S. Sudan’s Young Entrepreneur narrates how she became successful against all odds
Life Story: By Akima Nguet Yaak
April 17, 2020 (Thessherald)–My people please allow me to brief the public with my tough and rough journey that led to the woman I am today that everybody out there is jealous of. I was born to decent and God-fearing parents. I made it this far through God, Determination, Confidence, Hardwork, Intelligence and my Educational Ability.
I wasn’t born and raised in Washington DC, The White House or Nairobi like others, but I was proudly born in Boma, raised in Narus and Kakuma in then a low background family though I didn’t allow all these to hold me in poverty, I had to work harder to make some changes.
Here Is My Life Story
I was kidnapped on my way from school and raped by an elderly man called Goch Ajak in 2011 back in Kakuma, when I was just a little primary 8 girl who never had an affair with any man. This scenario led me into a forced marriage when my parents were convinced to surrender me to the man I still called a “rapist” according to the traditional culture.
I tried my best to reject the man but I was too young and threatened to make a perfect decision, so I decided to be impregnated proudly by someone I loved then and that’s how I ended up with my handsome son, though my baby daddy didn’t stand with me due to the dowry that was paid by Goch, I personally rejected Goch’s visa to Australia no matter how he was so desperate to do any for me to go overseas.
I made a wise decision of going back to school when my son was just 2 months old, I did computer packages and three months later after acquiring my certificate, I joined high school just for three years then I sat for KCSE and got a good grade (C+) in 2015 despite the challenges I was facing. I have been known as a brilliant girl since primary school where I scored 308 marks during the same year that I was forced married, I was offered a scholarship to high school by Windle Trust Kenya which was turned down due to that marriage that was being arranged.
After high school, I did some short courses and got some few certificates that backed up my KCPE and KCSE, then I made a risk of sending my CV and going to South Sudan particularly Upper Nile where I was employed in 7 days by Goal International Organization as a Logistics Assistant, three months later I was forced to leave the job and go back to Kakuma to do some resettlement interview at UNHCR compound.
In December 2016, I decided to go back to Juba and registered my first Company where I was considered by my lawyer as the Youngest Entrepreneur of those days. After collecting all my Company Documents, I went back to Upper Nile and started supplying the NGOs from February 2017, with Stationeries, food stuffs, fuel…I realized this business opportunity when I was working for Goal International Organization. In February 2017, I divorced the guy officially and I managed to paid some of his dowry back through my dad and uncle who took from me and gave back to his family.
April 2017 I started working for a National NGO, Health Link as Psychology Caseworker hence I employed a guy called Nhial to run my company while I was working for the NGO but I was monitoring and guiding him in company operation at the same time.
I went further and opened a branch in Bor which was being run by my cousin Jawat Akoi Atem where Save The Children was our main client. In September 2017 I became tired of staying in Upper and I decided to resign from my office and I went to Juba and settled. In October 2017 I got a job in ABMC as an Executive Logistics Offer where I was working for my loving Sister Yar Manyuon and her husband, Benjamin Bol, 6 months later I left the office and focused more on my business.
I started going to Egypt, Cairo for stocks that earned me some good a mount of money. April 2019, I involved myself in some business with my sister’s brothers in-law those of Anyar Madhor and Justin Gar where I got some good share and bought my first car, then I became so familiar to some Ministries and started doing my own business.
I have been meeting with some well known men and women in The Central Bank and The Ministry of Finance going for Their Claims while I do go for mine too. In January 2020, I decided to rent a mansion house in Nairobi for my mum, siblings and son, I am just taking care of my family and myself but I don’t know why it’s paining everybody.
When it comes to my relationship affair, I am very selective and rigid, I got a taste, and I promised myself not to ever fall for material things and I only fall for cuteness, personality and maturity. I just need a ambitious, good looking young man that can grow and develop together with me. A man that can love me unconditionally, cherish, value, respect and care for me.
I am from a well known and respected community/Clan, I am known as an asset in my community due to my contributions at community level. I got some praises and songs that are composed with my name in my community due all my good deeds, so please faking my life story and staining my name and image won’t bring me down. I’m not in a competition with anyone but I’m developing my family, myself and especially my career, period