Edward Edosa Eghobamien was born a natural gifted cook. He has lived and dwell in this life style for ages. He revealed to EBEN ENASCO KINGSLEY in this interview how helping his mother at the age of 7 to cook led him to set up an Academy of Hospitality Management, Catering Services and his eventual election as the 3rd Chairman, Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (ISMN) Edo State Chapter.
Excerpts:
When Did You Venture Into Business?
I have always been in business all my years as a teenager.
What Inspire You To Set Up Hospitality Business?
My Mother inspired me; she taught me how to cook at a very tender age of 7-yr-old.She encouraged me to venture into cooking business. But I did not see that as a good career for me. Hence I went to study History Education at the University of Benin. When I decide to enter into the business, I decide to go the extra mile. This time to set up an Academy of Hospitality Management in Lagos but I decided to start from Benin City.
Where You Born With A Silver Spoon?
No, because I saw my parents struggle in life before they made it. I came from a family where we belief in hard work and the fear of God. I learned the skill of trade from my mother at a very young age. I never wanted to go into this Hospitality trade but my mother encouraged me to start the business and now I have no regret.
When You Said Hospitality Business, What Do You Mean?
First, we run Amena Academy of Hospitality Management and Entrepreneurship Development where hundreds of students have been awarded Diploma in various trades. We provide catering services for Airlines, outdoor catering services, premium snack, take-away, cakes of various sizes and lots more.
Have You Ever Worked For Anyone?
Yes, my customers are my boss, the customer is my employer and as event manager, I take people stress, I provide services to my customers, so I work for them. The notion of people who say that they do not work for people is wrong.
I have a long list of people who employ me. Persons or organizations can disengage or engage my services by recommending me for more jobs. For many years I provided catering services to Airlines companies, owners of such companies where my boss.
How long Have you been In Business?
I have represented Nigeria in Food exhibition flagship committee cuisine beyond borders which was set up by Nigeria export promotion council and Nigeria Institute of Hospitality and Tourism in 2010 to 2011. All these made me eligible to contest for the chairmanship of institute of strategic management (ISMN) Edo Chapter
Sir, How Did You Emerge The Chairman, Institute Of Strategic Management (ISMN) Edo Chapter?
I will call it a miracle because the immediate past chairman, Mr. Jide Ilugbo called his executive members and told them that he want to drop as the chairman and suggested I take over from him, a thing that will never happen in Africa. Even when it was suggested that Mr. Jide go round to see if there was a better person to head the institution, he was surprise that everything bounced back at me. Immediately, they all accepted me.
