SME boosts economic growth, panacea for unemployment - David Olanrewaju Olutimehin

In a bid to create wealth and reduce unemployment in Nigeria, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SME) have become major sources of economic growth. In fact, there is massive economic diversification going on in Nigeria as the economic base is being shifted from oil to Food and Agriculture. ADA DIKE writes.

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Before the end of 2015, the Federal government asked Nigerians to be prepared for challenging times in the New Year.
As predicted, Nigeria almost went into economic recession in 2016. Many people lost their jobs as a result of the recession. While the government worked tirelessly to ensure that Nigeria surmounted the recession by developing the agricultural sector and gave it its pride of place, some Nigerians dusted their certificates and went to search for a new job while many others went to the drawing board, did research and set up Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SME). Some are into furniture making, clothes and shoes designing, plastics production, beverages production, computer training centre, repair and sales, cement selling business, blogging, cooking gas sales, transportation, cleaning services, online marketing, jewellery making, photographs and video production, hairdressing salon, makeup artistry, arts and crafts, house painting and so on. Others are into catering, food distribution, baking and farming (yams, cassava, corn, rice, fishery, piggery and poultry) among others.
Meanwhile, the World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim, during a recent chat with some journalists urged African nations to prepare itself for the next phase in economic development.

Mr. Olutimehin

 “One of the real questions that we all have is our traditional notions of economic growth which are Agriculture to heavy industry. How many countries in Africa will actually experience that, and do we need to really think about another kind of path to economic growth that’s very focused on a small to medium enterprises and entrepreneurship as they have in parts of the world?” he queried.
“I think we still don’t know that, but the one thing we know is that better health outcomes, better education outcome will be critical no matter what the global economy looks like,” he added.
Presently, different small scale businesses are springing up on a daily basis in different parts of country which has help tremendously in creating employment opportunities for job seekers.
Revealing what motivated him to start his business, the Chief Executive Officer of Treasures Bakery, Mr. David Olanrewaju Olutimehin, said it was actually a dream that he nursed and followed up for some time.

Bajinotu Poka Creamy Bitters’ production borne out of generational secret –Bajinotu Poka Creamy Bitters manufacturer

Bajinotu drinks

Herbs are essential to human life, that is why the introduction of foreign herbal drinks into Nigerian markets metamorphosed to the massive production of alcoholic and non-alcoholic ones.
One of the producers of herbal drinks known as Bajinotu Poka Creamy Bitters and Seakam Bitters, Mr. Ayinla Kazeem, in this interview with ADA DIKE, speaks on the health benefits of herbal drinks, his challenges and future plans, among others.
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Production, distribution and consumption of alcoholic and non-alcoholic herbal drinks have increased tremendously. In fact, herbal drinks’ production and marketing have become one of the money spinning ventures  in Nigeria as different sellers at shops, bars and markets have different brands on sale these days.
The Chairman, Seakam Global Resources Limited, makers of popular Bajinotu Poka Creamy Bitters in Ogun State, Mr. Ayinla Kazeem, conceived the idea of producing herbal drinks in 2007 and brought the idea to fruition by commencing production of the drink in 2010.
According to him, Bajinotu Poka Creamy Bitters’ production had a secret based on what he had been taking and what his grandfather was giving them when they were younger.
In his word: “When we came to Lagos, we thought of using the old things which are better than the new things. We then discovered that there are many people outside drinking dry gin which weakened their systems and we called them drunkards. So we decided to look for ways to help lovers of spirit by producing alcoholic herbal drinks that can cure them,” he explained.
While thinking of how to start, that was when an herbal drink was introduced from Ghana, which gave him an inspiration.

Bigi Cola, King of Soft Drinks in Nigeria?

A fairly newly introduced soft drink in the market, Bigi Cola, has become the most consumed drink in Nigeria due to its quality, availability and price. Ada Dike reports.
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There is a popular saying that, ‘a good product sells itself’.  This can be referred to a new indigenous product, Bigi Cola, which has consumed the soft drink market like a wild fire in dry season.

Manufactured by Rite Foods Limited, maker of Rite Sausages and Fearless Energy drinks, its producer announced its birth many months before its introduction, using the Rite sausages. The suspense that announcement created in the minds of soft drinks consumers before it was unveiled also added a plus to its successful story today.

The product was launched in Nigeria in 2016, a year after another accepted cola drink, Big Cola, by AJE Group entered into Nigerian markets. Its factory is along Shagamu-Benin Express Road, Ososa, Ogun State.
Bigi has various flavours namely: Bigi Cola, Apple, Bitter Lemon, Orange, Soda, Tropical and so on. Bigi Cola is made with water, sugar, carbon dioxide, colour sulphite Ammonia, caramel E150d, Phosphoric Acid E338, Preservative, Sodium Benzoate E211, Flavouring, Caffeine, Natural Flavouring and so on.
It is pertinent to note that a lot of marketing strategies lead to market dominance, that is why there are many soft drinks in the world market. But a few of them such as, Coca Cola and Pepsi using their years of existence, taste and advertising hypes have become increasingly popular globally, despite the fierce competitions they are encountering.
According to its website, Coca Cola, produced by Nigerian Bottling Company, was introduced into Nigeria in 1951. History has it that Coca Cola was established in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States of America by Dr. John S. Pemberton. It was first offered as a fountain beverage by mixing Coca‑Cola syrup with carbonated water, introduced in 1886, patented in 1887, registered as a trademark in 1893 and by 1895 it was being sold in every state and territory in the United States. In 1899, The Coca‑Cola Company began franchised bottling operations in and outside the United States expanding its frontiers to consumers in North America and Europe and in subsequent years to other parts of the world.
In 1951, Coca‑Cola, made with carbonated water, sugar, carbon-dioxide, caffeine, Phosphoric acid, caramel colour and flavouring, came to Nigeria and it is available in 35cl and 50cl classic glass contour bottle; 33cl on-the-go Can, 50cl and 1.5L PET bottle. Coca Cola Company produces other products like Fanta, Sprite, Limca, Eva water and so on.
In the same vein, Seven-Up bottling company Limited, which has nine bottling plants located across the country, produces and sells soft drinks brands namely: Pepsi, Mirinda, Seven Up, H2oh!, Teem bitter lemon, Mountain Dew and Aquafina bottled water.
One can hardly attend any sporting event, sponsored outdoor activity or visit any shop without seeing Coca Cola adverts. For many years now, Coca Cola Nigeria Plc has continued to produce signboards painted red with Coca Cola and the names of each shop owner written on it. Its market dominance was tested after it increased the prices of its products a couple years ago, then, Seven-Up bottling went to the drawing board and came up with the idea of increasing the volume of Pepsi plastic bottle with extra 20 Cl and sold the 60 Cl at the same price. today, 60CL Pepsi popularly known as 'Orobo' in Lagos is now being sold at N70.00 from N80.00.
Presently, the retail price of 60Cl Zero coke some other Cocacola drinks are being sold at N100. Pepsi didn’t shift ground, but still sells its 60Cl platics bottle at N100, same with Bigi. This, an observer said, can be linked to the stiff completion they are encountering in the market.
A shop owner at Ajao Estate, Lagos, Mrs. Kehinde Adetayo, said people buy more Bigi than other drinks from her shop. “You know, when there is an increase in price of a commodity, people tend to boycott it and go for an alternative. This is what happened to a popular soft drink brand after Bigi entered into the market and they lost a lot of consumers,” she divulged.
A key retailer of Bigi drinks, whose shop is located in Alimosho area of Lagos spoke on the condition of anonymity by saying that consumers embraced Bigi whole heartedly due to its taste, size and price which indirectly affected the patronage and prices of other soft drinks in the market.

Meanwhile, large quantity of soft drinks are sold during the dry season due to hot weather which comes with heat, dryness of throat and thirst for water. Most Nigerians resort to drinking soft drinks while quite a few of them drink water in the sachet (pure water) and bottled ones. These drinks come handy as hawkers put them in a bowl, carry the bowl on the heads and move around strategic places including bus stops. In fact, selling soft drinks business is one the most lucrative one in Nigeria these days, that why as early as 10 am, many hawkers make much sales which is evident in the amount of money they clutch in their hands as they move about hawking their wares. Some of them sell sausages alongside the drinks. That is why most Nigerians have their breakfast at bus stops and inside vehicles because, if one eats two sausages and drinks a bottle of soft drink, he or she will be filled.

A businessman, Mr. Ndubuisi Nwafor, who deals in electrical appliances along Aiyetoro Road, Ayobo, Lagos, said  it is difficult for a day to pass by without him drinking Bigi Cola.

According to the 34-year-old bachelor, he hardly cooks food at home but patronises a restaurant near his shop in the morning and takes Bigi Cola with biscuit or sausage for lunch.

“I like Bigi Cola, and I don’t think I can stop drinking it. I buy it at a mini mart in the petrol station beside my shop every afternoon. I like the taste, it is not too sugary like others and I love the feeling I get after drinking it,” Nwafor said.

He further said that he took interest in the drink when he noticed the mini mart has many cartons of Bigi drinks displayed for sale more than other soft drinks. “I became curious and decided to taste it,” says the Anambra State born trader.

“There are two soft drinks mini depots opposite my shop, one of them distributes Bigi drinks, while the other depot distributes another brand of soft drinks. Any time trucks supply Bigi drinks to one of the depots, within 30 minutes, retailers buy up almost everything. It is colourful to see the tropical flavoured Bigi, Apple and so packed in front of the depot as the company’s salesmen are bringing them down from the truck.

“In a twinkling of an eye, the depot will be empty, while the other depot has fewer retailers coming to patronise them. This made me to love Bigi drinks the more”

The Economist put a call across to Rite Foods Limited to find out their unique selling proposition, but didn’t get through.

With the reduction in prices of Zero Coca Cola drink, Bigi manufacturers and other soft drink soft drink may strategise so as not lose many consumers. Mrs. Adetayo suggested that Rite Foods Limited should do more promotions that will be beneficial to consumers, retailers and the general public.

I am addicted to Bigi cola and I don’t think that I can stop drinking it. I buy it at a mini mart in the petrol station beside my shop every afternoon. I like the taste, it is not too sugary like others and I love the feeling I get after drinking it.

Indigenous engineers struggling without palliative measures from the government – Adesewo Sopade

Engr. Sopade

Having spent 44 years working tirelessly to fabricate Agricultural, bakery and confectioneries equipment, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of De Sopas Engineering, Adesewo Sopade, does not just love engineering but indeed, he is a fabricator with a difference. In this interview with ADA DIKE and BAYO BALOGUN, the engineer who hails from Ogun State but based in Lagos, among other issues sheds light on how engineering can boost Nigerian economy and improve development.

There are a lot of people roaming the streets of Nigeria without jobs. We thank you for creating job opportunities through De Sopas, which has immensely helped to depopulate the labour market. Can you tell us the staff strength of your company from the inception?

Many staff have passed through my company. Over 50 of them have passed directly while over 30 have passed through us. Directly are those who come for training while indirectly are people who were employed as workers and they got the idea, when they left, they are still practising the trade.

Many people are still here including some of my children.  I made sure that all my male children from the age of eight start coming to the workshop. Some of them have passed out. They go the normal process other staff go. I don’t give them the chance of saying this company belongs to my father.

One of my children came late this morning and I told my secretary to give him half day salary as a punishment.