“Though your beginning was small,
your latter end would increase abundantly”
“I was trained as
electrical technician holding a certificate in electrical engineering. However,
my life was miserable and I faced income poverty for more than five years. I
lived without job either permanent or temporary. But I knew living without
working is like dying without knowing”, said Ignatius Ejiro.
One day he decided to
visit his uncle who is a very successful businessman and ask him any amount of
money so that he can start a business. His uncle Mr. Zebuba asked him what type
of business he wanted to do. “I want to start shoe brushing business”. Ignatius
replied. His uncle lamented, “why chose such a humble job or business while you
have a certificate”. After much discussion, Mr. Zebuba told him that he would
give him money but the money would not be a grant but a loan. He thus loaned
him some amount of money equivalent to USD 250.Then he began a business of polishing
people’s shoes for a living while selling some juices and cold drinks in a city
square. That was in 2001. Through that business he raised enough money to pay his
tuition fee at a computer school. When he graduated, he was jobless again and
heard a voice saying to him,” You can create a job for yourself”. He then
decided to gather people and taught them how to operate a computer.
Seven years later, he recorded
his success that he has his own building and in addition he has three cars and three
kiosks, one for selling and repairing electrical equipments and other two for
selling general merchandise. Two of his cars are used for hiring and one for
personal uses and family.
“My advice to all young
people who have graduated in any form of
school; rather than complaining that Government does not provide employment, it
is better to look at our environment and
see different opportunities that surround us. There are many opportunities in
our environment if we dare to open our eyes and capitalise on them” Ignatius
said.
Ignatius Ejiro is one
among ten of thousand of graduates who complete schools and colleges without
jobs. However, by looking at the surrounding environment, one can spot opportunities
surrounding their environment and acting boldly in setting up a business that
can solve pertinent surrounding problems. Thus graduates can solve problems and
thereby fight poverty and kick it out of their lives. However, many wait until
they gain huge capital while they can start small and move on to greatness.
“The pending and
personal questions are, do you have determination? Are you able to persevere
and persist to realise your dream(s)?” asks Ignatius Ejiro.
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