‘Self development vital for women entrepreneurs’

Mrs Angela Ajala is the Executive Director, Ladela Schools, Abuja. She is a member Board of Trustees, Business and Professional Women, Nigeria and National President, African Women’s Entrepreneurship Programme. In this interview, she speaks on what inspired her into writing a book as guide on running school amongst other issues.   What inspired you to […]

Mrs Angela Ajala is the Executive Director, Ladela Schools, Abuja. She is a member Board of Trustees, Business and Professional Women, Nigeria and National President, African Women’s Entrepreneurship Programme. In this interview, she speaks on what inspired her into writing a book as guide on running school amongst other issues.

 

What inspired you to start a school?

What inspired me first was the love for children. I can spend hours with children and not be tired, they energise me. Secondly, my desire and passion to see children turn out well in the society.

How did you get funds to start?

I sold all my shares and stocks. I sold the little gold I had then and pulled out all the savings I had then and added it to some money my husband gave me to start, so all that helped me to start without borrowing.

What are the challenges you faced doing this business and how have you overcome them?

There are many challenges but the greatest is getting faithful, committed and passionate staff to run with your vision. We are stable now because over the years we have formed a critical core team of hardworking, loyal and passionate team that is committed to our vision.

We also have challenges of power, multiple taxation and access to finance to scale up and infrastructure challenges.

What are the things you put on ground that made the business succeed?

Some of the things we have put on ground to make the business succeed are structures and processes that work. Also, the practice of continuous professional development so as to be up to date in such a knowledge-based industry and lastly the culture of teaching from the heart and mentoring every child. We believe every child is a star given the right environment.

How many jobs have you created so far through this business?

Over the years we have created thousands of jobs including our graduates who are also creating jobs now.

What spurred you into writing a book on running a school?

When I was starting a school, I searched for a hand on book or guide despite having worked under the best hands in education then, but found none. I realized that many people that want to go into the business of starting and running schools have nothing to fall on, those already in the business also had no reference material that could speak from a practitioners point of view.

I believe that running a school can no longer be an all comers affair, or be left to chance or luck, it must be through effective leadership backed with the necessary knowledge, skills and competencies, so I decided to bring together all my over 30 years in the industry to share with educational practitioners, parents, teachers, stakeholders and everyone that desires to see the right outcomes in the industry.

What were your discoveries when you were doing research for the book?

While researching for the book, I discovered that Education had gone beyond the three Rs (Reading, writing and Arithmetic) that was the tripod of benchmarking then. Technology is now huge in education and is a great enabler. Emerging trends that schools must incorporate include topics like; mental health; entrepreneurship; digital literacy; financial literacy; collaboration; communication skills; leadership skills; emotional intelligence; problem solving skills; information evaluation; coding; etc.

What is the secret of a successful business?

The secrets of a successful business that have worked for me are; creating something of value;  hard work and discipline; the fear of God in your dealings;  being passionate;  being authentic and transparent; impacting lives as you go on.

What advice do you have for women entrepreneurs?

Don’t ever give up. Keep moving because there is light at the end of the tunnel. Always develop yourself constantly because you are not worth more than what you know.

What are the key things you have learned doing business?

Some key things I have learned doing business are; You will always meet disappointment so brace up for when you meet it and be ready to deal with it. Timing is key so learn to identify and seize opportunities because they might not come again. Plans will not always go as you wish so learn to have back up plans. Treat people with kindness in your journey of life.

What five things do you think start up entrepreneurs need to know?

Think big but start small, keep innovating and keep learning, be in the right network, your network determines your net worth. Have a mentor and never give up.

In the next five years I see my business leading and disrupting the Education industry with innovations that will redefine the delivery of education in Nigeria and beyond.

What is your educational background?

I hold a BA and MA in English; A Certificate of Entrepreneurship Management; an advanced diploma in Guidance and Counselling; a Quality Assurance Assessor certificate in Education; a Post Graduate diploma in Education, a certificate in Leadership, Business innovation and many others.