•Founder, PETER AFAM EMELEOGU
Astute. Gifted, Enterprising, and well-groomed Peter Afam Emeleogu is a thoroughbred serial entrepreneur, with a rich repertoire of experience and expertise gained across different verticals spanning consulting, mining, food processing telecommunications, information technology, e-commerce, payments and digital financial services. PEA as he is fondly known is blessed with the consummate capacity to execute tasks with precision, absolute commitment, unalloyed dedication, and respect for others.
At a colourful flag-off event, he spoke with City People in an interview with TITI AKINBO OSHUNLALU about the vision behind the Tango Business Owner (TBO) Program and related services including his passion to contribute to the emergence of a new breed of productive and prosperous African entrepreneurs and business owners. Enjoy……
Who is Peter Afam EMELEOGU?
I am the Founder of Tango, one of the expressions of our technology-driven venture group.
Can you tell us what is happening here today?
Today is the formal flag-off ceremony of our unified commerce and integrated last mile delivery services. What makes the event really significant and exciting for us at Tango is the priviledge to provide a platform for enabling independent last-mile delivery service operators to become proudly-Nigerian business owners. Our business philosophy at Tango is to empower and create business owners, not employees. What we do is to bring people to a place of confidence in their own potential and commitment to their own future.
Can you tell us about your business?
We are in the business of solving problems in very pragmatic, proactive and purposeful ways using technology as an enabler. Today, technology is propelling humans to accomplish amazing outcomes across different spheres, at a frenetic pace and on global scale. That being said, technology is deeply embedded into our business processes and represents an important element. Unified commerce and embedded logistics delivering convenience and spreading joy through our operations form a vital component of our business model. Driven by a quest for excellence, we established the Tango Business Owner (TBO) Program as an initiative to provide access to work equipment, business tools and essential services at zero startup cost for the benefit of independent couriers and last-mile delivery service operators interested in owning their own business. Tango being a platform-focused enterprise, carefully and meticulously crafted the Tango Business Owner (TBO) Program to offer world-class experience in terms of human capital development and customer satisfaction in the digital commerce, retail and last-mile delivery space. Tango operates a ‘reverse ownership’ system that provides an opportunity to its Business Owners to access work equipment, business tools and essential services including type-approved motorbikes, up-to-date compliance documentation, personal protective equipment, safety tools, multi-class insurance, scheduled maintenance, and other related services – all at zero startup cost to our Business Owners who get to fully own the issued Tango assets over a 24-month period. We consider this as our own little contribution to national development through employment generation and wealth creation.Why was Tango set up? At Tango, we recognize that for development to happen there must be concerted efforts to achieve a balance between social, economic and environmental factors since action in any particular area affects the outcomes in other areas. Tango is our modest contribution to societal progress and prosperity through the deployment of creativity, knowledge and technology.In the Tango ecosystem, we don’t see courier, despatch and delivery service providers as just ‘riders’ see them as real professionals providing very essential services who should be accorded respect and recognition. We see them as enterprising, hardworking, smart actors in the supply-chain and logistics ecosystem. We see them as self-driven and motivated individuals who must be empowered and enabled for success. We see them as Business Owners. This is one of the fundamental ideas fueling the Tango vision which is to enable people to become their own bosses; we want people to be self-employed and self-reliant. Tango equips for business because no matter how much an employee is paid, it can never be enough. So, at Tango we consider it very pragmatic to empower our people. Government has a role to play by creating the right conditions and environment for the productivity and prosperity of citizens. Yet, government cannot do everything. As citizens, as business people, as professionals, as Nigerians, we all have a part to play in national development. We must all contribute our little bit in our own corners and spaces. It is the aggregate of our little contributions here and there that will give us the kind of nation we truly desire and deserve. Tango remains committed to the improvement of the lives of all participants in our ecosystem.
Where exactly is Tango?
Tango is a platform that enables commerce, retail, fulfillment, last-mile delivery, on-demand and related services across at all levels and across verticals. We are laser-focused on elevating local enterprises to a digital pinnacle. Essentially, Tango brings visibility to businesses at the neighborhood level. Simply put, every business is domiciled in a neighbourhood, and resides in a locality. Bringing people and businesses together in an intuitive, convenient, non-obtrusive and seamless manner; driving engagements, connections and transactions safely, securely and simply is at the core of what we do at Tango. The world we live in today is unequivocally digital. Tango was birthed to deliver a delightsome experience to all the participants within its digital ecosystem on a consistent basis. We want all and sundry to interact with their favourite brands, service providers and businesses through their mobile devices. What this simply means is that you can be anywhere, make an order and determine whether you want to pick up your order, or have it delivered to you, and have your wish done. It is that simple. This is what we do at Tango. We enable convergence and drive convenience.
What about Perishables?
As long as the item you want is available, legal and permissible within the ambits of regulatory oversight, Tango delivers.
How is your fee?
Our fees are affordable. We charge for saving you time, bringing you convenience and spreading satisfaction. We are not out of the reach of people. People will find Tango very useful and handy.
Is there training for the Tango Business Owners?
Absolutely. We run a well-structured training program to inculcate professionalism, respect, discipline, integrity, empathy, service and orderliness to ensure the Tango brand is well-represented and projected for the benefit of the general public. We want Tango Business Owners to behave in a certain way, we want them to dress in a certain way, we want them to have a prim and proper outlook, we want them to grow within the Tango ecosystem and corporate culture into very responsible citizens. These are the kind of people we anticipate to emerge from the Tango acculturation process.
What are the eligibility criteria to participate in the Program?
Potential Tango Business Owners must meet certain eligibility criteria including having gone through secondary education at the minimum, no criminal record, have solid references and be at least 23 years to get into the Program.
What benefits are associated with the Tango Business Owner Program?
We want to reach people, we want people to be gainfully employed, we want them to be proud professionals and entrepreneurs, we want them to be responsible and family-oriented citizens. These are the standards we have set for ourselves at Tango both as a brand and a corporate entity. It is our objective to give the participants in our program the very best. We consider them very valuable members of the Tango family. Each Tango Business Owner enjoys comprehensive and diverse levels of institutional support including but not limited health, personal accident and life insurance, scheduled preventive asset and equipment maintenance cumulatively valued at over 7 million Naira per participant. In the line of duty people are exposed to professional hazards. We don’t want or pray for bad things to happen but we also prepare for the unexpected and unforeseen. Tango Business Owners and their families are never alone. At Tango we prepare for tomorrow. We believe that you only get the best from partners, employees, and those around you when you give them the best available, and you make transparency your stock in trade. As Nigerians, we believe Nigeria deserves the best, and that our country will eventually emerge and be the best God has purposed Nigeria to become. Nigeria is undoubtedly going through multiple challenges at this time. These times also present each one of us with ample opportunities to find sustainable solutions to the problems we see all around us. It is all our responsibility to collectively build the Nigeria of our dreams. Everyone needs be involved. Nation building is a job for all of us and not just the job of those in public or political high offices. Every Nigerian has a role to play. For us, Tango is our very modest contribution to nation building.We are delighted and extremely excited that the Tango Business Owner (TBO) Program ticks vital elements of the life-changing goals outlined by the UN as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including serving as our little contribution towards ending of extreme poverty; promoting zero hunger; enabling good health and well-being; providing access to inclusive and quality education; driving financial independence by the activation of opportunities for decent work; propelling industry, innovation and infrastructure as crucial drivers of economic growth and development by utilizing information and communication technologies; empowering otherwise low income earners, and promotion of economic and financial inclusion regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender or social status. When people have the opportunity for a decent livelihood, they are good to go, as they say. It is a rare priviledge for us at Tango to be enabling opportunities for work and income for participants in the Tango Business Owner (TBO) Program so they can support themselves and their families.
Why Tango, how did you come about the name Tango?
(Laughs) Thank you very much. Remember that very popular saying that it takes two to Tango, right? For every human transaction or exchange to happen, at least two people must be involved. Take for example, somebody making an order online or walking into a store, buying something and wanting that thing delivered; the request to have the purchased item picked up and delivered will be carried out by another person. So every human transaction always involves at least two people. So, think about this as ‘taking two to tango’. That was the origin. Also consider the excitement and joy that flows out of a successful transaction. People get happy and elated when they get the outcomes they desire. Tango being a dance form that is associated with exotic and breezy music represents fun, closeness, friendliness for us. We want Tango to be identified as a fun, cool, warm, close, honest and friendly brand. It doesn’t matter whether you are young or old, we believe life is there to be savoured and enjoyed at every opportunity. The tagline for Tango is “Life Moves”. Life waits no one. You must move with life, that is the essence of Tango as a brand.
Where do we see Tango in the next 2 years?
We currently hold a national license to operate courier and logistics services in Nigeria. Our aspiration within the next two years is to grow into a dominant player in that space, and establish presence across Nigeria, Africa and expand our footprints globally as a proudly Nigerian brand. We want to grow into a Pan-African brand, starting out with Nigeria as our launchpad, into the rest of the Africa, and by extension the rest of the world. Africa and Africans deserve better and we are utterly convinced that Tango can make very meaningful and impactful contributions.
Where can we find Tango?
Our social media handles are gobytango247 on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and you can find us on the web at www.gobytango.com or call us on +234-916-155-4000; +234-817-480-3738
