What is the story behind your local fashion outfit?
It is a well-known fact that government cannot employ everybody as such people, especially the youths must venture into other legitimate means of sustaining a living. Most advanced countries of the world has been propelled by young entrepreneurs, who by virtue of their entrepreneurial skills and innovations improve the standard of living of their people through wealth creation, job opportunities and the conditions for a prosperous society.
I became inspired and motivated by the present administration policy of encouraging the patronage of made in Nigeria goods by being less dependent on foreign-imported goods which to a very large extent will ease our present economic challenges, increase our GDP, empower the youths and challenge their creativity with a view to ensuring self-reliance and sustainable economic development in our country.
Your firm, Xchafe’s Collectibles (XC) is growing. How do you operate?
My vision is to create a world class fashion design outfit that will stand the true test of time and competes favourably with other brands at the international level.
Our intention is to engage in manufacturing all sorts of fashion designs, but at the moment we only produce clothing line designs and manufacture all types of footwear.
In an effort to achieve our goals, the XChafes Collectibles (XC) assembled a team of six graduates and 10 supporting staff with vast knowledge and experience in several field in order to ensure efficiency and maximum output.
As a young entrepreneur, what are the challenges you are facing?
Challenges in every business are certainly inevitable. Well I faced a lot of challenges ranging from dealing with clients down to my staffs.
Another great challenge is the lack of sufficient power supply which hinders our ability to operate at optimum level coupled with our inability to procure some sophisticated finishing machines that would have made our job much easier.
However in every challenge comes an opportunity to be more creative in meeting the taste of our existing and potential clients. I am quite impressed with the role Government is playing in bringing schemes aimed at boosting small and medium scale enterprises.
Recently, the Senate also amended the public procurement act to encourage the patronage of local goods. This will create a positive market for young entrepreneurs to which I believe will greatly enhance our productive base as a country. More importantly, it will help to address some of the challenges we are facing like the current economic recession.
What are the platforms you are creating to empower others?
Firstly, we decided to come together as a team to employ ourselves by not relying on government for jobs. We went further to employ 10 people who assist us in production and manufacturing of our designs, in so doing we have contributed our own little quota at alleviating the problem of unemployment ravaging our country.
As we expand, we intend to employ more Nigerians to reduce the burden faced by government. I am a firm believer that the private sector is the driver of the economy and with good government policies has the potentials of re-engineering the economy, boosting growth and ensuring a sustainable economic development.
What is your advice to aspiring entrepreneurs?
My advice to young entrepreneurs is to first and foremost challenge yourself on what you have passion for by boldly taking the risk, have total believe in yourself with a vision and focus. Face your fears and learn from past mistakes, build a great team through good working relationship and mutual understanding and finally deliver to your clients more than expected.
As for the unemployed youth, don’t wait for the government to employ you, find that one thing that you are very good at and put in all your best, strategize and know your strength, weakness, opportunity and threat by effectively taking actions that will enable you compete and excel in life.
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