Building has tested me in ways I never expected.

As CEO, tech lead, product thinker, problem solver, and sometimes the person holding everything together mentally, it has not been easy.

There were moments of excitement, but also frustration.
From dealing with Apple challenges and technical roadblocks, to handling life itself while still trying to build something meaningful.

People often see startups from the outside and think it’s just about launches, funding, or big wins.
What they don’t see are the sleepless nights, the uncertainty, the pressure, and the discipline it takes to keep going when things are not moving the way you hoped.

But despite everything, I’m still here.
Still building.
Still learning.
Still believing in what Hafrik can become.

This journey is shaping me as much as I’m shaping the company.

To every founder, builder, engineer, designer, or dreamer carrying weight behind the scenes, I see you.

We keep going.

Picture this, try as much as you can to imagine this!
You had just one month to make a significant change in your life that could alter a powerful, beneficial outcome in your education, relationship, finance or skills, what would it be, and how quickly would you start? Guess what, you have such a chance. SELAH 🪷

Renewing your Nigerian passport while abroad?
You can now start the process online before visiting the embassy or OIS center.

In this video, we break down:
How to apply online
Documents needed
Payment process
Embassy/OIS requirements
What Nigerians in diaspora should know before going

Nigerian Embassy Beijing:
No. 2 Dong Wu Jie, Sanlitun, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600

OIS Services Center (Passport & Visa):
Suite 1801, Kun Sha Building, No.16 Xin Yuan Li Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing

If you’re in China or anywhere abroad, this guide will save you stress

Follow Hafrik for more diaspora, visa, relocation, trade, and travel updates

#Hafrik #NigerianPassport #NigeriansInDiaspora #PassportRenewal #NigeriaInChina #DiasporaLife #TravelTips #NigeriansAbroad #ChinaLife #VisaTips #AfricaToChina

WhatsApp/Instagram/Google in China – What’s working for you?

Just arrived or planning a trip? Here’s the real deal on staying connected:

The Block
WhatsApp, Instagram, Google (Maps, Gmail, Drive), Facebook, and X are blocked here without a stable connection tool. Don’t panic—it’s manageable.

What actually works:
WeChat = Everything (chat, pay, mini-apps, life)
Baidu Maps > Google Maps for local navigation (Chinese/English available)
Outlook/Hotmail usually works without issues for email
Bing works for search (international version)
Apple Maps works if you have iPhone

Pro tips:
- Download a VPN before you arrive (if you go that route—test a few, they vary by city/ISP)
- International roaming: from your home SIM sometimes bypasses blocks (but check data costs!)
- Alipay or WeChat Pay are essential—way more important than Instagram access

My question to you:
What’s your setup? VPN, roaming, or full "going local" with Chinese apps? Any apps surprisingly working better than expected?

Drop your tips below for the new arrivals!

#ChinaLife #ExpatTips #Tech #NewInChina #DigitalNomad

Only in China can you take a peaceful 3:30am stroll without a second thought.

#ChinaLife

Three years ago, we recorded this video and never posted it.
The platform wasn't even called Hafrik yet. It was FLIC, a simple idea to build a community app for foreigners living in China
In front of the camera, Rejoice and Success, two people who believed in the vision before the vision even had a name.
Behind the camera, Andrew shooting it, Lolade holding things together, and myself figuring out what we were even building.
We didn't post it because honestly, we were still becoming.
The name changed. The vision grew. What started as "let's help foreigners in China connect" turned into something much bigger. We discovered that Africans specifically, whether trading from Lagos, studying in Guangzhou, or building a life in Yiwu, had no real infrastructure built for them. No trusted platform. No community backbone. No one on the ground solving their actual problems.
So FLIC became Hafrik.
And Hafrik became the operating system for Africans abroad.
We're posting this now three years later not because it's perfect. But because every big thing starts somewhere small, uncertain, and unpolished. This was ours.
To Rejoice, Success, Andrew, Lolade, and everyone who was in that room thank you for showing up before it made sense to. 🙏🏾

#Diaspora #Community

Life of a developer

Episode 1: My Journey So Far [Part 1]
Unfiltered with Olayemi | Stories Beyond Borders

In this first episode of Unfiltered with Olayemi, I talk about my journey so far.
From secondary school to polytechnic, and how I eventually found myself living in China since 2018. I share my experiences, the decisions I made, and how those moments shaped the person I'm becoming.
This episode is personal and free-flowing. I didn't over-structure it. I just wanted to start by telling my story honestly.
This is the foundation for the conversations to come around life abroad, growth, business, and figuring things out as we go.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1MKokoDQSIGNRdxGZMIUnE?si=w899o4WKQfmz1e8p2P5Bbw

007 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

A legacy of vibes. A culture of energy. A movement that never sleeps.

From unforgettable nights to nonstop grooves, 007 has been more than just a party — it’s been an experience. And now… it’s time to celebrate the journey.

Get ready for a night filled with electrifying music, high energy, and nothing but pure vibes.
The DJs. The crowd. The atmosphere. Everything elevated.
This is not just another event… this is THE ANNIVERSARY.

Two nights. One vibe. One unforgettable experience.

Venue: [铁镁1956文化创意产业园 – 西门]
📅 Date: [1st & 2nd May]
Time: [12am till dawn]

Dress fresh. Come ready. Bring your energy.

ARE YOU READY?

#Club007 #007Anniversary #GlowAndFlow #AfrobeatsVibes #NightlifeExperience

Let us settle something today.
What is actually the hardest city to live in as a foreigner in China?
Not the hardest to visit. The hardest to actually build a life in.
Comment your answer and tell me why. I have my own opinion but I want to hear yours first.

YOUR PURPOSE HAS ALREADY BEEN INPRINTED IN YOU....wake up and work on it!! #life motivation #NIHOWPODCAST

Yo, made new friends, it was quite easy making new connections, not just people to talk to, but people with various possible opportunities to offer. With this 3 things you could connect quickly when you meet new people, remember in china, and basically anywhere in the world, to be ahead you need people who know more than you do in such a field or pursuit.
1 - when you say hi/hello ( basically greetings) remember to comment on something they're wearing or something you could highlight about them. eg " hi, good day, I love this blazers though, looking real good" then your name and blah blah blah you go on
2 - make sure you have quality questions planned always, (create a frame work) many people don't have any sort of frame work, they say " just go with the flow" as much as this sounds doable, make sure you have a framework, eg firstly ask where they're from, second, their name, then repeat Thier name twice and up to 4 times in the conversation ( very important).
And lastly but not the least
3 - ask about what they do, and listen like your life depends on it, then you can ask if you could take a picture, (after the whole discussion though) then ask for their WeChat/WhatsApp so you could send it to them, remember you are trying to build a connection, so enjoy the whole thing👋,
Give us some of your guidelines on how to reach out to some new.

One thing I learnt that shook me way too vigorously within is this...
"If your life was a movie, and you were watching yourself now, would you be glad about what you're doing, and what would you be doing differently?"
Yeah I nearly cried , nevertheless it pushed me to start reading more, and develop certain skills, and I must say, if we all, mostly young African can ask ourselves just this question, it would make a great change, what do you think???

#Diaspora #Community

Life have a way of rewarding being consistent at what you do .
Often times we have great expectations so clear in the mind .
But this sometimes takes years to materialize.
Whatever you may be involve in dont quit because you haven’t seen any result
The first few years may be chaos , it’s all part of the preparation. Keep moving and don’t give up on that ministry , business, relationship, schooling etc.

#mathinspire
#Business
#Forex
#synthetic indicies
#XAUUSD

Living in a new country can quietly turn into a routine of work and home, class and home. Before you know it, months pass and you’ve met almost no one outside your small circle.

If you’re in China, don’t let that happen.

Opportunities here rarely show up through isolation. They come through conversations, shared meals, events, collaborations, introductions, and simply being visible. The people you meet today can open doors you didn’t even know existed tomorrow.

Go out. Attend that meetup. Join that community. Start the conversation.
Don’t just survive in China. Build something here.

#LifeInChina #Networking #ForeignersInChina #BuildYourCircle #GrowthMindset #HafrikTv #podcast #Hafrik #horlaarsman

We are excited to announce that our official full native Hafrik app will be launching in 10 days.

Hafrik is an all-in-one platform built to make life in China easier for foreigners, students, entrepreneurs, and travelers. From services and jobs to housing, city guides, business, and community, Hafrik connects you to everything you need in one place.

This is not just a platform, it’s a community and a support system for anyone living in or moving to China.

The countdown has begun. 10 days to go.

Stay tuned for the official launch.
www.hafrik.com

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about building, growth, and direction.

Over the past few years, I’ve moved countries, built products, started companies, made mistakes, learned hard lessons, met amazing people, and started building something bigger than I initially planned.

One thing I’ve realized is that life rarely goes in a straight line.

Most of the time, you’re just figuring things out, adjusting, learning, failing, fixing, and continuing.

Right now, I’m focused on building Hafrik and a few other things around community, technology, and media.

Still building. Still learning. Still growing.

Your age doesn't make you invincible. ❤️‍🩹

High blood pressure is called the "silent killer" for a reason it doesn't hurt until it's too late. In fact, undiagnosed high blood pressure is one of the leading causes of stroke and death in young people.

The scariest part? You usually can't feel it.

Stop guessing. Start checking. A simple blood pressure monitor at home can save your life. It's the cheapest life insurance you'll ever buy.

Watch your salt intake, manage stress, and move your body. Know your numbers. Prevention is always better than regret.

#SilentKiller #KnowYourNumbers #HeartHealth #StrokeAwareness