In the heart of Lagos, lived a young woman named Ngozi. She came from a small village in Enugu State and moved to the city in search of a better life. At twenty-one, she was determined to support her family back home. Her father had passed away, leaving her mother to raise six children. Ngozi, the eldest, felt a deep responsibility to ease their burden.
Finding work in Lagos was not easy. The bustling city was filled with countless others with similar dreams as Ngozi.
. After weeks of searching, Ngozi found a job as a maid for the Adeyemi family, a wealthy couple with three young children. The Adeyemis lived in a spacious home in Lekki, a stark contrast to the cramped quarters Ngozi shared with other house helpers in a nearby slum.
Though the salary was not much, Ngozi was grateful to secure a job after weeks of searching
and thought it was wise to start from somewhere.
Ngozi’s daily routine was hard and tiring. She wakes up everyday at 5 AM to prepare breakfast, clean the house, do the laundry, and take care of the children. Mrs. Adeyemi was a stern woman with high expectations, and Mr. Adeyemi was often away on business trips.
Ngozi’s only solace was her faith and the occasional phone calls to her family back home.
Despite the long hours and demanding work, Ngozi remained cheerful and diligent. She was determined to save money and eventually start a small business to support her family. She sent a portion of her earnings home every month, hoping it would help her siblings stay in school.
Life in the Adeyemi household was far from easy. Mrs. Adeyemi had a sharp tongue and a quick temper. She often berated Ngozi for the smallest mistakes, making her feel worthless. “You’re so slow, Ngozi! Can’t you do anything right?” she would snap, her voice echoing through the large house.
The Adeyemi children, too, were difficult to manage. They were used to getting their way and didn’t respect Ngozi’s authority. They would disobey her instructions, create messes, and then complain to their mother, who always sided with them. “Mum, Ngozi is so mean!” they would whine, and Mrs. Adeyemi would scold Ngozi without bothering to hear her side of the story.
Ngozi was naturally a hard worker, more reason why she was able to cope in the adeyemis, despite all the harsh treatment. She already envisioned her goals and aspirations thereby believing that nothing good comes easy.
One day, while Ngozi was ironing clothes, the youngest child, Tolu, deliberately spilled juice on the freshly pressed shirts. “Tolu, why did you do that?” Ngozi asked, trying to stay calm.
“Because I can!” Tolu retorted with a smirk. When Mrs. Adeyemi found out, she blamed Ngozi for not watching Tolu closely enough. “You’re so careless, Ngozi! Now I have to redo everything!” she fumed.
This continued everyday for years. Ngoszi had no choice but to continue to endure because the salary she was receiving was okay for her since she could send to her family and still have little savings, she felt she should still keep on until she was ready to start a business.
It got to points where ngozi may not be given food as a punishment, but she never despaired because even if she decided to leave, she doesn’t have any qualification to land a better paying job since she and her mother had struggled before she could even finish up to WAEC level.
One evening, as Ngozi was cleaning the living room, she overheard Mr. Adeyemi on a phone call discussing a new business venture. His tone was excited, and he spoke of an investment opportunity that promised high returns. Intrigued, Ngozi listened closely, absorbing as much information as she could.
Later that night, after everyone had gone to bed, Ngozi sat in her small room and thought about what she had heard. She had always dreamed of starting her own business but had no idea where to begin. The conversation she overheard sparked a glimmer of hope. She decided to educate herself on business and investments, starting with the little information she had gleaned from Mr. Adeyemi’s call.
Ngozi saved every naira she could, often skipping meals to add to her small stash. She spent her rare free moments at the local library, reading books on business, finance, and entrepreneurship. Her curiosity and determination grew with each page she turned.
One day, while shopping for groceries, Ngozi met an old friend from her village, Chidera. Chidera had moved to Lagos a few years earlier and had started a small business selling secondhand clothes. She shared her experiences and offered Ngozi advice on how to start small and grow gradually.
Encouraged by Chidera’s success, Ngozi decided to start her own side hustle. With her savings, she bought a few items of secondhand clothing and began selling them to other house helps in her neighborhood. Her initial profits were modest, but she reinvested every kobo, slowly expanding her inventory.
Balancing her job with her budding business was exhausting. Ngozi often stayed up late sorting clothes and planning her next moves. There were times when she felt overwhelmed and doubted her ability to succeed. The Adeyemis’ demands were relentless, and there was always the risk of being caught and losing her job.
One particularly difficult day, Mrs. Adeyemi scolded Ngozi for not ironing Mr. Adeyemi’s shirts properly. Frustrated and tired, Ngozi nearly broke down. But she remembered her family and her dreams, and it fueled her determination to keep going.
As months passed, Ngozi’s small business began to thrive. She earned enough to send more money home and even started saving for a larger investment. She researched other business opportunities, always looking for ways to grow.
One day, while delivering clothes to a customer, Ngozi met a woman named Mrs. Williams. Mrs. Williams was a kind-hearted woman who noticed Ngozi’s hardworking nature and keen business sense. She asked Ngozi about her aspirations and was impressed by her vision and dedication.
“I see a lot of potential in you, Ngozi,” Mrs. Williams said. “How would you like to work with me on a bigger project?”
Mrs. Williams was looking to invest in a new business venture and needed someone trustworthy to manage the operations. She offered Ngozi a partnership, promising to mentor her and provide the necessary capital.
Ngozi was ecstatic but cautious. She knew such opportunities were rare and didn’t want to make a hasty decision. After discussing the details and ensuring the terms were fair, she agreed to the partnership.
With Mrs. Williams’ guidance and support, Ngozi’s business expanded rapidly. They opened a small boutique in a busy market area, selling quality second hand clothes and accessories. Ngozi managed the day-to-day operations, while Mrs. Williams handled the finances and strategic planning.
The boutique became popular, attracting a steady stream of customers. Ngozi’s hard work and keen eye for fashion paid off, and within a year, they opened a second store. She hired staff to help with the workload, providing jobs for other young women from her village.
Despite her success, Ngozi remained humble and focused. She continued to send money home and started a scholarship fund for children in her village. Her siblings were able to complete their education, and her mother’s health improved with better medical care.
Ngozi’s transformation from a maid to a successful businesswoman was inspiring. Her story spread, and she became a role model for many young women facing similar challenges. She was invited to speak at events and share her journey, encouraging others to pursue their dreams despite the odds.
One day, while giving a speech at a women’s empowerment conference, Ngozi saw a familiar face in the audience. It was Mrs. Adeyemi. After the event, Mrs. Adeyemi approached her, a look of disbelief and admiration on her face.
“Ngozi, I can’t believe how far you’ve come,” she said. “I’m truly impressed by your determination and success.”
Ngozi smiled. “Thank you, ma’am. It wasn’t easy, but I couldn’t have done it without the lessons I learned working for your family.” She added respectfully.
Mrs. Adeyemi nodded. “You were always hardworking and dedicated. I’m glad to see you achieve your dreams.”
She went ahead to apologize to Ngozi for all the mistreatment melted on her during her days working for them as a maid, she promised to change her ways and do better as no one knows tomorrow.
Ngozi never forgot her roots. She continued to support her family and community, investing in local businesses and infrastructure. She established a foundation to provide education and vocational training for young women, helping them gain the skills needed to succeed in life.
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