The Chairman of Starzs Investments Company Limited (SICL), Engr. Greg Ogbeifun, has attributed the success of his company to divine intervention.
Ogbeifun stated this on Saturday at a Thanksgiving Service in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, commencing a week-long programme of activities to celebrate SICL 40th anniversary.
Founded in 1986 the shipping mogul and maritime professional, Engr. Greg Ogbeifun, Starzs Investments has grown to become one of Nigeria’s foremost indigenous ship owning companies.
Speaking during the thanksgiving service, which attracted an assembly of clergymen, music ministers, staff, family members, friends and well-wishers, the founder and Chairman of the Starzs Group, Engr. Ogbeifun, said that the company’s success in the past four decades, was possible because of God’s faithfulness and genuine Christian values upon which the organisation was built.
He recounted his journey and the ordeals adding that God has been the reason for his success.
The Thanksgiving Service featured soul-lifting worship and praise sessions led by gospel artiste Moses Bliss, the Afiba Music Academy Choir, and Minister Emmanuel, who ministered to the congregation in an atmosphere of gratitude and celebration.
Thoughtful and humble, the revered shipping magnate however declined to begin his speech, until the company’s first staff, simply, Sister Helen, was invited to the limelight.
“Helen is my first staff, from 1987. Up till then, I was a one-man company.
“I just want to thank God, over the last 40 years,” he said, stressing that the men of God who spoke earlier in hymns and songs while attendees danced, had hit the nails on the head.
“They’ve said it all. I am glad to listen. I just want to say God, I bless you!
“But, was it easy? Did I have capital? Did I have a vehicle? We started with nothing. First of July, 1986”, he remarked, dovetailing into a history of remarkable perseverance, faith and discipline. He recalled a history that actually began on the street, with only his brain, his faith, his grit and about a hundred Naira in the pocket.
“I want to just talk about the beginning. I won’t say much more…”, and then, unveiled a story of a determined son of a poor Carpenter and a petty trading mother, who got a wonderful opportunity to be trained abroad, emerged the highest Nigerian in a British company.
The opportunity was unfolding. The company had decided to send him to the UK for two years of post-posting, and he would come back to become the general manager of the company.
To him it was an answered prayer. He therefore, sold everything he had, rushed down to Benin, and built a small hut, to provide reasonable shelter for the poor parents. Mentally and emotionally, he was now set for the trip.
But, two days before the trip, he was invited to the office, and forced to resign his appointment.
“Two days before then, they called me, that I should come back. Somehow, I said okay. I was confused. So I went to my office. Don’t forget that I was one of the highest Nigerian people there.” he stated, explaining that amidst the shock and confusion, he took his pen, resigned after a mild drama; and collected a Social Security that was handed over to him.
Ironically, in that crucible of fire, was the foundation of his future success baked.
“At that time, I needed to believe God. God was no longer a name or game,” Ogbeifun stated, and cautioned Christians against believing that God exists or answers prayers only when things go as they wish.
The Company according to him, would not have survived the travails and challenges of the past 40 years, without divine intervention and guidance. He recounted his journey and the ordeals and asserted that God has been the reason for his success.
Unexpectedly too, it was within the five years down the lane, that he got born again! A period marked by God’s unique Mercies, guidance and faithfulness.
“That’s the message. How many times did I fall? So many times. How many times did I have depression? So many times.
“It’s so easy to remember the previous days. How many times did I weep? Don’t forget that I had nothing. It was like I was taken to school”, he posited, charging anyone going into business in Nigeria, particularly the youths to first mentally prepare adequately, against the temptation of wanting to cut corners!
“Nigeria is a difficult place to survive in terms of business.
“The system makes you to fail. The biggest thing that will however make you fail is not to be true to yourself. How many times did they try to lure me with sweet things from the world? Illegal things that will only bring you temporary reliefs”
“Let me say that again. So, five years down the line, I got born again. And I thought it was two years after being born again, that I lost everything. So in two years, I lost everything.
“So I went to (God) Him. I said to Him, but when I was a non-believer, I was making so much money. And now, how can this be happening? And that was when He started talking to me, for the first time!”
And God to him:
“I told you that you were going to lose everything. I was going to empty you out and start a new walk.
“That is the walk we are still doing now,” Ogbeifun said with all sincerity and humility, Praising God with genuine emotion.
“Father, I give you all the glory. I give you the entire honor. I give you all the adoration.
“In 40 years’ time, I don’t want to be here. I want to be in a better place. But in 40 years’ time, all of you (the staff/ audience), most of you will be here.
“And you will be doing 40 times greater than what I am doing, in Jesus’ name,” he prayed.
Speaking earlier, the General Overseer of the multi-million Dollar Cathedral, the King’s Assembly, Pastor Chris Ugoh, had prayed for both SICL and its founder and Chairman, Engr. Greg Ogbeifun, stressing that 40 years is both symbolic and noteworthy.
“Today we would like to celebrate the visionary chairman that God has used to give birth to this vision,” Pastor Chris said, stressing the need to honour God in the life of the Chairman.
“Because you didn’t have everything when you were starting, that’s why I usually encourage visionaries. Especially, because of the future and people that are going to be counting on our success, we must not give up.”
He compared the Chairman’s efforts to that of good mothers, whose strong faith often mastermind their sacrificial instincts, to nurture kids till they become somebody.
“You see mothers, mothers have captured it…See all the sacrifices they do. Weeping may be all, for a night but in the morning, that same child turns around and he is great all over the world!
“So they bear the pain, they bear the disappointments, they bear the pressure. So as we celebrate today, let’s salute the chairman, the visionary leader. Let’s do it together!”
Shortly after, the Centre, Guided by revered men of God, began an inspired bouts of prayers for the STARZS Investment Company Ltd SICL, its founder and Chairman, the Management and the Staff.
The thanksgiving service thoroughly featured soul-lifting worship and praise sessions, led by gospel artiste Moses Bliss, the Afiba Music Academy Choir, and Minister Emmanuel, who ministered to the congregation in an atmosphere of gratitude and ecstasy.
The anniversary celebration is expected to continue throughout the week with a series of activities commemorating the company’s four decades of operations and contributions to Nigeria’s maritime and business sectors.
