by Oisereime Lloyd-Dietake, Communications, Nigeria
When Idayat met a Solar Sister Business Development Associate at the Mokola Roundabout, her path took a powerful new direction.
An ordinary day at the Mokola Roundabout turned into the beginning of an extraordinary journey for Idayat Ayobami Rafiu. Idayat, a mother of 3, Opeyemi (20), Titilope (18), and Deborah (5), in Ibadan, Nigeria, was waiting to catch a bus to Eleyele when she noticed a lady carrying a box filled with solar lights. She was curious, as she had never seen that type of solar product before. She asked her about it.
That woman was Martha Akorh, a Solar Sister Business Development Associate. She told Idayat about her work and that she, too, could become part of Solar Sister and start her own business. Without hesitation, Idayat jumped at the offer. Idayat mentioned that she had been praying and searching for an opportunity like this, something meaningful and sustainable.
Just three months into her journey with Solar Sister, Idayat underwent a dramatic transformation.
“Before this, it was difficult to provide everything my children needed. Money was always tight. However, now that I am running my own solar business, that struggle is becoming a thing of the past. Solar Sister has had a real, positive impact on my life. I’ve reached areas I never thought possible. People now know me; they call me for product deliveries, and my confidence as an entrepreneur has grown. I market my products at local markets, motor parks, in shops, and also through social media. Sometimes I do ‘knock and drop’ going door-to-door.”
Idayat has grown her business, acquiring many new skills that continue to pay off every day. One new skill she learned from the training with Solar Sister is how to use social media to grow her business. Idayat is excited that she has learned how to take ₦1,000 (65¢) and turn it into ₦20,000 ($12.95) through small-scale entrepreneurship, and now she is teaching this mindset to her children.
Idayat learned to understand her customers’ needs.
“They’re looking for brightness, durability, and affordability – and I deliver! My best-selling products are from Sun King – the Home 40+ and Home 200X SHS systems. People love them because the batteries last long and serve them well. I even use my motorcycle to reach customers quickly and efficiently.”
Idayat now walks with pride. Working with Solar Sister opened her eyes to what she calls a ‘survivor business’, one that helps her not just get by, but navigate life’s challenges and truly thrive. She has inspired her friend, Onaolapo Ramon, a local welder, to explore the opportunity. Her dream is to see her children rise to great heights. And now, she believes it is possible – all from a journey that started at a bus stop and led her to empowerment.