So many of us have dreamt of pursuing a career that is fueled by imagination. But in our society, those dreams often get pushed down. We are swayed into more practical fields like medicine, law, and STEM. As a first generation Nigerian American, Eno Oduok struggled to find her own path in a world limited by the boundaries of traditional career options. 

Eno founded Naija Comm, an award-winning multimedia company, with a mission to uplift the Nigerian creative community and provide resources to the African creator economy. Beginning with a simple Instagram account, her now globally influential business is transforming the way people approach creative paths – by shining spotlights on rising creatives, sharing networking and job opportunities, sponsoring youth scholarships, creating diverse marketing content, and more. Her success story has been featured in AfroTech, Business Insider, and Forbes 30 Under 30, where I first learned about her story. I was rather shocked when she responded to my email and agreed to connect with me for an early morning Zoom interview.   

When Eno started Naija Comm, she was still working towards a bachelor’s degree in public relations at the University of Houston and preparing for a career in the corporate world. Now, four years later, she spoke frankly about the challenge of being a young entrepreneur who is trying to create something out of nothing. It can be hard to believe in yourself, and even harder to make others believe in you. But Eno Oduok has done both. She did it with a blazing passion to elevate her community and the boldness demanded to pursue something that has never been done before. In just one morning, Eno made me rethink what’s possible as I work to grow my own nonprofit. Beyond that, she left me with a sense of hope – in young people, in our future, and in our society.

The following are edited excerpts from a longer interview.            

How do you hope that Naija Comm will change people’s lives?

Naija Comm is a multimedia company that celebrates and serves communities of the African diaspora. My team and I are combining our love for community, marketing, and media to build opportunities that haven’t existed before. Growing up, I didn’t see a lot of Nigerians represented in creative and nontraditional spaces. When I created Naija Comm, that was the first time I realized how much creativity is in this community I am a part of. Naija Comm is about creating a space that highlights creatives of the African diaspora and provides rising creatives with resources to help their businesses grow. 

Who has impacted or inspired your work with Naija Comm?

Everything I do ties into family. They are the reason I dream so big, the reason I’m willing to do anything and everything to follow my dreams. My ancestors were really hard working with limited resources. I am a first-gen. It’s a blessing, because my family created the foundation for me. They made so many sacrifices so that I can have the access they never had. I witnessed their sacrifices growing up, and it really grounded me. They immigrated to America. They made their lives from scratch. Now, I get to go even farther. When I created Naija Comm, they were inspired by that. Not just because of their heritage, but because I created my own business. No one held my hand through it. I did it without getting permission from anyone. It’s exciting for me to be on this path, but it’s exciting for them, too, because they get to see what’s been made possible by their decades of sacrifice. 

Is there someone specific you looked up to when you were growing up? 

My parents and my sister. I’m blessed to be surrounded by people who constantly inspire me. Inspiration can come in a multitude of ways. It doesn't have to be a celebrity. It can just be people you’ve seen grow with you. You’ve seen their growth, they’ve seen your growth, and that motivates me the most. 

Specifically, my mom is a nurse, but she likes to sew her own clothes. Before she sews, she makes detailed drawings of what she wants to create; you would think she works at Vogue. As a kid I was always awed to see that level of talent. My mom is one of the reasons I became interested in art and creativity. She led me to explore my interests and push far into the creative landscape. 

What values are driving your life and goals?

Integrity and character. You could have the coolest business, but if your character is terrible, you won’t go far. You won’t build the best relationships. It’s not just about what you do or where you’re featured. I want to work with people who are genuine and authentic. It’s about who you are as a person. 

Courage is another of my values. When I say courage, I don’t mean you have to be brave to do everything. Courage means being bold enough to try. Bold enough to want to uncover what’s behind this door, to see how far you can go if you try. It’s about the unwillingness to accept “no” as an answer. 

Who has shaped those values?

Much of my family, who still lives in Nigeria, has a very entrepreneurial mindset. My grandfather was an accountant and my grandmother sold things she sewed in the market. My dad works in transportation. He was a taxi driver, and now he has his own chauffeur business and a team of drivers. I asked him, what made you go from being a taxi driver to creating your business? He said, “I didn’t come to America to be a taxi driver. If I wanted to remain a taxi driver, I would have stayed in Nigeria.” That stuck with me, because it’s an analogy for life in general. It’s saying that I didn’t come this far to just settle. I came this far to constantly elevate myself and those around me. 

I admire the way that so many of my family members have created their own lanes. When my mom and dad came to America, they didn’t know a lot of people here. They were bold, courageous, and they showed me that even if you are fearful of something, you have to keep going. It’s inspiring. If they can do something as courageous as that, what can I do?

What do you wish that other young people would understand?

I love how young people dream so big. I want to tell young people that you’d be surprised at what you can do.  Keep dreaming. Keep going after everything that inspires you. We live in a society where people are obsessed with telling others what to do, who to be, and what they can or can’t do. That irritated me when I was younger. I was so ambitious and I had so many goals, but when I met certain people, especially older people, they told me what I could not do. And you know what I told them? Watch me. I’m going to do it. People will tell you you can’t do something until you do it, and then all of a sudden, they believe in you. But they should have believed from the beginning. Because you are never too young to create your own lane. You’re never too young to make a decision that can change your life. 

I created Naija Comm when I was 21. At the beginning, it was a passion project without a blueprint. It was my imagination brought to life. But it grew into a global business - because I stuck with my ambition and dedication. I didn’t allow people to tell me what I could do or who I could be. The only person who knows their limits is you. If only you know the fullest extent of your capabilities, why would you allow someone else to determine who or where you’re supposed to be? 

From your perspective, what is the greatest challenge that our generation faces?

Many young people are entering systems that were created before them and have too many inequities. Finding your own path and navigating those systems can be a big challenge. You could come into a company full of ideas and innovation, and your ideas could be right, but because there are so many systemic barriers, it could be very difficult to implement them. The challenge lies in reinventing a system that wasn't designed with you in mind – which is very difficult and often leads people to create their own systems.

Last advice?

I know it can be scary trying to figure out what you want to do or who you want to be. You are young, and you might not have many resources, but I believe in trying with whatever you have. When I created Naija Comm, I didn’t have all the money in the world. However, what began as an Instagram page I created in my sister’s room has evolved into an award-winning multimedia company empowering communities, clients, and partners around the world. You just have to try. You never know what you will create, how far you will go, or how many people you will impact.