From Oriendu Market Ovim to Goldman Sachs, Innovation WINS

We will begin the academic excursion tomorrow as we start the live session of Tekedia Mini-MBA. Over the next 12 weeks, we will examine the fundamental constructs of market systems and how we can unlock opportunities. We will co-learn and advance our professional and entrepreneurial missions. My business experience began at Oriendu Market in Ovim (Abia State) where after school, if not going to the farm, I had to resume in the market to help to sell garri and yam. 

For the yam, there were many varieties – mbala, nkaa, obiaturuuge, etc – and my grandmother modeled the pricing accordingly, Her instruction was clear: this yam cannot make it back home, offer a discount once you notice that the middle-men and -women from cities have started packing to go back home. So, timing was critical in that business.

Then in the farm, she explained that this yam must be preserved to last very long. For those yams, you never take them to the barn because water must never touch them. That way, they last long.

Then on garri, if you want to have a higher margin, demonstrate that your garri can last really long to those buying them to sell in big cities like Enugu and Aba. How do you do that? After the frying process, spread it on a  mat and make sure it is well “cooled” before you start bagging. What you do in the first 3 hours can determine how long that garri will stay “fresh”. 

Great innovation, from the farms to the market and the spirit remains the same: innovation wins the market, either in Ovim Market or Goldman Sachs. Join us tomorrow as we begin the live session of Tekedia Mini-MBA. Next week, we will host executives from Microsoft, SAP and more. This is the temple to master the mechanics of business, register here.

Register for Tekedia Mini-MBA (Feb 10 - May 3, 2025), and join Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe and our global faculty; click here.