If you’ve consistently sought video reviews before buying new gadgets or upgrading over the past seven years, odds are your search engine or social media algorithms have directed you to Fisayo Fosudo’s videos on multiple occasions. The relatable, often comparative, and high-quality creative visuals, delivered with no delay (or “FodaAdu,” as he calls it in his trademark wordplay) in his signature turtleneck — other than being the tipping point for countless viewers at the brink of major gadget purchases — has also made him a trusted voice in finance and discussions on the Nigerian economy at large. 

To set out on a relatively uncharted course in your locale is a pass mark on courage, and to consistently press on overtime marks both courage and consistency. To do this for seven years in an uncompromisingly high-quality, relatable — yet informative and educative — manner has cemented Fosudo’s status as one of the pioneers in tech visual storytelling in Nigeria and the broader West African terrain.

With over 700, 000 subscribers and 400 videos doing great numbers on YouTube, plus a strong presence on his complementary platforms — Twitter (now X), Instagram, and TikTok — Fisayo Fosudo is gradually moving his chair up at the table of global tech influencers. Earlier in October, the Lagos-born and raised millennial had a one-on-one discussion about tech and the impact of artificial intelligence on Africa, with James Manyinka, Google’s Senior Vice President, following a similar conversation with Antony Blinken, the United States Secretary of State in January.

The efforts Fosudo and his team invest into turning complex tech and finance concepts into easily digestible pieces for audiences might be difficult to grasp from the outside, but a daring sense of creativity is essential for bridging gaps like these. However, to fully illuminate the 29-year-old’s creative acumen is to go beyond his talent set and explore the discipline, courage, and curiosity that ignited and sustained his journey.

“I’ve always been interested in creating,” the 29-year-old told The Grid over a Google Meet-enabled virtual discussion on Wednesday, November 6. “I used to draw. I could draw well in primary school,” he continued. 

“Then, in secondary school as well, I wanted to go to the Art department, to be honest. But discussions with my parents and first-hand experience convinced me to opt for the Commercial Department, where I took a special interest in Economics. I enjoy looking at numbers; I enjoy playing with numbers in my head. I just tried to find a way to merge those two. So, I did the commercial class in secondary school.

Fosudo’s experience at Lagos State Model College was the perfect precursor for his Bachelor’s Degree pursuit at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), where he studied Economics. “I did Commercial and, you know, went to university where I majored in Economics,” he reminisced with no regrets.

“I love Economics. And I also equally loved creativity, design, and all that. So it was a mixture of both interests in my undergrad days,” he said.

Following the completion of his degree at UNILAG in 2015, Fisayo had a brief 9-5 stint, where his creative and visual instincts were sharpened through his work in graphics design and social media management at a logistics startup, Max.

“I had a job in design and social media management. So, in a way, it kind of prepped me for what I do today. I worked with them [Max] briefly and understood what visual storytelling means. I created videos, managed social media, and saw what it means to build a brand. And I think that was very helpful for me. The people I worked with, the founders, were very helpful as well. So, yeah, that was kind of the path, and then I went into making videos full-time. Yeah. So, that’s my job now.”

For all his preparation, Fosudo still faced the initial fears, doubts, and hurdles that accompany venturing out independently. 

“Throwing myself out there and working for myself was a bit scary,” he said, but freelancing had given him a head start. Early on, he even earned Bitcoin and made his first significant income of about $500. Though issues with exchange rates made that less rewarding in the long run, the experience left him excited and motivated, and he went on to save $5,000 from freelance design work, which he invested in high-quality cameras and lighting to pursue content creation with a focus on excellence.

Starting his YouTube channel, Fosudo prioritised quality over speed, determined to create top-notch content even if it took longer to gain traction. The initial six months were challenging, but eventually, his dedication attracted brand partnerships. His first major deal came from ARM, which paid him for a video that reached around 50,000 to 80,000 views. This breakthrough was soon followed by collaborations with brands like Tecno and Samsung, expanding his reach and credibility which has seen him review over 200 phones since then. 

Despite the recognition and breakthroughs that followed Fosudo’s early days, the journey was not plain sailing. “I remember I was actually going to quit in my fourth year,” he noted, adding, “I had about a hundred thousand subscribers but just wasn’t feeling fulfilled. And I thought, you know, maybe this is it for me. But that was when my passion for economics found the light — I thought, I love economics and I make high-quality videos that are simple to understand. Why not try to explain the Nigerian economy or at least something different?”

This pivot turned out to be a game-changer. “We made one video where we just, like, analysed some apps, and people loved it,” he recalled. “We talked about the economy, people loved it. We even interviewed the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank — the highest economic post in the country. That was incredibly valuable,” he continued, “I realised our work was impactful. I didn’t take that for granted. So I felt, yes, we’re doing something really valuable here, helping people understand things and improve themselves. That’s my goal. If people can come and say they learned something from our content, I’m more than happy. And, also, my team as well, like, seeing them grow and become better at what they’re doing, that is also very valuable for me.’’

All through Fosudo’s career, his team has been a constant — a closely-knit group of seven that includes two editors, two animators, a researcher, and an executive assistant who also handles communications. Together, this dynamic team has helped propel his work, though Fosudo insists it’s not as simple as it might seem. “It’s a lot of work,” he said. “It’s not just fun because we receive devices and stuff. It’s a lot of work, and it can be really challenging. But it can also be rewarding. I don’t know if people realise the amount of work we put in, because I have to test multiple devices.

“Everything has to be good, factually accurate, because if it’s not, we’re in trouble. We can’t afford to be wrong. I’ve been wrong before in a video, and we made recommendations on products that didn’t work out well. We had to delete content we had worked hard on, so accuracy is essential. When we started making finance videos too, it had to be accurate. People need to actually learn something from our content. I don’t just do tech, so having others review my work is important to ensure everything is correct and sits well with the facts.”

As Fosudo’s influence grows, so does his access to tech. “Now, brands just send devices for review. Sometimes we keep them; other times, we return them. After a while, I didn’t even need to ask for devices anymore. But there are still some, like Apple products, that I have to buy since there’s no Apple presence in Nigeria,” says the 2024 Pulse Tech Influencer of the Year.

Fisayo Fosudo’s relevance and influence will only continue to grow, as he remains grounded in his approach. “I don’t take any of this for granted. I just aim to be accurate in what I’m saying, put my best foot forward, and make the videos better each year.”