Romeo Odey is a member of Norland Industrial Group, a large scale industrial group involved in the health industry, medical cosmetology, direct selling and e-commerce. Odey is Africa’s first Red Diamond Awardee, the highest level in Norland Industrial Group Africa. In this interview with IFEOMA OKEKE, he speaks about his journey in the company, his aspirations and why he has decided to give back to society through his foundation.
Can you give us a brief background on who you are and your journey at Norland Industrial Group?
My name is Romeo Odey. I am from Cross River State. I am an entrepreneur, a mentor, a coach and a father. I joined the Norland Industrial Group in 2017 and in two years of being in the business through our hard work, commitment and passion towards the business, on a weekly basis I earn seven-figure income, courtesy of Noland. I have been able to acquire several properties in and outside the shores of this country; in my city, in Port Harcourt, Abuja and other cities outside this country. This company has given me nine brand new cars in two years. This year alone, I qualified for six cars from the company. I am currently building a rice factory in Abuja, courtesy of this company. I have also ventured into farming. I have a snail farm and apart from that, it is a business I have used to change other people’s lives. Ordinary people have been turned into multi-millionaires. People I met along the way, some of them could not afford a meal but today some of them are house owners and some have bought their properties. Some of them are driving new cars. Some of them have travelled outside the country. We have achieved so much. If we can do this in just two years, by the time we get to four years, we should have tripled what we have achieved in two years. From what I have achieved from the company, I thought to give back to society. It has been an amazing business opportunity and so much has been achieved and more are still on the way.
What kind of business are you currently running?
What we are actively involved in is what we call multi-level marketing or what is called network marketing. It is actually the business of the 24th century. It is a health and wealth industry. The health and wellness industry has been seen as a multi-billion naira industry that in the 24th century. This industry has created more millionaires and more financially free people than any other industry. Today, it is a vibrant industry and an industry that is transforming a lot of lives. It also gives you that capacity to become a better you. My own company is one of the best in Nigeria and Africa as I speak to you today. It is called Norland Industrial Group. In just two years of our operations in Africa, it has helped a lot of people with health challenges and taking care of their health problems. Health is one of the greatest assets. That is why most times people say your health is your wealth. In Nigeria, for instance, we have created more than 500 multi-millionaires already with this company. We have given over five people house awards; which mean they now own their own houses. We are currently building about two hotels for some top leaders in Nigeria and we have given out over 100 cars in two years. The company has taken out over 300 Nigerians outside the country, all expenses paid; we do this twice a year. We give out cars three times a year to different people that have worked hard in the company and have qualified for those awards. I am so happy with what we are doing today because we are changing a lot of lives and giving a lot of people succour, especially those suffering from health challenges like diabetes, high blood pressure, fibroid, women having issues with conceiving, people with heart challenges, people having infertility issues amongst others. It is a total package that takes care of your health and revenue. The economy is dwindling but with this opportunity, we have actually contributed our quota to the society and the government of the day.
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How was growing up for you?
I was born into a polygamous family. My dad married four wives and he was a politician. I lost him while I was in JSS One, so I was brought up by mum and she was the one that saw me through school. I graduated from the Maritime Academy in Nigeria. I served and I worked for one year and I decided to venture into business because, at a point, I never saw the light in what I called a job. I have never envied job owners or civil servants. I never saw the kind of lifestyle I actually desired in a job and that was why I was thinking outside having a job so that I can be able to achieve my goals and dreams in life and that was why I ventured into the business world.
You left your job and went into business. How did you encounter the multi-level marketing business?
I remember that some time ago, even while I was in school, I read motivational books and business books. What I read from Robert Kiyosaki’s book talked about Real Estate and Network Marketing and I started doing my research to know more about it. I was in Abakaliki when I met a man who was into network marketing and I started asking him questions about network marketing and he told me a lot about it and what he has achieved. I saw the money in it and I decided to give it a try. I started learning the business because I tell people that no matter the business you want to do and what you want to venture into, you need to learn the act and master it. You cannot become a doctor or lawyer today if you are not properly trained. So I decided to do my research and learnt about network marketing. I discovered that it is a vibrant industry and a multi-billion naira industry. I saw the future and that was how I got involved in the first one. I moved to the second one because I didn’t find what I was looking for in those particular companies I tried. That was how I came to network marketing. Network marketing has existed for over 20 years in Nigeria and during these 20 years, a lot of lives have been transformed.
People say there is a difference between network marketing and multi-level marketing. Do you agree with that?
They are the same thing. Network marketing is a business system built on leverage. First of all, there are lot of Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) businesses out there. But for you to get involved in any MLM business, you need to look for a good company that must have existed even outside your continent for a minimum of five years. There are a lot of schemes out there and people have been scammed. A network marketing company must have a face and people that are behind the business that you can see physically. Though our business is actually online we must have a physical presence. A network marketing company should have a product because when you don’t have a product, there will be no value for your money and money flows in the direction of value. So, a genuine marketing company must have a physical product and a good compensation plan. The worst thing that happens to most of the network marketing companies sometimes is that we have companies with good products but lack a good compensation plan. It is rare for you to find a good company, with good compensation plan as well as a good product like Norland and that is why you see that most people are making it in Noland. So if you want to join a network business, look for companies that must have existed and have survived in other continents and if it has survived in other continents for five years at least, then it can stand the test of time. It should have a good system. A system in this sense is the platform that can guarantee your growth in the business. Different companies have different systems but in my company, we have different systems, all these compensation plans has been combined together to give us what we have in Norland. So you discover that our system is different from other systems and that is why you see the Norland system rewarding more people than other systems.
I hear you want to start a foundation. Tell us about the foundation?
When I was growing up, it was difficult and challenging for my mum to pay for my school fees and pay some other bills. Growing up I see a lot of people suffering and having financial challenges. Some can’t even see themselves through school. People drop out because they don’t have money. Some venture into some vices they are not supposed to because they are looking for a means of survival. In my company, I am the highest earner in Africa. A lot of people also have the potential to rise to the top but one of the things we need to equip them with is to give them the right education, which is the basis. We need to give them the right foundation. So, we are creating a foundation to see how we can help more people get the basics, which is education. We want to give them scholarships to enable them to go to school. Secondly, as God continues to give us the capacity, we are going to see how we can look at how we can support the widows and establish businesses for them. We are also looking at supporting the girl child. If you go out there, you see a lot of girls engaging in unhealthy vices to survive. As God has blessed us, we also want to give back to our society. If everyone can come with his own little efforts and give back to society, I believe, society will be a better place for everyone. We should not always think of what government will do for us but we should also think of how we can do to support the government and people out there.
Could you tell us what motivates you and why you are doing all you are doing for society?
I have come to discover that in life when you come to this world and you don’t affect lives, you are not worth more than a vegetable. I am a compassionate person. I don’t like seeing people suffering. I can’t be in an advantaged position and see people suffering and refuse to help others. I also discovered that we rise by lifting others. What I am doing is to see how I can help others stand on their feet and become better. I have always prayed to God to give me the opportunity and capacity to help people. I like seeing people being successful and wearing smiling faces. This has always been my drive. I have discovered that when you help people, you will be successful. I have a passion to see people become better.
Who are your role models?
I have people that I look up to and those people have actually changed my thinking and the way I do things. One of them is Sam Adeyemi of Day Star Christian Centre. I have followed this man for the past 15 years. I have seen a selfless and exceptional leader. Another man I look up to is Barack Obama. The man inspires me. He came from a humble background and rose to where people never believed he will get to. In everything I do in life, I believe the impossible is possible. I don’t take no for an answer. I believe there is nothing I cannot achieve in life when I have God’s backing. So I believe that everything is possible and with a genuine and sincere attitude, mind-set and God’s backing you can achieve a lot in life.
In the future, are you looking at venturing into politics, considering the charity work you are currently doing?
I am not actually interested in politics. The political system in Nigeria has not really grown. It is still in its developing stage. The kind of politics we run in this country is not democracy. We are still practising military rule. For instance, what happened in the last election was fraudulent. The mandate of the electorate was stolen. So for now, I am not interested. I am comfortable with what I am doing. Instead of going into politics, I would rather expand my business opportunities. There are a lot of businesses that are still untapped in this country. And I am just interested in what I can give back to the community.
