Veteran comedian and entrepreneur, Atunyota Akpobome, popularly known as Ali Baba, has urged Nigerians to deliberately develop their talents and abilities until they become valuable assets capable of creating commercial and societal impact.
Ali Baba made the call while speaking at the Life Guide Colloquium held in Lagos, where brand strategist and leadership architect, Jide Adeyemi, presented his book titled “Life Guide: Stories, Lessons and Insights to Empower Your Journey.”
Addressing participants on the theme, “Influence Engineering,” the comedian stressed that talent alone is not enough for success, noting that individuals must intentionally nurture and refine their potential to become relevant and indispensable in society.
“We are talking about mining your potential properly until it becomes an asset,” he said. “Potential is where to start from, but you have to develop it enough to the point where people begin to seek it for commercial or societal value.”
According to Ali Baba, influence is built when people consistently invest in their abilities and transform them into tools that positively impact society. He added that true success should inspire and empower others rather than serve only personal interests.
The comedian also emphasised the importance of recognising and appreciating individuals who create opportunities and contribute meaningfully to society, saying such recognition encourages more people to make positive impacts.
He maintained that rewarding good deeds and societal contributions is essential for building a progressive and compassionate society where individuals remain motivated to uplift others.
Speaking at the event, Adeyemi called for intentional and purposeful leadership in Nigeria, arguing that the nation’s major challenge is not the absence of capable leaders but the lack of continuity, genuine concern for citizens and sustainable governance.
He noted that although Nigeria is blessed with enormous human capital, inconsistent leadership approaches have continued to hinder national growth and development.
“We have amazing leaders in Nigeria, but what is lacking is intentionality and purposeful leadership,” he said.
“One government comes with fantastic programmes, and immediately they leave office, the next person starts something new. That is why we don’t have continuity.”
Adeyemi further stated that effective leadership requires people who are committed to impact, genuinely concerned about citizens and determined to leave lasting legacies.
Describing Nigeria as a land of opportunities despite its challenges, he said gaps in critical sectors provide room for innovation, creativity and enterprise.
“This is one country where you can go to bed with nothing and wake up the next morning a millionaire because someone gives you an opportunity,” he said. “In places where everything already works, there may be fewer opportunities, but in Nigeria, there are many gaps to fill.”
He explained that the colloquium was organised to provide guidance and clarity for people navigating life, business, leadership, faith and nation-building in a rapidly changing and distracting world.
“We are trying to provide a compass through which people can navigate life,” he said. “There is so much noise and distraction around people today, and there is a need for clarity, purpose and direction.”
Adeyemi also highlighted the connection between leadership, faith, branding and nation-building, insisting that no society can thrive without quality leadership, strong values and effective communication.
“You cannot build a nation without quality leadership, you cannot have personal clarity without faith in God, and you cannot do anything without marketing,” he stated.
On his book, Life Guide, Adeyemi said it was written to help readers gain personal clarity, build purposeful lives and develop wisdom for growth across different areas of life.
According to him, the book challenges readers to embrace integrity, rethink their approach to life and live more intentionally.
