In an exclusive interview with Pen Agency News, Mike Ogbuekwe, the General Manager/CEO of Enugu Marketing Company and Adviser to the Governor of Enugu State on Agriculture, shares his journey from an engineer to a driving force behind the Enugu Garri project. Firstly, he discusses the project’s inception, its unique production process, and consequently, its potential to transform the local economy by promoting organic, locally made products. Furthermore, read on to discover how this visionary leader is bridging gaps and creating opportunities in Enugu State’s agricultural sector.

1. Can you please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your background?

Mike Ogbuekwe: My name is Mike Ogbuekwe. I am an engineer, who has previously worked several years with various teams to drill oil wells both offshore and onshore oil platforms. Trained in Aberdeen, UK, and Houston, USA. I also worked on testing new technologies used for both directional drilling and evaluation of oil wells while drilling in the USA.

My passion to contribute to the development of our economy led me to joining the former administration of Anambra State as a technocrat and an Adviser to the former governor of Anambra State. Ever since, I have been thrilled by numerous untapped potentials that exist within our immediate environment.

I have a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA. I am currently the General Manager/ CEO of Enugu Marketing Company as well as the Adviser to Governor of Enugu State on Agriculture.

2. What inspired you to start the Enugu Garri project, and how did you get started?

Mike Ogbuekwe: Enugu State currently has a vision of growing her economy from a GDP of $4.4 billion in 2023 to a GDP of $30 billion in another 7 years. This is a vision enunciated by the governor of Enugu State Dr Peter Mbah, my boss. This vision will grow by feeding on home-grown opportunities and linking with international investments.

We have seen the potential in our agro-allied sector and the hard work being put in by our rural farmers and agro processors. Therefore, we have started to organize products that we have, standardize them, and create market linkages for our people. This development will ensure that what we produce in our communities will ultimately grow the economy of Enugu State.

In the end, we establish wealth for our rural communities and overall well-being in Enugu State.

3. Can you share some details about the production process of Enugu Garri? What makes it unique?

Mike Ogbuekwe: Enugu Garri is unique firstly because it is produced organically. It goes through a thorough hygienic process that converts it from the raw cassava to edible garri. Then it passes through high heat frying that dries the garri to almost zero moisture level. All of this is done painstakingly to produce the quality garri that Enugu is known for.

4. Could you tell us more about your company, its vision, and its mission?

Mike Ogbuekwe: We have a vision of becoming the foremost regional commercial commodity centre in Nigeria and a mission of creating a vibrant marketplace that efficiently connects manufacturers, businesses, and consumers for profitability and consumer satisfaction.

Enugu Marketing Company, furthermore, is a derivative of the old Produce Boards and the old Marketing Boards. Hence, the Enugu Marketing Company has a mandate to trade and facilitate trade in Enugu. This, moreover, is not limited to product aggregation, value addition, import, and export of all legal products.

5. How has the local community in Enugu State responded to the launch of Enugu Garri?

Mike Ogbuekwe: The local communities are the first beneficiaries of this scheme and have responded with gladness. The challenge our communities face is access to organized markets. By bridging this gap, we are gradually closing it.

6. What are your plans for the future of Enugu Garri? Are there any new products or expansions in the works?

Mike Ogbuekwe: Our plan is to go global. To export our products and support our farmers to produce more, ensuring offtake at harvest. Our brothers and sisters in the diaspora crave homemade food daily, and we plan to meet their needs. We have other products such as Enugu Palm Oil, Enugu Cashew, Enugu Rice, Coal City Rice, and Nsukka Pepper. Work is ongoing to achieve expansion on all fronts.

7. How do you ensure the quality and authenticity of Enugu Garri?

Mike Ogbuekwe: We ensure traceability of the farms that produce the cassava to maintain 100% organic production. We also have quality controls at different steps of processing garri. Most importantly, we ensure that our garri is very dry.

8. What do you believe is the importance of promoting locally made products like Enugu Garri in Nigeria and beyond?

Mike Ogbuekwe: We must engage in international trade to fix the trade deficit, as we currently import more than we export. With adequate promotion and demand, our people will be busy creating products that the world craves. This will bring in money from the international market and improve our economic statuses.

9. As a successful entrepreneur, what advice would you give to others looking to start their own business, particularly in the agricultural sector?

Mike Ogbuekwe: In agriculture, solve the question from the answer. Look for a market first, find a niche, and ask yourself what product will sell. Test run the product before full production. In agriculture, you don’t have to be the producer; you can be a processor, packager, or marketer. Focus on your strength and achieve proficiency before considering backward integration.

10. How can people purchase Enugu Garri, and do you have plans to expand its availability outside Enugu State?

Mike Ogbuekwe: People can purchase Enugu Garri at the Enugu Marketing Company, 24 Colliery Avenue Enugu, opposite the State Secretariat. Orders can also be made by calling 09026737218, and we provide home delivery.

11. What impact do you hope Enugu Garri will have on the local economy and the agricultural industry in Enugu State?

Mike Ogbuekwe: We hope that this product will exponentially increase the income of our rural farmers, boost production, bring in foreign exchange, and open more doors for trading other agricultural products. This will contribute significantly to the GDP of Enugu State.