Where did you learn this trade from?
I have been making beads for a very long time, even before I got admission into the university. Then I used to browse the internet and get details on how to make beads. Then for making it with Ankara, I leant it after my National Youth Service. Professionally, I have been making beads for about six years now while for Ankara I have been making it for a year and a half now.
Being a graduate of Industrial Chemistry, what prompted you to go into this business and did you have any professional training?
I believe as humans, we all have two sides of making income, there is what we call your work and the other is your talent. Despite the fact that I will love to have a job in the future, for now I love what I am doing. It is my hand work that opens doors to other opportunities while my educational background exposes me to the realities of life. For now I doubt if I am going to leave this business because it is what gives me joy as I love what I am doing. It also helps me to put smile of people’s faces.
Also even if I get a job, there is nothing that will stop me from making beads, rather I will go further to explore ways of promoting my business. To make my work diverse, I am also learning how to sew clothes because fashion designing is also part of my plan. This is just the first phase of what I intend to be doing.
What is the height that you have attained in this business so far?
Right from the university, I made jewellery for different kinds of people for weddings and also for students. Then with Ankara, I have gone to different exhibitions like the Proudly Nigeria Expo and also arts exhibition at the International Conference Centre. In addition, I do online adverts on social media so I can showcase my products to the world.
When I make my products, I upload them on different social media platforms, especially Facebook and finally I organize training where people pay to learn bead making among others.
What do you do with your profit?
I save my profit to get more materials and still invest. At the end of the month, I try to balance what I get with what I have spent just to be sure that I save something because at this point, I know how much the business pays me, which always reminds me of the need to save.
What are the challenges in the Ankara and beads making business?
Personally, I will say capital has been a very big challenge. But I overcame it and that is why I believe when you want to start a business, capital should not be a challenge. I will say I started my bead making with N100. Then in school, when I was trying to learn, my parents did not agree; if I was given money to go to church, I will save it and trek and with those little amounts, I used to buy my materials.
So I believe with the little capital you have you can start something. For instance the exhibition I went for I only had N5,000 but I was not discouraged knowing what I was aiming for.
Also, marketing one’s product is a challenge; packaging your products will help you to sell, but without good marketing strategy, one’s products cannot sell.
How were you able to combine your studies with the Ankara business while in school?
I just tried managing my time. I did it during my leisure time. Every day I wake up by 4am, if I have any work to do I make sure I do it before my time for lectures. It is only during examinations that I know I have to abandon everything and face my studies. What is your advice to women out there in terms of productivity?
The only word is for every single lady to discover herself; what she can do to promote herself and not depend on any man. Discovering yourself and working on it is the best thing that can happen to any woman.
What are the key areas you want to improve your business?
Basically the key areas which I want to improve in my business are in packaging, registering my company, getting more materials for Ankara and bead making as well as getting a shop where I can display my products. Operating from under an umbrella is not really profitable and patronisers even tend to beat down cost because of the location they find you in.
Finally I have made preparations to go for my masters degree.
