“The difference between a successful person and
others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack in
will”, a quote by
Vince Lombardi.
The quote is very meaningful. You can see and
agree with me that a ‘strong will’ is an important aspect towards the success
achieved by the Owner of Arusha Journalism Training College (AJTC), Mr. Joseph
Mayagila.
Mr. Joseph Mayagila (40) is one of the successful
people in the country, who admits to the power of will towards success. He is
an inhabitant of Arusha Municipal in Arusha region and an investor who got his
investment license and registered his Private Share Company in 2006.
Within six years since the company was
registered, from 2006 to 2012, Mr. Mayagila, who is also the Director of
Studies and Training at AJTC has scored a number of achievements because of his
determination to engage in business with total confidence.
This is evidenced by the fact that the AJTC is
not only gaining recognition by many stakeholders but also, venturing into the
international market as it now receives foreign students from countries like
Sierra Leone, Kenya and is expecting to receive students from Somalia.
“We have trained a number of radio
stations’ workers and also, the workers from the institute which produces the
‘’Tazama Tz’’- a programme aired by TBC 1,” he said adding, “last July we were
chosen to host the training for teachers of the journalism colleges, the
programme which is done once in a year”
In addition, the smart looking Mr. Mayagila runs
the AJTC from his own building compared to other Journalism Training Centers
that are still carrying out their training in rented office space. Mr. Mayagila
has 10 buildings now including some, which are used for students’
accommodation.
AJTC has also now managed to publish various
publications for sharing experiences to affect and inspire other people. And
for supporting training programmes, the College produces the AJTC Weekly
Newspaper.
Mr. Mayagala, an inspiring man, said he receives
a number of consultation requests from various people who want to establish
this kind of business including former classmates who have been inspired with
how far he has gone. With his advice, he and some of his former classmates have
now established a media studies center.
The College is adding value to the area of its
establishment. The people around have been able to utilize the opportunity and
engage themselves in small business activities such as shops and restaurants.
“I have created employment opportunities not only for the staff of the college
but also for the people around who are exploring the available market,” he
said.
AJTC has, meanwhile, produced people who are now
doing well in the labor market and have been employed in local as well as
international media such as Aljazeera. Some former students own
production studios, and one is running a Journalism Centre.
I was curious to know more about him from his
employees at AJTC. Ms Eliesh Shoohas been working as Mr. Mayagila’s
administrative secretary since 2006. She describes him as hardworking and
a good team player.
“Mr. Mayagila is a great contributor of the
AJTC’s progress. He likes to help others and has all the leadership
qualities and skills,” says Ms Shoo of her boss.
Lucas Modaha is another employee who was once a
student of Mr. Mayagila for about three years. Currently, he is working with
Mr. Mayagila as a lecturer. He depicts him as a supportive and visionary
person.
“I have worked cooperatively with Mr. Mayagila
without any problem and I have never heard any complaint from my colleagues
about him,” says Mr. Modaha. Insisting, “We have different students’
competitions and AJTC does its best to motivate the students. The Director has
been giving his full support for his goal is to produce youth with capabilities
to make their dreams come true.”
Another employee, who also admits to enjoy
working with Mr. Mayagila, is Andrea Ashery Ngobole, a lecturer at AJTC. He
said that he has been enjoying his support even on personal matters. “As
employees we are free to share with him anything as far as his assistance and
support is concerned. Mr. Mayagila has also been playing a part in his
employees’ personal matters such as celebrations and funeral ceremonies,” he
says.
Wondering whether he knew Mr. Mayagila before
being employed at AJTC, Mr Ngobole confirms that he knew him since he was
studying at East Africa Training Institute (EATI). “Mr. Mayagila taught me
Journalism and Broadcasting in 2005. He was by then a lecturer of EATI,” he
says.
Explaining how AJTC started, Mr Mayagila
explained that the idea was to partner with his former classmates, whom he was
working with. It was hoped that start-up capital would come from their
salaries. Nevertheless, he had to do it alone because the former classmates
were not willing to take the risk.
He was not discouraged. He worked on the idea and
came up with TSH 10 Million initial capital with which he started the business.
The money was used to pay rent and buy some facilities such as computer and a
camera. Mr Mayagila further says to start and run a business one needs to have
will power and not necessarily brainpower. “With will power you will be able to
succeed because you will be able to start with what you have then work to raise
more capital and you will even dare to deal with financial institutions to
expand the capital base,” he said.
However, Mr Mayagila mentions that most people
fail to start a business in the first place because they think a business
requires a huge amount of capital to start with, which is not the case.
He cited his own example where after starting
with TSH10Million, he borrowed more than TSH 150Million from Revival Church
Savings and Credits Cooperatives Society (SACCOs) to buy land to have his own
campus. “Any investor must learn how to raise capital through various means” he
insists.
He started with eight students in Journalism and
Broadcasting and only four students were paying the fees. Currently there
are about 600 students and the number of courses has increased to include
Computer Maintenance, Video Production and Film Making, and Entrepreneurship.
Other courses are International Relations and Diplomacy, and Nursery School
Teachers one year Advanced Level and two years Ordinary Level courses.
Mr. Mayagila commenced his business with only six
workers including himself. Four of them were teachers, one security guard
who doubled as a driver and one accountant who was also a secretary. Today,
AJTC has about 30 members of staff including trainers, supporting staff and
part time workers.
I was then interested to know from his family
members whether Mr. Mayagila shared the idea of establishing a college. Adson
Kagiye is Mr. Mayagila’s young brother. He verifies that Mr. Mayagila mentioned
to the family that if he could get 10 computers he would start a college and he
requested for ideas and suggestions on how to get the computers.
Mr. Kagiye said that it was very difficult for
the family to understand and believe that the idea could work out.
Nevertheless, the family contributed somehow to have him started. “Our elder
sister gave him about 6 computers and our elder brother provided him with some
amount of money as capital,” he says.
Describing Mr. Mayagila, the young brother said
that he is a hardworking and outgoing person. “Mr. Mayagila is intelligent, was
very bright in school and very serious with his class work. On the other hand
he also helped out with chores at home,” he says.
My question to Mr. Kagiye was: “What have you
learned from your brother’s achievements?’’ And he had this to say “Anything
comes from one’s thoughts. Sometimes, it is very difficult for other people to
understand what you really want to do. Nonetheless, you must be courageous,
believing in yourself and daring to take risks to achieve it. This is how my
brother’s achievement came to be.”
There is a quote by Henry W. Longfellow, which
states that the talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do
well.
To Mr. Mayagila it is not only about talent of
success but also about the motive towards doing one kind of business rather
than any other. He calls it having a comparative advantage saying that having
the background in the courses offered in the centre is an advantage for it
gives him the capability to excel.
“Journalism, International Relations and
Economics/Entrepreneurship are among the courses that I have learnt and so,
engaging in offering knowledge in these areas is an advantage because this is
what I can do well,” he emphasizes adding, “We do what we like. So this is what
I like.”
Where there is success, challenges are
inevitable. Mr. Mayagila faced challenges particularly on how to administer the
business because he had no idea of business management and business laws and so
he had to spend most of his time reading and learning about business management
issues.
“I had to travel in and outside the county for
business training to be equipped with the aim of ensuring that I do well in the
business industry,” he says adding, “I had also to travel to build a network
which is very important in business.”
The other challenge is that land is very
expensive particularly in town areas and so he used a lot of money to buy land.
The cheapest land, according to Mr. Mayagila, is the land in interior areas
with no facilities such as electricity, water and other necessary services. He
said although cheap it was difficult to secure such land.
Yet, Mr. Mayagila is expecting to have a radio
station soon, starting a project of exporting cashew nuts in the coming years
as well as inspiring more people to engage in business activities.
What’s more Mr. Mayagila is the type of
entrepreneur who is engaging in different activities to maximize his profits.
He has a public transport mini bus; he is also a writer with three titles to
his name. The books are in Swahili titled ‘’Kubuni na kuendesha biashara
kitaalamu’’, ‘’Kufanikiwa kibiashara’’ and ‘’Jinsi ya kuwa tajiri’’.
He is a Chief Editor of the ‘Mount Meru
University Elimisha Magazine’, the magazine for researchers and ‘’The Market
Newspaper’’ produced at Moshi. He is also a consulting editor for ‘’Tujenge
Magazine’’ produced by Kikwetu Media. Moreover, he is a Credit Officer at
SACCOs.
Given this wide range of activities, I could not
even speculate if Mr. Mayagila had any hobbies. But, according to this
low-voiced gentleman, playing volleyball with his children, swimming and Korean
martial arts (Taekwondo) are his hobbies. “I am a Taekwondo referee,” he adds.
Mary Mayagila is the wife who is proud of her
husband’s success. She mentions God’s blessings and personal efforts to be the
main reasons for Mr. Mayagila’s achievements.
To her, my concern was: What kind of a husband is
Mr.Mayagila with such a busy schedule? She articulated this calmly by saying
“He performs all his duties as a father, as a husband as well as the head of
the family despite the busy schedule. I have noticed nothing missing so far.”
A Call
Looking ahead, Mr Mayagila has a call to the
Tanzanians on the importance of business in improving their standard of living
insisting that people must have the will to know and seek information relating
to business as well as creating social capital/networks at all cost.
However, he criticized what he described as the
poor mindset of some of the elites in the country who shun joining small
financial institutions such as SACCOs, which they regard as institutions meant
for marginalized people, widows or HIV victims.
“I am a member of SACCOS and it is very useful,
anyone can be a member and succeed,” he says advising, “People regardless of
their educational background should join SACCOS to get credit with affordable
conditions to engage in business activities.”
He further suggests that determination shall make
a difference in our lives.
