Biography of Business Icon and investment strategist, Dcn. Philip Ikpomwonsa Edigin, CEO, Phil-Halmark Supermarket Ltd

Philip Ikpomwonsa Edigin was born on 21st June 1960 to the family of Pa. Aghahowa Edigin of Ayen Community in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State. The sixth Child of his parents. He spent most of his childhood in his home State.

He had his Primary Education at Holy Aruosa Primary School, Benin City, before he proceeded to Iwere College, Koko, Delta State for his Secondary academic pursuit in 1975 and rounded up in flying colours in 1980.

Philip Edigin is an highly resourceful disciplinarian, a devoted Christian, with the  potentials to carrying everyone along and goal oriented when it comes to managing businesses. Very  humble to the core.

In spite of several financial challenges as a result of his parental background, He stood to conquer. No one was available to soften the pedal of his career, that never discouraged him, even though it was not common in his  time, he sponsored himself all in quest for attaining a qualitative education, before he finally embraced his dream 'Trade', which started at a very tender age, while assisting his mother, who was a prosperous merchant of local gin, distilled from fermented palm wine, as she was always patronized by wide range customers due to its essentiality, being used as part of many religious and social ceremonies. 

Boldly, Edigin's business ideology was refined by his mother, who had years ago embarked on petty trading at the old Nigerian Post Office (NIPOST) outlet located at Akpakpava in the heart of Benin City, where she was undoubtedly famous for her ability to galvanize customers with her meticulous approach to life and other related dealings.

 Edigin who is a very resourceful technocrat had always maximized his potentials at a tender age. As fate would have it, coming out from the pinnacle of a broken home was a major setback, as he needed to contend with financial hurdles, since the marriage between his father and mother suffered setback and life became 'Per head' for the family.

Philip Edigin started hawking at a very tender age, hawking; bread, banana, Orange, Eggs and more. Hawking after school hour was a usual and regular exercise. This was exemplified during his Secondary School days at Iwere College. 

He was undoubtedly famous as a young trade, before he subsequently started  selling writing materials in Schools, such as pencils, envelope, crayons, books and etceteras, always going to purchase the goods in Mission Road and sell in his mother's shop.

That was the genesis and this sprouted out his motivation, always purchasing his educational materials from the stipends realized. His friends,  teachers and colleagues where of huge patronage, due to his accommodating ability. He was selling for his mother and also selling his own items, before he climaxed a stardom age. Though, it wasn't an easy task, but a success is not for the faint- hearted.

As a young trader who was doing well, Edigin  was always determined to go to school. Always ready to embark on any interview which sought to launch him to school, various attempts failed, until he was admitted to Iwere College, a boarding school in Koko, where he also continued his trading activities, selling education materials and other related items.

Philip Edigin's hobby is reading. He loves ready, always with the book at all cost. His quest for attaining a wider knowledge in Business, took him to Federal Polythecnic, Auchi, Edo State, where he was admitted to study Accountancy in 1983. 

However, financial challenges couldn't allow him complete the study, as he had at that time stopped business and embarked on partnership with his brother. Sadly, the partnership was not of good favour to him, due to some worrisome misunderstanding and it plotted him to a zero position. 

He thereafter backed out of the partnership deal and was on the street searching for jobs, before he finally decided to reawaken his birth career as a trader, until he got a shop at Sakponba Road, where his fortunes sprouted up like a mustard seed in 1988. At first, he was buying goods from Mission Road, before he finally started in Onitsha, and later various countries.

He is renownly known for selling only original items and this has made him excel in business. Edigin has travelled numerous countries in lieu of getting qualitative products and this has kept Phil-Halmark as a leading shopping mall in Edo State with various outlets within and outside Nigeria.

He thereafter  married an elegant looking resourceful damsel who always supports his dream in 1986, thereafter making the business easier as both where fully on ground  in restructuring and redefining the business, which is the beauty of the PhilHalmark we see today. He is blessed with four (4) lovely Children. He is a Deacon in Christ Embassy 

In lieu of achieving a better result, Philip Edigin however travelled to United Kingdom, London in 1989 or adequate study and returned back to Nigeria in 1991, after which he settled and always embark on a business journey.

Over the last 38 years, Mr. Philip Edigin has excelled in his chosen career, becoming an internationally renowned expert in Investment, Sales technocrat, Asset Management guru,  import / export Trading, a Coach and mentor to many others and Consultant to many firms.