While many of her peers may have done nothing worthwhile during the 10-month strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) last year, Nneamaka Ezeimo, who graduated from the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY), learnt a vocation that will make her self-reliant after her Youth Service. JENNIFER UMEH (ND II Mass Communication) writes.
The never dreamed to become an entrepreneur as a graduating student of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY) in Kwara State, but the 10-month strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) offered Nneamaka Ezeimo an opportunity to try her hands in bead making. Six months after the ASUP called off its, Nneamaka has acquired fame in the business and has floated her own company – Nicky Beads World.
She could not stay at home while polytechnic teachers close campuses. She used the period to learn how to make beads and wire works. “I said to myself, let me do this. I don’t know where it will be useful,” she said.
According to Nneamaka, who is now a Corps member, the decision paid up and after her Nation Youth Service, she does not have plan to search for white-collar job.
Nneamaka, who studied Mass Communication, said she learned the vocation stage by stage. “I first learnt how to make local beads,” she said. “Then I followed this by learning how to make wire works, and then the combination of beads and wire works. I studied Mass Communication, but this does not correlate with what I love doing now. I have discovered bead making is what I like to do most.”
Her first job, she said, is the turning point in her life. “I was very happy when I won my first contract in bead making. The first job I did was for a friend’s sister, who was getting married. My friend told me her sister would need bead works for the Asoebi (uniform) they picked. They asked me to make simple beads for the ladies. Because of the perfect work I did, they gave me the exact price I charged.
I made the beads and packaged it. I told myself that, since I could achieve this, then I could do more things and making improvement. I keep on learning and I have not stopped, because I desire to grow bigger.”
Asked if starting was rosy, Nneamaka said she had doubts if her craftwork would go beyond her thought. “We live in a society where people believe they have to patronise people they know,” she said, adding: “They want to deal with name. When I started, it was difficult. Even when you show people pictures, they will tell you ‘no problem, we will get back to you. Some people will tell you they have regular clients they patronise. People thought I could not do it. But I told myself I would continue to do what I know how to do best.”
How lucrative is the vocation? Nneamaka said bead making could be money-spinning if the makers develop their creativity and satisfy their clients’ taste. She said the biggest job she had done was given to her by an American-based client, who wanted a unique design.
“It was not easy to get the client’s taste but I used my initiative to get the job done. I have built my own taste and know what people love. It could be stressful, but if one has to make efforts to deliever what is good to clients,” she said.
If Nneamaka had not been a bead maker, what else would she do? “I would have been a caterer,” she said. “I like meeting people and attending to their needs. Although I am a shy person, I have been meeting clients and guests at social functions,” she added.
