Frustration Forced me into Car Wash Business 13years after Graduation – Anambra Lady
By Praise Chinecherem
A young lady, Jacinta Okeke has blamed frustration as reason for her decision to venture into car wash business in Awka, Anambra State.
Okeke, a graduate of Pure and Industrial Chemistry from Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam said she was unemployed for 13 years before she delved into the business.
Narrating in tears her journey as unemployed graduate, Okeke, a native of Nnobi in Idemili South council area of the State said she had earlier secured teaching job which she quitted from due to poor remuneration.
She said, “After graduation and completion of my one-year national youth service, I worked as a teacher in a private school in the state while sending out my CV to companies and agencies but could not get a job.
“At a point, I grew tired and frustrated and had to leave the teaching job where I taught all the junior and senior secondary classes with a paltry salary as take home pay.
“The salary was so meagre that it could not foot my bills or take care of other family responsibilities. I decided to take up the car wash job to make ends meet.”
On the challenges she encountered in the
male dominated business, Okeke said it was not easy trying to persuade and convince her clients of her capabilities to deliver quality service.
“It was not easy initially as majority of car owners doubted her ability to do a clean job. Many believed that as a woman, I have no strong hands to do the job.
“But as I kept pleading with them to give me a trial, I gradually overcame that challenge through resilience and dedication to work.
“The days my male colleagues were absent from work were golden opportunity for me to leverage on, not just to improve myself, but to prove to the doubting customers that I can do justice to their vehicles,” she added.
Appreciating God for gift of life and sound health to carry on with the energy sapping business, Okeke also noted that her educational background had placed her above several others in the business.
She however appealed to well-meaning individuals and government to assist in empowering her to set up soap making business and provide employment for others.
For contact and assistance, kindly call Jacinta Okeke on 0806 395 6503.