Blessing Nyang, 26, is a single mother; she makes a living from hawking snacks around the city centre.
In a chat with ADEOLA TUKURU, Blessing says she would rather sell snacks than engage in prostitution.
Blessing a native of Akwa-Ibom state prefers to follow the path of honor by working hard to earn a living no matter how humble the beginning may be.
The young and hard working lady would not consider it degrading but held on to the belief that there is dignity in labour.
While recounting to Business Starter in pidgin English, Blessing quoted “I no fit sell my body for any man to help me and my pikin.
If na so I go make am for Abuja, I no fit, that is why I dey do this business.” According to Blessing, after several efforts to get a job with her secondary school certificate failed to yield any result, she decided to go into snacks making snacks and selling it herself.
She explained that initially, she first borrowed N10,000 as start-up capital to keep the business going.
Blessing says that she doesn’t sleep for a long time as she wakes up very early before dawn so she can make fresh snacks for her numerous customers.
Regarding her earnings, the energetic young woman says she saves about N18,000 monthly.
By saving money she ensures her daughter does not miss school.
This is even as she sends money to her parents in the village.
“I also wish to further my education but I will keep struggling till I achieve my goal, I won’t sit and wait for any man to take advantage of me.” “I will never sell my body for any favour if that’s what it takes to make it.
I can’t do it and that is why I started this small business.” On challenge, Blessing advised young people to understand the value of dignity in labour and create legal job opportunities for themselves.
She also called on the federal government to engage youth, women and girls in vocational skill acquisition that will make them to be independent in life.
Lending a hand It would be recalled that Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to train youth in the territory on necessary entrepreneurial and vocational skills.
The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, said this when the Director-General of Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Sir Joseph Ari visited him in his office.
According to him, the FCTA was ready to partner with ITF to reduce unemployment in the Territory by ensuring that youth acquire the necessary skills that would make them self-employed and employers of labour.
“This is especially very important now that there is so much influx of people from every part of the country into Abuja,’’ he said.
According to him, this is in a bid to curtail the rate of unemployment in the territory and the country in general.
The minister lauded the enormous contributions of the ITF in repositioning the nation’s economy on the path of sustainable growth and development.
“We know that ITF is one of the foremost institutions that have helped Nigeria’s economy tremendously.
Blessing Nyang, 26, is a single mother; she makes a living from hawking snacks around the city centre.
In a chat with ADEOLA TUKURU, Blessing says she would rather sell snacks than engage in prostitution.
Blessing “In fact, your role is even more critical now that we are having unemployment issues,’’ he added.
Earlier, Ari, the ITF director-general, said that given the position of FCT as the gateway of Nigeria, the agency believed in partnership with FCTA.
“This partnership particularly in the area of skills acquisition will assist immensely to achieve the dream of President Muhammadu Buhari, to empower young people with requisite skills.
“We are here to synergise with FCTA being the gateway of Nigeria to achieve the dream of Buhari which is hinged on empowering people with skills in different areas,’’ he explained.
How to start a snack business Acquiring knowledge You don’t start what you don’t know anything about.
It is very necessary you learn about the process of producing the particular product.
if you don’t have money to learn, you can find someone that can teach you at their own will and it is something you can easily get with proper teaching.
Get a good location This is a very crucial and important part of any business that is intended to grow.
You don’t just start a business where there is no good market for it.
In choosing this, you need to really know your market, set your target! Locations like schools-be it university, secondary/primary schools], garage, market area, a place where where people always converge is a very good point for this kind of market.
You can also get any location close to that area, where you can easily transport your goods down to such areas.
Getting the necessary machine This machine helps you produce the popcorn.
Buying one for a start is advisable, you can buy more as the business grows.
There are varieties of this particular machine, the price ranges from N20,000 upwards, depending on how much you can afford.
It is advisable to buy the one that can be used when there is no electric power.
There is another type that uses both electricity and gas, so that you can easily switch if there’s no electricity.
To also allow varieties in your business you can get the type that produces both sugar and salty popcorn because you are bound to have customers with different preferences.
Raw materials and ingredient Corn is the major raw material for producing popcorn.
It is advisable to do bulk purchase of your corn in order to maximize your profit.
Sugar, honey, salt, butter, container mixer and others are ingredients that will be needed in the production process should be also be purchased in bulk.
Having a good marketing strategy This will also enhance your sale.
Be unique, don’t go the same way like everyone else.
If you desire to sell more than everyone, brand your stuff, have well designed label, choose a unique and easy to pronounce name on your label.
If your branding is attractive enough you will be surprised at the increase in your sale.
Request for feedbacks from customers so that you will do what suit them and not you, so that you will not always be left with unsold stuff.
When all that is settled seek to get government approval for any location you wan to start the business.
And make sure you register your business to be on a safer side, especially when the business begins to grow.
With proper planning, it can grow to become a very big business especially when you brand the name and make varieties.
You can also put in place an effective marketing system that allow to supply as many commercial centers, market square, busy roads, shopping malls, viewing centers, football field, cinema, where a lot of people gather.
Adding soft drinks too can be a major way to increase your profit.
