My biography

THE EVOLUTION OF AN IROKO 2017

The Evolution of an Iroko Oji Chukwudimma Chukwudike is born in the early 80’s to Rev’d and Mrs Dickson E. Oji in Enugu state Nigeria. He was born the third child of the family with three siblings; Ndidichukwu, Chukwuemeka and Promise. He has the meaning of his name Chukwudi mma to be “God is good” while Chukwudik e means “God is strong” all translated from Igbo language of the south eastern part of Nigeria. He hails from Amọbia (otherwise spelt as Amawbia) in Anambra state of Nigeria. Oji is a professional carpenter, architect and writer. He writes for fun but helps his clients solve their domiciliary space problem both interior and exterior for a fee; he sure knows his onions. Oji is graced with B.Sc. and M.Sc. both in architecture from Abia State University Uturu in Nigeria. He is an associate member of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) with an Executive Master’s Certification in project management from Global Project Management College UK. He is married to one extremely lovely lady named Oji Gift and both are blessed with a son Jesse. He is a freelance writer who writes for fun until seen reason to start publishing. Some of his write-ups were used for the funniest of reasons. Oji works with Dazzle Furniture Limited and Dazzle Carpentry Training Limited where he is a manager and a trainer respectively.

Just like any other ambitious persons, Oji has always dreamt big to becoming an entrepreneur and running businesses. In fact at the age of 12 Oji started making rings with beads and sells them for 1.00NGN when he was in his first year in the Secondary school in Nigeria. He monopolized the market at some point as he was the only one that was making and selling rings at that time when ring was a novelty for a period of time before competirors entered the market and the school authority had to ban the proliferation of rings and started clamping down on “manufacturers” which before then he stopped. This was never a surprise to his peers because while he was in his primary school he introduced the sale of cold water to his playful peers who will always get thirsty after playing in the sun during break making some bucks for himself. Before Oji got into the university he joined the family’s business of making home-made pastries and supplying to schools and event centres after his mini retail business he was doing in GRA, Enugu state of Ngeria got “liquidated by the rain” according to his Dad. Soon after Oji entered the University at the age of 20, he scavenged for more businesses.

He started helping students out in their works and making a living out of it until someone paid him his first cheque of 7,000NGN for a job he quoted 5,000NGN just so the same kind of work will not be done for another person. The extra 2000NGN was given for that not to happen which made start thinking about standing out with originality in every market he finds himself. However, he didn’t stop there as he kept dreaming of more businesses that can keep him afloat. He came up with a proposal to design and produce year book for graduating students which will be sold to both undergraduates and graduating students with some beautiful business plan of making money both on adverts from students and sales of the hard copy. He planned to liaise with the leadership

OJI CHUKWUDIMMA CHUKWUDIKE

THE EVOLUTION OF AN IROKO 2017 of the departmental student union for the actualization of that dream but couldn’t continue because of funding as almost a million naira will be required, he does not want anything lower than his standard.

When Oji left school with his master’s degree in architecture he wanted to start working for any of two banks (in Nigeria) he had made contact with after his one year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) but fortunately changed to starting big company, one of his big dream, Dazzle General Merchants Limited, Dazzle Furniture Limited and most recently Dazzle Carpentry Training Limited. Oji does not stop and has never stopped.

Being a co-owner/ co-founder of Dazzle Furniture Limited, Oji has being through thick and thins of entrepreneurship together with his older brother and business partner Oji Chukwuemeka Ifeanyichukwu; knowing almost every leads and trails of success and falure in business. These two brothers had literally donated their blood for the business to runs and be alive. In Dazzle Furniture Limited we provide you with the best quality furniture for your interior Chukwuemeka and Chukwudimma Oji comfort. Our vision is “to manufacture, distribute and sell the finest quality furniture in the global market and to be the leading name in the furniture manufacturing industry.” To achieve the above the duo had given their all to the business; working from Monday to Monday of every week closing from work at odd times so their families can be comfortable. They worked as factory workers, as administrative staff, as factory managers and as CEO’s. They were everywhere of

the business until it became obvious that they do not even know their exact roles because they were everywhere at every time. His favourite part of owning a business is being able to decided and test run every facets of entrepreneurship. He takes up tasks and solves problems without obstructions. Just like when he was in school he sees the success of any task in the process even before the end.

Oji possesses an affable nature and ready to teach anyone who is ready to learn. He showed that while working in Dazzle Furniture Limited were at some point all his Team Members working under him were trained by him. He does not believe in hiring “profeesionals” but believes in training and raising professionals for the same task at every point. Oji stands his ground that life is a learning process and all one needs to do is to position oneself to learning and all knowledge will come to one. He also believes that life is simple and making it complicated is really not called for. He makes everyone around him happy; making him meet the happy-go-luck and placid ones. He is a great husband and father, friends to many; loves travelling and prefers to write or play chess when free. He sees himself as reserved but a lot of people consider him an outgoing person. Oji has a great culinary skill and possesses the spirit of a chef with a dream of stepping into that, proffessionally, someday.

Oji Chukwudimma Chukwudike defines a good day as a day he succesfully complete all his tasks for that day and still spent time with his family; cooking and playing with them. Breakfast in bed for his wife is the best part of his being a chef. He lives in Abuja Nigeria with his family.

OJI CHUKWUDIMMA CHUKWUDIKE