PEDRO GSM CEO Grew From L$500 Phone Repairs to Retail

By Daniel Okafor

PEDRO GSM CEO Quomini A. David said he repaired phones for as little as L$500 on a Gurley Street sidewalk before building the Liberian cellphone business that now sells iPhones.

David, the company’s chief executive officer, said he started with virtually nothing. He spent several years repairing mobile phones around the World Trade Center on Gurley Street in Monrovia. The roadside work eventually made him reconsider the future he could build from that spot.

How did two Dubai trips change his approach?

David traveled to Dubai for business exposure. His first trip did not deliver the expected result, he said, but the setback supplied lessons that strengthened his determination. On the second trip, he said, he understood the experience better.

“On my second trip, I began to understand the experience better, and by the grace of God, we have come this far,” David said.

His account treats the two trips as a sequence of exposure, failed expectation and reflection. David said the second trip gave him the understanding to move forward. He tied that progress to patience, persistence and learning from setbacks.

What did the L$500 repairs set in motion?

His stated sequence was straightforward: repair phones, gain several years of experience, reconsider his future and explore opportunities beyond the street where he worked. The move reflected his desire to expand his knowledge and improve his business prospects. Years of direct work supplied the base.

His early operation also operated with limited resources, David said. In his telling, years of repair work supplied practical knowledge before PEDRO GSM took shape. The sequence put accumulated experience at the center of the expansion story.

Before concentrating more heavily on PEDRO GSM, David attended Starz University as a senior student. He said he intends to resume his studies this semester. The Global News Network Liberia profile gives no calendar date for the term, so his plan remains tied to the timing of the interview.

David said he sees education and entrepreneurship as parallel priorities. Resuming his studies would not displace the company, in his account. Formal learning would support the practical judgment he developed through phone repairs and business exposure.

What does David tell young Liberians?

David used his own experience to urge young Liberians to set clear goals, remain focused and take responsibility for their future. He said difficult circumstances should not stop them from pursuing their ambitions.

“I am telling my friends that life depends on yourself. If I can make it, you can also make it. Just remain focused and determined about your future,” he encouraged.

David said some friends now seek his advice on business matters. He described his journey as a source of inspiration and guidance for them, while stressing that entrepreneurship requires continuous learning, humility and a willingness to benefit from other people’s experience.

Some friends and associates have also praised his entrepreneurial vision, he said. They view the cellphone store as an encouraging example for young people seeking to build businesses in Liberia. Their response gives his story a practical local role, extending it beyond personal advancement.

What does PEDRO GSM sell now?

David said the company offers different categories of mobile phones, including iPhones, to meet varying customer needs. He said the business aims to serve customers while contributing to the growing demand for technology in Liberia.

His commitment extends beyond retail, David said. PEDRO GSM is committed to helping students and young people access mobile phones and technology. He linked that access to education, communication and personal development.

That gives the company two stated priorities: serve customers and widen access for students and younger users. The first concerns the products and categories PEDRO GSM sells. The second concerns why David says access to phones matters beyond the transaction itself.

David’s stated next step is to resume his studies this semester while continuing PEDRO GSM. His plan places formal education alongside the business and keeps support for students and younger Liberians central to the company’s next phase.