Victoria Ikem, a long-time Solar Sister Entrepreneur, recently realized her dream of owning a van. She plans to transport people from Nzam to Onitsha, a distance of about 60 kilometers, depending on your route. It’s a popular destination for people in her area since Onitsha is a port city busy with commerce on the eastern bank of the Niger River in southern Nigeria.
As an entrepreneur, Victoria has grown as a business person. In 2020 she joined the Business Booster Program with Solar Sister. It is a program with more advanced training for entrepreneurs who want to take their business to another level.
“The monthly training helps me a lot intellectually. I meet other women with like minds, business-minded women sharing their dreams and visions. Our Business Development Associate encourages us to set goals. She said that a goal is like a pathway to our dreams. The training on how to reduce our expenses has been particularly beneficial.”
One of Victoria’s goals is to be a role model in her community.
“People now see me as a mentor, madam solar. Light brings progress to a community. That is what I give. I am a light giver and at the same time make money to improve our lives.”
Many of Victoria’s customers are farmers and harvest season is a busy time. She travels by boat during the rainy season to reach some of her customers. But she says she takes whatever transportation gets her there, whether it is a bus, a motorcycle taxi, or ‘okada’, or she might ride her bike.
“Usually, after school, I walk around the community, then on market days, I go to the market and sell, which is every four days in my community. Every Saturday, I travel to other communities that have markets on that day to sell. At night I walk around my community with my solar touch to attract people’s attention. The night strategy goes a long way. Market days are among the best days to sell, especially if it falls on Saturday. I carry my Solar Sister umbrella on market days, get a space, and keep shouting ‘solar woman is here, come and buy’ in my language. The orange umbrella adds color. It makes me stand out.”
Both Victoria and her husband are teachers. School fees can be expensive with five children, and they want to give their children a better life than they had. With Victoria’s additional income, they have moved their children from the village school to one that offers a better education. The couple has built a small house in the village and hopes to relocate to the township after retirement
Victoria was so excited about getting the van that sharing her achievement with other Solar Sister Entrepreneurs got them really motivated about the future of their businesses. Victoria’s dream as a role model has been realized.
Reporting from Oisereime Lloyd-Dietake, Communications and Business Development, Nigeria, and Business Development Associate Chimaka Charity Okoli, Nigeria.