‘I sponsor my university education selling newspapers’
How did you start newspaper distributorion?I came into the newspaper business in 2008 after I had tried writing UTME/JAMB examinations to gain admission into the university for six consecutive times without any headway. I kept passing the exams but I was never given admission. In 2006, I had to go to Abuja for a computer […]
How did you start newspaper distributorion?
I came into the newspaper business in 2008 after I had tried writing UTME/JAMB examinations to gain admission into the university for six consecutive times without any headway. I kept passing the exams but I was never given admission. In 2006, I had to go to Abuja for a computer training where I obtained a Diploma in computer. From there, I came back to Wukari to start something that would help me to be self-reliant. I got some menial jobs to do but I was not satisfied with those jobs.
I believed deep down in me that I could start something on my own without necessarily working for somebody. I had read the book, ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’ which encourageds people to embrace entrepreneurship. The author is of the view that the years you would spend working for someone else would have been used to build up yourself and grow your business.
In 2007, I got money from my father and started a roadside petrol business, popularly known as ‘black market’ in the local parlance. There was a friend who was a newspaper vendor and had his newspaper stand beside where I was having my petrol business then. He informed me at a point that he was moving back to Abuja to take up an appointment. When he left, I decided to take over the newspaper business from him in 2008; that was how the business began.
How did you become a distributor of Daily Trust titles in Taraba?
In 2010, I went to some newspaper houses in Abuja to see if I could get newspaper supply directly from the companies. I went to Daily Trust, The Sun and The Nation offices in Abuja, but I was told that since I wasn’t a registered member, there was no way they could make me a distributor. And, I was required to have a huge capital to start; which I didn’t have. I returned and continue selling the supplies I got from Makurdi.
In 2013, I got a call from Daily Trust office saying they wanted to start supplying me with their newspaper titles from Abuja directly. Initially, I doubted its possibility, but glory be to God, it eventually became a reality. That changed the face of my business because, I now get my supplies before 10 am everyday.
Where are your distribution points?
We distribute newspapers to Zaki-biam, Wukari, Takum, Ibi, Bali, Mutum- Biyu and Jalingo. I receive about 210 copies of newspapers each day, which I distribute across the places is mentioned.
What is the patronage like in the state?
The patronage of newspapers, especially the Daily Trust within the North-East zone and Taraba in particular is high. Daily Trust has the highest sale compared to any other newspapers because, the people from the northern part do patronize the paper very well. Newspaper vending and distribution is a lucrative business. For me, newspaper business is a risk-free business.
As a vendor or distributor of newspapers, you have nothing to lose. The business is such that the more you sell, the more profit you make and the less you sell, the less profit you have. About 30 per cent of the cost of each newspaper you are able to sell is usually given to you as a commission by the company. The unsold copies are sometimes auctioned to us by the company at the rate of N7 per copy, and if you can sell the copies, you will still be able to make additional profits.
What have you achieved selling newspapers?
I can say that I have achieved many things in life through the newspaper business. Currently, I am a 200 level student of Accounting at the Federal University, Wukari . It is from the profit I make from the business that sponsor myself in school. I have also been able to cloth, shelter and feed myself from this business without depending on my parents. I equally got a motorcycle through the business which has been helping me in moving around.
Did the clampdown on newspapers by the military affect you?
It affected us a lot because we could not get newspapers to sell at that period. At times, the newspapers had to arrive late due to the clampdown. We are pleading with them and the government not to interfere with newspapers because information is very important to human lives.
People need information about jobs and things happening across the country. So they should not deprive people of information for whatever reason. Though they claimed they were checking for some incriminating materials, have they been able to find it in the newspaper parcels?
What effect does the recurrent Wukari crisis have on newspaper distribution?
Seriously, the crisis has been affecting our business. Whenever there is crisis, there will be no newspapers supply in the state. The crisis also forces a lot of people to flee the area, thereby affecting the sale of newspapers. Sometimes, it is after about two to three months that you will start seeing some of your customers returning back, and in some cases, some of them don’t even return again.
The bulk of our customers are the educated ones, especially academic and non academic staff in universities in the area. When there is crisis, they usually run back to their homes to take refuge until the situation improves before they come back. Government should ensure there is a lasting solution to the problem so that business and economic activities in the area will not just fizzle out like that.
What challenges do you face selling newspapers?
When I came into the business, there were a lot of challenges in it. One of the challenges is that of newspapers not getting to us on time. At times, the current edition of newspapers get to us about 4pm, and at such time it would be difficult for us to make any meaningful sale.
In Taraba, we hardly get current edition of newspapers, and this affects our business. Customers are more interested in reading current edition of newspapers.
The rain is another challenge in the newspaper business because, once it rains, you cannot dispatch your newspapers around, and you can hardly sell them.
Based on your experience, what advice would you give to the unemployed youths?
They should engage themselves in something productive instead of allowing themselves to be used as thugs and agents of violence in the society.
There are several things the youths can do in order to be reliant. Within the short period of my life, I have ventured into so many businesses, so I would like to encourage the youth to take the challenge and do something meaningful with their lives.
In life, I have decided to be a man of myself and not to be a liability to anybody. They should not continue to wait for white collar jobs because they might not get it. Jobs are hard to come by these days and that is why it is important for every youth to be self reliant.