But it is not only the age that makes the case of 80-year-old Phillip Ohwonije an interesting one. He is the head of a cane-weaving family that comprises his wife, Elizabeth, and his twin sons, Austin and Abadenego.
Born in 1930 and hails from Ugheli North, Delta State, Phillip told PUNCH METRO at his workshop at Cane Village, Maryland, Lagos that he joined the business in 1989.
He said he did not learn cane-weaving but had to rely on his carpentry skill, which made it possible for him to divert to the business.
Asked how good the business is, the octogenarian said he used proceeds from the business to train three of his children in the university, one of whom had just graduated.
Despite his age, Phillip said there was “no break in this job (cane-weaving)” and would be willing to keep on going as long as his mental alertness could carry him.
The octogenarian said, “My first job was carpentry and joinery in (Gold Coast) Ghana. I had my workshop here (Cane Village) as a carpenter. I started marking frames and after a while I properly joined this trade. When I saw that the trade was booming, I decided to make it my permanent occupation. I did not learn the trade. I started with the carpentry skill I had acquired.
“I no longer involve myself in hectic jobs. I can now produce a basket in two days. I scrape the cane, which is one of the raw materials, do other processing work and have the finished product in two days.
“I have five children – two boys and three girls. I also have a granddaughter. My children are all grown ups. Two are in the university, one has just graduated and my twins are with me in this job. My wife and I do this job together.
“I can relax anytime I feel like. There is no break in this job, so anytime I feel like relaxing, I relax. My mental alertness is a gift from God. I eat local food such as eba, fufu, rice, maize and good soup.
“We have called on the government to assist us. I could remember when a Canadian came here with a man from Delta State; the Canadian was surprised that we were using bare hands mostly. We need machines from the Federal Government. The machines will help us to spray and carve neatly.”
Although he said he trained his twins cane-weaving, he said after a while, he allowed them to go and set up their own business. Apart from his children, he has trained more than 10 other apprentices.
Phillip said he could not actually compute his monthly income correctly but said it could be N30,000 monthly on the average. He stated that though there were low times in the business, such periods were not frequent.
According to him, the cane-weaving business booms more during the Yuletide.
He said he depended solely on cane-weaving business as the source of his income, adding that he did not bother his children for financial support since he wanted them to save money, buy modern equipment and raw materials for their own business.
Phillip said he was not in partnership with any of his children but was monitoring their growth in the industry and offering advice when necessary.
He, however, declined to comment more on the education of his children, saying they would not like their universities, courses and levels published.
His wife, Elizabeth, also said she liked the job, adding that she was delighted when her husband joined the industry.
She said, “I do this job with my husband. I like the job. It is what I have been doing for some time.
“The problem in this job is lack of money. We have been looking for capital but we have not seen any. We have good patronage and if we have more money, the business will boom. I am from Delta and I am 60-years old.”
One of the twins, Austin, 35, said although the work was not easy, he was proud of the trade.
He advised young people to be productively engaged instead of looking for paid employment, which might not be available. He added that he combined the craft with business contracts he got from Glo, a telecommunications company.
“Papa (Phillip) does not give preferential treatment. Whether you are his son or not, you must learn all the rudiments of the job and he must certify you okay before you graduate and start your own business. He advises all of us on how to make it in life and how to grow in this industry,” Austin added.
President, National Cane Weavers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Edward Akpofure, described Phillip as a man with a broad heart and interest in other artisans‘ growth.
Akpofure said, “Pa Phillip is a loving father, one who wants and encourages artisans to grow. He has interest in the success of the young ones in the industry. He pays his dues and contributes to the growth of the industry.
“He wants the industry to grow to international standard and he has trained more than six people in the industry.”
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