Beyond the Vet seeks to interview students excelling in entrepreneurship, research, and other financial pursuits while studying veterinary medicine. Meet Emmanuel Dansu, a 500-level student and a standard shoemaker.
VNO: Can we meet you?
Emmanuel: My name is Dansu Emmanuel Olúwaseun, a 500-level student of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Ibadan. I am from Ogun State. I am into the shoe-making business with the brand name Emmagene Standard Shoes Collection.
VNO: How did you discover your passion for shoemaking?
Emmanuel: It started in 2016 when I went for a post UTME in Abeokuta. I met someone making nice shoes, and I was captivated by the skills. After my exam, while waiting for the result, I contacted the person, and I started learning while staying with one of my friends in FUNAAB.
VNO: How many years did it take you to learn shoemaking?
Emmanuel: Approximately 1 year, but I continued learning even after gaining admission to study microbiology in FUNAAB. Learning persisted with my boss until I gained admission to study veterinary medicine at UI in 2017.
VNO: You chose vet?
Emmanuel: Not really, because I planned to choose pharmacy, but pharmacy wasn't accredited during the time I was processing UI. So I had to change to veterinary medicine because of my love for anything related to medicine.
VNO: Young entrepreneurs always struggle to get capital. How did you go about that?
Emmanuel: My passion and interest propelled my enrollment for the training. I paid from my savings to start the training and later completed it with my dad's support. I started making shoes for my clients while still with my boss, and there I began making some money.
VNO: Combining vet with other things is challenging. What are the challenges you face?
Emmanuel: Both shoemaking and veterinary medicine are time-demanding. Finding a balance between the two is challenging. There's not enough time to make more shoes; however, I utilize my weekends and holidays to make shoes. During workdays, I only focus on vet studies. Meeting clients' deadlines is challenging too because vet work from 8 to 5 just doesn't provide enough space.
VNO: How do you manage your time effectively to excel in both areas?
Emmanuel: I'm strict with my time.
VNO: As a student entrepreneur, what strategies have you employed to market and grow your shoemaking business?
Emmanuel: First is creating a brand name, Emmagene Standard Shoes Collection, with an emphasis on "standard." I always give my best to my customers, triggering them to not only come back for more but also refer me to their friends. Most of my customers are from referrals. I also do a little online advertisement via Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.
VNO: In the dynamic world of entrepreneurship, how do you stay updated with the latest trends and innovations in shoemaking?
Emmanuel: Being a learned entrepreneur distinguishes me from most unlearned in this business. I take advantage of technology, watch videos online, and associate with people in the same business line on the internet.
VNO: What future aspirations do you have for both your vet career and your shoemaking business? How do you see these two aspects complementing each other in the long run?
Emmanuel: I have come to understand that to be at the top, you need to diversify. You shouldn't limit yourself to one single thing. Dangote, Elon Musk, and those big men we look up to are not doing one single thing; they invest in different things which later become huge. So, I will be combining the two without one affecting the other. I may even add more... smile
VNO: Any advice for vet students willing to venture into entrepreneurship?
Emmanuel: Business rules the world. You're not limited, so whenever you have the opportunity to learn a skill, please learn it with all your heart. Shoemaking has fetched me a lot while still studying. Imagine if I had not learned it then. Every opportunity to learn should be taken seriously, and let the goal be on the long-term benefit attached to it.
VNO: Thanks for your time.
Emmanuel: It's my pleasure.
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