Success story: My fried chicken business made me

By Ismail M. Kabir

Idris Jimoh

As the effect of unemployment bites harder on Nigerians, the hope of the common man is to subscribe to self-employment and shun the over-dependence on government jobs. While some Nigerian youths pray hard daily for ‘a good job’ others are looking inward to discover their in-born talents. Such is the case of Idris Jimoh.

In 1981, Idris Jimoh was just a teenager who would ordinarily depend on his parents for his upkeep but he decided otherwise. Having supported his late  mother in her trade, young Idris inherited the Fried Chicken business.

With a start up capital of less than five hundred naira (N500) only, Idris Jimoh began frying chicken for sale in Okene. For over thirty years, Idris has criss-crossed the entire nook and corners of Okene town, covering the entire distance on foot while hawking his fried chicken to shop owners, market women and passers-by. Idris buys live chicken from traders, slaughter them, cut them into sizeable pieces and fry them for sale.

“When I started in 1981, I bought my first chicken at One naira, fifty kobo (N1.50) and before long, I excelled in the trade”, Idris told EbiraView cheerfully as he sought out his crumpled cash to deliver our change after buying some delicious pieces of his chicken parts at the Okene shopping complex.

“Today, I make an average daily turnover of N18, 000”, he revealed, saying that the business is a profitable one.

Idirs selling his chiken

Idris who is happily married to two wives and blessed with grown up children said he had not only built his own house from his business profits but has also sponsored his children to higher academic institution.

“I give Allah the glory for what he has done for me. Through this business, I have built my own house and my first child has just gained admission into the University”.

Obviously, his daily trek across the town reflects his looks. Idris whose boyish physique portrays a young man in his early thirties said he was rather in his early forties. He told EbiraView that with the help of his wives, the task of preparing the chicken becomes less cumbersome.

“My wives have been very supportive. They help me in the preparation for the business of the day but I do the hawking myself.

“After hawking the meat during the day, I retire to my spot around the Total Filling station where I exhibit the rest to the travelers and passers-by. I finish the entire stock daily, I don’t have remnants”, Idris boasted.

With more than three decades in the business in the business, Idris Jimoh is no doubt a popular character in Okene particularly among the traders and an epithet of self-empowerment.