Category: Small Business

Cross River State-based entrepreneur, Emmanuel Ntiti, is up on the entrepreneurship ladder, having set up a thriving business of fabricating durable machines for agro entrepreneurs and farmers, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

 

Cross River State-based entrepreneur, Emmanuel Ntiti, fabricates a range of farm machinery for industrial use.

His agricultural background helped him to identify the various problems that grassroots farmers face.

A Senior Technical Instructor at the Government Technical School, Calabar, Ntiti has developed a range of machines for small scale business owners.

These include machines for de-stoning, harvesting, threshing, milling, peeling and polishing machines to process maize, potatoes, groundnuts, rice, yam and cassava.

He started small with his savings. The early days weren’t easy.

He designed and produced  machines for processing cassava into ethanol. This is good news for farmers and producers  who cannot afford these machines.

Ntiti said his machines break waste biomass into ethanol, thereby reducing costs through savings on maintenance, production time and capital expenditures, for farmers using cassava.

The equipment, made of iron and steel, has a distillation system.

Ntiti is ready to deploy the technology to parts of the country, especially rural areas where cassava is produced. He said his dream is to serve the farming community by providing innovative techniques to reduce drudgery.

One of his machines is the cassava grater, which can process about 800 kilogrammes of cassava per hour. This has assisted farmers to reduce the time spent on the pressed cassava before it is turned to garri.

He also fabricated a manual palm kernel oil (PKO) expeller. The machine can produce a drum of PKO in eight hours. It processes the oil palm fruit from its fibre, and shell. It processes the oil into fatty alcohols.

Read Also: Agro-processing to drive Nigeria’s new economy

Ntiti is empowering Nigerians to make briquettes out of charcoal dust, solve fuel problem, reduce poverty, unemployment and tackle poor waste management.

To him, producing charcoal requires wood, which means an increase in deforestation and stress on ecosystems.

Burning wood to charcoal leads to emission of large amount of Carbon Dioxide (CO2). To address this, he has been looking for an alternative source of fuel after realising that firewood contributes to the depletion of forests.

He saw a business opportunity in briquettes and started researching the possibilities of making them to save the forest and create opportunities for Nigerians to make money.

At the moment, he makes environmentally-friendly charcoal briquettes from wastepaper, plants and agricultural wastes that are combustible, including grass, straw, water hyacinths, maize and rice husks, peanut shells and potato and banana peels.

They burn longer than wood and the coal are cheaper, safer and cleaner to cook with.

The investment is also minimal for small producers and has high returns.

According to Ntiti, briquettes have a high growth potential in the market with lot of businesses still relying on wood and diesel for fuel.

The other advantage, he said, is international funding coming for energy friendly businesses, using options, such as  briquette for e-processing.

Ntiti’s mission is to support farmers by providing them with better and cheaper machinery than the imported models. He wants to partner cooperatives to establish Agro-processing centre (APC) to process the grains in the villages to enhance farmers’ income.

He believes the establishment of such centres at the farm gates will help in getting quality products, reducing post-harvest losses, employment to rural youth and achieve diversification in agriculture besides improving the economic and social status of   farmers.

 

A non-profit organisation, iCreate Africa and other partners have adopted a national skills festival  as another platform for mentoring future innovators, technology leaders and creative problem-solvers by getting youths to solve challenging problems in different industries through hands-on skills competition. DANIEL ESSIET who was at the event, reports.

 

The National Skills Fest had the same thrills and excitement every other sport has. It was an educational, fun-filled, and interactive event that inspired youths to consider career options in vocational and technical skills. It also involved a skills competition, business pitch, panel discussions, awards night and industrial exhibition.

The competition showcased 16 sets of skills, which include brick laying, plumbing, carpentry, tiling, tailoring, art, hair dressing, make-up, website design, app development, animation, robotics, cooking, photography, third animation & restaurant services, with three winners emerging from each category.

Organised by a non-profit, iCreate Africa, in partnership with Universal Learn Direct Academia Limited(ULDA), Julius Berger and Sterling Bank, Industrial Training Fund, Bosch Group, among others, the goal was   to get more youths hooked on  technical  and vocational careers  through hands-on  skills competition. The event brought together secondary and post-secondary graduates from across Nigeria to compete in an Olympic-style event.

The Chief Executive/Founder, iCreate Africa, Bright Jaja, said the organisation aims to enhance, empower and equip youths to turn their passion into a profession.

Jaja said the focus is to address the societal perception affecting youths’ participation by rebranding technical skills, uplifting the profiles of skilled professionals and projecting skills in the mainstream.

He said the organisation hosted the event to emphasise the benefits of technical and vocational education and training (TVET), among others, saying TVET could create significant opportunities to help youths  enter the labour market.

Jaja said the winners would become Africa skill champions and serve as inspirers and role models to other youths, adding that skill champions not only represent the organisation and affiliated partners who have signed them as their own brand ambassadors, but also represent the vocational profession they champion.

Looking ahead, he said the programme will be fine-tuned to continue to support vocational training centres to reach and train more youths.

The President, ULDA, Olawumi Akanmu Gasper, said tackling unemployment and strengthening the TVET sector will have a knock on effect of empowering  and equipping youths  with relevant skills corresponding to local market needs and  enabling them to secure jobs.

He said skills were the bedrock for driving economic growth, promoting employability, reducing unemployment and poverty.

Read Also: Sterling Bank partners Icreate to host skills festival final

 

With organisations abroad in search of the best and brightest talents, he urged local skills training providers to prepare and sustain a steady pipeline of talents to supply the international market, saying that employers are looking to recruit people with a strong knowledge base, technical skills and problem-solving abilities.

He called on Nigerian youths to embrace skills training to find jobs abroad. He said TVET was a good option for young people. To aid in the work, he said ULDA is ready to inspire dialogue with the goal of better aligning programmes and services with students’ needs and preparing them for careers ahead.

Jaja said the  organisation is working to change the perception of the industry and inspire next-generation workers to pursue technical and vocational careers by providing real-world experiences.

Gasper said his organisation was proud to have supported iCreate Africa to organise the Skills Fest as it provides an opportunity to showcase what it takes to be a successful tradesperson.

The Chief Operating Officer, Automedics Limited, Gbola OBA said “iCreate for him is where you get people to dig in, find their own true skill, saying we now have to enable them to be more successful, earn a decent living and get them skilled-up.

He said the goal and objective of the festival was to engage youths and promote all the exciting careers that are available to them in the skilled trades and technologies.

He said there was a need to redevelop TVET strategies in an effort to bring about increased economic development.

According to him, the competition provided a platform for competitors to demonstrate and develop their skills to be more prepared for the world of work. It also gives young Nigerians who have never been exposed to skilled trades and technology careers a chance to learn about these occupations through experiential activities.

The Chief Executive, Automedics, Engr Kunle Shonaike, said his organisation is supporting the programme because it encourages youth to develop their skills. According to him, Auto medics supported the programme because the event is a positive way of showcasing TVET in Nigeria.

Noting that the competition would allow young people to demonstrate the best of their vocational skills, he added, it  will create a general awareness of the essential contribution that skills and high standards of competence can make to the achievement of economic success and individual fulfilment.

He said selection of participating youths was carried out by a screening committee following eligibility and selection criteria, fulfilled by the deadline for applications.

He said students and teachers in the school system need take advantage of the skills competition and festival to observe and gain valuable insights into the technical skills required.

The kinds of experiences, according to him, help teachers make their lessons and curricula richer, more relevant and more aligned to the careers of today and tomorrow.

For the Chief Executive,Garu Technologies, Alhaji Lukman Garu, the job market today, provides a vastly different pathway to join 21st-century jobs in skilled trades, applied sciences and technology.

He said there was need for careers to adapt to a changing industry where computerised equipment, electronics and advanced materials are now standard.

According to him, the programme has been an invaluable way to encourage youths to not only join the trades, but to value them.Cash prizes were awarded to the top competitors in skill areas.

Entrepreneurs as well as academic institutes, can transform learning. For this reason, the EdTech or Education Technology industry has emerged, propelled by startups looking to address the issue of both reach and quality of education by leveraging modern-day technology, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

In Africa, amongst nearly 128 million school-aged children, 17 million will never attend school. Another 37 million children won’t be able to receive regularly at least a basic education because of child labour, insecurity and poor education policies. Moreover, only 29 percent  of the continent can rely on permanent access to the Internet,analysts said.  They hope  within the next  four  years, 80 per cent  of the world population will be able to access mobile broadband, allowing innovative educational solutions to spread evenly across remote lands.

To this end, Africa is going to become a major gateway for EdTech  to provide educational content inside and outside of schools.

Already,  according to analysts,    the continent has become one of the most dynamic e-learning markets, with revenues reaching $758 million last year.

Analysts said  the EdTech  industry has emerged, propelled by startups looking to address the issue of both reach and quality of education by leveraging modern-day technology. There are now startups in EdTech sector offerings  software and web platforms for parent engagement, gamification, soft skills development, digital libraries, student networking, test preparation, procurement marketplaces, learning analytics, language tools, internship location, and real-time scenario engagement.

It   was a topic of discussion at the Tech Cabal EdTech & the Future of Work Town hall held at the Zone Tech Park, Gbagada Expressway, Lagos.

In line with these developments, the  Lagos Acting Commissioner, Wealth Creation & Employment, Solape Hammond, said the state is driving major initiatives in terms of leveraging technology for education. The  emphasis,according to her, is on skill-based development.

She said the state is investing funds in the tech sector to build employability skills of residents and make education accessible to all.

In a keynote presentation: Investing in Africa’s Human Capital through Edtech,the  Editor,  TechCabal, Olanrewaju Odunowo  said 10 to 12 million youths in the continent enter the workforce each year, mostly without the required skills.

Read Also: Inspiring a new generation of African entrepreneurs

He said a large cluster of African countries currently have a comparatively low capacity to adapt to the requirements of future jobs.

He said it was time for entrepreneurs to enter the EdTech industry and use technology to  bridge skill gaps, quantify the learning outcomes, measure student performance and determine appropriate remedial actions.

Specifically, he said the Nigeria EdTech space was gaining investors ‘interest with Sim Shagaya‘s uLesson, a learning startup —raising a $3.1 million seed capital. He said there were venture funds ready to support and invest in EdTech.

The Chief Executive  Teach for Nigeria, Folawe Omikunle, noted that despite the number of schools and universities, the quality  was not improving, adding that  there  was  room available for new EdTech innovations.

She said startups have a key role to play in the growth of the EdTech sector. According to her, categories such as   supplemental education, test preparation, reskilling  and language learning have great potential.

While the opportunities seem exciting, there are many challenges in connecting startups with investors. One of the biggest problems is finding the right entrepreneurs that meet their investment philosophy and are at the right stage for funding.

Speaking on the issue, Founder, Ventures Platform & Chairman, Edu Platforms, Kola Aina said the EdTech ecosystem is just starting to develop.

The Founder, GidiMo, Dr Tunji Adegbesan said the economy will support entrepreneurs to launch EdTech startups.

According to him, ed tech startups can be so emotionally draining, frustrating and demoralising, that unless one  believes one’s  idea is worthwhile, it’s unlikely one  will stick with it.

His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to “Be prepared to endure setbacks. It will be a difficult journey, but in the end, it’s worth it!”

Founder, The Rise Labs/CEO, Passnownow, Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji stressed the need to focus on collaborative innovation to help upgrading of the educational system and mass entrepreneurship.

Chief Executive /Co-founder, EDVES, Dimeji Falana said there was a sheer potential for new EdTech startups and this is mainly due to the culture of continuous learning.

The Chief Executive, STEM Cafe Jadesola Adedeji said the organisation is filling the gap left by an outdated curriculum to prepare young people for the jobs of the future.

The Founder, Decagon, Chika Nwobi, said the organisation is solving the challenge of software development skills training including funding.

Nwobi said his dream is to use local talents to solve both local and domestic problems with software developers.

The institute gives the students,  loans  acquired from Sterling Bank, accommodation, feeding, a laptop, the tutoring and a monthly stipend.

A startup, Fair Money, is expanding financial inclusion by delivering affordable micro-loans to Nigerians through a mobile platform, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

In Nigeria, getting credit and small bank loans is difficult. So the citizens turn to friends or family members for financial help. Fintech entrepreneurs are exploring the situation to reach the unbanked. Through financial inclusion, they have an opportunity to create solutions that solve real problems and make an impact. Among them are Fair Money’s three founders, Chief Executive, Laurin Hainy; Chief Operating Officer, Nicolas Berthozat and Chief Technology officer, Matthieu Gendreau (CTO). They knew the market and decided in 2017 to start by helping millions of under banked people whose access to credit could change their lives. They established Fair Money to provide non-collateralised instant consumer, and micro business. The endless queues and paperwork requirements of traditional banks are time consuming, and people often are forced to risk their valuables as collateral for pawnshops or other non-traditional lenders.

Based on the success of the credit offering, the team is now engaged in building a full-stack neo-bank.

Fair Money’s vision is to become the world’s leading mobile bank for emerging markets.

“We started by offering our mobile banking service in Nigeria with our first product, micro credit, with the aim of solving the problems faced by small SMEs and individuals trying to access credit.

Read Also: Micro credit: A glimmer of hope for SMEs

 

The objective is to offer fair and transparent services to help millions of under banked people who are underserved by traditional banks.”

Individuals and small businesses can take loan from N1, 500 to N150, 000. Fair Money gives more than 6,500 loans daily, and since the company began operations in 2017, it has disbursed over 1 million loans to individuals and small businesses around Nigeria.

As startup capital base, Fair Money recently raised E10 million in a Series A round led by Flourish, a venture of Omidyar Group, the partners of DST Global, and existing seed investors -Newfund, Speedinvest, and Le Studio VC.

To get the loans, customers download the app, fill in the application, and get approved for a specific credit amount.

To get more Nigerians to explore its loans, the organisation has launched ‘No Excuses’ campaign.

The Head of Direct Marketing, Fair Money, Seun Oratokhai, said: “From our research we learnt that most individuals and small business owners in need of a quick loan first approach their family and friends, or a commercial bank. Unfortunately, they may get a long list of excuses such as ‘I wish you asked yesterday,’ ‘I borrowed what I am spending,’ and so on. Many of these individuals also struggle to meet the requirements of commercial banks, such as collateral and documentation.

“Our guarantee to prospective borrowers is that, if they satisfy the eligibility criteria there are ‘No Excuses’ in securing a loan from Fair Money. We are also not asking for any documents or collateral. All Fair Money requires are a few personal details, the customer’s BVN and bank details,’’ Oratokhai, concluded.

The  promotion of entrepreneurship by government to boost economic growth has heightened  the interest of several young ladies. Currently some  are exploring opportunities in different spheres  and especially the hair care industry to make a living. Amaka Onwuchekwa, Jessica Dickson and favour obiemeka looked at opportunities in the industry.

The hair care industry is a huge one. This is because Nigerian men and women spend millions of naira on their hair. There is a market for hair fixing, weave-on, haircare products, shampoos and conditioners.  Buoyed by this, ladies are exploring opportunities in the industry to make a living out of passion  and as a means of making money. One of them is Blessing  Oluwanifemi.  Twenty six, she is a banking and finance graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).She is a hair stylist. She runs a hair salon. She does various styling options.

She said hair making is very lucrative. She has made money from it.

After graduation, securing a job was difficult for her. She was also hard hit as her husband died suddenly. Things turned out so bad for her. She decided to learn braiding and hair fixing. The six months, she underwent the training was trying for her. She had to force herself to do it so she could fend for her family.

She  recalled: “At first I felt embarrassed learning it because most of my mates were working in different companies. But I was motivated when I found out later that some of the apprentices were graduates like me but had to humble themselves to learn. Today, it has paid off’’.

Using her words: “I am happy that I learnt the skill. Each hair I braid cost N1200 while hair fixing cost N1000.  I love what I do because it  puts food on the  table for my family,  pays my bills and keeps my children in school.

Mrs Dada Bakare is another hair stylist who has no regret going into the business. When asked why she went into the business she said, “I went into hair styling business because I saw it as a very profitable business.   I started this business with N60, 000.”

Read Also: Why Nigeria celebs love tinted hair

One thing the business enables her to achieve is creating her own schedule, being her own boss and making a decent living.

But she faces a lot of challenges. “In a week, there may be no customers while at other times, after making the hair, they refuse to pay.” She is determined to succeed and failure is not an option.  One of the most valuable lessons that she has learned from being in the business is to always listen to her intuition when making decisions.

Among the hair stylists  happy to belong in  the industry is Joy. She recalled: “I started making hair when I was in secondary school. I decided to go into hair making fully because I saw it as a very good job and it is my passion. I started it with a sum of N10, 000. Even though l didn’t make money immediately but l persisted. Today, the business is   rewarding.

Nora Kalu’s story is not different. She has worked in the industry for a while. Her words: “From my childhood, I have always loved making people’s hair.” I started braiding hair at the age of nine. I went into hair making fully after leaving primary school. I started with N7000.” Today it is a success story.

She  said: “The secret of my success is having a business model that suits all budgets.  I have encountered a lot of difficulties especially from colleagues and customers. But in all, I’m always happy doing my job because it has been my means of survival.”

Este B is another successful hair care entrepreneur. She acquired the skills while in secondary school. She  under went apprenticeship while in school. Este B paid a sum of N5000 to learn it. She resumes at the shop after school.

According to her, she learnt the trade for three years and single handedly bought her equipment. Today, she is not regretting.