Obi Asika

Obi Asika (born October 3, 1968) is a Nigerian creative industries entrepreneur. He is most known for his involvement in the growth of Nigeria’s music industry, as the founder and CEO of Storm 360 - an indigenous music label which spawned some of the African continent’s most successful musical entertainers, including Naeto C, Ikechukwu, Sasha P, General Pype, L.O.S., Ms Jaie, Tosin Martins, and Yung 6ix. He is a founding partner of Dragon Africa - a Strategic Communications Firm based in London, Lagos and Accra, and is the Chairman of OutSource Media, a leading communications and content production company. Obi Asika also sits on the board of the Collecting Society of Nigeria (COSON).,^[1][2] and is a prominent figure in laying the infrastructure for the growth and development of the media & entertainment industry^[3]

Background & Education

Obi Asika hails from the famous town of Onitsha in Anambra State, Nigeria and was born at the peak of the Nigerian civil war. His father, Anthony Ukpabi Asika, was Administrator of East Central State, Nigeria during the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon. Obi attended Ekulu Primary School, Enugu from 1974 to 1977, and then proceeded to the United Kingdom where he attended Ashdown House between 1977 and 1982. From Ashdown House, he gained a Direct Entry into the famous Eton College, having obtained a Distinction in the National Common Entrance Exams in the UK. At Eton College, Obi held several prominent positions including School Prefect, Secretary of the Political Society and Secretary of the Film Society.

Obi Asika was a Research Assistant at the World Trade Centre of Nigeria between 1986 and 1987. In 1987, he enrolled at the University of Warwick from which he received an LLB Hons in 1990. At the University of Warwick, Obi Asika was Secretary, Nigerian Society; Member, Political Society; Member, Afro-Caribbean Society; Radio Host & DJ and Events Promoter.

Career

Asika has wide transnational business interests in areas including oil and gas, real property, information technology, agriculture, sports, media & entertainment. Between 1987 and 1990, Obi Asika organized several successful concerts, charity and entertainment events at university campuses around the UK . He also hosted a weekly radio show at the University of Warwick with a large listening audience. He was equally DJ and promoter of over 200 events at universities and clubs in London, using venues such as Legends, Dingwalls, Camden Palace, Hippodrome, Wall Street, Shaftesbury’s, Crazy Larry’s, Roxanne’s, L’Equipe Anglaise among many others.

In 1991, Obi founded Storm Productions, a Nigerian entertainment company whose record label arm is notable for ushering in a new generation of Nigerian musical talent, including popular acts such as Naeto C, Ikechukwu, Sasha P, Tosin Martins, Banky W, among others, who changed and developed the Nigerian music landscape^[4]

Obi Asika is the Chairman of OutSource Media, a leading communications and content company that has been involved in the production of popular Nigerian reality television programming such as Big Brother Nigeria, The Apprentice Africa, Dragons Den, Glo Naija Sings, Vodafone Icons Ghana, Calabar Rocks, Amstel Malta Box Office, 100% Naija, And the Winner Is…, Football Legends,^[5] The Voice, and Ignite Africa.^[6]

Obi Asika is also the Founder of Dragon Africa^[7] – a strategic advisory firm which holds the rights to, and produces Social Media Week Lagos^[8] - Africa’s leading conference on new media, technology and business - with Obi as Chairman of the advisory Board and, the Executive Producer of the Conference.^[9]

Obi Asika also served as the West Africa Partner and Co-Founder of AMPN West Africa,^[10] a production company network which works across Lagos, Nairobi and South Africa with TV formats including The Voice,^[11][12] And The Winner Is,^[13] and I love My Country, with offices in Amsterdam, Lagos and Johannesburg.

Role in Government & Policy

Obi Asika has worked - and continues to work - with The World Bank, international companies, and government at state and Federal levels to shape public policy and create an enabling environment for the creative industries in particular and commerce in general. He has been actively involved in developing and nurturing entrepreneurship, sports, creativity, and youth by contributing his expertise on various government & policy shaping initiatives including:

• YouWIN Mentor 2011, 2012, 2013
• Presidential Summit NEMT
• Eko Football Brand Development
• Calabar Rocks, Brand Development and Platform, Cross River
• Presidential Centenary Committee on Sports
• Nigeria Presidential Committee on Centenary of Nigeria
• Board Member, COSON
• Governing Council Member, Nigeria, Africa 2.0^[14]
• Trustee of the Online Publishing Association of Nigeria
• Senior Special Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan (2015)^[15][16]

Role in Sports Development

Obi Asika’s passion for sports has seen him serve on numerous bodies as well as drive sporting activities around the African continent including:

• Eko Football (Lagos Football Association)^[17]
• Soccerex West Africa^[18]
• Kwara Football
• Publication of History of FA Cup Book
• Invasion USA 94 World Cup Compendium
• On Air Commentator for Football Nigeria 99
• Nations cup 2000
• Mali Nations Cup 2002
• National School selection, English Schools, 1986
• Guest Commentator, International matches (NTA) since 1992
• Publisher, Super Eagles Invasion USA 1994
• Consultant, West Africa ISL (FIFA) 1999 - 2002
• Event & Sponsorship Management, 1999 Under 20 (FIFA) World Cup
• Exclusive Licensee, FIFA World Cup Village U20 World Cup, Lagos
• Event & Sponsorship Management – 2000 CAF Nations Cup
• Marketing Consultant – Black Stars of Ghana 2000 ‐ 2002
• Consultant – FIFA TV 1999 ‐ 2002
• Vice Chairman – Kwara United FC (Nigeria Premier League) 2003 ‐ 2005

Public Speaking

Widely recognized and respected for his passion and vast knowledge for entrepreneurship, creativity, and sports, Asika has been invited to speak at a number of high-level events, including the following:

• National Economic Management Team Summit, 2010, co-lead media and entertainment sector^[19]
• Harvard Business School Africa Conference, 2010, Panelist
• Corporate Council on Africa Panelist & Speaker, 2011, Washington, Intellectual Property & Copyright
• Corporate Council on Africa Speaker, 2013
• Wharton School of Business Africa Panel, Panelist 2013^[20]
• African Music Platform South by South West 2012^[21][22]
• Midem, Panelist, African Music Spinlet, 2012
• Wimbiz 10th Anniversary 2011 Keynote Women in Innovation
• British Council, The Business of Entertainment, Keynote, 2012
• Freelance Friday, Enterprise Creative, Finding New Opportunities for Creative Businesses, 2012^[23]
• MIT Africa Innovation Conference, Keynote Speaker & Panelist, 2013^[24]
• Panelist, Soccerex West Africa, 2012
• Speaker & Panelist, Mobile West Africa 2011
• Speaker, Mobile West Africa, 2012
• Speaker, Nigeria Com, 2013^[25]
• Panelist & Speaker, Emerging Leaders, National Economic Summit, 2011, NESG^[26]
• Speaker, London Business School, Africa Conference, 2013, 2014^[6][27]
• Speaker, Amoo African Creative Industries Conference, London, 2013^[28]
• Participant, Country Partner, Entrepreneur Country UK, 2013
• Conference Chairman, Social Media Week Lagos, London, Sept 2013^[9]
• Mobile Entertainment Africa 2012^[29]
• Nigerian Entertainment Conference 2014^[30]

Appointment to Smithsonian African Advisory Committee

In 2014, Obi Asika was appointed to the African Advisory Committee of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art in Washington DC. He is the first overseas individual invited to join the committee.^[31]

References