How Unemployment Made Me Start Solar Power Business With Zero Capital–Agaji

Ask any entrepreneur what is the biggest challenge in running his business and he will be quick to tell you that it is finance. This is because in recent times, finance has been identified as one of the most important factors that determine the growth and survival of any business.

Access to finance allows an entrepreneur to undertake productive investments, expand the business and also acquire the latest technologies, thus ensuring the business competitiveness.

But for Michaels Agaji Simon, he has narrated how he started his renewable energy business with no capital, after searching for a job which never came.

Simon is a graduate of the Nigerian Army Institute of Technology Environmental Studies (NAITES).

The 31-year-old who described the business as lucrative said he resorted to the business after being turned down by many employers while looking for a job.

Simon installs inverter system, batteries, street lights, solar panels and solar charge controller in the Federal Capital Territory.

The businessman told THE WHISTLER that his goodwill helped him secure goods from the company he served without paying a dime.

He said, ” Well, for me, I started with zero Naira. I had to partner with the parent company, mine was built with trust. I collected goods, sold them and returned back to the company where I got goods. That was how I became a dealer. Setting up an office, getting a warehouse makes it more expensive.”

The businessman admitted that running the business has not been easy, especially getting customers.

Agaji said the business usually targets the high class who can afford it, making it difficult to hunt for clients.

He said, “Renewable energy is quite expensive so our target is homes, schools, offices, farms, companies and other organizations. We get our clients via recommendations I mean referrals and advert wise, social media, and physical marketing.

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“I owe my success to the lessons I learned along the way. I went into this in order to make more money. Creating jobs is a good reason to go into business for yourself.

“There’s nothing like the satisfaction of knowing you are responsible for the success of your employees. Your ideas provided them the opportunity to earn a living, provide for their family and fulfill their own dreams. There’s room for more growth. I’ll have more time to myself.”

Simon also revealed that truth and fairness have helped him to succeed in the business.

He further stated that government policies have not meaningfully changed his business.

He said policies initiated by the government and initiatives are rarely successful if the decision-making process does not engage the people.

He urged the government to “Provide specific entrepreneurship training, room for financial aid, showcase and create case studies of successful youth entrepreneurs who have been supported by their government will in turn show others that this route is possible for them.”