“Ugba Joint” Family Company

Mrs. Rosanna Ekeogu, the proprietress of UGBA JOINT at Adeshina Street, a stone’s throw from the bustling Ikeja Bus-stop, sat together with her husband, Chief Lambert Ekeogu, to talk to me on the remarkable business she ran with her entire family, before relocating to their hometown in Imo State after training all the children in the universities through the business.  

“I started the business in 1981 with my husband. It was initially situated at Unity Road, Ikeja. We moved to this place, Adeshina Street, in 1996. The name of the business is ‘Stomach Desire’ but you customers changed the name to ‘Ugba Joint’. We started out selling ‘Showboy’, that is ‘Ponmo’ or ‘Kanda’ (Cow-hide). Since we are from the Owerri area, actually Umuokpo-Emeabiam, of Imo State where Ugba (Oil-bean seeds) is the special delicacy people suggested we should add it to the menu. The delicacy became an instant hit with the customers who promptly renamed the company Ugba Joint and told all their friends to patronize us. Some of the people who started patronizing us at the beginning are still coming. We are the first to introduce Ugba to Ikeja people. Unlike all the other joints we have never experienced a robbery. Our problem has always been power supply. We started using generator when others were not using it. At every point in time there must be light here. So we always have chilled beer, and we even have ready supply of ice-blocks. Area boys do not disturb us; it is only when they are fighting themselves along the road that we notice them. Everybody here is safe. Our marriage is blessed with six girls and one boy. All the children know the business, and are involved one way or the other. Four of the girls are married. Onyenachi, the one you people call Bose, had her traditional wedding (Igba Nkwu) on Saturday, November 8, 2008. Her elder sister, Chinwendu (Chi-Chi), had her own in October that year. As you can see, the girls work here once they are home from their various universities. It is through this business that we train all of them. We even have the last daughter, Ifeoma, schooling abroad in Ukraine. No scandal has ever occurred here because the children have proper home training. They know where they come from, and we are disciplinarians. They are disciplined to the core. They are not proud and are happy serving the customers, not minding that they are in institutions of higher learning. As a disciplined family we have no problems from any quarters. We deal with customers with respect and they bring others along. We get daily supplies of the things we cook from Oshodi market or Agege. We are particularly liked because of the low cost of the things we sell. Ugba still goes for N100 for a plate. Nkwobi (Cow-leg) had to be recently moved from N300 to N400 because of the high cost of meat and the other materials needed. Our stockfish, chicken and turkey are sold at the best prices in the Ikeja area. We are training old hands to take over the business and my daughters who are still very much around will make sure that the business continues growing from strength to strength. Any person working for us who is obedient will learn the business. At every time we have no less than six staff. We always put our vacancy advert on a board in front of the shop. When people apply we screen them, asking questions like: Where do you live? Have you done this type of job before? Where? We don’t tolerate stealing and indiscipline. After several warnings the person will be sacked so that others will not follow that type of behaviour. We do outside catering on request. I travelled to London in November for the ‘Omugwo’ (child-weaning) of my daughter Nkechinyere who is married over there, and I have just returned. I will want the government to tackle the electricity problem so that more people can open up businesses and offer employment to people. The insecurity problem should also be tackled. We open business daily at 8 AM and close shop at 10 PM. Right from inception we have been reputably supplied by Nigerian Breweries, Guinness, Coca-Cola etc and they all run their promotions here. Even the big oga, Keith Richards of Guinness, used to come here at night. Everybody loves how we manipulate oil, pepper, salt, magi, and the leaves of utazi which makes our customers not to have stomach pain. When I am not around my daughter Lynda comes to take charge. My son Chukwudi is based in Abuja while the other daughter Chikodi is married to a man in Lagos who works in a newspaper house just like you.”