…..#MyNaijaHustleFair scheduled for Lagos, Owerri, Kano and Abuja
By Kemi Yesufu
Small business owners have a number of challenges they face across country. People who run small businesses are most likely to list the poor power supply, lack of capital and low patronage as the major challenges they contend with.
The good news is that a few social entrepreneurs are beginning to look into how Nigerians, who are struggling to keep their small businesses afloat and probably grow them into places where people can earn an income, can be supported.
One of such persons creating platforms for small business to survive and excel is successful Abuja based businessman, Mr. Ikenna Chidoka.
Chidoka organized the well-attended “#MyAbjHustleFair” held at River Plate Park, Wuse 2 on Sunday, May 26. #MyAbujaHustleFair recorded an impressive level of participation, with about 87 vendors who run small businesses conducting brisk business with a good number of clients who came out.
The event was organized under the platform of The Small Business Owners Initiative (TSBOI).
The positive response and good reviews that followed the one-day fair has led to Chidoka taking things to a higher level, starting the process to host small businesses fairs on a national level. He disclosed his plans during a chat with journalists.
“We are organising National Small Business Owners Expo week later in the year. It will hold simultaneously across four states; Kano, Abuja, Owerri and Lagos”, he said.
Chidoka further explained that the national expo week will showcase the importance of small businesses in Nigerian communities, hence the name “#My9jaHustle.
Quite unique is the fact that the initiator of #MyAbujaHustleFair is concentrating on credible small businesses run online. For him this group of Nigerians, many of whom are educated, young people selling goods and services online and sometimes from home need to be assisted to make progress.
Chidoka further explained that during the national fair online business owners would be exposed to ways they can boost sales and patronage online.
He said: “I believe that sales is the greatest form of capital for any small business owner. You need to keep on making sales and even projected sales. The idea of having this fair is that a lot of small business owners are complaining about lack of patronage and because they don’t have the money of renting a shop, or even venturing into their own personal fairs.
“So, I said fine, let me bring them (small business owners) together, connect them with people. My view about business is that it is better to sell at an affordable rate or interest, in that way, you make quick sales, which is far better than having stock because stock ties down your capital. Making sales is the main idea behind organizing the fair in Abuja and the move to take to other parts of the country”.
“Creating the physical environment for producers and customers to meet and mingle. We believe nothing still beats the face to face meetings as regards sales. It creates trust among parties. The fair has come free to both vendors and attendees. By this way we are creating immeasurable reach to our corporate sponsors.
“As part of giving back, our system is also designed for business owners to make some money through their social media handles when they share adverts from our platforms. The money can be used to pay utilities on our site or they can simply just withdraw the money,” he added.
A serial entrepreneur, Chidoka started out in business as a teenager. He moved to Abuja in 1993, where was awarded his first contract to keep the popular Wuse Market clean. He published a youth inspired magazine and produces Red Scorpio Rum from a factory in his home town, Obosi. He is also the man behind Berrylux Paints and Berrylux Travels.
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