Chidimma Cynthia is young passionate business enthusiast. She grew up with a silver spoon and then she lost both parents.
Despite her education being affected and everyday life challenges, Chidimma kept her focus believing nothing would derail her from pursuing her dreams.
In an interview with us, she shared how much she draws motivation from the new director-general of World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
INTERVIEW WITH CHIDIMMA
It’s nice to have you here with us, Chidimma.
Considering the state of the Nigerian economy how has sales been for your company?
I have been working for a year and two months now. We sell air conditioning products. Last year, we were not selling really well. But this year, from January till now we’ve been getting good product sales despite the recession.
Though the global pandemic, Coronavirus, really affected product prices. We are buying from the manufacturers at a higher price now considering the value of naira.
Do you love your job?
I do this to get experience and not just for the money. I hope to be a boss of my own someday. I want to control my own business, be a businesswoman.
This is why I’m working so hard, to gain more exposure about how things work. So when I’m on my own, I’ll know just how to handle it effectively.
Are you a college graduate?
After high school I lost my parents. There was nobody to help. There was no help coming from anywhere to further my studies. So, I decided to enroll in a catering school for a three-year programme.
I make cakes for different occasions and snacks too. Though I sat for JAMB once, but didn’t get to further my education. I wanted to study banking and finance.
How do you manage to multitask?
I usually don’t have enough time to meet up with orders. I want to fully focus on catering as I consider to stop working at the end of December. I want to start gradually. The job is taking all my time and it’s really stressful.
I only have time for myself on Sundays. I’m working round the clock from Monday to Saturday. This isn’t 9 to 5, it’s 7:30 to 6, and I’m expected not to be late the next day. It takes me about 2 hours to arrive home due to slow traffic these days.
Does this affect your relationship?
It does in a negative way but I don’t like being dependent. Right from time as a child, I hardly demand from my parents. I hate depending on anybody. While my parents were alive, they wonder why I never asked for money, not even money for menstrual pad. I just believe I can handle things myself.
My dad was very rich, someone people addressed as a big man. He owned large shops selling rice in bags. And even at that, I started selling coconuts on my own to avoid demanding money from him.
I set aside Saturday as my working day, after going to school throughout the week. I get stock at a cheaper rate and prepare to sell them a bit higher to make some profit. Every Saturday I’m out selling coconuts. I walked down to the market to sell.
It was me training myself. When I lost them, I consoled myself with the fact I’ve been there for myself all along. I don’t get support from my boyfriend and it’s totally fine because I’m not a lazy woman.
With all the resources you need, where do you see yourself in the nearest future?
One of my role models is Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman to become Minister of Finance at the federal level. I admire her and I’m greatly influenced by her life success. I look forward to becoming successful in my future business ventures.
As a youth, how did you support the EndSars protest?
Honestly, I didn’t join the protest in person but I was totally in support and was quite sad when the hoodlums hijacked the opportunity to steal and vandalize properties. We can’t fold our hands for the government to change. Though we’re doing this with prayers as well. I think we need to work towards it as much as we pray. Personally, I’m putting a lot of effort to achieve my goals.
Thank you for talking to us, Chidimma.
By Elijah Christopher
Elijah Christopher is a journalist at A New Touch Of Africa, is also a creative writer, a poet, and an IT enthusiast. He contributed to the collaborative poem written in celebration of Edwin Morgan Centenary, the first Glasgow poet laureate and Scottish national poet from the University of Glasgow. He loves meeting people and learning about new places, cultures, events, and lifestyles.
