Business
“At Zidora, fidelity is our word; our word is our bond” – Mrs. Chioma Madueke, Vice Chairman, Zidora Group of Companies
In the Nigerian travel and tour industry, the name ‘Zidora’ is not new and anyone who claims not to have heard about Zidora, may be new in the industry. Zidora Travel and Tours, one of the subsidiaries of Zidora Group of Companies, is a key player in the travel and tour industry saddled with the responsibility of providing end-to- end travel and tour solutions to Nigerians. In this one-on- one interview, Mr. Chioma Madueke, the Vice Chairman of Zidora Group of Companies spoke extensively with the Managing Editor of Biznesswatch, Arthur Aghogho Eriye on the operations of Zidora Group of Companies; why Zidora Travel and Tours is the best travel agency in Nigeria, the uniqueness of its products and services, Zidora Aid Foundation among others. Excerpts:
May I meet you madam?
My name is Mrs. Chioma Madueke, I am the Deputy Chairman of Zidora group of companies. I am also the founder of women in real estate; I am the co-founder of Zidora Aid Foundation. I am wife, mother, entrepreneur and a philanthropist. I studied Applied Geophysics at the University of Calabar, I am also pursuing an MBA. I have an MBA in view and I am also pursuing a Degree in Law.
How long have you been in Business?
Well, I have been in business almost all my life because I have been involved in one form of business or the other even while in school. I have been involved in business at different level. I remember before my NYSC, I used to travel to India and Dubai to buy human hair, gold and fabrics and sell to my friends, colleagues and family members. It was when i got into Zidora and that I started business full time.
What year was that?
Zidora Consults was incorporated in 2013.All our companies were incorporated in 2013.
Was Zidora Travel and Tours also incorporated the same year?
Yes, basically, like I said initially, all our companies were incorporated in 2013.
What is the inspiration behind the name ‘Zidora’?
Zidora was birthed by my husband, Dr. Arinze Madueke, he is the Chairman and I am the Deputy Chairman of the group. So basically it is an acronym of our names and of that of our children.
What is your goal for Zidora Group of companies?
Basically, we are a product and service company. Our goal is excellence in everything we do. When it comes to services, Zidora group has different subsidiaries. Let me educate you a little bit. Zidora is a group of companies with subsidiaries like: Zidora Real Estates, Zidora Oil and Gas, Zidora Agriculture and Food Services, Zidora Travel and Tours, Zidora Consults, Zidora Pharmaceutical and chemicals and a non- profit arm of Zidora; Zidora Aid Foundation, which is a charity organization. In all of this, our goal is excellence. When it comes to our products, for example, we have Zidora Pharmaceutical; we have a lot of products. We manufacture here and we also import from India and Vietnam. We try to ensure that are products are the best obtainable in the market. Also, Zidora Services, we offer services in real estates, travel and tours services. We assist those that want to travel abroad; we assist them in getting visas, procure admission for those that wants to study abroad. We also help those that wants to travel abroad to book their flight tickets, basically all travel needs. All we are working towards is excellence in everything we do. That is our goal at Zidora; Excellence.
Nigerians love travelling a lot, and reading through the pages of the papers and the internet, you hear stories of travel agents been arrested and charged for fraud, but Zidora travel and tours has a money-back guarantee. What give you such confidence about the service you render?
Like I said, we are aiming at excellence, I got into travel business basically was from my own personal experience. Having traveled over the years, like I told you, I used to go to India and Dubai to buy gold, human hair and fabrics that I sell to people in Nigeria. And having travelled over the years, I noticed that there was something lacking in the travel business in Nigeria. Nigerians get denied visa a lot, even when they are qualified, meanwhile Nigerians are the biggest spenders abroad. When you go to UK, they are the big spenders the same thing with Dubai. In Dubai, when you see Nigerians buying gold, you will be scared, the white people buy just a little, but when you see a Nigerian buying good, you will be scared. They buy in bulk. They are the spender. If you go to Europe, Nigerians spend the most, if you go the US, Nigerians spend the most. These countries are looking for us, but for some reasons, Nigerians always get denied visas a lot. If you go to the embassy, you find out that out of 100 applications, only 10 visas are granted. But there people are qualified; they deserve to get the visa.
What would you attribute the visa denial to?
Well, I think, firstly it is wrong orientation, Nigerian don’t take their time in anything they are doing. Before, I got into the travel industry, I took my time to study the trend, I didn’t just get into it for money. I got into the travel business to solve a problem. That is how to you succeed in business, solve a problem and from solving a problem, you get paid. That is how I got into the travel business and that is what has kept us here through the years. First of all, we don’t promise what we not sure of. At Zidora travel and tours, we don’t promise what we are not sure of. Fidelity is our word, our word is our bond. We don’t negotiate it. When we tell you something that is how it stands. We are the only travel agency that has the kind of success rate that we have.
On a percentage scale, how would you rate the level of success you have had as regards visa procurement for your clients through the years?
On a percentage scale, the level of success we have enjoyed is basically second to none. We have a very high success rate. We don’t do visa racketeering. All our services are 100% legit. We are the only travel agency that kind of success we have, if you visit our website, you will see a lot of testimonials from our clients. We even state it categorically for all our clients, I tell them complicity, that I don’t have the power to give you visa. I don’t sell visa, what I help you do is to ensure that your application is well and properly done. I ensure your documents are in order. I look into your application and ensure everything is in order. I tell you what to include in your application and what not to include. Basically, I assist in ensuring your application is in order. You asked one of the reasons Nigerians face a lot of denials at the embassy? First thing like I said; wrong orientation. Nigerians have this trend of spreading false news, once somebody hears something, they start spreading it around without verifying the authenticity of what they are saying. So when someone has heard that they don’t give somebody that is single visa, everybody just starts spreading the news. You see someone that is single, when they get to the embassy and are asked if he or she is single, they say they are married, and they asked him one or two questions ,and then they has issues. I always tell my clients, always tell the truth, the people at the embassy don’t like lies. Always say the truth and the truth will set you free. That is why a lot of Nigerians get denied at the embassy. It is because of the wrong information, wrong orientation as well as miss information. This is where Zidora Consults comes in. Zidora travel and tours will tell you the whole truth. Some people come to us that they want to apply for a particular country, and l openly tell them, this country will not accept you, your acceptance rate is very very low, I even tell them their chances of getting the visa. If you decide to go ahead, no problem, but I will tell you the truth, that you don’t stand a chance in that particular country.
Where do you aspire to take Zidora Travel and tours to in the next 5 years?
Well, I intend to take Zidora travel and tours as well as Zidora group of companies, like I said excellence is our goal in everything we are doing. We want to be the number player in the market; we want to be a known name for fidelity, delivering on our promise and for excellence. That is what I want and that is what I am working towards.
The travel and tours business is Nigeria is very competitive with a lot of other big players as well. How have you been able to stay on top of the competition?
Zidora travel and tours has managed to carve out a solid niche for itself in the highly competitive industry. First of all, we are the only brand that gives money-back guarantee. I tell my clients your money is safe. Whatever money you pay for whatever services, if you are not satisfied with our service, you get your money back at the end of the day. No other travel company does that. They just do their work and show you what they have done, whether it works for you or not, you don’t get your money back, but at Zidora, we offer you a money-back guarantee. Also, like i said earlier, our success rate is second to none. Visit our website and read the testimonials of clients we have helped. We have helped a lot of families travel abroad to countries like USA, Canada, and Australia and so on. We have helped individuals to travel Europe, Canada, Australia and even the Caribbean. People that never thought they stood a chance of traveling abroad, through our company, we offer them various vacation plans. We have affordable vacation plans to various countries. We also assist them in getting their study and work visas, tourist visas to countries like: USA, Canada, Australia, Europe and the rest.
Do you have other travel and tours affiliates you work with abroad or you do all you processing from Nigeria?
We do our processing from Nigeria. We also partner with travel companies abroad; like I told you we organize holiday tours and excursions. So off course, we have partner institutions abroad in different countries like Australia, UK, USA, and Canada and so on. We are also in partnership with a lot of foreign schools in the Caribbean, UK, USA, Australia and Canada. We have a very strong study abroad department, so we assist students that want to study abroad. What we do is that we recruit students from Nigeria that want to study abroad and place them in reputable institutions abroad.
Let’s digress a little, talk to us about Zidora Aid Foundation.
Zidora Aid Foundation is a non- governmental, not for profit organization. It is an NGO, a charity organization that basically works towards making people feel better by living better. Our goal is to improve the quality of life of Nigerians as much as we can. We touch lives every day, once in a week, usually every Thursday we go out. if you come to the office you see our staff dressed in their Zidora Aid Foundation T-shirt, we go out for charity work. So every week, we have a new programme, a new initiative we work towards. We have a lot of projects we are currently embarking on. We have the project 2020 Educational Projects which is a project design to do our bit in eradicating eradicate illiteracy from children between age 2 to 18yrs by the year 2020; we are working towards that. We are involved in the distribution of relief materials, study material and food items. We also provide medical and legal aid. We also assist people in dire need, regardless of their social-economic status, age, gender, religion and, social orientation. Once you come to us for assistance, we try to assist in whatever way we can. We have staff strength at Zidora Aid Foundation; we also have volunteers. We have medical doctors that we work with that provide medical aid, we have lawyers that we work with that provide legal aid to people that have been wrongly accused and who can’t afford legal representation in the court. We assist them with all that and that is what Zidora Aid Foundation does.
What year was Zidora Aid Foundation incorporated?
Zidora Aid Foundation was officially incorporated last year, although on our own, we have always done charity work. We usually set aside a particular percentage of the profit of Zidora group towards charity work, because I believe that the fastest way to God’s is through charity, by helping someone who cannot help himself. So we have always done charity, but Zidora Aid Foundation was officially incorporated last year.
A lot of people go into the NGO just to make money for personal use. We have heard cases of NGOs getting aids from foreign donors that were not used for charity. If I may ask, how is Zidora Aid Foundation funded?
Well, I can’t speak for others organizations, but I can speak for Zidora Aid Foundation. Our record speaks for itself. No single dime have we ever gotten from any foreign donor, all our charity work is funded strictly from proceeds from Zidora group of companies.
Are there challenges you have faced in the course of running an NGO?
Yes Of course, everything in life, you encounter challenges. Nothing good comes easy. You definitely encounter challenges in running an NGO, not only NGOs, just the same way you encounter challenges in business and your personal life ,finances, there are always challenges. But you work towards overcoming every challenge that is what makes you stronger.
As a person, what is that the thing that gives you fulfillment?
Personally I love putting smiles on the faces of people, whether they are my clients from Zidora group of companies or people I don’t even know via Zidora Aid Foundation. I feel good whenever i touch a life. Whenever I help someone no matter how little, I feel good. Not only financially, you can help someone morally and even in their personal lives. Whenever I help someone and they get a little bit of relief, I feel good. Also, one of the reasons we do charity work at Zidora Aid Foundation and carry our staff along for charity work is that we are working towards making the world a better place. We believe that by helping someone who cannot help himself, someone in need; when you help him and he is back on his feet, he will then go on and help another person in need and thereby creating a ripples effect. I alone can’t change the world, but by helping someone that goes on and help another person, you create a ripple effect and the world basically becomes a better place. That is what we believe and that is what we are working towards at Zidora Aid Foundation.
As a mother and a busy Executive, how balance family and work?
Well, that is a very interesting question. The work-life balance is not an easy life, but with the grace of God we have been made capable to handle whatever comes our way. It is all about delegation, planning your time very well, using your time effectively. Sometimes you put work before family and at other times you put family before work, all we ask God for is the wisdom to know what to put as a priority and at what time.
How do you unwind?
I relax mostly on the weekends, I like taking my kids out a lot. Most time I go with my staff, we go to the beach, we go out to take a drink, eat, just sit down have fun and we are back home.
Walking in to you office, you could feel love and the environment is very friendly, staff doing things like a family? How were you able to build that spirit of togetherness in your organization?
I have always operated my business, not just as a business. I take my staff like my family members. Number one, that is the only way to get the best out of them, because when people work for you, sometimes they don’t take it as their business, they just come to work and sign out at the end of the day and go home. But in order to bring the best out of your staff, you make them part of the business. Over here at Zidora, yes, you have a salary, but aside your monthly salary, I also encourage you with commission. I have a rating system, if you do very well this month your commission will be very much, if you don’t do so well, it is basically a reward system. I have a reward system in place for my staff. I also reward good behaviour. That is one way of encouraging them. I am also interested in human capital development, I don’t just encourage my staff to come to work, I encourage entrepreneurship spirit in them. I encourage my staff to run small businesses on their own. I encourage them to write business proposals, business plan and bring to me. I look at it, the one that is viable, I assist them with finding or show them how they can raise funds. I am interested in my staff not only working for me, but also doing something for themselves at their own spare time.
Are there some other things you would like our readers to know?
Not really, I think I have said it all, but the most important thing I would like the readers to know is that whatever you do in life, make sure excellence is your watchword. Mediocrity will not take you far. Don’t just be averages. Whatever your hands finds to do, ensure you excel and that you be the best. It is not everybody that will be an entrepreneur, a lawyer. If you a singer be the best singer in the world, if you are a dancer, be the best dancer in the world. Whatever you are doing, make sure you excel and be at the top of your game.
Deadline of Compliance: Nigeria’s Urgent Call for Tax Return Filing
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
“Shift or Structural Demand? A Declaration of Civic Duty in a Nation at a Fiscal Crossroads.”
In the unfolding narrative of national development and economic reform, few instruments are as defining as tax compliance. For Nigeria, a nation perpetually grappling with revenue shortfalls, structural dependency on a single export commodity, and entrenched informal economic behaviour, the Federal Government’s recent clarification on tax return deadlines is not mere bureaucratic noise. It is a deliberate and inescapable declaration: the social contract between citizen and state must be honoured through transparent, lawful and timely tax reporting.
At its core, the government’s pronouncement is stark in its simplicity and radical in its implications. Federal authorities, speaking through the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, have made it unequivocally clear that every Nigerian, whether employer or individual taxpayer, must file annual tax returns under the law. This encompasses self-assessment filings by individuals that too many assumed ended once employers deducted pay-as-you-earn taxes from their salaries.
This is not an optional civic suggestion, it is mandatory, backed by statute, and tied to a broader vision of national fiscal responsibility. Citizens can no longer hide behind ignorance, apathy, or false assumptions. “Many people assume that if their employer deducts tax from their salaries, their obligations end there. That is wrong,” Oyedele warned, emphasizing that the obligation to file remains with the individual under both existing and newly reformed tax laws.
The Deadlines and the Reality They Reveal.
Across the federation, state and federal revenue authorities have reaffirmed statutory deadlines in pursuit of compliance. The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, for instance, moved to extend its filing date for employer returns by a narrow window, reflecting the reality that compliance often lags behind legal timelines. The extension was intended not as leniency, but as a pragmatic effort to allow accurate and complete submissions, underscoring that true compliance rises above mere mechanical ticking of a box.
At the federal level, Oyedele’s intervention was even more fundamental. He reminded Nigerians that annual tax returns for the preceding year must be filed in good faith, with integrity and in respect of the law. This applies regardless of income level including low-income earners who have historically believed that they are outside the tax net. “All of us must file our returns, including those earning low income,” he stated.
Herein lies one of the most challenging truths of contemporary Nigerian governance: widespread tax non-compliance is not just a technical breach of law, it is a deep cultural and structural issue that reflects decades of mistrust between citizens and the state.
The Root of the Problem: Non-Compliance as a Symptom.
Nigeria’s tax culture has long been under scrutiny. Public discourse and economic analysis consistently show that a significant majority of eligible taxpayers do not file annual returns. Oyedele highlighted that even in states widely regarded as tax administration leaders, compliance remains strikingly low, often below five percent.
This widespread non-compliance stems from multiple sources:
A long history of weak tax administration systems, where enforcement was inconsistent and penalties were rarely applied.
A perception that public services do not reflect the taxes collected, eroding the citizenry’s belief in reciprocity.
An informal economy where income often goes unrecorded, making filing seem irrelevant or impossible to many.
Lack of awareness, with many Nigerians genuinely believing that tax liability ends with employer deductions.
The government’s renewed push for compliance directly challenges these perceptions. It signals a shift from voluntary or lax compliance to structured accountability, a stance that aligns with best practices in modern public finance.
Why This Matters: Beyond Deadlines.
At its most profound level, the insistence on tax return filings is about nation-building and shared responsibility.
Scholars of public finance universally agree that a robust tax system is the backbone of sustainable development. As the eminent economist Dr. Joseph E. Stiglitz has observed, “A society that cannot mobilize its own resources through fair taxation undermines both its government’s legitimacy and its capacity to provide for its people.” Filing tax returns is not a mere administrative task, it is a declaration of participation in the collective project of national advancement.
In Nigeria’s context, this declaration carries weight. With the enactment of comprehensive tax reforms in recent years (including unified frameworks for tax administration and enforcement) authorities now possess broader statutory tools to ensure compliance and accountability. These measures, which include electronic filing platforms and stronger enforcement powers, have been framed as fair and equitable, targeting efficiency rather than arbitrariness.
Yet the success of these reforms depends heavily on citizens embracing their civic duties with sincerity. And this depends on mutual trust, the belief that paying taxes yields tangible benefits in infrastructure, education, healthcare, security and social services.
Voices From Experts: Fiscal Responsibility as a Public Ethic.
Tax law experts and economists, reflecting on the compliance push, have underscored a universal theme: taxation without transparency is inequity, but taxation with accountability is empowerment. When managed with fairness, a functional tax system can reduce dependency on volatile revenue sources, stabilise national budgets, and support long-term investment in human capital.
Professor Aisha Bello, a respected authority in fiscal policy, notes that “Tax compliance is not a burden; it is the foundation upon which social contracts are built. A citizen who honours tax obligations affirms the legitimacy of governance and demands better performance in return.”
Similarly, a leading tax scholar, Dr. Emeka Okon, argues that “The era when Nigerians could evade broader tax responsibilities simply because automatic deductions occur at source must end. For a modern economy, every eligible citizen must be part of the formal tax fold not as victims, but as stakeholders.”
These authoritative voices point to an unassailable truth: filing tax returns is both a legal requirement and a moral responsibility, an expression of citizenship in its fullest sense.
Challenges on the Ground: Compliance and Capacity.
While the rhetoric of compliance is compelling, the reality on the ground demands nuanced understanding. Many taxpayers (especially in the informal sector) lack meaningful access to digital platforms and resources for filing returns. For others, the fear of bureaucratic complexity and perceived punitive enforcement deters participation.
The government, for its part, has responded by promoting online systems and pledging greater taxpayer support. Tax authorities are increasingly engaging stakeholders to demystify filing processes, explain requirements and offer assistance. This mix of enforcement and facilitation is essential. As one seasoned revenue specialist observed: “The state cannot compel compliance through force alone; it must earn it through education, simplicity and fairness.”
The Broader Implication: A New Social Compact.
Ultimately, Nigeria’s renewed emphasis on tax return filing transcends administrative deadlines. It is an unequivocal declaration that national development is a shared responsibility, that citizens and state must engage in a transparent, accountable, and reciprocal relationship.
Tax compliance, therefore, becomes far more than a legal act; it becomes a moral claim on the nation’s future.
When citizens file their returns honestly, they affirm their stake in the nation’s destiny. When the government collects taxes transparently and deploys them effectively, it strengthens not only public services but civic trust itself.
In this sense, the deadlines proclaimed by Nigeria’s fiscal authorities mark not an end but a beginning; the beginning of a civic epoch in which accountability replaces apathy, participation replaces indifference and national purpose triumphs over fragmentation.
The road ahead will not be easy. But in demanding compliance, Nigeria is demanding more than tax returns. It is demanding commitment and that, ultimately, is the foundation on which nations are built.
BUA Foods Records 91% Surge in Profit After Tax, Hits ₦508bn in 2025
By femi Oyewale
Business
Adron Homes Unveils “Love for Love” Valentine Promo with Exciting Discounts, Luxury Gifts, and Travel Rewards
Adron Homes Unveils “Love for Love” Valentine Promo with Exciting Discounts, Luxury Gifts, and Travel Rewards
In celebration of the season of love, Adron Homes and Properties has announced the launch of its special Valentine campaign, “Love for Love” Promo, a customer-centric initiative designed to reward Nigerians who choose to express love through smart, lasting real estate investments.
The Love for Love Promo offers clients attractive discounts, flexible payment options, and an array of exclusive gift items, reinforcing Adron Homes’ commitment to making property ownership both rewarding and accessible. The campaign runs throughout the Valentine season and applies to the company’s wide portfolio of estates and housing projects strategically located across Nigeria.
Speaking on the promo, the company’s Managing Director, Mrs Adenike Ajobo, stated that the initiative is aimed at encouraging individuals and families to move beyond conventional Valentine gifts by investing in assets that secure their future. According to the company, love is best demonstrated through stability, legacy, and long-term value—principles that real estate ownership represents.
Under the promo structure, clients who make a payment of ₦100,000 receive cake, chocolates, and a bottle of wine, while those who pay ₦200,000 are rewarded with a Love Hamper. Payments of ₦500,000 attract a Love Hamper plus cake, and clients who pay ₦1,000,000 enjoy a choice of a Samsung phone or a Love Hamper with cake.
The rewards become increasingly premium as commitment grows. Clients who pay ₦5,000,000 receive either an iPad or an all-expenses-paid romantic getaway for a couple at one of Nigeria’s finest hotels, which includes two nights’ accommodation, special treats, and a Love Hamper. A payment of ₦10,000,000 comes with a choice of a Samsung Z Fold 7, three nights at a top-tier resort in Nigeria, or a full solar power installation.
For high-value investors, the Love for Love Promo delivers exceptional lifestyle experiences. Clients who pay ₦30,000,000 on land are rewarded with a three-night couple’s trip to Doha, Qatar, or South Africa, while purchasers of any Adron Homes house valued at ₦50,000,000 receive a double-door refrigerator.
The promo covers Adron Homes’ estates located in Lagos, Shimawa, Sagamu, Atan–Ota, Papalanto, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Osun, Ekiti, Abuja, Nasarawa, and Niger States, offering clients the opportunity to invest in fast-growing, strategically positioned communities nationwide.
Adron Homes reiterated that beyond the incentives, the campaign underscores the company’s strong reputation for secure land titles, affordable pricing, strategic locations, and a proven legacy in real estate development.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, Adron Homes encourages Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to take advantage of the Love for Love Promo to enjoy exceptional value, exclusive rewards, and the opportunity to build a future rooted in love, security, and prosperity.
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