Abideen Olamilekan: Waxing Strong in Technology, Music and Business

Abideen Olamilekan is a multifaceted individual whose endeavours span across the realms of technology, music, and politics, showcasing his diverse talents and passions. As the CEO and co-founder of Pinch Technologies Limited, Olamilekan has spearheaded the development of Pinch, Africa’s pioneering social payment app.

Launched in November 2022, Pinch redefines the digital payment landscape by seamlessly integrating fun into how people handle money, allowing users to handle payments with ease while enjoying a social experience. Partnering with Wema Bank, Pinch offers a comprehensive range of banking services, including bill payments, salary automation, savings, and investments. Olamilekan vision for Pinch arose from his ambition to enhance mobile banking experiences a n d empower individuals a n d businesses to manage their finances effortlessly. Alongside his tech ventures, Olamilekan is also a prominent figure in the music industry, known by his stage name Sustain.

His debut studio EP, “Afrosus,” stands as a testament to his musical prowess and creative ingenuity. Drawing inspiration from his roots in Oyo state, Sustain’s music blends traditional Nigerian genres such as Fuji, Highlife, Juju, and Sakara with modern Afrobeats, resulting in a captivating fusion of sounds. “Afrosus” debuted as a top album on Apple Music, showcasing Sustain’s ris- ing prominence in the Afropop scene. With collaborations with industry veterans and a commitment to delivering quality music, Sustain is poised to leave a lasting impact on the music landscape. “The Afrosus EP is my debut body of work. It’s a 7 tracks amazing body of awesomeness, I feel I’m blessing Africa with originality; proper afrosounds,” Sustain shared.

The EP features collaborations with talented artists and production credits from industry vet- erans, showcasing Sustain’s commitment to delivering quality music. In addition to his achievements in technology and music, Olamilekan has recently ventured into the realm of politics, accepting the role of media executive to Mayor Dele Oshinowo, the executive chairman of Agboyi Ketu LCDA. Motivated by a desire to drive positive change and inspired by his familial legacy in politics, Olamilekan aims to make a tangible impact on his community and beyond.

“With the way things are in the country; I can’t sit outside of the fence criticizing the leaders; I believe in changing things. I have to be actively involved,” he said. Olamilekan expressed his decision to enter politics stems from a deep-rooted belief that active involvement is necessary to enact meaningful change, reflecting his commitment to shaping a better future for Nigeria.

Ahead of ITB Berlin 2025, exhibitors including interested companies, re- gions and destinations can secure their stand online and begin preparing earlier than before to attend the world’s largest travel trade show, which is slated to hold between March 4 and 6 2025 at Messe Berlin. Christina Freier, Head of Sales and Administration at ITB Berlin, disclosed the reason for this new development, stating; “Following the huge success of the last ITB Berlin and the positive feedback from exhibitors and trade visitors, we are pleased to give exhibitors the opportunity for the first time to plan much earlier for ITB Berlin 2025.’’ Adding; “We advise customers to regis- ter as soon as possible in order to take ad- vantage of our early bird rates and secure the best location for their stand.

“ The exhibitor portal of ITB Berlin 2025 is the place to head to take part in the show. After registering for a stand, main exhibitors can enter co-exhibitors and from this autumn can book supporting event services. Companies wishing to take part in ITB Berlin 2025 have until July 1, 2024 to secure early bird discounts and reserve space at the regular fee for this year’s ITB Berlin. A stand fee calculator and additional details can be found on the website of ITB Berlin: ITB Berlin stand registration. The registration deadline is September 1, 2024, after which the team of ITB Berlin will plan the halls and successively inform exhibitors of possible stand locations.

Exhibitors will subsequently receive official order confirmation from ITB Berlin. Taking part in ITB Berlin gives compa- nies an opportunity to present their prod- ucts and services to expert international audiences and senior decision-makers alike.

Exhibitors can make contact with the leading actors of the global tourism indus- try from the entire value chain and conduct efficient networking. They can also gain important information on all aspects of a constantly changing travel market. Despite ITB Berlin’s size and a wide range of products and services from over 180 countries and territories, the halls are easy to navigate.

In addition to a geograph- ical layout by destination the halls are di- vided up by market segment under the most important tourism headings. They include Business Travel, MICE, Hospitality, Travel Technology, Cultural Tourism, LGBTQ+ Tourism, Adventure Travel, Responsible Tourism, Medical and Health Tourism and Luxury Travel. At ITB Berlin 2024 more than 5,500 ex- hibitors from 170 countries and territories displayed their products and services to almost 100,000 visitors.