By Sainabou Sambou
Musa Jallow, a young Gambian entrepreneur, has shared with Gambia Daily how he tested waters in the uncharted industry of shoe making in the country, and the outcome of a trade that rarely features Gambian youths.
In this exclusive interview, Jallow began by describing his passion for shoe making and how the journey started. He said he had seized on the opportunity offered by Child Fund The Gambia for Gambian youths to learn shoe making. “They hired people from Senegal to teach youths on how to make shoes”. He said he attended the 10-day training with his cousin, and that they were given a certificate after the training.
“After the ten days’ training I got inspired and started watching videos on YouTube to improve my skill on how to make different types of shoes. My cousin Musa Baldeh and I sat for two months after the training. One day we received a call from Child Fund that they wanted us to do a practical test. We were twenty students who participated in practical. After the practical my cousin and I were lucky to be the best students out of the twenty students who participated, and we were chosen by Child Fund to work for them,” the young entrepreneur narrated.
Jallow said that he has been making shoes for nine years and that he has his own workshop in their home.
He lamented the fact that Gambians believe that foreign products are better than those made in The Gambia. He also mentioned that Gambians do not support each other’s business.
Citing some of the challenges he faces, Jallow said he lacks proper equipment to do his work better. He said he recycles unwanted sofa leathers to make shoes. He also mentioned finance and poor market system, which makes him to go to offices to sell his products, as some of the challenges.
