By Victoria Abakpa
The commercial landscape of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city is richer by an additional high profile Supermarket. McRay Supermarket quietly sold off its first item – Alicafe beverage – by 1.48 pm Saturday, November 14th, 2020. Employing an array of staff – cashiers, procurement staffers, human resources personnel, inventory hands, IT, accounts, electrical and electronics engineers and sundry staff, the Supermarket must be such a welcome addition to families of those who got such jobs and the city’s diverse class of patrons of its stuff.
Engineer Unaji, proprietor of the shop speaking
The pay point before the shop was thrown open to customers
It is still a work-in-progress as staff could be seen putting final touches even as eager shoppers poured in to enact buying and selling. They got the go-ahead from Reverend Fr. John Bosco who blessed the Supermarket with a simple request to God to oversight the business because unless that is the case, a labourer does so in vain as a watchman who keeps vigil.
He praised the proprietor, Engineer Innocent Unaji whom he described as a challenge buster. The priest recalled how what stands today as a first class shop was still an arid plot by last July. Not only did Engineer Unaji made his move, he also remained undeterred by the lockdown that followed Covid-19 pandemic and the #EndSARS protests that brought enthusiasm about business to a standstill. He described the effort as worth supporting, saying anything that gave employment to jobless youths justified such support.
Engineer Unaji thanked all his staff, invoking God’s blessing on all of them for what they have gone through in the past few months to get the place ready. Also naming a long list of individuals and interests who have helped him to bring the project to realisation, he disclosed that the shop is fully stocked.
Rev Fr John Bosco committing the supermarket to the hands and eyes of God
Ms Obidike, Sales Manager
Ms Clara Obidike, the Sales Manager of the Supermarket told Intervention she could neither contain her excitement nor wait to see how it all unfolds. She adds how challenging it is working with people from diverse backgrounds but in great expectation of smooth and cordial working relationship with all members of staff. She is sure the quality of the supermarket would not degenerate after opening with fanfare, saying the staff are all determined to go the extra mile.
Located in highbrow Wuse 2, the shop is a 24 hour affair, with services stretching across most common household items in everyday life.
