‘Why I rejected job offers, chose leather works’

The C.E.O of FOOTROCK Collection, Ojo Oluwatosin Opeyemi is a leather work professional and trainer. The Batch C, Stream 2, corps members of CREATIVE WRITING, SAED sector at NYSC Orientation Camp, Yikpata in Kwara State interviewed the youth on this feat recently. of it and leave. have two “S” to acquire in life

When you are interested, - SCHOOL and SKILLS but in you can get the best within a most cases SKILLS supersede twinkle of an eye because you SCHOOL. would focus and give in your Your school would be the all, maximum of six months an spice to your white rice (skills) apprentice should understand to make it jollof rice. School, this work. teaches you how to package yourself and products better than those who didn’t have the opportunity to go to school. From a leather piece, I can make bags, shoes, slippers and I advise all youth to learn a vocation, even though you wouldn’t go commercial easily, learn it.

Not all of us can have white collar jobs but you can acquire a skill that would make you independent. Personally I’ve had many job offers but I didn’t take it because I derive joy from what I’m doing.

HOW DID YOU VENTURE INTO LEATHER WORKS?

I am a specialist in leather works, I make bags, belts, sandal and palm slippers for sale and souvenir, I also train interested graduates and undergraduate in leather works. I ventured into this business during my undergraduate days.

It was in 100 level precisely, during an ASUU strike, I was idle and had to keep myself busy. I also needed to make a legitimate and reasonable income for myself, this was how I learnt leather work and started making sandals for friends till it turned into a fullfledged business, eventually, I birthed FOOTROCK Collections.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GO INTO THIS CRAFT?

First, you will need to have interest in what you do then your interest will now metamorphous into your level of assimilation because if you don’t have interest and you venture into it, you will get tired

WHAT ARE THE STRONG POINTS FOR THIS BUSINESS?

The merits are numerous and demerits are minimal, I say this because if you have interest in what you are doing, you will not see the demerits. The only shortcoming is that of your competitors because you will look out for them so they don’t overtake or do more than what you manufacture. So, in anything you are interested in, you will see no demerit in it.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE IN RUNNING THE BUSINESS?

The challenges are increment in the price of materials and this is due to proximity. For example, you get all materials needed at a minimal cost but I’m here in Ilorin, so transportation and their profit is always factored into price which makes it exorbitant to buy.

For the selling, thank God we have the learned and the illiterates. As a learned person, it differentiates your work and also adds more packaging. I sell most of my goods from my Instagram and Facebook pages.

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO THE UNEMPLOYED YOUTH?

Youth should try as much as possible to have a skill because I do tell my students that we