For four years, Ngozi Ireogbu, a graduate of Mass Communication from Abia State University, searched for paid employments, without success, ending up in fashion world.
By Eberechi Obinagwam
For four years, Ngozi Ireogbu, a graduate of Mass Communication from Abia State University, searched for paid employments, without success., ending up in fashion world.
Shortly after completing her National Youth Service in 2015, Ngozi began the search for a job that would match her new status. Her efforts saw her plumbing the streets, putting in applications and visiting corporate and private organisations.
After a long and stressful search that produced no result, she decided to learn a skill – Fashion Design in 2019. After completing her 9-month training, she started her business, Lovebridals in Umuahia, Abia State. Today, Ngozi is happy that she has a skill. She also makes youths stand on their own as entrepreneurs by training them. Above all, she has fulfilled her dreams of becoming a fashion designer.
READ ALSO:
TheNiche Young Entrepreneur: Banking to baking, Adannaya’s story of passion and purpose
“I have always loved fashion designing. I have always had it in mind to be something I would settle with if I had a paying job but when I didn’t get a job for a long time, I had to follow my dream. Today, I am happy that I did. I have trained so many people that are doing great in the industry today,” she said.
Challenge of startup capital
The CEO of Lovebridals said sourcing for capital was not too difficult for her at the time she started her business because she had enrolled in a government program then called Npower in 2016, “I was saving my stipends and buying the equipment I use today in my shop,” she said.
Penetrating the market
Ngozi disclosed that breaking into the market was challenging, but she stayed focused, persistent, and true to her vision. “It took time, but with dedication and adaptability, I succeeded in the fashion industry,” she said.
She recalled a touching experience she had while struggling to establish her business. “In the process of struggling to establish my business, I was robbed in February, 2020, a few months after starting my business in 2019. It was the month I just opened a shop. That particular experience threw me off balance. I was so hurt but after a while I got over it and took it as one of the challenges business owners face,” she recalled.
Ngozi said even after establishing her position as a fashion designer, overcoming the fears in sewing trousers for plus size women, became another challenge for her. “I kept rejecting the job offers till I summoned courage to try and boom it was perfect and since then I can’t even believe how well and perfect, I sew trousers,” she said.
Ngozi added; “Staying allowed me to make a positive impact, pursue my passion and build a brand rooted in my heritage”.
Plight of business owners in Nigeria
Ngozi said the hike in fuel price is a major challenge in the fashion industry because it has led to an increase in tailoring materials, work charges and many others. “The hike in price is affecting a whole lot. The high price in tailoring materials has been attributed to it. It affects the price we charge our customers. Most times customers feel we are trying to extort them but it is not true. In Nigeria today when prices of things are not stable, if you are not careful you end up having nothing left with you after your work,” she said.
She also identified unstable power supply as part of the challenges businesses are facing in Nigeria, “Our lights are not stable so we spend a lot on buying fuel to work which adds to the amount we charge our customers. When some of my customers shout at my charges, I tell them to choose between waiting till any time there is constant light to get their work done or pay and get their jobs done on time,” she said.
Her take on Japa
The CEO of Lovebridals said she is not against Japa because the economy is not getting better. “I am not against Japa because currently the economic situation is not favorable even to the rich, not to talk of the middle class and it doesn’t seem to be getting better. So, if anyone sees opportunity and the resources to, he or she can secure their children’s future. If I have the resources, I will do the same for the sake of my kids,” she said.
