Chioma Ebubedikwe Igbokwe is a lawyer, entrepreneur and Girl’s Advocate. The Chief Executive Officer of Zapel World, Abuja, in this interview by TAYO GESINDE speaks about the need for government to create a society where social, political, economic and cultural structure will empower the citizens.
How has the socio-economic situation of the country affected your business?
The socio-economic situation of the country pre and post-pandemic affected many businesses including mine. Running a fashion brand and a Garment Factory has been challenging. Prior to COVID-19, the Nigerian economy was already rapidly deteriorating. The pandemic had further deepened the devastating socio-economic impacts such as income loss, delayed orders causing business impacts and health concerns for many businesses. For me, the basic consumer needs were affected. Aside from this, people’s purchasing power drastically dropped due to dearth money in circulation.
In addition to the aforementioned, the price of goods also skyrocketed. People could barely feed not to talk of buying new clothes. The impact of the epidemic on small businesses is leading to low turnover and laying off of staff. I had to readjust my business model. I had to team up with some international partners to create a more sustainable fashion business. I had to diversify and re-create a business that would be more dependent on local production, create jobs and provide export opportunities.
What has been your coping strategy?
My strategy was to key into a partnership to set up a bigger and more equipped garment factory. The partnership came at a time I was making major decisions in my company. We agreed that to stay afloat, we had to meet the needs and present demands in the fashion and garment industry. We had to diversify and create a more sustainable business that would be more dependent on local production, invest more on skill development, job creation and capacity building. This will generate turn over and open up export opportunities.
With the high rate of unemployment in the country, more people are going into entrepreneurship. Do you think this is a good time to venture into business?
Entrepreneurs are changing the world. I have always believed that the economic growth and development of Nigeria is dependent on our ability to meet the basic material and non-material needs through entrepreneurship. Our national well-being is possible by creating a Nigerian society where our social, political, economic and cultural structures empower citizens.
There is no better time to venture into business than now. Enterprises provide citizens with paying jobs in order to operate and grow. They also provide employees with the means to further grow one’s own earning potential through training.
Women and children are the ones bearing the brunt of insecurity and economic hardship. What do you think government can do to salvage the situation?
The choices our Nigerian government make about where or how to spend public resources are critical to breaking cycles of poverty, insecurity and economic hardship. Women and especially girls always bear the brunt of a failed society. Government can do a lot to salvage the situation. It is time for our government to look properly into a more functional social welfare system for women and children. Social protection programmes like cash transfers, skill empowerment programmes for women and girls, health insurance and education subsidies should be encouraged. The government must take actions to make women and children top priority. We must step up to strengthen our social protection systems so that more families can gain access to quality healthcare, education and social welfare, even in the face of humanitarian and economic crises. This will reduce women and child poverty and improve access to good nutrition, healthcare education and job creation.
The rate at which school children are being kidnapped in some parts of the country is quite alarming. What can be done to stem this ugly trend?
The only solution to the ugly trend of kidnapping in Nigeria is job creation.
If you provide one million jobs in this country, most of these crimes will be reduced. Nigeria is a blessed nation, our resources are limitless. Our youths are so talented and creative but there are no government incentives to empower them. The Nigerian government need men of vision to advice on the best approach to create jobs. Nigeria has become so degenerated that nobody is interested in the welfare of the unemployed citizen. Industrialisation is the key to create jobs. We must build sustainable businesses and stronger institutions.
Our leaders must shun greed, corruption, needless politics and get down to the task of actively promoting manufacturing through infrastructure, making quality connections with agriculture and services in partnership with the private sector, skills development, financial policies and a digital future to create jobs.
Many young Nigerians are going abroad in search of greener pastures. What is your take on this?
Many Nigerians feel the society has failed them. With so much poverty ravaging the country now, our young ones are taking risks just to get out of the country. Majority of Nigerians now live from hand to mouth. The desperation to escape the drudgery of having to live from hand to mouth, severe unemployment, is the fuelling force behind these. I believe it is a wise decision to make, if things are not going well with you in Nigeria and you have the opportunity to school or work abroad. I strongly disagree and frown at people who just bail out to seek greener pastures without any purpose.
As a lawyer, what is your view on the Twitter Ban?
The Nigerian government placing a ban on Twitter is illegal. Under the current constitutional dispensation, the Nigerian government lacks the legal competence to unilaterally ban twitter or prosecute violators of the ban. This does not bode well for human rights and democracy in Nigeria.In a democratic state, freedom of expression is central to political rights and the basis of all freedoms. In Nigeria, democracy and freedom of expression is enshrined in the country’s 1999 constitution. This means that sovereignty belongs to the people. It also means the people have a right to participate in the government and governance.
What do you think can be done to ensure we have more women in power in 2023?
Girls and women have a right to engage in civil society, vote in elections, be elected to government office, serve on boards, and make their voices heard in any process that will ultimately affect them, their families and their communities. Women need to push for more programmes that will invest in girls’ and women’s rights to political participation. This is a necessary step to achieving global gender equality and democratic governance. Women should also lobby for policies that support more women in politics, eliminate structural and legal obstacles that hinder girls’ and women’s participation in politics and decision-making, and hold those obstructing them accountable.
You are a woman of many parts. What is your driving force?
My driving force has always been memories of my late dad and the solid foundation he set for me and my siblings, my belief that with God impossible is nothing. My dad was an extraordinary person and an entrepreneur who built a business empire out of little.
What advice do you have for Nigerians?
The desire to make quick illegal money is fast becoming a norm. Before you set out to do anything in life you must first discover your purpose. You must first learn to crawl before you walk, quick money is good but whatever you achieve through hardwork and resilience is more sustainable.
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