05/08/2020
This week on MarGreen Stories, we bring you the inspiring story of a Superwoman- a Wonderwoman- Powerful- Industrious, Audacious, Venturous, Adventurous, Virtuous- RUTH OJAYS!
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Ruth Ojays is a loving wife and a mother of two. She studied mass communication at Amadu Bello University, Zaria and graduated in 2014.
Unlike many young graduates who roam the streets looking for white-collar jobs, Ruth created something for herself. She started her own beverages company called Ethli Naturals. They boast of having 0 preservatives in their drinks, wholly natural.
As a superwoman and mother, she has been the only one running her company since she started, working both as the operations, marketing, distribution and salesperson. Multitasking 💪. Super🤩
Ruth couldn't wait until she had all the money to start her small business. She had no shop or store, so she makes her healthy tigernut and kunu drinks in her home kitchen. She was quite innovative in how she sells her drinks. She has a mobile cooler which she pushes around the streets of Lagos, pretty much HAWKING. She's been hawking her branded healthy drinks all around Lagos for over four years, doing it cheerfully with a contagious fervour.
Our smart superwoman, Ruth, got her business on social media where she shares her entrepreneurial journey. Her captions are very interesting and they always reveal the kind of positive vibe she carries everywhere and how great she feels about her job. She usually calls her job 'the hustle.'
As they usually say 'all hustle must pay one day.', Ruth's hustle finally met divine hands at the right time. She was hawking again last month when TV/radio producer, Yemi Shodimu met her on the streets of Lagos, and at first, seeing her, he knew there was something exceptional about this woman. Her neat branded white round neck Tee shirt, branded white face cap, blue jeans, smart snickers and her smile all rang an impeccably amiable tone!
Stunned by the sheer exceptionalism of her person, Yemi Shodimu decided to interview her, and she answered all his questions gracefully. What adorable virtues she housed and carried around the streets of Lagos!
My people, God works in mysterious ways! I repeat again, God works in ways. What did I say again???
That evenings while Ruth was probably resting after a long day of trekking and hawking, something started happening somewhere.
Mr Nnamdi Oboli was browsing through his social media and saw the video DJ Abass posted where Yemi Shodimu was interviewing Ruth and found it really inspiring. He took the video to show his wife, our mummy 😍, Omoni Oboli, who was already feeling tired after a long day and just needed to rest. She pulled herself up and watched the video and felt for Ruth. She could empathize with her hustle, the stress, and the challenges. There in her mind, she decided, 'amma help this lady!' And that was the beginning of Ruth Ojays' breakthrough!
Our mummy doesn't see things like this and not respond. Never! She leveraged her huge and active Instagram fans and followers, posting Ruth's video and business page and saying wonderful things about her. And when she made a photo grid of herself and Ruth side by side, and posted it on Instagram, some people started saying that she and Ruth have a striking resemblance, that they pass for sisters. Really🤔??? For a split second, I was about to affirm that too.
Boom! Just one night and Ruth Ojays' Ethli Naturals got over 18,000 followers on Instagram and orders started pouring in for her beverages like storms! Ruth confessed that she couldn't handle all the orders that have come in but she's trying her best to serve all her customers. She's been taking orders since 😁.
When you meet your helper, they will go any length to see that they establish you. Our mummy took it as her obligation to establish Ruth Ojays Ethli Naturals. She called her colleagues, celebrities like her, and other Nigerians to support in the establishment of Ethli Naturals through her benevolent foundation, Omoni Oboli foundation. Her plan is to establish Ruth by getting her a delivery bike, get her a NAFDAG registration, and then a factory where she can produce in large quantities. We are glad to announce to you that donations have been pouring in and Ethli Naturals is on a big boom.
Ruth's story is one that every Nigerian should hear right now. In this season of pandemic and global recession when many have lost hope in the world and in their finances, you can find hope. Ruth Ojays kept the spirit alive. Her entrepreneurial fire was ever burning, and the reward is success. Ruth didn't think because she was a graduate then hawking will be demeaning to her, no, she hawked with a big difference, and she did it cheerfully!
Our favourite quote from Ruth Ojays: "You don't have to work in an office to be successful. You can do something on your own- and if you see that it is making a lot of sense, go for it."
What an inspiration she is!
Superwoman, Ruth Ojays, we're proud of you and we will continue to celebrate you! Thank you being persistent and consistent in your hustle. Thank you for not giving up on your entrepreneurship journey. It's not easy, but you are doing it well.
Thank you for being a source of great inspiration to both young women and men in Nigeria. We love you specially!
(~Afeno from MarGreen Stories)
Special thanks and regards to:
Our daddy and mummy 🤩♥️, and .
And every celebrity and Nigerian supporting Ruth Ojays.
Kindly follow Ruth Ojays on Instagram :
