Man Who Quit His Job To Invest In A Business That Collapsed, Succeeds, Wins $5,000 In
2019 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs Grant, Now Has 23 Staffs

A man named Mwala Mooto has shared a powerful message and series of motivations on why you should never give up.

Mwala quit his job, invested in a business that collapsed and this really made him depressed.

Mwala later recuperated, won a grant and now has 23 Staffs.

Sharing the lengthy post in LinkedIn, he wrote:

How I overcame depression

It’s saddening to see a number of young people giving up on life by commiting suicide. Friends life is full of ups and downs but suicide is never a solution.

In July 2018 I quit my job to pursue my dream of starting a business. I had high hopes such that despite many people discouraging me I went ahead to resign and I was determined to prove them wrong.

I moved to the farm in my incomplete house with a K30,000 gratuity to start keeping broilers. within 2 months the business collapsed and I had a bank loan to service. That was the beginning of trouble for me, the bank was on my neck, I accumulated debt from microfinance institutions, money lenders and shylocks, I could clearly see my life going down hill. From having a successful career in a reputable organization I was reduced to nothing; no car, no food, finished clothes and a mountain of debt.

I couldn’t open up to anyone coz I feared they would redicule me and go out there to share the story of how the flamboyant young Finance Manager has fallen in pursuit of entrepreneurship. I became withdrawn, sleeping the whole day and often cried at night. I drowned into depression and often times the thought of ending it all lingered around but I brushed it aside. I left the farm and moved to live with my sister who welcomed me and often encouraged me to start looking for a Job.

One day I woke up and told my self I need professional help, I went to one of the government clinics to seek the services of a counselor. She was very polite and welcomed me, I narrated my situation and asked how I can be helped. We scheduled some counselling sessions and she also prescribed some Antidepressant pills I was to be taking for about 3 months. That was the beginning of my recovery from depression, I religiously went for counseling 3 times in a week and took my medication until I was ready to face the world again.

After just 1 month of counselling and taking my medication I was ready to face the world once again. I got back on my laptop to seek for funding for my business. Within a few weeks I won a consulting contract with the African union that saw me traveling across the SADC region, I was selected among the 2019 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs and received $5,000 funding in addition to the $20,000 I received from the African Union, and $7,000 from the SEED Awards.

My life was back on track actually more glamourous than before, flying around the world from Belgium to Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria and across the SADC region. In 2019 I got married and moved back at the farm to restart my business.

When I look back now I ask myself what if I completely gave up? Our business has grown to a total work force of 23 full-time staff, I have a daughter I love Soo much and a supportive wife by my side. I could have lost out on all this if I gave up during the time of adversity.

My message to anyone battling depression is, seek professional help suicide is never a solution.

Source: Mwala Mooto|LinkedIn

Email: elora.akpotosevbe@yahoo.com