Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2014—35
I was scared to become a liability to my man —Eudoka Ahubelem- Nwosu, MD Eudoka’s Place E
udoka Ahubelem-Nwosu is a graduate of Accounting of Lagos State University. She is an associate member of a Chattered Institute of Strategic Management and also had her finishing school with Faith Foundation Business School. She trained in the art beauty in a top beauty school .While growing up she fell in love with colours and loved all things bright and beautiful. A naturally a creative person who loves to invent things with her hands, she bagged the Exquisite Lady of the Year Award as the make up artist of the year. Excerpts: What has been your work experience in and out of the industry? I started working immediately I was through with my SSCE at the age of 16. My father regarded me as an extrovert; I used to tell him I did not just want to end up a liability in a man’s house. So, I became business conscious right from the beginning. I worked with top communication organization as a marketer, the Union Trading Company and later on with a real estate company. I had this notion that if you work early for others, you would work early for yourself. At what point in time did you decide to go into the beauty enhancement business? While working for the real estate firm, I got to a stage where I could not find fulfillment in what I did. I wanted to live a life that was purpose driven, and did not want to remain under peoples shadow. I started asking God lots of questions because I’m a spiritual person. I discovered I had the flair of making people look good so I went ahead to do formal training.
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I was making use of the little skin care tips I got from the beauty school which I was able to start my business with. I became partners with a lady who had lots of knowledge about the industry. The only thing I had going in was theoretical experience but I was able to work with a partner whose father was good in herbs. I was able to branch out on my own after being partners for a period of time. How long has Eudoka’s place been established for and what is the history behind it?
Officially, it has been in existence for seven years but it was mobile for three years. I used to make my soap and cream and sell it to my classmates so they could buy. After that I was rarely broke because the orders started coming in. I had dreams and plans about what I really wanted even though I was going through financial constraint back then. I knew that with passion and enthusiasm I would get there. I refused to allow anything dampen me, not even the fact that I didn’t
have money. At that particular point in time while I was trusting God for funds, I was able to gather all the experience I needed. I had this aura that drew people to me even as a beauty artist. I used my waiting period to acquire more skill until God provided a place for me when the time came. What satisfaction do you get at the end of each session? My clients’ response gives me great satisfaction. Their reactions to the treatments they receive are very important. The outcome of
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BYANINO AGANBI
mouth advertisement. Back then, we were basically working form our car and selling our products. Now we have our own brands of products we produce instead of buying other peoples own. We also have office space and are looking forward to expanding our line of products. What are your aspirations? My aspiration is to be the best in the industry. I want to get to that place that when you think beauty, you think Eudoka’s Place. What is your advice for young
My aspiration is to be the best in the industry. I want to get to that place that when you think beauty, you think Eudoka’s Place.
each treatment given, the way their skins glow after a body or face treatment. Seeing what I have done and the accomplishment that comes out of it. What has been your major challenge? Not being able to meet the demands of clients from different part of the country has been a great challenge. Most people call from outside Lagos but because of lack of mobility, it is difficult to travel around the nation. So instead, we just tell them which of our products to buy and follow them up to know if their skins are compatible with the products or if we have to refer them to use something else. How have you expanded your scope or grown your business from the point you started from? We have come a long way from when we were using word of
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people coming into the industry? My advice to them would be that they should have passion for what they want to do. Be focused. Seek God’s face before you take that decision. You should not just delve into a business and because it does not work out, you move to another. Be persistent in what you do. Seek knowledge like you have never done before and the sky would be your stepping stone. What other business do you do apart from the beauty industry? I do teaching, training and seminars on different issues I feel passionate about. As a married woman, how do you juggle married life with the usual hassle of running a business? I have a very understanding husband and a wonderful team. I give my husband my itinerary for the day and we work around it. With God all things are possible.