The Nation Newspaper

Tag: cobbler

  • Cobbler accused of cult membership

    A cobbler, Tobi Ayeni, was yesterday arraigned before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court for alleged membership of a cult, Eiye Confraternity.

    Ayeni, 20, and others at large committed the offence on January 2 at about 8pm in Oworonshoki, Lagos.

    Prosecuting Inspector Lucky Ihiehie alleged that the accused and others at large were also seen smoking Indian hemp.

    Ihiehie said the accused was arrested following a tip-off by residents.

    He said the accused confessed that he joined the group in 2015 through one Baba-Isho.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Read also: Court summons NCAA, FAAN bosses

    Magistrate E. Kubeinje granted him N100, 000 bail with two sureties each in the like sum.

    She said the sureties must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction and should be employed.

    Kubeinje ordered that the sureties must produce evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government and that their addresses should be verified by the police.

    She adjourned till March 4.

  • I earn millions of naira on my leather designs, says cobbler

    I earn millions of naira on my leather designs, says cobbler

    For 44-year-old shoemaker, Ojobo Felix, shoe making isa passion. His love for the vocation started  when as a boy of five he watched  his father mending shoes in his small cobbler shop in Warri,Delta State.

    But fate thrust him into leadership position assuming full control of the shoe making business when his father passed on in 2003.

    Today with over 39 years  cognate experience in leather works, Ojobo has transformed  the shoe making business from its humble beginnings to a dominant player in the local scene.

    Ojobo, along with the sixteen other trainees,  are beneficiaries  of   a strategic partnership  agreement entered in 2014 by the Delta State government with United Nations Industrial Development organisation (UNIDO) in the area of  entrepreneurship and skills acquisition .

    UNIDO is a specialised agency of United Nations that provide technical services to government to ensure an inclusive and sustainable industrial growth.

    The UN team led by Mr. Phillipe Scholtes, Managing Director,Programmes Development and Techincal Cooperations Division visited the Delta State Entrepreneurship and Leather works/shoes Factory,Issele-Uku,Aniocha North L.G.A. to facilitate the early take-off of the shoe and leather works manufacturing centre.

    In June 2014, Ojobo along with others benefitted  from a one month  government sponsored imternship training in leather works at the Mondetelle Academy ,Milan ,Italy, and these eighteen trainers  have elected to put at the disposal of young Delltans their expertise in leatherworks making.

    These first set of trainers under  the guidance of UNIDO experts will further  under go training and ultimately  impart knowledge to budding entrepreneurs either on-site or in clusters established across the State

    While awaiting the full take-off of the entrepreneurship/shoemaking centre,Ojobo has formed cluster  groups in the Warri area with over sixteen persons having  undergone shoemaking  training since his return from his internship programme in Italy.

    “I have trained sixteen people and four have graduated and set up their own shoemaking business. These ex-trainees are doing very well and are giving me stiff competition. We have eight persons as staff but when we have large orders to make seminar bags , party bags and take-away packs ,Asho-ebi shoes we engage eight more persons on partime basis,” he said.

    The Entrepreneurship Centre/ Shoemaking factory at advanced stage of  completion boasts leatherworks/shoemaking factory, Ethnic Clothing (Akwoacha) ,Jewelry/Milnery etc.

    It  has as its objectives the provision of job opportunities for Deltans, training institute for value addition in production, processing and packaging of different products.

    Also, it is to provide consultancy service as part of its revenue generation strategies, affiliate with various national and international institutions and receive students on intership placement.

    According to Ojobo, his  desire to impart knowledge to the youths  is a way of  giving back to society ,adding that the leatherworks industry has  huge potentials  that earn the country foreign exchange.

    Ojobo admits that his internship programme  has  impacted positively on his  shoe making business, adding  that it  has opened his eyes to other sources of income  including his designing which are  either been patented or sold outright.

    According to him the quality of his products have improved following their internship programme, adding that he has adopted modern techiniques to leather works making.

    He said: “Our trip to Milan  opened our eyes to the finer aspects of  finishing, quality control, branding . There is a big difference,  because when we got to Milan they made us know that though leather is the basic material we need to incorporate our local fabrics into your products so that it will speak about your culture,so when we came back we started introducing local fabrics ,both prints and hard fabrics so you find out that the full attire including the bags, shoes, caps are blended with our local fabrics

    Aside, Ojobo says he has branched into shoe designing which has turned into a veritable source of income.

    His words:  “ My leather work designs earn me a lot of money  internationally  as I have patented many of my designs and even sold more.”

    Ojobo is so enamoured of his vocation that he has taken to mentoring young interested  persons in his neigbourhood shoe making skills, adding that he was hopeful such skills would take youths off crime.

     

  • I earn millions of naira on my leather designs, says cobbler

    I earn millions of naira on my leather designs, says cobbler

    For 44-year-old shoemaker, Ojobo Felix, shoe making isa passion. His love for the vocation started  when as a boy of five he watched  his father mending shoes in his small cobbler shop in Warri,Delta State.

    But fate thrust him into leadership position assuming full control of the shoe making business when his father passed on in 2003.

    Today with over 39 years  cognate experience in leather works, Ojobo has transformed  the shoe making business from its humble beginnings to a dominant player in the local scene.

    Ojobo, along with the sixteen other trainees,  are beneficiaries  of   a strategic partnership  agreement entered in 2014 by the Delta State government with United Nations Industrial Development organisation (UNIDO) in the area of  entrepreneurship and skills acquisition .

    UNIDO is a specialised agency of United Nations that provide technical services to government to ensure an inclusive and sustainable industrial growth.

    The UN team led by Mr. Phillipe Scholtes, Managing Director,Programmes Development and Techincal Cooperations Division visited the Delta State Entrepreneurship and Leather works/shoes Factory,Issele-Uku,Aniocha North L.G.A. to facilitate the early take-off of the shoe and leather works manufacturing centre.

    In June 2014, Ojobo along with others benefitted  from a one month  government sponsored imternship training in leather works at the Mondetelle Academy ,Milan ,Italy, and these eighteen trainers  have elected to put at the disposal of young Delltans their expertise in leatherworks making.

    These first set of trainers under  the guidance of UNIDO experts will further  under go training and ultimately  impart knowledge to budding entrepreneurs either on-site or in clusters established across the State

    While awaiting the full take-off of the entrepreneurship/shoemaking centre,Ojobo has formed cluster  groups in the Warri area with over sixteen persons having  undergone shoemaking training since his return from his internship programme in Italy.

    “I have trained sixteen people and four have graduated and set up their own shoemaking business. These ex-trainees are doing very well and are giving me stiff competition. We have eight persons as staff but when we have large orders to make seminar bags , party bags and take-away packs ,Asho-ebi shoes we engage eight more persons on partime basis,” he said.

    The Entrepreneurship Centre/ Shoemaking factory at advanced stage of  completion boasts leatherworks/shoemaking factory, Ethnic Clothing (Akwoacha) ,Jewelry/Milnery etc.

    It  has as its objectives the provision of job opportunities for Deltans, training institute for value addition in production, processing and packaging of different products.

    Also, it is to provide consultancy service as part of its revenue generation strategies, affiliate with various national and international institutions and receive students on intership placement.

    According to Ojobo, his  desire to impart knowledge to the youths  is a way of  giving back to society ,adding that the leatherworks industry has  huge potentials  that earn the country foreign exchange.

    Ojobo admits that his internship programme  has  impacted positively on his  shoe making business, adding  that it  has opened his eyes to other sources of income  including his designing which are  either been patented or sold outright.

    According to him the quality of his products have improved following their internship programme, adding that he has adopted modern techiniques to leather works making.

    He said: “Our trip to Milan  opened our eyes to the finer aspects of  finishing, quality control, branding . There is a big difference,  because when we got to Milan they made us know that though leather is the basic material we need to incorporate our local fabrics into your products so that it will speak about your culture,so when we came back we started introducing local fabrics ,both prints and hard fabrics so you find out that the full attire including the bags, shoes, caps are blended with our local fabrics

    Aside, Ojobo says he has branched into shoe designing which has turned into a veritable source of income.

    His words:  “ My leather work designs earn me a lot of money  internationally  as I have patented many of my designs and even sold more.”

    Ojobo is so enamoured of his vocation that he has taken to mentoring young interested  persons in his neigbourhood shoe making skills, adding that he was hopeful such skills would take youths off crime.

     

     

  • Man ‘stabbed’ to death by cobbler

    An Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, yesterday remanded a 21-year-old, Olalekan Aweda, in prison for allegedly stabbing a man to death with a dagger.

    Mrs O.I. Adelaja, the Chief Magistrate, ordered that the accused should be remanded at Ikoyi Prisons for 30 days pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    The accused, a cobbler, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder.

    Earlier, Prosecutor, Insp. Richard Odigie, told the court that the offences were committed on May 8 at about 10.00 p.m. at Joseph Street on Lagos Island.

    He said the accused and the deceased 36-year-old Ganiu Bello had a misunderstanding and Aweda vowed to deal with Bello.

    “On that day, Aweda ambushed Bello and upon sighting him, stabbed him with a dagger on his neck killing him instantly.”

    The case has been adjourned to July 8.

     

  • Lady cobbler finds her passion

    Elizabeth Ojelua is the up-and-coming entrepreneur behind shoemaking startup firm, SureLift Tranx. The company, which was launched in 2010 with eight staff, has been developing a name for itself in the  fashion industry for its boutique, handmade shoe and handbag designs.

    Ojelua found time to answer questions from “How we made it in Africa” on her inspiration behind Surelift Tranx, and what it takes to be a first-time entrepreneur in Nigeria.

    What inspired you to start Surelift Tranx?

    I first conceived the idea in 2008 but officially started in November 2010. The name Surelift Tranx is a combination of my childhood nickname “Surely”, ‘lift’ inspired by God and ‘tranx’ from transformation. What actually inspired me was my creativity and the fact that I have always loved to work with my hands. I learnt bead making and some other skills after I graduated from school and before I found a job. I started to make the beads but couldn’t sell them because a lot of people, even my friends and family, were already making beads too. I couldn’t sell my beads, but it got me thinking and I finally arrived at the concept of putting the beads on easy-to-wear slippers.

    A lot of people loved the concept but complained about the finish because I initially used roadside shoemakers to help me fix my beautiful knitted beads onto the slippers. But their finishing was poor. So I was encouraged to learn the skill…. And just like that I found my passion in shoemaking. Today I still make shoes with my hands and train people and groups to do the same.

    How did you go about financing your startup?

    I actually started with as little as N8, 000 ($49) cash that I gathered from the sale of cosmetics immediately after my time at the National Youth Service Corp because I hate idleness.

    Who are your customers?

    Middle and upper class men and women; people with a taste for quality and unique products in a variety of designs.

    Describe the potential in Nigeria’s clothing and fashion market.

    Nigerians love fashion and wearing beautiful clothes. Nigerians are always striving to be outstanding and are really good at keeping updated on trends… So with constant and creative work on colour combinations and designs, the fashion industry will never run dry.

     What are some of the biggest challenges you face in business and how do you plan to overcome them?

    Power supply is a big issue but we are overcoming that by using a generator. Another challenge is the constant non-availability of some materials, sometimes when demand is high on a particular product design… I have to tell the clients we may have to alter the materials.

     The best part of being an entrepreneur?

    I am a happy entrepreneur because I love my line of business as a shoemaker. I also have control of my time (even though I work around the clock some days).

    In your opinion, what qualities must an entrepreneur have to be successful in Nigeria?

    Entrepreneurs in Nigeria need to be focused… and passionate about what they do.

     What entrepreneurial qualities come naturally to you?

    The ability to keep on learning, creative thinking and planning, and, of course, being very friendly.

     Do you think more can be done in Nigeria to encourage young entrepreneurs and foster a supportive environment for startups?

    Yeah, sure. A lot should be put in place to assist young entrepreneurs, especially to tackle the high rate of unemployment. Grants and loans should be more readily available to them and, of course, the power supply should be more regular. Also, more forums should be organised for them on entrepreneurial matters to help them improve their business and achieve faster growth.

    Do you have any advice for first time entrepreneurs?

    Put God first, follow your passion only, and be consistent in giving your best. The sky is your starting place and together we will improve our world.

    Culled from how we made it in africa