Small And Medium Scale Enterprise

Every Nigerian is a potential businessman there’s no denying that. I can bet that when God was sharing out entrepreneurship, a whole lot of Nigerians must have been jostling in front of that queue.

In stark contrast to the Maximum Security shop of the previous post, I came across this “shop” in front of a house where I went to ask directions and I must say I was so touched by their business acumen that I had to take a picture.

Their stock which was tailored to cater to our very basic needs included but was not limited to (starting clockwise from the top):

- a container with several pencils sticking out
- several plastic containers holding Maggi cubes, other miscellaneous seasonings, granulated sugar and sweets
- a bucket containing our dearly beloved garri (or is it rice? I can’t remember)
- something wrapped in a black polythene bag (couldn’t figure what was inside but I couldn’t ask to open it, now could I?)
- washing soaps and sachets of detergent on a plate
- a ledger, no doubt for recording profit and loss
- a portable cooler with a sachet of water on top signifying the contents (probably 2 other sachets)
- and a yellow paint bucket containing several other unidentifiable substances

Impressive stock, eh? Quite a way to start a business if you ask me. This pix took me down memory lane to the days when my mum did have a store like this that sold everything miscellaneous.

The whole look of this enterprise taught me a lesson in humility. This business owner, rather than steal or engage in any of a million nefarious activities wakes up every morning convinced that she is filling her neighbours’ needs and joining her efforts (no matter how small) towards national economic revival while oiling the wheel of financial independence (that’s CBN-type speak by the way).

And considering the very open nature of this shop compared with that of the previous post, I bet you the owner of this one doesn’t need to sleep with any eye open.

The pix might look amusing but please don’t laugh. After all, this was probably how ShopRite started!

Welcome To K i r i k i r i

Due to the nature of my work, every now and then I get calls to visit hospitals in far and away places. During a trip to Bida, Niger State sometime last year, I happened to stroll through the G.R.A. and saw this sight I couldn’t help but capture:

In case you don’t get it, it’s actually a kiosk constructed out of corrugated roofing sheets and wood close to the wall fencing a building. What surprised me was the iron cage (called “burglary proof” or “protector” in local Nigerian parlance) that surrounded the whole thing!

Kiosks like these usually sell household goods like detergents, soft drinks and various food items but I doubt if the value of such stuff requires the need of such Maximum Security!

Who knows? Methinks there’s more to this kiosk that meets the eye. *whisper* Or could it be that some high-ranking Government Official’s loot is actually stored inside there? 

Just a thought… but no be me talk am oh!

A Headful of Comic Relief

Hello peeps! I actually had another of the usual quirky pixes caught by my phone to put up today until I ran into this one on SuperNaija.  It was captioned "The New Lagos Helmet Push!!!" and according to SuperNaija,

"(the) Picture (was) taken off a friend's post on FB. I just had to share this with you guys, make a comment, let's know what you make of this. LOL ..."

If there's a better way to define comic relief, then I don't know what it is!

PS: To see the picture in its original location then you'll need to join the SuperNaija forum first before getting access. Registration is free!

Appointment With Aunty Flo

The title for this post was inspired by Vera.

I always take loads of pictures with my phone which I store in countless folders in my PC.

While going through the Archves, I came across this pix which struck me as very odd at the time I took it. The reason was because we had no female staff in the office at the time and moreover, it was on an office calendar.

In my own view, maybe my male colleague had a "lot" on his mind (though he denied writing it too. He accused the Boss' daughter who'd come visiting earlier in the day!)

In case you can't see the pix too well, here's a close-up. What really amused me was the spelling.

Well, what do you think?