25/07/2026
I don't regret losing over ₦1.5 million anymore.
If you had met me a few years ago, you would have seen a young man full of excitement and ambition.
One day, I received a ₦2.2 million grant from the Tony Elumelu Foundation to build my business, Adebo Agro Industry.
To me, it wasn't just money.
It was hope.
It was proof that someone believed in my dream.
I promised myself I would build something that would change my life.
At the time, I already knew about cryptocurrency, but I stayed away because I thought it was too risky.
Instead, I wanted to build a real business.
I bought the tools I needed, looked for opportunities in agriculture, and met someone I believed I could trust.
The livestock business started well.
The profits encouraged me.
Then came another opportunity.
Real estate.
I was told buying land and building on it would multiply my money.
I believed it.
Without asking enough questions...
Without understanding the market...
Without thinking about how I would eventually sell it...
I invested.
The property is still there today.
Unsold.
Then I invested in crop farming.
Again, I trusted experienced people.
When the harvest came, I expected to finally see the rewards of all the money I had invested.
Instead, I found myself asking a painful question:
"Where is the revenue?"
I calculated everything I had spent.
I looked at every investment.
The numbers didn't make sense.
That was the moment I realized something was wrong.
I had trusted people.
But I had not built systems.
I had invested money.
But I had not demanded accountability.
That experience cost me over ₦2 million.
For a long time, I saw it as the worst financial mistake of my life.
But something unexpected happened.
Instead of making me give up, that loss made me curious.
I began asking myself:
"What if there was a way to invest where my ownership was properly recorded?"
"What if I could monitor my investments without depending entirely on someone else?"
Those questions led me to the stock market.
I started learning.
Reading.
Studying.
Making small investments.
Understanding risk, diversification, company reports, and long-term investing.
The money I lost became the tuition fee for an education that changed my financial life.
Today, when someone tells me they want to rent an expensive shop because wealthy people live nearby, I don't tell them to chase prestige.
I tell them:
Build your customers first.
Build your reputation first.
Build consistent income first.
Then expand.
Because a beautiful shop cannot save a business that has no loyal customers.
Looking back, I don't see ₦2 million disappearing.
I see ₦2 million buying me wisdom.
It taught me to ask better questions.
To protect my capital.
To understand what I invest in.
And it eventually led me to discover the stock market—a journey that completely changed the way I think about money.
Sometimes, life doesn't give us profits first.
Sometimes, it gives us lessons first.
And if we have the humility to learn those lessons, they can become far more valuable than the money we lost.
That is one of the reasons I am passionate about teaching financial literacy today. If my story helps one person avoid the mistakes I made, then that painful experience was not wasted.
If you're fortunate enough to receive a grant to start a business, here is my advice:
Don't rush into a business simply because you have the money.
First, gain experience. Learn the industry. Understand the risks. Build relationships. Test your business idea on a small scale before committing a large amount of capital.
And don't entrust your money to someone else simply because they seem experienced or trustworthy. Trust is important, but every business needs proper records, accountability, and oversight.
If you're not yet ready to start the business, don't let the grant sit idle. Consider keeping the money in a relatively low-risk investment, such as a money market fund or another suitable cash management option, while you continue learning and preparing.
The goal is to preserve your capital until you're confident you're ready to use it.
Your grant is seed capital. Protect it first. Grow it wisely.
Adebo Mutahar Jamiu
