It was Tuesday morning preceding the Salah break as the entire city of Lagos State was still resting owing to the two days public holidays declared by the Federal government as we drove liberally to her office cum resident in the Baruwa area of Ipaja in Alimosho Federal Constituency to meet the President of Lagos State Barbers, Hairdressing and Cosmetologists Association (LABHCA) Mrs Yetund Nurat Ijaoba Oladipupo to look at some of the issues raised during one of our interactive meetings as an aftermath of the Alimosho Economic Summit 2017. In this interview with Abel Lazarus, she bears her mind on some of the achievements, challenges and the health implication of her industry and the need for Lagos State House of Assembly to pass their bills into laws for the protection of lives.
Excerpts:
Good morning ma
Good morning my brother.
Can we meet you ma?
My names are Mrs Yetunde Nurat Ijaoba Oladipupo, the President of Lagos State Barbers, Hairdressing and Cosmetologists Association (LABHCA)
How long have you been in this trade of hairdressing and beauty?
I have spent over twenty six years in this business.
In this location?
No, I started my business in Bariga area of Shomolu before relocating to this place.
So how has it been doing business in this environment and when compared to where you are coming from?
It has been quite challenging because this area is not yet developed like Bariga and as you can see I have a standard salon not minding my location which I do not know if it’s the cause of low patronage; as people over here seem intimidated by the size of the salon except for few that are bold enough to come in. Also the challenges are enormous ranging from lack of power, divers shop rates and also the challenge of advertisement?
How do you mean challenges of Advertising?
It is difficult for one to do signage for business today because of Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) will bill you or remove it not considering the poor patronage from areas like Alimosho. There fear of doing business in Alimosho is still there as people are scared of getting patronage and that is the major reason why some residents choose to go elsewhere to establish their businesses despite the size and population of Alimosho. Areas like Alimosho should enjoy some of these reliefs so as to attract evenly development before such levies will be implemented. If there is a reasonable patronage one will be willing and happy to pay the rates.
As the President of LABHCA what are your association’s objectives?
Basically the objectives of LABHCA include to bring our members together, protect their interests, see to their welfare and to liaise between members and government agencies.
Are you saying that every barber and hairdresser in Lagos is your member?
Not really, we have barbers and hairdressers who are not members of LABHCA with reference to the Nigerian constitution which expressly states that one has the right to join or not to any association, so we cannot force every one of them to join as it will amount to breach of the constitution which will therefore portray illegality. However, we are of the opinion that everyone practicing such business in Lagos should be a member owing to the health implications. We are supposed to be empowered like other health regulatory bodies so as to enable us to regulate and monitor that members stick to standards. You will agree with me that there are diseases that can be contacted through unsterilized equipment, this is one of the reason we pray government to step in to enable us in regulating operations of this industry. We have a bill at the State House of Assembly seeking to empower us to have every one desiring to open a salon to register so as to maintain standards, we are waiting for the house to call us to defend it.
In what ways would you say the government has been helping you as an association?
Lagos State government has been helping us in several ways which include the Lagos State employment Trust Fund, some of our members have benefited but we are asking that they make the process easier and faster for more members to benefit.
How has your association been contributing to the government and her members?
As an association we pay individual tax to the government and we sensitise our members on government policies and programs. While to our members we create avenue to assist them in our own little ways by assisting them with loans for procurement of equipment, we also distribute what we call presidential gifts every monthly general meeting by giving out freezers, dryers and generators, as we speak over forty members have benefited from this and its on-going.
What is the strength of your association?
We have over seven thousand registered and functioning members.
In what other ways do you think government can still help you as an association and other tradesmen/artisans in Alimosho?
Very well, government should build a work-mall and furnished it with equipment for our members use at a very subsidized rate e.g if government provides a work-centre where tailoring equipment are installed, this will create jobs for several tailors who cannot afford those equipment talk-less of renting a shop and it will also be a source of revenue to the government.
Your association is supposed to be relating with the Ministry of Women and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) how has this been?
Yes we are supposed to relate with them especially during their empowerment programs but it has really not been so because the event is usually hijacked by politicians for the benefits of their supporters and this has resulted to poor training for beneficiaries.
Are you aware the local government election is around and what role are your association playing?
Yes, we are aware and have sensitised our members on the need to exercise their civic right by going out to vote candidates of their choice without violence on that day.
What advice do you have for your comrades?
I urge them to always make sure that they maintain standard and professionalism in what they do with hopes that it will be better soonest.
