We had the good fortune of connecting with Mariam Adekola and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mariam, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Starting my own YouTube channel was a dream I had always wanted to pursue. My thought process behind starting the channel was to actualize my dreams and turn them into reality. I took the initial steps of planning and creating content while still studying for my undergraduate degree in computer engineering. I faced challenges while starting the channel, such as my friend backing out from being a co-creator; however, I felt ready to take on the challenge and start my creator journey. Despite the hurdles, I persisted and continued to create content, which helped me gain traction and build a loyal audience. Today, my YouTube channel has become a successful venture that I am proud of, and it continues to grow every day.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My YouTube channel focuses on beauty, lifestyle, and modest fashion. My goal is to create engaging and accessible videos that are informative and enjoyable to watch, using ingenuity, storytelling, and authenticity. Additionally, my background in computer engineering gives me a unique perspective on the technical aspects of a developer’s lifestyle, setting me apart from other creators.

I’m incredibly proud to have grown my YouTube channel and recently gained traction from over 25,000 viewers. It’s been a humbling experience to connect with such a passionate community and know that my content is making a positive impact. This milestone has solidified my belief that anyone can create and inspire with the right guidance.

Managing my YouTube channel alongside a demanding engineering career has been quite a challenge, but I find it rewarding to stay busy. Time management has become increasingly important for me. I have learned to prioritize tasks ruthlessly to ensure that both my channel and my career get the attention they need. There were times when I had to take long breaks from creating content to focus on my studies, but the unwavering support from my viewers and the joy of creating kept me motivated.

Through this experience, I’ve learned the significance of resilience, adaptability, and pursuing my interests. Moreover, my expertise in frontend development has been instrumental in developing and creating visuals and features for my channel. I believe that all these roles complement each other and make me a well-rounded content creator.

Don’t be afraid to start! You don’t need fancy equipment or millions of subscribers to make impactful content. I started with a low-end smartphone camera and a crappy laptop for editing, yet I was able to make a difference. Just be passionate about what you share and focus on creating valuable and engaging videos. And for those interested in tech, never stop learning and exploring. There’s always something new to discover in this field, and the possibilities are endless!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Interesting! If my best friend were in Ilorin city for a week, I would take them to some great places. Firstly, we would visit The Place to enjoy some delicious local food such as Fried Fiesta Rice and Party Jollof. After that, we would head to Palms Mall for some shopping, including my recommended novels. To end the day on a good note, we would see a movie at Viva Cinema.

The next day, we would go for a drive, stopping at Baze Cafe for a quick breakfast and tea. We would take in the beauty of the Ilorin heritage with its interior decor and proceed to tour the Ilorin Epi Center at the Emir’s Palace. We would also visit the Ilorin Central Mosque, one of the largest mosques in West Africa, before ending the day with a meal at Chef Bii’s Bukateria, where we would enjoy local dishes such as Pounded Yam and Efo Riro. We would then relax at Flower Garden, taking in the serene atmosphere and enjoying roadside Suya Grills and Shawarma from a nearby bistro.

On the third day, I would prepare a picnic basket and take my best friend and some other friends on a hiking trip to Sobi Hills. We would bask in the beauty until noon and then stop by The Amala Place on our way back to the suburb of Ilorin. Then we would all go to Succouth Garden to swim, chill, and hang out over some BBQs with some friends until we call it a night.

The next day, we would have breakfast at Rio before heading to Utopia Beauty Fitness Spa to relax and get some spa treatments. After that, we would visit the Unilorin Zoological Garden for a guided tour of natural creatures and climb the suspenders. Later, we would eat at the restaurant and then go to Unilorin Dam Lake Resort to enjoy a calming canoe ride. Before calling it a night, we would stop by Domino’s Pizza to get some bites and ColdStone ice cream.

The following day, we would experience an Ilorin Elite wedding, which usually spans three days or more. We would dance, celebrate, and eat lots of food. Then, we would call it a day.

On the second to the last day of their visit, we would head to Diamond Amusement Park and enjoy some exciting rides until evening. Then, we would eat some Fish Peppersoup and Ofada Rice at Kilimanjaro and stop by ShopMore for some shopping. We would wrap up our day at Red Caffino by eating some continental chef dishes such as Honey Wings, Alfredo Pasta, and mocktails.

On the last day, we would have breakfast at The Sidney Lounge before heading to Oja Oba Market, the largest market in Ilorin, to do some souvenir shopping, including clothes, spices, and handcrafted goods. To end the day, we would have some Chinese delicacies and drinks at Red Flames, and experience some VR and games at Pastime Gamespot and Lounge. Then, we would sadly and finally say our goodbyes, bringing an end to a fun-filled week.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I owe my current journey to the people who have been a part of my life. Firstly, I want to shout out to Damilola Oroge, who gave me the push I needed. She may not know this, but the short time we shared a cordial friendship made a great impact on my life. Also, as a career woman, my journey as a frontend developer is attributed to a friend who has always been there to serve as a guide. David Olamide, thank you for being such an inspiration to me. Finally, I just bagged my first degree, and I can proudly say, ‘Mama, I made it!’ I couldn’t have done it without the loving support of my parents, Prof. and Prof. (Mrs) Adekola, and my siblings. I love you all so much!”

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariam__lyna/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariam-adekola/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mariamlyna

Other: https://github.com/Marrockx

Image Credits
Segun Michaels Photography Mariam Adekola

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.