Don Ebubeogu: An Ode To A Nightingale 

SULEMAN MOHAMMED DIKWA

A tribute to a true Nigerian businessman on his 50th birthday.How we met is a lesson for Nigerians and indeed hope for Nigeria. I always refer to our relationship as a hand shake across the Niger.Today when we have so much animosity and so much daily livelihood struggles, the reason we met is much more important. “A KANURI MAN FROM THE NORTH EAST SENT OUT EMAILS TO COMPANIES SOLICITNG FOR CLIENTS WHO WISH TO ENGAGE A COMPANY TO DEVELOP ITS SUPPLY CHAIN” That was it, There was no connection and no  “PARAPO”and the Igboman responded.

We were brought together by a shared vision and not our ethnicity nor our religion but a common desire to say it can  be done, it is not impossible. Our story is the story of defiance of entreprenuership,the good the bad and the ugly. Over the next five years we preached the gospel and lived the gospel, the astute businessman and the missionary businessman but years  later I reflected our association  may be to fulfil your missionary side , you could have been a reverend father but faith choose for you otherwise, it would have been the gain of the church.

Over one meeting with this “Alhaji” you made up your mind and an mou was signed your “Nigerianness” was manifest a few weeks later where you simply transferred 20mm naira to a man we met for a few minutes  in Abuja and visited his home in southern kaduna, a day after we met him, such was your belive in humanity. On that same trip, we began the tumeric story or journey, the only successful commercialization of any agro commodity in recent history of Nigeria.

TurmericOur first intervention working with small holder farmers came with bitter and hard lessons and yet there was a remarkable success which shows what can be achieved with vision and  passion.

On your first visit to Jos we went in search of turmeric, many in southern Kaduna cannot even remember it, we searched all around and came up with different names from different parts of the country, although known, it was not commercially cultivated or popular spice in Nigeria. The processing and handling unknown and its uses limited. We went about our most successful venture or mission of import substitution. We introduced the plant to all parts of Nigeria and by the third year Nigeria could compete with India in prices and can meet local needs. 

International tradeGulf food was the height of our education regarding commodity trade, Nigerians and Nigeria’s products  have been black listed by the global traders yet Nigeria products find there way through Asia to the west repackaged at a great loss to Nigeria and a great cost to the West. Four years back at the panel session organised by the Rockfeller Foundation and the Initiative for global development, where our Business model was deemed one of the  best in Africa , I confronted the deputy managing director of a major exporter on whether Nigerian Ginger is repackaged by changing the origin  and shipped to the west  by his company and he surprisingly concurred. We were strangers at that event as we came face to face with the Nigerian agro racket.

In Dubai, you said Suleiman what is it about these raw products that Nigerians can’t do and we challenged the traders to give us to deliver.While driving through Dubai you bursted out “give me Nigeria and I can  turn it to Dubai, it’s not rocket science”. Don the dream is not dead and today we are closer to trade across the Atlantic rather than  through the middle or far east to change the dynamics of African trade.

Today is the turn of your region, if justice and equity is allowed to prevail in Nigeria. I would have dropped my pursuits and be on the road if you have declared to run for the Presidency or any office.

 One never knows you may be the one that brings it home.
It’s apt for Facebook to choose this picture to remind me of your birthday. It was one of our revealing outings, after meeting some of wealthiest American families with fortunes maintained by more than four generations, we were chosen to speak ahead of billion dollar business from Nigeria, such was the power of our argument and proposed solutions for sustainable development.

We toured the world and preached the same gospel from Africa,  Asia to the United States and today with Europe, I have kept the faith and preached the gospel of Nigeriana can do it.

All through you have invested and touched more lives in the North and than many I know, from the IDPs in the North East who got trained and employed, today thousands in the Nigeria  are cultivating herbs and spices and hundreds of small scale enterprises are in the market because Tiger Foods commenced backward integration and encouraged the production of herbs and spices that were hitherto imported.

No other company has guaranteed offtake and walked its talk  for Nigerian farmers than Tiger Foods.

We have argued over the years about technology and I have remained stubborn in copying technology while you had been an advocate of mechanisation and today these technologies have caught the attention of the relevant stakeholders locally and globally and a training school is to be birthed supported by the EU to make our graduates employable in the food and beverages and agri sectors to be run by GSF.

PolicyWe have over the years advocated policies and we got frustrated but Nna don’t give up now more than ever we are in position to influence policy thanks to that vision you hold and pursued. 
As you celebrate your birthday you may consider that your time and investment over the  last decade  has indeed borne Fruit and one day Nigerians will remember that there was a man that went beyond the call of duty beyond our sentimental constraints to drive an entreprenuer and company in the North to achieve a shared vision, a classic case of hand holding by a senior company that Nigeria needs to develop.

Your story will not be complete without mention of your tenure as President Onitsha Chamber of Commerce. We toured the world with some of the biggest Igbo business men and your message was simple ,why are Igbo entrepreneurs afraid of manufacturing and prefer imports? Why not develop the value chains of hitherto imported items back home to develop the region and the nation.
As you mentioned to a group of friends in Onitsha years back ‘ meet Suleiman he wants to green the Sahara, I rode on the back of a Tiger and was never afraid of the ride.

Inevitably our business relationship and brotherhood was tested over time but like my late friend and partner, Festus Oluwole, mentioned to a friend when we had issues “no friendship is true until it is tested”.

On this auspicious occasion, enjoy your day at the Tiger corner and devour a fish from your beloved spot.

I wish you what your heart desires now and forever!

Happy birthday Don!!!!