How unemployment led me to shoemaking – 26-yr-old graduate

By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu

An Awka-based female footwear designer, Favour Nebo, has described her job as ‘interesting and lucrative and capable of sustaining somebody for a lifetime.

Nebo, 26, is a native of
Amaokwe, Udi LGA of Enugu State and graduated in 2023.

The interview centred on how to be self-reliant, creating job opportunities and wealth to grow the economy.

She, therefore, admonished the Nigerian youths to strive to learn a craft, especially footwear making, and pursue it as a career to earn a decent living.

According to her, the only way for the youths to beat unemployment is for them to learn handcraft and become self-employed.

She said that footwear making had become fast-moving and lucrative in the country, hence unemployed youths should venture into it.

“After graduating with a B.Sc. in Biology Education from the National Open University in Abagana, Anambra, I began searching for a job, but without success.

“Eventually, I took time to reflect and decided to pursue a new path by learning the craft of footwear making.

“I committed myself to mastering it over the course of a year. Today, I’m grateful to have established my own company—Divichi-Design Footwears.

“It is located in Umukwa, Awka—where I serve as the Chief Executive Officer.

“We are also doing well with three apprentices under my mentorship,” the 26-year-old said.

Nebo said that handcrafts would help to provide jobs for unemployed youths, particularly with government’s collaboration and support.

She said that government’s collaboration would motivate the youths to develop their talents in art and reduce the unemployment rate.

According to her, her company was producing between 10 and 20 unisex footwears weekly.

“We supply to supermarkets, boutiques and people from other parts of the country.

“Our prices range from ₦9,000 to ₦18,000 per footwear, depending on the design.

“We make slippers, sandals, cock shoe or shoe for male and female,” she said.

Nebo also said that it could cost as much as between ₦750,000 and N1 million to setup the business in any part of the South-East.

She said that she would be willing to train more persons, if the government would assist her financially to expand the business.

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Chioma Ndukwu

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