By Babatunde Ajose In 1999, I had an unpleasant experience at Alaba International Market when I secured a contract to supply a hotel with 2...
By Babatunde Ajose
Recently, my power bank began malfunctioning, and I considered visiting Computer Village, Ikeja, on my way back from work. However, a few weeks ago, I saw a social media post by Jokotimi Garba advertising power banks. I quickly placed an order, reminding her that I chose to buy because the advert came from her page.
She confidently assured me:
"Big Bros, e maa worry, I trust the vendor."
Yesterday, as I was about to leave Badagry, she called to inform me that my power bank had arrived. We agreed to meet along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. When she arrived, I was astonished by the sheer volume of goods loaded in her car.
Curious, I asked:
Me: "Joko, who’s buying all these every week?"
Her reply was both enlightening and inspiring:
Joko: "Bros, I couldn’t even take some orders because they came late. We have so many good products in Badagry, but people are too busy to come here to buy them. So, I stepped in, solving a problem and making money."
Noticing a basket of Agbalumo (African star apple) in her car, I couldn’t resist asking:
Me: "What’s so special about this Agbalumo that you keep promoting online?"
She laughed and said:
Joko: "Bros, you wouldn’t know the value because it’s in your backyard. People are willing to pay good money just to have them."
Playing the role of a "big brother," I offered advice on sustaining her business through proper record-keeping and financial intelligence. To my surprise, Jokotimi pulled out her laptop and showed me her detailed records, customer feedback, and bookings—including international orders.
While she explained, I couldn’t take my eyes off the bottom line on her Agbalumo record page. As of January 21, 2025, Jokotimi Garba had sold Agbalumo worth millions of naira within just three weeks. Shocked, I asked:
Me: "Joko, you made this much from Agbalumo alone in three weeks?"
She laughed and clarified:
Joko: "Bros, that’s the turnover in three weeks, not the profit ooo."
This encounter drove home an important point: while some people lament about the lack of opportunities in Badagry, others are leveraging the untapped potential. Many complain about the absence of industries in Badagry, but I have consistently argued that this is untrue. Yes, we need more industries, but industry doesn’t necessarily mean factories alone.
Badagry, as the gateway to the West African region, holds immense potential for business tourism. With waivers on food importation, agricultural products, and ECOWAS treaties, opportunities abound. While outsiders are exploiting these advantages, many of us remain fixated on the long-awaited Deep Sea Port project, for which we are barely prepared.
Take the coconut industry, for example. Despite its challenges, it remains profitable. Other agricultural ventures can also contribute to Nigeria’s food security. Yet, we limit ourselves to social and recreational trips to Benin Republic, neglecting the strategic opportunities our location offers.
If we continue on this path, non-Badagry residents will dominate these opportunities, leaving us to lament about industries we failed to explore.
Note: This article is a call to action for us all, particularly in the legal business tourism sub-sector. Let us wake up, seize these opportunities, and transform Badagry into the economic powerhouse it is destined to be.
Babatunde Ajose is a Sustainable Development Strategist passionate about the economic development of Badagry.
Photo Credit: Badagry Foodhub
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