From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
After his foray into other ventures without success, Mr. Success Chisom Eze found solace in the business of selling groundnuts, which is a family business.
His father, Francis Chinyere Eze, sold groundnuts for over 42 years and trained six of them in higher institutions and built houses in their village and Abuja.
So, his decision to join his father in the business in 2015 when he graduated from a higher institution was a perfect decision because, while his mates are still seeking white-collar jobs, Success was already living in affluence from his business.
He said: “When I finished from school, there was no job. In 2015, I decided to give my father’s business a try. With my seriousness and consistency, I have been able to go this far.
“My father used the business to train about six of us in the school. He has also built his own houses, a four-bedroom flat in the village and three-bedroom flat in Abuja. He is also doing fine. My father’s name is Francis Chinyere Eze.”
Apart from getting married to a teacher, Success has built two houses in Abuja and is driving his sixth car now.
“I am currently building my second house in Abuja. I have a two-bedroom flat but it is very small. So, I am building a bigger one. When I complete it, I will look for more money and start my school project. That’s where I am planning to retire to. At 40, I want to retire from active job. Frying groundnut is very hard. I fry myself. This year, I even farmed groundnuts. I have about two plots of land in Mararaba,” he disclosed.
“I have used Toyota Carina E, Sienna, Hyundai jeep, Jetta and Honda Civic. I am driving CRV jeep now, ” Success volunteered.
Living up to his name, Success is a success by every stretch of the word but he appears simple and unassuming. For him, pressure comes before pleasure and that is the reason he does not give in to any advances from the opposite sex.
“This is strictly business. I don’t give women room to make advances. This is strictly business because women are gamblers. If you make any adventure into women, you lose your focus. I don’t want them. I know my plans in life, ” the millionaire said.
According to him, “The profit margin varies. Sometimes, I make N10,000, N15,000, N5,000 in a day. If I make good supplies, I will make up to N20,000 per day. There is no day I will not go home with N5,000. That’s how I have been living my life.”
Although his business is located at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, Success said that, instead of getting a job as a civil servant, he would rather remain a groundnut seller. The only place he dreams to work is either in the United States Embassy or in the United Nations, where he could even accept a job as low as a driver.
“I can never never accept a civil service job because it would tie me down. The only place I am praying to God to work is UN or US Embassy. Even if it is a driving job, I don’t mind. But any other thing apart from those two places, I am not ready to accept. I better continue my groundnut business. That is the only place I aim and pray to work in life,” he said.
Although Success speaks flawless English language, he bluntly refused to disclose his level of education. For him, it has nothing to do with the business he is doing right now.
“That is what I don’t discuss with people. There is no need doing that. That’s what I don’t want to disclose to anybody,” he said.
According to the 30-year-old man, he not only sells on retail, he makes supplies to restaurants and also exports his products to Dubai, US and even Saudi Arabia.
“I supply to restaurants and homes. Some come to buy 20 or 30 bottles and take them abroad. My product is in US and Dubai. Even one Hajia came this morning and ordered for 30 bottles to be taken to Saudi Arabia. Some will come here and buy wholesale. Every week, I must do supplies of 10 or 15 bottles. Last weekend, I did. I am sure of doing another one this weekend too,” he said.
Success used the occasion to advise youths who are still searching for white-collar jobs to follow in his footsteps.
He said: “All I want to tell Nigerian youths is that they should not give up. Tomorrow will speak. Start it now. Don’t allow yourself to live in pleasure. Don’t live a fake life. Packaging is the order of the day. Some people will even borrow clothes to show off. But within you you know who you are. If you package today, will you package tomorrow?
“Stand up, face it. Tomorrow you will smile. It is not easy to start. It is usually rough. The end will speak. I used to dream to drive a car but today I have driven so many cars, from Toyota Carina E to Sienna, from Sienna to Hyundai jeep. From Hyundai I came to Volkswagen. From Volkswagen I started driving Civic. I am driving CRV Jeep and I am even trying to sell the jeep because I am noticing some mechanical issues. I don’t like going to mechanics all the time. Once my cars start giving me issues, I add more money and get a better one. This car has AC and every other thing that makes life comfortable.”