(Special Interview) Chucorl Opens Up on His Business Journey to ASPMDA

A Sport enthusiast, business administrator, player, leader and social man of highest repute. Chief Oliver Jacob, aka Chucorl in this executive media chat with the publisher of Business Hilighs, Prince STAN OKENWA, he opens up on his successful journey into business world from the ancient city of Kano to Martins Street in Lagos Island and settled finally at ASPMDA as a major dealer in oil products and other auto spare parts including property development in Lagos.

… Excerpts and Happy Reading:

Who is Chucorl?

Give us a brief history of your business development

Thank you for finding time to visit me for this Executive interview in Auto Spare Parts & Machinery Dealers’ Association (ASPMDA), Lagos International Trade Fair complex.

You are welcome.

Yes, Chucorl is Chief Oliver Jacob. Before becoming amongst the first set of business operators in ASPMDA, I had started business right from Kano City in Kano State, northern Nigeria.

While in Kano, I usually travel to international economies like Hong-Gong, Singapore and even Malaysia where I buy stuffs like designers clothes for women and even men. I was into fashion e.g skirt and blouse.

However, when I saw the profits were small then, I had to relocate down to Lagos and then started business at Martins Street on Victoria Island.

It was from Martins Street that I relocated my business into ASPMDA in 2000. I was among the first set of business owners here in ASPMDA. We migrated from Victoria Island and I rented a shop and started as Chucorl Nigeria Ltd before buying shops and other levels of private investments in Lagos trade fair complex.

This means that you were amongst those that migrated from Island to ASPMDA?

Yes, I have been here for 25 years since the year 2000.

Hon. Ngozi Emechebe has been in government for two years now. How would you describe his leadership and administration?

He has also tried to settle several lingering cases before his emergence as president. He carries everyone along in his leadership but does not compromise evil.

For example, when the DSS came, he never resisted or frustrated them but gave them corporation and we are getting the results now.

ASPMDA president is a lover of God and the President who has introduced yearly Praise and Worship Day in ASPMDA.

Besides, we have been having monthly praise and worship every first Mondays of the month at the main gate. This is a legacy of his government which has taken ASPMDA back to God almighty.

Yes, he is a humble man. Again, he is also my in-law; yes he married my daughter. He does well to carry everyone along. He isn’t like the ones that has left. He has taken good care of our environment, he has performed wonders in ASPMDA. As you can see, everywhere is free of flooding and dirtiness. There is stability and security is top notch under his watch in ASPMDA.

Now, let talk sports. You are the sponsor of ASPMDA Geopolitical league Championship every year. When and how did you start the sponsorship?

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It’s been quite long since I started it. It is played like champions league. The players are all from different states in the market including non-traders like banking officials that their branches are within ASPMDA market.

The champions of the tournament win a handsome amount of money. At the very beginning, we were allowing none ASPMDA members from any place in Lagos to come and play. But in the last few years, we have restricted players to only ASPMDA members and anybody doing business here in ASPMDA. There is a Zenith Bank staff that is playing for Abia FC.

So, for this year what are the prizes for the first second and third?

First of all let me point out the qualifications. The players participating are all from 45 years and above.

So, we may enjoy the ball as matured men. You know, we don’t have the strength of the youth so we made it that way. So the first prize is N500k; second is N400k; and the third is N300k.

Are they any other support as in consolation prize for others?

No just the prize. You know by the performance of the team, we can give them some additional money if they were exceptional you know. I even sponsored the whole kits for the whole teams.

Wow that is full sponsorship, so what is your message to all the competing teams this year?

The teams are all 14 in number. I will like them to all play a good and fair game. Well, they are cards in case of foul play. You the system of the ball is smooth. We don’t expect much rough play. We just want to have fun.

Do you have plans of stopping the tournament any time soon?

Well it depends on the availability of funds for the sponsorship. As far as there is enough, we will continue.

So this year what is the estimate you are looking at? Talking about the estimated expenditure for bankrolling this year’s championship?

We can round it all up to about N4.5m. It’s not less than that when I put in all expenses.

Finally what is your message to all ASPAMDA members?

We all came here to do business. Let’s do it according to rules and regulations. Let everyone obey the laws. Stop faking products and stop making the environment dirty.

They should be diligent and honest in their business.

All we want is to continue everything that will give ASPMDA a good name and not a bad name. Again, let us all support the government of Hon. Ngozi Emechebe, you know they say one good turn deserves another we believe something good has come and it give ASPMDA a good name

Thank you; Okenwa for coming to interview me. Am very grateful.