Don't let fear hold you back, aspiring entrepreneur tells youth

A mother of three is encouraging young women and unemployed youths to overcome fear, seek available government assistance and turn their skills into opportunities after starting her own business.

Silomeci Rokube, from Nukutubu in Rewa, is launching She Rises Creation, a business selling barbecue food, pastries, beverages, and arts and crafts.

She is building the business while caring for her three children, including her five-month-old baby.

Ms Rokube said the support of her husband, brother, children and her faith had motivated her to become a business owner.

“My husband, my brother, my children and the support of the Ministry of God motivate me,” she said.

Ms Rokube recently completed a three-day Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) training programme, where she learned practical skills in starting and managing a business.

She said the training changed the way she viewed entrepreneurship, particularly the importance of financial discipline, record keeping and cash flow management.

“I have learned a lot about the characteristics of how to start a business and money management,” she said.

Ms Rokube said one of the biggest lessons was learning how to determine whether a business was making a profit or a loss.

She said business owners needed to carefully record income and expenses to ensure their businesses remained profitable.

“You should have discipline when you run a business so you don’t have a loss in your business and you should have a profit at the end of the year,” she said.

The training came at an important time as she prepares to grow her new business while balancing the responsibilities of motherhood.

She said her children were one of the main reasons she was determined to build a sustainable source of income.

Ms Rokube is now encouraging other women, young people and struggling couples not to be afraid to seek help when starting a business.

She said she had not realised government ministries offered services and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs until her husband encouraged her to explore the available support.

“I didn’t know until my husband kept on pushing me to do more,” she said.

Despite caring for a five-month-old baby, she decided to take the opportunity to learn more about business and available assistance.

“There are a lot of government ministries out here that are able to help us,” Ms Rokube said.

“I just want to encourage young people, young women and young men out there. Just get up and move. God will take you through.”

She hopes to use the skills gained through the SIYB programme to grow She Rises Creation and provide a better future for her family.