By vitalis Igbonma and Evidence Onwuaka
Go
confidently in the direction of your dreams live the life you have imagined -
Henry David Thoreau
The high-spirited but humble beginnings of Alexander Chika Okafor are a clear testimony of someone with a voracious hunger for success in life through determination, discipline, and dedication which simply put, tells us that where there is a way there is a will for anyone to succeed no matter the odds before him.
The success story of Alexander Chika Okafor
will not be truly complete without a peep into the early years of his
existence. For those who didn't know him from his roots. It will be difficult
to compare his life at the beginning and what it is now. He wasn’t born with a
silver spoon neither did he enjoy the comfort of growing up being pampered with
all the good things of life. Having lost his father at such at an early age, the
task of his upbringing fell on his mum, who assiduously ensured that the man
Okafor will eventually be what he is today.
Growing up was very difficult and very
challenging for him as he learnt early in life to fend for himself. He recalled
telling himself that someday, he will be wealthy. People laughed at him with
such a statement but proved them wrong with his success story years.
HIS BACKGROUND
Alex Chika Okafor was born on 6th February
1957 at Uru-Umudim, Nnewi in Nnewi Local Government Area of Anambra
State, Nigeria, to the late Pa Godfrey Okafor and late Madam Jermaima Okafor. He is
the second of even children. He began the pursuit of his formal education
(primary) at Saint Stephen's Primary School, Umudim-Nnewi, Anambra State in the
year 1963. He completed his primary education at Saint Paul's Anglican School,
Ebenesi -Nnobi, in ldemili Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria, in
1973 (as a result of civil war).
This was however how far the young Alexander
could go in terms of educational pursuit as the cold hands of death snatched
his hardworking father in 1970 was hardly able to tell his left from his right.
He was left with only his mother, a dry fish seller to cater for him and his
six siblings. The dream of furthering his education was cut short as his
mother, the widow, was unable to provide for his education.
Faced with the vicissitudes of life, accentuated
by the realities of losing one's father at such a tender age, the young Dr. Alex
was entrusted to the care of Chief Ben Akubueze, his maternal uncle, for
apprenticeship to learn the rudiments of trading. He diligently
learnt and acquired the necessary skills in trading and by 1978 he gained his
freedom from his uncle after several years of serving him.
He personified Proverbs 22:29 of the
industrious and meticulous man going about his business standing before eminent
personalities. He often joked that when most of his colleagues who were better
placed in the sense of their business Iine will engage in extra-curricular
activities after a supposedly hard day’s work to his room to think about on the
step to take. He was dubbed anti-social, not outgoing and all sorts.
Upon graduating from serving his master, a
lot of his colleagues thought that he will follow his uncle's line of business
by amassing credits from potential buyers and going up North to bring the
produce as was the case back then. He however had his plan and he told a
few of his trusted friends that instead of toeing that line, he would rather go
to Lagos and sell tea and bread at lddo Park.
The year, he gained his freedom he went
straight into trading and began trading under the name 'Chicason', which later
grew and was registered as Chicason Nigeria Limited. This was the beginning as
well as the birth of the now famous Chicason Group of Companies, a conglomerate
that trades in virtually all sectors of the Nigerian economy.
HOW IT
ALL STARTED
Just like
the biblical story of the five loaves and two fishes ventured into the business of trading with one thousand and three Hundred Naira: One thousand
Naira was the money his mother saved from her petty trading in the fish business
alongside the amount of three hundred naira paid as dowry for his sisters'
marriage. First, he started trading in dry pepper, local hats, and fishing nets.
He exported through the West Coast of Ghana fishing nets and in return brings
back dry pepper and local hats.
HIS
BREAKTHROUGH
Alexander
Chika Okafor is an epitome of discipline in every ramification. It can overtly
be said that this is the foothold of his business empire when in 1978 he
started his personal business; he bought his fishing nets from a merchant who
mistakenly Supplied him with goods more than the amount he paid, rather than
capitalizing on the ignorance the man he sold the items and reimbursed the
merchant with the accruing balance to his astonishment.
He made about thirty thousand profit, from
the sales; a development that enabled him to make a clean break from his small-time business deals of the past years. This singular discipline of the mind not
taking what does not belong to him was the open sesame that catapulted him into
his royal destiny today, with the availability of more supplies of goods to the
young Chika.
"Righteousness (integrity) exalts a nation, but sin (lack of integrity) is a reproach to any people" Proverbs l 4verse28. His ability is captivating as he kept churning out ideas upon ideas with determination to succeed in life and business. He was not only determined but he was also disciplined and dedicated to whatever he found himself doing, which are the enabling factors that gave him the opportunity to seize every moment as they appear in the ever-changing times associated with our country's business environment.
This marked the beginning of big-time trading
for Alex Chika Okafor. Having made a clean break from small-time trading to big-time, he mapped out other strategic trading plans for his business and launched
into the international market. First, he undertook a business trip to Liberia
and later began to explore the Asian market. While on the Asian continent, he
began first with clothing which he brought into the Nigerian market, and
progressed to the importation of and trading in electronics. At this time, Dr. Alex was on top of his business, as everything seemed to be going on well as
planned, but was however not to last for long. It
LESSONS FROM
DR ALEX CHIKA OKAFORS LIFE HIS DETERMINATION
• With an
initial capital of N1,300 the young Chika determined to succeed in spite of all
odds. As the bible says that you should not forget the days of little
beginning, he kept to that. As an apprentice to his maternal uncle, he faced
circumstances and situations that should have made him say "die" but
the determination to make it kept him going. He saw whatever situation he went
through, as part of the training.
• Instructive about his determination to
succeed are his early childhood confessions even when there was nothing. His
words: "I could recall several times when I told myself that I would be
rich. My friends will always laugh at me when I make such statements"
Though not a very deep Christian at that time, he understood the power of
positive confessions.
• It is this quality of determination that
has seen his manufacturing and trading business waxing strong and breaking into
new frontiers even at a time when seemingly harsh economic policies and
discouraging infrastructural situation in the Country are forcing many
businesses to shut down.
• His attitude for determination pushes
him into more thinking which always turns out with great ideas; he is a dynamic
man.
• Dr. Okafor does not get discouraged by any
situati¹11 stone to the next level.
• Dr. Okafor understands that tough times
don't last, but tough people do.
HIS
DISCIPLINE
• Dr. Okafor
learnt self-discipline from his early life experiences. The Bible said that
Jesus learnt obedience from what he went through.
Recall the incidence he had to push a
motorbike through a 10 km distance on the orders of his Master. It was his heart
of discipline that made him obey such instructions.
• In his early days, he reminisces about when most of his colleagues who were better placed in the business at that
time, would be engaged in extracurricular activities; after a hard day's work,
Okafor would retire to his cubicle-like room known as their shop to think on
his next move. They dubbed him "anti-social", "local" and
the sorts. But he kept his focus.
• Dr. Okafor's high sense of discipline
reflects his high level of integrity
• He was a young man driven by honesty He
believed that he cannot grow with another man's money.
• Though was disadvantaged in his early stage
of life academically, he has greatly enhanced himself to fit in, in any circle.
• As part of his obligation to God, he sets
aside thirty minutes every morning and evening to sing praises to God during
morning and night prayers and one-hour praise worship every Saturday morning.
• Even on a business trip with several aides
and business associates both in the country and overseas, he ensures that every
member of his entourage gathers in his hotel room for some minutes every
morning and every evening to sing praises to God.
• He has a strong relationship with God that
is accentuated by a covenant time with God early in the morning irrespective of whether he retires to bed on time on not.
• As his spiritual life and walk with Christ
grew steadily, he jettisoned the drinking of alcohol in whatever guise in 1998
all in an attempt to get closer and deeper with God. He went ahead by removing
every alcoholic drink in his house and vowed never to give or take from anyone
any alcoholic drink no matter how small the alcoholic content may be. In fact,
no one can serve any alcoholic drink on any of his business premises.
HIS
DEDICATION
• Dr Okafor
had a passion for trading and every other thing he ventured into, which is why he
never gets discouraged.
• He is dedicated to his God which is the
major secret to his success in business and life.
• He is also dedicated to his work; he is
such a committed worker that even now, when most people in his level of fortune
would rather be non, and let others do the whole executive Chairman",
work, he is still the executive Chairman/CEO; he rises up early and works
through the day. He is more than a workaholic.
• Dr. Okafor likes giving himself fully to
whatever he set out to do.
• He is dedicated to giving to God and
mankind; this is another wonderful secret of his success. He has the nature of
his master (God). Dr. Okafor pays a tithe of his businesses to churches. Do not
rob God; Malachi 3verse 6- 10.
• Highlight: Dr Okafor is dedicated to God,
his work, giving to God and Mankind, his passion, his family, and his staff
(secrets of his success in life and business).
7 STRONG
THINGS TO NOTE FROM THE LIFE OF DR ALEX OKAFOR
1. Whatever
your background may be, you can make it to any height in life; all you need is
to apply yourself to the principles of the 3Ds: Determination, Discipline and
Dedication.
2. None of these qualities can be
approximated outside a deep sense of commitment to God.
3. Young people, who want the good things of
life, must realize that there is time for everything and there is no shortcut.
Let your priority be RIGHT.
4. Be dedicated to your God, dream (passion),
giving to God and mankind.
5. Dr Okafor proved that what you can dream,
you can achieve.
6. Dr Okafor believes in good thinking which
produces good ideas that is translated into good products.
7. Success has a price; sacrifice hardwork
and discipline. So pay the price first, you will definitely be counted among
the successful.
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