Yenagoa—Upon graduation, Akpos Malafakumo Best ventured into entrepreneurship, without the usual hunting for white-collar jobs.
Her love for entrepreneurship motivated her to start a t-shirt vending business, which she insists is a billion-dollar market waiting to be explored especially in the Niger Delta region.
Best who hails from Bayelsa state graduated from the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies.
In a chat with Mangrovepen.ng, Best explained that she “wants to have a big factory where people can walk in and find any kind of t-shirt.”
“This, according to her, “is because t-shirts meet our fashion needs in so many ways.
“A t-shirt gives us comfort and choice of colour, neck shape and size. Also, t-shirt serves various purposes such as gym wear, among others.”
For her, it’s the simplicity, comfortability and multi-purpose functions of t-shirts and the demand for them that influenced her choice.
Though she started the business just about a year and three months ago, she has made significant progress in creating a market for herself in Yenagoa, where she resides.
Best knows that the dream of being a successful entrepreneur is the motivation behind her daily hustle and drive as a businesswoman.
“The need to be successful is what drives me. Those who have done well in their careers do not have two heads, so if they can do it I believe I can too.
“I want to be a successful businesswoman. And I don’t want to be a local champion. I want to go international,” she added.
The t-shirt vendor, however, mentioned paucity of funds as a major challenge in her business.
She noted that ”one of the challenges I faced was getting funds for my business. The need for adequate finance made me go into a partnership with a friend, which didn’t last.
“However, I reached out to some persons and I got some financial support.”
Best, who is 24-years-old, hopes to be well established with outlets around Niger Delta and beyond in the nearest future.
She said: “I hope to be well established. I see myself having a very big shop in the heart of Yenagoa, where different kinds of t-shirts, plain t-shirts by grade, collar neck t-shirts by grade, designers t-shirts by grade, and face caps by grade will be sold.
“My vision is to be the largest distributor of t-shirts in the Niger Delta region.
“I also envisage having a branch in Lagos and many other parts of the country.”
She equally advised teenage girls to be purposeful with their actions, by “reading, planning and chasing their dreams without fear.”
