Aladetoyinbo Joy Adenike, a 300 Level student of Law at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko appears to have joined the league of the few gifted young persons who are making things happen in Nigeria today.
The young lady of ideas and initiatives, in a brief discussion with our correspondent opened up on how she was able to start a liquid soap business during the course of the interminable strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, earlier in the YEAR.
Aladetoyinbo, a student and princess of Akure origin maintained that she created the business of soap-making not in order to survive but for the sheer passion for business and problem-solving. This is in the light of the limited opportunities and the many problems to be solved in Nigeria.
In her words, she said, “At first, I was like why should I sell soap and not other things. I approached a senior colleague while interning at the Ajana’s Chambers, his name is Barrister Timi who encouraged me to go ahead, brand and get the business registered.
On informing my parents, they were against it. They said “are we not taking care of you. I insisted that I just needed to start doing something.
“On trying to create the awareness about my brand, I was discouraged by people. A friend even said he felt I came from a wealthy family on seeing me but was surprised I could be selling liquid soap. I was really down but I felt it was normal for people to talk. Money was never my drive to the business, I only wanted to be creative and have something doing.
“My dad counseled me to go into other honourable things like the making of lace, batik or others. I turned deaf ears to the counsel and insisted on proceeding with the making of liquid soap. This was despite his saying it does not really have worth, especially when it goes for N200 or less.
“Before I resumed, my dad surprisingly called me and ordered for liquid soap worth of 30,000 litres, this was despite his earlier taking exception to the business.
My first customer was a friend, a company owner in Abuja. He bought N70,000 worth of liquid soap from me.
On being asked to disclose the worth of her business, she said her business currently worth a total of N200,000. It had also created jobs for two people. Though the success did not just happen as she had to go through a lot, most especially with some randy customers whose aims and objectives will always be amoral relationship with people like her. She said engaging oneself with such business initiatives should not be a passport to being looked down on or verbally abused by the society.
She concluded by saying, “In life, anywhere you find yourself, there will always be difficulties. You will encounter a lot of people that will want to bring you down but never give up. Keep doing it. Keep pushing. Those who look down on you might end up patronizing you again. They will be the ones to advertise your vision for you.”
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