Banana Island Living Podcasts

With nearly 30 years as an international civil servant working with the UN, Yewande Odia has been in all the hotspots - Somalia, Haiti, Goma, Tchad and yes, even New York (the original hotspot)! In this episode, we discuss:UN or bust - how to get your foot through the door;Trevor Noah, Chris Rock and the attraction of the educated comic;Theatre arts, school band, UN? Not the most o

As if Sarah Boulos’s backstory (past imperfect?) was not epic enough, her present continuous one merits its own Hollywood (or is it Nollywood?) biopic. Born in Burkina Faso, schooled in France and US, Lebanese father and French mother; living in Nigeria for many decades, Sarah has truly bloomed where she was planted.Vibrant, passionate and a muse, Sarah’s life has been one of g

Blessing Adesiyan established WorkLife Africa, a think-tank focussed on transforming the continent's workforce and work spaces. She has made quite a journey from tech to care, not the first pivot that springs to mind but as the mistress of making lemonade from lemons, she now sits comfortably in her own skin.In this episode, we discuss:Finding yourself pregnant in Uni and maki

Ugoma Ebilah is a polymath - she has been an economist, successful financier, clothes designer, art dealer and now, one word which might just work when trying to box the unboxable would be 'creative entrepreneur'. In this episode, we discuss:The corporate lane, having an eye, wanting more and the side hustle mission creep. Clarity vs choosing not to know.The indefinable a

Only the paranoid survive! Only the paranoid survive? Yes! Tokunboh George - Taylor lives by that mantra and she really should know. She is THE foremost PR strategist in Nigeria and founding Managing Director at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Nigeria. Served her and her clients well (very well) and in this episode, we discuss:branding, self branding and positioning;that line between bra

Uzo Nzeogu, a talented artist who studied Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka with greats like Bruce Onobrakpeya and El Anatsui seemed all set to claim his place as a fine artist. But then, he did the maths, ditched paint and chose pragmatism. Pragmatism led him to Newswatch, to Dele Giwa, to Ray Ekpu, to Dan Agbese and to 'the happiest time of my life&a

Helen took a short trip away from university and came back as Miss Nigeria 1979! Sharp, shrewd and always impeccably turned out, Helen Prest Ajayi neatly turned the beauty currency into entrepreneurship, into businesses way ahead of the times. In this episode, we discuss:using what you have to get what you want.spotting trends way ahead of time.Buka (yes, that Buka) and the fast fo

Eku Edewor is many things but one thing she definitely is not is a slacker. Not just a pretty face (and what a pretty face), she believes in grafting and earning her flowers. In this episode, we discuss:9 years old and catching the bug (yes, do put your daughter on the stage Mrs. Worthington).53 Extra, Castle & Castle, Netflix and longevity in the business.UK or Naij? - would I

A lion in the den who has made his mark on the property landscape. Paul Onwuanibe is group chief executive officer of Landmark Africa Group. With formal education in Architecture, Property Development and Construction Management, together with a London Business School MBA with a merit in “Value Engineering”Paul is one of the renowned lions on the Nigerian business reality show

For years, Dr. Ayo Aderinwale lived and breathed African political science. He has been in exile fleeing Abacha's regime, been a key figure in the plans and preparations for the United States of Africa, been Deputy President, Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union, established and became executive director of the African Leadership Forum... and then on a fl