I am fulfilled at 50 — Chief Odobeatu O’JEZ BOSS

The brand O’jez no doubt have become a household name in Nigeria Entertainment and Restaurant, what many do not know is the brain behind it.

Chief Joseph Odobeatu  is the Boss of O’jez Group, a brand that has honored several prominent Nigerians who are doing very well in their area of endeavour at the lively O’jez Restaurant inside National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos .  The amiable businessman clocked the age of 50years and was utterly grateful to be in good health at te Golden jubilee age.
 
Q  How do you feel now that you have attained the age of 50 considering that its been a long journey?
 
ANS  I thank God for my life , I fill very fulfilled in life not everybody have the grace to reach the age of 50, most importantly when you remember that you are very healthy and you can see your children and family growing than, you must give God the grace. The journey is not always easy, when you are 50years you tend to see things in different perspective and take things very easy.  Experience wise, we have seen a lot and we are still there.
 
Q Did you think you have been able to attained some of the target you set for yourself while you where growing up#
 
ANS  For me I think I have superceded all my target in life, if you realize the kind of background you grew from, our target were not that too big but today I have gone beyone it, that is why I keep thanking God. Yous look at your children , family looking healthy and you are contended with how your business is growing despite all the challenges , why wont you be happy and you go to bed happy everyday. O’ jez brand has been a household name, it just started like a childsplay and today we are growing stronger. Talk about Ojez Entertainment, Restaurant & Eatery, the standard we have set is to lead and let others follow and it has been like that, for us to have been long in the business and still  waxing stronger we give God the glory
 
Q  How can you describe the transformation that O’jez has experience over the years
 
ANS    Before O’jez  started in Iwaya, there use to be some few Bar that are popular but at times goes on they faded away, I think that was when we begin O’jez in Iwaya which was like an haven for top celebrities then. The birth of O’jez at the National Stadium was a bomb, people love our services, it became the best hang-out for everybody dignitaries, captains of industry made O’jez there favorite to relax after days job. Our success in the Music and Entertainment in general was a landmark its because anytime we delve into something we try and make it the best. When we release ‘Oruka Ti D’owo na’by Sunny Nnaji it was a hit song, those are the kind of pace we love to set for other to follow. Soon we are going to be coming out with O’jez branded product, you will be seeing branded O’jez Fast-food everywhere now, that’s the next level we are going very soon. We will make sure before other who are trying to meet the standard of Ojez Restaurant could come near us, we would have moved up to where people will be buying our other product
 
Q  Some people when they attained a certain age like 50year, they will tell you they are going to  drop some of their habit, do you have some habit of yours you wanted to drop?
 
ANS I don’t really think I have, I started as a shoe-maker, from nothing now have met lot of people in the course of growing in business, I remember I met one Mr Newman, he was 51year old then in 1987, that was in UK, he was the one that came to Airport to pick me, he advice me a lot, to be the kind of man i am at anytime. Since then I have always remain my self, I don’t know what I should drop from my ways of life, should I drop playing Table Tennis, or should I stop going to monitor my business. That is why some people they believe they have arrived, they leave their business for people without monitoring and later the business will start crumbling, I cant stop resuming in my office by 7;30am that am used to, its been part of me and my body is still very like before.
 
Q  Does that mean you do not have age limit to  quit the business or letting your children takeover?
 
ANS My son is grown up and is already in the business acquiring knowledge , I am ready giving him assignment on the job, this is the time I need to make use of all the experience have gathered over the years and impact it to build other people. That is why you will see my son will be very active in the new level O’jez is moving to
 
Q While you are very young, who are those people that actually influenced yourlife?
 
ANS  I remember I use to see my mother going to Onitsha to trade , she was very hardworking , she really train me in te rudiment of trading, that was what why when I started my own small business as a shoemaker made a vow that I must be successful in life. Seeing the likes of Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga and the rest now tells you that its not finish until its finish you must keep on moving , these people have been trying to contribute to our economy, we need to export our own thins too not only bring in what they have abroad. That is why we also have O’jez Ghana and we are moving to other countries too, if I have only 400 workers today, it has to me times too when you talk about people that am caring for, so I keep thanking God and we want people to invest more in Nigeria
 
Q  Whats is your greatest achievement in life in your 50years on earth?
 
Ans   I will say it’s the good health I have now and looking at my Children and wife , they are my greatest gift of life, not until I own a private jet or buy best cars in this world, when I look at what God has done for me , am very contended, my son is in his early 20s and he has his Masters already from a reputable school
 
Q So , did you really have a  regret in life\?
 
ANS  I wont say it’s a regret, its challenges which will make you stronger, I was the first person to bring CD Company to Nigeria but my business partner played on my intelligent. Have forgotten that and its make me a better man today
 
Q  If there are somethings you will love to achieve in life which are yet to get, what are those things?
 
ANS  I want to continue impacting on people’’s life, have doing that I wanted to do more, by way of continuing with my Age-grade competition in Table Tennis so that we can build talent and take lots of children who are talented off the street. Sport can create lots of chances for people as well as create employment
 
Q  What is the newest thing to expect from O’JEZ Stable?
 
ANS  I have said it, in about 6month from now lots of our product will be everywhere, I wont let cat out of the bag yet but people should watchout for O’jez  fastfood too.