Tampa firm connects with Nigeria

Tampa entrepreneur Josiah Osibodu discovered a wealth of opportunities in a foreign economy that grew nearly 8% last year.

The catch is that Osibodu had to go halfway across the world, to his native Nigeria, for the discovery. Even so, Osibodu is the latest Gulf Coast business owner to seek opportunities overseas.

Osibodu's business, Osibodu & Associates Exporting USA, is also in position to benefit from good timing. Nigeria is one of the most populated countries in Africa according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Plus, its economy, with 7.85% growth last year, is one of fastest-growing economies on the continent. That growth, says Osibodu, means the West African nation is in need of construction materials — something in abundance in Florida.

“There are huge infrastructure needs going on in Nigeria,” Osibodu tells Coffee Talk.

Osibodu aims to meet those demands with his startup export business, which he launched late last year. Osibodu has lived in America for 25 years, and he recently relocated to Tampa from Pittsburgh. He was a CPA for a global accounting firm prior to Osibodu & Associates.

The firm's first shipment of building and construction materials set sail for Nigeria from the Port of Tampa July 14. Osibodu worked with Lymfad Limited, a Lagos, Nigeria, construction and project management firm.

Osibodu hopes the shipment is the first of many. “We have the supply in Florida,” says Osibodu, “and they have the demand in Nigeria.”