It was a great joy and honor to get Ugochukwu Okpara the ever so busy entrepreneur who is quietly making wave n Nigeria, the brain behind so many successful businesses both here in the UK and Nigeria.
1,WC:Please do tell us a little about your self.
My name is Ugochukwu Okpara from Imo State, Nigeria and i grew up partly Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. I am an entrepreneur, a change and positive thinker, and an introvert.
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WC Interview With Ugochukwu Okpara
2, WC:You are a very creative designers, your design are unique and authentic , when and how did you launch your self in the art of web designing , was it back home or here in the UK
Well, i started drawing portraits at age 6-10 and my dad would beat me up to go and read my books because we wanted me to be a medical doctor, but when i finished secondary school, I realized that the creative thing is still there then i decided to go into IT to study software programming and computing at APTECH, i actually started with learning web designing in 2001 in my bedroom, then moved to UK in 2006 and continued the same web designing. While in the UK i worked for mostly start-up companies and they do not have good company logo and identity and it was challenging to work without that so i decided to learngraphics design so i can offer a complete package to my client from designing company logo, to branding their stationary, website, marketing and brand communication materials.
3WC:, You have launched your self as a great entrepreneur venturing into different aspect of business how have you managed all this great business.
I made a decision when i was 19 not work for any body but to set up businesses and create jobs and that has been my passion, starting and building businesses. I used to say then that “I am an IT man in business” that means for me it’s not all about designing and writing code but developing the business side of it. The truth is i know how to convert knowledge into money making and that was the difference between me and other IT guys then. When i was in APTECH in 2003, i would go round VI and Ikoyi after lectures submitting proposals to companies to build websites for them while some of my mates are still dependent on their parents, i was already independent because i was making money at that early age and was also saving.
4, WC: Data Studio Resources (DSR) is one of your main businesses, please can you tell our readers a little about this business and how you have be able to establishment this platform.
When i learnt web designing in 2001, i started getting jobs from friends and family and was also saving money as a very young man and in 2003 when i was 23, i had a lawyer friend in my church and i would discuss my future and vision with him and he told me one thing “if you want to succeed in business, youneed a lawyer and an accountant around you” then he helped me to register my company Data Studio Resources Limited (DSR) in January 2004. Our business started as a pure IT company with core services on Website Designing and Software Development before i left for UK in 2006 and came back in 2009 with lots of exposure in my field and also gained new knowledge in Graphics Design and Digital Print Media, then got in more like minded partners and we decided to advance the business and the solutions we provide – becoming the first Nigerian IBS (integrated business solutions) brand,uniquely offering: Business & Event Branding, Graphics & Digital Print Media, IT Business Solutions, Strategy & Business Development.
5, WC: As the CEO of /Deramo Energy please can you tell our readers a little about what Deramo Energy is all about.
Deramo Energy Started with an inspiration from God, i have no idea about the oil and gas but i got the business idea in a church services and i was led to pen down about the company and all of its services that how it started in 2011. Deramo Energy is growing and dynamic energy services company, applying innovative approaches in providing cutting edge service solutions for the local and international energy industry for both the upstream and downstream oil and gas sector.
6, WC: As a web designer in UK/Nigeria how difficult or easy was it for you to break into the die hard world of brand naming web designers.
Well, for me what makes a good web designer is your works which speaks for you. we have also taught about marketing our services but realized there is no time for that as 95% of our clients comes from referrals; that mean we are adding value to our client’s business. the challenge here in Nigeria due to some environmental factors, when we don’t meet up with delivering on time, our clients may not be happy about it but we are always quick to say sorry as we are focused on sustaining a win-win relationship with our clients, but most importantly we stay true to our brand essence which ensures we deliver value experiences to our clients and that gives them 120%.
7, WC: Please can you tell our readers how you managed to build a successful business why maintaining a very low profile personal life unlike the over rated ones who makes so much noise.
I like to be in the background and make things happen through people around me, but most of the time i am involved in the marketing of our services as it is becoming interesting and i love marketing now, that is my current passion.
8, WC: Tell us who are your clients, and what are your price range, is it affordable to low business earners or both the low and high income business.
we work with multinationals, indigenous major players and start ups/growing companies. Our affinity with SME’s and young entrepreneurs means we always seek to support them with affordable prices and value experiences.
9, Please do tell your style icons and role models,
My role models are Mike Adenuga, Dangote, fashola i like their forward thinking and that all. |
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