YES of Course! Founder of UK-based BEN TV, Alistair Soyode, Gears up for 2019
Talkingaboutahighdriveforoutstanding entrepreneurial endeavour, a BritishNigerian woman, Sade Agboola has set up a women-only drivers taxi company in London.
The single mother of one started the innovative means of daily commuting to offer women a safe and reliable alternative to minicab services and public transport in London.
Agboola’s company, Annisa car, which will only be accepting women and children as passengers, will commence operations within the South of London with plans to extend its services across other parts of the city of London in due course.
The entreprenuer’s idea of public commuting is coming at a time when Uber, the popular ridehailing mobile-technology-enabled cab service, faces serious challenges in London.
Transport for London (TFL), the entity that regulates all transport activities in London, banned Uber in October from operating within the city citing the company’s ineffectual approach to reporting criminal offences and its way of carrying out background checks on drivers.
Though Uber has appealed the TFL’s decision in court which is yet to deliver a ruling, the emergence of services like Agboola’s Annisa car that promises better security and safety presents another headache for Uber in London.
Agboola was expectedly ecstatic as she shared her thoughts on the birth of the enterprise and the value that is on offer.
“It is quite entrepreneurial but I never thought about it like that, I had the idea a couple of years ago and since December 2016 I’ve been doing a lot of research and work to put it together.
“I have been amazed that no one else has thought of this idea before. Also a lot of mums have children and struggle to get back into work or find a job that gives them that flexibility and hopefully by having women-only drivers and guardians we can provide a flexible and supportive environment for them.
“Whether people choose to work with us full or part-time is up to them, but we will be offering holiday pay for people working on a freelance basis so they know we support them.”
Meanwhile the business has already been attracting considerable patronage with some of the passengers already leaving positive reviews on the new taxi company’s website for excellent service delivery.
Founder of Europe’s first ethnic television station, BEN TV based in London, Mr. Alistair Soyode has got a big plan up his sleeves for the coming 2019 general elections in Nigeria. Anyone who is familiar with Alistair’s mode of operation and passion can tell that he is always committed to problem-solving social initiatives and investments. The former President of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDEO), Europe, is one of the leading voices behind the call to the Nigerian government for the inclusion of Nigerians living abroad in Nigeria’s electoral process through what is called Diaspora Voting.
The serial entrepreneur has also offered perspectives on policies at different government levels both in the UK and Nigeria and has set out groups such as the Diaspora Mentoring Corps all of which are geared towards enabling Nigeria to make the best use of the capacity of its vast Diaspora population and helping Diasporans to connect with greater opportunities.
Recently Alistair has been involved with a new project called YES Nigeria Movement and it’s been said that this latest initiative came about essentially for the 2019 elections.
Presently, it’s been confirmed that the YES movement runs a Whatsapp group which has many brilliant Nigerians from different professional backgrounds as members and their usually profound discussions in the group have been on the quality of leadership for elective positions in the coming general elections and the need to strengthen the capacity and independence of Nigeria’s electoral body, INEC.
Though it has been suggested that the influential founder of BEN TV will be setting up structure in Nigeria soon for serious political action and also throw his hat in the ring for a contest, Alistair is yet to confirm or deny this growing insinuations.
Whether this is the real situation or not, Nigeria’s present state calls for as many capable Nigerians as possible, home and away, to build important structures and also put themselves forward for elective positions. Enough of the recruitment of mediocrity in Nigerian leadership!