From 1975 to 1981, Lizzie Wanyoike, the founder of the Nairobi Institute of Business Studies (NIBS), served as the college’s principal and tutor.
Wanyoike recognized the growing demand for more courses, some of which were completely new to the market, while she was preoccupied with teaching secretarial classes.
She approached her employer with her excellent plan since she was passionate about helping the undeserving pupils, but surprise, surprise, it was denied.
“I was pushing for introduction of more courses other that secretarial units, to meet the growing demand for education, but the management would not listen,” she said. “And even though the institution was making profit, I was concerned about the growing demand for training in other areas.”
After being neglected, Wanyoike left her job. She started Nairobi Institute of Business Studies (NIBS) in 2000 with a capital of Sh10 million (Sh6 million from savings and a bank loan).
“Business struggled for eight months but I was determined to fill the vacuum,” she told The Nairobian.
Today, the college which enrolled 25 students at its launch boasts of over 6,000 learners, four campuses and offers dozens of courses.
The former High School teacher has not only invested over Sh250 million to expand NIBS but she has also built a hotel in Kileleshwa for business and hospitality training.
Wanyoike says her empire was bolstered by early investment in land and stock market.
“I bought plots here and there even if I had wealthy husband,” says the sixth born in family of ten who escaped early marriage from her Murang’a village where educating girls was considered worthless.
As far as running the business is concerned, her three children who were previously based abroad, moved back home to help her run the show but she credits her success to knowing every aspect of her business.
“I look at things positively and I am always on the front line. I relate well with my staff and know to source for the best for each area,” says Wanyoike. In 2009 she bought ten acres of land worth Sh20 million along Thika Superhighway near Ruiru and invested Sh134 million more to build NIBS’ main campus.
“I sold shares of a local bank I had bought many years ago at Sh5. I wasn’t sure about buying the land but a bank boss persuaded me,” she says.
NIBS has campuses in Ongata Rongai, Thika Road, CBD and Thika town. Wanyoike hopes to expand further hoping that government will chip in to boost learners.
“Students from private colleges drop out of school because they are side-lined by Helb, unlike their counterparts in Public universities and colleges and private universities,” she says.
