INTERVIEW: HOW I VENTURE INTO OIL AND GAS BUSINESS AT AGE 26 Says Chief Mrs. Nike Popoola Ogundoyin

....... CEO Nikky Choice open up on her life

Chief Mrs Adenike Aishat Popoola Ogundoyin nee Ashaolu is the Chairperson/ CEO Nikky Choice petroleum, Nikky Choice Enery and NIPCO petroleum across southwest nigeria, she hails from Ilesa in Osun state but had business empire in the hook and corners of Ondo state. She had won many humantarian award for herself due to her philanthropy act. She is the Osi Iyaloja of Owena, Iya sunu of.  She is happliy married to Alhaji Ogundoyin who is also into oil and gas.

Can you tell us briefly about yourself?
Thank you very much. Am Chief Mrs Adenike Aishat Popoola, the CEO of Nikky Choice Nigeria limited. I was born over 50 years ago. Am a native of Ilesha in Osun state but my mummy is from Igbara Oke here in Ondo state. I had both my elementary and secondary school here in Ore, ondo state before I proceed to Ikere Ekiti College of Education for my NCE in Business education & Accounting. I did my teaching practices at Ansurdeen school in Ekiti. After my educational career, I decided to venture into business. Before then I was running a Jewelry business in Ore town and along the line I was introduced into timber business and Rice business and I also sell turkey and vegetable oil. I was running the two business together, Monday to Wednesday am at the sawmil while Thursday to Sunday was dedicated to my rice and turkey business. It will interest you to know that I was the first Turkey merchant in ONDO state, back then we don't use kilo rather we sell in packs. It was the turkey business that link me with the NNPC Ore depot and because I had lots of customers who partonized me, so one thing lead to the other and I had to drop my two businesses to venture into Oil and Gas. I bless God for where I am today. Aside from that am back into my rice business.

Having said that, what now motivated you into Oil & Gas business that you abandon your timber and rice business?

Just like I said early, it was during my business transaction at the Ore Depot that I started developing my interesting in the oil business, nobody taught or introduce the business to me. I started the oil business as a retailer, I buy at the depot and dispose it at the venue to other marketers that needs it. Back then the pump price for fuel was not up to 11 naira then, that was in the early 90’s but I started oil business fully in middle 90’s (1995/ 1996). Few years ago I relaunch my Rice business and like I said, I bless Almighty Allah for his support and blessing on my business.

You started oil business in mid-90’s, was it the same year that you own your gas station?
“Laugh”this is were we all get it wrong because oil & gas business is not as easy as people assume it to be and there is always a different between someone who does not know or have indept knowledge about the business and one that started from the root, it takes gradually process and this is applicable to all businesses. Though like I said, before I went into oil and gas business, I had made money from my rice and timber business. I started my rice business, when it was sold for 450 naira per bag and by the time I was leaving the business, a bag of rice have rose to 1,050 naira but we all know how much a bag of rice is now. so I was really in money for a girl of my age, I was just 26 year old then but I will say owing a filling station was then and now a huge investment and it was not as easy as we taught, it involves gradual process just that once you built or construct one, you will build more of it and some people will bring their own under your company. So I started with kerosene and I later moved to fuel. I will buy there in the depot and resell it to other marketer at the depot, I did this for a period of years. And I say it was what I gathered that I used in purchasing my trucks then and I was using it to supply fuel for others. I have a surveillances tank at Egbejoda here and I later moved to famak to book my market then in 2001. So it took me 10 years before I started running a filling station which was even least for me for 5 years. So it was after that I construct my own filling station, I give Allah all the praise.

So how many filling stations do you have as at today?

All I know is that we have NIPCO filling station everywhere in south west, it’s all to the glory of Almighty Allah. We also have some other filling station under NIPCO that are doing fine today. 

Since then till now, will you say, the business less stressful with less challenge, share with us, your major challenge in this field?
Every business and professions have their own challenges but our prayer is for God to see us through during our challenging period. For our kind of business, I will say our most challenging period is when our truck is involved in an accident. Let me give you an instance, some year’s back I gathered all I have and some client money to purchase kerosene at sagamu in Ogun state and after the whole transaction, I traveled back to Ore and I was expecting the driver and my goods but after endless waiting, the driver arrived to tell me that the truck had an accident and when I got to the scene of the accident, I couldn’t hold the tears because all the  kerosene had wasted, that very day I looked up unto God and I said “ let your will be done”, so I left the place to make arrangement for another kerosene. Those whose money where part of it came to collect their money back but I remain focus in the business. Don’t forget that we also gain in this business, I remember when I went to purchase kerosene from Famak and Soka and after transaction process, the price hack up and it was a huge profile for me. But I will say our major challenge is the accident.

There is no doubt that accident is the major challenge in your field, what have been keeping you going in this business?
I return all praise to Almighty Allah for his faithfulness and love. One of the things that have kept me moving in this oil business is because I remain focus, contended and endurance in everything I do. Another thing is the faith that I have in God, when things happen to me, I don’t let it weak me but the only thing that make me weak is when someone died and aside that I always aim for solution when something happen, so am always on the move and on top of it.
As a society and a successful entrepreneur, how have you been able to balance and manage your home and your business?
On this issue, I want to use this medium to thank my husband who had been the pillar of my success. As a career woman, I didn’t let my work to take over my home. My routine had not change in the last couple of years, I leave home 10 am every day and before leaving I will have put everything in place and by 6pm am back home to my family.
What is the secret of your ageless look?
I attribute my ageless look to God because it had been his grace and not my might.

How does it make you feel, when people describe you as a philanthropist?
Well I will say, it’s favour that I receive from God. This act of given was an in-built thing which has been in me at a tender age, just that I try to improve on it. I must say that I derive joy when I put smile on peoples face. Am grateful to God for allowing me to touch people’s life.
How do you unwind yourself?
I love to relax with my family at the weekend, mostly if I don’t have party to attend. And I also love meeting with people and listen to music.