Opinion does not define a person-Ubi Franklin

31year old Music Mogul and serial entrepreneur, Ubi Ekapong Ofem better known as Ubi Franklin is one personality you can’t but reckon with as he is taking the step towards changing the face of business not just in Nigeria but outside the shores of the country. Driven by passion to always emerge winner, Ubi founded a company which provided a platform to fund business ideas and start-ups; hence, he launched his online laundry services ‘Instant Pickup’ and luxury apartment services tagged ‘Instant Apartment’. Ubi who once worked as Personal Assistant to comedian Julius Agwu, sure understands the music industry environment having worked with few entertainers and his label artiste Selebobo, Tekno, Ellyman amongst others. In this chat with MUTIAL ALLI, Ubi takes his nomination at the Future Awards, his growing businesses, opinions amongst others.

Congratulations on the launch of another brilliant idea; how does that make you feel?

I feel good and excited on the launch of yet another business idea but at the same time, my best is yet to come as there are still a lot of in the pipeline to unveil. It’s a gradual process and am definitely positive about it too.

Don’t you think this new business of yours can bring set back to your growing record label?

Not at all, none of businesses have affected each other rather they help one another grow. I know how to attend to each at every given time. My record label is one of the biggest and I am proud to have on one of the biggest artiste in Africa with me. Tripple MG is growing in leaps and bound; we are working tirelessly to be a trend setter when it comes with releasing of quality content. With Selebobo, Teckno, Ellyman and others; 2018 is sure going to be an awesome year.

Tekno is one of Nigeria’s best entertainer presently; when should his fans expect an album?

Like you rightly said he is one of the brightest of stars currently in the entertainment industry as we speak but I can assure you that all hands are currently on deck towards putting out an album with a value. At Tripple MG we are full of surprises; we can release an album before of the year but all that is still in the works.

How do you feel about people having an opinion about your life, interpreting every single move you make?

It is the life I chose. You see, a lot things happen in lives of people, but you don’t know about it. A lot of things happen in the music industry that people don’t know about. The stories are making me more popular and I am monetizing it. Opinions are welcome but it doesn’t define a person.

You something ago posted on your Social Media page; things you would like to achieve before you attain 35years, do you consider this as one it?

Of course you see in life, at time it’s best for you to set out your goal and follow suit gradually; I am a positive driven person and I set my mind at a target always. I set a goal to be married before I am 30 and it happened at 29; I set the goal to own one of the biggest record label in Africa with the biggest artiste out of Africa, it happened before I am 30. Moreover, I also own a premium rooftop restaurant and other startups like Instant Pickup and the new one Instant Apartment and the drive now is to achieve more before I am 35. There is equally a dream aspiration too to be achieved on or before I hit 45.

And what is that?

To become the Governor of my state

Where did you get these ideas and how long did it get you to do it?

When you have an idea, that same idea comes out fast but it depends on who acts first. So when I see people they will be like oh I have this idea, but it’s still my idea and you know these are people I never spoke with them before.. So it’s something that comes to you, develop it and move it. You know the truth is some ideas are very easy, but the implementation is very tough; so once the idea is very easy just know that the implementation is going to be tough and also when the idea is very difficult just know that the implementation is going to be easy, not that difficult.

Speaking on the implementation, how long did it take you to reach this far?

You see one thing I have come to understand is that ideas like this you have to put it first, you have to start getting reviews. For example IPhone 10x just came and it push like five updates already, so we keep updating, we make sure whoever is using the platform enjoys the platform. In trends of today and trends of yesterday there was no Instagram now there is Instagram, before it was BBM but now it’s WhatsApp, Imo, and Snapchat amongst others. So things are moving, we are moving with the trends.

While thinking of setting up; were you not scared that people may wish not to buy into the idea?

You see the thing is if you believe in something, you go for it, you might not get yes to it immediately but you will agree to it one day. You could get so many No as answers but once you get a single Yes for it; it means you have a brilliant idea.

How did you go over it because a lot of people in 2017 had a cause to relent especially in this recession, so did you had any cause to relent?

I do tell a lot of people that when there is recession there is actually a room for a lot of money. You see because there is recession a lot of people increase their product, like before its 180 per dollar and now people are busy selling their product , they are not selling it to the buyers taste. So if you have a lot of that goods you are gaining a lot but when you go to buy that’s when it actually pains you, so you need to be ready for the change. So I am always ready when it comes how to figure out what to do.

Running a business like this requires constant monitoring; how do you intend to cope with the challenges ahead?

Well, I may be the CEO of the company and like you righty said such a business of this kind requires constant monitoring and updates so as not bore our clients; solving such issues is where we now draw out responsivities for each members of team. I strongly believe in team spirit as this is one of the reason so many companies collapse when that lacks. I am blessed with a lot of talented and positive driven person round me and together we can all grow together.

As one of the nominees of the coming Future Awards, what does that signifies for you?

People don’t know this but I always pray to be nominated for the Future Award, Its one of this platform that has made people come to know your brand and things you do. The irony is that year in and out I get denied of nominations and I then asked myself am I feeling left out at all time; and I realized that I was not doing something right. With that passion in me; I went back to my drawing board and I went for the right things and so for me been a nominated alone for me is a big achievement and I am positive that after Future Awards, the next stop for me is Forbes.

What if you don’t emerge the winner?

You see for me, I don’t dwell in negativity because I am a positive driven person; one of the things I have come to realise in life is that when awards nominations like this comes for you; all you need do is to embrace the atmosphere because at least it shows that your works are been monitored. It’s not just about winning or not but the fact I was considered for an awards, I feel like a winner already irrespective of whatever happens on the D-Day.

Should in case you win, any prepared speech?

No, I will just say Mama I made it.

With several businesses, what do think you are doing differently that others are not getting right?

My passion for all what I am doing is the extra touch I am giving; a lot of people are in venturing into business just for the sake and such business does not stand the test of time at the end of the day. Often time when I see people give up in the same business that I am thriving in, I question myself on what I am doing differently but I realized that the zeal I have my job and passion is my driving force. Also, I am afraid of losing because all I want to do is win at all time. If I lose, you will see in me that I am very down, hence I am always careful with what I do.

With all this, what do you intend to create?

Well as you can see, the Ubi Franklin brand is a movement because what I intend creating at the end of day is that for any reason any of my staff is leaving; they will equally be setting up their own company not to go work under somebody at the end of the day. I want to create lots of employment via my various business and further contribute to nation building.

Is there any other business you are trying to break into?

Well what you guys don’t know is that I have well over nine businesses that I run and so many others are still going to come up. I won’t let the cat out of the bag now; when that time comes, we would let you know about it.

What has been your challenges?

For me one of the challenges have faced is staffing and that is getting the right person for the job; a lot of young youths will come for job interviews with all zeal and when they finally gets one; they miss use the opportunity given. Another challenge also is since buck of the work is majorly online; at times internet could be slow amongst others but by God’s grace we keep forging ahead.

As a music mogul, how will you rate 2017 in the entertainment industry at large?

The industry has grown tremendously and we still open to more improvement; our sounds have improved and our artistes have gain several international recognitions. It can only get back as am full of positive vibes that come 2018; the industry will have achieved quite a lot again.