Leke Alder
Born as an only child, Leke Alder’s dream from childhood was to be a lawyer, though he is gifted in many areas. This was after watching a television documentary about a successful lawyer. He attended Igbobi College and Kings College before proceeding to Obafemi Awolowo University, where he graduated as a lawyer. His studying law according to him was an accident.
He was admitted into Kings College and was making preparations to travel to England for a British Caledonian (Airways) Scholarship when he heard about Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination from his friends. He took the exam, made good grades, got into school and won himself a scholarship, one out of the then available five slots.
While in University as an undergraduate, his passion for art grew. His love for writing, painting, design and photography led to his hosting an art exhibition as a law student. His exhibition was successful with more than 2000 people in attendance that the Guardian newspapers reported it. He also ran a chamber and argued cases for students, for a fee.
Upon graduation, he practiced for two years in a law firm. Having discovered himself, his abilities and talents, he wanted to do more. So he resigned. At the age of 26, newly married with no money in his pocket, he started cartooning and designing. Then one day, an idea came to him. He took down all the frames, the wedding gifts that was given to them, removed all the pictures inside and replaced them with his cartoons made on a cardboard paper he bought for N17. 50k. That evening he took them to church and kept them at the back of the church. At the end of the service, worshippers rushed his product and he made between N147 to N250. That singular act was all the motivation he needed to launch out. Before long people were buying his paintings for N40, 000 and more.
Due to the nature of his job and for the fact that he was working from home, the fun quickly faded. In the bid to come up with what to do, he came up with the idea of applied arts. That means he can do one piece and reproduce it. And so people began to meet him for advice. In providing solution for their problems, he produces the kind of design that suited what they wanted. His works attracted a Lebanese. The job he did for the Lebanese attracted the Italian embassy. And then other embassies.
One thing led to another and people started paying him millions just to give advice. For instance a three page advice made it possible for a company struggling, to make over N100 million within six months. In return, the company gave him a N1 million retainership. Each work done attracted a different client. Each satisfied client referred another. And so from one room apartment and with N70 as start-up capital, he began to advice individuals, corporations, embassies and governments. That was how Leke Alder and his team at Alder Consulting introduced modern branding in Nigeria. Other companies in the group are Alder Media, Alder Research and Alder IT.
One day, he invited some of his friends over from accounting, advertising, law, banking etc for a brainstorming session. With a marker and cardboard he talked about what the vision of an organization should be and what a policy of government should be. For 8 hours, seated in an uncomfortable chair with no food, his friends were dazzled with knowledge and information on how things should be. Little did he know that what he has just done is conducting a seminar. They were so impressed that they requested for another session. This time invitation was extended to their wives, husbands, friends and colleagues. And from morning till 7pm they were listening to him. The only difference this second time is that he remembered to provide refreshments. Thereafter, banks and other organizations started consulting him.
In appreciation to God for His goodness, he decided to start evangelism cards. With the creativity he brought into the production of these cards, they became highly successful and by the end of the first month he had given out about 400,000 pieces for free. It was during this time that a young man seeked his assistance in turning his business of selling imported typewriters around. He applied the concept of the evangelism cards as a means of creating awareness. People were very impressed. The concept caught the attention of the first mobile phone company that had just been set up then. They request for a proposal and the rest as they say is history.
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