Business skills open doors: Amin’s journey from graduate to entrepreneur

When Amin Abdiweli Ibrahim, graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from Addis Ababa Science and Technology University in 2022, he had more than a diploma—he had a vision. Passionate about creating something of his own, Amin returned to his hometown of Jigjiga in Ethiopia’s Somali Region and teamed up with two fellow graduates from Jigjiga University to start a small-scale shampoo and detergent business.

With only a modest shade for a workshop and support from their families, they launched Siraaj Shampo and Detergents, determined to turn their skills into sustainable income. But while the team had technical knowledge and ambition, they lacked the business and financial know-how to scale their operation.

That’s when the Business Plan Competition (BPC) became a game-changer. Organized by the ILO and HASI Consulting, it is a platform for aspiring youth entrepreneurs to develop business ideas that can be transformed into sustainable businesses

Amin and his partners joined BPC, immersing themselves in the training sessions offered: Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB), Gender and Entrepreneurship Together (GET Ahead) and Financial Education. These sessions weren’t just theoretical - they were practical lessons in building a sustainable business.

The BPC was not just a competition. It was an empowerment program that gave us the tools to grow, and the belief that we could do it

Beyond the training, the mentorship from the Business Development Service Providers Association (BDSPA) helped them refine their business plan and develop confidence in financial management—skills they’d never formally learned before.

Amin and his colleagues were among the 50 candidates to successfully win the BPC. The grant prize from the BPC provided allowed them to invest in essential equipment like additional reservoirs and office furniture, as well as raw materials. 

Armed with their new knowledge, Amin and his team prepared a compelling loan proposal. Their efforts paid off. Shabelle Bank approved a loan of USD 8,000, giving them the capital needed to expand operations.

"The training we received on business proposal preparation through the BPC was instrumental in securing the loan from Shabelle Bank. It gave us the knowledge to present our vision in a way that financial institutions could understand and trust", said Amin.

With the funding, Siraaj Shampoo and Detergents constructed a new production facility, acquired modern machinery, and increased their raw material stock. As a result, monthly production skyrocketed from 3,000 to 12,500 litres—a fourfold increase. The business now supplies products across the Somali Region, bringing them closer to their dream of becoming a household name.

Now a confident entrepreneur and employer, Amin is urging others to follow in his footsteps.

"I encourage young people to focus on becoming employers rather than employees. It's one of the most effective ways to transform their lives."

Written by: Zelalem Alemenew Desta