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| Amarachi and Kehinde |
Amarachi Agufobi
and Kehinde Oluwafemi would never have probably known each other but for their
passion for fashion design. While Agufobi studied Economics at the University
of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Oluwafemi has a Higher National Diploma in
Business Administration from the Lagos City Polytechnic, Lagos.
The two never
intended to make anything serious out of their love fashion making. Yet, they
had an undying passion to acquire basic skills in sowing long before their
current status.
As typical of the
National Youth Service Corps members, their major preoccupation was securing
good jobs. But for extra skills, they turned to Field of Skills and Dreams
Academy, the famous Ikeja-based vocational skill acquisition and empowerment
centre, for a short course in fashion design. The nine-month training coupled
with the vast opportunity they have found on digital space has changed their
life ambitions. Now, they are exploring the Internet, like a few other young
chaps are doing, to promote their fashion labels.
Their stories
might not have caught the attention of CNN
(at least not yet) as in the case of the Agege bread seller-turned celebrity,
Olajumoke Orisaguna. Orusaguna broke the Internet when her photograph was taken
by TY Bello. The photograph that trended for several days has earned the young
lady a place in the highly-competitive showbiz.
However, Agufobi
and Oluwafemi are currently relishing a moment of glory on the cyberspace as
their photographs hit the cyberspace – thanks to the honour of their
outstanding works by the Bank of Industry.
They emerged winners at this year’s BoI-organised National Skills
Competition. While the Imo State-born Agufobi was crowned winner of the fashion
designer category, Oluwafemi was declared the first runner-up in the same
category. With both of them coming from the same training school, their names
ballooned on the Internet.
For weeks,
Executive Director of FSD, Omowale Ogunrinde, who commended the ingenuity of the
awardees, celebrated them on social media platforms. It is not only Ogunrinde
that has celebrated the aspiring designers. Their co-trainees, friends and
fashion icons joined the online ‘party’.
Agufobi’s winning
work, a white wedding gown with a touch of local fabric, has been trending on
the Internet. The Economics graduate said the online photograph had, indeed,
brought her fame, but more importantly made her to realise that she could depend
on the digital space to build a profitable business.
“I operate from a
corner of my house. Now, I believe the Internet is large enough to accommodate
my business. I have always believed that my passion will take me to places. But
how to start has always been a challenge. There is no doubt that the Internet
is the solution I have been seeking,” she said.
According to her,
the training, award and the online have given her a chance to fulfill a
childhood dream – building an enduring business.
Even with a
university degree, she is not thinking of a job anymore but how she could
create some. Listing the advantages of digital media, she said, any industrious
person can earn a living without a paid job.
Oluwafemi, on his
part, said he looked forward to building a world-class virtual showroom and
vocational centre. With no physical shop yet, his clothing label is already
exploring the vast space on the Internet.
Before the award,
a few people had started patronising Oluwafemi. But with the honour, according
to him, comes an online buzz that has showcased his talent in a manner he never
dreamt. He said the unlimited opportunities on the Internet were enough motivation
an ambitious youth needed to reach out.
“I thought I actually
needed a job to fulfill my dreams. But I now know that I can be an employer of
labour. All I need is modest financial resource for a start-up. The digital
space has even reduced the cost of starting a new business. With a small shop,
I can launch a portal where I can reach the entire world. This is where youths
should be looking at to create jobs for themselves,” he noted.
Oluwafemi is not
only into design. He also operates laundry and related services. But a robust
online platform, he said, was key to the survival of his big dream.
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