Ebele Enunwa: The Banker Who Took a 70% Pay Cut to Build His Own Business
Imagine earning a good salary in banking, building a successful career, and then deciding to take a 70% pay cut to start a business from scratch.
That was the risk Ebele Enunwa took.
He studied Accounting at the University of Ilorin, qualified as a chartered accountant, worked briefly at Deloitte, and later joined IBTC, now Stanbic IBTC Bank.
He eventually became a regional manager in Port Harcourt, overseeing banking operations across the South-East and South-South.
But while working in Port Harcourt, he noticed something: the city had limited fast-food options compared with the opportunity he believed existed.
Rather than ignore the gap, he decided to do something about it.
In 2003, he incorporated Sundry Foods, which began operations in September 2004. The business later grew to include brands such as Kilimanjaro Restaurants and Nibbles Bread.
Then he set his sights on another industry.
In 2015, he launched Sundry Markets and opened the first MarketSquare supermarket in Yenagoa. His ambition was to offer Nigerians a more organised grocery-shopping experience, with quality products and competitive prices.
Of course, building a modern supermarket chain in Nigeria came with its own challenges, from finding suitable locations and experienced staff to managing supply chains, foreign exchange pressures and infrastructure costs.
Yet he continued expanding the business.
By June 2026, MarketSquare had reportedly grown to operate across 16 cities, with more than 4,000 jobs attributed to the business by Nairametrics.
What stands out to me about Enunwa’s journey is that he didn’t abandon the experience he gained in banking. He applied that knowledge to building businesses of his own.
Sometimes, the biggest career move isn’t finding a better-paying job. It’s recognising an opportunity and having the courage to build something around it.
