Meet the man who cannot leave Akara and Buns business for any amount of salary

Many business ana­lysts believe that one of the ma­jor reasons some people do not get it right in floating businesses, is that they have so many ideas that are bigger than what they can easily actualize. Hence, small business ideas are highly recommended because, if developed, could eventually become a sustain­able and viable venture.

It was with this mindset 27- year-old Awoyade Oladimeji ventured into business. While many of his mates are still mooching through life, uncer­tain about what to make out of themselves, Oladimeji derives immense contentment fry­ing and selling akara (beans-cake) and buns as a source of livelihood. Today, he is the managing director of Oyin Akara, with over 10 outlets lo­cated in major areas of Lagos like Oshodi, Ketu, Mushin, Pen Cinema, and Iyana-Iba.Continue...

Time was when frying and selling akara and buns beside the motorway was exclusive to illiterate old women and the last option of confused young ladies. People neglect this area of business due to its te­dious nature, or because many do not want to start from the scratch or probably because many see it as a business for low-life persons. But today, young men like Oladimeji and even graduates have gone into this small business, and are poised to give a new face to the business of frying and sale of akara and buns.

Apparently, many Nigerians enjoy eat­ing fries like akara and other snacks like buns, eggrolls, puff-puff and many oth­ers. This kind of business sells mostly in the morning hours and at night.

According to Moyinoluwa Olao­bunmi, a graduate of Food Technology, production and sale of akara and other snacks should be listed among present-day lucrative small-scale businesses that anyone could take up. She argues that it is a business that grows gradually from any level and cannot be affected by any economic crisis.

Her incursion into this business was informed by her special interest in cater­ing and her early desire to own and run a private business. For Oladimeji, akara and buns business is one legacy that was passed on to his family by their late moth­er back when they were in their village in Ogun State. At a point when they moved into Lagos in search of greener pastures, Oladimeji and his siblings found none.

He continues: “But instead of us idling away, my elder brother suggested that we try our hands on our late mother’s busi­ness. We agreed and then started up at Ketu, in 2002. And today, we have soared higher. My mother taught us how to fry akara and she urged anyone that cared to learn, not to waste time in doing so. She sounded prophetic then and I thank God today, her advice has paid off.”

Starting up an akara and buns making venture, according to Oladimeji, requires training and retraining and can be estab­lished with a capital, as low as N30, 000 to N50, 000. He further states that passion, focus, consistency, choosing a right loca­tion and identifying customers’ needs are basic tips to excel in this line of venture. Another akara seller based in Ojo-Alaba, Mrs Virginia Udeh became popularly in her neighbourhood because of her busi­ness name, ‘Akara Nwanyi-Obosi’. Ac­cording to her, to make a success in the business, one must also ensure neatness instead of selling such consumables look­ing unkempt or in an open dirty environ­ment without covering it. She also insists that to make it in any business, one must also be friendly towards buyers.

She says: “Always listen to your cus­tomers. I’ve realised that why many busi­ness owners lose their customers is be­cause they believe in the notion that if one customer don’t buy from you, then an­other person will do. This attitude is very wrong and unhealthy for any business. I became popular in my neighbourhood not just because of the delicious taste of my akara and buns but also because of the cordial way I treat my buyers. That makes them to be loyal to me even when there are other akara sellers around them.”

Another key aspect of this business is location. It pays most when one sites his spot at busy walkways, like bus-stops, market areas, and busy streets. “If you have the skill to fry good akara and buns, and you stay in areas where you would be easily noticed by passers-by, then you would excel selling your stuffs and be earning an average of N5000 daily minus capital”, says Mrs Joy Nweke, another akara and buns seller based in Oju-Ow­oye market area in Mushin.

But it is not all sweet tales for many akara and buns sellers. And, according to Oladimeji, one of the biggest banes of their business is extortion from area boys and high taxations of government.

“We face so many challenges and one of them is the menace of agbero boys. They come to me demanding money every day and threatening to destroy all that I have worked for if I fail to give them money. We pay them daily to do our legitimate businesses without be­ing molested. Many of them have even started asking for money for Christmas celebration. Also, in many of our outlets, many government authority don’t allow us to thrive. They come charging much more money on us, and you don’t have a choice but to pay it. On a daily basis, we pay more than N5, 000 everyday to different individuals coming in different forms. Since we don’t have anyone to prevail on them or to speak for us they come exploiting us. It is very sad because when we experience a lull in business, it doesn’t matter to them, all they crave for is to be ‘settled’.

I don’t want them to come and harass me after saying these to the media. I don’t like trouble and I don’t have any other livelihood. But I on government to as­sist me, because I know I can do better in this business much more than the level I am now”, he said. But it is not all gloom and doom for Oladimeji as he relished that being a seller of akara and buns has brought to limelight, and has thus chased pennilessness away from him.

“I have trained and still training some of my siblings in their education, I have also rendered financial assistance to some others in starting up businesses. Akara and buns business has really brought me good fortune. And I would advise youths to come on board; I’m ready to teach any­one that is willing to learn this trade. And I’m sure it will be useful to them. Many people use to laugh at me when I tell them that I fry and sell buns and akara for a living but don’t mind them because it is a venture that puts food on my table. And I don’t see myself dumping this business to take up an office job no matter the amount they offer me”.