Life is not always fair; in fact, it rarely is. That was what made it so nice to read this week about the success of Felicia Olima.
Ms Olima was awarded the Inner City Enterprise Award for her efforts in founding a computer training company Citas. So what, you might say. After all, in today's enterprise culture, there would be many who have achieved such success and more.
The difference is in her perseverance. Nigerian-born Ms Olima studied at Trinity, earning a BSc in management and an MA. After a spell working in Africa, she returned to Dublin and qualified in computers and information technology. Her trouble began when she went looking for work.
She submitted more than 300 applications for jobs and attended interviews for about half of these. Not a single job offer emerged. Deciding that the colour of her skin and her extensive qualifications were putting people off, she took advice and decided to go it alone with help from various agencies in training and funding. From nothing in 1996, she now boasts turnover exceeding £70,000 (€889,453).
While her efforts and the award say much for her perseverance, unfortunately they also carry a clear message for a State looking to immigrants to fill almost 200,000 jobs in the next six years. Ms Olima may have arrived; many others have a long way to go in opening their minds.
