NIGERIA: Fear Of Unemployment Pushed Me Into Tomato Business, I Now Import Trailer Loads From Ghana, Cameroon – Port Harcourt Based Business Woman

By Munyal Manunyi, Abuja, Nigeria. 

The fear of unemployment, a major force weighing most Nigerian youths, has been the motivating factor that pushed Mrs Joji Chahabiyada Malyok, into establishing the popular Port Harcourt based business brand, Maman ‘Yan Biyu Ventures, a business that specialises in marketing tomatoes within and outside Nigeria.

Speaking to African Culture TV in an interview on Saturday, the Adamawa state born business tycoon revealed that she’s a master’s degree holder from Atlantic International University, USA and a 2.1 graduate of Animal Science, Federal University of technology Yola Yet she chose business.

According to her, she ventured into the tomato business about 12 years ago, after she finished serving as a National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) member, in Port Harcourt where she was posted.

She said: “My passion for business started during my NYSC in 2009/2010 In Abia State, thereby extending it to this dealer of a tomatoes business after my marriage in 2011.

“I started this tomato business precisely in 2013 in Port Harcourt Rivers State. I am 12 years in it already to the glory of God.

“My passion for this business is born out of the rate of unemployment among our youths in the country, and also the liberty that comes through financial freedom.”

The Chief Executive Officer of Maman ‘Yan Biyu Ventures who said she named the business after her twins (boys), said she began by buying few tomatoes from neighbouring states like Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Jigawa, Bauchi, and Nasarawa in a small vehicle known as J5, with only two staff on her payroll.

However, the story completely changed when more customers began to demand for supplies, while she was unable to meet up, especially when tomatoes were out of season.

Mrs Malyok therefore explained that when tomatoes are out of season, or scarcity hits Nigeria, she sources from neighbouring countries like Cameron and Ghana.

“But today, I use trailers in conveying my goods and have extended from tomatoes to pepper, onions, okro, potatoes and other vegetables with a staff strength of about 40 and above.

“I started with just a thousand plastic crates of tomatoes, but today I can assure you of about 10 thousand crates which makes the business interesting and easier with good mouth watering income.

“I am grateful to God that I am able to be liberated from the country’s syndrome of unemployment, and not only for myself, but also the numerous people I engage as staff.”

According to her, many of her staff whom she trained also train others.

“The company has also trained others that are standing on their own today and managing their businesses.

“Interestingly, as the business continues to thrive, we looked for a way of modernising and upgrading through different methods of carriage, packaging and transportation. This is how the method of using the plastic crates came into play. Though not cheap nor easy, it has continued to be sustainable.

“Those creates, you see, costs 7000 naira each to purchase. We use them in transporting our tomatoes and also hire them to other business associates and farmers.”

The CEO explained that hiring these crates also serves as an additional source of income to her.

However, she also pointed out that running such a business isn’t entirely on a bed of roses, as there are challenges that come with it.

“Income varies from season to season and time to time, because many times, losses are encountered through different ways.

“Challenges come in different ways. You can have delays in transportation through drivers, carelessness, or cars breaking down in the middle of nowhere, thereby making the goods go bad.

“Things like accidents can occur, influx of the market can also be a challenge”.

Meanwhile, despite these challenges, she still manages to sell nothing short of 1000 crates in a day.

She said she’s optimistic that brighter days are ahead, as she outlined her future plans.

“I have a lot of plans for this business God helping me. To be recognised as one of the major distributors and dealers of perishable goods home and abroad. To build other businesses that can help the populace benefit. To help eradicate poverty among many of our Nigerian youths.

“I also want to educate our youths to know that there is something better than white collar job out there. They should not only rely on the government after their education.

“Youths should know that they are job creators and not job seekers.”