We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Emmanuel Idim. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Emmanuel below.

Emmanuel, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

just leaving Nigeria and deciding to make that big move to America alone is my all time biggest risk. I mean I’m still figuring so much stuff out and got a ton more on the table. its funny cause I always used to tell my friends back home – victor and Chukwude of days I was going to leave Nigeria, Africa and chase this dream internationally – almost like a situation off “be careful what you wish for, cause….” don’t get it twisted I love America – it totally fits into my lifestyle and chasing this creative/alternative life for eternity – just the whole idea of building something from nothing and believing. its not like home doesn’t facilitate this idea but more like me personally believing I’ve got more to offer.

so life in a whole for me is a risk, just living alone and waking up every morning is a risk. so that why at some point I was just like my life my rules – I don’t want to look back and say ‘I shoulda done this or that”

im not perfect, just curious – I want more

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

my name is Emmanuel idim – a full Time creative and co founder of Ekpo, a Nigerian creative lifestyle company popularly known for its digital publication www.ekpo.com.ng which cuts through pop culture to menswear telling several stories to a much wider audience.

The Ekpo brand as a whole has expanded slowly but steadily to serve consultanting roles on a number of projects with brands like complex uk, bytdance, uber Nigeria to collaborative works with Nigerian alternative fashion houses like David Blackmoore , Maxivive.
recently wrapping up their last visual project “EKPOMEETS” which dived exclusively into the lives of various Nigerian creatives going behind the scenes of what it is actually to be a Nigerian Creative.

for us at Ekpo, it Is more than just a publication or a blog like people insinuate. EKPO is a movement, EKPO is really needed for the culture.

one of my proudest moment with Ekpo was creating summer bbq fest, a lifestyle festival held in Abuja, Nigeria capital. it was my first event with my then partners. it really did better than expectation, using my creative skills and working has a team we pulled couple thousand people and we definitely set a trend after that.

I can go on and on but im so grateful for this journey and I expect so much more, I ask for prayers and God guidance

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

very early in my creative career, I brought a deal to my good friend to go half and half and everyone will both share profits. well you know how that ended……he literally try to put me out of company and that lost me millions of Nigeria.
I feel good today, cause he recently admitted to doing me wrong, obviously because he couldn’t sustain the brand.

well I wish him love and light but I shall fight for what is mine: rightfully
what I went through alone is all the reason one needs to give up but that for more me makes more wiser in deals and growing and partnership.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

im still so lost,

I may sound stupid but nft and all that meter verse ish – I am so tired of it

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ekpo.com.ng
• Instagram: @ekpo_
• Facebook: ekpomag
• Twitter: @emmanuelidim

Image Credits
stuffed box