Along Nyawira street of Narok town, you will discover a yard with a group of men, busy as bees, making school furniture. Workers at the workshop have a target of making at least eight school lockers per day, owing to the high demand for furniture in schools. The yard owner Samuel Ocharo acknowledged minting millions of shillings from the school furniture business, owing to the increasing demand for lockers, desks, chairs and tables in schools. Ocharo said he opted for metallic furniture instead of wood as many of the schools are abandoning wood for metal, since it is more durable. He added that this move has also been necessitated by the inadequacy of the wood that was previously used to make the lockers and chairs. 'Majority of schools in Narok town are now requesting that we use metal to make the school desks as the durability of these equipment is better than wooden equipment,' said Ocharo. Following the increase in demand Ocharo confessed to have made a profit amounting to millions of shillings dur ing the school opening season as the demand for lockers, desks and chairs was very high. 'I aim to guarantee that my customers are satisfied. I ensure that the lockers are of high quality and comfortable to the learners. This has earned me credibility with my customers,' he said. The demand, he said, is also catalyzed by the new Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) that has resulted in the establishment of Junior Secondary Schools, where the demand for lockers and chairs is high. 'Our leading consumers right now are the junior secondary schools as the schools make new lockers and chairs for the students, who initially used to seat on desks,' said Ocharo. He clarified that one metallic locker retails at Sh7000 to Sh6000 depending on the size of the locker while a chair retails from Sh4,000 to Sh5000, also depending on the size. Despite the metallic furniture being slightly more expensive than the wooden ones, Ocharo said, they are more preferred since they are more durable and cost effective. 'These metalli c lockers are slightly expensive compared to the wooden ones upon purchase, but they reduce the cost of maintenance and frequent repair which makes them cost effective,' said Ocharo. The welder who has been in the business for five years now disclosed to have made over 1, 000 lockers since the schools opened for the first term 2024. He cited a particular case of Limanet Secondary School which had purchased 300 lockers and 300 chairs during the opening season. Following the high demand, Ocharo has hired three employees on contract basis and hires more casual labourers when the demand is high, to help him achieve his target. 'Each person makes between eight and ten lockers per day. When the demand is too high, I am forced to employ more casual workers who help me to meet the demand,' he said. He urged schools to embrace the use of metallic lockers and chairs in a bid to conserve the environment and have long lasting furniture. Ocharo called on his fellow Jua Kali traders to embrace this new trend to reap maximum benefits and reduce the cost of production that is related to the use of wood in making school equipment. Source: Kenya News Agency Four employees of Fidelity Bank, a privately owned bank in Ghana, have received awards at the Ghana Association of Banks (GAB) Awards ceremony for their exemplary contribution to the banking sector. They are Mr Atta Yeboah Gyan, Deputy Managing Director; Mr Simon Adu-Gyamfi, Director of Operations; Mr Ransford Nana Addo, Head of Financial Crime Management, and Mr Eric Frempong Amponsah, Head of Brand and Marketing Insights. The four were honoured for outstanding leadership within the Ghana Association of Bankers Chief Finance Officers (CFO) forum; addressing industry challenges; fighting against fraud; and exemplary work in managing media relations and corporate communications for the financial sector respectively. Mr Gyan earned an accolade for the pivotal role in ensuring that perspectives of banks were heard and considered not only significantly to the industry's stability during challenging times, but also underscored his unwavering dedication to fostering collaboration and unity within the sector. M r Adu-Gyamfi was also recognised for his exceptional contribution in addressing industry challenges, particularly in facilitating communication among member banks, CIT vendors, and the Bank of Ghana. His proactive measures that included data-driven analysis, introduction of a business model for navigating armoured bullion van deployment delays, and meticulous risk mitigation strategies were instrumental in ensuring smooth operations and minimising disruptions in operations. Mr Addo was acknowledged for his relentless efforts, including a robust fraud education programme and active collaboration with the ACFE Ghana Chapter, which demonstrably reduced the incidence of Bank Account Takeovers. His proactive approach extended beyond Fidelity, sparking industry-wide conversations, and leading to crucial reforms like SIM replacement regulations, a direct consequence of his dedication to safeguarding not only Fidelity's customers, but those across the entire banking sector. Mr Amponsah was duly recognised for his exemplary work in managing media relations and corporate communications for the financial sector. His commitment to effective communication and stakeholder engagement has been instrumental in shaping a more positive public perception of the banking sector, proving that clear and consistent messaging to build trust and understanding even amidst challenges. A statement from Fidelity Bank said the acknowledgment firmly reinforced Fidelity Bank's stature as a prominent force in the financial landscape. It said the Bank, propelled by its recent financial report, remained on an impressive growth trajectory, spearheading innovation, prioritising customer protection, and contributing to the overall stability of the industry. Source: Ghana News Agency
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