SUCCESS STORIES MADE IN NAIJA....4

AYO MAKUN-AWARD WINNING COMEDIAN/CEO CORPORATE WORLD ENTERTAINMENT



When you are in the presence of individuals who are passionate about what they are doing, you find yourself caught up in their intensity. They have an undeniable energy that fills a room. The fire ignited inside them catches on. And sparks fly. Passion, which we identify with exuberance ironically, comes from passio, which means from a depth of suffering. Our understanding of life’s joys and sorrows and an appreciation that between our births and our deaths we each have, if we take advantage of it, a chance to make a difference.

Ayo makun, famously known as A.Y is undoubtedly one of Nigeria’s strongest comedy brands, who is passionate about his craft, setting the money spinning comedy industry literally on fire with his scintillating jokes and unique style of delivery. It all started in his university days, then as a student, A.y was just having fun packaging events on campus and exhibiting his God-given potentials. At one of the numerous events he organised on campus, he invited Ali Baba, his mentor and coach. Alibaba was stunned and impressed by the level of excellence of the event. After completing his university education, ayo decided to hook up with ali baba who had earlier encouraged him to stick to his area of competence. From then, he began to show him places, took him to events, and gave him an offer to become his personal assistant.

He said:’Alibaba inspired my entry into comedy, apart from being his P.A, I became his event manager. Based on the exposure he gave me, and his financial remuneration, I said to my self-A.Y you better start making people laugh. There and then I told Ali that I wanted to start doing comedy’. His claim to fame started out on the set of made in warri organised by R.M.D,Nite of a thousand laugh and basket mouth’s laff and jams. From then on, he’s been gaining momentum in his career and smiling to the bank.

A.y,s definition of success is not just about prosperity but also about posterity, and that was how open mic nite comedy challenge was birthed to discover new talents in the comedy industry.Aletile oluwa seyitan Lawrence, who emerged from A.y’s open mic nite comedy challenge, was recently awarded at the National youth council of Nigeria for his contributions to society through comedy. Open mic nite comedy challenge gave seyilaw’s talent a lift as he has become one of the fastest growing stand up comedians to court Nigeria’s entertainment circuit.A.y observed that his driving force is knowing the fact that if you are not useful to yourself, you cannot be useful to the society.



LESSONS LEARNT

Start early:A.y discovered his career path in his university days and was able to stick to it. In the words of fela durotoye:’Early to start, early to reign’.



Menthorship: Ayo was able to leverage on alibaba’s experiential knowledge.Ali brought out the comic personality in him. Sometimes in life, your success is tied to your ability to leverage on other people’s knowledge. It is not always about what you know, but who you know.



Give back: Through his open mic nite comedy challenge, he has discovered over ten comedians who are living their dreams and succeeding on their own terms.In life you will be remembered not for your duration on earth, but for your donation to humanity.

What is the gift God has given you that you are not expressing? Remember to step out in faith, knowing fully well that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. Go and rule your world!