By Richard Akintade, Osogbo
In his efforts to create job opportunities for youths in the state, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has unveiled an iconic retail outlet branded “Ojaja More,” a viable food-chain retail store dealing in groceries and other consumables.
While informing the large gathering about the initiative at the commissioning ceremony held at the premises of the retail store located at the KM 10, Ife/Ibadan express way in Ile-Ife, Osun State, the Oba Ogunwusi stated that the establishment of Ojaja More is in fulfillment of his age long aspiration to redesign retail activities that will be gainfully driven by Nigerian youths with a view to creating an enduring legacy for Africa in the global space.
His words: “This is a job creation for Nigerian youths. Ojaja More simply means where people (consumers) can pay less and get more. It is a combination of royalty and retail to create a different shopping perspective starting from Ile-Ife.
The business is structured to allow personalized shopping to grow the retail business which is grossly underdeveloped in Nigeria due to reasons which include proliferation of neighborhood stores and unorganized markets, among others.
“While in Johannesburg about 15 years ago on a business visit, I saw so many retail stores, I thereafter realized that as big as Nigeria was and still is, there are only five (5) major malls with no single one in my hometown Ile-Ife that is refined, classy and affordable.
“Like we have names of people branded into companies like this in developed countries, I initiated this project to build the confidence of our younger ones in productive business and investment activities. Youths are the real drivers of economic growth.
“We have started from Ile-Ife because charity begins at home, from here we will cover the entire South West and Nigeria with a chain of over 100 stalls within the next 24 months. It will be first of its kind in Nigeria and the continent of Africa.
“Beyond grooming young minds and serious minded youths in retail business, this initiative will offer over 100,000 direct and indirect employment to our youths across the country, thereby contributing in no small means to human development and capacity building. That’s my target,” Ooni said.
On what Nigerians stand to benefit from patronizing the new outfit, the MD/CEO of Ojaja More, Mr. Benedict Orioye, explained that high-powered technology will be deployed to ensure that customers are treated with respect and royalty as part of value for their money, beyond what is obtainable in similar outfits nationwide.
Orioye said: “Our focus is to have local content as items making up of at least 70 percent of items to be sold here, this is why we are dueling mostly on the farm market. Everything you can think of in the farm will be sold in Ojaja More with decent packaging in line with global standard operating procedure for food handling.
“Aside from fresh and healthy farm produce, the mall will be filled with other retail items as obtainable in other malls around the world but blended with royalty. Our goods are going to be affordable, cheap and environment friendly as we have concluded plans to partner the university communities around us to ease the stress of students and other low income earners in shopping,” Orioye said.
Speaking about the new Ojaja More at the colourfu
In the well attended ceremony, Oba Abraham Adekola Adeyeye described it as a round peg in a round hole towards the betterment and upliftment of the teeming youths of the land.
The Lowa-Adimula who congratulated and commended the Ooni Ogunwusi for having such an ultramodern, befitting and gigantic edifice in Ile-Ife called on other indigenes of the state from far and near to emulate the traditional ruler in promoting his domain.
“Baba ria, Ooni of Ile-Ife is a wonderful traditional ruler who is always laying a good template for us to emulate. I pray that he will live long for us with good health and God will continue to bless, promote and prosper him for us,” Oba Adeyeye added.
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