Chinonso Ogbogu:   We’re Poised to Make Impact in Literary, Media Landscapes

 Chinonso Ogbogu is the founder of Sabi Writers, an African top-notch writing solution company. In this interview with THISDAY, she shares the company’s growth trajectory, leveraging opportunities; its expansion drive and investment target for the youths

What is the story behind Sabi Writers?

Sabi Writers was born from my journey of pain, growth, and sheer determination. After a devastating business failure in 2014, I hit rock bottom – financially ruined, in despair, and battling illness. But I made a choice: either give up or rise from the ashes. I decided to embark on the journey of rebuilding. I love writing and teaching, it is an innate skill and during this period of getting my feet back, I assisted a friend to write her book.

Being a single mother, she barely had the time and I just volunteered to help her make her dreams come true. That’s where the idea for Sabi Writers emerged.

As I delved into research, I discovered that I had a viable solution to a genuine problem that could be transformed into a successful business venture.

How did you scale up your business?

We scaled up Sabi Writers by strategically expanding our competence, nurturing quality leaders, and boosting revenue for sustainable growth. Identifying opportunities, researching, and analyzing the market paved the way for our successful launch. 

Furthermore, we evolved from writing to a full-suite service, including design, publishing, training, storytelling, video, and audio production, offering clients an end-to-end solution for all their writing needs.

Also, we have seen growth in the array of our talents and clients. We currently serve top CEOs, business leaders, and multinational companies across Africa and beyond. This has helped us over the past few years to create more jobs, identify, raise, and empower leaders within the company, and placed them in strategic leadership positions. 

From your past business experience, is there anything you would have done differently?

Yes, I would have done a lot differently but it’s all a learning process and we grow through learning many of the pitfalls and mistakes were all part of the plan of getting me where I am. One thing for me would have been to work in a structured organisation before starting my own organization because I practically built my businesses failing and failing. I would have avoided some mistakes I made but I’m grateful for practical experiences and that’s why I’m passionate about raising leaders. 

How do Sabi Writers attract and retain top talent in a competitive market?

In the space we find ourselves in, talent is an integral part of our success. We place immense value in attracting and finding the right talent for our team. As an organisation, what has proven to be effective for us is our unwavering dedication to our purpose, a clear vision, and genuine care for those who become part of our team. We look for talents who are aligned with the company’s culture and possess the skills to support expansion.

We strive to set high standards for performance and we have built a system where laziness, redundancy, or incompetence can’t thrive and the system itself rewards talent who are putting their best foot forward. 

Undoubtedly, we also face challenges inherent to any business, but when it comes to nurturing talent, I can confidently say that we have experienced a remarkable and fulfilling journey so far.

Tell us more about the diversification of Sabi Writers and how it aligns with your overall business strategy.

As an entrepreneur and a startup investor, I look for profitable opportunities along the value chain of my business. After a few years into the business of writing, I discovered that there are other aspects of writing and storytelling that we haven’t unlocked within Sabi Writers. 

When we help a client write, there is still the publishing hassle they have to go through, and that’s why we invested in BookSpider – our full-service publishing business. 

There is also the video and audio expression of content for clients who want to give their readers that added option, so we invested in Sabi Writers Studios. 

Then we have also invested in the education and e-commerce side of content, namely Sabi Writers School and Àlọ by Sabi Writers. All these expressions of our brand are tied to unlocking the different aspects of storytelling and content in Africa.

Can you tell us more about Sabi Writers School and how it supports your organization’s mission and the writing industry at large?

Sabi Writers School is Africa’s premiere writing school for young writers, creatives, and brands. It is a place where we train and equip young talents to grow to their full potential. 

We use this as the training and leadership development system for our own talents but then we also make it open for others. For organisations that want to train their communications or content team, we partner with them to deliver such support. 

What are the characteristics of a lasting business based on your experience?

In my experience, lasting businesses have a clear, compelling vision and purpose. Make sure your team understands it, so they can run with all their strength. 

Secondly, don’t compromise on core values, as they form the foundation of a solid business structure. Embrace change, stay innovative, and be a replaceable leader by nurturing others to lead. At Sabi Writers, I always emphasize the vision to my team members, even if it sounds repetitive.

Can you share some of the key milestones and achievements that Sabi Writers has accomplished since its inception, and what do you attribute these successes to?

Since its inception, Sabi Writers has achieved significant milestones that underscore our commitment to excellence and innovation. One of our most noteworthy accomplishments is the establishment of Sabi Writers Studios, a cutting-edge business division exclusively dedicated to delivering top-notch audio and video content solutions to individuals and corporations across Africa. Our state-of-the-art studio is tailored to meet unique client needs, complementing Sabi Writers’ exceptional writing services.

In addition, we are proud to have launched Àlọ́ by Sabi Writers, an online marketplace where authentic short African stories are available for purchase at the affordable price of 1,000 naira. This initiative not only promotes African literature but also provides a platform for talented writers to showcase their work and connect with readers.

Our successes can be attributed to our unwavering commitment to quality, creativity, and customer satisfaction. We believe in harnessing the power of storytelling to captivate audiences and make a positive impact in the literary and media landscapes. By combining exceptional writing with top-of-the-line audio and video expressions, we have positioned ourselves as a leading force in the African content creation industry.

Looking ahead, what are your visions and aspirations for Sabi Writers in the next five years, and how do you plan to achieve these goals?

In the next five years, Sabi Writers envisions a powerful transformation in Africa’s writing landscape. We plan to expand into five African countries, providing more job opportunities for young African talents and igniting their creative potential. Our mission is to empower at least 1000 young talents across the continent through direct employment, nurturing the next generation of high-impact professionals in writing, design, editing, storytelling, and other creative domains.

As our customer base soars, we’re driven by the passion to empower aspiring writers and creatives, offering them larger platforms to showcase their skills and make a meaningful impact globally.