Meet the Anambra man who owns one of the biggest superstores in Nigeria
Who would have believed that Roban Stores started as a gift store? Well, that was how this great superstore of our time began. The roots of Roban Stores trace back to when Chief Robert Anwatu had the idea of opening a shop where people could go into and get souvenirs and gift items for their loved ones. He called it Robnat Gift. This was in 1985 when he was doing business in Benin, Edo state capital. Later on, incorporation happened and the name was changed to Ultimate Gifts Ltd. He got another store in Warri to expand the business but this second store didn’t survive. In 1990, he decided to change his base from Edo to the Coal City capital. Nine years down the line, the business changed location within the same Enugu but this time, there was a change of name. Roban Stores!
It was no longer just a gift store; they had started selling groceries but their capacity was still small.
It is one thing to have a business and be called a businessman and it is another thing to be business minded. Some people find themselves in businesses but they do not have the business model for the sector they are into. The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Roban Stores, Sir Robert Anwatu, is a businessman who is also business-minded. He has the right model set for his business. He is an accountant with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Arkansas, United States of America.
In 2009, they ventured into furniture and expansion continued. Later on, they added farm produces to the store which had blown into a superstore. The bakery followed and their buds kept blossoming. Today, Roban Stores is the shopping mall that has found its way to the lips of both young and old.
They have the biggest of the stores in Awka, Anambra state capital. This store is close to Aroma and Unizik junction. People frequent there to shop every day except on Sundays. Their bread have the captivating power of drawing people from different parts of Eastern Nigeria.
They also have a superstore in Abakiliki, Ebonyi state, and the most recent one is in Nnewi. Chief Robert thought it was a good idea to open such a mall in his hometown. This is the first of its kind in the town.
Roban Stores offer excellent services. Their staff record and customer service is deserving of some accolades. They spell quality and taste. They have such a great range of products from food items to clothing to electricals to groceries and almost anything you could get in a market. Surprisingly, their prices are affordable and sometimes even cheaper than you would get in an open market.
Sir Robert Anwatu has done magic with Roban Stores. The superstore is an arm of Roban group. They also have Roban Hotels.
