Business Name: I CARE PHARMACITICAL AND STORE.
Business Owner: DR. BLESSING SUNDAY
Sector: Healthcare.
Today, we are bringing to you an inspiring success story from a woman-led small business in Gombe State, Nigeria. We will look at how the business has been able to defy the odds and face challenges in the journey to success thus far.
Dr. Blessing Sunday, a medical doctor, started I CARE PHARMACITICAL AND STORE in Gombe State in 2008 with a dream to make healthcare more accessible for people from all walks of life and in her environs. Through hard work, dedication and innovative ideas she was able to render basic healthcare services, screening tests and point-of-care tests.
Despite the steep odds that stood against her – lack of access to capital, limited resources and support, supply chain networks and little or no knowledge in business management and administration – she worked hard towards achieving a more resilient and sustainable business.
With the help of the BRAVE Women Nigeria project through the business clinic and the matching grant system, she learnt booking keeping and business management skills and purchased new laboratory machines which boosted her healthcare centre because she could render more services and expand her business.
The Business clinic also provided Blessing with knowledge of human resource management, which she says now guides her in the recruitment of staff for her business.
“I am very grateful to BRAVE Women Nigeria Project because as a doctor I was not trained in business but with this program, I have learnt a lot that would help me blend both my medical profession and business”
Dr. Blessing Sunday
Before the BRAVE Women Nigeria project, turnover for Blessing was very poor monthly but now they have been a tremendous increase in client base and are performing better financially due to the physical expansion and availability of more services offered by the centre.
