If I Lose Everything, I'll Start by Washing 40 Cars Daily: Sujimoto CEO

Sijibomi Ogundele, the CEO of Sujimoto Group, has detailed a hypothetical strategy for rebuilding his fortune if he were to lose everything in Nigeria. In a widely circulated interview, Ogundele asserted that his first step would be to secure funds for basic needs before venturing into business.

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If I had to start from zero, no matter where I am, but if I’m starting in Nigeria without anything, without connections, the first thing I’ll do is raise money because you have to eat before you survive.

"If I had to start from zero... the first thing I’ll do is raise money because you have to eat before you survive," he stated. Ogundele envisions starting a car-washing service, emphasizing diligence and quality. He plans to wash between 30 and 40 cars daily, charging for the service to generate income.

He estimates that washing 30-40 cars per day could yield approximately ₦40,000 daily, translating to about ₦1.2 million monthly. Ogundele suggested that this income could support employing other workers and expanding the operation to multiple locations, potentially generating up to ₦6 million per month with five employees.

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I’ll start washing people’s cars. I’ll buy good, powerful washing materials. I won’t wash for free because I have to earn money, but I’ll be diligent. I’ll wash the car clean, clean the inside and make everything spotless. Maybe I’ll wash 30 to 40 cars a day.

Following the successful establishment of a car wash business and accumulation of capital, Ogundele plans to diversify. His next venture would be the food business, involving purchasing and selling produce like tomatoes and onions, potentially sourcing directly from northern Nigeria. This approach, he believes, reflects the entrepreneurial spirit of starting small and growing sustainably.

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If I earn ₦40,000 a day, that’s about ₦1.2 million a month. Then if I have five boys, that’s about ₦6 million a month. Those boys, I’ll be giving them half the money while I do the coordinating, and I’ll have them in different locations.