LIVING HIS DREAM
SCHOOL DROPOUT THANKS MINISTRY AS BUSINESS THRIVES
Aschool dropout is living his dream thanks to the assistance of the Ministry of Employment, Industrial Relations, Youth and Sports.
Ilai Lomaloma, who is the director of Matata Productions, has also added value to his business by doing charitable work.
His company provides services to cater for all occasions such as festivals, carnivals, conferences, weddings and funerals by hiring out sound systems and stage lights, doing studio recordings, and conducting video shooting, visual projection and professional photography.
“I started nine years ago after leaving school just using my passion for music and started working at a recording studio,” Mr Lomaloma said.
“My parents first helped me out and we had a combined business with my mother before I closed it and started my own business. “Coming from a business-oriented parents who own an eatery, I am able to identify what is good and what’s not good for the business. “I am also glad I married early as my wife has been supportive by looking after our three children and we have a steady life,” he added.
Mr Lomaloma said his priority was to ensure that he provided food on the table for his family and saw that all his family needs were met.
He would them use the rest of his earnings to give back to the community by buying groceries for needy families at the end of every month.
“This is the vision for my business, not just to fill our pockets but also to help the unfortunate,” the father of three children said.
“From 2016-2017 I started with the hiring of the sound system before gradually expanding the business from there.”
The Ministry of Youth gave $5000 to Mr Lomaloma to assist him with his vision for his business and he provides a report every month about the progress and expansion of the business.
“I was never a good student at school, but I thank God for the talent that has allowed me to grow and provide such services not only in the Northern Division, but wherever an event needs my services,” said the former Labasa Sangam School student.