He’s just 20 years old. The loss of his father, the breadwinner of his family, early in life, perhaps, contributed to his setting out to change the narrative of becoming a liability and amounting to nothing in life.
Young Cyril was sighted behind his sewing machines along Cornelia Cornelly College (CCC) Junction in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. His dedication to his chosen trade, amid infectious smiles, drew the attention of our correspondent, who approached him.
He tells his story vis a vis the crunching economic situation in Nigeria which has brought the very poor and weak in the society to their knees:
“My name is Cyril Michael Etifit. I’m from Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. I’m 20 years old, and 200 Level student studying Animal and Environmental Biology in the University of Uyo.
“I have always had this dream to be a designer, a great one for that matter in the future. I want to have my own compnay with people working for me.
“I started learning how to sew immediately I finished secondary school in 2017. I do this work to support my studies and complement the money that my mother sends to me.
“I lost my father some years ago so it’s just my mom that is catering for me and my siblings.
“Fashion designing is a very lucrative business in Nigeria as we all know and I went into it because it’s lucrative.
“I started with one sewing machine that my mother bought for me when I started and since then, I have been able to buy three extra machines including an industrial machine.
“The economy of the country has really declined. You know from 2020 when we started experiencing changes in price of things.
“Transportation fares to places of delivery have increased a lot and it is messing up whatever profit I’m making from this business.
“The cost of transportation to school has skyrocketed too and it is as a result of the high cost of fuel.
“Before, I used to pay N100 to and from, but now, I pay from N400 to N600 for transportation, everyday.
“One of the challenges I’m facing is combining studies with my business. There are times I would have lost customers waiting for me because I’m in class and at the end of the day, they will end up dashing to somewhere else.
“Also, the cost of fuel has affected the usage of my industrial machine which needs electricity for functionality. There are times I would need electricity to use it, but there will be none and I will be forced to get fuel at the sum of N800 or so per litre.
“I pity young guys that are stealing instead of hustling for their food. Some of them are driven to do these vices as a result of the current hardship we are facing in this country.
“Some people are into criminality as a result of the economic situation in the country. There is no job, there is no money to go to school.
“If you tell them to learn a trade, they will still need money to learn whatever trade you are recommending. Of course, learning a skill in this country requires a lot of money which most of them don’t have.
“I was able to learn how to sew because my mother could pay for it, but that is not the case with some people.
“There is nothing that is cheap in this country. If you want them to start a business, they will still need capital, so most of the vices in this country are influenced by economic hardship.
“The situation in the country saddens me a lot. It is not easy for you to develop yourself in this country, you need extra push and when the means are not there, you become frustrated.
“The government should put measures in place to improve the economy of the country.
“There are vacancies in government establishments that need to be filled, they should pick the young, qualified graduates from the street to fill up those spaces.
“Jobless youths should be given jobs to do so that crime will reduce in the country.”