Name: Emmuanel Edet
State of origin: Akwa Ibom
Age: 38
Dependants: Wife and two kids
Occupation: Food vendor
How did you start your journey into the business?
The journey ventured started when I had no money to sit for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and I was also an orphan. So I decided to travel to Lagos where I squatted with my cousin and begun to hustle on the streets to make a living. I decided to hawk doughnuts to meet ends meet. But after sometime, things were not going well for me so I decided to do minor jobs by working for a commander.
I was his errand boy before I graduated to be his cook. That was where I took interest in kitchen activities. The commander was also a cook so I guess I learnt from him as well. Unfortunately I needed to leave the man to start a good business on my own. In 2002, I came to Apapa to start this indomie business.
In the first day, I started with a half crate of eggs and half carton of indomie. To my greatest surprise, I finished selling all of them that same day!
How are you able to cope with competitors?
There was a popular Hausa man known in the area for preparing good indomie. I studied him to see know how he makes its indomie unique from the rest. After studying him, I thereafter decided to change my cooking pattern and before I knew it, people begun to love my indomie.
What are the challenges that you face in this business?
We have a lot of competitors in this business, the rate of indomie consumers has really reduced and the cost of indomie is really causing a problem. I remember when I used to buy small cartons of indomie for N800 now it is about N1,500 while the big size is N2, 300. I sell two cooked indomie, garnished with onions, pepper and egg for N300. This business is not booming as before.
How do you think you can be helped?
I just don’t want to limit myself to preparing cooked indomie anymore due to low demand from consumers. I have plans to start preparing porridge yam, beans, sandwiches, tea, bread etc. And if you look around this environment, nobody is really selling these things that I mentioned. If I can do these delicacies then at least I will do well. I don’t like borrowing money for people. You need to have enough money or capital to be able to support yourself.
BUNMI BAILEY
