Kiki Osinbajo, daughter of Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s vice-president, has narrated how she built ‘Glam’d Africa’, her fashion brand, despite the challenges of being “born with a silver spoon”.
In a barrage of pictures and captions shared via her Instastory on Friday, the 26-year-old graduate of Aston University reminisced on the hurdles and discouragement that came her way and how she defied the odds for a more productive life of her own.
According to her, it took a year to establish the fashion brand — a feat which had her soiling her hands and making the rounds between home and the site while it was still under construction.
“I may have been born with a silver spoon but no one can say I don’t work hard. A few years ago, I decided to start my own business and, now, I look back and wonder what I was thinking. Turning somewhere into my own little empire,” she wrote.
“This, Glanm’d Africa, is my empire. A place I worked hard to build, defying the norm. Taking the negativity; letting it drive me; and knowing that, one day, it would be where I want it to be. For now, I’m happy for all you who have patronized.
“This is just the beginning. I’m still coming. I was literally on this site for a year. From picking tiles to furniture and lighting. Sometimes, it felt impossible to complete. But, in the end, it was well worth it.”
She also urged emerging talents and entrepreneurs never to give up on their dreams irrespective of how daunting and unachievable they might seem at the onset.
“Never give up on your dream no matter how big and unreachable it seems. People feel those in the limelight can do anything. Everyone’s circumstances are different but we all have our own challenges,” she wrote.
“Going through the fear and adding criticisms or the burden of nay-sayers makes it even harder. Don’t let your challenges define you, let it fuel you.”
In September 2017, Kiki kick-started Glam’d Africa, a brand built out of the vision of “creating a co-working space that would serve as a hub for beauty businesses” including make-up artistes, beauty brands, clothing brands, and nail artists.
It’s launching was massively attended by political figures including the vice president himself, family members, friends, and fans of the then 24-year-old entrepreneur.
The fashion house is situated in Abuja.
