Rachel Joke Olakanye has run a successful tailoring business for over 20 years in a neighborhood on the outskirts of Ibadan, Nigeria. She has her own shop and mentors girls who are apprenticing to follow in her footsteps.
In 2016 she heard about Solar Sister from a friend and thought it would be a perfect addition to her tailoring business. Her neighborhood has some electricity, but it is erratic, so she thought the solar lamps would succeed. As her solar business grew, Rachel and her Solar Sister Business Development Associate, Omotola Ajao, formed a bond and a friendship.
Rachel has paid for her daughter’s fees at a teaching college in Lagos with the additional income from her solar business. She is also making long-needed repairs on her house.
Solar Sister provides 12 months of business training to each entrepreneur. As Rachel’s business grew, she was able to call on Omotoa for advice and support. Rachel, in turn, teaches girls her trade and passes on her business knowledge. Investment in women is an investment in our shared futures for a brighter world.
Photograph: Solar Sister Business Development Associate, Omotola Ajao, and Solar Sister clean energy entrepreneur, Rachel Joke Olakanye