Storytelling is the difference between solving a problem and creating a cause. A cause is something that  ignites and unites people.     So, the challenge is we are currently in the rainy season. Here in Nigeria, it’s between the period of April to  September. My dad was driving my sisters and I on a morning afternoon sometime last year. It was about  7:30am and a great proportion of road users as at that time were on their way to work/ places of business.  The point is majority of the people had no umbrellas, raincoats, or rain boots. Some sought refuge under  shades and houses/shops with covered spaces, others kept running under the rain. I had been in those  shoes before. It was cloudy that morning, and I had an appointment to catch up with. I had an umbrella I  could have left the house with, but I was reluctant because holding umbrellas can be very stressful when  they are in use and when they are not. I left the house without my umbrella and I was beaten by the rain  (it started shortly after I embarked on my journey). Not only was I late to my destination, I was drenched  and stressed.    Over 50% of Nigeria’s population thinks like this. Umbrellas can be really stressful to carry about. Same with  rain boots (which is even worse).     My research has shown that Nigerians will be more than willing to get a product that will suffice as an  umbrella while eliminating the stress part of it.  Introducing a small portable umbrella (with no handle but  a head band instead) that can be folded into the size of a small handy purse when not in use and worn  around the head when it is in use, will serve as a  solution to this challenge.     Although, we are working on creating a sample and observing how the target market embraces this  potential product.


Storytelling is the difference between solving a problem and creating a cause . A cause is something that ignites and unites people . So , the challenge is we are currently in the rainy season . Here in Nigeria , it ’s between the period of April to September . My dad was driving my sisters and I on a morning afternoon sometime last year . It was about 7:30am and a great proportion of road users as at that time were on their way to work/ places of business . The point is majority of the people had no umbrellas , raincoats , or rain boots . Some sought refuge under shades and houses / shops with covered spaces , others kept running under the rain . I had been in those shoes before . It was cloudy that morning , and I had an appointment to catch up with . I had an umbrella I could have left the house with , but I was reluctant because holding umbrellas can be very stressful when they are in use and when they are not . I left the house without my umbrella and I was beaten by the rain ( it started shortly after I embarked on my journey ) . Not only was I late to my destination , I was drenched and stressed . Over 50 % of Nigeria ’s population thinks like this . Umbrellas can be really stressful to carry about . Same with rain boots ( which is even worse ) . My research has shown that Nigerians will be more than willing to get a product that will suffice as an umbrella while eliminating the stress part of it . Introducing a small portable umbrella ( with no handle but a head band instead ) that can be folded into the size of a small handy purse when not in use and worn around the head when it is in use , will serve as a solution to this challenge . Although , we are working on creating a sample and observing how the target market embraces this potential product .