CNN Inside Africa meets with Linda Ikeji, Sisi Yemmie & Chiamaka “Social Prefect” Obuekwe

This week at Inside Africa, CNN International travels to Lagos to get acquainted with some of the most famous and best paid personalities that have emerged with the rise of social media.

CNN meets Linda Ikeji, one of Nigeria's biggest social media stars, to learn more about her journey to success. After launching her blog more than ten years ago, she says her success comes from her determination and enthusiasm:

One of the things that drives a business to succeed is passion. It’s not about money. I’ve made money – I could move on and do some other things or leave it to my people but I’m extremely passionate about what I do and it gives me so much joy.

 She tells CNN how she wants to continue succeeding and hopes to inspire others:

I feel like I’m still climbing the ladder of success. There’s still so much I want to do… I’m hoping that my story, my life can inspire other young girls to fight for their dreams, work hard, believe in themselves, believe that there’s absolutely nothing that they cannot become…I’m hoping that my life can encourage other young girls to go out there and do the impossible, the things that people think can never happen.

Being a role model is something that’s also important to Linda Ikeji who wants to make sure she creates a legacy:

I want my life to be impactful…. I have to do something that will impact the society, impact my community, impact the world. I want people to know that I was here.

Social media has opened up a multitude of opportunities for young entrepreneurs. Chiamaka Obuekwe, a travel enthusiast, and her boyfriend founded a company that specializes in organizing tours to areas of Nigeria that many people had never seen before. Their business would not have been possible without social media, as she says in the program:

80 per cent of our clients heard about us on social media…Ten years ago we would have had to go door to door sharing our fliers. We would have had to think about tactics… Now all we have to do is to put a post out on Instagram and in ten minutes people are dm’ing us… Without social media, I don’t think Social Prefect Tours would be here.

Vlogger Sisi Yemmie has a dedicated follow-up for her recipes and lifestyle content with thousands of people watching her daily food demonstrations. She attributes her success to her honesty and openness:

When it comes to privacy I don’t have too many private moments… I base it on what I would tell my friends. If I can tell my friend this then I can definitely tell my audience this.

Sisi has bagged several awards and distinctions, but despite her frankness, she must take into account the messages she delivers:

It took a while for me to understand that the more popular I became I would become a role model… but I realise that responsibility comes with this platform… I am always very careful what I say. Typically, in the past I would maybe rant on Twitter, say stuff off the top of my head but now I have to think about not just my audience. I also have to have to think about brands and collaborations and when I think about things like that I am very careful about what I say and what I put out there.#Africa ... spill TEA.... Easy on Shade #jaiyeorie