A video circulating on social media has captured the moment U.S.-based content creator James, host of The School of Hard Knocks, was briefly stopped by armed police officers while attempting to interview Nigerian business executive Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes on the streets of Lagos.
James, who is widely known for interviewing successful entrepreneurs and business leaders across the world about their journey to wealth, approached Rhodes with his signature introduction before security officers accompanying her intervened.
As he prepared to begin the interview, one of the officers repeatedly instructed him to stop while pointing a firearm in his direction, leaving the interviewer momentarily startled.
Rhodes quickly intervened, asking her security personnel to stand down and allowing the interview to proceed without further interruption.
James then introduced himself, explaining that his platform has more than 24 million followers and that he had been travelling across Nigeria interviewing some of the country’s leading entrepreneurs, including Aliko Dangote and Tony Elumelu.
During the conversation, Rhodes revealed that she has spent about 12 years working in private equity and that her investment firm currently manages approximately $80 million in assets.
Sharing one of the biggest lessons from her career, she said persistence has been the driving force behind her success.
Quoting one of her favourite sayings, she noted that “a river cuts through rock not because of its power but because of its persistence,” adding that success often comes from refusing to give up despite repeated setbacks.
Rhodes disclosed that it took her eight years to raise her first investment fund because many investors doubted her ability to succeed as a young Black woman in the private equity industry.
She encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to create opportunities for themselves instead of waiting for acceptance, saying that if no one offers them a seat at the table, they should build their own.
The businesswoman also challenged the belief that a university degree is the only route into private equity, stressing that building meaningful human relationships is equally important.
Speaking about Africa’s investment potential, she described the continent as one of the world’s biggest growth opportunities, arguing that many investors underestimate its long-term prospects.
She highlighted Africa’s informal economy as a trillion-dollar opportunity, explaining that businesses providing solutions for informal traders could create enormous wealth in the future.
Rhodes, who said she is 36 years old, concluded by attributing her achievements to her Christian faith, saying her success would not have been possible without God’s guidance.
The video has since attracted widespread attention online, with many social media users reacting to both the brief intervention by the police officers and the business insights shared during the interview.
