What Happens When a Student Refuses to Give Up on Her Dreams?

My Story — From Small Beginnings to Multiple Businesses

My name is Jaiyeola Ojuolape, also known as Kitan_rayo.
I am a 300-level Political Science and International Relations student at Crawford University and currently serve as the Vice-President of my department (NAPSS & NAPAS).

Aside from academics and leadership, I am also:

• An entrepreneur selling unisex fashion wears and accessories
• An event planner and decorator
• The founder of a tapioca pudding business

There is a saying that goes:

“There is no glory without a story.”

My journey didn’t start with perfection.
It started with learning, trying, failing, and trying again.

There were moments when I doubted myself and moments when things didn’t work out the way I hoped. But one thing remained constant:

I refused to give up.

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Where It All Began

My entrepreneurial journey started while I was still a secondary school student in SS2 at The African Church Model College.

At the time, I began selling Valentine gift packages. With the support of my family and friends, I was able to reach different customers and make sales.

But Valentine’s products are seasonal, which meant the business couldn’t run throughout the year.

So I started thinking of another idea.

That was when I began selling unisex wears and fashion accessories.

It hasn’t always been easy, but with God, hard work, and consistency, I kept going.

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My First Political Attempt in University

When I gained admission into Crawford University, I was excited to explore new opportunities.

In my first year, I contested for the position of Assistant Welfare Director.

Unfortunately, I didn’t win.

At first, I felt really sad and began to doubt myself.

During the screening process with the electoral body, the chairman looked at me and said something that stayed with me for a long time:

“You look like someone who could cry under pressure.”

That statement affected me deeply.

In my mind I thought:
Does this person know how I manage three businesses while meeting up with clients?

But eventually, that same statement became a source of motivation.

Instead of allowing it to discourage me, I decided to prove that I was stronger than people assumed.

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How My Story Changed

By my second year, I continued doing what I knew how to do best.

I kept running my fashion accessories business, even though there were school rules limiting some of the products I could sell.

At some point, this affected the business.

So I thought of an alternative solution.

Instead of stopping completely, I started delivering items like jewelry and other accessories directly to customers’ residences through dispatch services.

Around this same period, another part of my business began to grow.

I started selling tapioca pudding in bulk for events such as:

• Weddings
• Corporate events
• Birthday parties

This was easier for me because it was something my mom sometimes makes, so I learned from her and improved my own process.

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A Second Chance in Leadership

Later, I decided to contest again.

This time, I ran for Vice-President of my department.

And this time, I won.

I was extremely happy.

Not just because I won the position, but because it meant people could finally see the potential in me.

That victory reminded me that sometimes persistence is the real difference between losing and winning.

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What I’ve Learned as a Young CEO

Running businesses as a student has taught me many lessons.

1. Business Is Not Always Easy

Business might not be as smooth as people think.

But with time, prayer, hard work, and consistency, growth becomes possible.

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2. Be Yourself

Sometimes we try too hard to prove ourselves to people.

But the truth is:

When you focus on building yourself, people will eventually notice your value.

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3. You Don’t Need a Lot of Money to Start

Many people delay their dreams because they believe they need a large amount of capital.

But the reality is simple:

You can start small.

What matters more is the willingness to begin.

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Three Passions. One Vision.

Today, my journey revolves around three main passions:

• Fashion
• Tapioca desserts
• Event planning and decoration

This year, my brand celebrated five years in business.

Five years of learning.
Five years of growth.
Five years of building something meaningful.

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A Message to Students With Business Dreams

If you have a dream of starting a business, please go for it.

You don’t need a large capital to begin.

Start with what you have.

If there is a skill you want to learn, take the step and learn it.

I learned event decoration from my parents, and today it has helped me plan many events and create beautiful memories for people.

Learning multiple skills is not a bad thing, especially if you can manage your time and multitask properly.

In fact, I am still planning to go for another training soon.

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Balancing School and Business

Being a student entrepreneur requires balance.

It is possible to manage academics and business together, but it requires:

• Focus
• Discipline
• Determination

If you stay consistent and committed, your business will stand out.

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Connect With Me

If you would like to collaborate or follow my journey, you can connect with me here:

TikTok

• @kitan_rayo↗
• @kitans_tapioca_special↗

Instagram

• @jaiyeperfect_ventures↗