FG Profile OGA MADAM
CEO, Sonsy Exceptional Resources Limited
Industry: Learning, Development/Manufacturing
Nationality: Nigerian
INTRODUTION
The only foreseeable way to bridge the ever widening gulf between us youths and the dwindling economy is INNOVATION.
I wouldn’t refer to this as breaking news, considering that Africa’s young entrepreneurs have become the Vanguard of innovation In the continent.
There have been plenty of adjustment in thought patterns of people and a noticeable paradigm shift.
While I join in the celebration of these milestones, I am not lost on the fact that there is so much more to do!
As a matter of fact, human survival requires CONSTANT innovation, especially in Nigeria and I want as much as possible for more Women to become Key players on this pitch called INNOVATION.
Everyone won’t to be a goal keeper, or a midfielder or an attacker or a defender all at once;
BUT EVERY WOMAN CAN FIND A PART OF THE PITCH WHERE SHE IS MOST COMFORTABLE AND KEEP HER WATCH IN THAT AREA.
Ultimately, our focus will be to score as many goals as possible, winning against the opposing team of “EPILEPTIC ECONOMY”
The good news is, this game called Innovation can take 11 to over a billion players in one go, so ladies feel free to locate your spot on this pitch.
It is on this note I bring to you all the heart-warming story of another “under 30” CEO (I’m not celebrating age, it actually doesn’t matter what time you start, as long as you start in the end).
Ladies let me introduce Miss Hanson Godknows, CEO, Sonsy Exceptional Limited.
I.C.T consultant, Peer Educator, Business Consultant and Computer Networker.
JACKline of all trades if you ask me and a good one at that. Lol
Miss Godknows Hanson is a graduate of Computer Science from Awe inspiring Abia State Polytechnic. Born into the family of Mr. & Mrs Okon Hanson. On the 28th of February, 1989.
I usually take my time to dig into the backgrounds of this amazing entrepreneurs because I discovered that many times our childhood spills into the life we now live as adults. From our values, to our beliefs, careers, relationship to even the very intricate part of our beings and Miss Hanson is not left out.
Hers is one story that stops me in my tracks.
Miss Hanson's says, "When I was a little child, i witnessed my mom attending to different people with different cases because she is a nurse and i always felt sick each time I saw her patients in pain. From that time till now, my passion for humanity became unquenchable!"
To add to this, Miss Hanson grew up in a small community where she saw daily, the struggles of Kids whose needs could not be met, to as small as the “token” fees that public schools required not to talk of money to learn skills or trade.
She saw young people molested as they tried to get help from rich relatives or members of society.
She grieved constantly for young talented girls who had to be given away in marriage so as to raise dowries the family would use to feed for a while; while praying for another helpless girl who will be given out in marriage and the circle seemed endless.
More sad was that this kids did not even know who they were, much less what marriage was about.
Others who couldn’t be given in marriage were made to hawk on the streets and major roads.
Many knocked down by cars, becoming disabled or dying outrightly.
Then the rest of the kids were slaves who served people without pay.
She continues soulfully by saying over the years she would be plagued constantly these memories and for some reasons while she reminisced, a certain primary school song always echoed in her head; “Some have food but cannot eat” Some can eat but have no food”.
The question was; why did people lack food even when they could eat?
This questions reverberated in her head throughout her tertiary institution days.
This questions drove her to;
1. Finding God and building a relationship with him
2. Self development
3. Finding and submitting to a mentor
4. Self discipline and building confidence
In her thoughts, she wanted to give back to society but she realised one can only offer what only what He/She had and so she strove to build capacity
START UP STORY
Sonsy Xceptional Resources was born out of a passion to empower young school leavers, students and kids such as she described in her background story.
She wanted to use her production skills to make target market see life as PURPOSEFUL and not as a Failed Venture!
She had 3 questions on her mind:
1. What will happen to the teaming number of jobless graduates and young school leavers?
2. Why the high rate of poverty after school?
3. How she would be of help, in her words, “where do I start from”?
This became for her what she refers to as "THE BIG DREAM" for her.
She did not have the answer, but she knew she had to BREAK OUT.
She is quick to tell me that you may not have much money to start a business but you are allowed to have a Big dream!
She started with less than N10,000.00 which she invested in soap making.
She refused to be perturbed by an already overflowing soap production market. All she wanted was to START AND RUN!
Taking a cue from Computer Programming, all every written program needs to be considered successful is to start and RUN!
Today she not only supplies liquid soap to big organization and households, she teaches this skill to set of people who evoked concern in her enough to start the business.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
1. Dish wash
2. Toilet wash
3. Car wash
4. Disinfectants;
and the latest addition,
5. Pet shampoos;
the trusted product to keep your pets clean, safe and healthy. Especially for those who keep dogs around homes with kids.
BUSINESS CHALLENGES (TRAVAILS)
She is quick to quip that life itself is full of challenges and that challenges in business is inevitable.
She said there were times when the pain of keeping the business running seemed to get to her bone and marrows.
But as a Young Entrepreneur passionate about IMPACT and LEGACIES, she choose instead to see those challenges as strength.
She says she faced challenges in the areas of
1. Marketing
2.Company Registration
3.Facilities for trainings
4.Failure
5.People’s preference for foreign products, rather than patronizing local content to grow the economy.
(Reminds me of the “Made in Aba” campaign)
CUTTING EDGE
1. On time delivery is a priority
2. Use of non-corrosive chemicals in production.
3. Quality that you can trust; with lots of testimonials.
4. Very budget friendly products
CONQUESTS
Sonsy xceptional Resources was a paper work yesterday but today it is becoming a household name amongst individuals, Organizations and markets in the city of Ibadan
Offcourse with a long term project of going global. She has covered 6 states in Nigeria already and is on the move to every corner of the federation.
LONG TERM PROJECTION
To be able to train at lest 30 people every guater and empower the best 20.
That is to say train a minimum of 120 people annually. She wants her products to be considered the best “best” made in Nigeria products!
This lady reminds me that at every point i should always stop to consider what my motivations are.
No matter what motivations exist, the greatest is LOVE, Love for people.
Truly success has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself, it is about what you can do to help others.
That's certainly not all from this passion spitting CEO.
You can be sure I won't let her go until we have tapped into her intellectual resource for lessons we all can Learn!
You need empty your reservoir Madam!
I enjoyed penning down every piece of this episode, trust me to bring you the juicy conclusion on the next episode!
Love,
Your Fragile Giant!
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