Abia Ventures introduces...Errand Lucy, your Girl Friday in Aba

It's Friday. You could go either of argghhhh! I don't want to deal with the mess of a weekend or go with most people who say, TGIF. Yes, Thank God It's Friday. For the many busy parents, guardians and workers of Aba metropolis, you don't have to do it alone. There's help around the corner.

Many people are excited to have the weekend off to do most of their household chores like cleaning, shopping, babysitting, pet sitting, visiting the sick (and the lazy) etc. It's a welcome idea to have the whole week to spread out these chores. But you and I know that that's a luxury nobody can afford nowadays. So comes Errand Lucy to the rescue. Errand Lucy is basically an errand service geared towards the busy professional who mightn't have all the time to do his or her chores. Some of these chores on a work week include lunch, shopping (essentially for gift items) and wine. Perhaps you have a house party on a workweek night (or a weekend *winks) but didn't have the time during the day to fetch yourself some bottles of drinks. Errand Lucy has you covered at a fee. We are affordable and it's done in style. Nobody is going to be harassed for wanting to do business with us.


On the general scene, the errand service will strive to provide opportunities for people who want to pack their bags for picnics, baby showers, bridal showers and even wedding registry. Have you noticed that many times during a wedding reception, people get many of the same gift items? Not good for the economy *and the excitement. If Errand Lucy didn't pack your items, you aren't getting the real deal. Find out more about this service, the first of its kind in Aba, Abia State. Leave us your email and let's get down to business.

What's to love about Aba?

Did your read the heading? Of course, it's a question and what's your answer? There are many cities in South east Nigeria and Aba happens to be one of the famous ones, especially since it's not even a capital city. There are many things in Aba to look forward to even though you won't always catch me singing the laurels of this town also called Enyimba city. But let's get to know a few things about it. Shall we?

ABA - is home to the Enyimba Football Club. Enyimba, by the way means, the people's elephant. Yes, that creature in the forest that you would rather not stare at just so it doesn't give you a chase of your life. The elephant is a strong animal - so are the often strong willed inhabitants of this crazy city. Naturally uncouth, Aba in Abia state (not to be confused with Abakiliki in Ebonyi state) is a place where you learn to be harsh in order to survive, unfortunately. Nobody likes that aspect of the city dwellers but it's one thing that one has to grapple with to fit in. It reminds me so much about Lagos, minus the former national capital's fast paced life, Aba is almost as dangerous. But not as bad as Eko - talking about the hoodlums and villains over there.
But Aba has many virtues and I will list them here. So, numero uno is that's it's the home of Enyimba Football Club players who won the Nigerian football tournament a few times. The club has represented Nigeria in several sporting competitions.

Second, people say that the cost of living is quite affordable here. I agree with them. Foodstuff is relatively cheap here. I know that some people come all the way from Calabar, Port Harcourt even Uyo to shop for foodstuff in Aba. It's the home of traders so, many merchants travel to faraway cities and states like Benue, Plateau etc to buy foodstuff to sell to their customers. If you are anywhere around Aba, it might be nice to stop by the New Market, Ahia Ohuu or others to buy foodstuff.

Third, it's said that Aba was one time the importers' hub as many importers of fabric made a good living selling their products to Aba dwellers as well as others in its environs. Second hand clothing popularly called okirika brought many buyers/shoppers to Aba. People shopped good bargains for like new second hand clothes. Go Aba. If you want to catch the drama try Ahia Ohuu on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays before 12 noon. Happy shopalistas!

What about cheap accommodation? Hush! Before the landlords go on strike, Aba houses are cheap for rent. Don't even begin the comparison between it and say Abuja, it's like comparing night and day without electricity. This is the fourth reason Aba is the bomb, a good place to dwell.

The last reason is not without its sentiments. Aba has so many churches. It's a place where people are free to worship whatever they choose. Of course, like most South eastern states, Christians are in the majority. But there's a popular street in Aba called Mosque Street or Road and it's a major junction in Aba and that's where Aba Central Mosque is located for Muslims to worship on Fridays. It's some sort of Ama Awusa.

What other reasons do you have for living in (and perhaps loving) Aba? Hehe...yeah, school fee is cheaper than Port Harcourt. I hear you and it's relatively good education too. You see why to love Aba.

Holy amebo

Doing some kinds of jobs puts one in precarious situations. My job as a document management centre businesswoman has seen me do some odd jobs such as photocopy. Hmmm...I'm quite fresh on the job so I don't clearly know all the details, but one thing is sure I don't like everything that I'm seeing.

A case that makes me quite sad is what I notice of students of a particular tertiary institution in Aba do for their project topics. Some of these students download the whole project, topic and all and submit to their project supervisors. How would a student not write a project given that it's supposed to be a rigourous academic exercise to climax all the work done for his or her education? Long question. My point is, why do they copy other people's projects biko? Sometimes from the same department only with a different supervisor? Haba!

I remember when we were in the university, UI to be precise, some of my schoolmates were caught red handed even if they went to far away schools to get their project topics. But the students of this particular institution are not just bold but rather brazen in justifying that there's no need repeating what's already known. So, why the heck go to school at all? Why not sit at home and purchase your certificate? Yes, many graduates have worked hard at writing an original project and are still jobless. It's only unfortunate that this is the case with our dear nation. Does it justify not being original but letting another do all the work for you? All you need is to recopy and submit to your unsuspecting lecturer or supervisor.

Hmm...this amebo job isn't easy especially since these students form a huge block of my customer base. I hope that our education especially in the higher institutions of learning would improve and students will see the need to work hard at school. Maybe getting higher education is nothing but a fad nowadays? Who needs a burnout? Certainly not these students who are still speaking, "One of my friend..."

Who wants to be an entrepreneur? Not me

I caught a few minutes of Frank Edoho's Who wants to be a Millionaire, on Sunday. It was quite fun like most times. He had as his guest, an erstwhile Nigerian boxer who was incapacitated due to a torn ligament in his hand that led him to quit boxing. There were two other guests who helped him to answer his questions. The guest was one Pa Ayodele Peters. I think he got about one million naira. Good for him. Hopefully, he's able to invest the money well. This brings me to the reason for this post, investment in business. Is he going to invest his money (the one million naira na) into business, which one?

Many people are born entrepreneurs. Not me. It's so easy for them to start and/or run a business. I'm not one of those lucky ones. Running a business saps my energy like akara soaks up oil. It's tasking, daunting and I might add demoralizing. Add that to living and having been raised in Aba, a largely business hub in the South east of Nigeria, and you may understand my frustration when I'm believed to be a savvy businesswoman. No, ma'am, try next door.


At the moment, I'm running cum managing a business centre, kinda what is known as a "document management" centre. Like the Konica centres of Southern USA. (I never visited a Konica in New England, so pardon my bias, but it was there in Texas.) It should be fun but it's not for me, I mean running this business. The business machines are second hand equipment (to make them affordable) and I've been battling with one bad part or the other. I would prefer them brand new, but you know how that goes, it's going to be quite expensive. So, it's either printer drum today or it's photocopier cleaning blade tomorrow. And trust Aba people, their love for cheap things or services makes it one hell of a calling to be a businessperson. They make one wonder whether it's only here that one might still find the kobo in Nigerian currency. No, my people, we shop in the same markets as you - buying ink, paper, repairing our machines paying our support staff (when we can afford one) and the list is endless.

Oh, don't even bring up power into the story because that appears to be the only aspect of the business with which they sympathize. "Petrol is expensive, I can't do your job for that amount, sir." What about repairs of the power generating sets? As I type this entry, my fan is functioning, thanks to EEDC. Hallelujah. I hope that I don't have to turn the generator on when EEDC withdraws its magnanimity and turn the complex into a noisy jamboree or a sort of generator rave and instead of a DJ just have generators give us music. It's really noisy when there are about six generators all competing to outlast one another with their noises. It's really not fun.

Therefore, when it comes to running a business or living in Aba, I find that am at the wrong place and doing the wrong thing. I don't know when this will abate. Of course, I hope the conditions of service improve and doing business would be fun at least. But until then, please pass the buck of being an entrepreneur to somebody else. I can't appear to deal well with this Konica Minolta in my office. It's bizhub, does good copy but it's making me poor. When will I join the ranks of the millionaires? NEPA please, don't interrupt this power.

Tonimas...ebe ano!

There are companies and there are companies. Tonimas Nigeria Limited is one company that I don't know much about except for what I see and hear on TV and radio. But one thing that stands out to me is the new filling station that recently opened on Aba-Owerri Road, Aba. (I think it's been open for some two years now, if I'm correct.)

The petrol station reminds me of the gas stations in some parts of Houston, Texas. It is wide (so wide) that one would feel like making a U-turn at every pump, just like one would at a cul-de-sac. Hmm...fun times...I mean...those wider wider moments when forming a circle as a child at play...the wider the better. Let me say that Tonimas produces a wide range of products including engine oil and lubricants. They have a reputation
for being among the best of their kind. This is no advert blog post for the company because I don't have permission to speak on behalf of Tonimas. Perhaps one is in the pipeline somewhere, someday. I'm talking about a commissioned advert blog post. For now, read free of charge.

I just like to comment on the space at the gas station and that people go there because most of their products including fuel are affordable. During the lasting fuel crisis, I overheard many people ask, "How much does Tonimas sell this or that?" As if they were the NNPC that sold at government prices (do those exist at all?)

Anyway, if you want to buy petroleum products (petrol, diesel, kerosine, engine oil etc) at really cool prices or you want to make a double U-turn without hitting another car, do Tonimas. Have a lovely day, Aba people.

Congratulations, Nigerians. We have a new president!

 This is Major General Mohammadu Buhari (Rtd), Nigeria's New President. He was sworn-in today in an inauguration ceremony that saw many African dignitaries arrive Nigeria to witness the August occasion. He was Nigeria's military Head of State in 1983 and has since retired from military service and has been an ardent politician, contesting previously for the highest office until he won the presidential election on March 28, 2015. We say congratulations to Nigerians for a peaceful presidential election (Burundi is still boiling and she needs our prayers) and hope for a peaceful administration devoid of violence. Let's give the new president, his vice president and his governors the stewardship they deserve to make our nation an enviable jewel among the nations of the world. One love, Nigeria.

Meet Okezie Ikpeazu, Ph.D, the new governor of Abia State

A  new man becomes the governor of Abia State first of the Ngwa extraction today, May 29, 2015. He is Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D. He won a hotly contested gubernatorial election first held on April 11, 2015. The election resulted in a rerun in a few local government areas on April 25, 2015. He was later declared winner against his APGA opponent Dr Alex Otti by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Abia State is one of Nigeria's 36 states. It was created on August 27, 1991. Since inception, the Ngwa people have claimed marginalization of their people in key posts in the state due to the Ngwa/Old Bende dichotomy. Hence, the Okezuo Abia campaign, which put at the centre of its message the need to allow every part of the state including Ngwa land to have  a taste of the central government of the state. The Ngwa people claim control and ownership of seven of the 17 local governments of the state including the twin L.G.As in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state.

Welcome to a new dawn and the breaking of a jinx in Abia State. Indeed Okezuola Abia. Welcome the man, Okezie Ikpeazu.