‘I used to be an errand boy that washed cars’ — Chris Erondu, ‘De Vogue’ Boss

He has the mindset of just setting up a bar to start-with ,  chairs and table for people to sit and drinks in any environment God gives him, at least to realize his dream. Today Chris Erondu owns a Nite Club in cozy area of Opebi with  world class facilities that can stand the best anywhere. Recently, this socialite  reopens the former popular Page Nite club now transformed into ‘De Vogue’ , Erondu who also into hospitality told us the story of how he started from nothing to his present comfortable stage.
 
 
Q  How did the you begin your life journey as a man who wanted to be successful
 
ANS   The urge to be successful in life will make you work very hard and am still working hard till now, when you talk about success in life it get to a stage when you will feel contended with what you have, that is the ultimate
 
Q  But were you sure of what to do to be successful then?
 
ANS  My Dad taught me that hardwork will make be successful, I have always wanted to be in the entertainment business, when I was growing up in Port Harcout, I was staying with one of my Uncle, Mr Dennis Anaba, I looked up to him his a very hardworking and straight forward person. Close to his office then, there was a Hotel where lots of artiste use to come, at a point I get closer to some of them, the more I get closer to them the more I get interest in what they are doing, so I started having it at the back of my mind that this is what I will do
 
Q  Did you tell your Parent then or who did you tell?
 
ANS You should no that those days you cannot tell that to your parent, what you want to do might not be suitable to your Parent, I perceived they might not like it, so could not tell them, because of the way you were brought up, you have that fear for your parent. The only people I discussed it with then were some of my friends that  comes to the Hotel then, I use to ask them how can I go about it if I want to go into entertainment. I remember they use to advise me that you need to start from somewhere and put more interest at the long run you will achieve it, thank God that is what we are witnessing today.
 
Q  At that point did you thought of how you are going to get fund for such big project?
 
ANS  I never bothered myself about money then, I just want to keep nurturing the ambition, having it at the back of my mind that one day I will invest in entertainment, may be just to start a little like a bar, put some chairs down, let people eat and enjoy. So I know if I can start like that I will grow
 
Q  When did you made your first million in life?
 
ANS  When I first came to Lagos , I joined the car business, because I love cars very well but I don’t have money to start buying and selling on my own, what I do then is to run around for people that sells. If I can be able to convince customer to buy from one place or the other then I can have my commission too. I started like that not until I got one or two client  that bought directly from me and I made some good thousands , it was the thousands that grew to be a million, not as if I made million at a go.
 
Q  But when did you count the first million?
 
ANS  It was about that time, I remember I use to join money with other friends to buy car and sell, it was a long time in the late 80’s because I came to Lagos to start business in 1986
 
Q So when was your turning point in your business life?
 
ANS  When I came to Lagos I approach that my uncle that I said earlier, I told him of my desire to go further in the car business that I needed some money, he obliged and gave me some money to join with what I have, there I was very happy and started on my own, buy and resell cars. Then fairly used cars called (Tokunbo cars) was selling very well unlike now that lots of people prefer to buy brand new cars. If you go to Cotonou to bring in 4cars then, within 2days , you will sell it. So the business was growing for us, those were  early 90’s .
 
Q  Who were the people that believed in you to succeed in that business?
 
ANS  The only person that believed in you was that my uncle that gave me the initial capital, though I never approach people for money, it was him that I approached , have lived with him for sometime then so he knew how hardworking I am, I knew he believed in me that’s why he gave me the money
 
Q What were the challenges that goes along with the job then?
 
ANS  Its funny now, because I remember it was very expensive for you to bring in cars through the normal route, so we try to pass  through areas where the customs will not see us, may be the bush or so, it was a big challenge because it want easy then, we could not afford passing the normal route. Again, there are some cars that were very old that you will buy with mindset that when you bring them here , you can spend few money to repair them and resell but you found out that it becomes loss for you at the end. So its better you buy the first grade that you don’t need to spend money on.
 
Q  How were you able to build on these challenges to become successful in life?
 
ANS We were selling lots of cars then, people were really patronizing Tokunbo cars, so made lots of money those period, gradually I build up my capital
 
Q    What regret do you have in life generally?
 
ANS  I cant really say I have any regret because, when you look at my age mate many are not close to where I am today
 
Q   Which business would love to do now outside Entertainment and hospitality?
 
ANS  If I had the money would have love to go back to car business but this time around as dealer that sells brand new cars because the Tokunbo cars are not selling like before again, people prefer to buy new cars now
Q     How do you plan your time with couple of business that you have and also spend time with your family?
 
ANS  My business is time consuming no doubt about that, but I always dedicate good  time for my family since I have capable hand to manage the businesses.
 
Q   Your business as a Club owner goes along with women, how do you cope as a responsible family man?
 
ANS  My wife knows me very well, she knows the business I do, she do act somehow at times which is normal for a wife that likes his husband, but she understand better now. She use to ask before that , how do I cope with all these women around  the club, but she has realize the truth now. For me I don’t have any personal with any women that comes around, mine is strictly business, I don’t have any personal interest in anybody.
 
Q  Do you see any of your kid taking interest in entertainment industry?
 
ANS I have seen in one of my children, she has shown some interest in going into the entertainment business and am ready to support her because I don’t see anything wrong in it., if she chose to do that, I will support her fully.
 
Q  Who has really got you inspired in the business world in Nigeria ?
 
ANS I cant remember anybody that Aliko Dangote, I still wonder how he manages all his businesses , he his really genius, I feel if I work hard the way have been doing I may end up like him
 
Q  Which other industry do you want to invest in at the moment?
 
ANS  Am planning to go into Oil and Gas business soon, am already working on it when it get started you will know.
 
Q  How fair is your Hotel doing considering the caliber of Hotels in Ikeja and Opebi axis of the state?
 
ANS The Hotel is one of the best in the area, though its just 14-room space but it was tastefully structured with class for the high , am already planning to build the one that will be more spacious , by God grace it will come to a reality soon.