• About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
NetbuzzAfrica.
  • Home
  • Africa
    • All
    • East & Central Africa
    • North Africa
    • Southern Africa
    • West Africa
    NBA Africa’s First Original Docuseries “Born & Bred” Premieres

    NBA Africa’s First Original Docuseries “Born & Bred” Premieres

    Maxwell, Nana Ama McBrown, and Serwah Prikels

    Love and Rumors: The Tale of Maxwell, Nana Ama McBrown, and Serwah Prikels

    NAM 1

    Menzgold customers to meet police over GH¢5m released by NAM 1

    Mining Indaba 2024

    Mining Indaba 2024 hosts the return of the Mining Innovation & Research Battlefield

    Farmout Forum Connects Investors to African Blocks at #AEW2023

    Farmout Forum Connects Investors to African Blocks at #AEW2023

    museums in Africa

    Yale to support museums and cultural institutions across Africa

    Petroleum prices surge to persist amid global market dynamics - IES

    Petroleum prices surge to persist amid global market dynamics – IES

    Theresa Aba Kufuor

    Former first lady Theresa Aba Kufuor has died

    Liquid Intelligent Technologies

    Liquid Intelligent Technologies Zambia launches Azure Stack

  • People and Culture
    Cultural heritage

    Harnessing Cultural Heritage as a Catalyst for Economic Growth

    NAACP Amos C. Brown Student Fellows

    NAACP Amos C. Brown Student Fellows Return from Transformative Journey through Ghana

    Transportation Sector

    How The Transportation Sector Regained Momentum After Covid-19

    Four tips for redeploying high-value skills within your organisation

    Four tips for redeploying high-value skills within your organisation

    Top 5 African countries with the largest military personnel

    Top 5 African countries with the largest military personnel

    Owusuwah Asamoah at Face of Ghana Youth Awards

    We need women at all levels to reshape conversations – Owusuwah Asamoah

    Miss Legacy Ghana 2022

    Owusuwah Asamoah Crowned Miss Legacy Ghana 2022

    Masturbation can Boost Your Immune System

    Masturbating can boost your immune system to fight coronavirus – Doctor

    Man Borrows N400k From His Girlfriend to Marry Another Woman

    Man Borrows N400k From His Girlfriend to Marry Another Woman

  • Editor’s Pick
    African Development Bank and Google collaborate on digital transformation in Africa

    African Development Bank and Google collaborate on digital transformation in Africa

    Suakin

    Six African heritage sites under threat from climate change

    Why a court should force Apple to reinstate Fortnite

    Why a court should force Apple to reinstate Fortnite

    Addis Ababa's Bole Airport Opens New Terminal

    Addis Ababa’s Bole Airport Opens New Terminal

    How men can improve their sexual performance

    How men can improve their sexual performance

    Uterine fibroids

    How To Treat Fibroid With Supplements

    The Future is Hydroponics

    Shaping a New Food System with Hydroponics

    5 Causes of Sexual Problems in Men

    5 Causes of Sexual Problems in Men

    KAA Gent Sets €20 million on Sevilla-target Elisha Owusu

    KAA Gent Sets €20 million on Sevilla-target Elisha Owusu

  • International
    A Technologically Empowered Future for Tourism

    A Technologically Empowered Future for Tourism

    Yasmina Villas at Expo Valley

    Introducing Yasmina Villas at Expo Valley

    Expand North Star 2023

    World’s largest startup show opens in Dubai

    German parliament reforms skilled work immigration law

    Germany introduces new ‘Opportunity Card’ for foreigners

    Kamala Harris

    WATCH: U.S. VP Kamala Harris meets Akufo-Addo at Jubilee House

    WorldRemit

    WorldRemit Data: Families to pay up to 57% more on school supplies

    Rihanna Gives Birth, Welcomes Her First Baby

    Rihanna Gives Birth, Welcomes Her First Baby With A$AP Rocky

    Jack Dorsey

    Jack Dorsey makes $978M from selling Twitter to Elon Musk

    Elon Musk secures $46.5 bln in funding for Twitter bid

    Elon Musk secures $46.5 bln in funding for Twitter bid

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Africa
    • All
    • East & Central Africa
    • North Africa
    • Southern Africa
    • West Africa
    NBA Africa’s First Original Docuseries “Born & Bred” Premieres

    NBA Africa’s First Original Docuseries “Born & Bred” Premieres

    Maxwell, Nana Ama McBrown, and Serwah Prikels

    Love and Rumors: The Tale of Maxwell, Nana Ama McBrown, and Serwah Prikels

    NAM 1

    Menzgold customers to meet police over GH¢5m released by NAM 1

    Mining Indaba 2024

    Mining Indaba 2024 hosts the return of the Mining Innovation & Research Battlefield

    Farmout Forum Connects Investors to African Blocks at #AEW2023

    Farmout Forum Connects Investors to African Blocks at #AEW2023

    museums in Africa

    Yale to support museums and cultural institutions across Africa

    Petroleum prices surge to persist amid global market dynamics - IES

    Petroleum prices surge to persist amid global market dynamics – IES

    Theresa Aba Kufuor

    Former first lady Theresa Aba Kufuor has died

    Liquid Intelligent Technologies

    Liquid Intelligent Technologies Zambia launches Azure Stack

  • People and Culture
    Cultural heritage

    Harnessing Cultural Heritage as a Catalyst for Economic Growth

    NAACP Amos C. Brown Student Fellows

    NAACP Amos C. Brown Student Fellows Return from Transformative Journey through Ghana

    Transportation Sector

    How The Transportation Sector Regained Momentum After Covid-19

    Four tips for redeploying high-value skills within your organisation

    Four tips for redeploying high-value skills within your organisation

    Top 5 African countries with the largest military personnel

    Top 5 African countries with the largest military personnel

    Owusuwah Asamoah at Face of Ghana Youth Awards

    We need women at all levels to reshape conversations – Owusuwah Asamoah

    Miss Legacy Ghana 2022

    Owusuwah Asamoah Crowned Miss Legacy Ghana 2022

    Masturbation can Boost Your Immune System

    Masturbating can boost your immune system to fight coronavirus – Doctor

    Man Borrows N400k From His Girlfriend to Marry Another Woman

    Man Borrows N400k From His Girlfriend to Marry Another Woman

  • Editor’s Pick
    African Development Bank and Google collaborate on digital transformation in Africa

    African Development Bank and Google collaborate on digital transformation in Africa

    Suakin

    Six African heritage sites under threat from climate change

    Why a court should force Apple to reinstate Fortnite

    Why a court should force Apple to reinstate Fortnite

    Addis Ababa's Bole Airport Opens New Terminal

    Addis Ababa’s Bole Airport Opens New Terminal

    How men can improve their sexual performance

    How men can improve their sexual performance

    Uterine fibroids

    How To Treat Fibroid With Supplements

    The Future is Hydroponics

    Shaping a New Food System with Hydroponics

    5 Causes of Sexual Problems in Men

    5 Causes of Sexual Problems in Men

    KAA Gent Sets €20 million on Sevilla-target Elisha Owusu

    KAA Gent Sets €20 million on Sevilla-target Elisha Owusu

  • International
    A Technologically Empowered Future for Tourism

    A Technologically Empowered Future for Tourism

    Yasmina Villas at Expo Valley

    Introducing Yasmina Villas at Expo Valley

    Expand North Star 2023

    World’s largest startup show opens in Dubai

    German parliament reforms skilled work immigration law

    Germany introduces new ‘Opportunity Card’ for foreigners

    Kamala Harris

    WATCH: U.S. VP Kamala Harris meets Akufo-Addo at Jubilee House

    WorldRemit

    WorldRemit Data: Families to pay up to 57% more on school supplies

    Rihanna Gives Birth, Welcomes Her First Baby

    Rihanna Gives Birth, Welcomes Her First Baby With A$AP Rocky

    Jack Dorsey

    Jack Dorsey makes $978M from selling Twitter to Elon Musk

    Elon Musk secures $46.5 bln in funding for Twitter bid

    Elon Musk secures $46.5 bln in funding for Twitter bid

No Result
View All Result
NetbuzzAfrica.
No Result
View All Result

Meet Thelma, the sales girl turn successful entrepreneur

Samcilla Baakojr by Samcilla Baakojr
May 8, 2020
in Future & Startups
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A
Home Future & Startups
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

READ ALSO

World’s largest startup show opens in Dubai

Applications for the Inaugural AWS FinTech Africa Accelerator Now Open

Life is indeed full of challenges and obstacles but depending on how one views these challenges and obstacles, one can either be broken or blessed by them.

One of my greatest strengths was strong human relation skills.

Being raised by a single mother with five daughters, challenges were just necessary part of our daily life.

In a typical poverty-stricken refugee home like ours, challenges such as hunger, malnutrition, no school fees, etc. were almost like additional members of my family.

As a child, it was not too difficult for me to see those challenges as stepping stones to the next level of survival and someday to prosperity.

In everything I did, I never forgot that one of those challenging days would put smile on my face. As real mothers would do, my mother was always there for her girls. She buckled up hard work with prayer so as to get her little girls moving on from that limited condition to unlimited choices in the future.

  • Read: Young actor Strika talks stolen entitlements after starring in ‘Beasts of No Nation’

As young as I was, one of my greatest strengths was strong human relation skills. Even on empty stomach I could easily get along with people irrespective of their age or status. And that alone placed me in a unique position to sell anything to anybody.

In our refugee life in Buduburam, at age nine, I decided to pay the price of sacrifice with my mom to keep our all-female family together economically. My mom being a professional caterer started making pastries to sustain the family. She solicited our support in the new venture, but my sisters felt shy to sell on the street.

I couldn’t see where poverty and shyness could work together, so I offered to do the selling. It was exciting to go out every morning with a basket full of cornbread and shortbread and then get back home after some hours with an empty basket plus lots of money. Business was stressful but it was the only dignified way to make ends meet in our refugee condition. As normal in business, some days sales was poor but I still never allowed it to ruin my joy of doing business with my mom.

Hawking under the sizzling sun day in day out sometimes before and after school was really a big challenge for a primary school girl like me. The smile on my mom’s face every time I came home with the empty bread basket was the greatest source of motivation for me.

Every morning I was full of hope and excitement to hit the streets and make some money for my mom. I like to always see my mom smile especially when I am the reason behind her smile.

In the face of the storm of our struggle for survival in Buduburam, I was resilient and determined to see a better side of life. I wanted my life to be important to my generation. How could my life really count?

“You can be somebody tomorrow by studying books and not only by selling bread. Just sell more and study hard, ok?” My mom encouraged me.  Sometimes if it meant for me to sell early in the morning before going to school, I would do it. My teachers were amazed by my brilliance in class but most often I went to school late because I had to sell in the morning before going to school. I was always punished for my lateness. One day I went late as usual and one of the teachers called me and said, “You’re brilliant but you always come to school late, why?”

I told him my situation. He was touched by my story and I was never punished for lateness again. I knew I had to sell bread to survive, but to really live and impact my generation I had to study hard.  While others saw me as just an ordinary kid who hawks the streets with pastries, I always knew that those days were just stepping stones to the brighter days ahead. I never saw those challenges as hindrances or anything negative but saw them as training materials that was preparing me for bigger opportunities ahead. I always had one thing in mind and that was “I never have control over the things that life has to offer me but I have absolute control over the things I’d have to give life in returns.”

The more I became future-conscious, the more I shifted my attention from the bread to my books. I also realized later that hawking the streets was not just putting food on our table and paying my tuition but it was also giving me a good experience as a business woman. As one of my favorite lines says “When preparation meets opportunity success is inevitable.”

I couldn’t have agreed more, I am a woven fabric of testimony that watched hardship with eyes of faith instead of concluding it as my fate.Meet Thelma, the sales girl turns successful entrepreneurToday, I am a proud beneficy of the DAFI Ghana scholarship- an Albert Einstein initiative. Fast forward, I am a graduate with B.A in Marketing and successfully manage my business (ModestAfrik-Seth’s Stitches; a brand that is gradually becoming a household name: As a business we are focused on meeting satisfactorily the needs of the niche we serve and we do so by offering wardrobe consultation for weddings, corporate, casual and traditional occasions) in my country; Liberia. Coupled with business, I work simultaneously as an Intervention Assistant with GROW Liberia (Adam Smith International Program) – a market system development that focuses on agriculture.

As an assistant in the agro-processing sector of the firm, I bring to the table my marketing techniques coupled with my experience as a sales girl and event organizer (gained through volunteering with local NGOs to impact young people) to bring value to my team in reaching our targets.

This job has brought me so much fulfillment professionally and personally due to the fact that it makes me contribute to the betterment of my nation which was why I returned home after more than a decade of being in exile.

Food security is a very vital issue to a nation’s stability and my service to humanity through my job has unraveled to me the quality of food we have to feed ourselves and the world at large and not just so but what amazes me more are the untapped opportunities that exist in the sector for not just agro-business owners but as packaging companies, IT professionals, logistic firms, and many others that when we shift our attention to the sector can bring us more returns both financially and materially.

By Mrs. Thelma Teetee Ahamba [B.A Marketing, Wisconsin International University College]

Tags: Thelma Teetee AhambaWisconsin International University College
Previous Post

Joyce Dzidzor Mensah exposes ‘HIV’ lover who bonked her twice and is ‘infecting’ others

Next Post

Uganda MP facing treason charges sworn-in

Samcilla Baakojr

Samcilla Baakojr

I write content for a living. Chicken lover.

Related Posts

Expand North Star 2023
Future & Startups

World’s largest startup show opens in Dubai

October 16, 2023
Applications for the Inaugural AWS FinTech Africa Accelerator Now Open
Future & Startups

Applications for the Inaugural AWS FinTech Africa Accelerator Now Open

March 23, 2023
Flutterwave Collaborates with Africa Fintech Summit as Lead Sponsor
Future & Startups

Flutterwave Collaborates with Africa Fintech Summit as Lead Sponsor

March 9, 2023
security habits and risks!
Future & Startups

Back to work: Watch out for security habits and risks!

June 30, 2023
Next Post

Uganda MP facing treason charges sworn-in

Theresa May announces defence tie-up with Nigeria

Davido enrolls for mandatory National Youth Service NYSC

Recommended.

NBA Africa’s First Original Docuseries “Born & Bred” Premieres

NBA Africa’s First Original Docuseries “Born & Bred” Premieres

November 21, 2023
A Technologically Empowered Future for Tourism

A Technologically Empowered Future for Tourism

October 25, 2023
Maxwell, Nana Ama McBrown, and Serwah Prikels

Love and Rumors: The Tale of Maxwell, Nana Ama McBrown, and Serwah Prikels

October 25, 2023
NAM 1

Menzgold customers to meet police over GH¢5m released by NAM 1

October 23, 2023
Mining Indaba 2024

Mining Indaba 2024 hosts the return of the Mining Innovation & Research Battlefield

October 25, 2023
Pivot Digital Media Pivot Digital Media Pivot Digital Media
ADVERTISEMENT

Trending.

Black Alien Anthony Loffredo

I’m Not Human, I’m A ‘Black Alien’ – Anthony Loffredo

March 6, 2023
Kyle Burgess and Cougar

Cougar Stalks, Charges Utah Hiker for 6 Minutes

February 5, 2021
Exposed: Fauster Atta Mensah now scams as Professor John Vinzelts

Exposed: Fauster Atta Mensah now scams as Professor John Vinzelts

January 12, 2022
sex in UN official vehicle

Couple caught having sex in UN official vehicle

June 29, 2020
Couple defy lock down to have sex close to Buckingham Palace

Couple defy lockdown to have sex close to Buckingham Palace

April 13, 2020
ADVERTISEMENT

WHAT YOU MISSED

Introducing Yasmina Villas at Expo Valley

by Samcilla Baakojr
October 23, 2023
0
Yasmina Villas at Expo Valley
Design

Introducing Yasmina Villas at Expo Valley by Expo City Dubai, the epitome of serene and nature-inspired living.

Read more

World’s largest startup show opens in Dubai

by Samcilla Baakojr
October 16, 2023
0
Expand North Star 2023
Future & Startups

1,000 investors with a combined total of over US$ 1 trillion under management are ramping up the startup investor momentum...

Read more

YANGO Introduces State Of The Art Safety Technologies in Africa

by Samcilla Baakojr
September 24, 2023
0
Yango
Africa

Demonstrating Commitment to Improving Safety and Elevating Security Standards among Partner, Drivers and Riders

Read more

Ghana Celebrates Hip Hop at 50

by Samcilla Baakojr
August 23, 2023
0
Hip Hop at 50
Showbiz

Telling Ghana’s Own Love and Hip Hop Story in contribution to Hip Hop as a Global Culture On Sunday, 27th...

Read more
NetbuzzAfrica.

© 2023, Netbuzz Africa. All Rights Reserved.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Africa
  • People and Culture
  • Editor’s Pick
  • International

© 2023, Netbuzz Africa. All Rights Reserved.