The Booming Boomer

Hadiza Isma El-Rufai
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Documentary
  • Updated Biweekly

The Booming Boomer podcast features conversations with inspiring individuals across Africa, sharing stories, insights, and experiences on entrepreneurship, culture, and more. Hosted by Hadiza Isma El-Rufai.

  1. Sep 10

    He Left a Successful Career to Start Again | Sir Jarus | EP:21

    Suraj Oyewale did not originally plan to become an entrepreneur.His ambition was to rise through corporate Nigeria and eventually become an executive at a major oil and gas company. But an unexpected turn in his career pushed him into consulting, a side business and eventually full-time entrepreneurship.In this episode of The Booming Boomer Podcast, Suraj Oyewale, widely known as Sir Jarus, joins Hadiza Isma El-Rufai to talk about the decisions, opportunities and setbacks that shaped his journey.He reflects on building a successful career in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, why he eventually walked away, and how a business he initially started simply to supplement his income grew beyond his expectations.The conversation also explores hard work, luck and timing, why equally hardworking people can end up with very different outcomes, and why young people should be careful about comparing their lives to what they see on social media.Suraj also shares how an anonymous Nairaland username became the Sir Jarus brand, how he built a reputation around career guidance, the unexpected conversation that led him into real estate, what money taught him about responsibility, and why success rarely follows one fixed path.Guest: Suraj “Sir Jarus” Oyewale, FCA Entrepreneur, Author & Career AdvisorHost: Hadiza Isma El-RufaiThe Booming Boomer PodcastSubscribe for more conversations with people building, creating and shaping society.

  2. Sep 9

    Why I Still Believe in Nigeria | Dike Chukwumerije | EP20

    Dike Chukwumerije has spent years using poetry and storytelling to examine what it means to be Nigerian.In this episode of The Booming Boomer Podcast, he joins Hadiza Isma El-Rufai for a conversation about patriotism, Nigerian identity, Pan-Africanism, creativity, family and the power of words.Dike explains why he still believes in Nigeria despite its challenges, and why he believes the country should not be reduced to its politicians.“Nigeria is the people.”He also shares what travelling across 21 states with his Made in Nigeria production taught him about how much Nigerians actually have in common, and why he compares the Nigerian character to the River Niger itself: unconventional, communal and deeply aspirational.The conversation goes beyond the country.Dike reflects on discovering the power of poetry after being booed onto a stage in the UK before receiving a standing ovation, overcoming stage fright through relentless rehearsal, and spending nearly two decades building his poetry career alongside a regular job.He also speaks about raising four children, choosing family over career opportunities, the dangers of constant social media comparison, and why young people need enough stillness to hear their own voice.Guest: Dike ChukwumerijePerformance Poet, Author & Spoken Word Theatre PractitionerHost: Hadiza Isma El-RufaiThe Booming Boomer PodcastSubscribe for more conversations with people building, creating and shaping society.

  3. Sep 9

    Writing What Northern Nigeria Doesn’t Talk About | Fatima Bala | EP:19

    Why do we hide parts of ourselves, even from the people closest to us?Fatima Bala, author of Broken: Not a Halal Love Story, Hafsatu Bebi and The Lies We Tell, joins Hadiza Isma El-Rufai for a conversation about writing honestly, creating deeply human characters and telling Northern Nigerian stories without pretending difficult realities do not exist.Fatima reveals that Broken was originally written anonymously, giving her the freedom to write without constantly censoring herself. She reflects on the story behind the book, the relationships and generations explored in Hafsatu Bebi, and why secrets became central to her latest work, The Lies We Tell.They discuss love, family, faith, identity, marriage, appearances, private struggles and why some truths are easier to hide than confront.Fatima also opens up about her writing process, balancing motherhood with creativity, writing on her phone whenever she finds the time, being an introvert in an industry that requires visibility, and the responsibility she feels when representing Northern Nigerian life through fiction.And beyond her own books, she explains why she wants to see more Northern Nigerian writers telling their own stories.Guest: Fatima BalaHost: Hadiza Isma El-RufaiPodcast: The Booming Boomer PodcastSubscribe for more conversations across literature, business, culture and public life.

  4. Sep 9

    Nigeria Chose Me | Mira Mehta, Tomato Jos | EP:18

    “I didn’t choose Nigeria. Nigeria chose me.”After moving from the United States to Nigeria, Mira Mehta saw tomatoes being left along rural roads while much of the tomato paste sold in the country was imported. That contradiction eventually became the idea behind Tomato Jos.Mira Mehta is the Co-Founder and CEO of Tomato Jos, an agribusiness working with smallholder farmers to strengthen tomato farming, processing and local food production in Nigeria. In this conversation, she shares how a public-health career brought her to Nigeria, why she stayed, and what it took to build a business in Northern Nigeria.She speaks about earning the trust of farming communities, supporting women farmers, reducing post-harvest losses, improving yields, competing with imported tomato paste, surviving crop failures and learning that cash can matter more than profitability when running a business.The conversation also covers food security, local manufacturing, GMOs, agricultural subsidies, roads, insecurity, fertilizer costs and the realities young entrepreneurs must understand before starting a business.Watch to the end for Mira’s advice to young entrepreneurs and the three areas she believes Nigeria must address to strengthen agriculture and economic growth.Guest: Mira Mehta, Co-Founder and CEO of Tomato JosHost: Hadiza Isma El-RufaiPodcast: The Booming Boomer PodcastListen on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

  5. Sep 9

    From Cancer Experience to Advocacy | Gloria Chinyere Okwu | | EP17

    Gloria Chinyere Okwu joins The Booming Boomer Podcast for a conversation on cancer advocacy, public health, writing, and the lived experiences that shaped her voice.A Nigerian writer, communication specialist, and healthcare advocate, Gloria speaks about turning personal experience into public awareness, and why stories can become powerful tools for health advocacy in Nigeria.Guest: Gloria Chinyere Okwu, Writer, Communication Specialist & Healthcare AdvocateHost: Hadiza Isma El-RufaiPodcast: The Booming Boomer PodcastListen on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

  6. Sep 9

    Kill The Poet, Save The World | Abdulkareem Baba Aminu | EP:16

    He cried while writing the poem. Then cried again when he tried to type it.Abdulkareem Baba Aminu speaks about pain, creativity, comics, journalism, Northern Nigeria, and the story behind his poetry collection, Kill The Poet, Save The World.Abdulkareem Baba Aminu is one of Northern Nigeria’s most accomplished creative voices. He is a journalist, columnist, cartoonist, illustrator, writer, poet, and author. His work spans journalism, literature, visual art, popular culture, comics, and storytelling. In this conversation, he speaks about growing up in Kaduna, discovering books and comics, publishing his first writing at the age of 12, becoming part of Weekly Trust and Daily Trust, creating popular newspaper pages, editing Daily Trust Saturday for over 13 years, and building a life across different creative worlds.He also talks about his poetry collection Kill The Poet, Save The World, published by Masobe Books, the painful personal experience behind some of the poems, the value of Northern Nigerian creativity, the importance of supporting young writers and artists, and why creatives should not limit themselves.Watch to the end for a grounded conversation on art, journalism, poetry, comics, culture, pain, discipline, and what it means to build a creative life without choosing only one identity.Guest: Abdulkareem Baba Aminu, Journalist, Author, Cartoonist, Illustrator and PoetHost: Hadiza Isma El-RufaiPodcast: The Booming Boomer PodcastListen on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.#AbdulkareemBabaAminu #KillThePoetSaveTheWorld #MasobeBooks #NorthernNigeria #KadunaCreatives #NigerianWriters #NigerianJournalism #Comics #Poetry #AfricanLiterature #CreativeWriting #BoomingBoomerPodcast #BoomWithHadiza #NigerianPodcast #AfricanPodcast

  7. Sep 9

    She Practiced Medicine As First Lady | Dr. Amina Abubakar Bello | EP:15

    he was First Lady of Niger State, but she still went to the hospital, attended clinics, performed surgeries, took deliveries, and treated patients.Dr. Amina Abubakar Bello shares what it was like to serve publicly while remaining a practicing obstetrician-gynaecologist, and why her medical work shaped the way she understood leadership, healthcare, and service.Dr. Amina Abubakar Bello is a consultant obstetrician-gynaecologist, women’s health advocate, founder of Raise Foundation, and former First Lady of Niger State. In this conversation, she speaks about growing up in a family grounded in discipline and values, practicing medicine while in public life, her experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the work of Raise Foundation in maternal health, safe deliveries, antenatal care, tricycle ambulances, and community-based healthcare support.She also reflects on one of the most painful moments of her medical career, the realities of maternal mortality in Nigeria, the role of faith in difficult times, her journey memorising the Qur’an, and what it means to leave behind a legacy of doing good.Watch to the end for a grounded conversation on medicine, public service, women’s health, faith, and the realities behind healthcare in Northern Nigeria.Guest: Dr. Amina Abubakar Bello, Consultant Obstetrician-Gynaecologist, Founder of Raise Foundation, and Former First Lady of Niger StateHost: Hadiza Isma El-RufaiPodcast: The Booming Boomer Podcast

  8. Sep 9

    Why Women Are Taught to Think Small About Money | Zainab Salihijo Ahmad | EP:14

    At a workshop, the men stretched their arms wide to show how much money they wanted. The women barely opened their hands. That moment changed everything for Zainab Salihijo Ahmad.In Episode 14 of The Booming Boomer Podcast, Hadiza Isma El-Rufai speaks with Zainab Salihijo Ahmad, a Harvard-trained entrepreneur, philanthropist, and financial educator. Zainab is the Founder and Creative Director of Pink Fleur, a modest fashion brand she has built quietly for over 15 years, and Founder of the Salihijo Ahmad Foundation. Through My Money Series and The Money Reset, she helps women rethink their worth, their relationship with money, and their confidence to ask for more.She is honest about the insecurity she had to overcome first, why building quietly beats showing off, and how giving should help people stand on their own.A conversation about fashion, money, philanthropy, and building work that lasts.Guest: Zainab Salihijo Ahmad, Founder of Pink Fleur and the Salihijo Ahmad FoundationHost: Hadiza Isma El-RufaiListen on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.#BoomingBoomerPodcast #ZainabSalihijoAhmad #PinkFleur #WomenAndMoney #FinancialLiteracy #ModestFashion #NigerianWomen #SalihijoAhmadFoundation #NorthernNigeria #MoneyMindset #WomenEmpowerment #NigerianEntrepreneur #Philanthropy #NigerianPodcast #MuslimFashion

See All (15)

About

The Booming Boomer podcast features conversations with inspiring individuals across Africa, sharing stories, insights, and experiences on entrepreneurship, culture, and more. Hosted by Hadiza Isma El-Rufai.

Information

  • Creator
    Hadiza Isma El-Rufai
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Hadiza Isma El-Rufai
  • Show Website
    The Booming Boomer