MSME Day: How Biniyam Saol Built a Thriving Bakery Enterprise in Wolaita Sodo

Is there anything better than the aroma of freshly baked bread in the morning? For the residents of Wolaita Sodo, that scent has become synonymous with resilience and hard work. Following the recent Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Day, the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) is celebrating the journey of Biniyam Saol a man who chose a different path after earning a civil engineering degree, using his skills to build a successful bakery enterprise.

Biniyam’s entrepreneurial roots run deep. Back in the seventh grade, he began working alongside his family in the livestock sector. They poured years of hard work into the venture, but the returns were not satisfactory, leading the family to change their business sector. Biniyam continued his education and enrolled at Wolaita Sodo University.

While studying at the university, he also worked as a delivery courier for a local bakery, distributing fresh bread across the city.When graduation day arrived, Biniyam held a degree in civil engineering, but finding employment was difficult. He chose to continue working at the same bakery in various capacities for another year after graduation. It was during these long hours of hard work that Biniyam realized his true calling was building a business. Pooling his personal savings, rallying financial support from friends, and securing a loan from a local microfinance institution, Biniyam took a leap of faith and opened his first bakery.

He knew that to succeed in Wolaita Sodo, his products had to stand out. His bakery offers products suited for breakfast or tea time. Soon, he expanded into custom cakes, offering a variety of chocolate, vanilla, and fruit flavors prepared for weddings, birthdays, and graduations for his customers.

In expanding and strengthening his enterprise, Biniyam joined the SEED program under EDI. Through this initiative in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, Biniyam received entrepreneurship training, mentorship, market linkage, and access to finance. This collaboration acted as a catalyst, equipping him with the tools to transform his bakery into a strengthened network of bakeries.

Today, at 32 years old, Biniyam is a husband, a father of three children, and an MSME operator living around the Wolaita Sodo University area. His business has grown into five branches, created jobs for 22 young people, and his capital is now valued in millions of Birrs. By expanding his business, Biniyam is contributing to economic growth and helping expand access to dignified and fulfilling work in his community, including creating opportunities that enable and support individuals from disadvantaged groups.

Biniyam has already secured a 1,000-square-meter plot of land where he plans to build his own flour factory, creating more jobs and continuing to drive the local economy forward. Happy MSME Day to Biniyam and all the courageous entrepreneurs making a difference!