How Lady Defied Father to Build a Successful Bead-making Business Despite Graduating as an Engineer

Ebunoluwa Farinde-Yussuf, an engineering graduate, defied her father’s wishes for a white-collar career to build a successful bead-making business, Gallereno Works, which has thrived for over 20 years while empowering over 3,000 women and girls through vocational training.

For over two decades, Ebunoluwa Farinde-Yussuf, an engineering graduate and founder of Gallereno Works, has transformed her passion for bead-making into a successful business, while also empowering thousands of women and girls through skill development.

Farinde-Yussuf, who holds a Nigeria Certificate in Education, shared how she defied her father’s wishes for a traditional white-collar career, opting instead to pursue her passion for vocational crafts.

Despite initial opposition from her family, who believed bead-making was not a suitable career path, Farinde-Yussuf secretly continued honing her skills.

Her persistence paid off when she sold her first beaded bag for N1,500, inspiring her to register Gallereno Works, a company that has since expanded to include dressmaking and other creative enterprises such as Aso Oke. Over the years, the business has grown into a platform for social entrepreneurship, focusing on empowering women and girls facing financial challenges.

Farinde-Yussuf’s initiative has trained over 3,000 women across Lagos, providing them with the skills to earn income ethically and legally. She aims to help women, particularly housewives and young girls, balance family responsibilities while pursuing financial independence through vocational training.

However, she acknowledges the financial hurdles in sustaining her business and calls on the government to ease tax burdens on small enterprises and improve access to affordable loans.

Despite holding a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Farinde-Yussuf chose to follow her passion for bead-making, a decision that has not only brought her personal fulfillment but also uplifted many in her community. Her story serves as an example of how entrepreneurship can address social and economic challenges, inspiring women to achieve financial independence through creative ventures.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, PUNCH