When Mentorship Becomes a Business: Knowing When to Walk Away

As I was going through the internet recently, I came across a lot of talk about Dr. Stephen Akintayo and his $18,000 mentorship program. The more I looked into it, the more I realized how many people were raising concerns about it, and I couldn't help but wonder: Is this really a legitimate program, or is it just another business opportunity disguised as something more?

Dr. Stephen Akintayo is a well-known entrepreneur, especially in Nigeria. He has built a name for himself through ventures in real estate, agriculture, and e-commerce via his company, Gtext Holdings. He has significant followers. Many people are looking up to him as a successful businessman. However, some of the claims surrounding him, particularly about his $18,000 mentorship program, raised some serious red flags.

The program, which promises exclusive coaching, access to investment opportunities, and real estate training, is undoubtedly tempting. But when the price is that high, it makes you stop and think: What exactly are you getting for that amount? In most cases, mentorship programs are priced based on the value of the knowledge and experience the mentor brings. But when you’re looking at $18,000, it’s hard not to wonder if the price is really justified, especially when the mentor doesn’t have a long, established history of successful ventures.

Then, there are the accusations. Some people have pointed out that Dr. Akintayo has been involved in controversial business practices in the past. some people even suggest he has been linked to investment scams and Ponzi schemes. For those unfamiliar with the term, a Ponzi scheme is a type of fraud where the money from new investors is used to pay returns to earlier investors as they create the illusion of profitability. These schemes are usually set to collapse, and the investors who join late are left with nothing. If there’s any truth to these allegations, it paints a concerning picture of his current business practices, especially when it comes to convincing people to hand over such a large sum for his mentorship program.

Another thing that caught my attention was his association with prominent Nigerian pastors. Some critics have argued that he uses these connections to lend credibility to his programs and make them seem more trustworthy. This is a tactic that has been used before. Tying a business venture to a religious figure can often make people feel more comfortable investing, as they associate the mentor with authority and trustworthiness. What is even troubling, though, is that sometimes these religious connections are used to manipulate followers into believing in a cause that may not have the best intentions. When you start hearing Bible verses thrown around to justify investment decisions, you have to wonder if there's more to it than just a business opportunity.

Now, back to mentorship

It is, of course, not a bad thing. Many successful entrepreneurs have helped others grow through genuine, valuable mentorship programs. But when the price becomes sky-high, particularly for someone who doesn’t have a long, proven track record of success in that field. I think it is worth questioning. Dr. Akintayo’s program promises a lot of exclusive access to training, business coaching, and investment opportunities, but for $18,000, is it really the value it claims to be?

We have all heard stories of people falling victim to investment fraud, from Ponzi schemes to pyramid schemes. These scams are built on false promises of high returns and little to no risk. They sound too good to be true, and in reality, they are. Eventually, the whole thing collapses, and most of the people involved lose their money. These scams are mostly dangerous because they prey on people’s desire to succeed quickly without putting in the work. When someone is asking for a large sum of money upfront, it’s essential to approach the situation with caution. These are just my opinions, though, not more, and it is not that I'm trying to equate a mentorship program with fraud or pyramids schemes.