Meet Alex Ubong, ‘Akara’ Seller Who Has Message For Nigerian Youths

Frying Akara ( bean balls) is normally seen as a business for women. But men like Alex Ubong, a resident of Guidna, a community in the Abuja Municipal Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, have shown that nothing is gender-biased when it comes to earning money legitimately.

As early as 6.30 in the morning, Ubong, a native of Akwa-Ibom is already out on the street preparing his stock in trade, ready to serve his customers who are usually workers leaving early for work and students.

Unlike the local women who use firewood, Ubong uses a gas burner which makes his job easier and faster.

For five years, Ubong nurtured a plan to start up the business but could not actualize it due to lack of funds, but fortune eventually smiled at him last year when his friend’s father, who saw how wonderful his culinary skills were, gave him a loan to start up his business.

“I was staying with a friend of mine whose father is a retired lieutenant in the army. I usually cooked for him and he always enjoyed my meals. He called me one day and told me that I had a great skill and asked why I hadn’t explored the skill. I told him about the akara business I had been nurturing for the past five years. He asked me to do the costing and eventually gave me a loan of N200,000,” he narrated to THE WHISTLER.

The 30 year-old student of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) stated that he deliberately asked for a loan and not a cash gift because he wanted to be intentional and serious about the business.

“I started the business in March last year, and I have been able to pay back the loan,” he stated with joy.

Ubong started off his Akara business in Chikakore, Kubwa, but had to relocate to Guidna in January this year, after embarking on a proper market survey of the area.

“In Guidna, I resumed business in the evening, and although people were patronizing me, I realized they weren’t as much as I had expected. So, I took a halt. On one particular Friday, I decided to do some research. I walked around the area and discovered that there are many women frying akara in the evenings. That was how I knew that I needed to re-strategize. I decided to try frying in the morning and I tell you, the result was awesome,” he said.

Ubong stated that although the business has not yet stabilized as compared to when he was in Kubwa, he is still hoping that with the strategies he had put in place, he would be able to sell even more than he did in Kubwa.

“The way I advertise my business is simple: ‘come and taste and see.’ Just come and taste and you will definitely come back for more.

“While I was in Kubwa, I usually fried two mudus of blended beans per day. For now, I do one mudu. But on Saturdays, I increase it to one and a half. Next Saturday, I will increase it to two. I hope to sell more here because Guidna is still developing and there are a lot of people who need this type of fast food,” he explained.

To ensure that everyone is able to afford his akara and yam garnished with pepper and onion sauce, Ubong sells two of his akara for N50 and a slice of yam for N50. Selling at such a cheap rate is very uncommon as regular akara sellers would rather sell at more costly rates to make up for the high cost of food items and other consumables needed for the business.

“The reason I sell two of the akara for N50 is so that everybody can afford it and patronize me. Even the scavengers on the street can afford my akara. For example, if the person on the street has only N100 in his pocket, he knows he can get five pieces of akara because I normally add one as “jara.” If the person can also afford N100 worth of bread, then his breakfast is ready,” he said.

Ubong is not just an Akara seller but also a skilled chef. He renders exquisite catering services. He started learning the trade while helping his cousin who owned a pastry shop in Lagos, but perfected his skills after working as an apprentice for two years for a lady caterer.

However, when she relocated abroad, Ubong was left without a job.

“I tried working as a private chef for a certain family. I also worked for various restaurants, but the pay was not worth it,” he stated.

The 200 level student of Mass Communications, stated that he chose the akara business because it allows him free time to study and do other things, and is also lucrative.

“Since I started this, my life has actually moved from where I was before to another level,” he stated.

Ubong, the third from a family of four children, stated that growing up was not easy for his family as his dad drove a taxi for a living, and his mother was among those retrenched when NITEL was privatized by the government.

“We were living under the mercy of God. I started hustling from a young age because I wanted to take my own burden away from my parents. I was initially studying at the Dorben Polytechnic, but I wasn’t comfortable with the conventional school because I felt caged. I couldn’t do many of the other things that I was supposed to do. I was getting cooking contracts, but I couldn’t take them. So I opted for NOUN,” he said.

In five years time, Ubong dreams of owning a big restaurant, but for now, right under his small umbrella, he plans to add potatoes, plantain and hot moi moi to the akara and yam he is already selling.

“I am planning to add jollof rice and other delicacies to the mix. But all these have to wait until I am able to afford a shop. Renting a shop here can cost as much as N150,000 to N170,00.,” he said.

To expand his business, Ubong said he will take a loan from the bank or from individuals who would want to invest in his burgeoning business.

“I tried my bank and they said that I would need to register my business with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) first, before I would be able to get a loan. I have not done that yet. So, it is on hold for now,” he said.

Ubong, who is optimistic about the growth of his business, says his only challenge for now is that the people are yet to know him as he is new in the vicinity, but hopes for the best in days to come.

Advising Nigerian youths, the young chef said, “What I will tell the youths is that if you don’t have patience, you can’t work according to God’s plans. You have to be consistent and intentional in whatever you are doing. You cannot be praying to God to bless the works of your hands while you have nothing to show as your work. People are shouting in Nigeria that there is no money, yet some others are still here making millions. Nigeria is wealthy. No matter what you find yourself doing, just do it well. The Bible says ‘do not despise the days of little beginning.’ Just start from somewhere.”

To those who want to start up the Akara business, Ubong has this to say, “You can start from somewhere. If you don’t have money to get a gas burner, you can use firewood. I believe that with N50,000, you can at least start. You just need one mudu of beans, a tuber of yam, and two bottles of oil.”

When THE WHISTLER visited Ubong’s stand, some of his customers disclosed that they patronized him because he was ‘neat’ unlike some of the others who are in the business.

“I love the way that everywhere is clean and the way he handles his food. He prioritises hygiene. This is why I always come here whenever I need to buy akara or fried yam,” Samson, one of the customers said.

For Amarachi, she had decided to stick with him because she loves his entrepreneurial spirit and his doggedness even in the face of the harsh economy in the country.

“I will say that he motivates me. I love people that are hard working. For a young man like this to do this, I don’t have any option than to support him all the way,” she said.

Esther, another customer on the other hand, stated that Ubong’s akara is well fried and spiced adding that his sauce makes the meal even more delicious.

“I come everyday to buy this. Apart from it being well fried, it is also affordable,” she said.