Ezekiel Onyieze, a stock fish trader popularly known by the Eastern part of the country as “Okporoko” says he started his small business with just N3,000, but it has paid him off in so many ways as he now smiles to the bank. ADEOLA TUKURU reports.
Starting a business and nurturing it to an enviable height is the greatest challenge of many entrepreneurs, with many businesses going under just after a few years of establishment.
Ezekiel, a trader at Utako market hails from Anambra state but came to Abuja in 2013 to seek greener pastures which he has not regretted so far.
According to him, starting his business was not a major challenge as he believes in hard work and plans to export smoked and well packaged fishes to all parts of the country.
While speaking to Business Starter, Onyieze, who was brimming with optimism, said that laziness is not an option for him as he quickly established himself in Abuja.
Early beginning
According to Onyieze , his early beginning will forever be etched in his memory as he set out to add to humanity with his business at the earliest opportunity he got after his training in 2012.
He said 2013, “I started my own business after being trained by my Uncle. In fact, when the fishes got to the table, I started thinking of the value I could add to the fish, in order to stand out.
“By way of doing something different from others, I decided to smoke and package the fish and after doing that, it was nice and appetizing. That was how the business started, with my being innovative and applying ideas different from others,” he said.
Expansion
He said he will never rest until his fishes make their ways to different parts of the country even as he reveals plans to employ many people to ensure adequate reach with the right sponsorship from government, banks and private individuals.
“Being a new innovative business, I actually use my little savings to finance the business for now. However, I have plans for expansion. I plan to have distributors all over Nigeria. I seriously plan branches in different states. I have just one person under my employ at the moment.
“However, I plan to employ more people in the future, with my plan to expand the business as well as having distributors all over the country. I will definitely do well if I am sponsored. I’m looking for sponsorship from individuals, corporate entities, banks and government.”
He said his stock fishes are very affordable. “Even our local market women can afford it to sell in our local markets. Also, I can supply quantities at short notice across the country or even export abroad.
“However, for now, we give 3 to 4 working days to supply within Abuja from the demand date. As we grow, we look forward to supply in tonnes for I have had people calling from other states demanding for our products.”
Packaging
Hygiene is a major concern to many people when considering patronage, but Onyieze says that there is nothing to bother about as hygiene is the watchword and number one consideration.
“Our stock fish is prepared in a very clean environment. From the pond, we proceed to a processing basin, where we open the belly of the fishes to bring out the waste.
“Thereafter, we proceed to the oven and then pack the fishes for supply. In all these processes, there is no sand or flies perching on the fishes at all. Everything is clean and geared towards the satisfaction of our customers.
“Even at this period of COVID-19 pandemic, we ensure that we maintain proper hand-washing hygiene and that the environment and equipment are clean at all times, in order to avoid infections of any type. You need to visit our small, but well kept offices to understand the precautions we take,” he said.
Challenges
Despite being a new business, Onyieze said his major challenge is getting sponsorship for expansion, especially as many people with better resources have started stealing his innovative ideas.
“My challenges are many, bordering on sponsorship. I am packaging the fishes for now in branded packs, but buying the packs is not easy at all as they cost a lot. Also, I need sealing machine to perfect the products. Even buying smoking machine is in my budget, but it is all about the money.
“To be honest, I feel so bad. As I speak with you now, I know a lot of people making money from packaging fishes, which I introduced. In fact, many of them even call me to get information on how to go about the packaging. I’m sure most of them have gotten sponsors to take their businesses to the next level, so I hope to get sponsorship to implement most of my business ideas,” he said.
Appeal
He appealed to different organisations to invest in his business; in order to recoup gains in the coming years.
He said: “My advice to organisations or individuals looking for businesses to sponsor is that they should look deep and see a business with great prospects and invest in it.
“For instance, we have all it takes to break new grounds if we get sponsorship, who can invest in our company.
“The quality of our products speak volumes of the corresponding cash flow in the event that individuals or even organisations accept to sponsor our company.
“If partners empower my fish business, surely, I’ll expand and achieve my dream of taking the fish business to a different level in seafood packaging. I will create more employment opportunities for our people as well as sponsor other young entrepreneurs.
Starting a Stock fish business
Many of such dealers can be found at Onitsha relief market. There are assorted quantity of these fishes at Aba and other big markets across Nigeria, especially the southern part of the country.
Just visit any of the dealers and choose the particular type of stockfish you need. Before you make your choice, you should first do feasibility study, during which you will find out the type of stockfish that sells the most.
The stockfish will be sold to you in sacks. They are packed as a mix of parts, whole, cod fish, middle cuts, fins only, ears only or heads only, depending on what is in high demand in your area. The form you chose can also determine how much you end up paying for the stockfish.
The business does not have to cost you an arm and a leg to start; you can start with as little as N20,000. By the time you finish reselling the stockfish, you can make double the amount you spent on purchasing it. This is especially possible if you sell them off in a city market.
The best place to sell your stockfish is at a busy spot in the city or a busy market. You can also ask for market days of some markets in your area since more people come to these markets on such days. This is the best way to maximize your profit. Do not forget to expand your business as you make more profit.
