The Nation Newspaper

Category: Small Business and Entreprenuership

  • ‘$1billion investment will boost jobs in Edo’

    ‘$1billion investment will boost jobs in Edo’

    Abdul Oroh, the Edo State Commissioner for Agriculture, in this interview with Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia is very optimistic that the recent $1billion investment for rice production by the Dangote Group will not only create jobs but boost the economy of the state across all frontiers. Excerpts:

    Edo state recently signed an MOU with Dangote Group on production of rice, how far is the project?

    Well, the project is on already. As we talk now we are surveying the land in Ekperi area of Etsako Central. The surveying is ongoing, we are also doing crops enumeration to compensate the farmers who were already on the land and after that the state government will formally acquire the land and lease it to them for the project. So the process is on, they have done their due diligence. When we signed the MOU at the Federal Government level, six states were supposed to be affected. Edo state will provide 50 hectares of land but the other states will provide about one hundred thousand hectares. So we are already in the forefront of this and we are happy to have Dangote Group investing in Edo state.

    What does the people of Edo state stand to gain from the establishment of this gigantic project?

    We expect that annually we will be producing as much as 450, 000 tons of rice and compared to what we import as a nation, it will drastically reduce our dependence on foreign rice. Like Dangote said during the ceremony, this rice thing will be bigger than cement.

    He said I have done my own work, the land is good, we have abundant water resources and the policy of Edo state government is exciting. So, what we are trying to do in Edo state is bigger than the cement project. What he was talking about the cement project is that the cement project started with about less than 1.8 million tons of cement per annum. Now they are hitting about 37 million tons from 1.8m tons. He said that rice is even bigger if we can do two cropping seasons if not three in a year and the market is huge, even if we are not exporting it, the Nigerian market is huge and there is no day people will not eat and rice is the staple food of humanity.  Rice is the main food of all countries of the world. So there is no reason why the business will not be huge. And looking at this, it will be of enormous and tremendous benefit to the people of Edo state. More than 4, 000 people will be employed in the next one or two years. There will be a lot of other benefits in terms of contractors working with them for land preparation, supplying of this and that. We have growers scheme that will affect thousands of youths in the area who are willing to farm, land will be apportioned to them; they will be assisted with seeds and fertilisers and other things to produce rice and sold to the Dangote Group as an off-taker. Purely, the economic benefits are enormous. All those youths who will be employed will form part of the new tax net of the state. If they pay N1, 000 per annum as taxes, you know what that amounts to. And they are going to produce the paddy rice, which will be processed in Edo state.

    In fact, the land will be set aside for them, they are already designing it; they will cut it into blocks and fields where they will be able to take off and spray crops and maybe for other uses. So clearly, it is going to open up that part of the rural part of Edo state where the economic activities in that area and we hope that would even spur other investors to stimulate other investments to come to Edo state once they see the operation.

    What is the security consideration and major stake of the host communities in the area of security because Edo state is strategic in the South-South region and the huge investment is one that should attract attention?

    Edo state is the most secured part of the South-South. We already have huge agro businesses in Edo state that are doing very well in the stock market; they are doing very well in terms of their annual produce. They make huge profits every year and they are at peace with their host communities. You can talk of Presco Oil, Okomo Oil Palm, Rubber Estate of Nigeria and other new agro businesses that are also setting up in various parts of Edo state. The Dangote Group even though they have not had a factory here but their warehouse is here. They already have foot on ground in Edo state where they sell cement and other produce. It is a big conglomerate. So, they are not new to Edo state and the state is secured and we all know. It is the most secured part of the South-South.

    Will this latest move serve as an avenue to revive the Agbede and Anegbete rice production areas of the state?

    You know that area has the same ecological zone up to Ilushi. They all fall within the River Niger and Ovia River plain where the soil is rich in terms of water resources with all kinds of water flowing across. So you can actually farm all year round. With the take off of this new investment, others will now want to either reactivate the old investment or new investors will come in to seek partnership with other investors. We believe that in no distant time, both the Agbede-Warake farm and the Anegbete farm and all other initiatives that we have before, will take off and they will be influenced and affected.

    Our oil export is dwindling and our population is growing, how do we sustain food import?

    It is oil money that we use to import food. So if we can produce enough to meet our table needs, our industrial needs from those that can be processed to industrial products, for instance cassava can be used for ethanol, chips, feeds, flour to bake bread and all that, all kinds of pastries, sweetners for bottling companies and confectionaries and even for pharmaceuticals for tablets or capsules. So if we can process and transform the value chain and become a major agro-based economy then we will say Nigeria has take off. Countries like Brazil, from  soya beans, rice and all others they are now self-sufficient. United States is self-sufficient in food production. Most western civilised countries  are. Enter some of the super markets in Nigeria, they sell imported potato chips, shrimps, fish imported from other countries. Is that not a shame? So Nigeria has to fight the shame of dependence on food importation.

    Some time ago the Dangote Group wanted to set up a fertilizer company. What is delaying the exercise?

    You know in elementary economics, to set up a factory you talk about land, labour and capital, nearness to raw material, infrastructure and entrepreneurial ability. All these are conditions for business entity to take off. They said they discovered that they could not transport their materials through the River Niger even though they said River Niger had been dredged. We are not worried about that. It was absolutely his prerogative to take his business decisions. Now, he said he is ready to do rice here. We are happy to welcome him to do rice here. We cannot have any delay again. We have access to the River Niger, rail line which goes to Ajaokuta and could be used for other purposes; there is drainage and electrical grid. So everything that you can think of that will make this project take off as quickly as possible is already there.

  • CIIN holds seminar

    The Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) is holding a seminar in Benin City from today till Friday.

    The institute’s Director, Corporate Communications, Joseph Obah in a statement, said the seminar’s theme is: ‘Maximising channels of distribution for insurance penetration’.

    It stated that the event would engage the participants to seek the avenues for actualisation of the Financial Inclusion Strategy (FIS) of the Federal Government geared at making financial services available to the grassroots population with minimal hindrances.

    It further read: “The two-day seminar will be attended by insurance operatives whose roles can make insurance count more in the national economy.

    “These include branch office managers, product lines managers, marketing executives, agency managers and research and development managers among others.”

    CIIN’s Director-General, Kola Ahmed, said the institute’s seminar would feature sessions, which would  enable participants maximise the opportunities for sharing networth experiences on the  evolution of a strategic action plan for exploring the full market potential of the insurance industry in tandem with Government’s vision for an insurance industry that could turn its fortunes around to rank amongst the 20 largest markets in global ranking by 2020.

    Chief Yemi Soladoye, CEO, Risk Guard Africa, would be the main speaker.

    He would be joined by other eminent speakers in X-raying the seminar theme.

  • Living on waste

    Living on waste

    In most developing countries, waste management has remained a hydra-headed problem, defiling all solutions. But in the midst of this challenge, enterprising Nigerians are capitalising on the situation to earning not only a living, but also becoming employers. Now, female entrepreneurs are rising to the challenge and setting up their own recycling businesses and creating employment. Daniel Essiet reports.

    Two women’s  success stories show how green entrepreneurship could be an answer to both youth unemployment and environmental degradation.  One is Bilikiss-Adebiyi  Abiola, co founder, Wecyclers, a Lagos based  waste management  company. The other  is  Chief  Executive, T. Cynthia Nigeria Limited, Mrs.Titilola Cynthia Saka.

    Mrs. Abiola is the one-woman dynamo who is taking the waste business world by storm.  Her  life started in what seemed to be an ideal situation.  She holds a B.Sc in Computer Science from Fisk University and an M.Sc in computer Science from Vanderbilt University in the  United  States.

    After  graduation,  Mrs  Abiola worked with the IBM Corporation, United  States,  on a social media platform for the Enterprise. While there, she had the inspiration to  form  a waste  management  company.   She felt Nigeria needed a lot of support with waste management and recognised there were a lot of opportunities within the sector to be explored. An MBA graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Sloan School of Management,United  States, she moved back to home  to set up WeCyclers.

    On her return to Lagos, she confronted a city with a major waste management crisis, producing 10,000 tonnes of refuse daily, much of which clog the city streets and leaches chemicals into the soil and groundwater.

    To solve the problem, she launched the social enterprise, Wecyclers, to incentise low-income households to hand off their recyclable goods to a fleet of low-cost cargo bikes.

    The  company  uses a fleet of custom made low-cost cargo bicycles to offer convenient household recycling service in densely populated low-income neighborhoods. A fleet of specially outfitted cargo bicycles pedals through the dense neighborhoods to pick up the recycling on a regular schedule. Families are motivated to recycle plastic bottles, plastic sachets, and aluminum cans through its innovative SMS-based incentive programme.

    For every kilogramme of material that families recycle, they receive redeemable Wecyclers points over their cell phones. These points are then redeemed for goods such as cell phone minutes, basic food items, and household goods. Families receive collection reminders and rewards updates directly on their mobile phones making the benefits of recycling immediate. The  company  aggregates the materials into different level of well-sorted, high quality recyclable material to processors alleviating their supply constraints.

    Since its launch, the  company  has collected more  than  200 tonnes of waste from more than 5,000 households.

    As  they’re recycling,  they see the other benefits, from the cleanliness, the reduction of flooding, reduction in diseases.

    Though the Wecyclers business employs about 30 people, the social enterprise plans to expand to more than a 100 and increase its reach across Lagos. She said  her company is capable of creating 500,000 jobs for the economy. This is becaus  it  engages  tailors that sow the bags, painters, carpenters, graphic designers and people that support at the hub. They are   machinists, drivers and cleaners and so on.

    Right now,  WeCyclers  is increasingly becoming a household name in waste collection and recycling.

    The  company  has generated over $20,000 in revenue and now owns 15 wecycles in operation.

    WeCyclers works closely with the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and aims to educate and equip people about the need for better waste management.

    The  company  also won this year’s   Sustainia Award.  The award selected by the Sustainia Award Committee, was chaired by former  California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

    Mrs  Saka’s story is an example of how the combination of entrepreneurship and green jobs could be one solution for many unemployed youth, while combating the challenges facing the environment. Thousands of plastic bags and bottles litter the streets. She   is one entrepreneur who recognised the potential of plastic waste recycling.

    While  in school,  Mrs  Saka  learned to reuse wastes in a productive way. She  retrieves recyclable plastic materials from households, businesses,  streets and dump yards. She  then  sort the materials, and use them  to produce  plastic  products.

    Right now, her   company has been able to  create packers and  slippers  out of unwanted  plastics items that would otherwise be destined for landfill. The company   converts the   waste into durable, affordable, cost effective and environmental friendly plastic products. To help the business, she has set up a collection system of waste plastic.

    For her, a constant supply of raw material to the factory is of utmost importance for the existence of the business.

    So far,  the  project  has   created employment opportunities. She employs 20 individuals and creates other   indirect jobs for waste collectors and garbage sorters.

    As part of expansion plans, she has purchased machines for plastic products and they are planning to increase processing capacity, as well as introduce new products lines.

    According  to her,  market development, which includes the design, manufacturing and marketing of plastics   products, is required to close the recycling loop and stimulate the underwhelming recycling rate.

    For this reason,she  said  the  gap between potential and realised recycled materials represents a lucrative opportunity for innovative small and medium sized businesses.

    Notwithstanding, Mrs  Saka  is  happy that  consumers are lending  their support to stimulating the domestic recycled market. Promising signs have surfaced. For this  reason,  a host of small businesses have emerged to heed their  call.

    On  the  whole, she  believes that  recycling helps  turn trash into cash and promotes a healthier economy, society and planet.

    This is why disused car bumpers, old paint pot lids, dashboards and swathes of agricultural plastic wrappings are like gold dust to her company.

    She is also   determined to build a business built on driving the need to reuse plastic so that this would reduce the amount dumped in landfill sites.

    One waste material, according to her that  has  potential is polyester fibre because of its several uses in many industries and also for its use as packaging material for beverages, food products, pharmaceuticals, consumer and industrial products.

     

  • Our aim is to help new businesses grow

    Our aim is to help new businesses grow

    Mr Oluwasunmisola Francis is the President, Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (AYE), a group committed to empowering young entrepreneurs in Africa . Recently, it made All Progressives’ Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu its Grand Patron. Based in South Africa, Francis tells NNEKA NWANERI about AYE and its forthcoming empowerment event.

    Why was AYE formed?

    It was about my personal business frustration. I began AYE in 2010 to meet with other entrepreneurs with similar business frustrations striving to go into businesses. They may have adequate knowledge about the business but there are no funds available.

    Since you began, how has it been?

    It’s been great. We started with the grassroot and for two years, we have been building the foundation. In 2012, we implemented all the ideas and we have grown to millions of members. We are fast growing because Africa has a huge number of talents.

    What is the aim of your empowerment programme?

    We support good business ideas. We are giving them an opportunity to be funded and empowered towards completing their initiatives.

    How do you reach intending participants?

    We are getting participants through the social media, news and through the website on www.ayeonline.org, where they can apply. That day, we will be flying in experts from Canada, United States and Johannesburg, and we will identify young entrepreneurs doing business.

    What is the criteria for selection?

    It is just about the idea. No idea is too big or small. The applicants could either be a farmer or one who has built one of the biggest applications online. They might be limited by capital and no idea should be looked down as too small. It should be identified and we are giving aspiring entrepreneurs a good platform to berth that dream.

    How do you source your funds?

    Our honorary members support us. They are our major funders and they empower these entrepreneurs. Through the International Business Platform (IBP), the participants will be able to showcase their ideas to thousands of investors from across the globe.

    What is the Web campaign about?

    The WBC-Web Business Campaign is an avenue for entrepreneurs to have a five-minutes video where they can air their ideas on YouTube to others who can buy into their ideas. So, the site is one where investors can meet with entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs meet with investors.

    When will the event hold?

    The event will hold from November 27-29 at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja. It’s called the Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs’ Empowerment Nigeria (AYEEN) 2014. Those who want to enrol should be those with businesses that need funding or mentorship. There is a twitter handle to this effect and there is a group they can join on facebook.

    What other platforms do you have?

    A social business platform, called AYE Connect will be launched in January. When anyone applies for the AYEEN 2014 programme, they will be given a J18 form and they will write the EAR- Estimated Amount Required. There, the prospectors will fill the amount they need to bring their ideas to limelight.

    What will the process be?

    From what is explained during the audition, the business will work with the said amount and could be reviewed and is subject to change by the organisers. If less, it is reduced and if they need more, more will be added with discretion. The investors will fund the business idea directly. AYE has been able to connect with a lot of business giants across the continent, and has good relationship and given a platform for them to get smart ideas. That is why we are assisting in funding brilliant initiatives.

    Is the programme only for Nigerians?

    AYE is open to everyone in all African states.  This programme is happening in Nigeria for entrepreneurs between the ages of 14-45 years. Subsequent editions will hold in Ghana and Algeria.

    How will it benefit Africa?

    When we decide to empower entrepreneurs across Africa, we are one way or the other moving Africa forward. If you give a million dollar to people in Kogi State to eat and they are given food and grains, next year, they will call you because the food will finish.

    But if such money is given to entrepreneurs in such state, they will not buy the grains, but grow their own grains and will even employ people to grow grains and they will not come to you again. When we empower these entrepreneurs financially or mentally, there is no way Africa is not moving into prosperity.

    What is your advice for entrepreneurs?

    I advise growing entrepreneurs to start somewhere and begin their initiative instead of waiting for someone to come and fund their businesses. No matter how small the idea is, start somewhere. Give your business a name; register it, identify the brand, use the brand power.

    With time, they would have started their business with a few employers and they would have realised that they began without any capital or money in the bank accounts, and from there, maybe, it could be funded by investors.

     

  • ‘To encourage start-ups, Nigeria needs its own Paypal’

    ‘To encourage start-ups, Nigeria needs its own Paypal’

    Okechukwu Ofili developed and runs Okada Books which won the Best Overall App in the MTN App Developer Challenge recently. In this interview with Bukola Afolabi, he speaks on the opportunities inherent in mobile apps and how start-ups can harness same

    What’s your educational background?

    I have a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Houston where I graduated Summa Cum laude (first class). Prior to that, I did my secondary education at Corona Secondary School in Ogun State and primary school at St. Leo’s Catholic school in Ikeja, Lagos.

    What are your general professional and non-professional interests?

    I love writing and drawing… that is my passion, which is what I do at any given or free time. Most of what I write are often humorous or witty and take on serious issues. I started blogging on my site: ofilispeaks.com, and from there it evolved into three books – How Stupidity Kills, How Laziness Kills and the latest, How Intelligence Kills. I also like to develop sketches and finding satirical ways to express my frustrations at the things that don’t work in this country.

    When did you realise you wanted to become an App Developer?

    The first time I knew I wanted to develop an app was when I tried to sell my books in Nigeria and experienced first-hand the frustration that goes into distributing books in Nigeria. It was then that I started thinking of an idea that would circumvent the distribution road block in Nigeria, and that’s when the okadabooks app idea came up. Okada, the local name for motorcycles and bikes in Lagos, is the name chosen because of its ability to navigate through Nigerian traffic, and it’s our hope that our app can navigate the blocked/non-existent distribution networks of Nigeria books.

    So, what steps did you take?

    I worked primarily with a classmate of mine and several developers from three different continents (Asia, Europe and Africa) on the okadabooks app idea.

    What was the first app you developed?

    The first app I developed was for my first two books on blackberry phones. Basically, you send an SMS text on your phone and you would get a BB app download link for the book. But the app was limited…limited to Blackberry, limited to my two books and limited to MTN, so we had to scale it up to make it more diverse and that is where okadabooks came up.

    Where did you get your inspiration for the app you created?

    I won’t say it was an inspiration, as it was more driven by frustration. So, essentially, the challenges of book distribution in Nigeria gave birth to the ideas that crystallised into the okadabooks app. As such, the saying is true that the problems you are willing to solve provide a platform for creative solutions to evolve.

    What were the high points of your preparation?

    The high points of my preparation in terms of the scalability of the app were hearing firsthand feedback from people that used mobile applications talk about how it impacted their lives. For example, an anonymous mum emailed us asking to buy JAMB/SSCE questions for her children; the student from Lagos that downloaded over 30 books on their phones; the corporate worker that deposited N5000 in the app to buy books. It is comforting to know that contrary to popular beliefs, Nigerians did, indeed, read and they were doing it through our app.

    Did you know that you were going to win?

    I had no clues whatsoever. I actually felt our closest chances would be hinged on winning the best app in the educational category, but not the overall price. That was a huge surprise; I could not drive straight when I heard the good news that we had been declared the overall winner.

    How do you feel about winning?

    I feel very validated. I tell people that it is not about the money or the car, but the validation from someone as big as MTN that they believe in what we are doing. I can’t tell you the amount of meetings I had in Lagos, over the phone and in person and the number of proposals that I hand-dropped or the number of times investors said that our idea was not unique or worth investing in. That was tough but we kept on pushing and then MTN said, yes we believe. That is too cool!

    How do you plan to maximise the platform which your winning has brought?

    We want to work with MTN to help digitise Nigerian classics. I have visited publishers with large warehouses of books gathering dust and if we don’t digitise these books soon we will lose a part of our history. We also plan to re-invest the contest money to make the app better.

    How have mobile users embraced the app and what kind of numbers have you churned out?

    The app has been downloaded close to 10,000 times and mobile users love it!

    Have you been able to monetise the application?

    Yes and No. Yes, we have, but it could be done better. The mobile e-payment system in Nigeria is too limiting. If you use mobile payment A, you cannot use it with mobile payment B so you end up having 10-11 payment options to cater to an entire population. Basically, Nigeria needs it own version of paypal. There are a lot of companies that have the paypal concept in Nigeria but none has scaled to general acceptance.

    How do you intend to deal with the competition within the mobile industry and how will you differentiate yourself?

    Okadabooks mission is that every African, no matter where they are, deserves to experience the magic of books. So, if competition comes, it will mean three things, okadabooks will have to improve, the new competition will give users more opportunities to read and lastly and more importantly, whether okadabooks wins the battle or not, the users will benefit because they have more options to read.

    How would you assess current level of local mobile applications development?

    The mobile applications industry is developing, but we are not there yet. However, I feel strongly that with these kinds of partnerships between CCHub and MTN supporting app development, we will get there faster. This in turn means that there will be more distribution opportunities for app developers to showcase their works on a massive scale, such that would have been unavailable to them as small time players.

    Would you say Nigeria has the local capacity to effectively support the growth and development of mobile content and applications?

    Yes, we do have the local capacity to mainstream app development in the technology space. We just need our universities to start teaching app development as part of their curriculum. It is sad and disheartening to note that there are some “top universities” in Nigeria that do not teach mobile app development, but also ban the use of mobile phones completely on campus. Actions like that will hold back the nation from reaching its potential.

    What advice would you have for the government or corporate bodies in a bid to strengthen the local mobile application industry?

    The government needs to provide the enabling environment for techies to grow as well as create an acceptable mobile payment platform. That is the biggest limiting factor. If app developers see the green, Nigeria will see the super apps. But for now, people are just developing mobile applications with no plan or ways to monetise. Multinationals like MTN have shown the way. Etisalat isn’t doing badly in this regard also. But I think that there needs to be more concerted efforts at growing the industry.

  • ‘Non-oil sector drives jobs, wealth’

    ‘Non-oil sector drives jobs, wealth’

    Former Director of Product and Market Development, National Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs. Omowunmi Osibo, has urged state and federal governments to help the nation’s artisans and operators of small and medium scale enterprises to succeed and expand in their trades.

    According to her, this will create more wealth and jobs for the citizens. Osibo also noted that unless the nation’s leaders demonstrate the “political will” to nurture the non-oil sector of the economy, the solutions to graduate unemployment in the country may remain forlorn.

    She said there is the need for a paradigm shift in the country from the oil economy to the non-oil sector, developing it to the height of viability through “policies and political will” so that more jobs and wealth could be created for the unemployed.

    The ex – NEPC Director spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, at a forum/exhibition of artisanal products organised by the Council’s Abeokuta office.

    Osibo said: “The current unemployment level is as a result of thousands graduating annually (without jobs) which makes it more imperative that a change must be made. It is time for Nigeria to make a change with policies and political will that would truly grow the non-oil sector.”

    According to her, the provision of support and advocacy for small scale sub-sector including artisans through innovative policies such as establishment of industrial parks and clusters would also go a long way towards achieving this common objective.

    Also, the Ogun State government urged artisans in the state to take advantage of the state government and Bank of Industry N1bn revolving industrial development fund to expand their businesses to enhance productivity and profitability.

    The Commissioner for Commerce and industry, Bimbo Ashiru, who was represented at the event by Mr. Kayode Ogunti, equally advised the artisans to produce high quality products that can compete with global standards.

  • ‘Nigerians in Diaspora contributing to transformation agenda’

    Nigrians in the Diaspora are doing their best to raise the country’s profile in their various countries of residence, Mr. Festus Olatunde, the Chief Executive Officer, Greatway Foundation Scotland, has said.

    Olatunde made this clarification during the formal launching of the pre check-in luggage weighing systems, otherwise called “Best-Weigh” & “Best-Vend” Systems, commissioned at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport Abuja recently.

    Speaking on the innovation, Olatunde said it is the airport is the first to have this machine in Africa. This is a unique transformation that will ease the passengers check in process.

    Echoing similar sentiments, the company’s Chairman, Chief Alex Adole explained that the company’s interest in pre check-in luggage weigh systems was informed by the absence of a standard, advanced and technologically driven system which would enable airline passengers from Nigeria and the entire Africa at large, the ease and comfort of checking the weight of their luggage before getting to the check-in point to determine if it conformed to the allowed carriage limit and either reducing or separating it- in the event that it is in excess. “We found that this could be done without having to abandon or send back items of one’s luggage. We saw the inconvenience and discomfort with which air travellers from Nigeria had to check their luggage weight at the check-in point after the wait on the queue, the instances of excess luggage, the haggling and exchange of unpleasant words between passengers and airline staff, the stress of having to leave the queue to repack their luggage and even possibly abandon, discard or send back items in their luggage. They still have to join the queue again and face the same process of weighing yet again until they are cleared for check-in.”

    GAOOUP’s desire, he stressed, “is to remove all of these and provide air passengers the comfort and luxury of ensuring their luggage is not in excess of the allowed carriage limit, repacking and rechecking their luggage if they are in excess; before they get to the check-in points.”

    Pressed further, Adole said: “With Weigh-Ahead, passengers are guided step by step through the easy to use system, allowing them to weigh their luggage and compare it to their flight’s luggage allowance. In less than 30 seconds the system will show the bag’s weight compared to the airline’s baggage allowance and if the bag is overweight, how much the passenger could expect to be charged at check-in. This gives passengers the opportunity to re-pack any excess luggage before they check-in, avoiding any unnecessary airline charges.

    “Our process overall reduces queuing time, speeds up the check-in process, eliminates the stress, cost and embarrassment associated with excess luggage and contributes to improved customer-service and modernising our airports.

    Today, we make bold to say that GAOOUP is Africa’s foremost in the provision of pre-check in luggage weighing systems.”

  • WeCyclers wins award

    WeCyclers wins award

    Lagos-based entrepreneur and innovator, Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola has  won  this year’s  Sustainia Award. The award  selected by the Sustainia Award Committee, was chaired by former  California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

    It was  presented  at  a ceremony  held at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark.

    The finalists were from seven different countries, providing solutions covering  new ways of making  the  cities, food, fashion, air conditioners, smart phones and energy consumption more sustainable.

    Sustainia Award is an annual international award given to a solution, technology or project with a significant potential to help build a more sustainable future.

    Adebiyi-Abiola  is   Co-Founder, WeCyclers, a  Lagos-based company that focuses on giving low-income communities a chance to capture value from waste and clean up their neighborhoods through an incentive-based recycling programme.

    Wecyclers  won  this  year ‘s  Sustainia Award for  offering  a  solution that enables low-income communities to make money from waste piling up in their streets.

    By deploying a fleet of cargo bicycles to collect and recycle un-managed waste, Wecyclers allows families to exchange garbage for consumer goods via an SMS-based point system.

     

  • Here comes a backpack entrepreneur

    Here comes a backpack entrepreneur

    A young Canadian-based has Nigerian carved a niche for himself, inscribing designs on backpacks. This has placed him in the league of teenage entrepreneurs, who are gradually seizing the future today, writes Daniel Essiet.

    Eighteen-year-old Canadian-based Nigerian, George Oni, is setting  the  art  world  on  fire. At the age of 17, and barely five months upon entry into the North American country the enterprising Nigerian progidy had  won  the  2013 Annual  Young  Entrepreneur Award of Make Your  Pitch Competition in Ontario, Canada.

    The competition shows the great creative and entrepreneurial strengths of Ontario’s young people.

    Oni is the founder of the  Kemies Supply Company, maker of the  world’s first premium interchangeable and  customizable backpacks. The company named Kemies, comes from the yoruba word, “kemi” which translates to “care for me” in English.

    True  to the  word, the company collaborates with illustrators and artists all over the world to make backpacks that stands out and tells a story.

    According to  him, each Kemies backpack features a stylish infinity sign logo which represents the past, present and future.

    He  said  users have the freedom to incorporate all three on their own personal interchangeable flap designs.

    He  explained that  there are advantages in using a backpack, as opposed to clothing, in order to display these designs.

    This  is  because  a  backpack is highly visible and the designs stand out immediately.

    While the wearer gets recognised for one-of-a-kind style, the artist gets exposure for this work as well as financial support.  Although one may argue that their concept is not unique-there are plenty of companies selling customized backpacks with a social mission, his company   is building its way to the top.

    Oni totally in love with backpacks, and so he wears them also, inspiring people from all over the world.

    Most of their clients represented some of the top names in corporate world. As his company grew, these clients sought him out to create, props for promotional displays, etc.

    He  is  gradually  re-engineering   his   company based on market demand. To this  end,  the  company  has expanded into government agencies.  Like most businesses, there were tough times in the early years. Besides, there is extreme competition for clients. Even generating awareness and reaching potential clients is like hanging a small sign out in a sea of fog.

    The major obstacle, to him  is  competing in an industry that is already saturated. For this reason, Oni is aware that hardwork, networking, building  relationships that can endure over time are key ingredients needed to be at the top.

    Within one year, he was breaking through and  has learnt what makes a successful entrepreneur. The   business has provided  him with  an incredible quality of life and he is  on the  way to financial success empire. He has been able to achieve a fairly seamless transition from being a student in Canada to becoming a successful business owner.

    He is running the business fulltime. To him, it is a business like any other such as retail, aerospace, hospitality, etc.  So it requires dedication, flexibility and hard-work.

    Although Oni is still trying to grow his business, his philantrophy is laudable.

    For instance, he has pledged a donation of $1, 000 to  support Ebola treatment in West Africa. Besides, on  every kemies backpack sold worldwide, $1 will henceforth go as aid for the treatment of the Ebola Virus Disease.

    Oni has  been in  Canada for  two  years now. While it’s fair to say that he has had plenty of ups and downs, he feels like he made a great choice by taking a risk to travel to the other side of the world and try his hand at something different.

    His  goal  is  to change the backpack industry for kids and teens, to enable them express their unique individuality through their backpacks.

  • Entrepreneurship: Failure is recipe for success

    When it comes to entrepreneurial success, the best teachers are the people who started with very little, took a leap of faith, and started their own businesses.  This is because  they persevered through disappointment and failure and ultimately built flourishing businesses.

    One of them is Tunde Olubodun-Pastor, EdifyCity Entrepreneurs Church. EdifyCity  is  in   search  of  young  Nigerians who  have good ideas,  ready to  trust  their guts and overcome adversity to  establish  striving enterprises.

    His strategy  is  finding a niche that everyone else has failed to spot and target.  Then, staying   strong and optimistic despite adversity until success comes. Though an architect, he   is one  of those  entrepreneurs at work on several fronts.  He is credited with so many ventures. Indeed, Olubodun is living out the Nigerian dream. In 1998,   Olubodun  co-started a construction  business.  As a  serial  entrepreneur, he  didn’t stop at just one great business idea. He  has  put his stamp on many things.

    For him,  starting a new business is a lifestyle. The completion of one project usually comes with the thought that, more than anything; they want to get right back into the game. They know that being out there in the thick of the chase and dealing with the uncertainty and challenge is where they have to be.

    For  Olubodun, entrepreneurship has become something of an addiction.  His first experience as an entrepreneur was actually a failure, but he   considered  it a success because of how he   managed it and who he  became because of it. He and his business partners lost money when the construction  company failed.

    As the business climate supports startups, he  keeps building new businesses. His latest venture, a  security devices outfit, is making waves. While researching the security equipment industry, he saw  opportunities: the  industry was becoming attractive due to increased security concerns and increase in the demand for electronic security devices in both residential and commercial environments. He found that he could succeed at it.

    He  moved  quickly to carve out the business. With time, his    efforts transformed  into increased patronage  and  better returns.

    Seeing further opportunity, he  began  to  work  on offering  integrated electronic security monitoring platform.

    Over the years, he has   learnt  there is no guarantee of success in building businesses, even with experience. One   poor decision  can  stop  the company’s growth in its tracks.

    As technology changes rapidly, he tries  to  keep up with those shifts and how they will affect the business.

    While, it might surprise  a lot of non-entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs, he  noted  that   failure is one of the most important parts of the  journey toward success.  According to him, it’s the path to success and the price entrepreneurs must pay to become successful.  He is convinced that majority of people who “fail” do so because they never grasp this simple concept.

    Furthermore, many entrepreneurs have suffered flops, but managed to learn from their setbacks, making the experience a positive one. As his faith deepened, he gained a perspective on the struggles he had experienced.  Although he didn’t know it at the time, those challenges  set him  up for success later in life.  He believes God was preparing him  for future success and his  ability to help others.

    Now, he’s working hard to launch viable ideas, just as he embraces each failure as it comes.

    For him, failure gives one an opportunity to re-evaluate the way one  conducts his business. When it was over, they had to decide whether they   were going to learn from it and keep going, or go out and get jobs.” Being an entrepreneur is not easy if you don’t go lean. With over 150 million citizens as your potential clients, launching a new product without thoroughly studying the market needs is not a good idea,” he said.

    But  Olubodun  is not your typical entrepreneur; you wouldn’t necessarily meet him at an entrepreneurship event, or watch him pitch his startups to investors. He is a pastor of a church. He  wants  to  rip Nigerian communities  of  unemployment through a national  entrepreneurship campaign.

    He had a great education. Bagged his degree  in  Architecture and  attended Lagos  Business School.  Despite all the privileges, he    wondered about some of the inefficiencies in the education system that  is not helping young people to start  something on their own  with  increasing  national  unemployment  rate.

    To  this  end,  EdifyCity is  promoting  the Entrepreneurs Church, it’s outreach arm setup to help new businesses  grow and succeed, providing budding entrepreneurs with the necessary and important skills and tools to avoid the pitfalls and traps.