₦airaland Forum

He told The Guardian: “When I first came up with “Poundo yam”, I remember a British/Nigerian multinational company wanted to also introduce their “Poundo Yam” in 1988 in England. The company had to retreat. I made them to retreat, because, theirs was flakes, and when you prepare it, you will find lumps there. Mine was genuine and it was through innovation, research, and we are always aiming for the best.”

Although he was also doing Borehole prospecting, that was his entry into food processing through the bottling of palm wine. Thirty years after, Aiyegbusi’s is known as the man who makes canned palm wine. Though considered expensive, his “poundo yam” also sells globally.

“Do you know that my biggest selling product right now is plantain chips, “ipekere”, ordinary “ipekere?” They eat it in Russia, Scotland, Taiwan, USA, South Africa, because it’s a snack, just the “ipekere” and people worry me and say oh; “when we go back, can we eat your plantain chip, because we cannot get it here;” and I said, ‘well, because the money to set up the production or operation was sourced from overseas, so that’s when I am going to pay my loan back.”

Aiyegbusi was one of the brains behind former Governor Segun Oni’s yam and tuberous crops preservation project at Ilasa-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

“All I needed was 1400 pounds to start. From my mini cabin, I have only saved 800 pounds.”

His wife said: “Don’t worry, my total savings is 630 pounds, I will give you 600, you join with your 800 pounds. Let’s go and start, God will bless you.” Within three months, Aiyegbusi had a turnover of 10,000 pounds (Ten thousand Pounds)! Then he thought he was on top of the world. Today, his food business worldwide now has a turn over close to about 0.7 Billion Naira from 1,400 pounds. https://tundeakingbade./2013/02/17/aiyegbusi-from-n7-500-in-wifes-kitchen-to-n700m-turnover-in-food-processing-business/

afonjaheadhunt:
[s]Igbo's please we have made our point on "What have Yoruba produced?" Thread, we have shown not just Nairalanders, Nigerians but the entire globe what we have been able to achieve in Nigeria against all odd, that thread have shown the Igbo ingenuity, innovation and doggedness as a matter of fact it has gone a long way to show what an Igbo nation is capable of achieving, even the Yorubas that created the thread were confined to a status of mere onlookers and were subjected to admiration of our ingenuity in fact many of them doubted it and believed that our companies showcased are random foreign companies whose picture were recycled from google. That goes to show how far we have gone in terms of technological advancement, manufacturing and innovation and to think that most of the heavy machinery used in those companies were fabricated in the east, Aba precisely is a thing of joy and pride.

However that is not the point of this thread, Igbos are know to be wise, and it is not surprise that the three wise men came from the east, however our actions on that thread is not one that portrays wisdom especially in the society that we find ourselves today. Igbo's let us be wise in our actions, it is true that Igbo's believes in Equity, equality and justice for all, we also know Igbo's are Liberals, Capitalist, democratic in custom, but we must not assume that the border context "Nigeria" that we find ourself today Shares these same ideals and ideologies with Igbo's, we might just be shooting ourselves in the foot by trying to take pride in our achievement while it is a thing of joy and honor, however our current border context does not support this. We must realize that we are doing some of these our great sons and daughters a great disservice by showcasing them the way we are doing, I must confess I am guilty of this on that thread, we must realize that some of these companies receive massive patronage because many people are not aware they are made in Igboland.

In addition many of these Igbo executives and chiefs who own these companies are riding to success cause their products are assumed to be imported and most of them export their products, many of us must realize that the Igbo's are the only ones in the federation who don't care where a product is manufactured as long as it is made in Nigeria however that cannot be said of any other tribe except maybe the Hausa Fulani too who don't care. It is only the Igbo man that will see a product boldly written made in Ogun, Jos, Kano, Kaduna, and does not care as long as it is made in Nigeria Igbo's will patronize it. However that cannot be said when a Yoruba or other Nigerians see a product made in Onitsha, Nnewi, Aba, Enugu, even when these products are unrivaled in the market and have proven to be the best or smashed every fail or credibility test you still hear Pharses like, "Igbo made" "Aba made" "Omo nna product" especially when these product come from the east, this why our manufacturers would prefer to write made in FRC or made in India.

We all know the issue Yorubas have with Innoson is that it is not made in Lagos or Ogun, so expanding his plant to Uyo infuriated them even further. Also we must realize that showcasing our indigenous industrialization prowess will make leaders in power make policies that will be unfavorable for Igbo industrialist, We all saw it happen to Ibeto, Slok, Erisco just to name a few, even Innoson was made to face established foreign competition to stifle the growth of the company if not for the doggedness of the Igbo man the company would have long closed shop as many had expected. We must also realize that the reason many Yoruba artisans like mechanics, technicians, carpenters, always advice you to buy Tokunbo over new products when it comes to car, generators or motorcycles spare parts was because many of these products are manufactured in the East, ignorantly I did not know this and would always buy the used parts as being superior to the locally manufactured new ones which I was made to consider inferior. However what these artisans would not tell you is that the new ones are made in Nigeria, made in the East, primarily their reasons for boycotting it.

My experience in 2014, my Honda EOD would always have issues with the stabilizing links and I would always change them monthly with tokunbo as advised by my mechanics so after this continued for too long, I felt i was being used and deceived by these guys I angrily told them on the next repair to by a new one instead of the Tokunbo that would always spoil after a few weeks, the mechanic disgruntled however heed to my words and bought a new one I checked the name it was "HACO" I did not bother to check were it was manufactured (Buying HACO was be best decision i took for that car since I bought it) after the mechanic was done with installation and upon inspecting I discovered that the screws were loosely holding the tires I kept mute drove to a safe distance tightened the screws and called the mech to tell him that my tires flew out while I was in motion, before I even finished the statement he was already shouting Oga shebi I tell you say, make you buy Tokunbo you talk say na new one you want, at this point I dropped the call and went to the trunk of the car to check where the product was manufactured, it was boldly written made in Nnewi, then I realized how far some people could go to discredit an Igbo mans product, Interestingly I never had to change that link until after 8 months when the car was due for service, Now I use only new products even if it is made in Togo.

Another scenario, before I never knew A-Z was owned by an Igbo man in fact I used to think it was owned by "Mummy" princess Bola Jegede, the Owner of A-z schools which I attended and she also has a football academy, however I was wrong, before then my mechanics (Another Mechanic) apparently like myself was also ignorant of this too, he advice me that if I wanted the best engine life for my car that I should always use A-z he said it was so good people used it if their cars had gearbox problems, then to my greatest surprised here on Nairaland I realize that A-z was owned by an Igbo man I shared this information it with my mechanic because of the way he promotes it he argued with me and said it was owned by a Yoruba the same woman I assumed when I convinced him showed him proofs beyond doubt he kept mute, on the next service he brought AP, when I asked him why AP he said "A-z fake done full market" I refused using the AP and said I would get the original A-z myself, which I did, afterall he told me if I want the best engine life I should always use A-z so I insisted.

I did not suspect any fowl play or lie however, it dawned on me when the same thing repeated it self, He advice I always use seahorse ATF stating that it was the best on the market, when i told him that the product was setting up a factory in the east and was owned by an Igbo man, on the next service he came with Master ATF, when I asked him why masters ATF he said "Seahorse fake done full market" i did not bother telling him that master ATF was owned by an Igbo man since then my car have been using Masters ATF. So Ndigbo this is why I call on us to use wisdom, we know what we are capable of we do not owe anyone any explanations neither do we have to prove anything to anybody, instead of engaging in this unhealthy back and forth with Yorubas thereby endangering our manufacturers exploits please let us try to add more value to the East by setting up more industries and protecting the existing ones not exposing them to danger, I would have added some encounters i faced promoting my products too, but this thread is already too long.

Igbo's let be wise and guided. Daalu nu[/s].

laudate:
Madam, ke?

Twistaray:
Please do,and when you do quote my mention,laudate...that dude, he's quite resourceful.

Ose eeeeee

laudate:
You know what? I am going to stop posting on this thread. Things have degenerated to a nasty exchange of words and I really don't like it! Am out.

Twistaray:
What do you expect

With 98%percent fake products. Even ordinary bread along aba express road is filled with akpu. If you doubt me ask people who've been to aba or patronise those aba bread sellers along aba express road.

Go and confirm.

kodath:
Lol so you mean to prove me right?no indigenous technology? ?what a shame.

btw,to all those mods that are banning igbos..may amadioha fall on you

kn23h:
How many international airports do Ibos own? Yorubas own 2, another 1 in Nigeria.

We can't be compared with local Ibos.

kodath:
still waiting for indigenous product by ewedurians and not tale by moonlight

Nwakaumu:
The day i bowed for these yoruba's propoganda was a time they kinsmen was proud defending tinubu againt a statement made by the northen cabals that tinubu didnt contribute much to buharis emergence as the president financially.these people were proudly saying that atleast tinubu contributed the propoganda that sold buhari to guillible nigerians.i was like 'you mean propoganda ,sheet.in this thread their lagos-ibadan express way media propoganda can't save them in the face of the demand for pictoral evidence and requirements that any thing you claim to produce must be of an indegenious company,not foreign-owned,otherwise they would have innundated us with an endless list of lebanese,indian,chinese,and even igbo companies in lagos and ogun state. they are fumbling and groping for an answer but they can only come up with lame escuses,denial and, as usual, insults.The fact is that nigeria, if it not foreign made,it is Aba-made.nobody can deny that, even though one may like to pretend otherwise.case closed yoruba,igbo no be una mate,make una dey respect una senior.you can now go and eat your amala and ewedu and go sleep b4 my igbo brodas go cause hpb for una.

Awolowo001:
Storied as usual....

Stories without products

Awolowo001:
So Yoruba's are beyond cars, motorcycles, phones etc...

but are limited to floor for baking bread and biscuits..... you must be a clown in person

Awolowo001:
Always posting stories.....
please, we are not here to read stories, post your product.

Awolowo001:
Keep quiet....honey well abi na honey pit....

Go sleep Abeg...

Others are producing cars, motorcycles, phones etc...you are talking about floor.....

Are you sure that all is well with you??

Awolowo001:
This niggars are just nautty...

Even after the free education from Awolowo.... nothing tangible this dude could boast of...

I am really angry with this country...

If not for this one Nigeria... China would have been rushing to meet up with us...

Awolowo001:
Common this motorcycle, yoruba can not achieve..


common motorcycle..

sometin that an average guy in Nnewi manufactures..

The one below are all manufactured by Gabros, Nnewi

Awolowo001:
Get off my mention...
I thought I was responding to a sensible person, not knowing that the person I am responding to is psychologically depleted