I acquired skills ‘cos I wanted multiple sources of income – Electrical Engineer graduate

Instead of been idle as white collar job was not forth coming, she decided to delve into catering and souvenir making which she said is really paying off. The knowledge of entrepreneurship she learnt in the university she said has helped her business as she has also been able to achieve stability financially. Kindly tell […]

Instead of been idle as white collar job was not forth coming, she decided to delve into catering and souvenir making which she said is really paying off. The knowledge of entrepreneurship she learnt in the university she said has helped her business as she has also been able to achieve stability financially.

Kindly tell us about yourself and your educational background?
I am Mary Omojo Idakwo, a second class upper division graduate of Electrical Engineering from Federal University of Technology, Minna in Niger State. Though I hail from Benue State, Idoma to be precise, but I reside in Kaduna State.
When and how did you start your catering and souvenir making businesses and what motivated you to go into them being a graduate?
I learnt how to make cake while I was in my final year in the University in 2011 and I learnt how to make souvenir bags while I was waiting for service in 2012. My motivation was that I wanted to have multiple sources of income and since I love playing with colours and creating beauty. I learnt to make cakes and souvenirs bags and that was how I started.
Is the business lucrative and how has it been so far?
The business is lucrative and has helped me financially, it has been my major source of income since I graduated from the university in 2011.
Are the businesses seasonal and why did you choose catering and souvenir production?
Yes I will say the businesses are seasonal, business booms during the festive seasons and when there are many weddings. I chose catering and souvenir production because I love creativity, I love playing with colours and these were skills I could do with ease to generate income.
Do you make the souvenirs yourself or do you contract someone to do them for you?
I make the souvenirs myself. I do both the cutting and sewing myself. I have sewing machine for that purpose. I also do the packaging myself after sewing.
What are the basic things needed to start your kind of business, is it capital intensive and what are some of the challenges associated with it?
The basic things needed to start my kind of business are a sewing machine, a work table, tape rule and a scissors for the souvenir making. I also use leather, plain simple materials, zips, cords. I get the materials from the market here in Kaduna. Also a starter will need an oven for baking, baking pans, cake accessories, mixer, cutters, and rolling pins. It is quite capital intensive but it is such that with the basics, you could start on a small scale and then gradually buy more equipment as you make progress. Some of the challenges of the business include: it is seasonal, sometimes contracts are low and then its quite stressful especially when I have a lot of work and I am trying to meet deadlines since I work alone. Another thing is that you must be time conscious so as not to disappoint your customers. If you always meet deadline and you do quality and neat job, your work will advertise you.
Why did you abandon your certificate for catering and souvenir making?
I didn’t abandon my certificate. I will still love to use my certificate if I get an opportunity to do so, but instead of sitting idle and waiting for a white collar job, I decided to use my skills to generate income. I am still working towards lecturing in my field but for now, these are the skills my hands have found and I am gladly doing them to the best of my knowledge.
What was your ambition or dream as a child?
As a child, I loved teaching, which I still do because I take some children in home lessons. I also desire to be a lecturer in the field of Electrical Engineering. I hope this dream will be a reality someday by the Grace of God.
How far do you intend to go in your business?
I intend to expand my business to a level where I could train other young people who want to get skilled and also generate a lot of resources as weddings and occasions would never end. If I get employed today, I will still continue as it would be a means of generating multiple streams of income for me.
What is your assessment of government’s effort in providing employment for unemployed graduates in Nigeria?
I believe that government is trying its best in providing employment for unemployed graduates by initiating schemes like YOUWIN and SURE-P. At least it has helped a lot of young graduates to be established in different innovative businesses.
Do you have any regret going to school and how far has the business helped, that is, what have you been able achieve via the business?
I have no regrets going to school, education has gone a long way to making me who I am today, it has helped my creativity. The knowledge of entrepreneurship that has helped in my business today was learnt in my entrepreneurship class while in the university. I have been able to achieve stability financially. I was also able to train about 20 female inmates in the Nigerian Prisons in Katsina State during my youth service year. The training has equipped these inmates with the necessary skills for survival.
What is your advise to unemployed graduates who are bent on doing a white collar job?
I will advise young unemployed graduates to learn skills they can use to generate income for themselves, while they wait for the white collar jobs instead of being idle. I would also love to encourage the young undergraduates to learn all the skills they can learn in addition to their education, as it would help them be armed to face the challenges of unemployment in Nigeria today.