In 2016, Omebiri, a computer Science graduate, took the bold step of quitting his paid insurance job to learn CCTV camera installation. That marked the beginning of an exciting career progression.
By Eberechi Obinagwam
For seven years, John White Omebiri worked as an assistant manager in an Insurance Company where he was considerably paid well. But he didn’t feel fulfilled. He rather felt there was something more he could do.
Being tired of the everyday routine, John decided to explore other stuff but wasn’t sure what new skill to learn. “I felt a push in my spirit for a change. Although the job was comfortable, I felt unfulfilled,” he said.
The puzzle later got resolved when, during a church programme, he heard what was like a whisper in his ear – ‘Camera.’ John’s mind went straight to Close Circuit Television (CCTV) camera installation. He decided it was the business he must delve into. But first, the job had to be learnt.
In the beginning.
In 2016, Omebiri took the bold step of quitting his paid insurance job to learn CCTV camera installation. In June 2019, he established Naphtali Technology Solutions LTD in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, providing expertise in CCTV/Security Surveillance, electric fencing, Time Attendance machines, and more. That marked the beginning of an exciting career profile.
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Raising the required capital
John revealed that sourcing capital was a significant challenge in starting his business. Despite working for seven years, he had to sell two of his most valuable assets due to unexpected expenses.
“Having left my paid job three years prior, I was also running a school program, which meant additional expenses. I had to pay school fees and cover other costs, leaving me with insufficient funds to launch my business. So, I had to part with my land and car to turn my vision into reality. I believed in my vision and knew it was a risk worth taking,” he told TheNiche during an interview.
He explained that his decision was also driven by his conviction that entrepreneurship offers more opportunities for growth than a fixed salary. “With a salary, the best you can hope for is a promotion. But in business, a single contract can earn you a year’s worth of salary in just one day,” he said.
Shortly after launching his business, John’s former boss from the insurance company he worked for visited and was impressed by his progress. “He was surprised at what he saw and asked me to teach him. I was still learning myself, but I was determined to succeed. I was constantly learning new things online and applying my knowledge to grow my business,” John said.
Penetrating the market.
John said it took him more than a year to penetrate the market, “It was in the second year that I was able to penetrate the market. It took me about a year plus. Sourcing for goods, and getting and winning customers’ trust for the first year was challenging for me, but as time went on, with consistency and sincerity, I penetrated the market. I got links with major dealers, and importers and got a lot of clients. Today, my clients have grown beyond my wildest imaginations,” he said.
Why I’ll never write off anyone
John said he had an experience that taught him never to write off anyone in life.
“I had an experience that I can’t forget. I had a trainee staff who was not serious about learning. He wasn’t doing very well. I almost wrote him off. But while learning, he got a big contract to install CCTV for a five-storey building in Ikoyi Military Hospital, Lagos. Since he didn’t know what to do, I coordinated the job from start to finish. It was one of the biggest contracts I have handled so far. That experience taught me never to write anyone off anyone,” he said.
He added: “It was a major breakthrough for me because I also got some referrals. Referrals have been the backbone of my business. Satisfied customers have not failed to refer us to friends and colleagues. We have customers in Port Harcourt, Uyo, Owerri, etc. I also get customers from the North but I have not pursued the opportunities due to insecurity. But I am going to explore my market in the North and Calabar etc very soon.”
Challenges of business ownership in Nigeria
John said business owners in Nigeria, especially in Port Harcourt are faced with too many taxes.
“The taxes are too much in Port Harcourt. Here, you pay for billboards, signboards, sanitation, all manners of tickets, and tips. I have two notices on my table now to pay N90,000,” he said.
He said, the continuous increase in the prices of products also forms part of the challenges faced by business owners in Nigeria.
Japa
The CEO of Naphtali Technology Solutions LTD said although, he has not made his decision on Japa yet, he is never going to leave Nigeria entirely.
“I will be travelling and coming back, having my business running here in Nigeria. I don’t want to travel without leaving anything tangible on the ground in Nigeria. I want to build a brand that can run effectively without my physical presence, then, if I have the opportunity to travel, I will, but I won’t Japa that kind of running away,” he said.
John has a degree in Computer Science from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He has trained many youths with his skill and has some people working for him.