Esther Wangare , ESCOM Computers Nyeri

Since it’s inception in May of 2008, Escom Computers Nyeri (ESTABLISHMENT COMPUTERS) Institute has grown in leaps and bounds heavily weighing it’s immense contribution in the growth and strengthening of the IT sector in Nyeri County and the country at large. As I climb the stairs leading me to the second storey of the Nyeri Shopping Complex building one can not help but notice the longevity of the spacious building characterized by the old seasoned peeled off painted walls and floors. Tacked in a corner after taking the right turn, ESCOM Computers Institute stands strong and firm all set to change, inspire and educate the computer illiterate to literate minds who can competently handle IT related courses.
Quite oblivious of the founder I’m led behind a door that is emblazoned with a sticker whose legible and obtrusive words read ‘DIRECTOR OF STUDIES’. A young light skinned smiley yet affable woman is busy scrolling the mouse to her laptop supposedly eliminating any sort of discrepancy that could crop up in course of her work. At another end separated by a vinyl hardboard one can not help but hear the punching of the computer keyboard , which is an enough indication that learning is running  smoothly .  She warmly welcomes me amid the rapid succession of events within the premises though; I cannot help notice her enthusiasm and her soft spoken nature as she puts aside what she is doing all ready to attend to me.

Esther Wangare, the proprietor of the Institute is adding value to the IT sector all thanks to her eight year old establishment that was unveiled as a result of a smouldering passion from within that saw her to the right path. Having scrimped each shilling and cent from her previous accountancy career in order to purchase equipment that would be instrumental in achieving her dream, Esther turned her passion into a job prompting her to quit from her previous job so as to have ample time to run her project as well as further her education at the moment. At only 27, the mother of one discloses to me that ever since she laid her eyes on a computer and took the computer packages her love for any computer related study has been growing stronger by the day. Her desire to see a transformed mind from illiterate to literate is what gives her satisfaction and strength to run the Institute that has so far enrolled hundreds of students.

Beside IT related courses, Esther has expanded her Institute in a manner that it is competent in offering other short related courses inclusive of business related, Public Relations and project management all examinable by leading and well recognized examination bodies. They say ‘stand on the shoulders of the giant and you will see far’ Esther picks Olive Mugenda upon whose shoulders she stands as she looks up to her for her exemplary performance and stupendous work in positively transforming Kenyatta University into a world class university of choice, something she points out as a long term goal for ESCOM Computer Institute.

ESCOM has been in the past years grappled with inadequate space because of high demand of the ever trickling in students who have ambitions to study.  A fact that has seen Esther desire to expand her Institute. The ever mushrooming institutes offering similar courses as ESCOM, has paused as a challenge as a result of a stiff competition from among students therefore taking a unique strategy in the marketing process. All in all, she thanks the county government of Nyeri, for earlier organizing an advertising and talent event, a platform that created an opening and helped in establishing link with people interested in her services.

She advises young women not to look down on their gender as a strong hold for not venturing into the so called ‘men‘s career’. Instead, she urges them to dream big but most important be pragmatic and actualize the dreams.

By Hannah Wangechi