Interview With CEO Of Nigeria’s #1 Tourism Company, VisitAssist (Pt1)
Tell us a bit about yourself:
My name is Babatunde Adepoju and I am the CEO of VisitAssist, the number 1 Tourist Service in Nigeria.
I’m happily married and have two beautiful daughters, the older is 14 and my baby is ten.
I have a degree in business computing and IT from London Metropolitan University.
I worked as an IT professional for over 20 years in the UK before starting VisitAssist
I’m a Cheslea fan. Please don’t judge me on that
Laughter
Obviously, I love football and tennis. I could go on and on about tennis if you want
Err…, sorry this interview is not about tennis. It’s about VisitAssist.
Both laugh
Fun fact about yourself: I love music a lot, especially Afrobeats and I used to manage an Afrobeat Virtual nightclub during the pandemic
Really? That, I wouldn’t mind hearing more about.
Ah, but this interview is not about virtual nightclub it’s supposed to be about VisitAssist
Touche
Laughter
What made you think of starting VisitAssist? What gap did you notice in the market that you wanted to fill.
I traveled to Nigeria for a function in 2019 and found myself unable to go out on more than one occasion because I wasn’t able to secure a concrete transport arrangement before I arrived in Nigeria.
On that same trip, I stayed at an accommodation arranged by a friend and it just wasn’t up to standard.
No running water?
There was running water quite alright but no shower nor hot water and every time I wanted to take a shower my host had to get the househelp to boil water with a kettle.
For Real?
For real, bro!
Laughs
It was somewhere on the Island, nice, quiet gated community. Electricity was guaranteed for at least 12 out of 24 hours. Stayed at a friend’s BQ and had a living room, bedroom, kitchen and clean toilet and bathroom all to myself.
But the lack of an overhead shower was a red line for you
Laughs
It wasn’t only the lack of an overhead shower. The water-pressure situation made it impossible for an overhead shower to function. Something I take for granted here in the UK. Secondly, they had Water-Heating systems in the main house but not at the boys quarters so anytime I wanted to take a shower, I had to get the househelp to boil some water to take a shower with. I’m used to taking my shower with warm water. I’m sure I really stressed that boy’s life.
Hope he was adequately compensated?
Laughs
More than adequately
More laughter
Although the accommodation was free, thanks to my friend, I would have paid for being able to step into a shower cubicle and have warm water flow from an overhead shower head.
Then there was the WC. Don’t know exactly why but a single flush wouldn’t do justice to the biological effect of a sumptuous meal of Amala with abula accompanied by orisirisi washed down with two bottles of Orijin!
Laughter!
So after every dump you’d have to resort to a bucket flush.
Oh no!
Oh, yes! Before I went to Nigeria in 2019, I hadn’t been to Nigeria for a while. My experience during that visit made me realise there was a gap in the market.
It’s not enough that the accommodation is neat, quiet and secure. There are other little things that matter.
Like a one-time flush?
Exactly!
Laughter
With VisitAssist, you know exactly what you’re getting when you get to Nigeria.
(Interview Continues in the next post)