You will hear people saying "Igbos should leave Lagos and develop the East." Well, I went to Lagos in May 2015 to start a business with my friend. We searched for a shop at our area and beyond. No way. I then decided to move to my village in Igbo land. Thank God my friend agreed to lend me money. So I had N300,000 to begin my business move from Egypt to the promise land. Lol.

I travelled to my village at the end of December after Christmas to minimize spending on beer, outings and other flexing. Can't play with my capital abeg. Lol.

Here are some of the things I counted as assets or advantages or encouraging factors of establishing my business in my village.
1) I had N300,000 capital in my account to do business. God win! Lol
2) My father has a big house that's mostly empty from January to December.
3) My cousin had already moved to the village from Lagos few years ago is doing well.
4) There now light in my village and a borehole sited near our house.
5) We have some lands for farming. Cassava and palm fruits are the main crops grown in my village.
6) I'll add more if I remember. Lol

With the help of my cousin, I began searching for a shop at Agbani. My village is not that far from Agbani. It'll cost you N200 to take a bike to Agbani and another N200 to go back to my village. But it could be as high as N300 in the rainy season because of our terrible roads. I don't know what my dear Amurri did to Chimaruoke Nnamani and Sullivan Chime to make them ignore our roads. But we pray that Gburugburu remembers us. Sighs.

Finding a shop was not easy at all. Agbani is a students' area where ESUT, Law School etc are located. We searched and searched and searched for almost one month without success.

Continue na

Meanwhile, I started thinking about getting a container and mounting it close to my house in the village. This would be my second business.

I'd already bought female wears worth about N42,000 at Katangowa market, Cele underbridge, Igando and near Trade Fair all in Lagos and at Main Market Onitsha. The female wears was what I decided I'd sell at my Agbani shop as soon I rented it. Someone adviced me to exercise patience in looking for a shop so that I won't rent one in wrong location out of desperation. She told me how she'd rented a shop at Eke Agbani market and suffered very slow poor sales for one year before getting her present location. I took her advice. I focused on securing my second business.

I asked about three welders at Agbani. One told me it'll cost me N48,000 for him to build a 4-by-4 container. The other told me it'll cost me N60,000 for a 6-by-6. While the third guy offered to build a 6-by-6 for me with white pan for N45,000. White pan is cheaper than black pan and not as strong as black pan. I gave the contract to the third welder. He's an apprentice. So we sealed the deal without his oga knowing. Lol. I paid him N35,000 to start working on it immediately.

I didn't want to spend too much on my second business because I'm not sure how favourable business will be in my lowly populated village. I decided to sell cds (Nigerian films, dvds and music), electricals (av wires, plugs, generator ropes, fuse etc) and phone accessories (earphones, memory cards, Nokia phone batteries and chargers).

One day, I felt this strong urge in my spirit to go to Agbani. I followed my spirit, took a bike and went to Agbani. That was the period when I was still asking welders about the cost of building a container.

I saw a small portable container along Enugu road at Agbani, walked up to the guy running a phone-repairs and accessories business there, explained to him that I liked the size of his container and would love to build something similar. I asked him the size. He said it's about 4 by 5 and that he even wants to sell it.

Me: How much?

Him: 40 thousand.

Me: What if I want to take the space too instead of buying the container and moving it?

Him: No problem. I'll take you to my landlord.

Me: How much does he charge you for this space?

Him: 2,500 per month. That is 30 thousand per year.

Me: What about agent and agreement?

Him: Don't worry. I'll tell him you're my brother. That I'm leaving the container for you.

Wow! He eventually agreed to sell the container to me for N37,000. I also bought his small showcase N3,000. Making it N40,000. He didn't charge me for his tiles or the electric connection.

While we were still negotiating, another of his friends who was also looking for a shop at Agbani came to negotiate too. Aaaah! I can't lose this opportunity o! Lol. I rushed to the bank, withdrew N90,000 and came back.

I paid him the N40,000 for both the container and the showcase. Of course I wrote an agreement which he signed, I signed and my cousin also signed as a witness to the property acquisition. Lol. Then we went to meet his landlord.

The landlord wanted to increase the rent from N30,000 to maybe N40,000 or at least N35,000. But we begged him to understand that I was just starting a new business. The landlord, a considerate man, collected the N30,000. Though he insisted I must buy one crate of beer as a newcomer since he wasn't collecting agent and agreement money from me.

Me: Thank you sir.

I quickly went to buy it N1,900.

Singing: I don get Agbani shop. God win! I don get am for nice location. God win. Lol.

lol

omoteamac:
Continue na

Following the flow.

nice one op. kudos to entrepreneurs like you

radiokilla:
lol

Abi? I am enjoying it

I haven't talked about my third business. Don't call me jack of all trades yet please. Lol. Let me explain.

There's no way you'll be in my village without doing agriculture one way or the other. When I was in Lagos, I'd actually been planning to dedicate N50,000 to starting goat-farming and combining it with palm oil, cassava and snail farming. But when I came to my village, I took part in harvesting cassava and processing it into garri and also harvesting palm fruit and processing it into palm oil. The stages for producing both are hectic. Lol. Even goats need stay-at-home attention. Lol. I started thinking of another agricultural option.

That's when I learnt about ugu farming while watching a programme on NTA Enugu one morning. The ugu farmers talked about how lucrative ugu is and even showed how to plant it. It grows and is ready for harvesting within two months.

Me: Wonderful!

So I went to Eke Agbani market to look for ugu seeds. I met one kind mama who promised to bring it for me on the next Eke market day. She sold the ugu pod to me N300 and told me not to break it open till I was ready to plant the seeds.

Me: Mama thank you.

I bought a hoe for N1,500, a straw hat N150 and some more ugu and ewa seeds N100.

I've planted some ugu seeds outside my house fence. Those ones are free-for-all to pick and cook. If I catch anyone inside my compound coming for the ugu or ewa or any other vegetable inside, what happened in 1944 will happen to the person. Lol.

Anyway, I've met the Eke Agbani mama and asked her for how to plant "green". She said I should come on Monday. That's tomorrow. She'll take me to the place where I'll buy it. I really like this mama. She's so kind.

Thanks Omoteamac for commenting. Good night dear silent readers. Lol. I'll continue my business story if you people are not yet tired of it. Lol.

So how do you manage all the businesses? You delegate?

And did you later venture into the okrika biz after you got the space? I hope sales isn't slow

what happened to the 35k you paid the welder?

Say us well to the kind hearted Mama when you meet her later today.

omoteamac:
So how do you manage all the businesses? You delegate?

And did you later venture into the okrika biz after you got the space? I hope sales isn't slow

Being an Entrepreneur that shouldn't be a problem.
OP, keep the light on.

Wow! I really appreciate your comments and questions. I'll answer them.

I had to re-paint and re-roof the Agbani container. Paid my apprentice-welder N3,000 for the two paints plus brush he bought. We also bought N250 petrol for mixing the paints and then I gave him N500 for refreshment when he finished the painting. As for the re-roofing, I paid the carpenter N13,000. That's for the wood, zinc and workmanship. All this renovation is to satisfy my future customers. You know how women like packaging. Lol.

The second business hasn't started yet. I paid the apprentice-welder his remaining N10,000 when he finished building the container. Then paid the driver N4,000. He carried it from where the location where the apprentice-welder built it (far from Agbani so that his oga wouldn't find out. Lol).

I found out that mounting a container is like building a small house. Lol. I had to level the ground. Lay a few blocks (which I got from the many blocks in my father's house). The flooring cost me...

Wait, let me bath and prepare to join my cousin to Agbani. He has a bike so I've been saving transportation cost (N200 going N200 coming) by following him everyday. No matter how late or how long he delays me. Lol.

And yes! I've finally opened the Agbani shop and noticed that business is slow. Sighs.

Soon, I'll do a breakdown of what all three businesses have cost me so far.

That means you are into only it three different businesses

OK.. We are waiting for other things you have to say

My brother...D lord is ur muscle...I wil advice u dat after u have exhausted ur female clothes...do not buy n restock women clothing again because it. Dosent move well in d market because of d nature of our women who love haggling price n pricing down any item they want to buy...I'm talking from experience...Diversify into menz wears...it sellz very fast n guyz don't haggle price like women...I wish u all d best

I love this.... "A luta continua, vitória é certa".

platinumventure:
My brother...D lord is ur muscle...I wil advice u dat after u have exhausted ur female clothes...do not buy n restock women clothing again because it doesn't move well in d market because of d nature of our women who love haggling price n pricing down any item they want to buy...I'm talking from experience... Diversify into menz wears...it sellz very fast n guyz don't haggle price like women...I wish u all d best

My brother, I agree with you. The way women price things eh. Chai! My cousin who runs a ladies' boutique here in Agbani has recently added men's clothing. His shop is located upstairs. He wanted me to take the shop when I was still searching for a shop but I rejected his offer because I believed it'll be difficult for some lazy girls to climb up. Lol. But since he added men's clothing, guys have been climbing up to buy from him without over-bargaining like women. Lol.

I might just take your advice. Thanks.

nice story...keep it up bro. u will make bcus u are applying one of the theory of success. the Malthusian theory

thumbs up Op, following keenly.

screenshot or images ?

Oh yes! Images. Lol.

Here's my small Agbani container when I just bought it.

My small Agbani container after renovation. Lol. I'm yet to fix a signboard. I'm tired of spending.

My village 6-by-6 container when the labourers were still doing the flooring.

My village container after flooring. I've used my father's former car tapolin and bamboo to do local roofing. I've also kept two benches inside for displaying my goods for now. Until when I'm ready to spend about N15,000 or more on roofing plus a platform inside for displaying goods.

When the desirable is unavailable, the unavailable becomes desirable. E no easy. Lol.

And if you look closely, you'll notice there's another container beside mine. He's my new neighbour. He wants his wife to run a salon business there. I'm waiting for him to complete his own roofing so that we can do wiring together. We're hoping NEPA will agree to let us split the N650 monthly bill instead of us paying them N650 each.

That's another thing, electricity bill per house is N650 here in the village. What do we use light for anyway? Bulbs, fans, tv, fridge and charging phones. Lol

the way you are investing your money is not actually wise

if i where you, i would find a suitable environment for my business when it matures i will go for another investment.

if you did not plan well on investing your money, you have automatically planed to failed in all your business. Because the money you invest wouldn't return if any of your investment fails.

That's me during my morning farming session. I usually wake up as early as 5:30am or 6am to cook beans, boil drinking water and fetch water. Then I water the ugu and ewa I've already planted. After which, I till the land in preparation for more vegetables I plan to plant. By 9am I make sure I'm ready to join my cousin to Agbani. Though we usually leave by 9:30am or 10am. I can't complain o! Lol. I'm determined to save the N400 I'll spend if I go to Agbani alone and earlier. Lol. Besides I've noticed that business is dull in the mornings at Agbani except on Eke market days.

Before I forget, I went to meet the Agbani mama on Monday evening but she said I came too late. She said I should come early in the morning on the next Eke market day (which is today Friday).

Unfortunately, I can't go to Agbani today. Sighs. I'll tell you why.

I didn't go to Agbani today because there's a burial going on in my village. He was a like a dibia or native doctor. Let's call him a traditional man of God. Lol. But it's not funny because if I'm caught by the many masquerades that'll be at his burial today, they'll use me for flogging practice. Lol. It's partly my fault because I've refused to be initiated into the masquerade society for personal reasons.

I think this masquerade, village meetings and other issues are some of the things discouraging some Igbo youths from living in Igboland. But I won't be discouraged. I'm already here. I'll just be running away from masquerades like women and children. Lol.

Some people may be wondering why I'm telling my business story to the whole world. Is it because I want to be like that guy that trekked from Lagos to Bayelsa? Lol. Or is it because I want endorsements like Olajumoke? Lol. Though I won't mind getting a motorcycle from Innoson or Ogbuawa and being their brand ambassador. Lol. Don't blame me abeg. This transport issue is my biggest challenge.

The truth is that I hope I can motivate some one out there with my story. I know there are some Igbo people in the cities and abroad who have money to invest in Igboland but are not sure how to start. Even if it's just one person I reach, I'll be happy that my on-going business move is making an impact.

That reminds me. Someone from Nairaland called me yesterday to find out about rice farming at Adani. I had to tell him that ADANI is different from AGBANI where I'm running my first business. Brother, sorry I haven't been able to get the information you need. I've been so busy trying to nurture my new businesses and hiding from my village masquerades. Lol.

Well done John.