NYSC spurred me to train as a shoemaker, earn money — Joanna

Joanna Gana Malgwi, a young English Linguistics graduate is a journalist, motivational speaker and a shoe designer. She is the owner of Joan’s Crotchet World, a shoe shop in Yola, Adamawa State. In this interview, Joanna spoke on how strength, patience an

HI started @EbhotaEseohe

ow long have you been in the shoemaking business?

I started since October 2016, so its nine months now.

Did you receive any formal training in that business area?

Yes, I was trained during my service year. The National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) encouraged us to acquire skills so I went for pastries and shoe making. I was trained by a female colleague in the office where I served in Ekiti State. She had a shoemaking venture to complement her monthly pay. She taught me how to knit, although I didn’t pay much attention to the sole making part because it was tiresome, so after knitting my designs, I took them to another shoemaker to couple the soles.

After my service year, I came back home, enrolled in another shoemaking class to acquire more skills.

How did you start up the business?

I started on a low key shortly before my passing out last year. I made some for some of my friends and neighbours who saw it on me and loved it. After posting some photos on social media, more people loved it and began to place orders. So in February this year I commenced full production.

I didn’t learn it for commercial purpose as I love using my hands to work. My plan was to start my pastry and cocktail business when I get home and also further my studies but the demand for crotchet shoes was high, and since it’s something new and not the regular leather shoes, I opted for shoe designing.

How much was your capital base?

with N10,000: I had savings from the puff-puff and zobo business which I did as a corps member and my NYSC monthly allowance. But when I returned home I started with almost N20,000 because I enrolled into another class and bought my personal tools.

As a graduate, why did you opt for self-employment rather than a media job?

Right from childhood, I have always envisaged my future as an onair-personality (OAP) and presently I have a little idea of what it entails, since I worked as a volunteer Radio reporter and a serving corps member with Gotel Communications Yola and NTA Ado-Ekiti respectively. But while I await fulfilling my dreams of a journalist and furthering my studies, I chose to utilize my skills wisely.

How do you source for your materials?

I buy them from the market here in Yola, though some are readily available, and with my plans of having a big shoe empire, I am working towards getting them from Aba, Lagos or foreign companies abroad.

Seeing you have fared well in shoemaking, what does it take to be successful?

It takes strength, patience, persistence and passion. You also have to be a good learner, learn new skills and designs, get updated, become more creative. So many designs I produce lately were not what I was thought but I sit down to create my designs. In this era of technology with stuffs like Google, YouTube and pin interest and other online platforms tutoring is a necessity but readily accessible.

What would be your words to

The owner of DK Collections and Couture services, a growing fashion line in Abuja, Zaharadeen Haruna Dalhat has said it pays to do the business. Dalhat, a Microbiology graduate from the University of Abuja started his fashion line five years ago as

other youth on empowerment?

Nothing good comes easy and personally, I believe in goal getting. I encourage others to take a bold step, the road to success is always rough but don’t give up; I always say “Believe in God, believe in yourself, set your goals, with determination and excellence, you can make exploits.