Disability and workplace rejection lead Ogun woman to build hairstyling business

Oluwakemi Mustapha says rejection during her search for formal employment led her to learn hairstyling and establish a business of her own. The hairstylist, who lives with a physical disability, told Punch that she had wanted to work for a company but repeatedly failed to secure a job. She eventually decided that learning a skill would allow her to become self-reliant.

Mustapha chose hairstyling because she could work either sitting or standing and believed it would place less physical strain on her. She spent about one and a half years in training and has now been in the business for approximately three years. She said her condition developed during childhood rather than being present at birth.

Family members offered different explanations, including bow legs and an injection possibly linked to polio, but she said she was never given a specific explanation. Mustapha attended primary and secondary school. She said secondary education was difficult because of bullying and mocking, although her brother defended her and her sister arranged motorcycle transport to help her travel to school.

She also received support from friends. She wanted to continue her education after secondary school but said she lacked the money and support required. She considered learning decoration, event planning and computer skills, but chose hairstyling because some forms of decoration might have been physically demanding.

After completing her training, she began working from home and using the family compound. Customers came to have their hair done, although some initially questioned whether she could perform the work. The supplied material ends before she describes the business in greater detail.