Mejire Arubayi is a PRINCE2 certified Senior Programme Manager with vast experience in delivering various strategic projects across organisations. He has a first degree in Economics and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Sheffield Business School, United Kingdom.
As an astute Project Manager and Business Analyst, Mejire has demonstrated results in the operations of several high value and critical systems in multi-platform environments in Europe and Africa.
A Contract Manager at WOODstyles Limited, a joinery and fit-out company that aims for perfection in designing and producing quality woodwork suitable for a variety of luxury products, Mejire, in this interview with MARIA DIAMOND, speaks about the place for interior designing and the designers in Nigeria as well as how the industry contributes to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the economy as a whole, amongst other issues.

Take us through your accomplishment as a project and design manager?
I have undertaken several enterprise transformation projects and consulting roles with cross-functional experience of a wide spectrum of industries ranging from hospitality, finance, health, public sector, retail and construction. I have been into designs in the past 12 to 15 years and interior designs for hotels, offices, private homes, amongst others. I have worked on several projects in Nigeria before I joined Woodstyles Limited as a Contract Manager. It was based on these experiences that I now provide strategic direction for Woodstyles Limited, while remaining a hands-on project manager overseeing projects’ needs. However, I naturally keyed into Woodstyles because it entails the kind of designs I do: high end finishing, luxurious finishing, detailed finishing and bespoke finishing.

From your experience, where is the place for interior designing and the designers in Nigeria?
Initially we used to think interior design in Nigeria was a green-field but overtime that narrative has changed. We had all of these experienced interior designers and interior design architects amongst others, but we did not give them a name. So, everyone is beginning to realise the importance of having an interior designer on his or her project.

There was a time in Nigeria that some people felt they had to import to get high quality luxury design products. Do you think this has changed?
This will take time to change, however, the curve is beginning to tilt towards our side. The government policies have begun to help. But notwithstanding, it is expensive because we have to compete with imported goods. We will not say because a product is made in Nigeria, then it should have a mediocre standard. We want to compete with international brands and we are succeeding in doing that. So, it is like we are bringing international standards to local brands and this is done by Nigeria in Nigeria for Nigerians. More importantly, we understand the Nigerian extreme harsh weather and produce for the market accordingly, such that puts us at an advantage over those who import furniture items without taking our weather into consideration.

How does the weather affect furnishing and woodwork designs?
In Nigeria, we have extremely harsh weather – harmattan and the rainy season. These seasons affect woodworks and this is why you see that some houses have doors, and during the rainy season, the doors will close but during dry seasons, the doors will not close. This is because the door is bending during the dry season and will shrink during the rainy season. There are tables that will twist after some time and chairs that will make some sounds. So, we understand the market and the kind of woods and raw materials to use in this market. In Lagos, we are very close to the sea; there is a lot of salt water and this affects your door handles. This is not produced in Nigeria but we use the ones that are produced to a specific specification.

Are there enough raw materials in Nigeria or designers still have to import?
We still have to import some of our raw materials. The Nigeria industry has not developed to the extent where they can produce the accessories, the metal work, the handles, the locks etc. But we are getting there. We have started developing some of these accessories, which are just commercial large-scale projects. But the kind of market that we are in is a very high-end one. We want luxurious door handles etc. So, for now, we are importing and we are hoping that in the next five years, Nigerians will set up industries to produce all of these things.

Do you think the interior design industry has the potential to contribute maximally to Nigeria’s GDP? 
Yes it does. This is based on the fact that Nigerian designers locally are beginning to make very good interior designs and Nigerians are beginning to trust them to do interior designs. We have quite a lot of leading interior designers now in Nigeria. So, the income that should have gone to a foreign company would come to Nigerians. This means they earn more; they pay more tax and the GDP increases. The turnaround time is faster.
If we buy furniture abroad and everything is made abroad, this means we would be losing foreign exchange and the naira would be dropping. Now that we do it in Nigeria and we are local, turnaround time is shorter; after-sales service is better. Our reach-out time to clients is 24 hours. These are the advantages of us being local. All these have multiplier effects on the economy, which then goes back to the GDP. So, we may just be a small fraction but with the way we are going, in the next couple of years, interior design and furniture will become a huge contributor to Nigeria’s GDP. 

What are the challenges that set the industry back in Nigeria?  
In the country we face quite a lot of challenges like power issues. We have a very sophisticated modern factory in Nigeria where all our equipment needs constant power supply. We always have to run our factory on power generating sets because we cannot afford machines going on and off as they are computerised.
Also we have the challenge of getting staff with the right skill set in Nigeria. We spend quite a lot on local staff because we believe in local content rather than bringing in expatriates. So, getting the right people with the right frame of mind who are ready to work has been a challenge. This makes us to keep training people.
Raw material sourcing is also a challenge. In the industry where we are, we cannot afford to make a mistake. If someone orders wardrobes and doors and you buy the wrong raw materials to produce, at the outset it would look good but if three months down the line termites start to eat the doors and the wardrobes, you can’t tell clients to move out of the house so you can replace them. This is why we can’t go below standard.

During and after COVID-19, occupancies for hotels dropped. How is this affecting the industry?
This works both ways. When occupancy drops, where are the occupants going to stay? Airbnb! They stay in Airbnb apartments and Woodstyles comes in and fits-out these apartments. These clients are staying in hotels; they have a minimum level of quality they want, whether they are staying in a hotel, Airbnb or any kind of residential property. You will never rule out a standard traditional hotel. Not everyone wants to cook; some people want to check-in. Not everyone wants to make his or her beds. So, we are catering for all markets irrespective.

As a bespoke brand how does Woodstyles fit into the design space?
Over the years, interior designers have grown to a level that is beyond just furniture making. This is why Woodstyles displays its professionalism as a fit-out bespoke company than regular furniture. We come up with anything, so long as it is made with wood and metal. We do this based on a design done by an interior architect or an interior designer. We have had the privilege of working with the likes of Microsoft, BBC, to name but a few. Our most recent residential project was done by the interior designer that did Burj Al Arab in Dubai. They had intricate details, which we had to work with. There were doubts on whether we could deliver but we have done that and handed over the project. We are currently working on a project with an interior designer designing one of the biggest five-star hotel brands in the world here in Nigeria.

How does Woodstyles meet different clients’ luxury tastes?
More often than not, most of our clients come without design ideas. This is the benefit we at Woodstyles have over other fit-out companies. We sit down with the clients and design the space for them. We choose the kind of wood, accessories etc., and this will be based on sessions we have had with the clients. We discuss with clients on the kind of house they want – modern, classical or the mix of both. This also depends on the age of the client.

A lot of clients in their early 30s want some high-end products. A lot of people in their 50s and 60s want contemporary items. So, we need to know what they want and give this to them. We advise and work with their budgets. However, as an ISO company, we cannot afford to go below standard because it will affect our certification. We also give clients warranty. So, we cannot give them a substandard product. We always give clients options that will last the test of time.

Where do you see the brand in the next five to 10 years? 
Woodstyles is six years old going to seven years. We have pioneered a lot of innovations in the fit-out industry and we hope to be the foremost joinery company in West Africa doing all sorts of bespoke items. We keep researching and innovating and working with global brands to ensure we get to the top as soon as possible.