Temitope’s breakthrough, especially with her beauty products, came when customers who had used them shared their remarkable testimonials. These individuals, who had previously struggled with thinning, breaking hair, low self-esteem, and lack of confidence, saw astonishing transformations after using her products.
By Eberechi Obinagwam
As a primary school pupil in Ibadan in 1992, Temitope Emmanuel-Ajayi was tossed to a neighbour by her parents to learn hairstyling. That started a traumatic journey for the little girl who became like a prey among hungry lions.
Her boss was hateful and abusive, sparing nothing in tormenting the little girl. “There were times she would ask me to kneel down, lay hands on me and start raining curses, asking me to say amen. And I would do so. My parents won’t complain whenever I reported to them,” she said.
The reason for the venom of her boss against her was her exceptional skill in hairstyling.
At school, teachers sought after her to make their hair for free at the expense of her studies.
She recalled: “Many times once I entered school, from the assembly ground they would hijack me and I would start making hair for people. I would miss so many classes because public school teachers like free things. It got to a time that the school authorities announced that nobody should send me to plait hair again. Then I got a little freedom.”
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Temitope’s skills stirred jealousy in her boss instead of admiration. She said: “Immediately my madam saw I was making hair for my friends, she developed hatred for me. She flogged me terribly. There was a time she inflicted so much injury on me.”
“On such occasions, my parents won’t complain, but would rather say I was learning; it was normal.”
Temitope is now a renowned hair stylist and CEO of EMMATEE Global Limited in the heart of Ibadan.
Aside from owning an expansive beauty salon, Temitope has also delved into cosmetology with a beauty clinic to boot.
How it all stated
In 1992 when Temitope was in primary school, she walked up to her mother to tell her of her interest in hairdressing. Seeing how serious she was, her mother accepted and went to meet a woman that owned a salon within their neighborhood to allow her daughter, Temitope learn. “It was during Abiola’s preparation for the June 12 election, so we were all at home,” she said.
In less than a month, Temitope was so good at her job that her teachers in school and friends would not let her stay in the class to learn as they would struggle for her attention.
Sourcing for capital
Temitope narrated that after her training, there was no money to set her up so she had to continue working for her mean boss for seven years. That made her stop going to school at Primary six. “I spent seven years in Iya Ayo shop after I finished my training because my parents could not afford to do the freedom ceremony for me. I was stopped from going to school in primary six and was asked to stay with Iya Ayo. I was there for seven years, which I would have spent to finish my secondary school,” she said.
Also, Temitope said that after leaving her trainer’s shop, she had to engage herself in some other jobs and learn a new skill as suggested by her elder brother. At that time, her parents were already dead so there was no one else to run to. “My mother who wanted to do the Freedom Ceremony for me passed on before the chosen date. After one year, my dad also struggled to do the same for me, but he died a week before my mom’s first year memorial. So, I was left with myself, brothers and sisters. The only option was to do some other things to support and feed myself. It was at this time that a family friend who sold building materials came to see us and my elder brother suggested I join him to learn the trade too. I did that for three years. It didn’t favour me because the man was so hard on me. I even hawked to earn for myself and my family,” she narrated.
She later got help from her brother who gave her N24, 000 which she used in renting a shop.
“After he gave me N24,000 to rent a shop, I went back to him if he could assist me with another money to equip it but I didn’t meet him at home so I sent his wife to him. He became angry that I sent his wife to him, so he did not assist me again. But a woman encouraged me to just sit on the floor and be making people’s hair. I started with a cutting comb, N100 cream and a comb. I could not rent a house for myself so I was sleeping in the shop.”
Today, Temitope has overcome those challenges. She is not only self-made, she has workers on her payroll.
Challenges as a hairstylist
Temitope noted that power supply is a challenge to her business, “I run generator all through. The days we don’t have light are more than the days we have light. We spend close to 10 litres of petrol every day. It is even a bit cheaper now than before. We spend ₦10,550 Naira daily because we use heavy machines and we must work Monday to Saturday. It is just necessary that we use light because we take pictures of our work and upload them online.”
Breakthrough in business
Temitope’s breakthrough, especially with her beauty products, came when customers who had used them shared their remarkable testimonials. These individuals, who had previously struggled with thinning, breaking hair, low self-esteem, and lack of confidence, saw astonishing transformations after using her products. Their restored hair and renewed self-assurance not only encouraged Temitope but also propelled her business forward.
“My customers already enjoy my service but for the beauty products, some had doubts but along the line when they started using it and saw the wonders in it, they were happy and started recommending them to others. People who have low self esteem, people who do not have hair or their hair is breaking and reducing, have used our products, and their hair has become full again. So, they gain their self-esteem back. Their testimonies keep me going,” she said.
Japa
Temitope expressed her preference for traveling abroad and returning home rather than relocating permanently. She noted that those who emigrate (japa) often believe they’re escaping Nigeria’s problems, only to encounter similar challenges in a different form. “Every nation faces its own set of problems,” she emphasized.
Temitope’s commitment to addressing issues in Nigeria keeps her rooted. “I have a problem to solve here, and I won’t abandon it to reside permanently in a foreign land.”