Ugwu
Code: NG251
On my visit to the firm today, the respondent pleaded that his own phone is given to him since some respondents in the cluster have gotten theirs and I assured him that he will soon get it.
Chinenye E
Code: NG230
This respondent is into printing, photocopying, and the sale of computers and accessories as well as a POS business. He has been complaining about business for some time. On my last visit to him, he said he is looking for a lecturing job. During the employee-by-employer survey, he said he needs an experienced person in computers and accessories because he may not be around very much if his application for a lecturing job works out. He said the person he has presently cannot work unsupervised so his wife always has to be around in the shop when he is not.
Chinenye E
Code: NG730
Remember my respondent that is a tailor whose machines were stolen sometime in October?
I visited her yesterday for weekly reporting and during our session, she said she is done going to Aba to buy textiles for sale this year. That for now she has more than enough clothes to make for customers and doesn’t want to add to them. She said that once she buys textiles for sale, people will come to buy and ask her to sew them for them and she doesn’t have space for more sewing this year.
She also said someone gave her N163,000 (393 USD) to buy sewing machines to help replace the ones that were stolen.
Chinenye E
Code: NG358
This respondent is a tailor. During our weekly reporting session yesterday, she said she wanted to go to the market to get materials that she will add to the textile she is making. She said she prefers going on her own so she can get what she likes and what is good quality for her customers. She also said she doesn’t like buying from the streets because their wares are costly.
She was happy I didn’t have a lot of questions like last week when we took the surveys.
Chinenye E
Code: NG158
This respondent informed me last week that one of his employees lost her mother and had to travel to her village. Yesterday, during weekly reporting, he told me the employee that traveled for her mother’s death is not yet back so he had to bring his sister out from maternity leave to help out. He also said that sales have been dropping for the past 2 weeks.
Chinenye E
Code: NG706
This respondent owns a school. During yesterday’s weekly reporting, she said one of her teachers has been on maternity leave so she had to find another person who has worked with her before to substitute for her while she’s gone then when she is back the substitute will stop.
I gave the respondent her tablet yesterday and she was happy to receive it. She said she was scared when we first started and had to make inquiries and that when I informed her I would be asking weekly questions about income and expenses, she was even more scared and thought it was something fraudulent. But she told herself to give it a try and that she had to calm down with time after she discussed it with her husband and also looked up L-IFT’s website. She also added that now she considers me one of them and her friend. She asked if we will be having an end-of-year party for all our respondents so they can meet and network. I told her I would forward her suggestion to management.
Ugwu
Code: NG226
On my visit to the firm for the scheduled weekly interview, the respondent told me that she has been under pressure for some days now from her friend who gave her a loan to purchase livestock. The respondent didn’t expect that the friend would need the money now as she had hoped to pay back the loan next year. But as it is now, she said she will sell back the livestock without much profit in order to raise money to pay her friend.
Victor
Code: NG526
While administering the Special Event Survey during one of my scheduled sessions at a palm kernel oil production firm today, the firm owner disclosed that there had been a reduction in the price of processed palm kernel oil and its residue cake by N300 (0.72 USD) per each tin and N200 (0.48 USD) per bag respectively since my last visit.
She had to resort to persistent bargains, to try to cushion unanticipated losses, which would have been slightly higher.
Also, on the set sit-at-home day, she disclosed having to safely observe all morning, the level of movement and in-adherence around her environs before trekking to her firm later on Monday.
Folaranmi Olarinde
Code: NG166
This firm owner got 2 new machines, the maize peeler, and the maize grinder. He was very happy because he said he had always wanted to get the machines because none of the milling firms around him had them.
Precious Ita
Code: NG670
This respondent has a bakery firm. She indicated interest and has been responsive with giving her financial transactions and she said that she would like to know how well she is doing in her business. I reminded her that it is a year’s study. She said it’s 5months already and suggested that L-IFT should at least be able to come up with that.
So the respondent requested that I reach out to L-IFT to go through her records and tell her how she has been performing in her business.
Precious Ita
Code: NG694
This firm is a shoe-making firm. I met the firm owner while he was making and filing one of the shoes he made.
(Pictures)
The picture was taken with the respondent’s permission.
Anastasia Obodo
General Story
I so much like the saying that said, “Use the opportunity when you see one.” People on my B map, when I came for census, refused to take part in the process. They were making jest of the people that joined saying that they are wasting their time. Now that the opportunity to gain experience and a phone came the people that got themselves enrolled with us and were selected they became jealous. Now they all want to be part of the program but is too late to cry.
Victor
Code: NG146
My session at the medical laboratory started with the firm owner and Medical Director expressing deep happiness at receiving the promised phone token.
In the special events survey, she disclosed being seriously ill alongside her baby for the past 2 weeks. Meaning that they visited the hospital for diagnosis and treatment since the onset of her severe typhoid fever and her baby’s acute measles where she spent a bunch of her personal money.
She disclosed some decrease in her firm’s income in the form of some discount offered to 3 customers, which the firm had to do inevitably, thereby reducing the expected income
For an increase in the price of supplies, she had to bargain for a slightly reduced price before buying.
Victor
Code: NG751
In one of my sessions yesterday with my supervisor at a Carpentry and furniture production firm, we observed a noticeably angry customer probe the firm owner on why her order of kitchen chairs and saving boxes which she buys wholesale to go sell in retail was yet to be completed; to which the firm owner listened calmly, assuring her she won’t need to come back as her order will be delivered at her business premises.
The firm owner, as always, was happy and forthcoming; even showing off 2 work designs he had planned out.
Ugwu
Code: NG724
During my interaction with the respondent, he complained that some people who paid part payment have refused to complete the payments. They have been giving him the excuse of not having money due to the economy of the country. The unpaid balance according to the respondent would have been his profit which he was supposed to use to purchase more raw materials for the business.
Nubi Olufunmilayo
Code: NG514
Finally, I was able to meet up with this firm owner today after 4 weeks of absence due to his father’s death. I was able to get 4 weeks of financial transaction records from him, it took a lot of time.
Michael Enyam
Code: NG176
It takes so much courage to share personal information, especially information that can make you cry. It was an emotional moment with this respondent today. She’s one of my most committed respondents.
During the special event Survey, I asked how the profit of the business has been in the past 2 weeks. Her response was affirmative and she added, “I hope the devil won’t bring up issues”
She generates money but hardly saves.
She shared a lot of things with me and I saw her wailing.
She professed that keeping records has helped her realize how much she makes from her business but she’s into so many loans. Recently, she collected a loan to renew her rent even when she can generate her annual rent in a week.
According to her, she has been the breadwinner of the family and practically provides everything because her husband’s business has been having issues. It’s painful for her that even with her shop rent, she has to take a loan.
Meanwhile, I got fabrics from her last week to sew for myself and got some today to sew for Precious Ita too because it’s yuletide.
Michael Enyam
Code: NG298
If you are in Nigeria, you must have been seeing funny video clips where people say that this December, some people are planning to run away with people’s contributions (Money). It sounds funny and it happens in reality.
This respondent joined 2 informal saving groups known as Ajo. One she contributes to weekly and the other monthly. This comes from money generated by the firm. Her intention is to buy a stoning machine since she’s into fashion design.
In the monthly Contribution, she has saved N80,000 ($190) with the intention that by December, she would have saved N100,000 ($237) so she can add the savings in her weekly Contribution and get the machine.
Men and brethren, it has been 2 months and they’ve not seen the woman they make contributions to and she stopped coming around. Her number is no longer reachable. Last week, she told me they finally saw the woman and asked her about their money.
The headline is that the woman used their money for an investment hoping she would get interest and return their money but the investment failed. No hope of getting her money for now and she’s not alone. They’re a legion.
Please, as you go to bed tonight pray for my respondent.
Chinenye E
Code: NG760
The respondent is into pastries. She said she has made some major expenses this week. Also said she didn’t have time to write in the book we gave her but wrote in her own book. Said she has noticed that customers patronize her more at the end of the month and beginning of a new month and she has concluded that it’s when they freshly receive their salary. So she makes more pastries at this period.
Chinenye E
Code: NG712
The respondent said she didn’t open on Saturday because her girl was sick and since Saturdays are usually half day and they don’t have much patronage, they didn’t open. She was very happy to receive the phone from L-IFT and said she will stay till the end of the study.
Chinenye E
Code: NG149
The respondent was very happy as I gave her the phone from L-IFT. She kept jumping and shouting and hugging me and thanking L-IFT. Praying that they will receive more than what they have given her.
Chinenye E
Code: NG478
This respondent runs a school. On my last visit for weekly reporting, she said she is busy and cannot attend to me. She said she had uniforms to sort out and she is also printing documents that they will use for exams since she doesn’t have a secretary to do that for now as she cannot afford the additional salary for a secretary.
Victor
Code: NG148
This respondent runs a business center.
In the course of the Formalization survey session, the firm owner disclosed the reason the firm remained informal was due to a lack of resources and the stress of going through the official process of Formalization which he intended to proceed with sometime in 2022.
He also revealed there really are no advantages to staying informal because at times, he experiences harassment from ‘area boys’ and municipal thugs resulting in random levies and extortions from touts and miscreants around.
Enugu Victor
Code: NG160
This firm is into rice processing, the firm owner lamented that the only benefit of formalization for her business thus far was avoidance of undue problems, embarrassments, or firm closure, implying that the firm was yet to get any incentives whatsoever; even with the exorbitant nature of the process. She disclosed that officers of formalization agencies, especially at the local government level, had demanded kickbacks and bribes to waive the process and give the firm statutory certification.
The firm owner joked that one top official had even demanded a bag of rice as a bribe.
Deborah Ekundina
Code: NG287
This particular firm is into all kinds of printing and disk burning. I was supposed to see him by 3 pm yesterday as usual. He is very detailed and cooperative in giving financial reports of his business. So when I called him yesterday, he said he won’t be available at the shop because his wife is ill and asked if we can have our interview over the phone and I said yes.
After the whole interview, I thanked him and asked how his wife is doing and he narrated what happened. He said his wife had a stillbirth which led to bleeding and was hospitalized since last week Friday. Right within me, I became cold, because of the situation. But then he said that she is responding to treatment and I wished her a quick recovery and thanked my respondent for giving me listening ears despite all he’s been through.
Oluwakemi Adepetu
Code: NG610
This firm is a school with the admin officer as my respondent as he has an in-depth knowledge of the organization. The owner is not fully available to run the activities of the school. They have an educational consultant who also assists in making the administration of the school hassle-free. Last week as I was with my respondent recording FT and also administering the other surveys, he made me realize that they are preparing for exams and they will be closing for the year on the 10th of December. He had to cut me short on several surveys and ask that he attend to them at our next meeting. On Monday, as I got to his firm, he was busy sorting and marking examination scripts and rescheduled our meeting till Wednesday.
Oluwakemi Adepetu
Code: NG808
I usually visit this firm every Monday and I noticed the respondent was not present this Monday but I was able to get his FT. I noticed an ongoing renovation of his workshop which he shared with me some months ago. Yesterday I stopped by his firm as I needed to fix my luggage box and handbag and to also present him his gift from L-IFT. He was still not present so I placed a call through. After our discussion, he told me thieves broke into his workshop on Saturday/Sunday and stole some new shoes, customers’ bags, and other items. He said he has gone to the police station and he will keep reporting to the police station from Monday till the time they get to the root of the matter. I could feel his pain and I showed empathy. He also said some of the customers that got their items stolen were not taking it lightly and some other customers were understanding and even brought in other items for repair. He concluded that he would fix a burglar-proof material where the thieves broke into and hope that the thieves get caught.
08 December 2021
Precious Ita
Code: NG544
This is a laundry firm that has three employees. Although employees only come when they have laundry to do. So they are usually not always at the firm and sometimes, they work overnight.
Respondent pays individual workers based on work done.
Precious Ita
Code: NG238
This is a photocopy firm that also retails stationery as well. The respondent complained bitterly about one of her workers. She said that the lady comes to work late and that she (the firm owner) mostly sweeps the firm herself before the lady comes to work and she is usually the first to pick up her bag to leave once it’s close to her closing hour.
She said there was a time a customer came in and it was a few minutes to the lady’s closing time and her worker told the customer that they had closed for the day. It was the firm owner and the other employee that called the woman back and attended to her.
She said the lady had damaged her big generator by turning on all the machines at once. She said she is noticing that the lady takes her money, but she’s not so sure of that yet.
She told me that the lady, on two occasions, had come to work and printed her CV from her system, with the firm owner’s paper. Then told the firm owner that she needs to go and submit her CV to another organization. She did this twice after coming late.
The firm owner said her husband and son are asking her to let the lady go, but she is holding back because she feels pity for her since the employee has financial and marital issues.
She was really glad when I asked for her permission to speak with one of her employees. She asked me to speak to that particular lady and help ask the lady, if it is in the questionnaire; “if she is really happy working here, if she is fine with the pay, if she intends to leave, what she feels her boss is doing wrong or right, and other questions in that line.”
I told her the survey is not centered on that, so she just excused us.
Nubi Olufunmilayo
Code: NG922
This respondent could not be interviewed today because he lost his sister-in-law and he’s mourning her. His employees opened the firm but he wasn’t there.
Nubi Olufunmilayo
Code: NG364
This respondent got her phone today from L-IFT and she sends her gratitude. She also told me it arrived on time when she needed it the most because her phone was faulty.
Nubi Olufunmilayo
Code: NG152
This firm is temporarily closed due to a bird flu ravage.
Nubi Olufunmilayo
Code: NG334
This firm is temporarily closed due to a bird flu ravage.
Nubi Olufunmilayo
Code: NG616
This respondent granted permission before his employee could do the employee PPI survey and his record is always up to date.
Nubi Olufunmilayo
Code: NG290
He granted permission before his employee could do the employee PPI survey.
Victor
Code: NG526
This firm owner looked pale and ill and was on medication trying to recover from a blood pressure spike, as my Supervisor and I listened patiently with empathy.
She narrated having collapsed on Saturday while at work before being rushed to the public hospital where she was revived, with a diagnosis showing her blood pressure had increased sharply, after which she got prescribed drugs and has been following medication since then.
She sadly narrated having to stay in constant worry. In her words, her husband is an invalid and a very heavy alcoholic, meaning she is shouldering childcare responsibilities alone recently.
For her new savings plan, she disclosed her intention to revive her long-abandoned piggery farm before April 2022 in her quest to increase her sources of income.
Chinenye E
Code: NG730
This respondent was busy with a lot of clothes to make. During the formalization survey, she said being part of an association is time-consuming as they require you to be part of certain things compulsorily like meetings and attendance of ceremonies.
Chinenye E
Code: NG358
During the formalization Survey, the respondent said she joined an association because she believes that it is faster and easier to get their voice heard as a group than individually and that the government listens to them more as a group than it would have done individually.
When I asked about savings goals, she said she wants to put up a sign board and print complimentary cards as well as do some necessary official registration for her business within the next year. I also gave the respondent the gift from L-IFT and she was very happy to get the tab. She called it a Christmas package and thanked everyone.
Chinenye E
Code: NG130
This respondent is making Christmas clothes but there was no light when I came and it was hot so she was not very comfortable. She however said this year is not like other years in terms of the rate of turn-up of people who make clothes for Christmas.
Chinenye E
Code: NG706
The respondent is a proprietress of a school. She said her mother is sick and at the hospital and she needed to go and see her. That she came around because I was coming. We had to move the surveys to next week.
Chinenye E
Code: NG116
This respondent said that people have been withdrawing money from his account with POS without his knowledge and he never knew because the line in which he gets alerts was stolen and he is yet to retrieve the line. He, therefore, lost almost N100,000 ($237) from withdrawals over time that he was unaware of. He said he had to close the account and open a new one with the line he is presently using and that the money is money people paid him to use and work for them. He also said that now he doesn’t know what to do.
The respondent said he opened a new account in the same bank that he was stolen from and that he has used the bank for a long time and doesn’t want to change it. He was busy with some urgent work so we moved the surveys.
Chinenye E
Code: NG302
The respondents said they lost their uncle and the burial date has been fixed for the 6th and 7th of January. They said they will likely be in their village when they travel for Christmas till the week after the burial.
Ugwu
Code: NG328
During the special event Survey, the respondent told me that the firm has no employees currently. One of the employees stopped coming to work 3 weeks ago and later called the firm owner on the phone to inform her that she has gotten another job. The other two employees went back to school last week.
At the moment, the firm owner manages the firm alone but the husband does come to assist her sometimes. The firm is however currently in search of a computer operator.
Ugwu
Code: NG226
This respondent sold some of her livestock to raise money to repay back the loan she took from her friend due to the pressure the friend mounted on her last week. Though she sold the livestock without profits, she said she was happy to have paid back her loan and now has peace of mind.
Oluwakemi Adepetu
Code: NG634
This respondent is a baker who makes and sells bread to businesses and individuals. He does different types of thrifts, from weekly to daily to monthly thrifts. I have lost track of his several thrifts as he accused me of wanting to know too much about his firm. About two weeks ago, he told me about a thrift and that it was his turn to cash out but the thrift cashier has not given him as he is the last in the group to cash out. The cashier keeps promising and not fulfilling his promise. I was hoping to share the good news this week if he was able to get his money. Unfortunately, the cashier told him never-ending stories. He told me the thrift is a total sum of N196,000 ($464) which he already budgeted to fix his delivery car. The car is in bad shape but he keeps managing and fixing any glitch that would ground the car pending the time he gets his money from the cashier. He is so unhappy with how he has not yet gotten his cash as he doesn’t have any other means of fixing the car quickly.
Ugwu
Code: NG278
The respondent suspended one of her employees for disobedience. According to her, she asked the apprentice to go and deliver clothes to customers but the apprentice refused. When she enquired to know her reason, she told the firm owner that she paid to learn work and not to run errands. The respondent said that she could not cope with a disobedient apprentice and so she decided to suspend her for two weeks.
Ugwu
Code: NG580
The respondent told me that she lost 2 Pigs as a result of the carelessness of the veterinary expert she called to administer drugs to the Pigs. The expert carelessly administered an overdose of the drugs to the pigs and this led to their death. According to the firm owner, both Pigs were worth N40,000 ($95) each.
Nubi Olufunmilayo
Code: NG299
She got her phone gift from L-IFT and was excited about it. She signed the consent form, granted permission for 1 of her employees to be interviewed, and a formalization survey was also done. I met her producing some of her organic cosmetics and soap as well.
Victor
Code: NG658
This firm owner looked both exhausted and anxious about managing a production challenge before him.
He complained about the challenge of a faulty electrical meter for his line, meaning he has not had electricity from the grid for a while now and resorts to running a power generator which he isn’t happy about.
He solicited assistance in solving his electricity challenge.
He also complained in the Special Event Survey about the sharp N500 ($1) increase in the price of high-density fiberboard, within just 24 hours of purchase. According to him, there was no reason whatsoever for suppliers to uniformly Jack up the price of items.
All in all, notwithstanding his busy schedule and seeming unhappiness, he participated willingly in all surveys and also instructed his employee to grant consent and answer all questions for the Employee PPI Survey.
Michael Enyam
Code: NG119
This is my very dedicated and diligent respondent who’s into Laundry and drycleaning services. Always gives me a nice reception whenever I visit.
Let’s take a walk on the few things he shared with me since the beginning of the project.
History of the firm:
He started this business shortly after his graduation from Polytechnic. Then he owned a corolla sports car and was working for an organization and is still working there currently but part-time. Things became tough when he gave birth to the first child. Because of his experience in the laundry business while in school, he decided to start his business. Because he had no capital, he sold his car and used the money to rent a shop and got a washing machine and other few things to start. Just like the biblical narration of one who found hidden treasures and sold all he had to get it, he sold everythinh too.
When we started, it was difficult to get clear information from him as he was skeptical about the research but now his mind is wide open like the desert. He tells me everything.
*During the COVID-19 – Did he receive palliative? OF COURSE HE DID!
Things were difficult at the time and businesses were closed. Because many people were not going out frequently, and even if they were, only a few brought their clothes for washing and drycleaning. Things were difficult for him.
The palliative – One of his most dedicated customers sent him N100,000 ($237) through transfer. (EARLIER THAN EXPECTED)
It wasn’t free money but for him to keep with his family while the customer will continue to bring his clothes for services and they will keep deducting from the money.
P.S. This wasn’t requested from my respondents.
He was very happy about this and the money had been cleared off even before we started with him.
Unsolicited support but timely.
Recently, every month, he adds up all his income and expenses. This enables him to know how much profit he’s making from his business. He said his dedication to his business and packaging after ironing is second to none. He has done a lot of ironing and washing for me and each time I wear them, I get good remarks..
Wednesday this week, he complained of not having stable employees. His employees are usually paid at a piece rate. He’s still placing adverts. He also told me that because of my question on “Which activities he spent most time on in the past two weeks ” and I always ask about posting on social media and talking to new clients. He has started posting his services on his WhatsApp status. “I enjoy most of your questions”, he added.
Victor
Code: NG751
My firm owner (a wood sawing and Carpentry firm), though looking very tired, took out time to narrate his experience going to a bush site earmarked for construction to fell 2 trees and lumber wood off-site within the week.
According to him, aside from the stress involved, it was a far cheaper and economical source of raw materials than buying wood outrightly from the wood marts around for production.
He took out time after the Financial reporting and survey sessions to detail his experiences and successes from his time back at the Government technical school and college of education (Technical), as the only successful entrant majoring in carpentry and woodwork, including his entry into the business professionally at the timber shed, without going through apprenticeship.
He ended the session by showing off some complex circular designs he made from the normal wood sawing machine as shown below and solicited assistance in the form of design machines to boost his work.
Victor
Code: NG286
My respondent who hasn’t been around for some weeks now appeared unhappy and engrossed most of the time in her personal/family challenges, reliving her husband’s terminal illness which had kept her in the village the past month. According to her, she was emotionally drained.
During the Formalization survey, she stated not making profits, as she felt spending money on those registrations was a waste of her scarce resources.
She described her business as informal and indicated the only advantage of staying informal was helping her cut the levies she would pay since these registrations warrant constant financial levies.
Ugwu
Code: NG724
This firm has not worked for 2 days now due to the fault developed by the firm’s lister generator 2 days ago. The firm is not connected to the national grid and depends solely on the generator for its operation. The respondent was unhappy that this had prevented him from completing his customers’ work and delivering them at the agreed time.
Ugwu
Code: NG244
The respondent told me during our interaction that thieves broke into his farm and made away with some of his farm implements. The prompt intervention of the security guards, however, prevented the thieves from taking away his livestock. He said he will adopt more strict security measures to avoid future occurrences.
Precious Ita
Code: NG125
This respondent owns a photocopying and printing firm where she also takes passport photographs.
She usually complains about the site of her shop. She said the location is bad for her business. She said she had a better location within the same area before but because she had health concerns, she stopped going to the then shop. When she had recovered and wanted to continue the business, the space had been given out. She said she tried to get another in a similar position, but the spaces were all taken. So she had to go for her current space now, she complains that it is really bad for her business, compared to how her business was before now.
Precious Ita
Code: NG154
This is a laundry firm. The workers come to work when they have customers’ wears to work on. Apart from doing laundry, the firm also does house and office cleaning. He pays them based on the amount of work they do.
Precious Ita
Code: NG107
This firm does photocopying and printing, direct Image printing, printing on cars, and all sorts of printing. He looks forward to growing his business.
Omolola
Code: NG442
I visited my respondent last week and while I was conducting the survey, one of his employees called his attention to an issue with his laptop. The laptop was no longer responding and the flex had broken. They didn’t have a spare to print out their customers’ results. The firm owner looked very worried. In fact, some customers came in the process and he had to explain to them that his laptop was faulty and they would need to exercise patience or come back for their results. Some agreed but some couldn’t wait. He gave one of his employees some money and asked him to find a place to fix the laptop. His countenance changed and he really looked sad because of the issue.
Magdaline Musa
Code: NG206
Hello everyone. I am happy to tell you all that a respondent that had very poor sales when we began the survey is currently having a smile on her face. This is because when we began the research, she had just planted most of her vegetables. They are now doing well and will love to show you with pictorial evidence.
Anastasia Obodo
Code: NG260
My respondent told me the reason why he does not want customers to send money to his account. According to my respondent he had several issues where he gave his customers his account number to send money and it turns out that the money did not reflect in his account. He said he even tried using someone close to his account but he got a similar challenge so he decided that customers should give cash instead of transfer.
Magdaline Musa
Code: NG190
This particular respondent has been busy and traveled a lot during the first weeks of our research, which made the work a bit stressful for me because I was doing 3 weeks of financial reports in a day most times apart from other surveys. However, he has decided not to travel again because he found out that a neighbor of his who is also another respondent of mine was given a phone. Since then his commitment to the research changed. When we met for his interview he kept asking if he would get his phone before the holidays and I told him I had no idea. But he said he will try not to travel again so he can be consistent.
Nubi Olufunmilayo
Code: NG514
He is into the laundry business. He told me how things are getting costlier especially now that the festive season is around the corner. He was very busy today alongside his employees. I had to wait for a long time before he granted permission for me to conduct a PPI survey for 1 of his employees who was also busy.
Nubi Olufunmilayo
Code: NG496
He’s a printer and had a busy day. He had massive production and some customers were on the ground to pick up some finished jobs. So I spent several hours before I could do my financial recordings and before he granted me permission to interview his apprentice. His apprentice signed a consent form and participated in the interview
Deborah Ekundina
Code: NG209
This firm is into Garment production and the owner has been cooperative when it comes to the financial data report of her firm. Despite the fact that she has not been given a notebook or a phone yet, she still attends to me well each time I visit.
So in the course of asking her questions about the Formalization survey, she got confused when I asked if her firm is formal, semi-formal, or informal. She chose semi-formal at first so I asked for the date of formalization then she said I should go back to the previous question and select informal because she doesn’t have any form of registration yet neither is she part of any union.
Deborah Ekundina
Code: NG622
For this particular firm owner that is into leather bag production, he has a different view on how he perceives his own firm. He said his firm is semi-formal because he has letterhead paper and other protocol documents for his apprentice and anyone who wants to be recruited into his firm, despite the fact that he has not registered his business under CAC or any union of leather bag makers.
Deborah Ekundina
Code: NG292
I have been visiting this respondent for over a month for her financial data report. It saddens my heart that she has not been having any income from her business lately and it’s really eating her up because each time I pay her a visit, she looks worried about the situation, and sometimes she feels like she has lost her customers. But then I always tell her to be patient and that all will be fine.
Michael Enyam
Code: NG556
Yesterday during a special event survey with this respondent, he complained of poor profit in the past two weeks when I asked him about his business.
He said he lacks competent staff and this is affecting his outcome in the business and is reflected in the last 2 weeks’ financial report.
His other employee who was a backup and very competent in graphic design became inconsistent and started staying away from work without permission and reasonable reasons so he fired him.
It has been difficult for him to get qualified and competent people who will deliver. He doesn’t have issues with the salary demands of any employee provided they meet his standards.
Michael Enyam
Code: NG784
This firm is a private school comprising a nursery, primary and secondary school.
This firm was established in 1993 and the founder is a Ghanaian who lived in Lagos and married a Nigerian.
After some time, the man died and the family took over the administrative role and later they relocated to Ghana. So for many years the school was closed. It was late last year they advertised giving out the building for rent and my respondent got it in January this year.
Because of the long-standing history and success stories of the school, he didn’t change the name when he took over.
He worked with the firm for about half a decade before he went to university to study Engineering and even after his graduation, he came back to work there so he knows everything about the school.
Recently, he complained of non-payment of school fees so he started a school fee drive. In the morning, 2 of his staff will block the entrance to the school and allow only those who have paid school fees to enter the school. This action stirred up different reactions from some parents that led to an exchange of words and threats to his staff.
From his explanation, some parents are still owing him for the last term and have shown no signs of paying off and the same parents are repeating it again.
Around September, as they were preparing for resumption, some parents demanded that he paint the school and give it a new look before resumption. Else, they will send their children to another school.
Numerically, the firm is doing well.
Anastasia Obodo
Code: NG260
The firm owner told me a story about how the shop owner is the reason why they do not have any form of registration in the shop apart from the market registration that he belongs to because only the building owners can register any government registration such as the CAC, State, and local government because all of this will require the documents for the shop, number of the shop and the shop locations. He stated that if the landlord finds out that he (the firm owner) is trying to do the registration, the owner will think that they want to use his building to collect loans and if in future they can not pay the organization they collected the loan from, the organization will collect the shop.
Nubi Olufunmilayo
Code: NG364
This respondent complained about low patronage. She’s into rearing catfish (fish farming) and piggery but her fish farming was selected for this project. So sales are not daily but occasionally. Sometimes in a week, she might not have income but always incurs expenses. That’s why sometimes she doesn’t have income.
Nubi Olufunmilayo
Code: NG304
This respondent is into photocopying, printing, laminating, typing, a video game center, binding, etc. He complained about the high cost of supplies and how customers drag their feet once he tells them there is a price change.
Oluwakemi Adepetu
Code: NG33
On my last two visits, I noticed a new face helping with arranging customers’ items, and out of curiosity, I asked the firm owner who the person was. He gladly informed me that he was his new employee that he hired that same day and wasn’t sure if he would stay. I asked for his name, but the firm owner said he doesn’t know. They were busy milling and I told him to do his work and that I would record the employee’s details on FINBIT on my next visit. Fast forward to my next visit, the firm owner was not at the firm at the time and I had the opportunity to ask for the new staff’s name and other details. He informed me that he has been with the firm since November. I would ask the firm owner why the new employee’s payment does not reflect his payment.
Victor
Code: NG148
Today in my session at a business center that is also into computer hardware repairs, the firm owner took some time to explain the trend of the firm’s patronage in recent times.
According to him, patronage had increased the past few days as patronizing schools were on exams, meaning the firm got occupied with printing and photocopying exam questions, and now that elementary and secondary schools were closed for the term, patronage would obviously reduce, in anticipation of the next cycle.
He also talked about his comprehensive training in Computer repairs and maintenance some years back and while I asked about his advertisement of laptops on WhatsApp, he told me it was a partnership with his best friend and colleague from the computer hardware repairs program way back.
According to him, he was entitled to some percentage from his friend’s firm for any customer his advertisement brought in and successfully sold.
Victor
Code: NG184
For this firm into palm kernel oil production, I met the firm owner and employee idle and in high spirits.
On asking, she informed me they were excitedly waiting for their market union’s end-of-the-year party later in the day.