By EBELE ORAKPO
As statistics have shown, malaria kills one million people each year, including 300,000 Nigerians. It has also been shown that malaria is responsible for about 66 per cent of all clinic visits in Nigeria with the negative implications on the nation’s economy.

As a result, government, corporate bodies and individuals have been doing all in their power to stop the menace.

For instance, the Federal Government is currently collaborating with international organisations, including the World Bank, World Health Organisation, UNDP and UNICEF on the Roll Back Malaria campaign.

One individual that has been passionate about preventive health care which he believes is better and more effective than cure is Mr. James Ukagha, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Junic and Sons Enterprises Nigeria Limited based in Aba, Abia State. Perhaps, the saying that necessity is the mother of invention led to the discovery and production of Grey Horse Oil by Mr. Ukagha.

In a chat with Vanguard in Lagos, Ukagha spoke on how he ventured into the business, the challenges and his dream for the future.

After his primary school education before the Nigerian Civil war, Mr. James Ukagha had to wait until the war which lasted for three years, ended before he proceeded to secondary school. At the end of his secondary school education, he sat for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board exam to enable him gain admission into the university.

Unfortunately, that was not to be as he was unable to pass the exam. So instead of wasting more time and resources trying to pass JAMB, he decided to use his God-given talent.

“ I went into business, producing different things. I started producing and selling artificial flowers and from artificial flowers, I got into wedding accessories, making coat brooches for men and other accessories.”

From beautifying the environment and people, Ukagha went into improving the health of the people and their environment. “In year 2000, I started the production of grey horse oil which got government approval in 2001 and I was asked to start producing in commercial quantity,” he said.

According to the Aba-based entrepreneur, he went into production of grey horse oil in order to help elderly people whom he discovered easily fell prey to diseases. But along the line, he felt the product could help not just the elderly but everyone.

“Later, I discovered it should not just be for elderly people but for everyone. People were buying because the product was good for them. There are many advantages of using grey horse oil. The first thing a user will notice is the absence of mosquitoes and other disease vectors in the environment.

Secondly, people within that environment will notice improvement in their health because there will be nothing to make them sick or lethargic. For a lot of people, before they get up from bed in the morning, they notice they are very weak without knowing the reason.

So because of this oil which they introduce into their kerosene lamp and allow the lantern burn throughout the night, they notice that when they wake up in the morning, they are agile and feel lively.

If you have elderly people in the village who use grey horse oil, when they wake up in the morning, they wake up agile and strong. They will never complain of weakness or lethargy because of this oil,” he stated, adding that the oil, apart from killing mosquitoes, also keeps other disease vectors out of the environment.

Describing the product as not only cheap and safe but more environment-friendly than other mosquito repellents. It also purifies the air so that users breathe clean air.

The oil which he says he extracts from some species of natural flowers which he then mixes with kerosene, has no side effects on users as it does not leave the user with headache, catarrh or cough.

Speaking on the amount of money he started the business with, Mr. Ukagha noted said:  “Well, I cannot say the actual amount I started out with and how much I have spent so far. It was a lot of struggle at the initial stage. All I know is that any I was investing gradually, little by little.”

When reminded that it is unhealthy to sleep with a kerosene lantern on due to carbon monoxide emissions, he said with the grey horse oil in the kerosene, there is no negative effect on health.

On the challenges facing the business, the Junic and Sons Enterprises Nigeria Limited boss said the major challenge has always been funds. “Getting enough funds to keep the business going has been the major challenge but we are gradually overcoming that challenge as our  products are loved by many people. Those who have used the product always come back to encourage us.”

Ukagha plans to open a sales outlet in Lagos and other major cities in Nigeria for easier access to the products so that people would not have to travel down to Abia State before they can get the products. He added that he envisions Junic and Sons Enterprises Nigeria Limited having a national spread in the next few years.