Sonaira Business world came from a brainwave, says CEO

 

The seemingly exotic brand name of Sonaira Business World, Nigeria’s leading retail business, was not a product of lengthy deliberation, but rather a coinage arrived at on the spur of the moment, revealed the CEO of the company, Sonia Omon-Obehi Ovuehor.

“My name is Sonia and my nicknames have always started with ‘So’ –Soneebee, So’diva, So’babe, So’mama and so on,” she explained. “So, when starting this business, I sought my friend’s opinion and he suggested that I shouldn’t use any of my nicknames. But I always wanted to include a currency symbol in my official business name; so we tried Sopounds and Sodollars but none rhymed better than SoNaira with the Naira representing our Nigerian currency.”

Sonia Omon-Obehi Ovuehor continued: “Later on, I discovered that Sonaira is an Indian-Pakistani name meaning variously “Pleasant sound,” Good luck” and “Era of the sun.” I couldn’t have wished for better meaning.”

On what distinguishes Sonaira Business World as a brand, she avowed: “Our products cater to the needs of everyone on a budget. Secondly, we offer opportunities to people to earn as they resell or refer others. We also take our clients seriously and consider their interests first before making reforms.”

While it started in 2017 as beauty, health and fashion retail business, Sonaira Business World, which operates online and offline, has expanded into real estate management, sales and supply of construction equipment, local and international trade and global courier and logistics services.

How Sonia Omon-Obehi Ovuehor had grown Sonaira Business World into a force to reckon with is a feat that did not surprise many observers as she had built an unassailable track record over time, winning several awards as a testament to her business acumen. Her slew of awards includes Most Aspiring Realtor 2017 and Pan African Institute’s 2014 Award for Excellence and Innovation. The Sonaira Business World CEO was also twice a recipient of Award for Excellence from Smart Woman Nigeria Network in 2013 and 2019.

For Ovuehor, the success of Sonaira Business World notwithstanding, it is not yet time to rest on her oars, not untill she achieves her ultimate objective, which she concisely defined: “I envision Sonaira Business World becoming a household brand.”