Goodluck Eriobu is turning two of Nigeria’s most overlooked crops — breadfruit, locally known as Ukwa, and coconut — to healthy snacks now exported from Nigeria.
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Goodluck Eriobu is turning two of Nigeria’s most overlooked crops — breadfruit, locally known as Ukwa, and coconut — to healthy snacks now exported from Nigeria.
Eriobu, a marketing graduate of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, built the value chain behind the roasted breadfruit and coconut flakes sold by his company, Goodluck Ideal Foods. The products are now shipped to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, parts of Europe, Japan, China and the United Arab Emirates.
“I take African breadfruit — something we grew up eating in the East — and package it as a premium snack for the world. For me, it’s about putting traditional nutrition into modern food,” he said.
Commencement of the business
Eriobu says he got into manufacturing to tackle three things at once: food waste, malnutrition and rural poverty.
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“I’m passionate about turning breadfruit into jobs, food security and real income,” he told TheNiche. He added; “If we process it right, we cut waste, feed people better and create work for the women who grow it in our villages.”
Beyond snacks, Eriobu runs an event planning outfit and a fish spot on Orlu Road in Ekwulobia, Anambra state. He credits his marketing background for juggling the businesses.
“As a marketing graduate, I learned how to spot opportunities, build a product and run events,” he said, addng; “I’m organized, and I know how to get things done without wasting time or money.”
The drive for excellence
Eriobu’s first reason for choosing breadfruit was health.
“Roasted ukwa has fiber, protein, potassium — all the good stuff. Add coconut flakes and you get healthy fats too,” he said. “It keeps you full. No sugar crash. You’re fighting malnutrition just by snacking”, he enthused.
The second reason: there’s plenty of it. He explains: “Breadfruit is everywhere in the East, but most of it rots or gets sold cheap,” he said. “My goal is simple — stop the waste and turn it into something valuable.”
He added that breadfruit trees need little care and handle climate stress well. According to him; “You’re using a crop that won’t fail you, and you’re cutting post-harvest loss.”
The bigger picture, he said, is jobs. “When I buy from local farmers, I’m putting money straight into rural communities. This isn’t just business. It’s food security and real economic growth”, he stated.
Healthy snacking
Eriobu says what makes his product different is the taste and purity. “Roasted ukwa with coconut gives you this nutty, earthy crunch with a little sweetness. It’s not like anything on the shelf. Traditional, but new.”
He adds another advantage: “We use zero preservatives. Most snack brands can’t say that. And because we source locally, every pack supports a rural farmer.”
Challenges
The market is growing, but there are still problems, he told TheNiche. He said credit sales hurt cash flow, while power is a constant headache. “Electricity is unreliable, so we run generators for processing and packaging. That eats into profit”, Eriobu said.
Funding is another challenge. He lamented; “Loans come with crazy interest. Grants for agribusiness mostly exist on paper.”
There is also the problem of price swing because breadfruit is seasonal. “We need better storage and drying, or contracts with farmers so we don’t run out. Quality control is tough when you’re buying from dozens of small farms”, he said.
Then there’s also insecurity. In his words; “It adds to cost. You pay more to move goods, to keep people safe. It all adds up.”
On japa
Eriobu has no plans to leave Nigeria. “My mission is here,” he said, stressing; “I’m building a sustainable brand, and I want to do it at home. I love it in Nigeria.”
About Eriobu
Eriobu holds a Higher National Diploma in marketing from Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra state. He also completed an entrepreneurship and management program at Concept Business School. Beyond marketing, he’s built skills in business development, product innovation, event management and networking.
The secret to his growth? “I’m always learning something new,” he said. “And I build relationships with people who share my values.”
