Building Africa’s Talent Ecosystem with Asa Asika, Co-Founder & Principal Partner, Plug Entertainment (@theplugglobalagency) and Host of The Star Network Podcast- Zephia Ovia-Ikem

Key areas we cover:

• The evolution of talent management in Nigeria and across Africa
• Davido’s 5ive album: global sound, personal growth, African narrative
• Protecting African artists in global record and brand deals
• Friendships & Business 
• Why structure, strategy, & strong teams drive creative success.

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Asa Asika  is a Co-Founder & Principal Partner of Plug Entertainment Lagos, Nigeria. He has been involved in various facets of the Entertainment Industry since childhood and spent a decade working in PR and marketing for Storm Records which produced various top talents.

In 2013, Asa established Stargaze, a management company whose focus was on the youth and upcoming artists. Stargaze handled many top accounts where he focused on creating beneficial relationships. Asa also manages Afrobeat forerunner Davido (@davido) and has played a critical role in his success story. 

With this deep vision and passion for all things entertainment in Africa, Plug Entertainment was founded in 2016 alongside Abiodun “Bizzle” Osikoya (@bizzleosikoya). Asa oversees Plug’s strategic relationships in hopes to foster and garner an impactful relationship between music in Africa and the rest of the world. 

Since inception Plug has now added sports to its portfolio. Plug also provides services like talent management, music distribution, label services and co-produces one of the biggest events in Nigeria called The Mainland block party.

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Positioning for Global Opportunities & Redefining Real Estate with Wunmi Williams, Founder & CEO, Wunmi Williams Global (w.wglobal) and Host of The Star Network Podcast- Zephia Ovia-Ikem

In this episode we discuss Wunmi's personal journey of Entrepreneurship - from selling accessories from her home, to diving into Real Estate and expanding business opportunities to the UAE. This is a personal story of grit despite loss and the power of being resilient

Key learnings:

• The Nakenohs Boulevard story as a platform for Nigerian retail brands
• Steps to expand globally and build trusted international partnerships
• What African entrepreneurs should know about UAE investments

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Wunmi builds businesses, platforms, and opportunities that help others thrive. With over 20 years in retail and real estate, she’s helped shape Nigeria’s commercial landscape and empowered local brands to thrive both locally and globally.

With a Retail Management degree from the University of Surrey and early training at Nordstrom, Wunmi returned to Nigeria with a clear mission: to transform retail. That vision became Nakenohs Boulevard, a boutique mall in Lagos now home to over 26 brands. Through her company WW Global, she’s since expanded to the UK, US, and UAE — launching pop-ups, acquiring prime real estate, and setting new industry standards.

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Date recorded: 4/6/26

Building & Scaling A Luxury Fashion Group featuring Yinka Ash, Founder & CEO Ashcorp Group  and Host of the Star Network Podcast: ZephiaOvia-Ikem (Zeph)

In this episode we discuss starting a Luxury Fashion Business, embracing a leadership mindset and the importance of incorporating our culture into Fashion as a way of story telling

Key learnings :
📌 The journey building Ashcorp group ( AshLux and AshLuxury)
📌 Fashion expressed through art and owning our narrative
📌Finding purpose in your talents
📌 Staying relevant in Business

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Yinka Ash is the Founder and CEO of Ashcorp Group, he’s re-defining luxury for a new generation and is one of the most influential voices in fashion and culture today. In 2017, he launched @Ashluxury, a concept store that revolutionized high-end retail in Nigeria, creating access to global luxury brands for African consumers. By 2019, he introduced @Ashluxe—a bold streetwear brand rooted in Afrobeats, Nigerian street culture, and global fashion. Today, Ashluxe is worn by creatives, tastemakers, and celebrities across major fashion capitals.

Yinka’s vision has built a multi-million-dollar empire that bridges global luxury with African markets, earning him a place on the prestigious BoF 500 list. Through his mentorship platform YAART (@yaart_program), he’s now investing in the next generation of African leaders and creators.

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Learnings on Real Estate and Hospitality featuring Adesuwa Belo-Osagie, Co-Founder & Director 7 Fifteen Capital Limited (@7-Fiffteen) and CEO Husk Collection and Host of the Star Network Podcast: Zephia Ovia-Ikem (Zeph)

In this episode we discuss starting a Real Estate business, why due diligence is important when it comes to land verification, joint ventures vs direct property ownership, trends in the hospitality space and so much more. Key learnings :

• Property ownership for generation wealth
• Verification processes to owning/ building property
• Key things to know when securing JVs
• Hospitality space & preservation of culture

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Adesuwa Belo-Osagie is a distinguished lawyer and entrepreneur, reshaping Africa’s luxury real estate and hospitality sectors. As Co-Founder and Deputy CEO of 7-Fifteen Capital, she leads the development of high-end, purpose-driven properties in Abuja and Lagos. 

A Harvard graduate qualified to practice law in Nigeria, England, and Wales, she honed her expertise at Clifford Chance LLP. 

Beyond business, she serves on influential boards, mentors young entrepreneurs, and champions social impact through the 7-Fifteen Philanthropic Foundation. Her leadership blends innovation, excellence, and a deep commitment to community advancement

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Understanding VC Trends featuring Lexi Novitske, General Partner at Norrsken 22 (@norrsken_22) & Host of The Star Network Podcast:  Zephia Ovia-Ikem (Zeph)

In this episode, Lexi shares on VC trends and the trickle down effect into the African continent. Given her expertise and passion for investing in African tech businesses that are solving real problems and are scalable, she breaks down what makes a startup attractive for funding, what the fundamentals are to starting a VC and challenging cultural biases when making investment decisions into African economies.  

In this episode we discuss :

• VC Trends
• The trickle down effect into African economies
• How to attract funding as a Startup
• Fundamentals to starting a VC
• Opportunities within African counties and the interest from VCs

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Lexi Novitske is the General Partner at Norrsken22, a growth-stage tech investment fund operating across Africa. Based in Lagos, she brings deep local insight and global experience to support African tech startups.
Originally from the U.S., Lexi moved to Nigeria in 2012, drawn by its untapped potential. She founded Singularity Investments in 2014 and later launched Acuity Venture Partners, backing leading startups like Paystack, Flutterwave, Mono, and Sabi. Her investment focus spans fintech, enterprise software, and platforms enhancing financial access and trade across Africa.
Lexi has also worked with Verod Capital Management, SEAF, and Sandler O’Neill. She serves on multiple tech boards, mentors startups, and is both a CFA Charterholder and Kauffman Fellow.

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Follow our guest: @lexinovitske @norrsken_22 @norrskenfoundation

Career Pivot to Bestselling Author featuring Foluso Agbaje, Author: The Parlour Wife (@foagbaje) & Host of The Star Network Podcast:  Zephia Ovia-Ikem (Zeph)

In this episode, Foluso shares how her 12-year long career in corporate prepared her to be a debut author. She shares how being resilient shapes her to keep going. From getting a lot of “No’s” to a "Yes" from one of the Big 5 English language Publishers- Harper Collins. Foluso is now the Bestselling Author of her first novel (The Parlour Wife)

In this episode we discuss :
📌 Leaving a 12-year career to become an Author
📌 Resilience in being told "No"
📌 Exploring intersectional feminism in WWII
📌 The structure and balance needed to be a writer
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After graduating from the Faber Academy (@faber_academy ) in 2022, Foluso completed her debut novel, The Parlour Wife. She has a Master’s degree in Management and Human Resources from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Loughborough University. A storyteller at heart, Foluso is always drawn to narratives that explore identity, culture, and resilience. She continues to write, inspired by the complexities of the human experience. She loves London but calls Lagos home, and her stories are shaped by these two cities that have captured her heart. When not curled up with her Kindle, you’ll find her in a bookshop, museum, or restaurant. She is a big fan of period dramas and has watched every episode of Downton Abbey more times than she’s willing to admit.

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How To Scale Your Business featuring Tomi Adeola, CEO Hairitage Hub (@hairitagehub) & Host of The Star Network Podcast:  Zephia Ovia-Ikem (Zeph)

In this episode we discuss embodying an entrepreneurial spirit, finding opportunities within your market and appreciating your career development to get you to the next level. Tomi shares on her journey - building HairitageHub, the 7 years of experience within the beauty industry and how she has managed to ensure customer retention. Last year, 2 new brands were launched by her to cater to the demands of haircare within our market (Activate Relaxer and Vive Haircare)
 

Key areas we cover:

• Finding the right business partnerships
• Deep research
• Customer loyalty for retention
• Understanding your business capacity 

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Follow our guest: @hairitagehub @activate_relaxer @vivehaircare

XO Boutique Bakery: Day In A Life Series featuring Chef Alex Oke (Chef Owner XO Boutique Bakery ) and Host of The Star Network Podcast Zephia Ovia-Ikem (Zeph)

In this episode we spend the day at XO Boutique Bakery with Chef Alex unpacking the journey from being a pastry chef to owning a restaurant. Alex shares with us his career transitions, being a graduate of International Business to embracing his love for Culinary Arts and becoming a Pastry Chef/Restaurant Owner

Key highlights:

• Embracing your inner gifts (transitioning from a corporate 9-5 to entrepreneurship in culinary arts)
• Owning a Restaurant Business in complex business environments
• Gaps in the food production value chain in Nigeria

Chef Alex is a bi-national Nigerian/Russian Chef based in Lagos Nigeria. Alex is passionate about bread, pastry and confections and trained in both culinary and pastry arts at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts (PICA) in Vancouver, Canada. Prior to culinary arts, Alex earned an undergraduate  honours degree in Management in the U.S  and a graduate degree with distinction in International Marketing Management in the UK.  His professional work experience cuts across FMCG marketing and branding. 

While at Pacific Institute for Culinary Arts, he staged at the Fairmont Vancouver, Beta 5 and Thomas Haas and also worked for a period at Lear Faye in East Vancouver before returning to Nigeria as pastry chef at Tarragon Restaurant, and chef instructor at the Culinary Academy in Ikoyi, Lagos.

As the Chef owner at XO Boutique Bakery, the restaurant features traditional French and new world breads, viennoiserie and pastries with a modern flair. Alex has delivered masterclass demos at prominent food festivals in Lagos, including the GTBank Food & Drink Fair, Fiesta of Flavours and Fitfam Fest

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Continuity of Family Businesses featuring Ama Peters (Managing Director) and Toksy Peters (Executive Director) of Visions Opticals and Host of The Star Network Podcast:  Zephia Ovia-Ikem (Zeph)

Visions Opticals is a family-owned business which started in 1989 by the late Dr. Bose Peter, a renowned Ophthalmologist. The company’s mission is to provide high quality and luxury eye care service to families and professionals across Nigeria 

 In this episode we discuss succession in Family Businesses 

 Key highlights:

 ·       Joining a Family Business (navigating different stakeholders and finding your place)

·       Partnering with Global Brands

·       The need for continuous learning - transitioning into new business ventures 

Ama Peters holds a BA in Philosophy & Politics from Trinity College Dublin and an MPhil in Ethnic and Racial Studies. 

After over five years in Asset Management at Goldman Sachs, she joined Visions
Opticals in 2010 and now serves as Managing Director, leveraging her industry expertise and asset management background to drive the growth of the 35-year-old family business.

A Fellow of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, Member of the General Optical Council UK  as well as Nigerian-American Chamber of commerce etc. Ama is passionate about lens technology and helping clients find their prefect visual aids. She also volunteers at the Enterprise Development Centre and serves as Executive Director of the Kidney Foundation for Africa.
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Toksy Peters holds a BSc in French and Economics with International Business from the University of Surrey. She spent over eight years at Vetiva Capital Management Limited, serving in roles including Head of Sales and Portfolio Manager. She has completed various financial industry trainings, including Financial Planning (Florida State University), Financial Analysis (IBFC Agusto), and Portfolio Management (Euromoney).

Joining Visions Opticals in 2015, Tokunbo leads the Sales and Marketing drive at Visions, leveraging her extensive experience to grow the client base and drive sales. 

A qualified Dispensing Optician, Member of the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce etc; she also serves as an Executive Director of the Kidney Foundation for Africa and mentors younger women in her spare time.

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Follow our guest: @visionsopticals

Bridging The Gap For Medical Emergency Response with Dr Yewande Alebiosu, Co-Founder/COO Help Station (@helpstation.ng) and Host of The Star Network Podcast: Zephia Ovia-Ikem (Zeph)

 Dr Yewande is a medical doctor with over 7 years experience in emergency medicine. She has worked in the emergency department of Lagos University Teaching Hospital and other private hospitals in Lagos state.

She also served as the pioneer Chief Operating Officer and Product Lead of a leading telemedicine company, BetaCare, with over 200,000 active subscribers. She now serves as the non-executive director of the company. Currently, she is the Co-Founder and COO of HelpStation. A health tech company focused on leveraging technology to provide access to emergency services, by building the largest network of ambulances, first responders and emergency ready hospitals across Nigeria, and ensuring seamless interconnectivity between these stakeholders, to promote direct access to individuals when it matters most.

 Key areas we cover:

• What to do when there’s an emergency
• Challenges in pre-hospital care. 
• Helpstation solving emergency response waiting time
• Building a culture fit product for everyone to use during an emergency

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Follow our guest: @helpstation.ng