As a student, entrepreneurship will help you destroy SAPA

Many students are fighting the battle of their lives with sapa and they have not figured out how to gain the upper hand. In an interview with a student entrepreneur who has fought the good fight – she tells us how she used entrepreneurship to ‘KO’ sapa while also soaring in her academics and living the boss lady life.

What drove you to start a business as a student? Why did you choose entrepreneurship?

Omoo, honestly it was sapa oo. Living with sapa as a student is one ugly mix. I knew I needed to make money for myself because, aside from sapa, I didn’t want to depend on my parents or any guy for money. So, I looked for the best way I could make money as a student, and entrepreneurship was the way out for me. I could have found a place to intern or do ‘physical work’, but I’m an Igbo babe, and business is in my blood, so I just went with that.

I get you. So, how did you decide it was baking you wanted to venture into?

I actually did a survey actually, and I asked my friends and family about what they thought I could do. I surfed the internet for business ideas that I could venture into. On a personal level, I know I am not a buying and selling kind of person. I really don’t know how to deal with that. I prefer rendering services. Coupled with the fact that I am really creative, I decided to bake since it won’t take much of my time. Mind you, it’s not a passion, it’s something I learned because I wanted to use it to make money.

That is a first! Does owning a business disrupt your education as much as people think?

No, it doesn’t actually. Daytime is for school and night is for business. I bake at night, but it doesn’t change the fact that I sleep late sometimes, which makes me wake up late for school, but all in all, it doesn’t affect me the way people see it. Anyway, it’s different for people. It might affect some people, depending on the scale on which you do your business. Apart from working and sleeping late, having to do deliveries or go to the market at the same time, having classes is a little hard. I mean, I study med lab and trust me, it isn’t easy. During exams, I have to turn down orders because, obviously, I have papers to write, but we run am. My only motivation is money. That’s why I haven’t quit yet. I want to make money. I know baking is a lucrative business and I need money, so, na my biggest motivation be that. Honestly, I don’t like baking, it’s just the money.

You said your driving factor in starting this business was sapa. Is it working? Have you really beat sapa?

Honestly, sapa hasn’t completely left me oo but I still live the boss lady life. It was not as bad as when I started. Now, I can afford to dine out and do some other things. My business is not as big as I want it to be yet. So, sapa has reduced, but it’s still there because entrepreneurship entails a lot. In addition to the bad economy in this country, life is hard, but it is better to be making money than to be idle. If not, sapa will finish you. There is no ABC guideline for having a successful business. Just find what works for you and do you. You can also be on the lookout for businesses that worked for other people and build on them. It is not always rosy but there are satisfying moments like getting good reviews or referrals.

Is there anything you would like to tell people who want to venture into entrepreneurship to avoid sapa?

Omo! Entrepreneurship is not a child’s play. You have to prepare your mind for it. Do not be too hard on yourself and always ask for advice from people who are more experienced. When you fail, try again and again and invest in your craft. Be strategic and lastly, before you do anything, always ask God. He would help make the work seem less stressful. Last last, you will be fine.