Chika Ruth Nwajoku, a woman entrepreneur changing lives in Nigeria through footwear making — Lionesses of Africa

Why should anyone use your service or product?

We provide students with enough training skills and support that will enable them to establish a career in small and medium size businesses. NCR Design provides mentorship and internship opportunities, free accommodation and makes its training facility, tools, and equipment available to students who completed their training fin the school.

• We still focus on the technical development of footwear which is a fundamental background for those that work in this field. 
• We train from the scratch, i.e., from machine handling/paddling, pattern cutting/design, clicking/leather appreciate, closing/edge treatment, lasting, soling and finishing of footwear.
• Our training is strictly manual, handcrafted to encourage students to startup with little funding.
• Courses are full-time intensive, and students do not need a specific background to attend. Our training program is open for the educated and non-educated.

Tell us a little about your team

Each member of the team has skills, talents, experience, and education which they contribute, and while work may be fun or engaging, it is a combined effort and commitment, as there is a schedule for training with individual and group responsibilities.  Each member fulfills his or her own obligations for the team to succeed, and the team, like a chain, is only as strong as its weakest member. 

With teamwork we have achieved higher levels of performance than working alone because of the combined energies and talents of the members. We have collaborated with other organizations including NGOs which has produced motivation and creativity that may not be present in single-contractor projects. Every team member has a sense of belonging to the group, and the range of views and diversity can energize the process, helping address creative blocks and stalemates. By involving members of the team in decision-making, and calling up on each member’s area of contribution, we produce positive results.

Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?

I do not come from an entrepreneurial background, as a matter of fact my parents are disappointed that I chose Shoemaking over Medicine, Engineering, Law etc.
I wanted to create value with something that I was passionate about. I have always loved shoes but became increasingly interested in shoes when I joined shoemaking CDS group during my days as a Youth Corp member in 2012. I started to dig deep into the art of shoemaking, read about master shoemakers, the business of shoemaking, its rewards, the challenges, and opportunities… just everything about it. It was fascinating to say the least. It had never occurred to me that I could make a living out of it because interestingly, I am a graduate of Soil Science so academically, nothing really linked to the career I have now. But growing up I loved making things. I loved art. I loved creating, but somehow had forgotten about it during my years as a student. My joining the shoemaking CDS group made me remember how much I loved crafts.