What’s the best place to do business if not the land of promise itself? Uyo is Akwa Ibom’s capital. More than a moniker, the land of promise is really promising for business ventures.
Uyo is known for such strengths as hospitality, tourism, agriculture, education, and oil-driven growth. The presence of major attraction spots like the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre, Ibom Plaza, and Le Meridien Hotel (now Ibom Icon Hotel) shows how much the city values hospitality and leisure.
In addition to this, there is the rise of the middle class, a never-decreasing student population, and an intentional government that keeps investing in roads and security. Little wonder Uyo is regarded as a city of opportunities. The city is known to be one of the cleanest, most peaceful, and warmest across Nigeria, making it conducive for business owners to thrive in.
Now, in the ocean of many businesses, what would best suit you? Of course, we know that it is very dependent on many factors like your preference, the particular environment you live in, and other reasons. This is just to serve as a pointer that can show you things you can actually do.
Five (5) Best Businesses to do in Uyo
1. Hospitality and Food Business
2. Agriculture and Food Processing Business
3. Real Estate Business
4. Education and Skills Training
5. Transportation and Logistics
Best Businesses to do in Uyo
In the rapidly growing South South urban region of Uyo, let us take a look at some of the most promising businesses to do.
1. Hospitality and Food Business
This makes absolute sense because the city is founded upon hospitality and rich cuisine; why not make money from it? The only thing some Nigerians know about Akwa Ibom/Uyo is afang and edika ikong soups. Even outside their region, these soups thrive.
The demand for food all over the nation is high, talk less of a city that especially loves good food. From local delicacies to street staples and international dishes, the demand for food is on the high side. Whether you’re baking, making pastries, from suya and sharwarma to soups and foods, if you do it well and clean, you will thrive, especially in the right location.
You don’t have to set up a traditional restaurant to have a food business. You could have an online food business where food is ordered and you deliver it, possibly through a logistics company. You could also set up a catering service. The people of Uyo like their events in style. If you’re good at what you do, you can start catering from business events to wedding ceremonies.
With the high rise of tourism in the land and its oil wealth, hotels and guest houses are in demand. If you can afford it, you can set up an affordable hotel with a premium standard that can rival the big names.
2. Agriculture and Food Processing
One would think that a state that is blessed with oil would only capitalize on that, but not Akwa Ibom. Agriculture is a major source of livelihood for the people and a major booster for the economy, as they have really fertile ground.
Fish farming, especially catfish, is a major kind of farming in Uyo. We already talked about how good food is in high demand, so you probably understand why catfish is a big deal. From hotels to restaurants to people who grill on the roads to catfish pepper soup in bars, it will never go out of trend. It’s a popular Nigerian favorite.
Another is poultry farming. From eggs to broilers, this business gives assured returns. The downside of the agricultural business is that it is very volatile. It can be very profitable and risky.
Because of Akwa Ibom’s palm oil wealth, another great source of business is palm oil production and packaging. Just ensure you’re giving out the best and very neat; there’s a large market for you. There is also room for processing and packaging. You can turn cassava into garri or starch and package it, package palm wine, vegetables, etc.
In case you don’t want to go into active farming, you can employ people to do the labour for you, or be a supplier of farm necessities like animal feed or farming equipment.
3. Real Estate
Because of the conducive atmosphere of Uyo, its neatness compared to other cities, its prospects and education opportunities, people are moving in or visiting more. The population is increasing, so is the need for accommodation.
From students to tourists, visitors to business people or civil servants, they all need accommodation. There is always a need for hostels in student areas; you can either own or manage one. Tourists and visitors are also contributing to the growing popularity of Airbnb rentals.
Land sales are another promising business venture. Buying land in developing areas to sell them at a very high profit at a later time or develop properties will also earn you money.
When it comes to real estate, you most likely need money to make money from it. But if it is something you can afford, with proper research and documentation, you will hit gold in that field.
4. Education and Skill Training
Uyo is the home of a federal university and polytechnic. A vast percentage of the population yearns to know more. Creating a business around this need is paramount.
From private tutoring lessons in your area of strength for students from primary schools to university to coaching in preparation for external exams like JAMB and WAEC, your passion and knowledge can earn you a stable income.
Outside traditional education, you can teach high-end skills like technical skills, web design, graphic design, etc. These don’t come cheap at all. There are also professional courses like project management, accounting, human resources, etc. Once you have the qualification and certifications, you can put classes together.
Lastly, vocational training. Even with school, people learn other skills like fashion designing, hairdressing, gadget repairing, baking, etc. If you have any of these skills, you can also make money from apprentices.
5. Transportation and Logistics
Many businesses need logistics services now. As they extend their frontiers beyond their shops or business outlets, they need people who will carry their products across the city or even interstate.
From e-commerce needing delivery agents to food vendors, almost every business now needs the service of a respectable delivery agent. That’s where you come in. From motorcycles to cars, you can make good money with your vehicle as a delivery agent, especially with the rise of online shopping and food orders.
Another way to make money from this is the taxi business. You can run a transportation business, even with only a several stable customers who will pay you monthly. It can be your main hustle or a side gig to earn extra income.
There is also the use of tricycles, popularly called napep. They are a major source of transportation for average people. The best part of all of this is that you don’t have to be the driver. You can rent out your motorcycle or buy one specifically for the business. You can earn monthly passive income as long as you’re working with a trustworthy person.
Conclusion
Not only does Uyo have tourism appeal, from the airport to the stadium that is said to rival international stadiums, the government is also international on the growth of the city, making it attractive for investments and infrastructure growth. They also give out loans and grants to help scale businesses.
The atmosphere is very friendly for growth; all of these are reasons you should consider starting a business there. You just have to be your best in the game, be strategically located, and offer premium service. These five are just some of the best businesses to do; there’s a lot more.
Uyo could be the starting point of what will grow into a nationwide business for you, but how will you know if you don’t start? Take the first step to understand why it is the land of promise, tick tock says the clock.
