Business

At age 16, he spent $23 to buy a website domain. 9 years later, his blue-collar business brings in $1.3 million a year

Almost a decade later, what started as a blue-collar side hustle by two brothers, now has over 20 employees and is on track to bring in about $2.3 million in 2025, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.

Published

7 months ago

November 24, 2025

OCHEFA

388 Views

Image credit: CNBC

Growing up, Zames Chew thought he wanted to work a white-collar role at a company like Google, but his career took a different turn.

Today, the 26-year-old runs the Singapore-based handyman service Repair.sg, alongside his 24-year-old brother and co-founder, Amos Chew.

In 2024, their Singapore-based company Repair.sg brought in 1.7 million Singapore dollars (about $1.3 million), according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.

“When I was younger, my dream was always to work in big tech,” said Chew. But one day in early 2016, he discovered a gap in the market.

“Our parents were looking for a service provider to fix something around the house,” said Chew. “I was just looking online, and … there [seemed] to be nowhere to find service providers [online] back in the day.

So I was like … let me put together a website and see what happens from there.”

So, at age 16, Chew spent 30 Singapore dollars (about $23) to buy a website domain name, had his father help him register the business, and Repair.sg was born.

Starting a side hustle at 16

As kids, the Chew brothers loved being hands-on.

“My brother and I would do everything together. That means building Legos, building PCs, taking things apart,” said Chew.

”[We] have always been building projects together, and it has [been] our dream to … work together when we became adults.”

The two were able to realize this dream during their teenage years after starting Repair.sg.

The company gained momentum slowly until the last few years when its growth started to soar, said Chew.

For the first three years of the company, the brothers were still in school, so they had to squeeze in work for the business in between classes, or during their evenings.

What a lot of people don’t know is that there’s a lot of education … [and] licensing behind some of the services that we do, and it goes beyond just taking a screwdriver and hammer [to] things,” he said.

So they spent years acquiring the knowledge, skills and licenses necessary to run their business.

In addition, before the business scaled, they would take on most jobs themselves such as replacing lights, and fixing furniture.

“For the first seven years, up until perhaps even early 2024, [the business] was basically at the brink of death most of the time,” said Chew. “We were young and weren’t very good business owners.”

Credit: CNBC

Business

FG Plans to Extend Lagos Rail Line to Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminals

Keyamo noted that Lagos accounts for 67 per mcent of passenger traffic through Nigeria’s airports.

Published

9 hours ago

June 10, 2026

OCHEFA

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The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced at the ongoing Invest in Lagos 3.0 summit, that the federal government has concluded arrangements to extend the existing Lagos rail network to the domestic and international terminals of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA).

The move is aimed at improving connectivity and strengthening Lagos’ position as an aviation hub in Africa.

He said discussions between his ministry and the state government are ongoing.

The extension will link the rail line that currently terminates at Ikeja Bus Stop to the airport.

According to Keyamo, the line will pass through the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), continue to the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2) operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), and end at the international terminal.

“That rail line is about to start. It is the extension of the rail line. So, Lagos is just ready for the next big step in terms of its aviation activities,” the minister said.

The project is expected to ease access to Nigeria’s busiest airport. It also supports the government’s ambition to position Lagos as a major aviation and logistics hub on the continent.

The proposed link will complement Lagos’ expanding rail network.

Last month, the Lagos State Government said the Blue Line carried about 3.5 million passengers in 2025, with daily ridership rising to 15,000 commuters. Work continues on its extension to Okokomaiko and expansion of services on the Red Line.

Keyamo noted that Lagos accounts for 67 percent of passenger traffic through Nigeria’s airports.

He argued that the state’s location gives it a natural advantage to compete with established aviation hubs.

“Just six hours across the Atlantic, you will get to South America from the Lagos airport. Six hours down, you will get to Southern Africa. Six hours to the Middle East, you will get to Dubai or Qatar. Six hours up, you will get to Europe, either France or London.

That is the equidistant advantage that Lagos provides as a hub for the whole of Africa. We will soon catch up with hubs like Addis Ababa and Lome,” he said.

The minister also highlighted ongoing investments in airport infrastructure under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He said about $500 million has been committed to reconstructing and modernising the international terminal at Lagos airport.

The investment will transform the ageing facility into a modern airport capable of handling growing passenger and cargo traffic.

Keyamo added that the federal government has expanded Nigeria’s international airport network. Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo and Maiduguri International Airport have been designated as international airports, bringing the total to seven.

He said the resolution of the long-running dispute between BASL and the federal government shows the administration’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for private sector participation in aviation.

He urged local and foreign investors to explore opportunities in the sector, including the proposed airport project in the Lekki-Epe corridor promoted by the Lagos State Government.If implemented, the airport rail extension will provide direct rail access to the country’s busiest aviation gateway.

It will complement ongoing investments in Lagos’ mass transit system and support broader efforts to improve mobility in Nigeria’s commercial capital.

Business

Exchange Rates Today, Wednesday 10 June, 2026

Black Market Rates
US Dollar (USD) Buy ₦1,390 Sell ₦1,400
Great British Pound (GBP) Buy ₦1,855 Sell: ₦1, 875
EURO (EUR) Buy ₦1,000 Sell ₦1, 100

Published

9 hours ago

June 10, 2026

OCHEFA

11 Views

Official CBN Exchange Rates

US Dollar (USD) ₦1,360.55

Great British Pound (GBP) ₦1,823. 00

EURO (EUR) ₦1,873.61

SWISS FRANC (CHF) ₦1,709. 02

JAPANESE YEN (JPN) ₦8.49

CHINESE YUAN (CNY) ₦200.92

West African CFA (XOF) ₦2.40

West African Unit Account (WAUA) ₦1,856. 66

SAUDI RIYAL (SAR) ₦362. 38

SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) ₦82.71

Black Market Rates

US Dollar (USD) Buy ₦1,390 Sell ₦1,400

Great British Pound (GBP) Buy ₦1,855 Sell: ₦1, 875

EURO (EUR) Buy ₦1,000 Sell ₦1, 100

South African Rand (ZAR) Buy ₦75 Sell ₦90

UAE Dirham Buy ₦350 Sell ₦370

Chinese Yuan Buy ₦180 Sell ₦200

Ghana Cedi (GHS) Buy ₦100 Sell ₦115

West African CFA Buy ₦2,450 Sell ₦2,550

Central African CFA Buy ₦2,320 Sell 2400

Australian Dollar Buy ₦800 Sell ₦900

Credit: CBN I Aboki Forex

Business

Invest in Lagos 3.0 Summit Attracts more than 600 delegates

Ohibaba.com reports that the summit, themed “Lagos: The Business Gateway to Africa,” featured presentations from representatives of the Presidency and the governors of Lagos, Imo, Abia, Plateau, Taraba and Nasarawa states.

Published

13 hours ago

June 10, 2026

OCHEFA

22 Views

• Representatives of government and private sector delegates at the summit

Invest in Lagos 3.0 Summit attracted more than 600 delegates—including global institutions, sovereign wealth funds, development finance institutions and trade networks.

The host governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, called for increased private sector investment in rail transport, energy, agriculture, agro-processing and water infrastructure.

He said that addressing transportation challenges would unlock Lagos’ economic potential, reduce travel time, boost productivity and improve returns on investment.

Minister of Finance, Dr. Taiwo Oyedele, assured investors of the Federal Government’s commitment to creating a conducive business environment through ongoing fiscal reforms. He said the new tax law has eliminated multiple taxation, improved compliance and provided relief for small and medium enterprises.

Oyedele added that stamp duty collection has been transferred to state governments and commended states that have adopted harmonised tax systems.