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Take us a bit through your career journey till date. What would you say has stood out for you the most so far?
MY career journey till date has been amazingly fulfilling and as I journey on, I am utterly grateful to God for the gift of talent to create art. My journey started humbly from home as I started as an interior designer before adding fashion design to my portfolio. My humble beginnings have indeed kept me grounded and grateful as I started designing for close friends and myself and then commercially. One thing stands out for me, my love for art and my continuous desire to keep innovating everyday.
Your artistry is quite unique. Why did you choose to do your designs this way?
I wouldn’t say I chose the way I design. No one chooses art. Art chooses you and your mind. I would say I am an artist interpreting my creativity and talent through clothing. They are wearable art and I go with the flow of my creative mind.
Entrepreneurship has been generally very tough for many owners. How are you navigating these tough times and staying afloat?
Entrepreneurship has been generally tough in different ways and areas. The time for basic or doing things in the same traditional way is not sustainable anymore. I believe that entrepreneurs now must be innovative and dig deep in their fields of endeavour and do things differently and be very tenacious. Most importantly, you must be passionate about it because you will need the comfort of fulfillment when the business is facing challenges.
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What other opportunities can players in this industry explore?
As the creative director of my business, I believe that every creative is a versatile being. You can create literally from anything and maximise your talent by studying your environment to find another niche that is relatable. For instance, I personally believe that as a fashion designer, interior designing is a very lucrative opportunity to explore.
said you were recently inducted as a member into the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC). Of what significance is this to you and the work you do?
I was inducted in July 2022, and it is a humbling honouir. It is a huge honour to be in a prestigious organisation and its significance in the space of commerce for an international entrepreneur cannot be overemphasised. International relations and trade are on its foremost significance and this is something that every forward thinking entrepreneur should explore as we must all look at how to expand beyond Nigeria.
How have you integrated yourself in the Canadian fashion entrepreneurial scene and how does it differ from Nigeria’s?
Human beings are the same everywhere and our wants are somewhat similar. Everyone wants something pleasant to look at that is durable and wearable and that is what I deliver. We have clients from all works of life globally and as the numbers continued to increase, we decided to go closer to our clients in North America.
Would you say interior décor is still thriving in Nigeria in the face of increasing hardship in the country?
Interior design will remain relevant because it is lifestyle and living. People will always build homes, just as we see real estate is on the increase even in these times. Building homes and offices will never stop and they will need to be designed so it can never go out of demand.
What solutions would you proffer to the government to resuscitate and renew the confidence of players in this industry?
The government, stakeholders and well-established entrepreneurs need to empower and support passionate upcoming entrepreneurs. I believe empowering either with funding or trainings will aid more people in their business and in turn offer job opportunities for more people.
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Your passion for women’s growth and empowerment has led you down some interesting paths. Tell us a little about this?
I am passionate about empowering women, though I tend to do this more in private than publicly. I strongly believe that when you empower a woman, you empower a family and in turn, a community and the nation. Most times from experience, women will bring their children or sisters to join them in their business. This helps to train more of her family members and provide job opportunities for them. I am passionate about the woman who refuses to settle even in dire situations, instead forges ahead to beat stereotypes.
What is your passion; what drives you to keep succeeding?
I would say it isthe knowledgeof thegift by God. It is my major driver. I believe that I am to make the best use of the gift being giving to me purposefully and be accountable as my passion for art and creativity keeps in awe of God as the creator.
How do you deal with disappointment and loss when they come up?
After the passing of my father in 2020, I have come to realise that every day is a gift. I live light and take disappointments in my stride, as what God allowed to happen to me for the good of his glory.
You live a busy lifestyle doing many things at once. How do you manage to do everything successfully?
I’m a very meticulous person and a firm believer in planning. I mostly follow schedules accordingly and make changes where needed, but I mostly follow laid-down plans.
How do you see the future of the fashion and design industry?
Africa is the new world. Nigeria precisely is endowed with mind-blowing creators and creations that indeed confirm that we are blessed even in the midst of all we are passing through. The future is here and we are doing excellently well and things can only get better from here.
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