The Chief Executive Officer of Smart Cafe, Mr. Jesuride Israel is a graduate of Biochemistry from Crescent University, Abeokuta. Like the Biblical instruction not to despise small beginnings, he began his business on a very small scale in 2008 with paltry sum of N100,000.
The entrepreneur said he started out as a business centre owner but was compelled to expand the venture, given high demand for internet services by his numerous customers.
He raised N100,000 to convert the business centre to a cafe in 2013. Israel added that he didn’t have to search for white collar job after graduating from school because of the passion to nurture his business.
“I started the business because I realised the need to serve the community here in Gbagba, area of Ilorin, Kwara State, having noticed that people were always going to town for photocopy and to get their documents typed.
“We began as a mere business centre in 2008 but later converted it to a cafe to meet contemporary demand,” he explained.
Israel said one of the challenges at the onset of his business was the issue of poor power supply.
“There was the problem of power supply and I did not have a generator, so people took me for an unserious businessman,” he added.
In addition, he said the high exchange rate, customs duties and recession are challenges posing threat to the business.
However, on his advice to budding entrepreneur, he said “They should never give up, have the zeal and should have it at the back of their minds that failure is the way to success and when you fail it strengthens you to move onto greater heights.”
He called on government to encourage investors by providing conducive environment for businesses to thrive, urging graduate to explore their potentials instead of searching for limited white collar jobs.
