Meet Sunny, a YTF Academy graduate and former entrepreneur

 

Sometimes, things don’t go as well as planned.

The story of Sunny, a YTF TechCommunities graduate and former agriculture entrepreneur, inspires us.

While his first agriculture venture Integrity Farms didn’t go as well as planned, he’s using the experience to inspire and challenge other rural youth by serving as a mentor to students in YTF’s Project 3E (Education, Environment, and Entrepreneurship). He has also diligently working on his master’s thesis while making plans to launch another venture down the road.     

He makes us hopeful that rural youth have the power to actually do what we hope – stay, invest and transform their communities.  

Sunny is presenting at a seminar at Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State where he's currently pursuing masters
Sunny is presenting at a seminar at Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State where he’s currently pursuing masters

Here’s Sunny’s story.

Could you share with us how you came to start your own business? What inspired you?   

For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to start my own business. It’s hard to find good jobs where I come from, and I think entrepreneurship is a great way to pursue your passion and gain financial independence. I also saw entrepreneurship as a way to positively impact my community, for example by creating jobs. I chose agriculture because I studied agricultural economics in college.  

Tell us about your experience launching and running your business. What was most challenging about it? What did you like most (and least) about it?

Farming business is actually a risky venture because environmental conditions are often poor, unpredictable and it’s quite easy for animals to become stricken with diseases. Those two factors were hardest to manage, and also, the fact that it was hard to secure enough capital for my business made things a bit difficult for me.  

However, I still felt thankful going into work everyday. Plus, watching my animals eat and play was always a joy!  

How do you think the training YTF provided helped you run a business?

Being able to use the Internet to research factors affecting agriculture helps a great deal in farming business. I’m grateful the YTF TechCommunities program equipped me with digital literacy skills.

In addition, I was hired by YTF to be a project coordinator for the Agric-P.O.W.E.R. Program back in 2011, and my experience working with local women farmers became helpful when I was running my own farming business.

I’ve heard you’re involved with YTF’s activities currently, in particular as a mentor to Project 3E students. Tell us about your involvement with YTF – what do you do, why do you do it, and what do you like about it?

That’s right, I serve as a mentor for Project 3E students. In that capacity, I’ve been candidly sharing my experience with the students in the hope that it will challenge and inspire them. And help them avoid making the same mistakes I made!

It’s been a wonderfully rewarding experience, and I plan to stay involved with YTF for years to come.

What’s your best piece of advice to share with fellow youth entrepreneurs?   

I’ve learned that finance isn’t always the biggest obstacle to entrepreneurship. Rather, it’s self discipline and hard work that matter. So never give up your dreams and work hard!   

We’re curious about your plans and dreams for the future. Do you think you will launch your own business again? Anything else up your sleeve?

I think I’ll definitely start my own business again. I still have the dream of setting up a modern, successful honey bee farm. Right now, I’m focusing on successfully finishing my master’s degree, and I’d like to take steps to realize my entrepreneurship dream in the next few years.    

I’d also love to explore opportunities to become more involved with YTF once I graduate!  

 

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