Did you know that there are approximately 4.66 billion active internet users worldwide? Can you imagine all the different ways in which we all use the internet? Obasanjo’s Internet is our interview series where we speak to some of our internet favourites on how they relate to the internet and what it means to them and their work. This week, Tech and Finance YouTuber, Fisayo Fosudo, talks to us about how he uses Obasanjo’s Internet.
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
I guess I open my calendar to see all the tasks I have for the day.
How do you use the internet for work or pleasure?
I use it for work but I check social media sometimes because I have a lot of creators whose works I really enjoy. But I mostly use it for work and learning, I’m currently taking courses online.
What moment or episode in your life would you say captured the essence of the internet?
I think it was when I started my Finance Fridays series on Youtube – explaining economic concepts in a simple way – most of the comments were “oh I wish I was taught this in school”. I was doing tech videos for 4 years before I started the series and from the very first video people already started finding it very important so it just made sense that I continued.
Your favourite social media platform and why?
YouTube. I love it because it’s long form, you can make stuff with context. It’s not like short form content apps like Tiktok where you have to condense everything into a short bite without getting the full context of it. On YouTube, you can watch a course or long form project, even a short film.
What was the last meme you saved?
Do you remember the first time something you posted went viral? What was it? How did it make you feel?
The first time wasn’t my video. It was of Nigerian American kids trying to explain Yoruba culture and how they stopped the killing of twins. The way they explained it was mostly correct but it was in a very interesting and cute way. A lot of people retweeted it. They were laughing about it, saying it was nice that people appreciate the culture. I was like wow, it is nice to see that people enjoy stuff like this.
What’s the most outrage you have ever generated over something you posted? How did you react to it?
This was before I started publishing stuff on finance. I was looking at the cost of petrol in Nigeria and abroad and I said if a family is migrating to a place like the UK they will be spending almost 10 times more on petrol and then people started coming for me on Twitter. So many of my economist friends agreed with but but said I shouldn’t have posted it. I had to take the tweet down even though I was right. People just did not see my perspective.
What rules do you live by on the internet?
There is a point where mindless scrolling kicks in and I just try to take note of that and log off. If I find myself scrolling on maybe Tiktok and I’ve gotten to a point where the posts don’t make sense anymore, I just know I have to close the app and go back to real life.
What is your guiltiest online pleasure?
I really enjoy discovering EDM artists. If I see EDM and it makes sense, I’m probably going to be obsessed. Even my editors know – in the car whenever we’re going somewhere I just keep blasting it.
Would you say you have an online persona?
Most people who know what they’re doing should have an online persona. What I am online is mostly my work stuff. I wear a turtleneck because I feel like a superhero in it and I feel like I’m in work mode. I rarely post pictures of myself on the internet without a turtleneck, and you know when I’m wearing it, I’m ready to be filmed or to film stuff.
What’s your favourite emoji and why?
The prayer hands and two and up, in my skin tone. I always hail people because a lot of people do good things to me and vice versa so I’m always thankful, grateful and excited. I’ve surrounded myself with so many positive people and I don’t even know what negativity is.
Are you particular about your feed?
Yes. Yes I am particular about my feed. If it is nothing about my work or positive stuff, yeah I don’t want it.
YouTube or TikTok? Which do you prefer and why?
I prefer YouTube. I make YouTube videos and I have most of my audience there, about 525,000 subscribers. In the past 3 weeks, I’ve made 8 videos and I feel like those are the most impactful videos I’ve created.
Which Nigerian creator do you think the world needs to see and hear more of?
I mean, Fisayo. The world needs to hear more of Fisayo. I have a thing with the kind of quality of content I make and I would like to do more. I would also like to collaborate with a lot more creators. There are many amazing creators and everyone also deserves a shoutout. Seeing how they work and the kind of effort they put in makes me happy. More people are aware of what content creation is like and they’re willing to put all this time and effort.
Who is the coolest person you follow and the coolest person who follows you?
When I went to the UK, I interviewed Mrwhosetheboss, one of the biggest tech creators in the world. I think he has around 15 million subscribers. He is a very cool person. He’s so nice and down to earth in real life and he just inspired me to be like that also.
I also interviewed Don Jazzy o. He also follows me and he’s the same way – very very nice.
What is your favourite Nigerian podcast?
I like the TechPoint podcast. I like how they’re very quick with their content. It’s about the tech ecosystem in Nigeria and start-ups.
Have you ever hooked up with someone you met online?
I have never.
5 people you’d love to see answer these questions
Tayo Aina, Korty, Eric Okafor, Asherkine and Taooma
Read previous Obasanjo’s Internet entries here.