Judith Chukwulobe is a lady of intellectual and physical difference. She believed in the time honoured saying that what a man can do, a woman can equally do it and sometimes even better.
So, breaking gender and economic barriers normally associated with her kind of job, she established paint production industry at Nnewi, Anambra state.
WITHIN NIGERIA caught up with her where she narrated her journey into the industry and a lots more.
How it all started
My name is Judith Chukwulobe from Nnobi, Anambra state. I was born in 1999 which means I am twenty four years. I finished my secondary school in 2017 with good results. When I was in secondary school, I had a great passion for paint production but because I didn’t have the resources to produce it at a commercial quantity, I buried the idea.
However, after my secondary school education, I decided to go to Lagos and entered one Skills Acquisition Institute where I studied paint production. After my graduation there, I used the little money I saved to establish paint production industry here in Nnewichi, Nnewi.
Why I chose paint production
Many people have been asking me why paint production? Of all the skills available, why on earth would I choose paint production? But the answer is very simple. I have passion for the skill. Again I love creativity and that made me to go into painting. I know many of my female folks are into hair dressing, tailoring and other female-dominated skills but I chose painting of my great passion for it.
In any case, my type of paint is different. It is paint you can easily see in the open market. This is because it is of very high quality. I don’t produce and sell to the marketers. No. I produce and take to the site where it is immediately to avoid adulteration. I have a very high patronage because of the high quality of my product.
My relationship with my fellow females, others
I know that many people who engage in this kind of male-dominated job feel superiority complex among her folks.
At the same time, I don’t feel intimated working with male folk. I feel like queen working with males. I like hardworking because it pays so much.
Challenges/Prospects
There are so many challenges associated with paint production. One of such challenges is financial challenges which in fact is the most worrisome. Because there is no much fund to drive the production, I usually buy materials at small quantity at high cost. But if I have enough money to run the industry, I wouldn’t have much problems. Again transportation of raw materials is a big issue for me. In fact, transportation is one of the biggest challenges we face right now.
However, despite all these challenges, there are many prospects associated with the profession. Right now, I have six persons under my employment. There is amount of money that is too big for the industry but if I have up to six million naira, I will surely take the industry to the next level.
I am planning seriously for my education and it is only from the proceeds of this industry that I will further my education.
Advice to the youths
I want to advise my fellow youths especially graduates that manna does not fall from heaven any more. Don’t neglect the days of your little beginning. Stop looking for an elusive white collar job. Take up something and before you know what is happening, you are already made. If I have money and develop my industry so we’ll, nothing will make me start looking for job again after my graduation. Rather, I would have employed more workers in my industry by then. Start doing something no matter how small. How you started does not matter. What matters is how focused and consistent you are. If don’t make it now, you will surely make it in near future. Just have patience and you will soon smile.