By CHIOMA ANIEGBOKA

Mrs Taiwo Akinlebi is a multi-talented lady in her fifties, who believes that girls shouldn’t rely solely  on educational qualifications for a career or a means of livelihood.  Even though she dropped out of secondary school when she couldn’t cope any longer, she embraced fashion-designing and began to earn a good living.  Later she added beads-making, which she learnt from her mother.

Recently she had a chat with Vista Woman on her profession, marriage, and life in general. Hear her.

“I hail from Abeokuta, in Ogun State, where I had both my primary and secondary school education.  I left the latter at a point, to begin earning a living, so that I could render financial help in the family. I studied fashion designing, and set up my own outfit when I was 25.  I then met my first husband and I became a mother.

Sadly, I had to leave this marriage after having just one child, because of gross  ill-treatment which I could no longer take.  My advice to girls here is that it is important to wait patiently and pray hard for the right man to knock on your door for marriage.

When I left that first marriage, I was so disenchanted with marriage that I felt that my unique mission was to dedicate the rest of my life to earning a living and looking after my child. After a while, when the fashion-designing business was no longer paying, I decided to embrace another vocation.  I then learnt beads-making from my mother.

*Mrs Taiwo Akinlebi….A woman would earn her husband’s respect if he doesn’t have to be responsible financially for everything that she and the children need

I would advise girls to embrace a second vocation even after their university education, so that they can always be in a position to render financial help in the family.  One shouldn’t just keep on waiting for the right job to turn up.  One should learn hand work from which money can be got for essentials.

After living with my parents for a while, I then met my second husband who turned out to be God-sent.  He was such a caring, loving and responsible husband and father, and we had two children together.  He more than made up for the scars from the first marriage.  I thank my God.

Unfortunately, he died ten years ago, and I was devastated, but life had to go on. I was lucky in that my husband’s people were very cooperative and have not been giving me any headache whatsoever.  They are supportive and peaceful.   As a widow, I then turned fully to beads-making and it’s from the proceeds that I’m educating my children, all of whom are under twenty years of age.

My daughter from my first marriage is married and has two children, so, I’m a grandmother of two.  She too learnt beads-making, but hers is more modern and sophisticated than mine, and so, more lucrative financially.

I do enjoy beads making very much.  I still make outfits for people, but mainly on occasions like Sallah.  Proceeds from that has dwindled considerably, and I get most of my earnings now from making beads.  The art is quite interesting.  I buy beads of different colours from markets on Lagos Island.

Then my younger children help me to sort them out into various heaps.  I now string them together with needle and thread, following the desired designs.   I make lots of them and retailers come to buy them in dozens.   My children also help me to deliver the orders we get.  With all modesty, I can say that my beads sell well.  I hardly have any left in the house after making them to order.

I don’t have many challenges about my profession, but as I’m getting older, stringing the beads are becoming a bit difficult and stressful.  Selling them is never a problem.

As a widow, bringing up my children alone hasn’t been easy, but I have been able to be there for them at all times, because I’ve been working from home.  So, none of them has been neglected.  I want my children to be well-educated so that they can stand a chance of  having good jobs later, and living a passably good life.

I’ve taught them to help me with this work, so that they would know the importance of working hard, and that money just doesn’t fall into one’s lap.  They’re trying.   Also, they know that they shouldn’t rely solely on university training for their means of livelihood.

They have this to fall back on at any time, or, even do on the side.  It is important for a wife to be in a position to help financially in her home, and not leave all the expenses to the husband.  Things are very difficult these days, with people losing their jobs at any time,  high unemployment and very slow business.

A woman would earn her husband’s respect if he doesn’t have to be responsible financially for everything that she and the children need.

Women should be up and doing because they are the pillars of the society as they raise children to be responsible citizens with good morals and a high sense of responsibility.  Women shouldn’t be lazy and they should bring up children who are not lazy.  Hard work doesn’t kill any body.

But for my vocation, I wouldn’t have been able to look after my children when I lost my husband.  Things would have been very tough for us all, and we would have suffered lack, but I thank God for giving me a hardworking mother who raised me well.

I’m satisfied with my work and my modest earnings, as I have never begged nor borrowed from anyone to feed and clothe me and my children.