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| Demola Oluwayemi to Asabeafrika….’If i find myself taking a brief on Law and sorting a client out on fabrics, i will do fabrics |
Demola Oluwayemi (Formerly Awoyemi) is one of the leading textile merchants in the
Federal Capital city of Abuja. His Beautiful
Fabrics & Accessories Outfit situated inside Omega Center on Aminu Kano
Crescent, Wuse 2 Abuja is a place where elite clients pick their fashion
articles like Laces, Embroidery, Jewelry and Handbags. He equally has an annex
on Hilary Road, London. However this
London trained legal expert who chose to dump his legal practice for textile
business has a lot of things working for him among which is the grace of God
and a parenthood steeped in discipline and hard work.
Federal Capital city of Abuja. His Beautiful
Fabrics & Accessories Outfit situated inside Omega Center on Aminu Kano
Crescent, Wuse 2 Abuja is a place where elite clients pick their fashion
articles like Laces, Embroidery, Jewelry and Handbags. He equally has an annex
on Hilary Road, London. However this
London trained legal expert who chose to dump his legal practice for textile
business has a lot of things working for him among which is the grace of God
and a parenthood steeped in discipline and hard work.
He recently spoke to Africa’s number
1 Celebrity Encounter blog Asabeafrika
in Ilesa, a sleepy town in Osun
state South West Nigeria during the wedding ceremony of Abuja based business
woman and CEO of Honey Bee Textiles Ltd,
Princess Bunmi Jegede’s daughter.
1 Celebrity Encounter blog Asabeafrika
in Ilesa, a sleepy town in Osun
state South West Nigeria during the wedding ceremony of Abuja based business
woman and CEO of Honey Bee Textiles Ltd,
Princess Bunmi Jegede’s daughter.
What is the secret of your success at
Beautiful Fabrics & Accessories?
Beautiful Fabrics & Accessories?
It is grace.
The grace of God is the only thing that keeps us going, for us at Beautiful Fabrics, that has been our watchword;
the grace of God keeps you going no matter the odds. So, I think it is nothing
but grace.
The grace of God is the only thing that keeps us going, for us at Beautiful Fabrics, that has been our watchword;
the grace of God keeps you going no matter the odds. So, I think it is nothing
but grace.
Who is Demola Oluwayemi in the real
sense?
sense?
I am one
person who works behind the scene; I will rather let my work speak for me and
that has been our tradition at Beautiful
Fabrics and Accessories. I thank God my work has been speaking for me over
the years, this is 28th year in business and we have made a lot of
success in the city of Abuja. It a textile and fabric business and our taste are
simply the best.
person who works behind the scene; I will rather let my work speak for me and
that has been our tradition at Beautiful
Fabrics and Accessories. I thank God my work has been speaking for me over
the years, this is 28th year in business and we have made a lot of
success in the city of Abuja. It a textile and fabric business and our taste are
simply the best.
“I studied law but
coming back home I had a family business I needed to turn around and here I am
in the last two decades plus, we have done that business in a fantastic way. I
am proud of my legal background as a trained lawyer and I am also very proud of
my work as a textile merchant”
What were the challenges of starting
Beautiful Fabrics and Accessories?
Beautiful Fabrics and Accessories?
Well, my
parents were in similar business; so, I understood it a little better than
other people that started when I started and secondly, the fact that, maybe
initially as a lawyer I wasn’t interested going into the business but I
discovered that God has chosen me and given me a niche and I am grateful for
that niche. It has taken us this far.
parents were in similar business; so, I understood it a little better than
other people that started when I started and secondly, the fact that, maybe
initially as a lawyer I wasn’t interested going into the business but I
discovered that God has chosen me and given me a niche and I am grateful for
that niche. It has taken us this far.
What is the implication of studying
law and doing textile business?
law and doing textile business?
I have been
trained to adapt to all situations in life and I think that is working fine for
me. I am a lawyer by training but I am a textile merchant by heritage. I inherited
the business from my parent and it does a lot of good for me to have the
knowledge of law and marry it with the expertise of textile business. That is
basically what happened.
trained to adapt to all situations in life and I think that is working fine for
me. I am a lawyer by training but I am a textile merchant by heritage. I inherited
the business from my parent and it does a lot of good for me to have the
knowledge of law and marry it with the expertise of textile business. That is
basically what happened.
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| Demola Oluwayemi with SA to Gov. Mimiko Bar. Toyin Aladegbemi |
What do you think is the secret of
success?
success?
Grace.
Grace. Grace. The Bible says hard work and good planning leads to success. You
must be hard working, focus and determined to make a success of your exploits.
But above all, grace is the ultimate factor that leads one to success.
Grace. Grace. The Bible says hard work and good planning leads to success. You
must be hard working, focus and determined to make a success of your exploits.
But above all, grace is the ultimate factor that leads one to success.
Will you say you became a lawyer by
accident since your mother was into Fabric?
accident since your mother was into Fabric?
I wanted to
study law, it was something I prepared for and I went ahead to study law at the
University of Buckingham, United Kingdom and for me that was the
biggest choice I have ever taken. I studied law but coming back home I had a
family business I needed to turn around and here I am in the last two decades
plus, we have done that business in a fantastic way. I am proud of my legal background
as a trained lawyer and I am also very proud of my work as a textile merchant.
study law, it was something I prepared for and I went ahead to study law at the
University of Buckingham, United Kingdom and for me that was the
biggest choice I have ever taken. I studied law but coming back home I had a
family business I needed to turn around and here I am in the last two decades
plus, we have done that business in a fantastic way. I am proud of my legal background
as a trained lawyer and I am also very proud of my work as a textile merchant.
So, what do you do with your law
certificate?
certificate?
I still
practice but not as much as I do fabrics.
practice but not as much as I do fabrics.
If a client consults you to handle a
brief in court and another client consults you to purchase fabrics for him,
which one would you preffer?
brief in court and another client consults you to purchase fabrics for him,
which one would you preffer?
I don’t do
advocacy I do solicitor’s work.
advocacy I do solicitor’s work.
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| Demola Oluwayemi of Beautiful Fabrics & Accessories dances to the Music of Commander Ebenezer Obey |
Between law and textile business
which one is more rewarding?
which one is more rewarding?
The first
one is my practice and the second one is my business. But I cannot tell you
which one is more rewarding because one is my practice while the other is my
business.
one is my practice and the second one is my business. But I cannot tell you
which one is more rewarding because one is my practice while the other is my
business.
Tell us about your parent?
My mother is
still alive but my father is gone, his name is Chief Awoyemi. My mum is the Iyalode
of Ilishan Remo. Her name is Chief
(Mrs.) Grace Oluwa Awoyemi but I am Oluwayemi.
still alive but my father is gone, his name is Chief Awoyemi. My mum is the Iyalode
of Ilishan Remo. Her name is Chief
(Mrs.) Grace Oluwa Awoyemi but I am Oluwayemi.
What did you learn from them while
growing?
growing?
I learnt
hard work, I learnt from my mother diligence and I learnt from my father
integrity. Those two things work for me till date and I thank God that I passed
through this great people.
hard work, I learnt from my mother diligence and I learnt from my father
integrity. Those two things work for me till date and I thank God that I passed
through this great people.
Are you the first born?
I am the
second born.
second born.
How many of you?
We are five
in number, four boys and a girl.
in number, four boys and a girl.
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| Demola Oluwayemi during a church service |
Is any of your children likely to
take after you in terms of fashion business?
take after you in terms of fashion business?
Not really
because they don’t have their interest in fashion.
because they don’t have their interest in fashion.
What is your perception of the
textile business industry in Nigeria in years to come? Do you think it can be
bigger than oil?
textile business industry in Nigeria in years to come? Do you think it can be
bigger than oil?
Why not, I
think we are doing very well and there is room for us to go further and I am
sure it is part of the things the new government will bring to bear to
encourage people in fashion business. I think we are pretty talented in Nigeria
with fashion. If the business is structured very well with the right policies
put in place, we can actually succeed and make a lead for the economy.
think we are doing very well and there is room for us to go further and I am
sure it is part of the things the new government will bring to bear to
encourage people in fashion business. I think we are pretty talented in Nigeria
with fashion. If the business is structured very well with the right policies
put in place, we can actually succeed and make a lead for the economy.
Let me reframe my earlier question by
putting it this way, if you are given a
legal brief to handle a case for N5billion and you have a textile job of N2.5billion which one would you go for?
putting it this way, if you are given a
legal brief to handle a case for N5billion and you have a textile job of N2.5billion which one would you go for?
I will go
for my major area of competency, I will go for (the) textile (deal) but that
does not mean I won’t go for the legal brief. I will go for competency.
for my major area of competency, I will go for (the) textile (deal) but that
does not mean I won’t go for the legal brief. I will go for competency.
How do you start your day in Abuja?
My day
starts with prayer first and foremost and I try to play table tennis every
morning to keep fit.
starts with prayer first and foremost and I try to play table tennis every
morning to keep fit.
Do you do golfing?
I prefer
table tennis, golfing, not yet. Maybe when I am in my sixties I will start
golfing but now I am okay with table tennis.
table tennis, golfing, not yet. Maybe when I am in my sixties I will start
golfing but now I am okay with table tennis.
Which country is your favorite
holiday spot?
holiday spot?
I like
Spain, there is this city called Mabeya
that is my favorite holiday spot in Spain.
Spain, there is this city called Mabeya
that is my favorite holiday spot in Spain.
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| Demola Oluwayemi, MD & CEO, Beautiful Fabrics & Accessories, Abuja |
Do you have a role model?
That is very
difficult but if I am to chose a role model for my Christian life I think that
will be Reverend (Dr.) Paul Jinadu,
Founder New Covenant Church, London.
He is one unique man of God who got his calling in a very divine way. He is a
church grower and I love his leadership style.
difficult but if I am to chose a role model for my Christian life I think that
will be Reverend (Dr.) Paul Jinadu,
Founder New Covenant Church, London.
He is one unique man of God who got his calling in a very divine way. He is a
church grower and I love his leadership style.
Do you have an advice for young people going
into textile business?
into textile business?
Hard work as
the Bible says and good planning leads to success. Young people should be ready
to work hard and plan well, nothing comes cheap and easy. Nothing comes out of nothing;
you have to give out something to get something. I believe if young people of
today can drop the arrogance on their shoulders they will go a long way in success.
So, work hard, plan and succeed.
the Bible says and good planning leads to success. Young people should be ready
to work hard and plan well, nothing comes cheap and easy. Nothing comes out of nothing;
you have to give out something to get something. I believe if young people of
today can drop the arrogance on their shoulders they will go a long way in success.
So, work hard, plan and succeed.
