I started fish business without a kobo, lost property worth N270m in Lagos – CEO of Progress Seafood

ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA

The journey to the realm of success to some could be very smooth while reverse was the case for others who have a story to share. Many were born with silver spoon, others were not. The story of Alhaja Simiatu Jimoh, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Progress Seafood Nigeria Limited is inspiring going by her antecedent and experience in the fish business.
Interestingly, some could have seen the four walls of schools in their days, but as for her, she did not have the opportunity of having formal education because of her poor family background, but she was never perturbed by her family, she was dedicated, commuted and hardworking.
Due to her resilience and determination to succeed, Madam Jimoh has become the owner of one of the biggest seafood companies in Nigeria with five branches in different part of the country. She has been to over seven countries like Norway, Germany, Poland, among others because of the frozen food business. 
Today, her name is ringing the bells and opening mighty doors across the world.  Alhaja Jimoh spoke with journalists during the commissioning of her new branch at Arinlese area in Abeokuta, Ogun state. She spoke about her adventure, the challenges and how she was able to overcome some of it. Excerpt:
Good day ma, can you briefly introduce yourself:
I am Alhaja Simiatu Jimoh, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Progress Seafood Nigeria Limited, with many branches across Lagos and Ogun State respectively. It is by the grace of Almighty Allah that we are doing great in the business.
How did you venture into the fish business and the challenges of sustaining it:
I started fish business at the age of 25 years by hawking of fish and fried fish.  After some times, I became a fish supplier when Ghanaians were still in the country. When Ghanaians left, I opened a cold room under a powerline at Ladoje in Oko-Oba. The local government officials sent us away from there because it was built under the powerline. 
After I was sent away, I went to Abe-Koko, 37 Ipaja road, bought a half plot which I built and opened a small cold room, but it couldn’t accommodate more than N100,000 frozen products. Since I don’t have choice, I was managing it. That was how we started struggling till we get to this point.  
This branch we are opening today is the fifth branch my seafood company will be having. The Abe-Koko is the first. After the cold room at Abe-Koko, I found a land around my home in Abule-Egba and built another cold room there. But, when I discovered that doing business within your home had some negative things, I left there and went back to the main road to get a land. I built a big company and it was the place that we are using as our head office at Abule-Egba.  
Unfortunately, the government sent us away from the place, they destroyed our building when they wanted to construct road at Abule-Egba. I fell, but rise again, I used the remaining part of our destroyed land to build another little office. 
I also have a seafood company at Kuto in Abeokuta before opening another one in Arinlese area of Abeokuta also. Abe-Koko is the first branch, Abule-Egba is the second branch, Joju in Sango is the third branch, Kuto in Abeokuta is the fourth branch, while this place we are commissioning today is the fifth branch.
Being the CEO, you must have had quality education background:
(Laugh) I did not have any formal education like others did, because of the financial status of my parent. But, God gave me the brain of doing business. I have been doing all I am doing with sincerity. It is important to be educated, but not being educated does not mean you cannot be successful in life.
You must have been in the business for many years, can you share that with us:
I have spent over 45 years in this business, and everything is by God’s grace. I am not educated, but I am a core business woman.  
You must have seen the ups and down in this business, what actually motivates you to keep going on:
I had hawked fish at many markets, I had suffered a lot in this business. I can’t even narrate all my experiences in this business, because it was not a smooth journey, it was full of downfall and rising again. 
But despite all these challenges, I kept struggling because I believed this life is full of ups and downs. I am someone that is hardworking and who does not give up easily. I see challenges as part of life and it was those challenges I had faced in life that makes me stronger. I keep on doing this because I don’t have any other business I can do.
What is the essence of opening more branches in Abeokuta:
This business has become more competitive. It was not like how it used to be when we started. There are so many people in the business now even those that does not know anything about it.  We have a lot of seafood companies in the country now. So, I thought that since Mr Biggs, Sweet Sensation, banks and some other companies can have branches in different places, there is nothing stopping me from doing the same.
I see it as a means of making more money. Before I open a branch, I always investigate the environment by ensuring that there is no seafood company in that environment before. I always look for a place where there is no cold room so that it will not be like I am competing with anyone.  
Most importantly, we are opening this branch today because they have marked our cold room in Kuto as one of the buildings that would be destroyed if the government want to construct the road.  
Doing this business must have cost lots of capital, can you tell us like how much:
I did not start the business with a kobo. I was collecting a slate of fish from a woman popularly called Iya-Ibeji. I did not start with any money, I was collecting it on credit. They were selling a slate of fish at N13 as at that time. The truth about the business then is that whether you have money or not you can do the business in our own days. It was because I did not owe some of the foreigners that were given us frozen products that made me have a good relationship with many of them even till today.  
Was there any challenges you had faced on the way to success:
There are many challenges I faced. Is it my building with C of O that was destroyed by the government in Abule-Egba that I want to talk about. Two residential houses, shopping complex, 48 shops were destroyed and they have not given me a dime till now. The property involved worth N270 million. 
But, I was not perturbed because even the God that creates us does not say he will not test our faith.  We must know that whatever happen in our life has the knowing of our creator.  
What will you link your success to, hard work or grace:
It was not by my power, but the grace of Allah. Those people that are educated that had come into this business sometimes left without having nothing.  It is the grace of God that has made me survive the challenges and obstacles I have encountered on my road to success. 
I did not understand why I am this favoured by God. I am not involve in any Osugbo or secret cult, except Asalatu.  There is no challenges I might have encountered in this business, it is God that always pull me out of it.   
In the course of this business, you must have been to many countries, how many are they:
I have been to Norway, Poland, Germany, but I always travel to America frequently because all my children live in America. But, there is no where I can go that I will not return to Nigeria because that is where all my businesses are. I based in this country, in fact, I can’t stay abroad for six months.
Is there any challenges facing the frozen business in Nigeria nowadays:
It is always good to learn the job, but many don’t learn and that is why they always have some challenges in the business. You don’t just go into the business without learning it. This is a business that you must know and must ask if that is truly your way before starting it.  
What do you want from the government:
I will implore the government to always try to compensate people when they destroy their properties. They should not just demolished people property without compensating them. They may face the wrath of God because of this. For example, my properties that were destroyed were valued at N270 million, but they want to give me peanut as compensation. I have not collected the money from them till now.  
As for me, I don’t need anything from them than there should be power stability, water supply and the masses should be able to enjoy more basic amenities.