The Rise of a Village Boy: How Ezeaku Ejiofor Built an Empire from Humble Beginnings

 

From N15,000 to Millions: How Ezeaku Ejiofor Built an Empire from Humble Beginnings

Onitsha, Anambra State – In a story that reads like a Nollywood script but is steeped in raw truth, Mr. Ezeaku Ejiofor has opened up on how he turned a modest settlement of fifteen thousand naira into a multi-million-naira business empire.

Speaking exclusively with reporters in Onitsha, Ejiofor, a native of Enugu State, detailed the trials, sacrifices, and triumphs that have defined his entrepreneurial journey since 2007. It all began when he completed his apprenticeship, a traditional Igbo business training known locally as "boi boi." His boss handed him a modest N15,000 to begin life on his own.

When he returned to his village to announce his newfound freedom, his stepbrother, who had taken up a fatherly role in his life, advised him to abandon business and enroll in secondary school instead. The young Ejiofor, however, chose to follow his instincts and returned to Onitsha to pursue his dreams.

With only an additional N1,000 from his mother—the last money she had—and another N10,000 from his elder brother two months later, Ejiofor started from scratch. In his words, “My mother gave me N1,000 and told me that was all she had. I used it wisely.”

He initially squatted with his brothers—Emma, Ifeanyi, and Innocent—before moving in with his late friend, Ifeanyi Fredrick Amah, in 2008. During this period, he dabbled into welding, gradually growing his income. Then came a turning point.

On August 30, 2008, Ejiofor used his savings to start a football viewing center at No. 7 Philip Oyia Street, near Machine Spare Parts Market in Nkpor. Charging N50 per customer, the business picked up fast, earning him consistent daily profits.

By 2009, Ejiofor had made enough to rent his own one-room apartment at No. 6 Nwakaobi Street, opposite United Primary School, Nkpor. That same year, he bought his first plot of land at Rock View Estate, Nkwelle Ezunanka, in Oyi LGA. The milestones kept coming.

In 2010, he hit his first million in profits and celebrated it by purchasing a motorcycle for N50,000. “I promised myself that my business must hit one million before I bought a motorcycle,” he recalled.

A year later, he acquired another plot of land at Ogbe Ndida, Umusome, in Nkpor. And in 2012, he ventured into the construction business by buying a tipper truck—yet another bold leap forward.

Ejiofor didn’t limit himself to business. In 2015, he featured in a film titled Gilbert Nwa Nsukka, using the platform to draw attention to the poor road infrastructure in Uzo Uwani LGA, Enugu State.

By 2017, he had completed his first major real estate project—a storey building in Nkpor. And on New Year’s Day 2018, Ejiofor launched the Igbos Love Themselves Charity Foundation, an initiative that has reportedly saved over 6,000 lives. In 2021, the foundation sponsored two sick children—Odinaka Nwaeke from Ebonyi and Obinna Anozie from Imo—to India for life-saving surgeries.

The year 2022 saw the birth of Akubueze Housing Estate, one of Anambra’s fastest-growing estates, founded by Ejiofor. He expanded his philanthropy into healthcare in 2024 with the establishment of Omenala Hospital and Maternity. And in January 2025, he marked yet another milestone with the housewarming of a four-storey mansion in Onitsha.

Ejiofor, now a beacon of hope for many aspiring entrepreneurs, attributes his success to self-discipline, sacrifice, and consistency. “You must remain strong and think positively. Be truthful and keep working hard. That’s the only way to win,” he advised Nigerian youth.

His journey from a N15,000 settlement to owning properties, estates, and a hospital is a striking testament to the power of determination and resilience.