Denis Opudo
Many people will always excuse themselves from starting up businesses citing inadequate initial capital. However, a young petroleum engineering graduate changes that perception. Justice Offei Jr who was aged 24 at the time he had a vision of putting up a business, had to do away with his profession and follow his dream. Justice is doing away with the narrative of having money and shows people that only passion, good business idea, purpose, and persistence is needed.
Justice is the founder of SIKADAN Microcredit which previously used to be called SikaDan Money Lending, had a chance to be nominated and listed in the second edition of the Premium Bank Startup Award 2017 in just 2years as one of the Ghana Startup Club 100. The business has been of benefit to the communities of Madina, Adenta and the surroundings by offering up to date social solutions of providing financial support to local students, market women, SMEs, and individuals.
The entrepreneur not only talks about business but it is part and parcel of his life. He has given a different view on startup business amongst the young people in the country via Business advocacy and Innovation, and expertise in leadership on his social platform and various meetings as a speaker. Justice was the only startup entrepreneur who made it for two consecutive years to the Voting Category (Banking & Finance) of the 2017 FORTY Under 40 Awards among prominent and established entrepreneurs namely Dr. Kwabena Duffour II (Unibank Ghana), Mrs. Abena Brigidi (Nimed Capital), Dr. Edem Bart (Commerz Savings & Loan) and Dr. Nii Kotei Dzani (Groupe Ideal), Mr. Ben Adu (Direct Savings & Loan) Mr Philip Oti-Mensah (OmniBank Ghana) and many more.
Currently, Justice Offei Jr is not only the founder of SIKADAN but also Director, partner of the Good Samaritan Support, African Economic Dialogue (AFED), Stepklair Shoes and SOKO Bags in that order. He was inspired by his parents and his cousin William Essah Koli; he got motivated by the works of Vusi Thembekwayo and Dr. Paa Kwasi Nduom. Justice is a graduate of the premier university in Ghana (KNUST) and Labone Senior High, and he is experienced and training in Ghana Stock Exchange and engineering, entrepreneurship and Credit risk management.
