I’m George Samson Ogwe, the founder and director of Afrodev Company Limited. Afrodev specializes in general supplies for construction, hospitality, and education. Based in Busia County, Malaba border town, the company was established in 2017. Currently, we employ around 10 workers and cover the entire Busia County. We are thrilled to join KEPSA through the Jiinue Growth Program.

As a director, I have learned a lot during the Investor Readiness (pre-lending training) – Cohort 2 held at Best Western formerly Meridian – Nairobi on the 23^rd and 30^th May 2024. I learned about financial management, data keeping, and resource mobilization. Attending this session has been an eye-opener for me. I have networked with fellow CEOs and established valuable connections. 

When I return to Busia, I will promote the same agenda and encourage other CEOs to join the other cohorts so they can also benefit from this program. 

I completed my high school education in 2011 and graduated from KCA University in 2018. Despite applying for various job opportunities, I was unable to secure a position, which led me to create my own job in 2017. I registered the company online and started small projects in Busia town with the support of my family members and fellow youths. 

The lack of employment opportunities is what motivated me to become my own boss. Currently, the company is doing well. We have an annual income of over 1 million, with 10 full-time youth employees and 20 casual workers. Previously, we applied for loans from banks, which had higher interest rates of 17-19%. The program’s loan with a 9.75% interest rate is much more affordable for youths. 

One of the main challenges we face is attracting more funds to meet the high demand for our services. While we have many customers, we struggle to meet their targets due to limited resources and funds. Banks require significant collateral, which we currently lack. We are in the process of acquiring the title for the company's land, but obtaining financial support without collateral remains a challenge. Additionally, dealing with county government contracts can be difficult due to delayed payments. 

The training has been extremely beneficial, as I’ve learned about financial statements and bookkeeping. We are now better prepared to present our financial reports to institutions. Once we secure funding, we will expand our company, acquire more equipment and products, and employ more youth and women, thus addressing the issue of unemployment. 

The training was excellent, and we are ready to attend future sessions. My company will  also embrace digitalization, especially with financial records.