To
every University of Ibadan student or staff, it is important that goals are
clarified towards personal and societal development and growth. When the goals
are discernible, it is imperative to provide solutions to solve problems threatening
the humanity. “Whatever our dreams and aspirations are,
they are all valid! As long as we are ready to pursue them, they would all come
to reality,” Oluwafemi Lafua, founder of first Nigeria’s University-based
logistics company said.
From
one bicycle to two motorcycles, Kwiki Karts has redefined logistics services at
the country’s oldest university, providing services ranging from delivery of
freshly cooked meals from restaurants to the distribution of non-consumable
materials to clients within and outside the university community. One of the value
propositions of Kwiki Karts is to eliminate distance beyond the delivery of goods
to people and businesses. “We are not only bridge the distance barrier and allowing
our customers to focus on core personal or corporate operations every day, we
also purchase materials and deliver them within agreed time.”
Moments of Crisis and
Innovation
For
the records, I started Kwiki as my contribution to the growth and development
of our nation. We have enough problems already and I started to be part of
those to solve some of these problems not to join others to complain.
Find Solution to Big Problems
Despite
operating from the University environment, Kwiki Karts is being seen by many
people as an ‘errand business’. “Well, people may see it like that. But the
truth is irrespective of what you do to create value on exchange for money,
you're an errand boy/girl. If you sew clothes, I have bought into your time and
you have to make those clothes unless you refund my money. Whatever your
customers say they want is what you give them. Even when you are offered a
professional job like law, your clients have the right to tell you what to do
and even give you an ultimatum. So, personally, as long as you are offering
value that people are paying for, I am not an errand boy. I am simply an
entrepreneur solving the problems of shopping and logistics including last
minute delivery for businesses.
Demanding Risks and
Sacrifices
It
has not been easy especially with the rigorous academic demands of my course of
study. But prioritizing has really helped me a lot. Doing first things first!
The most important with less consequence is what I do at a particular point in
time. For example, if I have a class, I simply let customers know and luckily,
they understand. While some do, some do not. They simply call again some other
{time}.
However, at times, I do not attend classes, especially when the class
is not 'important'. But I try as much as possible to do my assignments and
tests. As part of my commitment to my academic excellence, I simply shut down
business a week to examination and resume after exams. In 2018, I employed someone on
a full-time basis, so it is needless to shut down business in order to meet up
with my academic demands.
Nonetheless, it has never been easy, but God has
played a huge role in helping me balance both in academics and business as I am
excellently doing well in both. As a
matter of fact, I am currently on a 2:1 and business has grown from one bicycle
to two motorcycles and website/app within the space of 15 months.
Kwiki by 2024
That
would be 5 years from now. Our services would have been expanded to major
cities in Nigeria. By then, we would have been the largest virtual mall and
logistics brand by Africans and for Africa/Africans. That is the goal. And in
years later, we would have become the Amazon of Africa.
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