ABIRIBA archive on business.
Abiriba a History of Enterprise The Abiriba people stand tall for their extra-ordinary ingenuity and enterprising spirit. Historically the Abiriba people established a reputation as itinerant blacksmiths dealing in farming implements, fishing and hunting material such as traps for wild animals, leather pouches and locks and keys. In the nineteenth century and early colonial period the Abiriba people diversified into the trade of palm produce using Itu, Calabar Bonny and Opobo as bases. They also developed a strong trade in smuggled gin from Fernando Po. The Abiriba merchants later became major dealers in stockfish trading with the United African Company and G.B Ollivant, both companies having been established by the colonialists and virtually holding a monopoly in the produce trade in Eastern parts of Nigeria. The Abiriba merchants broke this monopoly by incorporating the Abiriba Merchant Company which became a leading firm of produce agents which had the Licen...
