Charcoal turns gold in
place of Kerosene, gas
By Ifenyinwa Ibekwe ifenyinwa_ibekwe @ yahoo.com
Saturday, January 5,
2008
In the beginning, charcoal was not an option considered for
cooking by most Nigerians. Few years ago, it was either the
good old kerosene or the prestigious cooking gas or better
still, the ancient firewood with its attendant smoke.
But times and indeed things have changed, with kerosene and
cooking gas now a luxury, charcoal becomes the most available
option for the creative entrepreneur like Mrs. Abosede Orimisan.
To her, trading in charcoal has been a fulfilling profitable
business.
Starting up
When the desired business is not available, the available
business becomes the desirable. If Abosede had her way, she
would have taken to any other business. Without a skill and
money, she settled to deal in charcoal.
The bottom line is a decent means of survival. “I started
this charcoal business about four years ago. I practically
gathered money at my disposal, to set up this business. Though
it wasn’t much anyway, thank God since then we have
been managing very well”. She said.
Clientele and boom period
She buys and sells up to 30 bags every week. During festive
periods like Christmas, New Year, Sallah, her business booms.
For then, almost every family in her neighborhood comes around
for charcoal. Speaking through an interpreter, Abosede told
Saturday Sun housewives come to buy her charcoal for cooking,
roasting of rams, goats, chickens and even fish. “People
celebrating birthdays, marriages, naming ceremonies, and burial
come to buy my charcoal. “She said in Yoruba. The 35-year-old
housewive didn’t go to school, and that ‘s why
she is working hard to ensure that her three children are
in school.
The messy side
Charcoal by its nature is black, and messy. But Abosede doesn’t
mind. She attributes the problem to the fact that most times
the bags of charcoal when supplied contain pieces of wood,
stones and other impurities. When Saturday Sun visited her
shop, at number 20, Amusu Street, Maza-Maza, Lagos, she was
busy sorting out some bags of charcoal and measuring them
out with used, old plastic container.
Supply and cost
She and others in the business get their supply from the hinterland.
She has a ready customer who replenishes her supply from Ibadan.
According to her, a bag goes for N900 and she sells for N
1,200 in her shop. A small paint bucket goes for N50. The
lowest unit- a handful tied in black cellophane bag goes for
N20.
Getting along
Ignorantly despised and dismissed as a dirty job, Abosede
waves it off. “I don’t mind what people say. It’s
my business. It has helped me to take care of my children
and family obligations. I thank God for it. I have achieved
a lot in this business” The Urhobo woman who married
a Yoruba and now speaks fluent Yoruba said. |
