A LIFE IN BRIEF
Tyokever Doom Clara is a hair stylist and beautician. She hails from Ushongo local government area of Benue State. She attended Federal Government Girls Secondary School Staff Nursery and Primary School Gboko, and Mbaanyam Day Secondary School, Waapera in Ushongo. For her higher education, she attended College of Education, Kastina -Ala and Benue State University, Makurdi, where she obtained Bsc in Political Science. She lost her parents when she was 18, and was left under the care of family relations
By Chinenye Anaemena
YOUR BACKGROUND
My name is Tyokever Doom Clara. I am into hair dressing, manicure and pedicure. I was born in 1986. I am from Ushongo local government area of Benue State. I attended Federal Government Girls Secondary School Staff Nursery and Primary School Gboko, and Mbaanyam Day Secondary School, Waapera in Ushongo and graduated in 2003. I proceeded to College of Education, Kastina-Ala and Benue State University, Makurdi, where I obtained a Bsc in Political Science.
I was born into the family of Mr and Mrs Samuel Tyokever (father) and Ngumaren Tine (mother), both from Ushongo local government area of Benue State. I lost both parents when I was 18 years, and was left under the care of family relations. That was when I realised that there was nothing I could do, no one to run to for help and I started nursing and pushing forward my dreams of hair dressing on my own.
HOW IT ALL STARTED
It all started like a dream when I lost my parents, because I have a passion for hair dressing and other things that will bring out the beauty in a woman like manicure and pedicure. I became a hair stylist in 2004. I never practised how to do all these before I went into it because I wanted to earn a living and there was no one I could look up to. The passion for hair styling has brought me this far. I started by working for someone and I was being paid N1,500 per month. This was the money I saved and used it to further my education to NCE level. After my NCE, I was engaged by a different hair dresser who was paying me N7,000. I also saved this money till I opened my own saloon which I’m operating till today. This saloon has helped me a lot because as the owner I was making N50,000 per month when things were better, and I saved this money and was able to enroll for a degree programme, and completed it. I give God the glory, even now that there is recession, I can still make at least N50,000, a month. It was not easy for me to reach where I am today, especially as an orphan, but today I can boost of employing others and paying them.
YOUR EDGE
It is not an easy task being where I am today but my success is the reward of being focused and patience with my work, I don’t want to be distracted in whatever form.
ANY REGRET SO FAR
I don’t have any regret whatsoever in becoming a hair dresser because, this has helped me to go to school. I must also be grateful to God. If not by His mercies how could I even cope in the first place. I have faced a lot of challenges and my ability to overcome them is my key to success today.
YOUR DREADS
I just want to continue with tolerance and never to be discouraged.
YOUR HOBBIES
My hobbies are reading and praying.
YOUR MENTORS
I regard two personalities as my mentors that is: my late parents as well as the proprietress of Makurdi International Primary and Secondary School, Makurdi, Mrs Barbara Nwadaobi, because I learned from them that humility and simplicity has a reward.
YOUR MEMORABLE MOMENTS IF ANY
My memorable moments are when people point their hands at me and use me as an example to encourage others.
YOUR EMBARRASSING MOMENTS
My embarrassing moments are whenever a new hair style is out and I am yet to catch up, and my customers start criticizing me over what I am yet to know.
YOUR ADVICE
I advise all young girls both graduate and non-graduate not to give up in life or think that life is all about hovering around men that we make you succeed. They should think about what they can do that will make them be self-reliant, because for me I believe that if you have something doing no matter how small, God will help you to excel. Look at me, had it been I lost hope because I’m an orphan, I wouldn’t have been where I am today. I wouldn’t have even gone to school, but from a little and humble beginning, God has cleaned tears from my eyes, and I must give Him the glory. I can’t imagine me Doom, becoming a graduate. It is better for us girls to engage ourselves in a handiwork. I have graduated and served my country but for me I can’t wait for a white collar job, if it comes fine, if it doesn’t come I will still be managing my business and I will not beg around for money or engage in any social vices that will land me in jail; so my simple advice to my fellow young ladies over there is that they should never give up, no matter the situation. They should always call and believe in God, for only Him can help them.