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.
==========================

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.

“I told myself that it was what I have been dreaming about, so I had to start from somewhere. That is how we started. In Nigeria, it is difficult to get a sponsor from the government or individuals. We have been crawling and working tirelessly till we reached where we are today.
“In a nutshell, my company started from a room in 2010. We have produced a lot of herbal drinks. All our products are herbal products. We have Seakam Bitters too. Right now, we are planning to produce herbal wine,” he revealed.
There are many herbal drinks in Nigerian markets these days, so any manufacturer that must thrive must strategise to ensure that his products remains relevant and appealing to consumers. On the marketing strategies that have helped him to maintain his market share and also attract new consumers, Kazeem said it was the grace of God that has brought them to the level they are.
“Until God answers one’s prayer, nobody knows the products that will be successful. We keep trying our best to succeed in life.

Mr. Ayinla Kazeem

“The qualities of our products and our channel of distribution have helped us to gain more ground in the market.  We have never advertised our product before, so our good product sells itself, which is part of the secret the company is using to sustain itself. Every company has a marketing strategy. We do not want to divulge other strategies we use to promote our product.
Speaking on the health benefits of Bajinotu Poka Creamy Bitters, he said that
Bajinotu Poka Creamy Bitters is not an ordinary alcoholic drink. “It contains extracts from herbs that work on the system. In future, we will produce a version of it without alcohol for people who don’t take alcohol.
Bajinotu Poka Creamy Bitters works well in consumers’ systems. It refines blood. It stops stomach upset. It is good for women that love alcohol. It is good for women that have menstrual pain. It is good for people that eat or chew sugary things,” Kazeem divulged.
He however, refused to disclose some of the ingredients they use in producing the herbal drink.
“No, that is the secret of the company. I have mentioned some of the ingredients which comprise alcohol and herbs. That is all I can say.”
One of Nigeria’s popular hip hop artistes, Olamide, mentioned Bajinotu Poka Creamy Bitters in one of his songs, “Awon Goons Mi”. Asked whether Olamide was one of their brand ambassadors, the entrepreneur said Olamide was not one of their ambassadors.
“In fact, we have never met before. It is a sign that our product is making waves in Nigeria. An artiste also used our Seakam Bitters to sing too.”
Concerning the challenges he faced in his business, Kazeem lamented that: “For the past three years, we don’t have supply of electricity. We have been using generator to work.
“We also have another challenge like taxes and levies.  Despite all the challenges, God has been on our side. There was a time some people visited us and said, for any individual to set up this company without any assistance from anywhere is commendable. We don’t have support from anywhere, no bank loan. It is just God’s grace.
“I implore the government to encourage entrepreneurs. The system we are running in Nigeria is discouraging. The amount we spend to buy diesel on a daily basis runs into hundreds of thousands of naira. If that amount is put back to business, we will employ more staff.
As little as this company is, we have many employees and have helped to reduce unemployment in Nigeria. We need support from the government, whether, federal, state or local.
In order to ensure that nobody produces the imitation of Bajinotu Poka Creamy Bitters, Kazeem said they have a task force that visits the markets regularly and monitor their product, adding that a security code inscribed on the drink’s bottle that only him and his employees can identify is used to checkmate fake Bajinotu Poka Creamy Bitters.
Secondly, the drink has an embossed cap which makes it difficult for anyone to fake it.
“The cap comes from one source, so if we see anybody with our cap, it means there is an agreement between that person and the company that produces the cap for us.
“Also, government, through the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is trying their best to control fake products. NAFDAC and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have been here severally. They are working to eradicate fake products in town.
“We went an extra mile to arrest some people that were faking our product. There is no more fake Bajinotu Poka Creamy Bitters in the market,” Kazeem further said.
Some commercial drivers and young men always take large quantity of herbal alcoholic drinks these days. Is it possible to regulate or suggest the maximum quantity of the herbal drinks they can take at a go? He was asked. He maintained that Bajinotu Poka Creamy Bitters is an alcoholic drink not a drug.
But herbal drinks supposed to have a specified quantity an individual supposed to drink, he cuts in: “Yes, it has measurement.  Actually, there is an inscription on our product’s cartons that advised people to drink responsibly. The herbs in our drink do not have adverse effect so people can take the quantity their body can carry.”
In the next five years, where do you expect your company to be? He was asked. “This company has a lot of things to produce, but we don’t have space. That is why we are begging the government to support us through regular supply of electricity, good roads and security, so that we can have rest of mind and plan well to carry this nation forward,” he appealed.
He advised his competitors to have patience and wait for their turns. “Those ones that have not arrived should remain focused and be prayerful. Those ones that have arrived that we meet in the market should not be annoyed over ways our product have been giving them challenge. They should believe that God’s time is the best. In the past, I have produced a lot of products that others snatched the name. We are the first company that registered a product called Doro bitters before we started hearing Doro this and Doro that.
“To our fans out there, do not bother about fake because, we are working inside and outside to make sure that everything goes well. We don’t want this product to spoil.”
He implored them to continue to patronise them as Bajinotu Poka Creamy Bitters still has a lot of children that are coming up very soon.

This company has a lot of things to produce, but we don’t have space. That is why we are begging the government to give us support through regular supply of electricity, good roads and security, so that we can have rest of mind and plan well to carry this nation forward.