…Challenges opposition: engage businesses, Nigerians before judging reforms

…Makib Estilo targets all 36 states, global market as owner credits forex stability for growth

The ongoing economic reforms undertaken by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are restoring confidence in Nigeria’s business environment and creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs to expand, the Technical Assistant on Regional Development Programmes in the Office of the Vice President, Dr Nafia Abdullahi, has said.

Abdullahi spoke on Sunday during the unveiling of Makib Estilo, a new business outlet in the Central Area of Abuja, by the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.

Unveiling the business outfit, the minister noted that businesses are witnessing rapid growth because the Tinubu administration is supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through targeted intervention funds, single-digit loans, and free business formalization drives.

Corroborating the minister’s stance, Dr. Abdullahi attributed the growth of the enterprise from a small shop into a diversified business to what she described as improving economic conditions under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The presidential aide also challenged opposition politicians criticising the administration’s economic policies to engage directly with businesses and ordinary Nigerians before concluding that the reforms had worsened economic conditions.

Abdullahi said critics should assess the reforms objectively, arguing that while economic changes could initially be difficult to absorb, Nigerians were gradually becoming accustomed to the new realities and beginning to appreciate their potential benefits.

“Change is not easy. People don’t easily adapt to change. I don’t adapt to change easily myself,” she said.

According to her, the reforms were introducing new economic realities to Nigerians, but their impact was becoming clearer as businesses and citizens adjusted to them.

“What is happening now is that the country is introducing things to Nigeria that people are not very familiar with. But along the way, they are getting accustomed to them and seeing their importance and the positive impact they are having on the economy,” she said.

Abdullahi specifically urged opposition politicians to move beyond hearsay and interact with businesses and Nigerians directly.

“They should judge us with clean eyes. They should open their eyes, interact and come to us and ask questions instead of using hearsay.

“They should relate with us with an open mind. If they really do that, I think they will see how the economic reforms are affecting the country in a more positive way,” she said.

Abdullahi said the administration’s economic reforms had begun to ease some of the difficulties previously faced by businesses, particularly enterprises dependent on imported goods.

She identified developments in the foreign exchange market as a major factor contributing to renewed confidence among entrepreneurs.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda, as we all know, coming from the Presidency, is one of the greatest things happening to Nigeria. This is one of the administrations that has done well for entrepreneurs,” she said.

She recalled that the sharp depreciation of the naira had previously increased the cost of importing goods and made business expansion more difficult.

“If you look at the dollar, as my sister mentioned earlier, before, the dollar was just going up rapidly, so it was getting difficult for us to import and bring things into Nigeria.

“But after the economic reforms were introduced, everything started coming down. You can see that the business is stabilised,” Abdullahi said.

She added that plans to expand the business had been conceived earlier but could not be implemented at the time, saying the changing economic environment had strengthened the promoters’ confidence to proceed.

“We wanted to do this earlier, but it didn’t happen. But with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, you can see that everything is blooming. You can see that we are moving forward, and we don’t want to stop anytime soon,” she said.

Abdullahi said Makib Estilo, established by her sister, Fatima Abdullahi Bono, started about seven years ago as Makib Apparels but had since evolved into a one-stop outlet offering interior products, kitchenware, fabrics and other household and lifestyle items.

She said the decision to rebrand the business as Makib Estilo was aimed at bringing its expanding product lines and outlets under a single identity while giving customers greater convenience.

“We are very happy with what she has become. This business started seven years ago, so you can imagine starting from a small shop and seeing what we have today.

“You can see the people and everything we have for every category of person. Our prices range from as low as N100 or N500 to millions of naira. Everyone is welcome to Makib Estilo. Our doors are always open,” she said.

The owner of Makib Estilo, Fatima Abdullahi, also credited improved foreign exchange conditions with the growth of the business, saying the company imports most of its products and therefore remains sensitive to movements in the dollar.

Abdullahi, who described the venture as a passion that gradually became an important part of her life, said the business had undergone significant transformation since its establishment about seven years ago.

Expressing gratitude to God, customers, supporters and well-wishers, she said the unveiling represented an important milestone in the evolution of the business.

“Before I start, I want to thank Almighty Allah for allowing us to witness this day. Alhamdulillah, everything is going well. We thank all our supporters. I saw love, I saw massive support, and I saw blessings,” she said.

On the impact of the foreign exchange market, she said: “Before, we had been dealing with a higher dollar rate, but with the coming of the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, everything is going down. The dollar rate is going down and our business is going very well now.”

She explained that the development was significant because the company sources its products internationally and pays for them in dollars.

“For us to get the exchange rate before, we used to get it very high, but now we are getting our products at a much better rate because the dollar is very low, and we are satisfied,” she said.

The entrepreneur said Makib Estilo was not limiting its operations to retailing, disclosing plans to attract investors and develop new business opportunities.

“Our business is not just for selling. We have room for any person who wants to start business. We have business ideas. We have room for investors to come and start investing,” she said.

Abdullahi disclosed that she had more than 10 business ideas that could be developed with interested investors, adding that she was willing to offer free consultations to prospective entrepreneurs.

Abdullahi said the long-term ambition was to transform Makib Estilo into a household name across Nigeria, with plans to establish outlets in all 36 states of the federation within the next five years.

She added that the company was also looking beyond Nigeria as it considers taking the brand into the international market.

“In the next five years, I think we are going to be everywhere in this country. We are even looking at going global.

“By the grace of God, within the next five years, we will be everywhere in this country. Every state you go to, you will see that we have established a company, Makib Estilo. It will become a household name in every state in Nigeria, Insha Allah,” she said.

Fatima Abdullahi also commended the support and encouragement she received from women leaders in government, particularly the Minister of Women Affairs, whom she said welcomed her and offered useful advice despite having no prior relationship with her.

Describing the gesture as an example of “women supporting women,” she said the minister’s intervention demonstrated the importance of government support for emerging entrepreneurs.

“She welcomed us with good hands and gave us her own piece of advice. She is doing her role as Minister of Women Affairs because she supported people like us. We are just ordinary citizens; she doesn’t know us, but immediately we went to her, she welcomed us,” she said.

With its expanding product lines, investment ambitions and plans for nationwide outlets, Makib Estilo, according to its promoters, is positioning itself not only as a retail business but as a platform for broader entrepreneurial opportunities.