…How he is changing lives with instrumentalities of leadership
By Theo Rays
The issue of market leadership in Onitsha, the commercial nerve center East of the Nigeria is not a tea party. By records, to lead the traders in any of the markets in Onitsha is a tough task owing to the recalcitrant nature of the traders.
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However there are some people who as market leaders made good name by their performances. One of such who have made good name as market leader is the current President General (PG) of Building Material International Market Ogidi, Chief Jude Nwankwo popularly known by his business name as Jolity.
Hailed from Umuawulu in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State Chief Nwankwo also known by Chieftaincy title as Ochendo Umuawulu is the CEO, De Jolity Ventures Nig Ltd
He is also a patron of Anambra State Market Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA). Brilliant, diligent, foresighted, pragmatic, patriotic, compassionate, considerate and unassuming, Nwankwo joined business as apprentice in Onitsha shortly after having his secondary school at Anambra/Imo River Basin Secondary in Owerri. He got settled to start off his own business by his boss after a successful period of apprentice spanning five years. Since then it has been success in his side all the way to the glory of God.
He however came into much limelight when he emerged to serve as the treasurer of the Building Material Market union. Following his track record of good character and behaviour as observed by the traders he was trusted to serve as the treasurer of the market union, a position he held creditably well for some years. In fact it was his good performance as treasure that led to his election as President General of the market in 2016.
Interestingly as PG, he became the game changer that the traders have been waiting for to lift them to the next level. As earlier, noted, those who know Onitsha very well can attest to the fact that to serve as a market leader in any of the markets in the commercial city is a very tough job owing to the recalcitrant nature of the traders but nevertheless, Jolity in a smooth run of things have moved traders at the Building Material International Market Ogidi to the next level with attendant benefit of peace and good welfare services to the traders.
The Ochendo of Umuawulu actually changed the story of Market leadership with his strides for peace and welfare of the traders Unlike other markets where the leaders harness the market revenue to enrich their pockets Jolity is harnessing the revenue of Building Material to address the challenges facing the market and more importantly help poor traders with capital to jack up their business. In some cases market leaders are made popular by facing crises with bewildering litigation in courts, but Jolity became popular by making peace and ensuring the welfare of the traders.
Coming as PG of Building Material Market Ogidi, Jolity inherited a market bedridden with internal crisis with litigations in court but within a short period of assumption of leadership he brought peace and got the market rid off litigations. The traders were inspired to pave the way for peace courtesy of the skilful leadership of Jolity and consequently all litigations in court were terminated. According to Uche Ezeanado, a trader at the Building Material Market Ogidi returning peace among the traders in the market after years of crisis and litigation in courts was the first giant point scored by Jolity as PG.
The second giant point scored by the Umuawulu born businessman as PG of Building Material International Market Ogidi is to harness the revenue of the market into the welfare of the traders. Jolity has harnessed the revenue of the market to lift poor people to higher level. He has severally disbursed N500k to each poor traders who do not have enough capital to jack up their various businesses. Over 150 poor traders have benefited from this welfare gesture from the market leadership under Jolity with each of such traders receiving not less than N500k to jack up their business.
As if that is not enough, Jolity expanded the welfare gesture to outsiders by initiating what could be likened to annual charity day during which the needy and less privileged like orphans, motherless babies, the blind and other forms of disabled people from orphanage homes, motherless babies homes, blind schools and destitute homes are giving succor with food items, provisions and cash. The annual charity day has been running for some years now.
More importantly, he channelled the revenue to expand the market to make shops available for more people to come in and do business. He expanded the market with a large sized structure that provided opportunity for people to get shops to do business. Some Igbo traders in Northern Nigeria who lost their homes and businesses due to Boko Haram insurgence had opportunity to come home and get shop at Building Material International Market Ogidi to start life afresh. He is also on course to move the traders from tenants to landlords by initiaating a housing development scheme for the traders.
As a matter of facts, the story of Jude Nwankwo is that of a man who has practically proven to have all it takes to be a good leader. In view of this writer, Nwankwo should go further to serve at other levels bbecause it is written that one good turn deserves. Having shown great leadership qualities in leading a tough people like the traders evidence are there he will do much better in other sections of leadership. And so help him God.
