During NYSC, I sacrificed pleasure, became stingy to grow my food business —Gladys Markus, food entrepreneur

Gladys Markus is a former model, who is now a food entrepreneur trending almost every day on Facebook for the inspiring stories she posts about her initial struggles and the little successes of the food business she started during her national service year. In this interview by KINGSLEY ALUMONA, she speaks about her business and food insecurity in the country.

Which course did you study and where did you study it? In what ways did the course you studied prepare you for the work and life you are living today? 

I am from Jos East Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, I studied Accounting at the Plateau State University, Bokkos, and graduated in the year 2019. The course I studied taught me accountability, planning, management, and investment.

 

You are currently trending on Facebook for how you started your food business. When did you start the business and what is the story behind it?

Before starting my business in 2020, I was hawking tomatoes in the street in 2017, after the birth of my daughter. I graduated to selling masa in a Tifa Garage to be able to save up money to start my dream business, which is a food business.

I went to Farin Gada market, bought vegetables, and sold them in my area because there were no vegetable sellers in my area — it was a new layout, so people found it difficult to buy vegetables there. I saw the opportunity and took it.

The story behind my business is my daughter. I had a child out of wedlock as an undergraduate. I was a very beautiful girl who was into modelling and beauty pageants. When I became pregnant, life went from a glamorous one to something I cannot put into words. I did not have access to money anymore because of the results of my decision. So, I needed to provide for my daughter. I started thinking of what to do to earn a living. And because foodstuff was the major challenge in my area, as earlier explained, it was a safe decision for me. My biggest dream came to light in 2020, the month I was finishing my service year.

 

Which community and state did you serve for your National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and how was the community a source of inspiration for the business?

I was posted to Ekiti State in 2019, but I redeployed back to Plateau State based on the medical report I presented during camping. That was the same year COVID-19 broke out. There was a lockdown and movements were restricted. I served at a Plateau hospital, with the accounting department.

The inspiration for business was the distance people had to cover to buy food items because there was no food shop in the area, which posed a major problem to the people in the community. So, I decided to solve the problem by opening a foodstuff shop where they can buy grains and vegetables.

 

How was life during your NYSC before you started the business? And how did you get the initial capital/funds to start it?

Life during NYSC was challenging because I had to deprive myself of a lot of pleasure, which was going to be a huge distraction from my goal, to be able to save up for my start-up capital. I made a lot of sacrifices, let go of a lot, and appeared stingy at some point, just to be able to stick to my plans.

I had a big dream already to be one of the biggest food vendors in Nigeria. so, I am looking forward to that time. It has been my motivation from the very beginning. My daughter has also been my motivation because I know I can’t disappoint her.

My current location is Tomatoes Market in Jos. I have spent a few months in the market, but the growth is overwhelming. I am already dominating the whole market.

 

List the items you currently sell. What tact or strategy — financial and otherwise — did you adopt to expand the business?

I sell all gains, in small and large quantities, by supplying to companies and schools, and distributing to market women. I also sell vegetables, oils, fish, stockfish, etc.

I started with the little I had, which was barely enough to stock up everything I needed. I invested the profits I was making into the business, using the profit to buy the things I did not have. Subsequently, I concentrated on the most demanding items.

 

In recent times, the prices of food products have skyrocketed and significantly reduced patronage in the market. How do you manage this market situation and still make a profit and retain your customers?

The cost of living in Nigeria is almost unbearable to an average citizen. The standard of living is very high. The question is not how the cost of food has reduced patronage in the market. When people are trying to adapt during inflation, the one thing they cannot cut off is food. They can do without new clothes, bags, and shoes, but not without food. So, the patronage has not dropped. But it is a bit slow.

Moreover, I buy most of my food in bulk, in between sessions, during the harvest sessions, when the price of food drops in the market due to availability, and distribute traders in the market at a discounted price.

People rush to buy from me because they get to buy at a discounted price and the expenses incurred are less.

 

If you were the minister of agriculture, what policies or strategies would you put in place to ensure that food and other agricultural products are in surplus and affordable?

If I were the minister of agriculture, one major policy I would put in place is focusing on locally produced products. Some of the agricultural products we have in Nigeria are very scarce and can only be found in some West African countries like Senegal, Nigeria, etc. Some of these food items include fonio (acha), benesead, soyabeans, etc.

Nigeria happens to be one of the few countries in West Africa that has good soil that supports the growth of fonio, precisely in Bauchi and Plateau states. This happens to be one of the most sought-after grains in the world due to its high nutritional and health value.

I would advise the Federal Government to tackle the security challenges in the country because insecurity is having direct effects on agriculture in Nigeria. Due to numerous attacks, a lot of farmers are afraid to go to the farm for fear of their safety and the few who can farm are killed or their farm produce damaged by terrorists.

This is one of the reasons for food scarcity in the country.

 

In one of your Facebook posts, you mentioned that you are a single mother. How do you manage their upbringing and your business?

I was already a mother before I went for my NYSC service, as earlier mentioned. In the bid to provide for my children, I started hawking in the first place. My children are the reason I strive to be better, the reason I refuse to give up. They serve as my major strength and motivation. It has not been an easy journey — being a single mother and a businesswoman — but it has been an incredible journey so far.

 

What is your advice to serving corps members who have similar entrepreneurial ambition you had when you were serving, but have no financial wherewithal to launch their businesses?

My general advice to corps members is that they should prepare their minds to do whatever it takes legally to earn a living. It is not everyone that would make it through white-collar jobs. Some would be employed, while others would create employment.

Regardless of the situation, strive ahead and stay focused on the goal. You can start with the little you have or get a job — it could be parking sand, washing clothes, or cutting flowers for neighbours to have start-up capital. Determination is key because situations will come and you may want to give up, but staying focused will lead to success.

You all know my story. I am where I am today by not giving up. I did not get to where I am today by starting big. I did not get to where I am today by being ashamed of starting small.

All you need is determination, consistency, sacrifice, and hard work. You will encounter a lot of challenges. You will be tested many times. You may be tempted to give up. At some point, you will question yourself, but your ability to handle the process is what will prepare you for the success to come.

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