Women, you don’t have to have millions to start a business —Funmilola, wife of ex-Police Affairs Minister

Funmilola Jallo Adesiyan, wife of former Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Oyewale Adesiyan is a trained Respiratory Therapist from Camino College, Los Angeles, California, United States of America. She is also an entrepreneur and a Licensed Realtor. In this interview by TAYO GESINDE, the Chief Executive Officer of Benny Dee Nigeria Limited speaks on how she developed a passion for entrepreneurship at a young age and why she went back to school to study entrepreneurship.

What was growing up like for you?

Growing up was beautiful. I was born in Osogbo but grew up in Ibadan. My mother that I lived with was a businesswoman so I used to follow her to Agbeni market at weekends and during the holidays, that was where I learnt the rudiment of buying and selling. So, I actually developed interest in entrepreneurship from a young age. I attended Saint Anne’s College, Molete, Ibadan. From there, I proceeded to Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti but I didn’t complete my studies there because I had to travel to the United States. When I got to USA, I studied Respiratory technology; it has to do with helping people to breathe, giving oxygen to people who are involved in accident or during surgery. I studied the course because I felt it was a way to make money because people make a lot of money from doing Science-oriented courses in America. However, I didn’t really practice with my certificate as I went straight into business after I completed my study. I managed the business for ten years before returning to Nigeria in 2009 to start my business. I am currently in school studying Entrepreneurship at Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State.

What has been your experience as a business owner in Nigeria?

I faced a lot of challenges but due to the fact that I was introduced into business at an early age, I was able to overcome the challenges. It is not easy being a business owner in Nigeria but you can break even with the help of God. Anybody who wants to do business in Nigeria must be educated, have a business plan and a vision. If you don’t have a vision for your business you won’t go far in life.  Your vision and your mission in life are the key. Also if you have passion for the business you are doing, you will be successful in it. When starting a business, make sure you do feasibility study, get the right location then try and raise capital either from your savings or family and friends. You will face challenges but if your mission is to meet and provide for people’s need, you will make it. You don’t have to wait till you have millions before starting a business, start with whatever you have. Start from little, do the right things and don’t spend lavishly when you do this, the business will grow big. The key to succeed in business is to separate your business money from your personal money. Many people don’t know their incomes they just spend money as it comes, that is wrong. Although the situation of the country can make one to do that but we have to train ourselves to be disciplined financially. I will advice anybody that wants to go into business not to spend their capital; they should only spend the profit.

Many women divert their capital into taking care of their families because they cannot afford to see their children suffer. How can such women possibly separate their business money from their personal money?

It is a tough situation that many women especially mothers face. I would do the same so that my children and family won’t suffer. However, one still needs to put boundaries in place so that the business won’t crumble.

In what ways do you think government can help women entrepreneurs get access to loans?Government is helping but the interest rate from the bank is killing. I will even advise women not to start a business with loan. It is not good at all. It is better to raise money from family and friends. When you start a business with loan, the business is dead already as it won’t be easy to service the loan and build a business at the same time. It is a big problem. If you want to take a loan at all, let it be after the business has expanded but you still have to apply wisdom in using the money.

How have you been combining the home front, your business and your studies? I am really enjoying it. It is tough but I am enjoying it. Like I said earlier, I was introduced into business at an early age but I went back to school to know more about entrepreneurship. And I have really learnt a lot since I started studying the course. To be an entrepreneur is to have skill, to be creative and innovative. A woman should be able to be independent; a woman needs to strive to become somebody in life. Back to your question, thank God everybody around me has been understanding and cooperative. Before I started the course, I told them what I wanted to do and they asked if I could cope and I said yes. My husband and children have been helping me. As for the business, whenever I am around, I monitor it. I am still the one that supplies our clients. I am not allowing my education to affect my business negatively. The days I don’t have lectures, I face my business. My husband is a very wonderful man, he has been my pillar of support.  Being a wife and mother does not stop a woman from acquiring further education. This will help her to be able to stand tall anywhere she finds herself.

There is a saying that no matter the number of degrees a woman has; she will end up in the kitchen. What is your take on that? That is the woman that wants to end up in the kitchen. It depends on the woman. They have told us we need to respect our husband and love our family and so on. When you need to get something from your husband, you need to know how to talk to him and let him know that what you want is for the benefit of both of you. Going to school might not mean using the certificate to work; it might just be to get more knowledge, experience and exposure. Women have to develop themselves. Many men prefer women who can support them financially.

How can parents safeguard their children against sexual abuse? It saddens my heart whenever I hear the story of a little girl or boy being sexually abused by adults. As mothers, we need to take good care of our children. We need to monitor them closely, before you put them in a school check out the school first to see that it has a conducive environment for your child to school in. Also, if you want to employ house helps make sure you thoroughly investigate them. The most important thing we need to do, as parents is to take our kids as our priority. We need to spend quality time with them then, leave the rest to God.

What advice do you have for parents on how to empower the girl-child? Give them basic training from the beginning. Give them love, let them be your best friend, let them know there is nothing they cannot discuss with you and tell them that there is nothing they cannot do or be in life. Discipline them when the need arises but also show them love. Let them have a best friend in you and not an outsider.