THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
— EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW —
Godfrey Chukwuemeka Evurulobi is the founder and CEO of the Gosab Group of Companies, a Germany-based provider of nursing care service.
Evurulobi runs three companies from Cologne – Gosab Personalmanagement und Consulting, Gosab Care GmbH and Gosabflex GmbH, with branches in Bergish Gladbach, Bonn, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich and Hamburg.
In an exclusive interview with The African Courier, Evurulobi, a graduate of international business from the University of Applied Sciences Cologne, narrates how he started and he talks about the nursing care sector in Germany and why his companies are currently recruiting Africans.
The Nigerian-born entrepreneur also talks about his successes and challenges so far, and he gives tips to Africans planning to start a business in the country.
Could you please tell us a bit about yourself?
Thank you, Mr Femi. After graduating in 2013 from the University of Applied Science Cologne, I started my first company Gosab Personal Management & Consulting in our living room. I was able to grow the company from one employee to 70 employees by the end of 2016.
In 2016, I started Gosab Care GmbH (Mobil and Intensive Care) to help a family friend by providing intensive care to their little baby. I’m really grateful to God in using us to heal that child. In order to give my employees more job opportunities, I started Gosabflex GmbH in 2017.
How would you describe what your companies do?
Our area of specialization is providing nursing care to the people that need our services. It can be in care homes or private homes.
What provided the impetus to start your own business?
Actually, I started my own business out of disappointment. I was working with a leasing company during my studies. The owner was really impressed with my work. She invited me for a talk, where she promised to open another office in Frankfurt, which I would head after graduation.
After my graduation I called her and she told me she would discuss with the husband and get back to me. I tried reaching her to no avail and she never called back till date. Thereafter, I started writing applications but no positive response. That was when I decided to take a bold step.
As an African whose employees and clients are mostly German, what has been your experience? Has being African been an advantage or disadvantage?
You see, I normally see things from the positive side. I also believe that where advantages are there will also be disadvantages there. Maybe, a sort of natural equilibrium. It might be more advantages and less disadvantages or vice versa.
I would say being an African has been more advantageous than disadvantageous.
Your companies are currently recruiting and you are targeting Africans. Why?
I want to give more Africans the opportunity to join the care profession. This is the future.
Why should Africans go into nursing care?
There is always job because of the demographic changes in Germany. We are also good at it because of cultural background and how we were brought up.
What qualities should a carer have?
Steadfastness, flexibility, endurance etc They should also be patient and God fearing.
You could have gone into import-export, shipping or travel agency like many African entrepreneurs in Germany usually do. Why did you choose the nursing care sector?
I believe in specialisation. I can only achieve a good result by concentrating on things I do best. I also believe that people in import and export are doing something they can do best.
READ ALSO Godfrey Evurulobi – African making a difference in Germany’s care sector
What does it take to run a successful business in Germany?
My brother, it takes a lot. The most important is to focus, be hard working, make the right decisions and get the right people around you not people that will pull you down.
What are the main challenges you face as an entrepreneur?
Employing the right people, time management, lack of capital and fear of uncertainty, among others.
From your experience, what do you consider the major obstacles hindering the progress of African entrepreneurs in Germany?
Fear of uncertainty, racial discrimination, fear of failure and capital. I believe more Africans should try to be self employed. To this effect we are giving Africans the opportunity to own their nursing care business in Germany. We are building a Gosab care franchise system. They can ride on our experiences and become a business owner in Germany.
What should Africans who are planning to start their own business do before taking the plunge?
Do your research very well, try to learn or understand the business you are embarking on and get the right people around you at the beginning. It will cost you time and efforts; but, believe me, it saves you a lot of stress and money too.
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If you are interested to work with Gosab, visit: https://www.gosab-consulting.de/
