How I started selling groundnut with N2,000- Trader

Madam Christiana Adams ,36, Eros for ‎a living selling  groundnut in Maitama junction, FCT. She explained how she started the business just a token of N2,000 and at the same time saves up money to meet her 3 children’s need rather than begging alms. ADEOLA TUKURU writes.

‎Christiana is a native of Cross River state, preferred to follow the path of honour by working hard no matter how humble the starting point was.

The young and hard working woman who resides in Mpape, a surbub along Nicon Junction, FCT did not consider the way of degradation, taking poverty as an excuse.

While recounting to Business Starter in pidgin English, Christiana quoted ” I no fit dey beg for people to help me and my children. If na so I go make am for Abuja, I no fit, that is why I dey do this business.”

According to her, after fruitless efforts to find a job with her Ordinary National Diploma certificate (OND) , she engaged into boiling and hawking groundnut.

She explained how she borrowed ‎N2,000 from her friend as a start up capital to keep the business floating. 

Christiana had only several hours for sleep per day to ensure she makes fresh groundnut particularly for her customers at sites.

Regarding her earnings, she managed to save up to N 11,000 monthly, which amount she deposited in a bank.

By saving money she ensured that her Children did not miss school and was also sending money up her parents in the village

“I also wish to further my education, but I will keep struggling till I achieve my goal, I won’t sit and wait for any man to take advantage of me.”

“I will not beg for alms to feed. If that’s what it has to take to make it, I can’t do it and that is why I started this small business.”

When asked to give advice to her peers experiencing hardships, Christiana  recommended them to understand the value of dignity in labour and create legal job opportunities for themselves.

She also called on the federal government to engage youths, women and girls in vocational skill acquisition which make them more independent in life.

It would be recalled that The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to train youths in the territory on necessary entrepreneurial and vocational skills.

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, had said this when the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of ITF, Sir Joseph Ari paid him a courtesy.

According to him, they are ready to partner with ITF to reduce unemployment in the Territory by ensuring that our youths acquire the necessary skills that would make them self-employed and employers of labour.

“This is especially very important now that there is so much influx of people from every part of the country into the Territory,’’ he said.

According to him, this is in a bid to curtail the rate of unemployment in the territory and the country in general.

 The minister, lauded the contributions of the ITF in repositioning the nation’s economy on the path of sustainable growth and development.

“We know that ITF is one of the foremost institutions that have helped Nigeria’s economy tremendously.

 “In fact, your role is even more critical now that we are having unemployment issues,’’ he added.

Earlier, Ari, the ITF Director-General, said that given the position of FCT as the gateway of Nigeria, the agency believed in partnership with FCTA.

 “This partnership particularly in the area of skills acquisition will assist immensely to achieve the dream of President Muhammadu Buhari, to empower young people with requisite skills.

“We are here to synergise with FCTA being the gateway of Nigeria to achieve the dream of Buhari which is hinged on empowering people with skills in different areas,’’ he explained.

The ITF boss further said that the agency had keyed into the policy of Federal Government on the “Ease of Doing Business and other international trends”.

How to start groundnut business

Acquiring knowledge

You don’t come into what you don’t know anything about, it is very necessary you seek and learn about the process of producing this particular product, if you don’t have money to learn this, you can find someone that can teach you at their own will and it is something you can easily get with proper teaching not hard to handle and learn.

Get good location

This is a very crucial and important part of any business that is intended to grow and you don’t just raise a business where there’s no good market for it, in choosing this you need to really know your market, set your target. ‎Locations like schools area be it university, secondary/primary schools], garage, market area, where a lot of people come to always, are a very good point for this kind of market. And if at all you don’t get a particular location in school area, or anywhere else you see, you can just get your location very close to that area, where you can easily transport your goods down to such areas.

Having good marketing strategies

This will also enhance your sale, be kind of unique don’t go as everyone goes, if you desire to sell more than everyone, brand your stuff, have well designed label, choose a unique and easy to pronounce name on your label. If your branding is attractive enough you will be surprised at the increase in your sale.

 Request for feedbacks from customers so that you will do what suit them and not you, so as not to be the one to always be eating your stuffs.

When you’ve got all this done, seek for what and what is require from the government to start this in any area or location. And make sure you register your business to be on a safer side, especially when the Business begins to grow.

With adequate planning, you can grow it into a very big business, especially when you brand the name and make varieties, you can also draw effective marketing system into place, like transporting it to a lot more commercial centers, market square, busy roads, shopping malls, viewing centers, football field, cinema, where a lot of people will come around, adding cold soft drinks too can be a major way to go and increase profits realized.

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