Patience is key to be a successful entrepreneur in Nigeria – Egegbara
Patience is key to be a successful entrepreneur in Nigeria – Egegbara
By Felix Kuyinu
The Managing Director, New Romeo and Juliet Events Centre, Mr. Iyke Egegbara, has disclosed that to be successful in any business venture in Nigeria requires patience, tolerance and endurance.
Speaking on the challenges of the business, Egegbara, an indigene of Imo State and a graduate of Accounting said that eentrepreneurss, especially those coming from abroad to do business in Nigeria need to be more patient to make it in their business ventures.
Recounting his experience in business adventure, Egegbara said: “I have tried a number of businesses that didn’t work out. I and my Yoruba partner ventured into magazine business and wine importation but didn’t succeed until we established Romeo and Juliet.
“Romeo and Juliet also came with its own challenges. We have the challenges of poor patronage because the roads to Ejigbo were bad when we started that alone discouraged a number of people from coming, even my own friends who I banked on that would patronise me too.
“But I understood that was our gestation period. I’m like Abraham Lincoln. I tried many businesses and failed many times until I got this. Today, there are only three outfits we are competing with in terms of service and crowd in Amuwo Odofin but there is none in this Alimosho, Ejigbo and surrounding.
Speaking on the security of the facility, which is an important feature with regards to such setup, he said, “Our security is inside here and they protect those inside. Though we have few people to secure the cars outside, but all vehicles are parked at owners’ risk. You can see, the outside is well lit. We have mounted CCTV cameras here to help us monitor the activities outside.
“And I can tell you that this facility has really developed Ejigbo and everybody knows that Romeo and Juliet has opened up Ejigbo for more businesses.”
Meanwhile the club owner stated that the club house in Ejigbo has somewhat brought development in the community.
He said that the facilities around the event centre has contributed to the improvement in Ejigbo looking at what was on ground before commencing services in the area.
“When we entered Ejigbo, it was a local place and everywhere was once darkness. Residents go to bed early because there was no night life in the community, but we have opened up Ejigbo and brought night life to it. Today, Romeo and Juliet is a force to reckon with.
“Many a times, people get stranded on the road but their best bet is to get to Romeo and Juliet with sure that they will get a bike or cab to their destinations. A woman was in labour one night and there was no motor to take her to the hospital but when one of her relatives trekked to this place, he got a cab that saved the life of the unborn and the mother.
“Think of what would have happened if there was no cab to take her to the hospital in that dead night. This is what people gain, having night life in a community. There is no doubt that Romeo and Juliet is a source of development to Ejigbo and its environs.
“There is no part of Lagos that you can’t hear about Romeo and Juliet. We have peaceful people here and there is no fight. It’s a great source of happiness to people around here as it stands today.”
