The managing director of the GT Plaza Fast Food, Elder Pius Omofuma, has received an award from the newly elected Edo State NUJ for his contribution to Edo State.
While receiving the executive, he revealed the secrets to his fast growing food trade, noting that people had doubts when he chose a village setting for start-off.
The business magnate said when he took his trade to his village in Epoma, East West Local Government Area of Edo State in 1989, some of his close friends doubted the success possibility of the trade being brought to the rural area.
Omofuma added that his friends said the business would never succeed because of perceived operations of satanic and occultist powers in the rural area.
Elder Omofuma made the revelations when the executive body and some members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), paid him a courtesy visit in his office, at Ekenwan road, Benin city, Edo State.
Commenting on the NUJ award, he said, “You don’t rest when a body like NUJ says it counts it worthy for me to be honored. I want to assure you that I count this award of honor that NUJ wants to give to me, as a very big
He retold the story of his business. “I will also want you to know some of the problems we faced in this our fast food business. GT Fast Food now 33 years, precisely started during Easter in 1989. I left Owerri to start the business in Ujemen in Ekpoma.
“I built a bungalow for myself and I was able to construct a small shop inside the bungalow. An office which is not up to six feet by six feet. That is how I started the eatery trade with a staff of three.
“When I was in Owerri, Imo State operating a plastic company, we also had a subsidiary called Olives Food Limited, I told my boss, when I was interviewed for the job in 1982 asked me of my career that when I finish working for his company I should think of starting my own business at the age of 40 years.
That June 1989 was my 40th birthday, so three months before my birthday, I started the food trade at Ujemen in Ekpoma. Many people thought I was crazy for establishing the business in my village then.
“We are more civilized now compared to those days. They asked how will you go to your village and start food business, is there no other place in the city where you can establish the business. Some of them even thought the witches and wizard will not allow the fast food trade to see the light of day.
He said he had confidence the business would thrive.
“I knew I will succeed because I have confidence in the God I serve. At that time, Ambrose Ali University just relocated to Emaudo in Ekpoma Town and I believed also that the students would like to eat good food’.
Knowledge of the trade and foresight played some roles in the success story.
“Fortunately, when I was in Owerri, I had the privilege of traveling abroad while operating the business and anybody who is a traveler would know the right location where food trade will move or bring good profits. So within the period of six years, I had opened the Uselu and Ekenwan branches.
“Before I opened Uselu branch, I was running a small branch by Mobil Filling Station along this place where I rented for the trade. That is the story of GT Food Plaza, ” Elder Omofuma revealed.
Expressing confidence in the new NUJ leadership, the elder said he made enquiries before opting to support the candidacy of the new chairman.
“Before your election was conducted, I was asking questions about your chances of winning the election. Anybody I asked was saying that Festus Alenkhe is a qualified, simple, calm, nice person and nobody is working against him. I am happy that my candidate won.
“One of the reasons I respect my brother Festus Alenkhe, is the zeal and passion he applies to perform his duty”.
Omofuma prayed to God to give the NUJ new executive, grace, insight, wisdom and knowledge to pilot the affairs of the union and take it to greater heights.
Also at the event was the former personal protocol to the former governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, and Hon. AghareseIdubor, who described Comrade Festus Alenkhe as a genuine person, a brother and a friend.
Hon. Idubor, a former president, National youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), urged the new leadership in the state to prioritize the welfare of its members and work as a team.
He said Alenkhe did well as the Edo State chairman of the Nigerian Red Cross Society and will lead NUJ to the path of honor.
Hon. Idubor advised Comrade Festus Alenkhe to ensure he works with his team very well to perform equally appealed to journalists in Edo State to exhibit integrity as they pursue their profession.
