Seun Olamide-Balogun is the brain behind The Seun and Friends Campaign focused on community service. As a volunteer, she has focused on raising funds to purchase school supplies for underprivileged children. A programme manager for a Fortune 500 company in the United States, she holds a B.Sc. in Information Systems from the Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, and an M.Sc. in Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland University College. Olamide-Balogun is also serial entrepreneur speaks to GERALDINE AKUTU in this interview.

Take us through your life trajectory.
I was born in the vibrant Lagos, Nigeria to the family of Chief Johnson Akinlosotu and Mrs. Sabainah Akinlosotu, where both parents instilled values of resilience, importance of education, and love of culture in me. I grew up in Lagos with my older siblings and attended schools there as well as in the old Ondo State for my secondary education. I attended University of Ado-Ekiti before moving to the United States 24 years ago to continue my University Education. In the United States, I completed my degrees in Information Technology, and have enjoyed working in various positions over the years, and currently enjoying my current role in Programme Management.

What informed your charity drive and your niche – educational needs of children?
When I moved to the United States, one of the first things I observed was the spirit of giving back. It wasn’t driven by ulterior motives or personal gain; it was simply about lifting others higher. Humanity at its core thrives on this selfless act. One of my favourite quotes is from late former President of the United States, John F. Kennedy; the quote states “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”. America, a tapestry woven by countless hands, stands not only on government policies, but also on individuals and organisational contributions to communities; this is a culture worth emulating as we expect Nigeria to morph into the greatest country on the earth. We must look beyond government coffers. You, I, and corperations – all of us can play a vital role. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but we can each start from somewhere. In 2018 when I birthed my non-profit the “Seun and Friends Campaign”, I rallied my network of friends, family, and kindred spirits to give whatever they could. While a donation from one person might seem modest, you can be rest assured that when we merge donations from 10, 20, 30 people, it becomes a force. Remember the adage, “little drops of water make a mighty ocean”. Why Education? I chose education because it is my firm belief that education is a pathway out of poverty. It is a gift you give yourself, a treasure that no one can ever take away from you.

What has been the impact for you over the years?
When I started Seun and Friends Campaign in 2018, I had no idea where the funding would come from, or that five years later we would still be standing. However, when God puts a fire in your heart towards something, especially to serve people, He always makes provision. In 2018, we started by giving out 300 school bags filled with writing supplies to public primary school students in my hometown, Ondo, as they say, Charity begins at home. In 2019, we were able to increase the number of school bags to 500, and this was given out to public primary children in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State. In 2020/2021, Due to COVID travel restrictions and the general impact on people’s health and businesses, and life in general, I put a pause on Seun and Friends as it would have been tone deaf to ignore what people were going through at that time and expect them to give donations. In 2022, we got back to business, and gave 750 brand new schools bags to public primary school students in the Oginigba area of Port Harcourt Area, Rivers State. For 2023, we gave 1000 school bags to public primary school children in Ikotun/Igando Local Government, and Ilaje, Bariga areas of Lagos State. In 2024, by the grace of God we will be in three different communities in Ogun State to give out 1500 school bags.

Is there a follow up mechanism, how are your measuring the level of impact and what determines the locations you choose to carry out your campaign?
Our approach involves both data-driven, decision-making and community engagement. Initially, we search for online data to identify local government areas in Nigeria with low per capita income or average school attendance indicators. Unfortunately, up-to-date data is scarce. To address this, we rely on social media nominations from people who suggest states for our campaign. Working closely with locals, we narrow down specific communities. However, due to communication challenges, direct impact measurement—via surveys, interviews, or social and environmental indicators—is nearly impossible in the underrepresented communities we serve.

Despite living in the United States, how are you constantly staying connected to champion this campaign?
Although I live in the United States, I remain lead and remain actively engaged in championing our campaign. I’m deeply involved throughout our programme cycle, from fundraising to outreach. However, the invaluable assistance of our Nigeria Country Director, Funke Shoyombo, is essential for facilitating our processes.

As a serial entrepreneur, wife, mother and more, what is your advice to women struggling to find their niche and be the best versions of themselves?
I always say, 0 > 1. Start from somewhere, it’s okay to not get it right the first time, don’t be afraid to fail or fall. Lessons learned today are tools for success tomorrow. Most importantly, no one knows you better than God who created you, He should be the first person you turn to for guidance in all things. Whatever you do, do not remain idle, you were created to do great and purposeful things.

How do you combine your many sides effectively?
Ahhh…I ask myself the same question all the time. I am however a planner, and I use my calendar to schedule and set a reminder for just about everything from birthdays to every single meeting, to grocery lists, even to daily reminders. All of this help me stay organised. I am human so there are days when I might feel overwhelmed, but I am reminded that God’s Grace is sufficient for me, so when I am tired or need help, I find myself just saying “God please help me”.

What drives you for success?
My personal desire to leave this world a better place, and to be a worthy role-model to my children.

What key lessons have you garnered over the years?
Three things resonate with me deeply: first, gratitude; cultivating a mindset of gratitude leads to greater happiness and fulfillment. Second, adaptability; being open to change has helped me quickly surmount life’s unpredictable moments, and third, purpose; discovering and living according to my values and passions gives my life meaning and direction.

What is your life mantra?
As cliché as it sounds, I say “Thank you, Jesus” or “God, I’m so grateful” many times throughout the day as I am reminded that a heart of gratitude will take me farther in life than I could ever imagine.