In an interview with Pius Kadon of The News Chronicle, Peace Joel, a promising entrepreneur dealing in oil perfumes, shares her thoughts on the challenges of being an entrepreneur as a young graduate of Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW) and her prospects for building a thriving large-scale oil perfume business soon.
TNC: Let’s meet you.
My name is Joel Peace. I’m a Community Health Environmental Worker and an Oil Perfume entrepreneur.
TNC: What was your dream job growing up and why did you choose it?
Peace: Actually, from day one, I’ve always looked forward to being a health worker. It has been something I’ve been passionate about right from childhood. I have always wanted to see that I’m part of solutions to people’s health challenges. I value life so much that I love trying to help save it.
TNC: Why did you paddle into entrepreneurship?
Peace: Well, since being a health worker has always been something I crave, I also needed to make an honest living since I haven’t been gainfully employed in that field even after graduating three years ago. I needed to get myself established and be my own boss.
Being a young lady, I had my expectations and I had to meet them the best possible way I could, decently and legitimately. So, I paddle into oil perfume sales online. I post these oils on my social media handles for buyers to patronize.
I’ve passed through a community insurance scheme which has given me a business incline experience in the line of entrepreneurship. So, I’m doing this and hoping that I grow in it and create my own brand.
TNC: What has been your biggest challenge?
Peace: Things are not easy in the country we find ourselves. The economy has not been anything to write home about and that is a major challenge to the growth of my business and I’m sure it’s a challenge to most young people.
Like, sometimes people would order these oils and still not pay in due time to enable me to stock for more. I understand the economy is very very bad but that is also affecting the chances of my business growing.
TNC: Has the Nigerian government policies in any way affected your chances of growing your trade beyond where you intend to be at the moment?
TNC: Where do draw your greatest inspiration from?
Peace: My greatest inspiration to go into health from childhood was drawn from seeing medical practitioners rendering their services to the masses. One of them is the World Health Organization (WHO). I was inspired by the organization and wish to work with them.
TNC: Barring all odds, where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Peace: In the next 5 years, I see myself in a position where I will own my bigger shop and also help the masses through my medical experience and other services within my range.
TNC: How does it feel going into something you never studied in school?
Peace: It is always a great challenge, but striving to succeed in life has been my drive in anything I do find myself.
TNC: What advice would you give young people who are probably weakened to start on a small scale?
Peace: Part of the things that prevent a country from attaining national growth is the inability to improvise from something that looks impossible to achieve. Nigeria’s government should improvise, which can greatly help the nation towards growth and I advise young people like me to start from somewhere no matter how little it might seem in the line of business.
