How One Woman Built Kenya’s Leading Technical Institution

This feature article and story appeared on the Cover of Inversk Magazine in March 2021. To read the magazine visit www.inversk.co.ke/magazine

Entrepreneur Lizzie Wanyoike is proof that keeping a relentless eye on your goals, perseverance, joyful dedication and unwavering focus will get you there. She is the CEO and founder of Nairobi Institute of Business Studies (NIBS) and Emory Hotel, a proud mother of three and a grandmother of nine.

The EY entrepreneur woman finalist recipient of 2018, Lizzie Wanyoike came from a small village in Muranga County. She was the sixth born in a family of eight children. Her father, was a government official however, he was detained 7 years after being associated with the MAUMAU rebellion.

“You see, my father was a colonial chief and his patriotism for a free Kenya saw him double deal through providing intelligence to Mau Mau freedom fighters. He was busted and eventually detained for nine long years, leaving us under the care of my mother,” she says.

Her mother then struggled to put her and her siblings to school during this time. Her passion for teaching came after her pursuit for a better life and through education. She is an alumnus of Gathukiini primary, Kahuhia Girls, and Nakuru High School.

She fulfilled her dream after finishing her studies at Kenyatta University College, now Kenyatta University, and began her career by teaching English in State House Girls High school. She attributes her success to the difficulties she faced, her parent’s hard work, and her grounding in the Christian faith.

Her spirit of entrepreneurship began when she was geared to lay a foundation for her children. She started purchasing several plots and started building small rental houses. However, hell broke loose and she lost her job and her partnership in Temple College where she held a managerial position. At this point, she was going also through a separation. She was desperate and needed to get back on her feet.

“In my despair to have a fresh start, I visited James Mwangi of Equity Bank who offered to give me a loan which I later added my savings to start afresh,” said Lizzie.

It was from this fresh start that NIBS college was birthed. Lizzie knew the chances of her success were to use her professionalism and experience. She, therefore, started a school with a capital of 10 million. The school struggled for 8 months however, having a father as a mentor she was determined to face all the obstacles. Her goal for NIBS was to help young people dream through education since some were left in despair. In addition, the experience she went through as a woman she sought to empower the girlchild however, she later realized that the boy child can also face that predicament.

“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.

NIBS started with 25 students who had come from a closed college and two hired teachers who taught in Pioneer House, Moi Avenue. In order to get more students, Lizzie used her face for advertising and credibility. It was then that fortune came knocking, at the end of the second-year students grew from 20 to 200 students. The main reason there was an increase was, ‘many parents knew about my work from my former college and we did everything to make students comfortable including providing facilities.’

The school then moved to Cooperative house where their lease got unfairly terminated and switched to Agriculture house as more students registered. The challenge of being forced to move out made her look for a solution to avoid such treatment. In 2009, she made a decision and bought a 10-acre land worth Sh. 20 million in Kimbo, Ruiru along the Thika Road Superhighway. At the time, the place was deserted and it didn’t look promising however she did not give up.

“Fortunately, I had bought some initial shares from equity bank and the first time floating in history, my returns were many times more than I had invested. I, therefore, managed to build phase one of NIBS college,” she added.

Currently, NIBS college boasts of over 7,000 learners and has campuses in Ongata Rongai, Thika Rd, CBD, and Thika Town. She invested 134 million to build the main campus in Ruiru. The success of the institution is a testament to her managerial skills which have seasoned with time. Lizzie has embraced a visionary style of management, and through inculcating disciplined culture and incorporating her three children to be senior managers she intends to leave a legacy.

“Am a hands-on person. I lead from the front. However, I have engaged very seriously and able managers who understand my vision of education with character, empowering youths through training and also leading by example.”

Harboring the heart of an entrepreneur, Lizzie took the initiative to start Emory Hotel in Kandara Rd, Kileleshwa. She says she started the four-star hotel since many of her students had joined the hospitality industry and was also a form of persuasion to bring her daughter, Stella Njoroge, a structural engineer to come back home from the U.S. Students from NIBS get to have their attachment in the hotel and at times receive employment.

Lizzie Wanyoike admits that being a woman entrepreneur has its challenges especially when she began registration for NIBS college. However, she says that the challenges eventually took off.

“A woman has so many disadvantages especially when you are honest and you don’t want to compromise your values,” she adds.

Lizzie Wanyoike Preparatory school is a new project for the CEO which she intends to mentor young parents in parenting. Mentoring and empowering youths have always been Lizzie’s heart’s desire. Lizzie Wanyoike Foundation is a program that has raised a lot of funds to support needy children. However, she says her philanthropic work is not limited to supporting needy children but youths who are engaged in youths.

“I started doing these years ago back in 2006 when I first met a lady at Co-operative Nairobi, who needed my help and since then I have never stopped, I seriously don’t know why I do it I just find myself giving,” she says.

The philanthropist has been doing motivational speaking without pay. She believes that it’s a gift from God and it’s a passion that requires no price tag attached to it. In 2016, Lizzie authored ‘Empowering Youths through training’ and launched it in NIBS college. The book speaks to the roles of parents in their children’s life.

Lizzie Wanyoike is no doubt a giant when it comes to the education sector. In her closet are numerous awards some include the 2018 DIAR Awards Entrepreneur of excellence, 2019 Business of the year, and Trailblazer in TopWomen in business awards. Despite her numerous accolades, what keeps Lizzie moving forward is changing people’s lives for the better.

“Just as morning comes after a dark night, so your future is brighter than your past! Continue pushing on,” she remarks.