Ifeyinwa Afakwu is the CEO of Sparkling International Cosmetics located in Asaba. She is a Brown STEP beneficiary in the 2018/2019 Cycle. She obtained an OND in Public Health from the School of Health Technology, Ufuoma, but was jobless for five years after graduation. Though she had previous knowledge on how to produce laundry and cleaning agents as well as cosmetics from a company, she could not start a business because of lack of funds.
Ifeyinwa’s enrolment in the Delta State Government’s Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) changed her story. Trained in the Production of Cleaning Agents, she has distinguished herself with 16 branded products to her credit and is close to completing certification of her products with NAFDAC barely two years after establishment with starter pack. She is a manufacturer, an employer and a trainer.
Hear her success story, “Help came through the job creation bureau when I couldn’t help myself. I was established with a generator, an automated mixer for soap, a double boiler method for cream, a mini mixer for cream, a measuring scale, a set of blender, a heat gum, a sealing machine, an industrial thermometer, an oven for drying of organic products, a mould cutter for cutting bar soup, a big mixing bowl, a mini water drum, three buckets and ₦55,000 for shop rent subsidy and transport fare. I have been able to put them into good use as you can see from my products.
“At present, I have 16 beauty and cleaning agent products branded in my business name in the market. NAFDAC has given me freedom to start processing my products and I am working hard to meet the required standard. I have acquired more equipment, rented a big place for production and an outlet for sale of my products. I have four trainees and two employees on my payroll.
“Some of the products are in high demand and I have exported to Libya. They have been used widely in Abuja, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Kaduna and here in Asaba. Thanks to Governor Okowa for making me a manufacturer, a producer and a CEO of a company which I never thought I could become.”
By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh.