Working Lives

Working Lives: The Engineer Who Used to Process Palm Oil in Edo State

Working Lives: The Phone Engineers of Saka Tinubu

Someone in our team wanted to fix a Samsung Galaxy Note that seemed to have taken in some water after a visit to the beach. He thought the best thing to do was to take it to a certified Samsung workshop. It was a top end phone that he had used for about two years. His expectation had an unhappy collision with reality. A lady at one of the Samsung (approved) repair centres casually told him that he should just get a new phone as the cost of replacing the “board” was N180,000! He has more faith in Samsung products than the Samsung approved workshop- he was sure just a little bit of water could not have damaged a phone advertised as water resistant. He made some enquiries and was directed to a “phone engineer” at the Computer Village Saka Tinubu who “blew out” the liquid in 20 minutes. For the grand sum of N5,000, the Galaxy Note was restored to life. We decided to speak to four “engineers” in the ICT products hub at Saka Tinubu in Victoria Island Lagos.

The Engineer Who Used to Process Palm Oil in Edo State

Osae Emmanuel – Shop 14 Otigba street, computer village, Ikeja

“I actually use the PiggyVest app to save in dollars. It’s quite safe and reasonable”.

Where are you from?

I am from Edo state. I was born and brought up there. I finished my secondary school education at Ugiomo Secondary School back home in Edo state.

When did you leave secondary school?

I finished from secondary school in 2002.

Tell us about your family

My parents both run an oil palm processing business. We use the traditional method of extracting palm oil which involves washing pounded fruit mash in warm water and hand squeezing to separate fibre and nuts from the oil/water mixture. A basket with fine perforated holes in the bottom is used to filter out fibre and nuts. I was working in the family business before I came down to Lagos to learn how to repair phones. I have always had the urge to fix gadgets, be it laptops or phones.

Where did you train to become a phone engineer?

I learnt under one Mr. Samuel in Ikeja. I trained under him for three years and I spent an extra year willingly just to make extra cash. He saw that I was good at the job and I was grabbing things fast, so he offered to employ me. I was getting paid N10,000 monthly.  This was in 2005.

How did the training go?

There is really not a big deal in learning to repair phones. As an apprentice you just make sure you look at what your boss is doing while a repair is going on and also ask questions on what you don’t understand. You know, people learn fast from with this practical method, unlike those that go to school and learn theory. Fine, there might be some big grammar they know about phones, but with my level of experience and the number of phones I have fixed over the years, I can boldly say that I will school anybody that learnt by the.

When did you start repairing phones on your own?

When I finished learning under my boss. I worked under my boss for two years- as a paid employee, not an apprentice -for two years. I then  established my own business in 2007.

How much did you first invest in the business?`

I invested N100,000. N80,000 went to shop rent. I used the remaining N20,000 for buying some basic tools. I had most of the equipment I needed before I established on my own, so I didn’t really need to buy much anymore.

How has the market changed compared with when you started?

Things have become very expensive. In 2007, you could start this business, that is, selling phones, accessories and also making repairs with as low as N500,000-700,000. With this amount, you would fill up your shop with goods. Because of the exchange rate, you need much more to start now, about N1.5 – N2 million.

Where do you get your spare parts from?

I buy from China. China is the main hub. I prefer to buy direct.

What kind of repairs do people mostly come in for?

Screen crack is number one. In a week I fix about 20 cracked screens, the other repairs might be charging or battery issues.

How much do you make in a week?

I make an average of N200,000 in a week, this could be from phone sales, repairs or selling of accessories. So, all the income from these sources together is what makes up the N200,000. Sometimes I make more. It is all due to the grace of God.

 

Also Read: Working Lives: The Engineer Who Refused to Start Riding Okadas in Port Harcourt

Do you earn more from selling phones or fixing phones?

I earn more from selling phones and accessories. Don’t get me wrong though, it is not like I don’t earn a substantial amount of money from repairs.  I do. But the rate at which I am focusing more on phone sales is what is making me earn more from it. Plus, I feel like I am getting big in the industry, so I only make repairs once in a while. I mostly assign repairs to one of my apprentices to fix.  I only focus on more complicated things I know my apprentices cannot handle.

How many hours do you work for in a day?

I work for 7-8 hours daily.

How much do you save?

I save N50,000 in a month whether it is a good or bad month for the business. I always make sure I meet that target. Wife and pikin dey house. I actually use the PiggyVest app to save in dollars. It’s quite safe and reasonable. But I haven’t thought of investing in dollars yet as I do not know how to go about it.

Do you have other investment or businesses?

No, this is the only business I run for now.

Oluwatomi Otuyemi

Oluwatomi Otuyemi, a Geology graduate from Crawford University, has 5 years experience in corporate corporate communications. He has a passion for storytelling, and investigative reporting.

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