Too many graduates, less jobs: we need self employment – Lilian Akwuchi

Lilian Akwuchi has a passion for social work, proffering and providing solutions to the problems faced by the society. The Social Studies education graduate from Taraba State also tells us why she chose to be self-employed rather than get a white collar job. What motivated you to start an NGO? It was actually a vision […]

Lilian Akwuchi has a passion for social work, proffering and providing solutions to the problems faced by the society. The Social Studies education graduate from Taraba State also tells us why she chose to be self-employed rather than get a white collar job.

What motivated you to start an NGO?

It was actually a vision from God, and a great feeling of fulfilment I derive every time I engage in making a positive impact in people’s lives.  

My primary motivation was love towards humanity, I have this passion towards helping people, especially the less privileged, orphans, people with disabilities, vulnerable men, women and children, and also contributing my quota to our immediate society, the nation, and the world at large. 

How long has it been in existence?

Akwuchi Humanitarian Campaign started in June 2014, till date; So it’s three years and I currently work with seven people.

What were the challenges you faced when you started? And how have you coped?

One of my major challenges was actually a discouragement from people, including ones close to me. Another challenge I faced was funding, and also how to balance my schooling, personal life, family and business, and at the same time running an N.G.O. 

It was not easy actually,  because I had to create time, sacrifice a lot, re schedule my daily activities and raise above the challenges, and thank God, I was able to start up with something. 

Did you require any capital/fund to start? If yes, how much did you start with? 

Yes, I required some capital to start with. 

Why did you opt for self-employment rather than being employed? 

With the teeming and increasing amount of graduates, I felt that it was only right to start up with something independently, because whether we like it or not, the weight on the government is too much, therefore we need to be creative and independent, as we all know that there are more graduates, less jobs, therefore as we employ ourselves, we also employ others.

How has support been like from family members and friends?

I will like to begin with my father, who had being very supportive and was a great source of inspiration. My dear brothers too, who offered unconditional love, listening ears, advice’s and also contributing financially towards making Akwuchi Humanitarian Campaign a success. I can’t forget my friends also who stood by me when the going was rough. 

Seeing how far you have come, what does it take to run an NGO?

I will like to say it takes a lot of sacrifice, hard work, commitment, patience, determination and zeal to run an N.G.O. 

Would you ‘drop’ what you are doing right now if offered a white collar job? 

No, I can’t, because even as lucrative as a white collar job is, it will not be able to provide the fulfilment I derive from empowering and impacting on people’s lives, which I feel an N.G.O does better.

Where do you see your NGO in a few years’ time?

I see a lot of lives changed positively and for the better, great testimonies shared. I see us reaching out to the world through diverse mediums like the television, radio, internet, streets, homes, communities and villages, I see us travelling and impacting on people’s lives all over the world.

What are your words of advice for youths?

The need for creativity and independence cannot be over emphasised amongst the youths, as it is critical and necessary in this 21st century. Youths should depend less on the government and start something no matter how small it might be, as they too might employ somebody someday, therefore not to look down on themselves or their abilities on what they can or cannot do towards making both themselves and the world a better place.