11 student entrepreneurs relieve street experiences in salesmanship

It was a bag of mixed experiences for the 11 undergraduates of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (Unizik), Awka, yesterday, relieved their individual encounters on the streets in their maiden effort at entrepreneurship outreach.

The five successful young girls and six boys were among the initial 60 who were screened and trained on salesmanship and entrepreneurial skills by Better Tomorrow Development Initiative (BTDI), a non-governmental organisation with a focus on improving the skills and business dives of youths.

Reminiscing on their sweet and sour encounters on the streets before journalists who were attracted by their persistence, tenacity, courage and doggedness, their mentor and leader, Pastor Kachi Samwealth, said the programme was aimed at equipping them to stand on their own anywhere without necessarily looking for any white-collar jobs.

He said they gather and train them every weekend, while they go on the streets of their choice to market the products samples at subsidised rate, so as to learn how to press forward, persuade and get the wares sold without compromising themselves or personal safety.

The grand finale of the programme slated for next weekend in Awka, according to Samwealth, would be used to honour some citizens who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers, including the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. John Abang; a petroleum product marketer, Chief Joseph Nwakpadolu; Chief Executive of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, Venerable Amaechi Okwuosa, among others.

The 11 youths, whose ages range between 20 and 23 and have already established personal business concerns, Obi Precious; Favour Okafor; Onwughalu Ifeanyi; Eze Chinemerem; Ibeabuchi Precious; Akubueze Ebube; Obi Lilian; Ugwueze Ezekiel; Ifediche Grace and Oluchukwu Augustine Marbel, listed inconsistency, frivolous talks and sexual harassment among the challenges they encountered in the past one month the programme has taken them.

They said, however, that it has built-in them, persistence, boldness, consistency and enhanced self-confidence, among other qualities, adding that the small money they realised in the programme would help in their personal needs and school work.