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| 'Udua Itam' - The Big Market |
By Iniobong Etuk| The people of Akwa Ibom State may not fit into the description of a business-minded people, if the definition of 'business' in this context is management and administration.
In a layman's knowledge, Akwa Ibom people are not good business managers and business administrators. But define business as trade - buying and selling, then Akwa Ibom people are a good example.
Because of how much a typical Akwa Ibom person loves buying and selling, every place in Akwa Ibom is a potential market; homes, churches, schools, roadsides, etc.
Not even stringent measures by the government and corporate bodies can properly check incessant buying and selling especially where such should not be allowed.
Because of the buying and selling culture in Akwa Ibom, the state has some renowned markets.
However, markets in the are state are selective based on the economic and agricultural viability of the area where the market is located.
For instance, markets in coastal areas like Oron, Mbo, Itu, Ibeno, etc mostly sell sea products like fish, shrimps, and so on.
While markets in other parts of the state sell select farm products mostly cultivated in the respective areas. Due to the high rate of businesses in the state capital city, markets in Uyo are the one-stop-trade-centers.
Presently, there are renowned markets in Uyo; Itam and Akpan Andem markets. But without any gainsaying, Itam market popularly called 'Udua Itam' is mother of all markets in the state.
History has it that the market started as a small outlet, providing commercial opportunities for people around Uyo and its environs.
With the creation of Akwa Ibom State from old Cross River State in 1987, efforts by successive governments have been geared towards upgrading the market to an international level.
Notable is the Godswill Akpabio led government who saw the need to rebuild the market and provide it with basics social amenities like the police station, banks, conveniences and car parks, to enhance commercial activities.
Sitting at a large expanse of land, Itam market ranks top in commercial activities among markets in the state.
The market plays host to traders beyond Akwa Ibom State as buyers and sellers within the South-South region also patronize it.
The market sells everyday but also has a special day for it where people from different states come to sell and buy things or whatever they need.
It is a one-stop market because there is hardly any lawful commodity that one cannot find in Itam market; Ranging from fresh farm/sea products, clothins, house utensils/home furniture, etc, and even things one cannot easily find it elsewhere. The has witnessed a tremendous pool of commerce.
Besides buying and selling, the market is also famous for some superstitious belief. For instance, it is a common believe among those who patronize the market that it rains every every Itam Market day except during the dry season and very rare.
It is believed that when it rains, it affects the phsyche of the traders as many of them they will anticipate low sell and will not be dedicated. When it rains, only those in stores and under shades sell.
There is also high rate of pick-pocketing in the market. Not everybody go to the market for buying and selling. There are people who go there to steal and then the unlucky ones are caught, they are beaten to a pulp.
People loose things in the market in various ways; it's either it is stolen or lost it in the progress of struggling in the market.
Another outstanding thing about Itam market is the fact that the traders engage in cooperative alliances as they regularly contribute funds to a purse which they draw from in a democratic manner.
This has helped in many ways to sustain businesses, settle financial challenges like rent, school fees, debts etc. However, the cooperative societies differ and is not made mandatory for traders.
There is also the presence of small contribution outfits which are either registered by the government or known to Itam Market committee.
These persons go round at a given time and collect sums of money depending on a contributor’s ability, save them and give them back to their owners bi-weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
A visit to the market recently, revealed that the present economic challenge in the country has taken a serious toll on the traders. They bitterly complained about how the economy is really affecting their sales and making it hard to make profits.
According to them, many goods in the market are imported so the current high exchange rate has seriously affected their businesses; "Everything has gone up. The transportation fare is on the high side and then the demand is low. People don't really buy again as it used to be. Normally we make a lot of sales before the end of the day but everything has changed now", lamented one of the traders.
Another turnoff in Itam market is the roadside trading. According to the traders, due to the increased trading activities in the market, the market no longer contain everybody despite the fact that the market occupies a large expanse of land. For some time, the roadside trading has caused heavy traffic along the adjoining roands around the market.
Many people that at the rate which business activities are increasing in Itam market, it will soon rank among the biggest markets in the region and possibly in the country.
With its prestige so far, Itam market is the trade center of Akwa Ibom State.
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