The common saying that ‘little drops of water make a mighty ocean’ clearly explains the life of Mr. Jon Tudy Kachikwu; an indigene of Onicha – Ugbo, Delta State whose rise from grass to grace has become a study in hard work. Born in 1958 at Onitsha, Anambra State to Onicha – Ugbo parents, Kachikwu had relocated to Lagos soon after his early education to seek the golden fleece.
In 1975, he attended the Federal Technical College, Yaba where he was awarded a City and Guilds Certification in Building Technology – and would later (in 2009), obtain a BA (Hons) in Philosophy from University of Lagos. Remarkably while he was studying at the Federal Technical College Kachikwu had ventured into business with a capital of N80, hawking clothes on the busy streets of Marina. Having saved up money from several years of street hawking, he began importing leather belts from Italy until its ban by the Military Government.
Consequently, he started importing printing plates from George Stanley, UK and later, bond/ bank printing papers from Brazil. In 1985, he formally established Jon Tudy Interbiz (Nig) Ltd and commenced exporting Nigerian Guinness and Palm Wine to the UK and USA. Having garnered technical experience in the export business, he decided to focus on food processing and export of Nigerian staples, particularly to the USA and Canada. To this end, he set up a farm and food processing plant in Ejeme-Unor, Delta State and also incorporated an affiliate Company, Jon Tudy Interbiz Corp, in USA.
Mr. Kachikwu was the Chairman, Small and Medium Enterprises and Distributions Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry where he championed various laudable initiatives such as programme sponsorship and training of SMEs by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), facilitation of discounted NAFDAC approvals for SMEs products amongst others. He served on the Membership and Welfare Committee, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Delta State Cassava Commercialization Committee – under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Asaba. Owing to his experience in Agriculture, he was engaged as a Consultant to the Nigerian Army Farms, Lagos, a position he held for several years.
He is the Chairman, Small and Medium Enterprises and Distributions Group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry where he championed various laudable initiatives such as programme sponsorship and training of SMEs by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), facilitation of discounted NAFDAC approvals for SMEs products amongst others. He served on the Membership and Welfare Committee, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Delta State Cassava Commercialization Committee – under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Asaba. Owing to his experience in Agriculture, he was engaged as a Consultant to the Nigerian Army Farms, Lagos, a position he held for several years.
