Only uncreative people remain unemployed- Onebunne

Prince Arinze Onebunne is the Managing Director/CEO-Jovana Farms. He is a farmer and a teacher who trains people on how to generate income through farming. He has ran several trainings across different states in Nigeria and his farm was recently rated one of the top 10 emerging farms in Nigeria. In this interview with Toyin Komolafe, he opens up on the numerous economic befit of agriculture and how people can tap into it.

Can you tell us about your business?

We are into animal farming business, such as a grasscutter, snail, fish, mushroom and antelope

Jovana farms is fast becoming a household name in Nigeria, how have you been able to achieve this?

Our strategy is to help present and would-be animal farmer avoid unnecessary mistakes, we have embarked on nationwide seminars for Nigerians to learn the nitty-gritty of the business in their environment.

What were you doing prior to going into farming?

I was into other kind of businesses

What is your perspective of the Agricultural sector in Nigeria?

Livestock will become the biggest contributor to agriculture in coming decades, with consumption of animal-based foods the fastest growing sub-food category in Africa.

Do you think government is giving the Agricultural sector the much needed support?

Nigeria needs to spend much more on agriculture than its current commitment of only 1.6 per cent of the national budget. The Agricultural Programme is already proving its potential to produce a dramatic turnaround that sets an example for other African countries, as shown in the Africa Progress Report 2014. Agriculture is an invariable avenue to create sustainable jobs and ensure food security in the country.

The past Federal Government agricultural policies, packages and investments in this sector in terms of agricultural credit packages to farmers and agro-products exporters demand our interest to partake in this untapped and rewarding business of food production. Government should give greater support to small-scale farmers, and more locally focused production and consumption of food Nigerian

I observed you have a flair for books, what kind of books do you read? Does reading determine the success of an entrepreneur?

Yes, reading is very important not only to entrepreneurs but to everybody especially those that aspire for knowledge and human development, readers are leaders. I like books on nutrition & health, history, literature, science and so on. It will amaze you what I have learnt about foods and how they affect our health both positively and otherwise.

You also run Living Foods Conservation & Utilization, what prompted you to start this arm of business?

I started Living Foods Conservation and Utilization because every one of us makes life critical decisions each day. With each meal; we are determining our short term and long term mental and physical health. Our food menu these days is so exotic that one would think we do not have natural dishes anymore. We now breed “artificial food children” who practically feed on junk foods. Yet, we have quality foods around with which we can make a delicacy.

Unfortunately, western diets and lifestyle is what most people prefer nowadays and that is what is gradually destroying us. Let us conserve and use living foods for our people and jettison this modern diet that consists mainly of nutritional empty, processed foods that are often laden with sugar and artery-clogging fat. Is it any wonder that the serious diseases that plague the country today can be prevented and reversed by simply eating the right food? At Living Foods Conservation & Utilization, we consult and advice our clients on what to eat and how to avoid bad food that will cause problems to our living-bodies. It is about healthy eating, longevity, diet and lifestyles.

How do you think unemployed graduates can generate income through agriculture?

The main problem is that our people are not being trained on enterprise development skills unlike what happens in the United States and some other developed economies. Overseas, college students begin to get this kind of training at high school level, even before they get into the University. We need to establish a structure to teach our graduates enterprise development skills. I think one of our major challenges is the right education. We are not teaching our youths how to create jobs. Our system teaches them how to be a good employee but does not teach them how to create employment opportunities for themselves and others.

I would really prescribe a sandwich course that can be infused into the existing curriculum, something like the current General Studies course, which all students will take on basic enterprise development skills and effective communication skills, to be taken at the beginning of their studies in the first year and then in the final year. It should be a one-semester course to orientate students to the fact that they don’t have to wait till they graduate before they start earning income. They can actually earn income from running a little agricultural enterprise as long as it won’t affect their studies.

So in any place you find yourself begin to look out for opportunities to meet needs for a fee. Unemployed graduates should begin to think solutions. Only uncreative people remain unemployed. Our people should be taught how to be involved in agriculture-thereby being part of the solution and not job seekers.

What business lessons will you say you have learnt so far?

Honesty is the best policy, it is good to remain focused and treat your clients like Kings. Today, we have developed a delivery system that brings our farm produce to the doorstep of our clients, rather than the customers coming to the farm to buy, we would deliver it directly to their locations. If you solve a problem, people will pay you for it. This valued-added service sky-rocketed the reputation of Jovana Farms as the livestock company of choice in Nigeria.

Can you tell us a major business challenge you had and how you overcame it?

In the beginning, it was a big challenge convincing people to go into animal farming. Those that failed in fish, poultry or piggery usually find it difficult to go back because of the cost of production. With the introduction of grasscutter farming that is very easy and cheap to do-Many people are now embracing the business

What advice do you have for entrepreneurs?

Investors should stop shunning agriculture for quick returns, we all should encourage agriculture and produce surplus food in Nigeria; so as to bring about the diversification of the Nigerian economy rather than expending billions of dollars annually in importation of food. Micro and medium scale agricultural enterprises would be drivers for achieving the goal of Nigeria beyond Oil.

Where do you see your business in another five year?

In the next five years with God on our side, Jovana Farms will become a global brand.