Abeokuta is the largest city and state capital of Ogun State in southwest Nigeria. The name means ‘under a rock’, signifying the protection which the Olumo Rock offered the Egbas during attacks. The major occupation of indigen's of Abeokuta are trading, cassava farming, garri processing.
The objective of this post is to employ viewers to interactively try to offer opinions whether to accept to change certain culture, adapt or move to another region in line with desired environmental behaviors.
I have lived here for 4 years now while studying Entrepreneurial studies at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. An institutional course which has opened my eye, equipping me with the right skills, Knowledge and attitude to tap into opportunities.
When I came into Abeokuta, I discovered some weird attitude of the citizen contrary to that of Lagos, where I came from (especially the traders and drivers). I thought with good principle of business, I could change things and be successful here owning a supermarket but what happened to me this week (which would be discussed later on), annihilate my chance of succeeding here. This was the character I noticed common in the indigen
1. They general repulsive to business.
This is a character that majorly bugs the Abeokuta people. Business to them is more of a pull factor (meeting household consumption). I remember my first day of lecture; I entered a cap going inside the school because I stayed off-campus. When I alight the cap, I gave the driver 200 niara, he refused to give 150 changes even though I new he had change . The traders have inciting attitude of refusing to attend to you if you don’t have the exact bill of a transaction. They don’t adhere to the principle “customers are the king”. There was a lady that shouted at me because I woke her up in need to purchase Garri (processed cassava). Till date I refused to patronize her eventhough her shop was the closest to my place.
2. Pattern of doing business
One thing that strokes me is low ambition the indigen possesses. I took my time to interview some Okada (bike) riders, Driver and traders of what they pursue in life. Almost all of them are okay with just been able to eat. This just explains why they are generally harsh to their customers. A person that want to grows is business knows the value of every customer and will consider a market strategy of repetitive buying which can only be achieved when you keep you customer happy.
The shop owners usually close as early as 7pm and open as late as 11am, now tell me as a petty trade, how will you grow? Sometimes I question their passion to do business.
3. Ability to spend
I happened to meet a lady at a bus stop, the way she was unsettled, I had to approach her. She said she was late for an interview and she has been standing there for over 15 minutes without any cap going to her destination. Luckily we saw a cap, he charged 150 naira to her destination but she refused saying she was only going to pay 130 naira. The driver and her didn’t agree even after I persuaded her about her interview. She had to come down risking her interview because of 20 naira difference. That is how the average Abeokuta person is, always trying to bargain unneccesarily. They lack the ability to place value on necessary things.
4. Less receptive to Ideas
A lot of great minds in Abeokota have been forced to migrate to either Ibadan or Lagos not because of poor idea but due to lack of market to commercialize the creativity or innovation. The Abeokuta citizens are late adopter and luggards in the adoption of production innovation. Their spending pattern is based on necessity.
Finally, I said something about a factor that reduces my chance of creating any business in Abeokuta earlier. Last week Saturday, while coming back from the Steemit meetup Ibadan, I lost my phone. On Monday, I went to Mtn office to retrieve my sim, Unbelievable, they were out of stock of sim pack. What the hell do they have purchase and procurement manager for? I was there in their office on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and still unable to retrieve my line. Because of the Importance of the line to my business, I had to travel to Lagos to retrieve it.
The question I leave to you is, If Mtn, an international mobile telecommunication service provider is affected by the degrading business practice of Abeokuta, Can a small business change the pattern of business existing in the state? What does Abeokuta need to compete with state like Lagos?