Gabriel Eze graduated with honors from the Federal University of Technology in Owerri, despite facing challenges. The 23-year-old, the founder and CEO of his plumbing business, had to do plumbing tasks to finish his university studies.
He told Punch that he became interested in plumbing while in high school, specifically in SS1. I completed a four-year or longer plumbing apprenticeship. I completed secondary school in 2017 and was admitted to a higher education institution that same year. So, following my first year at a higher education school in 2019, I completed my apprenticeship. Following my apprenticeship training, I established a plumbing business, which I eventually registered in 2020.”
Eze, who is from Okposi, explained that he began learning plumbing in SS1 primarily due to budgetary constraints. He told how he started working with a plumber who came to his school during break time. When he started at 14, he was simply choosing tools for the man. The plumber agreed to tutor him when he expressed an interest in the post.
When Eze left on vacation, he phoned the plumber and registered for an apprenticeship. Clients were amazed to see a boy his age mastering a job. After four years of school, the young entrepreneur decided to start his own firm, having gathered considerable experience in the sector. Eze’s mother, a civil worker, was initially against the proposal due to his age.
“Plumbing is a hard and strenuous job. Most of the time, when I returned from work, my hands were so bruised that my mother had to massage them with hot water. When mom argued that the job was too much for my age, my older brother explained that I was passionate about it and persuaded her to let me do it. At the end of the day, she agreed,” he explained.
Eze, who was raised by a single mother after his father’s death, supported the family financially through plumbing work. Eze, the third of four brothers, claimed he earned N17,000 (approximately $10) from his first plumbing job.
“Even for my education.” I did not disturb anyone. I took care of my debts,” he explained.
Despite having a profitable plumbing business at an early age, Eze was still interested in attending college. He chose to pursue petroleum engineering since he enjoyed mathematics.
As a result, he studied organic chemistry extensively in secondary school. He also believes that his interest in plumping helped him learn the fundamentals of petroleum engineering, such as fluid flow, natural gas, and pipelines.
Eze, on the other hand, struggled financially because he had to pay for the majority of his studies on his own and was only partially supported by scholarships earned through examinations he took.
He stated, “I’ve had some financial issues. I believe that was the only hurdle I faced. I was able to overcome it by attempting to obtain contracts, making my business more visible, and ensuring that my business’s reputation was high enough for people to patronize me; as a result, I was able to obtain more employment, and with more jobs came more money to meet my demands and pay my bills.”
Eze received multiple scholarships throughout his academic career, including the Petroleum Technology Development Fund undergraduate grant, the Agbami Medical and Engineering Professionals’ grant, the Nigerian Agip Oil Company award, and the NNPC/Total scholarship.
He added that the scholarships were really valuable to him and even helped him develop his business slightly.
The young entrepreneur also credits his success to his parents’ advice and support, as well as the instruction of other mentors and lecturers. Eze excelled with a 4.65 GPA. When word of his story spread and he began receiving calls from everyone, including the elite, he expressed excitement and fulfillment.
However, he stated that he intends to extend his studies outside Nigeria by pursuing a Ph.D. or master’s degree. However, he must first complete the National Youth Service Corps program next year. So I’m currently looking for an established organization to cooperate with.”
He went on to remark that, regardless of his degree, he will always remain a plumber at heart.