***How He Collects 30% Upfront on Artistes Endorsement
****His shrewd Business Partnership With Elohor Aisien
The name Paul Okoye may set you thinking about the younger twin of the popular Nigerian music sensation stars P-Square, but the Paul Okoye being referred to in this piece is the CEO of Upfront and Personal Global Consulting services. Paul is very popular in the entertainment industry and in the corporate world. Talk about artistes’ endorsement and Paul is usually mentioned or seen with the artistes when the contracts are signed.
For this shrewd businessman, academic education is not always equal and proportionate to street smartness or common sense. Paul only has primary school certificate from his primary school in Onitsha. He found his way to London soon after and lived there for 20 years, during which he was mostly involved in deals that largely not be understood and were impregnable.
Paul learned the trick of milking corporate bodies from his days of working for Kanu Heart Foundation. Kanu Nwankwo turned out to be a childhood friend, thus it was surprising when he was alleged of stealing from him.
Having understood how to jab at the soft underbelly of corporate Nigeria, Paul has done no other job than parade the corridors of corporate Nigeria, living large off them.
Through his Upfront and Personal Company, he has gotten many Nigerian artistes to sign endorsement deals with telecommunication companies and he collects 30% ‘upfront’ as commission.
At the recent grand finale of the 2014 Aquafina Elite Model Look at Eko Hotels & Suites, Okoye once again showed his shortcomings in English language. When called to say the vote of thanks with his new partner Elohor Aisien of Beth Model Management, he said “Thank you for everybody”.
While people were laughing at his blunder, he had the business sense to ask the MD of the 7Up Bottling Company whose Aquafina brand was the headline sponsor of the Elite Model Look if he likes the show that he should sign a five year contract, because he does not want to come knocking on his door every year.
The Aquafina Elite Model show is the first time Paul is working with Elohor of Beth Model and given Elohor’s known quarrels with business partners like Nike Osinowo over similar deals, it is only a matter of time before Paul and Elohor unsheathes their swords, ready to draw blood.
