Chief Ambassador Doctor
Ndubuisi Nzenweo for Chibuzor hails from South East of Nigeria, a native of
Nnokwa in Idenmili Local South Local Government Area in Anambra State. He is
very intelligent, exuberant business tycoon, founder of Ndubuisi Foundation and
Chairman and CEO of Nzenweofor Group of Companies. In this tete-a-tete with
Topflyers Magazine, he inspires the world, emphatically youths on the essence
of utilizing and replicating their potentials.
Ndubuisi Nzenweo for Chibuzor hails from South East of Nigeria, a native of
Nnokwa in Idenmili Local South Local Government Area in Anambra State. He is
very intelligent, exuberant business tycoon, founder of Ndubuisi Foundation and
Chairman and CEO of Nzenweofor Group of Companies. In this tete-a-tete with
Topflyers Magazine, he inspires the world, emphatically youths on the essence
of utilizing and replicating their potentials.
Excerpts:
WHAT IS THE NATURE OF
YOUR JOB?
YOUR JOB?
Nzenweofor Group of
Company is made up of thirteen entities. We have Nzenweofor Group and Gas,
Nzenweofor Creative which is an IT company which has developed language
communication software known as Olango which we will be launching very soon. We
also have Bantaban Limited which is our e-commerce platform. We have Spirat
Limited which is a clothing line. We also have Nzenweofor Real Estate Property
Development …Nzenweofor Petrol Station…Laclic Services Limited…Laclic Travels
and Tours…Laclic Broadcasting Networ…and Nzenweo for transportation.
Company is made up of thirteen entities. We have Nzenweofor Group and Gas,
Nzenweofor Creative which is an IT company which has developed language
communication software known as Olango which we will be launching very soon. We
also have Bantaban Limited which is our e-commerce platform. We have Spirat
Limited which is a clothing line. We also have Nzenweofor Real Estate Property
Development …Nzenweofor Petrol Station…Laclic Services Limited…Laclic Travels
and Tours…Laclic Broadcasting Networ…and Nzenweo for transportation.
WOW, A LOT OF COMPANIES
ACCRUED TO YOUR NAME. ARE ALL OF THEM LOCATED IN NIGERIA?
ACCRUED TO YOUR NAME. ARE ALL OF THEM LOCATED IN NIGERIA?
Yes, while some have
branches in other countries. For example, Bantaban Limited is in Cameroon and
Ghana, Spirat is delivering worldwide, Laclic Services has branches in
Cameroun, South-Africa and Dubai, Bantaban Limited can be accessed anywhere in
the world because we prioritize our indigenous products. That is, all our
products are home made.
branches in other countries. For example, Bantaban Limited is in Cameroon and
Ghana, Spirat is delivering worldwide, Laclic Services has branches in
Cameroun, South-Africa and Dubai, Bantaban Limited can be accessed anywhere in
the world because we prioritize our indigenous products. That is, all our
products are home made.
THAT IS INTERESTING. WHAT COURSE DID YOU STUDY
IN SCHOOL?
IN SCHOOL?
I studied Business
administration.
administration.
THEY CALL YOU DOCTOR,
HOW DID YOU COME ABOUT THAT NAME?
HOW DID YOU COME ABOUT THAT NAME?
I have a Ph.D in
Business administration from Nnamdi Azikiwe University although I didn’t finish
on time. Sometimes I had to drop out to go and hustle (laughs). It took five
years to finish at a certain point.
Business administration from Nnamdi Azikiwe University although I didn’t finish
on time. Sometimes I had to drop out to go and hustle (laughs). It took five
years to finish at a certain point.
SIR, IF YOU LOOK AT IT
CRITICALLY, THE MAJOR PROBLEM OF NIGERIAN YOUTHS IN ESTABLISHING BUSINESSES IS
CAPITAL. HOW DID YOU COME ABOUT THE CAPITAL TO ESTABLISH SO BIG?
CRITICALLY, THE MAJOR PROBLEM OF NIGERIAN YOUTHS IN ESTABLISHING BUSINESSES IS
CAPITAL. HOW DID YOU COME ABOUT THE CAPITAL TO ESTABLISH SO BIG?
Well, it is a good
story. I was driven by the desire to be educated and to take care of myself.
Starting was not easy, if I say it was, I would be a liar. Before, what I was
doing was teaching, translation works and taking care of children just to
survive although I have been nursing the ideas of these current businesses but
there was no capital. What happened is that one time I was talking to a woman
about communication translation challenges and there was a manager of an SGSS
inspection. He was impressed about the way I was instructing the woman I was
discussing with on how to achieve language trainings. The manager saw my
potential and asked for a proposal for his company and then there was no
capital and I have never done a proposal neither had our company been
registered.
story. I was driven by the desire to be educated and to take care of myself.
Starting was not easy, if I say it was, I would be a liar. Before, what I was
doing was teaching, translation works and taking care of children just to
survive although I have been nursing the ideas of these current businesses but
there was no capital. What happened is that one time I was talking to a woman
about communication translation challenges and there was a manager of an SGSS
inspection. He was impressed about the way I was instructing the woman I was
discussing with on how to achieve language trainings. The manager saw my
potential and asked for a proposal for his company and then there was no
capital and I have never done a proposal neither had our company been
registered.
(CUTS
IN) WHAT YEAR WAS THIS?
IN) WHAT YEAR WAS THIS?
2002. I had to call a
lot of people who had to facilitate the company’s registration on time. When I
drafted the proposal and submitted to them, it was amounting to millions of
naira which for me I was thinking was huge because I had never seen such kind
of money before. On the day I was to submit the proposal, rain beat me down. On
getting to the company, I was totally soaked, ashamed and almost giving up. The
manager told me I could have waited for the rain to be over but I told him that
I needed to meet up with the time he gave me. He saw the zeal in me and minuted
the proposal immediately bypassing the company’s usual protocols. Two days
after, I got an alert of the credit on my proposal and that was how our story
started.
lot of people who had to facilitate the company’s registration on time. When I
drafted the proposal and submitted to them, it was amounting to millions of
naira which for me I was thinking was huge because I had never seen such kind
of money before. On the day I was to submit the proposal, rain beat me down. On
getting to the company, I was totally soaked, ashamed and almost giving up. The
manager told me I could have waited for the rain to be over but I told him that
I needed to meet up with the time he gave me. He saw the zeal in me and minuted
the proposal immediately bypassing the company’s usual protocols. Two days
after, I got an alert of the credit on my proposal and that was how our story
started.
Nevertheless, we
sponsor projects for youths such as the one we did in August called the Laclic
Golden Euro Award where you can buy second hand quality phones with one year
warranty. And the banks have to be helping because to obtain loans from bank is
always not easy. We also call on the government to support the youths.
sponsor projects for youths such as the one we did in August called the Laclic
Golden Euro Award where you can buy second hand quality phones with one year
warranty. And the banks have to be helping because to obtain loans from bank is
always not easy. We also call on the government to support the youths.
YOU HAVE MANY
COMPANIES, HOW DO YOU MANAGE THEM?
COMPANIES, HOW DO YOU MANAGE THEM?
We have about 185
members of staff.
members of staff.
ARE THEY ALL ON SALARY?
Not all, some are under
contract while some are under commission
contract while some are under commission
YOU
HAVE DONE A LOT AT YOUNG AGE, WHAT NUMBER ARE YOU IN THE FAMILY?
HAVE DONE A LOT AT YOUNG AGE, WHAT NUMBER ARE YOU IN THE FAMILY?
We are twelve and I am
the sixth in the family (laughs).
the sixth in the family (laughs).
(LAUGHS) IT’S IS
OBVIOUS ALL OF YOU CANNOT BE FROM ONE MOTHER.
OBVIOUS ALL OF YOU CANNOT BE FROM ONE MOTHER.
We are from one mother
because back in those days women used to marry so early. My mother married at
age 14 as she told us.
because back in those days women used to marry so early. My mother married at
age 14 as she told us.
WHICH AREA DO YOU NEED
SUPPORT?
SUPPORT?
We need support in all
segments especially patronage of Nigerian-made products. I want us as Nigerians
to be patronizing Nigerian-made products as long as it is of quality.
segments especially patronage of Nigerian-made products. I want us as Nigerians
to be patronizing Nigerian-made products as long as it is of quality.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU OF
DOING ALL OF THESE?
DOING ALL OF THESE?
One of my inspirations
was my sister, ChinyereUdoma, a gospel artiste. She was the first person that
made money in our family through her talent and that inspired me. Another
person that inspired me was a widow because I didn’t grow up with my parents. I
was trained by a widow in my secondary school level, Aunty Julia. She stirred
up the humanitarian part in me. Even though she was a teacher and did not earn
much yet she took care of me even when we were not related. She did not discriminate
and that inspired me to want to reach out to other people.
was my sister, ChinyereUdoma, a gospel artiste. She was the first person that
made money in our family through her talent and that inspired me. Another
person that inspired me was a widow because I didn’t grow up with my parents. I
was trained by a widow in my secondary school level, Aunty Julia. She stirred
up the humanitarian part in me. Even though she was a teacher and did not earn
much yet she took care of me even when we were not related. She did not discriminate
and that inspired me to want to reach out to other people.
THIS YOUR PASSION, ARE
YOU ACTUALLY DOING IT FOR POLITICAL UNDERTONES, AFFILIATIONS OR FOR RELIGIOUS
REASONS?
YOU ACTUALLY DOING IT FOR POLITICAL UNDERTONES, AFFILIATIONS OR FOR RELIGIOUS
REASONS?
You know my brother,
religion has caused many crises in Nigeria and politics have caused a lot of
commotions in many countries. I am neither apolitical nor religious inclined.
My general work doesn’t know religion because the work of God knows neither
tribe nor religion. God loves all of us the way we are. God does not know race,
religion or politics. My own is to work alongside with our government because
the government alone cannot do all things.
religion has caused many crises in Nigeria and politics have caused a lot of
commotions in many countries. I am neither apolitical nor religious inclined.
My general work doesn’t know religion because the work of God knows neither
tribe nor religion. God loves all of us the way we are. God does not know race,
religion or politics. My own is to work alongside with our government because
the government alone cannot do all things.
ARE YOU MARRIED?
(Laughs) Well,
generally, when I am in public I do not like to bring in my private life into
it. I want people to see what we are doing and be inspired.
generally, when I am in public I do not like to bring in my private life into
it. I want people to see what we are doing and be inspired.
DO YOU MIND TELLING US
HOW OLD YOU ARE SIR (LAUGHS)?
HOW OLD YOU ARE SIR (LAUGHS)?
(Laughs) I am just a
youth man and I am yet to be forty years.
youth man and I am yet to be forty years.
HOW DO YOU RELAX?
Actually, I don’t
relax. There is a lot to be done and when that is achieved, that’s when I would
have the time to relax.
relax. There is a lot to be done and when that is achieved, that’s when I would
have the time to relax.
BEFORE YOU GO, WHAT IS
YOUR THOUGHT ABOUT TOPFLYERS MAGAZINE, A MAGAZINE THAT COVERS AFRICA AND OTHER
PART OF THE WORLD?
YOUR THOUGHT ABOUT TOPFLYERS MAGAZINE, A MAGAZINE THAT COVERS AFRICA AND OTHER
PART OF THE WORLD?
I love the initiative because you people are going
after young Nigerians and Africans that are doing well and that are
inspirations to other people. What the magazine is doing is beautiful and the
colourful print is amazing. The stories there inspires other youths to know
419, “yahoo-yahoo” and the rest are not
the only options to success.
after young Nigerians and Africans that are doing well and that are
inspirations to other people. What the magazine is doing is beautiful and the
colourful print is amazing. The stories there inspires other youths to know
419, “yahoo-yahoo” and the rest are not
the only options to success.
