This UNILAG student keeps herself going with two businesses

Attending a class as early as 8 am, doing individual and group assignments, presentations as well as preparing for tests and examinations are the academic hurdles every student has to face in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

And while you have to go through all these, it is pretty difficult to think of running a business as a student, even though Nigerian universities encourage their undergraduates to be business-minded.

However, a final year student of the University of Lagos, UNILAG, Nwachukwu Success Oluwatosin defies the odds as she juggles two businesses with her academic pursuit.

In this interview with Pulse, Success shared how she started her business with N100,000 she collected from her mum when she was in 200L.

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Pulse: How do you combine academics with business together?

Success: Well, it has not been easy for me, but I had to find a way to balance both. How did I do this? I had to find the simplest way to read my books and find a time to operate my business as well.

Pulse: What kind of business are you into?

My friends call me a jack of all trades master of few. But I don't go beyond fashion. I run three online stores. Aciertofits, Aciertohair and Jewelry hub. I had to focus on those that I found out I had the real-time for Jewelry hub on Instagram and Aciertofits.

Jewellery hub is a brand that focuses on personalized jewellery such as personalized necklace, rings, bracelets and anklets. While Acierto Fits focuses on affordable/ luxury fashion items for women

Pulse: You talk about 9 - 5 jobs, what if after graduation you get a 9-5 job that pays you more than your business earnings?

Success: I'm not a 9-5 person, first of all, I worked for a year (9-5) and it was like living hell for me, I didn't have time to explore, meet people, engage in interesting conversations etc. I need to know What the income is like before I answer that question.

Pulse: How did you start the business and what motivated you?

Success: I started in my 200 level with some items and sell them at affordable prices, which was really good at that time. Later on, in my 300 level, I spoke to my mum about giving me my allowance for some months at once. I started my jewellery business with N100,000, I went from hostel to hostel to sell stud earrings, costume etc. Then I saved up added clothes to it but was not really selling because my target audience were students alone. In my second semester 300 level I opened a business page on Instagram Aciertofits, then I started getting orders little by little.

This year a friend showed me a gift which was a personalized necklace and I said to myself this is really cool then I opened another business page @jewelryhub_ on Instagram and sales has been cool.

My motivation has been myself, my needs, my interests and those that look up to me. I know that may sound funny but I can't give up because I have gotten to a stage where some people see me as a strong lady that's really determined and I can't give that up.

Pulse: What course are you studying and what level are you?

Success: I am student of the University of Lagos, studying Sociology. I am in 400 level.

Pulse: Small businesses don't make instant profits what kept you going when you were not making a profit?

Success: The thought of bad and good days, many times I wasted data and resources, but I just have to continue because I know Rome was not built in a day. As an entrepreneur you have to keep researching and making plans for your business, else someone else will hire you to do it for them.

Pulse: How easy or difficult did you find it starting a business while in school?

Success: Starting my first was a big deal because I was dealing with a lot at that time. I got into school as a diploma student, the fear of not getting the proper year one education was scary.

Capital was an issue, information was an issue but thank God for today

Pulse: You have a three-unit course exam and a business appointment that's worth millions of Naira which will you reject?

Success: An extra semester or year compared to millions of Naira. That's a deal breaker offer.

I'll reject my exams definitely, that's an opportunity I have been waiting for.