LATEST UPDATE: ERIC ODINAKA UMEOFIA: I turned down offer of traditional ruler
Chief Executive Officer of Erisco Foods Processing Limited, Chief Eric Odinaka Umeofia, was born and bred in the wealthiest family in his community, yet he refused to allow the affluence around him to get into his head and swayed him into living a frivolous lifestyle. Hence, he chose to chart the course of his destiny without depending on the wealth of his father.
In this interview with HENRY OKONKWO and VERA WISDOM-BASSEY this Amichi, Anambra State born industrialist tells more about life.
How were your childhood days?
I’m the seventh child in my family. My mother gave birth to 11 children, (10 boys and a girl).
My mother gave birth to many of us because she had difficulties giving birth to children years after she got married. That brought a lot of pressure on her, so when she eventually started giving birth she wanted to produce more children than all her peers.
I lost my mother when I was still very young, and I believe that was a major set-back because sometimes I feel that perhaps if she had lived a bit longer, I could have been more successful that I am today, perhaps I could have been as rich as Dangote.
You were bred in a very wealthy family. How did you handle female attention during your youthful years?
Even with the immense wealth of my family, during our growing up years, nobody pampered us at all. Our family made every child to pass through the rigours life. As young man, I was loaned money to start up my own business and to build my own future. So I struggled and faced all the hassles of life to succeed and to be who I am today. During my boyhood, I bought and wore my first trouser when I was 11 years old.
I made money at a young age. I bought my first car at 19, and rode a jeep at 20. While coming up in life, I was focused more in growing my business, and I had no time to think about or to notice the young girls all over. I had no time for frivolities. That type of lifestyle helped me succeed. It is unlike the present day youths. My son rode a car while he was on campus, but back in the 70s nobody made it easy for anyone.
How then did you meet your wife?
My family being the richest in Amichi, we’re the first compound to roof our houses with corrugated sheets, the first to own and ride cars in the community. In fact we were like Dangote in our town. And we assisted so many in the community.
My wife was recommended to me. Back then, a lot of families believed in being upright and have morals as their watchword. So in the course of the marriage arrangement, I got to know that my grandfather had at a time assisted my in-laws. So because of the good legacy of both families, it was easy for them to agree to the marriage.
How do you relax and find time for your wife and family?
It is not easy running a business in an environment like ours. So I don’t really find time to sit at some place and say that I’m relaxing. I have so many responsibilities as a manufacturer, so if I tell you that I do this or that to relax, then I would be lying.
I married a wife that understands my system. My family understands the need for me as the captain of my establishment to work extra hard and to keep my businesses afloat.
You have many awards hanging on your wall?
Yes, I have received quite a handful and I’ve also rejected many too. I have even been offered to be the Igwe of my community, but I turned it down.
Why?
Awards and titles do not push me. I refused the royal offer because I feel more fulfilled as a manufacturer than being an Igwe. I prefer to succeed in my business, get more people empowered and provide means for people to earn a living for themselves.
Don’t you think being an Igwe would give more leverage to impact on lives?
I can impact lives by just being who I am. Incidentally, in my town I train more youths at the university, I give out cars, motorbikes and houses more than anybody in the township. So, what really is the value of being an Igwe to me?
Again if I become Igwe, I would not tolerate shady characters coming to pay homage. That could make a lot of people unhappy and could warrant them to accuse me of abusing the traditional office. So to avoid all the melee and drama, I’ll rather remain in my house and enjoy life as a manufacturer because that is what makes me happy.
Many believe that it would be best if technocrats like you go into politics?
I don’t have any interest in politics at all. My only interest is to ensure things get better for all. I run the biggest tomato plant in Africa and I am contented in building brands and impacting lives.
Again I hate lies. It pisses me off a lot, maybe, when I go into politics their lies could trigger me to punch someone that propagates falsehood.
Genuine manufactures are not greedy and the joy of most of us is to empower and to develop our country. But government see us as moneybags that should be fleeced from the very little we make.
How would you rate the manufacturing sector in the country?
I cannot disclose all the disappointments we have got in this country. We manufacturers desire to participate in the economy. But our government doesn’t seem to give us that chance. But still we keep pushing ahead.
It pains me because my businesses flourish more outside Nigeria than here, my country. But nevertheless, Nigeria can do better if the right things are put in place to allow businessmen to flourish in the country. We run a system that those more of lip service and window dressing on our economy.
Why do you hold this opinion?
Let me give you an instance. There was a time when we had so much hype about how viable the Nigeria Stock Exchange was. Many people believed and swallowed the hype hook-line and sinker.
Many of my friends were urging me to cash in and invest heavily in Nigeria’s stock market. I had much cash with me at that time, but I didn’t invest N1 on any stock, because I never believed in all the hype about our stock exchange. How can companies come out to claim how profitable they were when they don’t produce anything?
How can our stock be one of the best in the world when our manufacturing sector is not exporting? When they claimed that companies were making huge money, I wondered whether those firms are into drug dealings or 419 businesses, to be declaring such figures.
I refused to invest a dime on any stock, and I was vindicated when it all came crashing, and I laughed at all of them.
Thanks for Reading The LATEST UPDATE: ERIC ODINAKA UMEOFIA: I turned down offer of traditional ruler
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Chief Executive Officer of Erisco Foods Processing Limited, Chief Eric Odinaka Umeofia, was born and bred in the wealthiest family in his community, yet he refused to allow the affluence around him to get into his head and swayed him into living a frivolous lifestyle. Hence, he chose to chart the course of his destiny without depending on the wealth of his father.
In this interview with HENRY OKONKWO and VERA WISDOM-BASSEY this Amichi, Anambra State born industrialist tells more about life.
How were your childhood days?
I’m the seventh child in my family. My mother gave birth to 11 children, (10 boys and a girl).
My mother gave birth to many of us because she had difficulties giving birth to children years after she got married. That brought a lot of pressure on her, so when she eventually started giving birth she wanted to produce more children than all her peers.
I lost my mother when I was still very young, and I believe that was a major set-back because sometimes I feel that perhaps if she had lived a bit longer, I could have been more successful that I am today, perhaps I could have been as rich as Dangote.
You were bred in a very wealthy family. How did you handle female attention during your youthful years?
Even with the immense wealth of my family, during our growing up years, nobody pampered us at all. Our family made every child to pass through the rigours life. As young man, I was loaned money to start up my own business and to build my own future. So I struggled and faced all the hassles of life to succeed and to be who I am today. During my boyhood, I bought and wore my first trouser when I was 11 years old.
I made money at a young age. I bought my first car at 19, and rode a jeep at 20. While coming up in life, I was focused more in growing my business, and I had no time to think about or to notice the young girls all over. I had no time for frivolities. That type of lifestyle helped me succeed. It is unlike the present day youths. My son rode a car while he was on campus, but back in the 70s nobody made it easy for anyone.
How then did you meet your wife?
My family being the richest in Amichi, we’re the first compound to roof our houses with corrugated sheets, the first to own and ride cars in the community. In fact we were like Dangote in our town. And we assisted so many in the community.
My wife was recommended to me. Back then, a lot of families believed in being upright and have morals as their watchword. So in the course of the marriage arrangement, I got to know that my grandfather had at a time assisted my in-laws. So because of the good legacy of both families, it was easy for them to agree to the marriage.
How do you relax and find time for your wife and family?
It is not easy running a business in an environment like ours. So I don’t really find time to sit at some place and say that I’m relaxing. I have so many responsibilities as a manufacturer, so if I tell you that I do this or that to relax, then I would be lying.
I married a wife that understands my system. My family understands the need for me as the captain of my establishment to work extra hard and to keep my businesses afloat.
You have many awards hanging on your wall?
Yes, I have received quite a handful and I’ve also rejected many too. I have even been offered to be the Igwe of my community, but I turned it down.
Why?
Awards and titles do not push me. I refused the royal offer because I feel more fulfilled as a manufacturer than being an Igwe. I prefer to succeed in my business, get more people empowered and provide means for people to earn a living for themselves.
Don’t you think being an Igwe would give more leverage to impact on lives?
I can impact lives by just being who I am. Incidentally, in my town I train more youths at the university, I give out cars, motorbikes and houses more than anybody in the township. So, what really is the value of being an Igwe to me?
Again if I become Igwe, I would not tolerate shady characters coming to pay homage. That could make a lot of people unhappy and could warrant them to accuse me of abusing the traditional office. So to avoid all the melee and drama, I’ll rather remain in my house and enjoy life as a manufacturer because that is what makes me happy.
Many believe that it would be best if technocrats like you go into politics?
I don’t have any interest in politics at all. My only interest is to ensure things get better for all. I run the biggest tomato plant in Africa and I am contented in building brands and impacting lives.
Again I hate lies. It pisses me off a lot, maybe, when I go into politics their lies could trigger me to punch someone that propagates falsehood.
Genuine manufactures are not greedy and the joy of most of us is to empower and to develop our country. But government see us as moneybags that should be fleeced from the very little we make.
How would you rate the manufacturing sector in the country?
I cannot disclose all the disappointments we have got in this country. We manufacturers desire to participate in the economy. But our government doesn’t seem to give us that chance. But still we keep pushing ahead.
It pains me because my businesses flourish more outside Nigeria than here, my country. But nevertheless, Nigeria can do better if the right things are put in place to allow businessmen to flourish in the country. We run a system that those more of lip service and window dressing on our economy.
Why do you hold this opinion?
Let me give you an instance. There was a time when we had so much hype about how viable the Nigeria Stock Exchange was. Many people believed and swallowed the hype hook-line and sinker.
Many of my friends were urging me to cash in and invest heavily in Nigeria’s stock market. I had much cash with me at that time, but I didn’t invest N1 on any stock, because I never believed in all the hype about our stock exchange. How can companies come out to claim how profitable they were when they don’t produce anything?
How can our stock be one of the best in the world when our manufacturing sector is not exporting? When they claimed that companies were making huge money, I wondered whether those firms are into drug dealings or 419 businesses, to be declaring such figures.
I refused to invest a dime on any stock, and I was vindicated when it all came crashing, and I laughed at all of them.
Thanks for Reading The LATEST UPDATE: ERIC ODINAKA UMEOFIA: I turned down offer of traditional ruler
SHARE WITH FRIENDS
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