That ‘education is the key to success’ is a statement that Paul Onu, founder and chief executive of leading digital marketing platform Postly, can certainly identify with.
From humble beginnings that saw him going to school in the Nigerian village of Alor Agu to establishing a company that quickly captivated over 20 000 businesses and agencies across 100 countries within its first year, Paul has risen to become one of Africa’s rising entrepreneurs and a digital marketing guru.
Through hard work, a love for his studies as well as a fascination with technology Paul finds himself at the helm of a digital marketing company that thrives on its world class AI-driven capabilities.
Since it started operating in 2021, Postly has grown to be a leader when it comes to empowering businesses, agencies, social media managers, creators, influencers as well as freelancers to transform their social media presence into dynamic growth engines.
Postly has become an industry leader in helping those at the forefront of digital marketing to amplify their voice and expand their digital footprint.
A sharp mind
Paul’s story begins in Nsukka, a small town located in the Enugu State of Nigeria, where he had to quickly come to terms with the harsh realities of life.
“I was born in Nsukka and during my early years, due to financial struggles, I lived with my grandmother in the village of Alor Agu, where I began my primary education. I attended the village primary school, and my academic journey took a positive turn from Primary 4, where I consistently excelled,” recalls Paul.
The realization that doing well in school was the key to a better life made him more determined than ever to break the shackles of poverty.
“My performance in the Common Entrance exams earned me a place at St. Teresa’s Secondary School, Nsukka, where I continued to excel academically. I pursued my tertiary education at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, studying Electronic Engineering, a path inspired by my exposure to computers and a passion for technology.
“My time at university was enriched by a growing interest in coding and technology and fueled by opportunities like securing a Chevron scholarship, which allowed me to purchase my first computer.”
From employee to employer
Paul says the idea of starting his own business was not a childhood dream but a realization that came later during the time he found himself working for major companies in the telecommunications space.
His career began as a software engineer, where he excelled for four years across two organizations: SocketWorks Limited and Airtel Nigeria.
The strong technical background he gained from experience was to pave the way for his transition into product management and marketing, where he successfully applied his skills in corporate roles and entrepreneurial ventures.
“My early years instilled in me the values of hard work and self-reliance, which naturally evolved into a desire to create opportunities and solve problems as I matured. Postly was born out of a desire to simplify social media management for businesses, especially small businesses and entrepreneurs.
“The inspiration came from recognizing the challenges businesses face in managing multiple social media platforms efficiently. Our goal was to create a user-friendly tool that combines automation, AI-driven content creation, and effective scheduling to help businesses grow their online presence.”
“Postly was founded in 2021. After facing initial challenges, it has since grown significantly.
As founder and chief executive officer of Postly, my responsibilities include overseeing product development, driving business strategy, managing the team as well as ensuring that Postly delivers exceptional value to its users.”
Overcoming setbacks
The initial phase of Postly was marked by setbacks, including financial constraints and the need for product-market fit. However, perseverance, strategic pivots as well as leveraging global marketplaces for funding through lifetime deals helped the company to overcome these hurdles.
“We help businesses and entrepreneurs manage multiple social media accounts seamlessly. We achieve this by offering features like bulk content upload, AI-driven content writing, trend analytics, one-click publishing and post scheduling, among others.
“Within six months of relaunch, Postly attracted over 8 000 business users across more than 100 countries. The platform has been well-received for its innovative features and user-centric design. Today we are able to serve over 40 000 marketers and businesses across the world.
“We have a growing team of twenty and as Postly scales, we aim to expand our workforce to meet increasing demands. As Postly continues to grow, we plan to employ more people to support our expanding operations and reach.”
Expanding international footprint
Paul’s dream is to steer Postly in a direction that will see it becoming a globally recognized platform with millions of users. Part of his broader objectives also include growing the company to an extent that will see it contributing more to economic development by creating jobs and empowering individuals through technology.
“Our strategy includes aggressive digital marketing, organic social media engagement and partnerships with global marketplaces to reach a wider audience. These efforts have already yielded significant results in user acquisition and revenue growth.
“Postly’s innovation lies in its simplicity and effectiveness. Features like one-click publishing, AI-powered content creation, and an intuitive user interface make it a preferred choice for businesses.”
And his advice to others who might be looking to follow in his entrepreneurial footsteps?
“Life has taught me resilience and the importance of self-belief. Challenges are inevitable but overcoming self-doubt and taking ownership of one’s destiny are key to success,” Paul concludes.
