In this interview with Gbenga Sodeinde, the lady Shoemaker, a graduate of English Education, Adejumoke Oguntade narrates her encounter with Ekiti state Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, among others things, except:
Question. Please tell us about yourself?
Answer: My name is Oguntade Adejumoke Adesona, I’m born into a family of five and I am the first child of my parents. I’m an Entrepreneur. I attended Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Nursery and Primary School Ibowon, Epe, Lagos State from 1998 to 2002 thereafter moved to attend Sureway International High School, Elelewon, Port Harcourt where I obtained my SSCE in 2010. I gained admission into the prestigious Lagos State University where I studied English Education with degree in B.A.(Ed.) 2015. During my studies at the university, i experienced ASSU strike for some months. At the time, I was in 300 Level and Skills Aquisition was introduced as a course for all students, So I picked up a few months training in Fashion Design which further opened my eyes to more ways of empowering myself. After school, I was posted to Oyo State for my one Year Compulsory NYSC from 2016-2017. It was at the point that I came to terms with reality more that I have to make good use of every opportunity during my service year.
During my service year, I learnt how to make Bedsheets/pillowcases, duvets, curtains sets, installation of window blinds and home interior decoration.
While learning all that, I had high hopes that there will always be a day when the right opportunity will come for me to showcase all have learned. After my service, I applied for jobs in various organizations with the aim of saving some money to start my own business. To God be the glory. I was able to secure a job where I worked for a while before I decided to dive fully into business.
I started selling bedsheets/duvet and sometimes I do Home interiors. In my third year of running the business, I noticed that the bedsheets and duvet wasn’t selling fast all the time, so I began to brainstorm on what I could add to boost sales.
In 2018, i went to learn how to make Leather Bags, meanwhile, I was teaching in a school, so after work, I will resume to where I was learning how to make bags. After the training, I started making bags to sell to people at my work place and through referrals as well. One day, during my visit to the market for the production of Bags, I met a shoemaker lady who encouraged me to combine footwears and Bags that it is a lucrative business. I gave it a thought and I saw that it was a nice idea so we exchange contact that was how I decided to enrol for a training in shoe making.
When I started learning how to make shoes, the process was not that easy has I thought but I always put all my mind in anything I chose to do. After my one year training, I was officially recognised as a shoemaker. After my training, I had two apprentices I trained before I decided to settle down with my husband who resides in Ekiti State. So I relocated after my wedding from Lagos to Ekiti State where I now reside.
Question. How old are you?
Answer: I am 32 years old.
Question. You mean You are a graduate?
Answer: Yes I am, I graduated from the prestigious Lagos State University where I studied English Education.
Question. How then did you come about shoemaking?
Answer: I came about the craft of shoe making through the lady who taught me. Initially, I’m a Bag maker and I usually visit the market often to buy materials for production of different bags.
So, during one of my visit to the market, I met a shoemaker lady and she encouraged me to combine footwear and bags that it was lucrative. I gave it a thought and I saw that it was a nice idea so we exchanged contacts and that was how I started learning and got into shoemaking business.
Question. Tell us your experience as as graduate in shoemaking?
Answer: My experience as a graduate in shoe making so far is interesting. I used the word interesting because I’m always open to new ideas and I find it easy to learn and develop various skills in shoe making that I didn’t learn. My experience as a graduate makes me stand out in the way I brand my footwears and the uniqueness of it.
Question:. What are your changes in the shoemaking industry as a woman?
Answer: As we all know that the shoe making industry is largely saturated by men but I will like to add that as a woman I have been able to impact knowledge into few women who are currently under my apprenticeship in learning the craft of shoe making and they all love it.
Question. How do you combine the business of shoemaking with family care as a married woman, in view of the fact that is a time consuming Job?
Answer: The good thing about what I do is the freedom of being self employed as it gives me room to manage and run my home while still showing up for my business everyday.
Question: How has your husband been coping with your job since you got married?
Answer: My husband has been very supportive of what I do because he is also an entrepreneur so he understands what it takes to manage a business. My husband has been encouraging me to be steadfast with my job that it will surely get better some day. Whenever he is less busy, he assists me with my work which enables the job to be very easy for me. With my husband, I have no problem with my job.
Question: Tell me more about your husband?
Answer: My husband’s name is Seun Akinyemi Oguntade, he was born into a family of eleven and he is the first child of his parents. He graduated from Achiever’s University Owo, Ondo State where he studied Accounting with degree in Bsc.
He is an entrepreneur. He is currently into Interior Decorations like; POP, Wall POP and Cement Screeding, Painting/production of various paints, Installation of 3D panel/ wallpaper and Estate Management (Land and Property Agent). That is what my husband does for a living and when ever he is less busy, he assists me with my work to make things easy for me. I’m grateful to God for giving me a man like him that understands the nature of my job.
Question. What has been your good side of the job that you wish to share?
Answer: The good side of the job for me is the positive feedback and referrals i get from customers/clients. That alone gives me joy. There was a time, a friend saw my post on WhatsApp and she referred me to her friend who is living in the United states of America that I was good in making crafted Bags and footwears. She ordered from me to resell, and I got a positive feedback. Other good side of my job is that I inspire alot of young persons who love what I do.
Question. Tell us more about your business, what things you could do in term shoemaking?
Answer: I make different types of footwear for all ages as well as for both male and females. I make customized and unique slippers, sandals and shoes for all occasions. I mean a mixture of leather and African print fabrics. And I’m also into making of Bedsheets, duvets, installation of window blinds and curtains sets.
Question. What and what can you point to as your achievements since you started this shoemaking business?
Answer:So far, so good I am grateful for the opportunities this shoe making business has given me. More so, I have actually lost count of the numbers of footwears I have made for different customers across some states in the country such as Lagos, Ekiti, Oyo, Port Harcourt, and Ogun State. I have also made customized footwears from African prints which was shipped to a customer abroad.
Though, there has been some challenges at the initial stage but i was able to overcome them as a result of consistency and being resilient.
Also when our amiable Governor of Ekiti State visited my shop and asked his PA To Collect my number which I can as well count as a remarkable achievement for me.
Question: oh that is great! How did it happen?
Answer: Thank you sir, it happened that recently the governor of Ekiti, his Excellency Governor, Biodun Oyebanji came for some inspection of the road under construction along Omisanjan/ Ajebamdele Road and he sighted me in my shop working on a man shoe that day and he walked down and entered my shop and this made me very happy that day.
Question; whaooo! so what now happened there after?
Answer: the governor requested to see samples of my work and he asked if i was the one doing all these? I said yes, so he instructed his Personal Assistant to collect my number and he said I will hear from him. Few days later I was given a gift to encourage me and I’m so grateful for that.
Question. What message do you have for women and Ladies out there?
Answer: Every lady/woman should empower themselves. Everyone needs to be good at something and in order to put yourself out there you need to leverage on your skills and be good at whatever skill you find yourself doing.
Like my dad would say whenever he was advising me and my siblings that we should try and do something meaningful with our lives and make our own money and that whatever our husband gives to us is a plus. That have always be on my mind to work harder.
Question. What are your messages to the government?
Answer: I would like the government to create an avenue or platform that encourages youth to see reasons why they should engage in skill acquisition and also provide funds for those who are able to conclude the training to startup a business to sustain themselves thereby reducing the rate of unemployment .
Question: How can someone locate you?
Answer: Presently, my shop is at 31, Sije street, off Omisanjana/Ajebamdele Road, Ado Ekiti. My business line is 09053326092
Email: adejumokeadesona@gmail.com
Question. Do you have other call or messages to public?
Answer : I would like the public, individuals and corporate organisation to support my shoemaking business in terms of finances, thereby creating an avenue where I can facilitate/train the youths and other interested person on the production of shoe making at the state level and also assist in advertising my brand thereby registering it in the minds of people. Thank you.
