Inspire Africa promotes entrepreneurship among the youth through a reality television show code named Project Inspire Africa.
The Idea was conceived by a one Nelson Tugume, overall achiever of the 2011 Young Achievers Awards, focuses on encouraging entrepreneurship among the youths throughout Africa.
“Project Inspire Africa features twenty-four of East Africa’s best business minds competing for a grand prize of $50,000 worth of business capital,” Tugume explains.
If you weren’t Nelson Tugume, who would you rather be?—and why?
I would be Tugume Nelson because he will never any one else.
There is no one else I would rather be. My life is a gift from God and what I have made of my life thus far, is my gift back to God and all of humanity.
Tell us a little about a book that changed your life.
The Bible
The Bible is probably the most misrepresented and most misunderstood book in the world. For me personally, it has provided a road map, a compass that has helped me navigate the many storms of my life and to stay focused.
Speaking of changes, I bet there are boatloads of people (including those that used to ignore you as a matter of principle and cut you dead on the street just for the fun of it) who now want to associate with you. They probably call you incessantly, begging you to hang out with them.
Do you say, ‘For the last time, you have the wrong number; please stop calling me’, or do you quickly mumble something unintelligible in a foreign language, hang up and start laughing?
I learned much from my mother and other elders who have guided my life. I am a humble and simple man, who would never consider not picking up the phone. I am always open and alert for the next “deal” and I never know where that opportunity may come from. Having said that, I am also learning to have a discerning spirit and not waste time with people who are not serious about their own development..
Hang on; I have just received an elaborate text that says you are going to be a woman in your next life, and that you will wear your hair in curls and espouse feminism. What are your thoughts on womanhood, curly hair, and feminism?
Wow!! That person really has a wild imagination. I am sure my wife could never imagine me in that way. I have no problem however, espousing my feminine side. Each of us have both a masculine and feminine side. My success recently has actually put me in touch with that more sensitive, softer side of myself. My wife is an awesome and beautiful woman and she has enough beauty, class and style for both of us.
Stephen King, the celebrated novelist, is supposed to have said that the road to hell is paved with adverbs. Others say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. But Stephen king and the others must be talking about the usual hell—with a lake of fire and demons. Let’s talk financial hell, now. In your opinion, the road to financial hell is paved with:
The road to hell is paved with poor planning, inflated egos, lack of direction and focus and spiritual ignorance.
The concept of soulmates is overrated, is it not? Surely, there can’t be a person that exists for the express purpose of completing you. That’s rather selfish, isn’t it?
I prefer to use the word “complementing” one another. My wife is truly my soul mate. She loves and accepts me unconditionally as do I for her. WE do not need anyone to complete us, yet we both are aware of how blessed we are to have one another to share this awesome journey with.
Do you apologise even when it isn’t your turn?
All of us, I think struggle with ego. Yet, I try and not get caught up in the petty things and instead focus on what is truly important in my life. It takes a truly humble person to be able to say, I am sorry, it was not my intention to hurt you.
Your friends and siblings must think they know everything there is to know about you, but, alas, I am here to prove them wrong. Sadly, they have absolutely no idea that you:
That I am not perfect. Still in the process of becoming and like everyone else I have my share of fear and uncertainties. I simply choose to not allow those moments to control my destiny.. We live in creative and changing world, and I am forever changing.
Your biggest worry about twenty first century Africa is that:
That if Africa does not realize that we are one people, one race we will again be slaves in our own land. Africa is Rising and nothing can stop the ascent. It is my prayer that we as Africans will participate fully in this Rise and be benefactors of the growth and development and natural resources. The gravest mistake budding entrepreneurs make is to assume that:
You have reached the Top
People shy away from starting their own businesses because of the risk and uncertainty involved at the beginning. Please prescribe an antidote.
There is no antidote that will diminish the anxiety involved in taking a leap of faith and choosing to purse your dream. It is a simple choice. I can only say, what are the alternatives? A life of certainty that is boring, unfulfilled, lacks passion and promise. Who would choose that option, knowingly?
Not many people can afford BBAs and MBAs and DBAs, unfortunately, and through no fault of theirs. What are their options?
Google, Books should be your friend
I have often heard people say that Ugandans do not save enough. However, I have also heard people ask questions like, ‘Why save your money when you can invest it?’ help us get some closure, here. Which is which?
Africans, those that save most likely will see procure liabilities as opposed to assets. Investment is high level procure that starts from 1,000,000 USD.
Business jargon is mostly double-dutch to us mere mortals; when people say, “they are step-changing the transition towards a seamless boundary between shared commitments and best practice”, the majority of us fall into a fitful sleep or develop a migraine. Could you capture the complexity of ‘business ethics’ in a few words?
Those values upon which business success depends on,…………… honesty…………….hard work…………courage ……………. fair play………………. loyalty and patriotism – these things are old and true.
In other parts of the world, a foreign investor commits capital to gain financial returns. In Uganda, a foreign investor usually commits diddlysquat and disappears with millions of taxpayers’ money. What are we doing wrong?
Corruption is a cancer, that is destroying the very fiber of our government and society.
When tomorrow comes, it’ll be today, and you’ll be working on another exciting project codenamed:
Stay Tuned
When all is said and done, you’d like the people alive in 2050 to discuss your projects and endeavours in terms of:
How different their lives are because of my work and success, and to keep visioning and imagining how they can make things even better. There will always be room for improvement. The next generation, will critique, honour change, adapt and re imagine a different world, even from the one I am working to create. That is called progress.
New Vision
So you were named young achiever of the year recently, what do you think made you stand out from all the other hardworking Ugandan youths out there?
Am a unique businessman, especially for the reason that he combines business acumen with an amazing and special class of intellectualism.
At 28 Years you seem to be running too many businesses including a car dealership, a real estate firm and an investment company to mention but a few, what keeps you steadily on top of all this minus crumbling?
I’m a determined guy and driven by profit. I’ve been actively involved in business since I was 9yrs so it’s obvious the dynamics are firmly embedded in my system and day to day routine, so crumbling is a thing unheard of to me.
Mean while briefly tell us about that secret formula that got you this far at such a young age even if its juju because we all need to get there now?
Hah hah hah!!! I don’t believe in juju! I think anyone who does that is wasting their time. Anyway, my secret is hard work, dedication, and above all prayer and Faith. After all, God is the one that has blessed me and seen me through so many trials and tribulations. Faith is a kingdom principal exercised in all spheres of life. Be it a believer or not. If you don’t have faith , you wont risk and managing your risk is important.
From the look of things you are a very busy man, how much time do you put in and do you have any free time and what exactly do you with it?
I put in a lot of time…I can’t say I work for specific hours a day. Sometimes I go till 4am! I’d say my free time is during the festive season and more occasionally on Sundays, where I go to church with my wife and spend some time with family and friends. Besides that, I like to read inspirational books. I’m thinking of golfing and getting involved in rally driving.
Talking about free time all healthy men have a thing for the fairer sex, so who is your ideal kind of woman and why?
My ideal kind of woman is only my wife. Simply because she’s the closest perfect can get to. Faithfulness is not exercised in Business but also in marriage as well.
So you got married at a very young age, what is the secret in this and how has it impacted you?
The secret is love, understanding and communication. My wife and I work together, so we strengthen our relationship everytime we interact. I think as a result of being married.
You seem to be a man of the gadgets so between your macbook pro, ipad and black berry, which one do you treasure most?
It must be my Apple products. I think Steve Jobs and his team were visionaries. They inspire me and make believe that one day Africa will change. They show me that everything is possible.
As a really successful entrepreneur, there are people who have inspired you and those you really look up to both locally and globally, who could those be and why?
My mother inspired me. She taught me how to be the kind of man I am today, in more ways than one. Name sake Nelson Mandela and Paul Kagame are exceptional leaders, And I think every one should look up to them. They are real Pan Africanists
Besides the people is there any book you read that really got you fired up and what book are you reading currently?
Good to Great
There is this big project you started called Inspire Africa we had written off aimed at rewarding the smartest business brain in the region with a cool 50,000 US dollars start up capital, briefly tell us how far you have gone with it?
We’re in postproduction right now, the series should soon be on your television sets by the close of the year.
And where did the auditions and selections take place, we need to be aware so that next time we don’t miss the 50,000 US dollar bounty?
In March next year, keep your eyes on TV, newspapers and social media
You are a prosperous young businessman, how come you don’t drive flashy top of the range Mercedes Benzes and Range rovers with customized plates and go splashing around money?
I don’t believe in showing off(Swagg). To me life is basic; I function like every other human being. As long as I’m comfortable, it isn’t necessary for me to show off. I have you tried to put on 2 shirts because u have a lot money or drive 2 cars at the same time. We still have so much t do rather than Swagg.
So what word do you have for that young struggling entrepreneur who hasn’t yet been as lucky as you and gotten that break?
Don’t give up your dream, keep innovating, seek the Lord’s counsel and work towards your dream. Nothing is impossible. However Luck has no definition and luck is when it meets a prepared mind,. However you will never see the color of luck
Is there one thing you missed so much as a poor child that you rushed and bought for your self when you hit the big money?
I was never a poor child, I leaved a humble a life. Mum and I worked had to have an average life.
So when you get time off your busy schedule where is that dream destination you want to go have a holiday of a life time?
Miami beach
And finally whats the most embarassing thing you have done all your life and wanted to retrieve it but couldn’t?
I have always embarrassed my self when I make losses or when the deal is not in my favor.
Leave a Reply