Edward Onoja’s instinctive ability to recognise greatness in the ordinary seems to be domiciled in his Eyeballs. He’s got eyes to see eagles in seemingly ordinary birds, Big Ventures in mere businesses. I will explain more on this and where he took from before the end of this write-up.

The man Edward Onoja is naturally endowed with the ability to unveil and nurture the eagles in eaglets. He is a man of high heights. All he needs to see is promise of potentials and he does his best to propel an individual to become the best version of themself. I discovered this about him since 2004 when I began working with him.

Once, he invited me to his barbershop located at Lugard Road by Sabon Gari Primary School Junction, Lokoja. Halley’s Place Barbers Shop was the pacesetter in men’s grooming business at the time in Lokoja with 2 other branches at Destiny Plaza, Ganaja Junction and 200 Housing Estate along Kesty.

As the Chief Executive Officer, he needed publicity for the business, so that the populace would be aware of its services and locations. He had already made preparation for a street to street, office to office kind of road show. Bundles of posters and flyers had arrived from Abuja with top-notch, one-of-its-kind graphic design at the time. It was all olive green, white and black – which are the company’s main colours. We created a mascot with inspiration from the colors. Trucks and cars were on ground, the Disk Jockey was set, our dancers and flyer distributors were all on hand. Also available were NYSC Corps members, volunteering colleagues, family and friends. The event took place and it was so much fun. It was huge; it was marketing and publicity at its best.

Halley’s place became a household name in Kogi State. Members of the bourgeois class could not cut their hair in their LGAs except they got to Lokoja. Attached to the headquarters is the huge library resource department attach to the departments. The branches grew from 3 to 8.

Nataco Junction- Afobaje filling Station shopping complex now AA Rano.
Opposite International Market, Felele now Felele Terminal
Halley’s place Executive attached to Barracuda Night Club at Zabham Plaza along Lugard Road

Destiny Plaza, Ganaja Junction

200 housing estate, along Kesty

Maiyaki plaza, mami market along Army barracks, Lokoja

Genesis Plaza, opposite Midi T.

500 Housing Unit among others.

One remarkable attributes of this hair cut business as set up by Edward Onoja is the quality of Staff and the staff motivation and mobilisation packages.

The maiden road show for Halley’s Place was directed by me. We had a break from school (UNILORIN) at 200 level(2004) it gave me that opportunity to participate in the capacity I worked in. That marked our first working relationship.

I left for school and never showed up till I was done with NYSC in 2008 when I approached him for a job opportunity. He gave One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira to get a bike and duly register the bike. Then, take over the management of Halley’s Place Barbers Shop. It was for me very huge coming out from NYSC and within Lokoja. It was not just possible for you to get such a private offer in Kogi State at that time.

Little did we understand his employment modules cutting across tribe, religion and class as personified and embedded in him. It always takes time to follow in his footsteps because they are always big. His idea of unveiling packages is systematical, logical, analytical and practical.

Edward Onoja has a had a vision of what a working Kogi State should be since 2004. In Alhaji Yahaya Bello, he saw a man whose vision and world view aligned with his. This counts for why he threw his weight behind AYB to become GYB and has been an embodiment of unalloyed loyalty and unshakable dependability. Just as he has been for me since 2004 till date.