as a student. I could easily go to Cotonou and Togo to buy earrings and sell them in the school. I was making money.
Alas, I became broke at a point. Later, a friend told me about a product called NONI, and that was in 1997. I said Margaret, I don’t have money. She gave me some cartons which I sold and made money. Later, NONI had an issue because the federal government thought it was a juice and therefore banned it in 1999. That was how I moved into selling Forever Living Products (FLP). That was where I started real multi-level business.
There was a man called Baba Oloko. He is late now. A friend of mine told me to go and meet him. When I met him, he loaned me N150,000 for a month without interest. I used the money to buy FLP products, which I took to Kainji. I sold the products for more than half a million.
I was not dishonest. I told the buyers that my own aloe vera gel was N4,000 whereas the selling price of the product was N2,500. When they argued that it was expensive I would say yes it is but I would tell you exactly what you need. God just helped me. Everybody that I touched got well. When God wants to bless you, He will just bless you without looking back. It is not about how good I am in sales. I am a bad stutterer (laughs). It was just God that wanted to bless me and I was equally determined to be blessed. I was available to be blessed.
I took products of N150, 000 or less to Kainji and sold it for N500,000. I bought the biggest fish from Kainji. I bought two and local groundnut oil. I would drop in Ibadan to give one to my parents. They would pray for me and bless me and I would give them money as well.
The next day, I boarded a bus to Lagos to see Baba Oloko. I returned the loan and he said, ‘I gave it to you for one month, why are you returning it so soon?’ I said but I have finished using it now; why would I be keeping your money? He said this had never happened before. He was always having to look for people who borrowed money from him to get the money back. He said I was the first person who would borrow money and return it to him in one week. He said I should come any time I needed money. I said I would need another loan by month end. That was my turning point.
Why did you go to Kainji?
When I started selling FLP, I went to my friend’s dad who was formerly with printing and minting. He said he didn’t need the products but that I should go and meet my friend, but he would pay. That was how I went to Kainji. On getting to Kainji, my friend did not buy even tooth paste from me. The husband too did not buy anything. But the husband said their Assistant General Manager Operations had an accident and that he might need my products. He took me close to his office and asked me to go and meet him.
When I knocked, the person who opened the door had tribal marks. I greeted and knelt down. He asked to know what I wanted. When I told him, he asked me to fill the form. When I entered, the boss told me he was taking care of himself and already feeling okay and that he didn’t need my product. Along the line, an angel walked into the office. ‘Wow!’ The man that entered screamed. These drugs, I have been looking for them. In short, do you have this, do you have that? Before he finished, the boss that said he didn’t need my product said, ‘Would you drop it and get out of my office. Is that why you are in my office? Do what you have come for and get out! The man apologised and while leaving asked me to see him in his office. That was the angel that God sent to me.
The boss did not just end up packing everything. He said your products are very good, abi? What can you recommend for me? He bought for himself, his wife and his children, and I doubled the money. I am not that nice when it comes to money (laughs). I always told them my products are more expensive because I will give you exactly what you need. So if you want value, come to me, but if you want anyhow product, go somewhere else.
I read Physical and Health Education and I major in Physiology. So I am not just a marketer; I am telling you how your system works.
How were you able to sharpen your marketing skills?
Have you forgotten I am a Jehovah’s Witness? You can’t be a Witness without really knowing how to be convincing. We learn all this.
What gave you the idea to start making money right from school?
I am Ijebu now. I love making money. I don’t like begging. I don’t like asking for money.
Who showed you the way to Cotonou to do that kind of business?
I was getting N2,000 per month as pocket money. A lot of my colleagues were getting N500 per month. I was really, really a big girl, but at the same time, I don’t like going broke. I like making money. Who gave me the idea? I was in sports because I did PHE and we always travelled. We were always going shopping each time we travelled. In the process, I saw some Alhajas selling GL. ‘Alhaja, this GL is very beautiful, I can sell this thing in the hostel,’ I would say to the women. I stayed in the biggest hostel in LASU then. That was how I started buying them. It wasn’t that there was any idea. I had the money with me. I had a tip from the school that they would give us. I had a tip from the state that they would give us. I fought judo for the country. I participated in sports back then, especially NUGA. LASU then was doing very well in NUGA and Law. Those were the two things that brought LASU to the limelight then. We were always the best in judo and tennis, but we struggled with other schools in football.
When did you join the Jehovah’s Witness Christian denomination or have you always been a member?
People are always against them. Actually, my grandmother was the one that was actually talking against them. I saw them preaching and I asked who are these preaching, and she said don’t mind them, awon alakatakiti eniyan (cantankerous people). I asked her what alakatakiti means and she said people that turn the Bible upside down.
I was still very naive and wondered what it means to turn the Bible upside down. I had to run after them and asked how they turn the Bible upside down. They started laughing and asked if I wanted to know more and I said yes. We had a bakery in our house in Ibadan then, so I just took them to the bakery. They told me about birthday and that in the Bible it is not right and it is not real. I said oh, really? My own bible telling me that there are only two places in the Bible, one by Pharaoh and another by Herod. Pharaoh killed his sword bearer during his birthday. That was the only birthday mentioned in the Hebrew scripture. The second that was mentioned is in the Greek testament where John the Baptist was killed by Herod. These two, were they Christians? No. Did they believe in God? No.
Who is a Christian? One who follows Christ’s footsteps closely. Christ lived on earth for 33 years. Abraham lived for how long? Lot, Noah and so many others lived for how long, but none of them mentioned birthday throughout the scripture. Paul, John, Mathew and other disciples lived after Christ but none of them mentioned birthday for once. That was it for me.
Were you born as a Christian?
My mother goes to CAC Oke Felele, Ibadan. My father was born as a Muslim but got converted to Christianity. I went to a Catholic school. My mum was a strong member of CAC. She would beat you if you don’t go to church on Sunday. My father worked with Ogun/Osun River Basin as an engineer. He would come home on Fridays and go back to work on Mondays. He is late now. Jehovah’s Witness people had been inviting me to their meeting but I couldn’t go because I had to attend CAC.
What was your dad’s attitude to it?
One day, I told my dad that Jehovah’s Witness people came to me and I wanted to attend their meeting. He was shocked that I wanted to go to their meeting. How would I confuse mum and not convince her that I wanted to attend the service. I said I learnt that when you put onions in your armpit you will start having temperature. I did it and started running temperature. Daddy said, really? Okay, go and do it.
Sunday morning when I was asked to get ready for church, I started showing signs of being unwell. Mum asked what the problem was, I said it was malaria. My dad said let her stay at home and rest. When it was time, I told my dad I was going to the Jehovah’s Witness meeting, and he said he would go with me. We went for the service and sat in the front seat, and for every question, I would raise my hands up. I enjoyed the service and they came to greet me and ask if I would come again. I never knew my dad was a witness but left. My telling him that I was going for the meeting spurred something in him and that was how he followed me and came back to the truth. Then I had the courage and talked to my mother and my father was there. That was how I became a witness.
What is your business philosophy and who is your role model?
You want me to say the truth? I have only one role model: Jesus Christ. He is the best teacher that ever lived. What do you need to know about teaching, about marketing, about convincing, about anything? Everything, Christ has it. There is nothing new that I am doing. I give no credit to myself. All glory goes to Him.
What really informs your fashion style?
For me, it’s just making it simple. I love simplicity and being well covered. Diamond is not seen at the bus stop. You don’t see gold on the street. Beautiful things, things that are inspiring are well hidden, so hide it. Being a Witness, I have to live what I preach.
You are into real estate. What differentiates your own real estate from others?
While I respect and appreciate everybody, I believe in quality. Like my rice, I can’t sell what I cannot eat. I believe that anything you want to do, do it very well. I wanted to go into real estate early but I know for sure that the cost of land is the difference. The cost of cement, plumbing works, electrical is the same. The only difference is the cost of land. Being a business woman, I like to make money. I ask myself, how much will I make in the next 15 years? Anything I am building and I don’t make my money back in 10 to 15 years does not make sense. Anything I am buying, if I don’t make my money back in the next 10 to 15 years, it doesn’t make sense.
We are building one in Ikoyi. I just believe in quality, right price, right place. It is actually Eko Towers that built for me. I may only have to build one in a year but that one would be worth my name, my time and efforts.
When we asked about your role model, I was thinking you would mention your dad. What kind of person was he?
I love my dad so much. He was a man of wisdom; he was an honest person. You can’t know my father and get wrong. He would tell you the truth no matter what happens. If you see me, you see my dad. We are only two that look like him. My dad influenced the choice of everything I did.
How many children did your father have?
My dad had five. We lost one. I am the first child to my dad and to my mum the second. My mum had a child before marrying my father.
How do you unwind?
I love reading. Of course, I read the Bible.
I read it every day. Apart from that, I read things that influence me. Since 2004, 18 years now, I have been leading the continent, having over 10 million people in my network. I have the best brains around me and I must be a step ahead of them. If not I would not be worth being their leader. They must have something to gain from me every day of their lives. So, I read books that add value. That is why I don’t really do parties because I don’t have the time.
Talking about your time, you travel a lot, how does your husband cope?
I love my husband. My husband is the best man ever, trust me. Without my husband, I wouldn’t be where I am today. He gave me the wings to fly. All my success is attributed to his permissiveness.
Do you have any succession plans as a business woman?
I was talking with someone today and she said aunty, your kind of wealth is different. Yours is about empowering people. How many wealthy people do we have in the country and even the continent that have churned out millionaires like them? Very few, if there are. People like to give fish to others without teaching them how to fish. That is the difference between me and other people. Many people in my network are multi-millionaires monthly. Well over a million of them are earning millions. I don’t want to say weekly because you may think I am exaggerating. Trust me, hundreds of thousands among them are earning multi-millions weekly or at least millions of them are earning millions monthly.
That is enough for me. I come from a sharing environment where you don’t eat the bread and give the crumbs. We share the loaves. That is what makes me very fulfilled. When I travel to any state in this country, you will think it is the governor that is coming. I won’t even see my handbag or phone. Somebody will be holding this, another will be holding that. That has been happening for almost two decades now. If I go to the UK, it is the same thing. In the US, it is the same thing. In Asia, it is the same thing. The crowd at the airport waiting for me. What again are you looking for?
How did you meet your husband?
Actually, my husband is my uncle’s friend. I went to see my uncle who is a very nice guy. He said we should go and see his friend. His friend, now my husband, told my uncle that he likes me. My uncle screamed. He said Titi, you cannot carry her load. He tried, sneaky, sneaky and then he was able to confuse me to marry him.
He had told my uncle that he wanted to marry me but he didn’t come toasting me. He came as a friend. He is a Witness too.
There is no perfect marriage. How have you been able to tolerate each other?
We have to tolerate each other every day. We are two different individuals coming from different environmental and cultural backgrounds. We disagree but we are quick to settle our differences. The most important thing is how fast you are able to settle it.
You are an Ijebu and he hails from Abia State. What was your parents’ reaction when you took him to your house?
My parents are really not bothered about tribe. As a Witness, we don’t have boundaries or tribes. We are one united family. My mother loved him the very first day.
What took you into rice business?
I just believe in my country. I don’t believe in importing things. Most of my clothes are ankara. I have more than 1000 ankara fabrics in different styles, colours in my wardrobe. I love locally made things. Mine is a locally made rice and I try to do it right. There is so much abuse in food nowadays. There is so much chemical added to food that makes food become poisonous, and I want to eat food without getting poisoned. I want to be sure of what I am eating. We are not here to compete. We are here to feed ourselves.
How can people join your business network?
To join my network is simple and quite easy. I make it as affordable as possible. You know I am also into Longrich products. It is not meant for the poor but I did my best to make it possible for everybody to afford it. You can start the business with N14,400. Everybody in the world is under me. If you brush with the product anywhere in the world, I am earning without leaving my bedroom. I achieved this through a lot of tenacity and determination.
Were there times you almost gave up in the business?
Business is like marriage. It is having children and your child is misbehaving. Are you going to throw him away? You need to call and hold the child. That is the way I see my business. If it is easy, there is no money in it. You have to be determined and intentional to make it work.
What’s your advice for those in business or aspiring to be?
Winners never quit and quitters never win. When you quit, you start afresh again. It’s never rosy outside there. People face same thing even abroad. What people cannot do here they go abroad and do. All the money is here. What are the Americans, Indians, Chinese, Lebanese and so on doing here? It is because the money is here.
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