As a businessman who has demonstrated that success is not biased to a particular business sector or environment. Considering the very fact of his uncommon acumen coupled with his inspirational business story which has proven that all genuine enterprises are capable of bringing fortune to the practitioners with innovation and foresight. For being the leader in his industry as well as for turning burials to a glamorous event that has created thousands of jobs for our people, Dr. Kevin Chukwumobi is ANAMBRA PERSON OF THE WEEK.
Dr Kevin Chukwumobi is an accomplished entrepreneur who has redefined his industry and left an indelible mark in the sands of time. Who could have ever imagined that a man can amass great fortune by mere funeral undertaking? How can one see opportunities and wealth in the art of carrying corpse and celebrating the dead? The story of this entrepreneurial genius will be told as one of the most inspiring deeds of our time by generations to come. Never has one man redefined and dominated a sector of business the way Dr. Chukwumobi did in the funeral industry.
In the past 28 years, Dr. Kevin Chukwumobi has demonstrated all the tenets of entrepreneurship; innovation, creativity, grit, focus and leadership. He has inspired a huge number of young and aspiring entrepreneurs who see in him the art of doing the impossible, the power of belief and the passion of believing in the beauty of one’s dreams.
Today, Apams Ltd is the number one market leader in the funeral undertaking business in Nigeria with branches almost at all the major cities within the southern part of the country,Lagos State and the FCT. The company has staff strength of over 700 people working directly as employees and thousands of jobs have also been created along the value chain. It was Apams that introduced the use of helicopters and chariots to convey the dead in the country and that innovation has brought about the glamour and panache that has taken over the funeral undertaking business. APAMS boss believes in the philosophy of celebrating the dead. To him, the dead deserves a beautiful journey to the great beyond and this philosophy reflects in the ideas and innovations in building of the Apams brand.
Recently, Dr. Kevin Chukwumobi unveiled the ultramodern headquarters of the Apams Ltd at Onitsha. A state-of-the-art edifice that embodies corporate offices, conference room, show rooms for caskets and an elevator that helps access the gigantic building. The edifice which is estimated to have gulped money running into several hundred millions naira is a symbol of accomplishment, genuine entrepreneurship and a bold statement to the fact “That nothing is impossible”.
There is no doubt whatsoever that Dr. Chukwumobi has arrived; this is because he has paid his dues having started from the scratch with all the associated difficulties to the era of breakthrough . His success in the industry has earned him over 100 awards and even an honorary doctorate degree. Dr. Kevin Chukwumobi is our own hero, an inspiration to a generation looking for a role model. It is imperative the society continues to celebrate such heroes and see ways they could be immortalized. The time is ripe for a national honor in respect of Dr. Kevin Chukwumobi’s distinct contribution to his country through genuine entrepreneurship rooted in innovation and integrity.