Many youths are groaning and languishing in penury as they continue to wait for a white-collar job, and fail to see opportunities in trades they tend to look down. John Aju narrates how he got to this point of comfort as he speaks with GABRIEL EWEPU.
The road to success is not a bed of roses. Unfortunately, young people think pleasure and affluence are achieved on a platter of gold, and so take short-cut to attain the lofty height of their dream. This has made many young people failures as they jettisoned diligence and discipline to achieve good success. There are few young people in Nigeria who have decided to endure to achieve good success and comfort, no matter the challenges they might encounter.
One of such hardworking young people who have attained success today is Mr John Aju. The young man started life on a very hard way. At a tender age he began to fend for himself in far away Ile Ife, Osun State since he came from a poor background. It was not easy for him to make ends meet as a minor, but Aju was determined to go ahead as no family member was financially capable of providing some of his basic needs.
Aju said:”When I was 16 years old, I realised early in my life while I was living with my parents that it would not be easy for me to make a headway if I continued to depend on my parents who had financial challenges. So I decided to approach a commercial bus driver, whom I pleaded to be his conductor, and he agreed. I was happy that I can now provide some of my needs with this job.”
Nevertheless, Aju had to contend with the challenges in the job as he met with different passengers with different attitudes, characters, and behaviours. He became bold to handle such challenges daily, although it was hectic for the lad.
?He had to contend with every day, and had no time to do other things. One day, he decided to work in a construction site as a mason.
“I had to leave the conductor job as I thought it wise to engage myself in a more profitable venture. I got a job at a construction site as a mason. As I was doing the job my interest was on the welding and fabricating going on at the site. Gradually I developed serious interest, which informed my decision to learn the job. One major reason for me to take the decision was because anything steel work is evergreen, as the demand is always there; people need welders for construction of various steel works, and it is as well lucrative.”
Aju did not stop at the point of decision but backed it with action; he approached one of the owners of a welding shop, and he was admitted as an apprehenticed for three years. “I was 17 years old, when I decided to become a welder and fabricator under my master as an apprehentice. It was for three years. I had to summon courage to bear the pains because I knew I will reap the gain at the appropriate time. I had to bear with the challenges as I was learning the job.” He was determined to ensure that he never become a failure, rather he was resolute.?
Three years later, Aju graduated, and was certified a welder. He was very happy and grateful to God and his master. Unfortunately, Aju could not immediately establish his own welding shop. He had to stay with his master, and served another four years.
He said: “The major challenge after completing my apprehentiship was finance to set up my welding business. I have to remain and work with my master another four years. My working under him was to enable me save some money from what he was paying me.”
In 1991, Aju left his master at Osun State for Abuja since he felt Abuja is a land of opportunity. He was not able to establish his welding business as he arrived, but secured a job at Julius Berger Nigeria Plc as a welder. In 2001, he later left Julius Berger Nig. Plc for Gitto Construction Company.
In 2005, Aju felt it was time to establish his welding business in Abuja, as he had gathered experience in various aspects of the job. “I started my welding job at Mpape, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with one welding machine I bought at N87, 000 (eighty seven thousand naira), and had one employee.”
Aju started the business with N210, 000 (two hundred thousand naira). Later he was able to invest more money into the business as he acquired more machines. Also he began to enjoy patronage from customers who needed his service on various steel works.
“The standard of my job is high and satisfactory, which has made customers within and outside Abuja patronise me. I have not received any complaint from any customer about my job. In fact, I have enjoyed good customer relation since I started the business.”
Now, he has 11 apprehentices and four staff working under him.? “My apprehentices are hardworking and happy learning the job, and I always encourage them to be focused, even though they might be contending with some challenges at the moment. I pat them on the back and encourage them to move on, because soon it will be over. I was once like them while I was learning under my master, even ate the crumbs of my master.”
One of his apprehentices, James Ogar, said that they are in good terms with him. “I have been an apprehentice here since January 2011. My parents sent me here as they could not afford my school fee.? I also took the decision to learn welding and fabricating to be self- reliant. I paid N30, 000 (thirty thousand naira) for the three years I will spend. I believe God that after my training I will set up my own shop. My master does help us with some money to wash our clothes.”? James said that his major challenge is to complete his three year apprehentice and establish his own shop, and that he would like to return to school.
Mr John Aju has four male children who are in primary school. Aju said that he wanted his children to learn the job of welding and fabricating like him. “My eldest son always comes to the shop after school hours to learn. I will like him to add his welding experience from this shop to whatever degree he acquires from the university.”
Aju makes a profit of N10, 000 (ten thousand naira) and N40, 000 (forty thousand naira) daily. He said:”I have been able to eke out a living from this job; I have been able to build eight bedrooms flat. I have also built three bedroom apartments for my parents back home. I am married with children. In fact, I live comfortably.”
“My advice to young people who are idle is that they should rise up, damn the challenges in the welding job, and let them learn it for their financial freedom and lack, because people always demand the service of welders.”
?