Dr. Brown Agu is the Managing Director, Emily Millionaire Cosmetic Limited. In this interview with TOYIN SANGOTADE, the entrepreneur outlines challenges facing small business owners. Excerpts:
How would you assess the Nigerian cosmetic industry?
The industry is growing gradually but several Nigerians prefer imported brands. But they don’t know what constitute the foreign products and don’t care because they don’t believe in Nigeria and Africa. Though people still buy our products, a lot of Nigerians believe that good products cannot be made in our country.
What are the other industry challenges?
We need government to drive more investment into the real sector, to aid its economic diversification campaign. The way it can generate revenue is to genuinely support entrepreneurs, because when there are more industries, the turnover in terms of revenue generation will increase. Government should also provide the enabling environment for small-scale businesses to thrive in terms of electricity supply and good roads.
We expect the administration to embrace locally made goods and encourage Nigerians to buy more of the products because they are better than their foreign counterparts
What is the unique selling point of your products?
We observed that Africans, especially Nigerians, are used to herbs; so every ingredient in Emily Millionaire is basically taken from herbs.
What are your expectations from the President Muhammadu Buhari administration?
We expect the administration to embrace locally made goods and encourage Nigerians to buy more of the products because they are better than their foreign counterparts. Our products are made fully from nourishing herbs abstract. If the government starts to embrace Nigerian products, citizens will do the
same.
Can you give an estimate of what Nigeria loses to imported goods?
The nation’s loss to importation of foreign cosmetics and other related brands should be in trillions. But the truth here is that, if you are expecting the government to do anything for you, then you are wasting your time.
