The Entrepreneurial Legacy of Chief Stephen A. Ekpenike
By Kede Aihie
I was having a nostalgic chat with a friend (Rufus) about our parents’ generation, which dove-tailed into his late father’s entrepreneurial journey, and I thought it should be documented. Chief Stephen A. Ekpenike, a pioneering entrepreneur, left an indelible mark on the business landscape. Born in 1930, Chief Ekpenike’s journey began in Agbor before he moved to Benin City in 1956 with his older brother.
He started his career buying rubber and gradually built his business empire. In 1959, he and his supportive wife, Mrs. Victoria Ekpenike, began trading in second-hand clothing at Oba Market and later opened a shop on Lagos Street. This marked the beginning of his diverse business ventures, which included selling tyres at 51 Mission Road (formerly Yakubu Gowon Road) in Benin City. He partnered with companies like GBO Olivant, a British firm, to sell Dunlop tyres and acquired car dealerships for Peugeot vehicles, previously selling Marina and Lada vehicles through CFAO. Additionally, he sold Raleigh bicycles and Honda motorcycles.
As his business grew, Chief Ekpenike expanded into other areas, earning the nickname “Charity from Agbor” due to his generosity to traders in Oba Market in the 1960s. He would often allow people to ride with his taxi drivers for free if they couldn’t afford to pay. This reputation inspired the name of his transport company, Charity Transport Service (CTS), which operated lorries and trailers. Furthermore, he started cold room businesses at Efehi in New Benin and Oliha Market in 1979 and formed supply chain partnerships with companies like AJ Seward, Bewac, and John Holt.
Throughout his career, Chief Ekpenike had loyal employees, including drivers who would earn extra income by transporting goods on return trips. Despite facing challenges, he built a successful enterprise, creating numerous employment opportunities that enabled many of his employees to build properties and educate their children. His investments in real estate, including a big property at Ikpoba slope that he moved into after the Nigerian civil war, left a lasting legacy that continues to endure.
Chief Ekpenike’s business acumen and resilience enabled him to build a thriving enterprise, and his remarkable story serves as a testament to the power of entrepreneurship, hard work, and generosity. Chief Stephen A. Ekpenike passed away in 2018 at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire.
