Belinda Molokwu is an entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of BelZ AccessorieZ, an Ikeja, Lagos business outfit. A holder of associate degree in Criminal Justice, she also studied for a degree in International Relations. 

LIKE many young Nigerians, Miss Belinda Molokwu, Entreprenuer and Chief Executive Officer, BelZ AccessorieZ, Lagos had the dream of one donning the wig and gown and making her career as a legal practitioner. Linda, as she is fondly called, pursued this dream vigorously and up to the point where she earned an associate degree in Criminal Justice.

Along the line, however, she changed her mind and went on to study for a degree in International Relations. But it is not in any of these fields that she is sought after; BelZ AccessorieZ is known as Bead Makers, Make-up artistry and a make-up academy, trainers of make-up artists. Linda explains that her need to enhance her creativity began when she was in the university. Then, she had gone into business by selling beauty accessories and perfumes.

She was also working by fixing nails, both artificial and natural. “I was also into make-up, but it was on a small scale,” she revealed. Her alma mater, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo took notice of this enterprising student and at graduation, she won two awards from her department as The Entrepreneur of The Year and the Best Dressed Student.

But she “discovered” herself, she says, as she did the National Service in 2010/2011 when she got an offer from a training school and enrolled for both crafts.

“But I took making of beads more seriously. BelZ AccessorieZ’s beautiful designs, she states, are inspired with brides in mind, adding that colour combinations and the thoughts that go into making the combinations are what are considered to make weddings joyous occasions.

“We also work for video shoots and for models. Our make-up products are ordered on-line if they are not available locally. Training at BelZ AccessorieZ has no time duration. We train until that person learns because we understand that everybody learns at a different pace. “In my training studio, we have a saying that once a BelZ AccessorieZ student is always a BelZ AccessorieZ student because they always come back to either ask for assistance or do refresher courses.

You can lose touch with a skill, but you need to be up to date, she says, pointing at a light complexioned girl who she says has come back from Auchi in Edo State for retraining.

Make-up artistry is not a venture you undertake because everybody is doing it, she avers. “Passion, creativity and zeal are the hallmark. If you don’t have the right interest, you will pack up and rush to the next popular one because you were there to test the waters.

“However, passion and interest may develop after you have tested it. I had more interest in making beads, but I took make-up studio more seriously in 2013.” After Youth Service, she was employed by two travel agencies where she worked briefly. “I was distracted because most times, I would be on-line looking for what to sell. I made beads too.” Her experience as an entrepreneur is that it should be driven by the person’s passion to provide service.

“You have to work extra hard. My conclusions having tested both the corporate world and entrepreneurship is that the grass is not greener on either side. The challenges are the same; a loss is a loss; as a worker, your company’s loss as a result of your carelessness is on your record and you bear the consequences as the head of the business.”

Has she made money then? “I would not say that because there are always bills to pay, as a make-up artist, there is always that need to retrain or the need to upgrade on the products. As an entrepreneur, the list is endless.

I have never met an entrepreneur who says he has made enough money.” What she says she likes about her job is that “I get to meet a lot of women.”

The annoying part is that the work of a make-up artist is not appreciated. “People do not understand that it is a profession so they tend to under price the services. Some women would ask, ‘Is not just to apply lipstick?’ Then there are put offs that can come from a client.

“The unreasonably fussy ones try the patience – their behavior limits creativity because they keep demanding to see a work in progress and dictating what they want.” The best client though is the opposite. “They tell you what they want and allow you to deliver. Concerning beads, I like a client to say what she wants and give the chance to create it.”

Her company gets the beads locally, she says, adding that they have trusted dealers who would offer original crystals, corals and pearls. She maintains that fresh water pearls as it is made from oysters are available in the Nigerian market. They are expensive, she says but they last longer that the plastic ones.

About her personal style, Belinda says, “One strand of fresh water pearls for meetings and church is enough most of the time because I hardly dress traditional. When it comes to make-up, less is more. Make-up should not overshadow the natural look.” Her biggest influence, she says are her parents, Dr. Louis and Mrs. Yebi Molokwu.

Her father started work as the first Nigerian to work as a Clerk in Central Bank of Nigeria. Her mother was a fashion designer. She recounts how entrepreneurship comes naturally to her. “Growing up, I watched as my dad ran multiple businesses, what he called ‘multiple streams of income. He had a farm, a cement factory at some point, a cinema house and bakery. I sometimes recall with a laugh that he had a church at a point.

“My mother would always say that a woman should have her own income.” Belinda is the only daughter in a family of four children. She observes that she always felt like an only child because they were grown before she was born. But the experience made her to be self-reliant. Her advice to youths is to learn a skill.

“You cannot say where your strength lies. Talk to people around you. Many youths wait for people to push them or give them money before they do things for themselves. Nobody will push you because you are useful to him or her one way or the other in your helpless state.

Do not sit round waiting for a job; my friend who has a Master of Science degree took an opportunity offered by the Lagos State Government and trained as a hairdresser; now she has a hand work. Develop other skills while you wait for employment.” Belinda has her associate degree from Bunker Hill Community College, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America.