Strange but true scenarios are gradually becoming a common thing than what used to be the norm. It’s a world where impossibilities have been driven to the abyss and how an active inventor would become Nigerian comedians’ international representative and consultant should pass as a thesis.
James Akinwande has many personalities, yet, each functions independently in the best possible way anyone could imagine. He possesses adequate knowledge and skill in international law, with over 19 years experience in Legal Compliance, Business and Immigration Law in Europe and Canada.
Akinwande’s latest brainchild in cooking devices makes him one of the 50 Nigerian-born inventors, with his recent breakthrough already licensed by the UK Intellectual Property Office.
Akinwande’s extensive knowledge in international legal practice has been the secret weapon in his representation of Kenny Blaq as his International Artist Manager and Artist International Compliance Consultant for the likes of AY, Broda Shaggi and many more high profile Nigerian entertainers queuing behind his expertise.
An ardent golfer, Akinwande, who has been married for more than 25 years, began his schooling in Nigeria, before moving to the United Kingdom. After finishing his secondary education in 1988, he studied electrical electronics engineering at the Ondo State polytechnic, Owo, after which he proceeded to the Federal University of Technology, Akure but had to leave in his third year to continue his degree at the University of East London; Birkbeck College; University of Westminster and at London Metropolitan University.
In a recent interview, Akinwande went down memory lane about his foray into managing and consulting for Nigerian entertainers on the global stage. He acknowledged that his versatility in international law has played a key role in what he is doing.
“We started in 2005 with Ben T.V. I am not sure if I am allowed to mention the names of the A-list artists we consulted for, due to the confidentiality agreement we signed back then; but as for Kenny Blaq, Brodda Shaggi and Ay Comedian. I believe favour of God and experience in legal practice has contributed immensely to this,” he said.
“Being the international artist manager for Kenny Blaq has its ups and downs. Negotiations, care, contracts are major planks in determining our success as a team. God has been kind to me with Kenny Blaq because his personality is quite admirable. He is surrounded by a loving family and his Nigerian manager, Tolu Olokun, apart from being very professional, we relate as brothers.”
Akinwande’s most recent invention is as unique as his professional profile. Revealing how the journey as an inventor has been, he said: “My invention was my wife’s idea. You know how it is when you think about something that has never been done but you know it’s possible. The idea was birthed in 1999 but we were so poor and could not afford the patent fees… or prototype.
“Fifteen years later, in 2014, God had blessed us enough to find the invention from design to patent fees… they don’t come cheap at all. You don’t want to know how much this has cost till date. I discovered ‘INNOVATE’, who helped with an acceptable design and connected us with the best patent lawyers in Britain. We applied in 2015 and my patent application got an approval in 2019.
“My invention was ordained by God. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to talk much in-depth about it as of now due to negotiations with major players in the industry who are in the process of partnering and buying a bigger stake in the product. However, my name and the product are listed on the UK intellectual property website for the world to see”.
It is somewhat uncommon to find a genius who could combine skills such as the Nigerian who hails from Ondo Town. On how he is able to function as many personalities in one being, he responded: “I just try, time and responsibility management. I checked my phone one day and realised I had about 10,300 plus contacts; I was shocked! I believe I can account for what I do every hour and minute of the day.”
