Made in Nigeria

The Spark | Ignite / Connect / Achieve
www.thesparkng.com
SPECIAL FEATURE
The Social Supernova
NaijaBrandChick
Have you heard of Naijabrandchick? That’s
the plug you’ve been looking for.
Solving A Need
While some people penetrate the
market to have fun, or to make
money, the founder of Nellies
Healthy Snacks and Meals, Nelly Agbogu
saw something many other people didn’t.
She says, “I was on a weight loss journey
and most of the recommended meals
bored me, coupled with the fact that I
became a mother to a son who was gluten
intolerant. My search for Gluten-free meals
were expensive and getting the meals was
almost impossible. This drove me to try
my hands at different things in getting a
suitable option from my kids and, realising
that there were other people who were
gluten intolerant and conscious about
living a healthy life, birthed Nellies.”
In other words, Nellies’ “goal is to change
the narrative regarding healthy eating and
demonstrate that healthy food can be just
as tasty and appetising.”
You probably thought eating healthy was
expensive and less tasty. Well, Nellies is
saying this isn’t true.
Starting NaijaBrandChick
Business ideas most likely runs through
everyone’s mind. You look at different
industries and potential competitors and
those who lead that industry. You give
up or turn the idea into reality especially
when you understand that your idea is
relevant. Nelly Agbogu wouldn’t have
given up, not when she thought about
helping businesses scale through social
media visibility.
She’s excited to tell us what keeps her
motivated: “The joy that business owners
experience when they have breakthroughs
through selling on social media.
Some people who have a monthly income
of less than $100 monthly, now make that
in a week, to say the least.”
Playing A Part In The Entrepreneurial
Space
No stress on this one. Nelly knows her
onions. She focused. She gives us a list:
• The visibility of businesses both on
and off social media
• Training people on how to sell on
Social Media
• Helping create structures and showing
how it can be implemented.
What Could Be Better?
“I wish businesses in Nigeria could be
trans-generational, structures created
that would outlive the founder and be
independent of the founder. The Legal
System could protect a business’ creativity.
If a fashion designer knows that her
designs can not be recreated without
consent, there would be raised concentration
on creating more designs knowing
her investment (creativity) is protected.
The fear of someone taking her design to
China and doing mass production will not
be a problem at all.”
She tasks the Nigerian government to
“give the first three years as tax-free, to
help businesses sustain structures at no
additional cost. This would enable them
to create more streams of income for their
businesses.”
Success Rate
“We are just starting, there is still a lot to
give.”
Don’t worry, we know there’s already a
high success rate.
Lessons For Young Entrepreneurs
“Putting God at the helm of your business
affairs. You really can’t achieve a lot without
Him. Secondly, structures! One can
never over-emphasize this.”
Unique Selling Point
It’s simple: “Nellies is in a class of her own,
No one company has the same vision
or mission. We are here to make healthy
living appetising, easy and tasty.”
Repairing The Past
“Really, nothing. All things have worked
just as planned. I do not see what I could
have done differently. I live life unapologetically.”
The Future
“Take people out of poverty by using
social media.”
I wish businesses in Nigeria
could be trans-generational,
structures created that
would outlive the founder
and be independent of the
founder.
@thesparkng
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