I Hope To See Africa As A Full Independent Continent With Its Own System – Neo Cholo, 17-Year Old South African Entrepreneur, Award Winning Author Speaks On His Life Trajectory
An award winning South African author, entrepreneur, philanthropist and public speaker, Neo Cholo, has unveiled his life trajectory as an impact making teenager who hopes to see Africa as an independent continent which is governed by its own peculiar system and by its native people.
The seventeen year old Chief Executive Officer of African Neo Media and Founder of Teens With Vision and Mosetsana Feminine made this known during a recent exclusive interview with Damilare Adeleye, The Nigerian Voice correspondent..
THE FULL INTERVIEW IS BELOW:
DAMILARE: I understand that you're an award winning author, recognised entrepreneur and motivational public speaker, how did you start each of these at your tender age?
NEO: I began writing at the age of fifteen at the peak of COVID-19 during the lockdown. I have realized that depression will be one of challenges that most people will be facing as they don't know what is next for them, so I wrote a book titled The Journey to show everyone that we all suffer from depression but we don't need to play victim role.
As an author, I had to speak to so many people and have an income to have an impressive portfolio where I established my first company African Neo Media at the age of sixteen as I have knowledge of marketing and public relations due to short courses I took. I wanted to be an inspiration to my peers and let them realize that age is just a number which doesn't determine your life.
DAMILARE: You started writing at the age of 15, what was your motivation and inspiration then? I mean what was writing to you at that age?
NEO: Being an author at young age? I thought I'm living a luxury life because I thought only well-known people were authors as I have never been exposed to local young authors. I drew motivation and inspiration from my own experience of depression. I knew that if a young person especially a boy child gets to speak or write about depression then it creates a safe space for each boy child to talk about their challenges. I wanted to be the reason a boy child never acts strong while suffering.
DAMILARE: Remarkable. What is your academic and educational background?
NEO: I have just completed my high school years at Ribane-Laka Secondary School. I was the Learner Representative Council President for 2022 where I was once elected as Head of Academics 2021 when I was doing Grade 11. I believe in education as young leader, and that I should lead by example where as the Learner Representative Council President I became part of Term 1 and 3 Top 10 Achievers, also became Life Orientation Top Achiever with 90%. I have an impressive educational background and have done my best when I was in Grade 12.
DAMIARE: Great! You published your first book, The Journey, at the age of 15. Can you briefly highlight some cogent societal issues that the book addresses?
NEO: The book addresses depression as main issue as it is not discussed enough in African households. It also addresses lack of communication that have led to so many households being divided and seeing young people suffering because of not having anyone to communicate with. It also goes to my second book 'My Scars Are My Story' which addresses issues of rape, crime, poverty and society as we see a boy child being neglected while they experience all those issues that we only given perspective of females not males.
DAMILARE: Okay. Your second book, My Scars are my Story, was published in 2021, what is the background of the story?
NEO: I have always been an advocate of equality amongst society where boy child is nurtured just like how a girl child is nurtured as we are creating a monster that will come back to haunt us. 'My Scars Are My Story' is to show society that we all have scars and there are people who go through difficulties to cover them for the society not to see them, so let's see beauty in our scars as individuals and let's create an environment where equality will be a norm for us to fight all social issues because united we will win but divided we will keep on calling for change.
DAMILARE: How does your society influence your writings?
NEO: It gives me so many perspectives on what to write, it is a society that one can learn from and can teach. My society makes my writings to be educational and address issues we often don't deeply understand.
DAMILARE: Alright sir. Thank you! Neo, you are just seventeen years of age, but you're the CEO of African Neo Media and Founder of Teens With Vision. What is the nexus between these two organisation?
NEO: I'm also the founder of Mosetsana Feminine which owns Mosetsana Pads. So African Neo Media comes from my love of marketing and public relations, I have been studying for marketing where I completed so many short courses and it is there to build up images of young creatives as I know how important it is to have experts of marketing when you are building your image. Then Teens With Vision is a home of hopeless masses where the future of Africa meets to share their visions on how change our communities, we are young people who provides indigent communities with essential goods like food, dignity packs and education. So all those entities are contributions to African communities to be developed, and see hope.
DAMILARE: Wow! Specifically, what are the aim and objectives of Teens With Vision? What do you want to achieve through the non-governmental organization?
NEO: Our aim and objectives is to see education being fashionable, where we want to see poverty affecting those who still to be assisted which should be at least 1% and we want to leave sustainable communities for future generations. We don't want to be remembered as the generation that never saw a need to serve its purpose, which is eradication of poverty in our lifetime and seek economic freedom for each and every household through access to education and food security.
Damilare: Thank you sir! As a teenage CEO and founder of organisations, how do you manage your staff and what are your major challenges in your managerial skill?
NEO: I believe in collective leadership, so my staff are fully aware that in order for us to grow and be known they have to work because it is not about me as the younger one to them but it is about what we do. So I have managed to keep them involved in building, and I believe in creating room for growth for staff where they get to lead under my supervision. I don't treat them as staff but as family that unites for growth and success.
DAMILARE: Are your establishments exclusively operating in South Africa alone? Which other African countries you are possibly considering to explore for societal developments?
NEO: Yes, but my philosophy is on Africa. We will definitely be expanding to other African countries like Kenya, Nigeria, Botswana and other countries that we establish a foundation in.
DAMILARE: Okay, sir. What is your vision for African generally?
NEO: My vision for Africa is to see Africa united and its youth working together for eradication of poverty, changing the narrative that is there about Africa being a poor continent while we have wealth that resulted to so many challenges we experience as Africans. My vision is to see Africa being independent and having its own system created by its own people working for its own people.
DAMILARE: Wow! Remarkable vision indeed! You've been honoured with Future Leader Award among other national recognitions, but what would be your lifetime achievement if you are able to attain it?
NEO: My lifetime achievement would be to be honored in each and every country, and be celebrated with awards that will inspire me to keep going. I don't have actual lifetime achievement that I think has to be mentioned so far.
DAMILARE: To round off, as a young reputable personality, which words of advice can you give to young people in your country, in Africa and around the world at large?
NEO: You are the only one who has power to change or ruin your life. Your age is nothing but a distraction to keep you away from achieving your goals, remove age as barrier and you will have no pressure. Start now, and improvise later.