I advised my son, a graduate with a first-class degree, to abandon his teaching career and enter politics - Ilorin-based tailor

•Bemoans his family's destitution

Michael Adeyanju, 65 years old, is similar to the majority of parents who work diligently to provide for their families. He began his upholstery business in Ilorin, Kwara State, forty-one years ago.

Although he used the modest profits from his business to pay for his children's education through college, his financial situation has not improved. He desires that one of his children who graduated with honors abandon his teaching position to enter politics. He believes that politics is more lucrative than instructing.

In the 1980s, the man from Ondo State stated he moved to Ilorin with his family because he was unable to procure a location to start his business at home.

Tuesday in Ilorin, he told the Saturday Tribune that he has maintained the same shop throughout his 41 years in business.

"I am 65 years old and a native of the state of Ondo. I began this upholstery business in 1982; I make bags, stitch leather seats for motorcycles, alter bags, and perform other upholstery-related tasks. Initially, I intended to launch the business in the Lokoja region of Ondo State, but that plan failed.

Because he had more money than I did, the shop I wished to rent was rented to someone else in the area. The man already had a store in the area. "Therefore, I decided to move to Ilorin, settle with my family, and secure a storefront from which to operate my business. Since then, I've been operating my store at Ojuekun junction in Ilorin, and I've never changed locations," he explained.

He stated that he had the conviction that things would improve if he did not give up.

Three of his children, including one with a First-Class degree, were able to graduate from college thanks to the business' profits, he said.

"There are times when I make sales and times when I do not, and it is this money that I use to sustain myself and my family. Imagine, sometimes there will be no market, and we will have exhausted our food budget.

"I praise God for life because I still use the same amount of money to feed and educate my children. Even when I have no cash on hand, I find every possible way to provide for my family. I have seen much, but to God be the glory, three of my children are now college graduates.

"Two have completed their juvenile service, while one is still active. My first child graduated from the University of Ibadan with a First Class degree in Purchasing and Supply in 2015," he said.

Despite the fact that Adeyanju's son currently has a teaching position, he stated that "it is not good enough" in light of his degree level. He stated that he had urged the son to return to Ondo State to enter politics and earn a substantial salary.

"Even though my son is presently employed as a teacher, his performance is insufficient. It took him some time to secure a teaching position. Adeyanju told the Saturday Tribune, "I always advise him to return home, enter politics, and run for office; perhaps that will help us get out of here." However, the youngster had not agreed with him.

Adeyanju has experienced a variety of life's ups and downs, similar to the challenges that life presents. He described how despite losing his first child and then his wife, he chose to persevere.

"I have encountered numerous obstacles since the inception of my firm. It has been difficult. The loss of my first child stands out; it is never simple to lose a child. I lost my wife years later, but I did not give up.

"I always believe that one day, everything will function better. Imagine some individuals committing suicide because things are going poorly; during the naira scarcity period, someone set himself on fire due to the scarcity. There are so many other similar stories, but it is not worth taking one's life because things will ultimately improve."

Even though the business is unstable, he commended God for the opportunity to provide for himself and his family through it.

He disclosed that he had longed to diversify from his current business, but he will retire if his children so request, provided they have sufficient funds to meet the family's requirements.

"If my children tell me not to work again, it is not a problem so long as we have enough money to meet our requirements, but I have always desired to have sufficient funds to expand my business. It is something I've always desired, but I've never had the opportunity to obtain sufficient funds," he said.

"I wish to begin selling mattresses and other materials related to what I am doing now. I believe that if I do so, my business will flourish," he said.