'My Parents Didn't Want Me To Learn A Trade, But I Insisted'
Damilare Adeoye is the owner of Darella Shoes and Darella Gospel Band. He is a renowned physically- challenged shoemaker on Ogunlana Street, in Alimosho Local Government. In this interview with ALIMOSHOTODAY, he recounts his life's journey, his businesses, challenges and other emotional issues. Excerpts:
LET'S MEET YOU
My name is Damilare Adeoye, popularly known as Darella Shoe. I’m an indigene of Egbaland in Ogun state. I was born and bred in Lagos.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR SHOE-MAKING BUSINESS? WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO LEARN THE TRADE?
I initially learnt embroidery making. I spent one year there. I discovered I didn’t achieve anything within one year. Then, I went back home and informed my parents that I couldn't continue there because I had apprenticed for one year and there was no achievement. I was asked what I wanted to do and I told them that I wanted to learn shoemaking. That is how I've been a shoemaker till date.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR PARENTS?
My parents are in Lagos, but they are late now.
HOW IS BUSINESS PATRONAGE?
It’s been fine. I thank God. I started this trade in 2001, even though I completed my apprenticeship in 2003. When I got to my boss’s place, I was the last set to enrol. To God be the glory, I completed my training at my boss’ place. During the graduation party, my boss was very happy. When I was brought to him, he thought I would be a disturbance, but I made him proud such that he prayed for me on the day of my graduation. Then, I knew I was in a field sanctioned by the Almighty.
WHY DID YOUR BOSS THINK YOU WOULD BE A DISTURBANCE?
It was because of my condition (he showed us his deformed legs). When I got to my boss’ place, he thought my movement to and from the workshop would not be easy. He thought I was probably disturbing my parents at home and they were just looking for a way to get rid of me. That was how he just abandoned and boxed me into a corner there. But he didn’t know that I was a destiny's child. He hardly taught me the job. Every day he awaits 6pm, so that I could be picked up by my parents. When we started the business, my boss had issues. He had a problem and couldn’t stay at work again. My seniors already left and I was the only one with him. He had to learn another trade and hustle. I was the one working and delivering money to him at home on a daily basis. It now seemed as if I was the owner of the shop. Whenever I gave him money, he would look at it and be astonished. I always thank God that this was my calling. Since that time, I kept at it and I thank God because he has been answering my prayers.
WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR CHALLENGES SO FAR?
There are many challenges. They are really many but I thank God. With regard to finances, this trade requires some materials and tools to be bought. But there is no money to support the business. It is only my Creator and I. But I thank God because he is providing the little. With it, I got married and have three kids now.
YOU ALSO OWN DARELLA GOSPEL BAND. TELL US ABOUT IT.
To God be the glory, Darella Gospel Band started like a child’s play. My father was a musician. Our firstborn is also a musician. My second biological brother is Atayese, the popular musician. Music is ingrained in our genes.
HOW CAN GOVERNMENT BE OF ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL CHALLENGES?
The government can assist us in a lot of ways. This is because people in my kind of situation are many out there who cannot make any headway, and they resort to begging because they have nowhere to go. Some don’t want to learn a trade. Using myself as a case study, my parents didn’t want me to learn a trade. They believe I’m a wise child and I should be staying at home, while they take care of me since what they will use in taking care of me was not an issue. They didn’t know that they would die early. I insisted I wanted to learn a trade because my siblings all went to school. They said they cannot afford school education for me and also insisted I shouldn’t learn a trade. But I insisted I wanted to learn a trade. That was why I learnt the trade. Now, I’m the one taking care of my family. My parents are late.
There are ways the government can assist us, especially in terms of finances. We will be very happy.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL CHALLENGES?
My advice for people with physical challenges is that they should try to be engaged. Help can only come to them based on whatever they are engaged in. Look at me, government can help me because I have a job. Government will know what equipment to get for me. It could be a machine and it might be financial assistance. It could be materials. It could even be my music band. I could be taken to the studio or instruments could be bought for me. They know exactly the kind of assistance that can be rendered to me. But an idle hand would exhaust whatever amount of cash is given to them. My advice to them is to have a work at hand. People come to ask me for cash. I even give out money to able-bodied persons. And that is because I have something doing. My advice is that they should have something doing. God will be with us all.
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