I didn’t allow men to intimidate me –Onome Denedo, female cobbler

From PAUL OSUYI, Asaba

MISS Onome Denedo, a graduate of Sociol­ogy attended Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka and has found herself in a profession that’s peculiar to men. She is into leather works, a trade dominated by men. But Onome is more inspired by the fact that her competi­tors are men. Onome told Sunday Sun at the Leather and Foot Wear Centre in Iselle-Uku in Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state how she delved into shoemaking in spite of opposition from her parents who wanted her to work in a bank. The leather work centre was established by the state government in collaboration with United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). Excerpt:

What inspired you into leather works?

I have always liked leather. Back then in Lagos because my parents are in Lagos, there was this man very close to my mum’s office who’s a cobbler. Every time I passed by, I admired his work, I loved the way he does his shoes. That was what really motivated me. Since I loved leather bags and shoes but I could not really af­ford the good ones, I had to learn to make them so that I could be able to use them, not knowing that after making for myself, I could be able to make for someone else.

How did your parents react when you took to this trade?

It was a huge disappointment to my dad, a very huge one because he was nagging and constantly telling me that I needed to get a first class. It was impos­sible for me to graduate in first class because of financial constraints and my divided attention. While I was in school, I was learning. Although I was able to come out as the best in my department as at the time I graduated but it was very an­noying to my dad because I could not use the certificate. I came back with some­thing good for him but I could not use it. It was very frustrating. He was angry with me and we did not communicate for over a year but my mum was talking to me. He was so surprised one day that I had to call him from Italy. He screamed “what hap­pened? What are you doing there?” I told him that it was the shoe business which he did not like that brought me to Italy. Then the story changed from the bad girl who refused to further her education. He tried so much to get appointment for me with some banks but I preferred being a cobbler.

For how long have you been in this trade?

I have been in it since 2010 when I was at two hundred level or thereabout. I started learning while in the university and during holidays.

What are your challenges?

Initially, it was lack of knowledge. I had the idea, I knew what I wanted to do but I did not know the right places to go. So, I went to learn from a cobbler very close to me and from there I got to know another place where I acquired better knowledge. I got to know that there were machines that would make my work better and come out well. I didn’t know then because of the finance issue but now with this, I don’t think I have any challenge. I have the idea, I have the strong background now, all we need is the machine to get started and then we start making good things – value products, street wears, sports wears for schools, sportsmen and what have you.

How does it feel being in a male dominated trade?

Initially, it was very bad for me, I felt very bad because men were telling me “dis nor be ur own, forget am, e don fin­ish.” Every time we went for interviews, the male folks told me I have failed but that was my driving force. Right from when I was young, I didn’t like failing and I don’t fail. Whenever they tell me that, it gives me the driving force to push further. Sometimes, when we were asked to bring samples for assessment, I don’t sleep, I make sure I do the best. I knew that as men, they felt it’s their world, so I needed to be more creative. I looked at their pitfalls, and put in more energy and effort. But today, they do not see me as a girl, I am now a man in their own eyes because I did not allow myself to be intimidated by them.

How did you access the agen­cy?

Initially, I used to say that it was a scam by politicians but since late 2013, I have come to realize that this is not a scam, it’s a working project. It’s a gradual process and we went through a series of inter­views, tests and training but at the end of the day, this set up is very much real, and I am very much in line with what is going to happen next.

What’s your message to youths?

Youths should please come out and get involved. Learn a skill, fall in love with it, show yourself and there is always some­one there who’ll patronize you. I had to assert myself . When I was discovered, I didn’t expect it but I just put an extra effort and here we are.

 

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