Omolabake Fasogbon
With the surge in Nigeria’s unemployment rate to as high as five per cent in the third quarter (Q3) in 2023, experts have recognised skills acquisition as the most enduring solution to tackling poverty and unemployment.
Not just acquiring skills, translating such skills to wealth by embracing entrepreneurship is believed would change the unemployment narrative in Nigeria. This has proven to pave way for wealth generation, promotes innovation, self-reliance and generates employment opportunities. On the fiscal end, it contributes to increased national income and tax revenues.
Above are the testimony of 33-year old Olabisi Emmanuel, who operates a two- year old founded enterprise, Sussflow, a social enterprise crafting re-usable menstrual pad from organic fabrics.
Though a Transport Management graduate who aspired to be a pilot, Emmanuel, leveraged her mother’s know-how in tailoring to acquire same skills which had for long put food on table right from her undergraduate days.
Coming out of school and after some months’ stint in an aviation firm, she continued to ply her trade in fashion until an opportunity came, exposing her to fabrics repurposing.
Recognising the challenge of period poverty and contribution of disposable pads to plastic waste in Nigeria, Emmanuel floated Sussflow, an initiative that not only liberated her financially, yet affords boundless opportunities to the economy and environment.
From converting fabrics waste to re-usable menstrual pad, the Lagos University graduate has brought several into employment net, decluttered the environment and helped girls and women enjoy safe menstruation without having to break the bank.
Indeed, this comes as a relief too where disposable menstrual pad gulps up to 13 per cent of women’s income, with about 44 per cent of girls and women in Nigeria unable to afford it.
“The idea of converting fabrics into reusable pads, which eventually led to the creation of SussFlow, stemmed from my deep understanding of fabrics and their potential for repurposing. Witnessing the staggering amount of fabric waste in the fashion industry, coupled with the environmental impact of single-use menstrual products, sparked the idea of utilizing leftover fabrics to create sustainable alternatives for menstrual care, “she said.
But Emmanuel did not just jump at producing fabric pad overnight even though she had a prior background in fashion and sewing. According to her, discovering, actualizing and sustaining the idea boil down to her deliberate efforts to acquire new skills.
“I was able to develop skills like business planning, sustainability knowledge, fabric expertise, tailoring, designing, problem-solving, networking, and leadership. All of these have actually helped me to get and stay on track,” she said.
Even when confronted with frustrating challenges, she would refer to the knowledge garnered earlier to navigate tough times and drive success in her entrepreneurial journey.
Acknowledging the importance of capital to augment skills and get an enterprise off the ground, she maintained that non-availability of it was not a reason to kill a dream, advising starts-up to start small and seek support, not necessary from banks.
In the case of her venture requiring huge capital given required specialised machinery and materials for production, she said she explored several options including grants.
“To raise our first capital, I utilised a combination of personal savings, support from friends and family as well as grant funding opportunities. These sources provided the initial funding needed to kick start operations and lay the groundwork for future growth.
“Subsequently, I have been funding the business primarily through self-funding, using personal savings and resources to cover startup costs and operational expenses. Additionally, I leverage the equipment and resources available for production, optimising efficiency and minimising additional investment costs,” she added.
She also addressed a general constraint of “having to get a business off the ground,” a phenomenon that has kept several ideas at the dream stage. To overcome this hurdle, she emphasised a need for clear vision.
More so, “being resourceful, staying persistent, continuously learning, and being adaptable”.
She added, “My journey was a gradual realisation that evolved over time. Starting from my undergraduate years, I’ve always been entrepreneurial, seeking opportunities to create value and solve problems through business ventures. Eventually, I decided to fully embrace entrepreneurship as a way of life, driven by my passion for innovation and making a positive impact on both the environment and economy.”
Indeed, her decision to take off two years ago is paying off. This not only exposed her to international opportunities like becoming a British Council grantee and a beneficiary of the council’s coveted Sustainable Enterprise Challenge, her drive to contribute to economic growth is manifesting speedily.
“By prioritising ethical sourcing, local production, diverse distribution channels, and social impact initiatives, we are able to spread wealth, create employment and economic opportunities throughout the entire supply chain,” she said.
Having scaled through the crucial tester stage in business phase, Sussflow outlook looks promising even as the business is set for a full market launch soon.
“Thanks to the feedbacks and reviews that have helped us through this stage and prepared us for the growth stage. They are quite encouraging and so we are set on the journey to becoming leading provider of sustainable menstrual care products in Nigeria and beyond.
“To achieve this, we will be expanding our market reach, product offerings, and social impact initiatives. We shall also be leveraging partnerships, scale production capacity, and continue innovating to meet the evolving needs of customers,” she added.
Charging unemployed youth to find a path, she said: I will urge them to explore as many possible opportunities including entrepreneurship, freelancing, internships, and skills development programs. Networking and investing in continuous learning and personal development to enhance their skills and stay competitive in the job market. Moreover, accepting setback as an opportunity for growth and learning.”
