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  Akwa Ibom is one of Southern Nigeria’s most peaceful states. The relative security that it enjoys has allowed local SMEs the opportunity to thrive. But existing within a largely untroubled environment does not guarantee commercial success. For that, entrepreneurs may have to know what the best businesses to start in Uyo (or any other part of the state) actually are.
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Uyo, the state capital and its largest city, doesn’t have an economy as robust as Port Harcourt or Aba (two of the biggest urban centres close to it). Yet, it does have its strengths. Those who spot these advantages also see the opportunities that abound. This article helps you get past much of that journey of identification to reveal 10 of the most profitable businesses in the city. Here goes:

Digital Products Seller

The great thing about digital products—such as ebooks, templates, courses, etc. –is that they can be shared across vast distances without either the sender of recipient having to leave their location. Support this with cross-border payment solutions, and you’ll have a recipe for limitless business. If you’re knowledgeable about a specific subject, you could make money off of it by sharing your expertise with others across Nigeria and the world, and get paid for it. This can work in Uyo, as it can elsewhere in Nigeria.

Skill Acquisition Centre

“Skill acquisition centres” are often focused on training people in artisanal trades. However, yours could take a different path. You could teach things like content creation, digital marketing, programming, and business development strategy. These are skills in high demand in today’s world. Even if your students don’t get hired, they will leverage the skills they’ve acquired to start freelancing or launch a business of their own.

Daycare Business

Toddlers need to be watched by caring and careful eyes. But working parents may struggle to do this for much of the day. If you love children and enjoy looking after them, you may build a business around this. Your daycare centre may be patronised by civil servants, formal sector workers, and even small business owners, who want their children to be safe.

Mobile Technology Products and Accessories Supply

Mobile phones have become a must-have for adults in the contemporary world. Much less so for computers or many electronic accessories, but they’re also considered quite useful. The residents of Uyo are just as enthusiastic about these things as anyone else. You stand a good chance of creating a very successful mobile technology retailing venture in Uyo if you understand the local economy well enough.
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Cleaning Service

Offices need to be thoroughly cleaned once in a while. When this need arises, they may hire a professional cleaner or cleaning service to do the job. Uyo is a sizeable city with many business locations that you could serve in such a manner. If they are pleased with your service, you may become their go-to cleaning service provider.

Palm Oil Packaging

Akwa Ibom has many oil palm plantations and is one of Nigeria’s top palm oil-producing states. A palm oil storage business has developed in the area, but the product is frequently stored in already used containers. You can meet the needs of locals and buyers from elsewhere in Nigeria for hygienic but inexpensive packaging for palm oil by making cheap, neat-looking plastic containers. Alternatively, you may sell palm oil in containers you have made and labelled, and attract better prices for it.

Digital Marketing

Only a minority of businesses in Uyo have an online presence. Of the minority that is present online, many maintain poorly optimised pages and are barely active. You might baulk at this. But if you are an excellent user of digital media, this presents you with a huge opportunity. Help businesses get online, manage their presence on social media, and connect them with the world beyond their immediate environment. They’ll grow by leaps and bounds, and you’ll be paid for your service.

Beverage Production

Another idea would be to start a beverage production business in Uyo. Juice, smoothies, soft drinks, and milk are always in high demand. Making these things within the city and supplying them there may ensure that your production costs are lower. This, in turn, means that you’re able to sell at competitive prices.

Food Products Processing

Choose one of the food staples grown within Akwa Ibom state, and investigate the feasibility of setting up a processing centre for it. This could be oil palm, cassava, rice, cocoa, maize, or tomatoes. Value addition for widely consumed food items is usually a money spinner.

Footwear Production

There are a number of footwear factories in Uyo. These businesses make shoes and sandals that are worn within and beyond the region. Some even promise worldwide delivery. You will thrive in this segment if you have a good knowledge of footwear types, what goes into making them, and public preferences.
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Final Words

The best businesses to start in Uyo are the ones that meet the existing needs of the people of the city, of Akwa Ibom State, and the wider region. They are also not within saturated markets or sectors. Look out for opportunities with these two characteristics, and you will eventually find something worth pursuing.
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This article was first published on 19th June 2025
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ikenna-nwachukwu

Ikenna Nwachukwu holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He loves to look at the world through multiple lenses- economic, political, religious and philosophical- and to write about what he observes in a witty, yet reflective style.

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