OLATUNDE SABIU (Cobbler)

Brand Name: SABITINI

Olatunde Sabiu (in his workshop doing what he knows best)

Olatunde Sabiu is the CEO of Creative Footwear Nigeria Limited trademarked “Sabitini”, a footwear company that meets international standards. Sabitini started in 1998 shortly after his secondary education, after going through an apprenticeship program with a local shoe maker. By then his passion for making shoes had grown, beginning from his childhood days. Olatunde approached YBIN in 2007 for a start-up finance of which was granted. He started building his customer base from his home office and from where he gradually expands. In November 2009, his first show room was opened to display his creative shoes.

Olatunde Sabiu has trained lose to over 15 youths who are presently making a living from cobbling. In his own words, Olatunde says ‘’Making shoes for people and seeing people with so much smiles has awakened my life. It has given me a sense of purpose especially training youths of my age the art of shoe-making, at the same time seeing them become men of trade also delighted my soul and this has given me the strength never to look back in becoming the best shoe maker in my country and even in the world”

For more info Check Think Shoe, Think Sabitini on his Facebook fan page.

BONAVENTURE CHIDI ONUORAH (Honey Production)

Bonaventure Onuorah attended International First Aide Society seminal on Bee-keeping in the year 2002, where he got interested in honey packaging after being enlightened on the use of natural honey and its advantage over sugar. In 2002, with a start-up loan of Two Hundred and Ninety Seven Thousand Naira to buy the necessary equipments for packaging the honey, he grew the business successfully. As at 2008, the business was worth over Eight Hundred Thousand Naira.

HENRIETTA AGBOOLA (Hat Designer)
House of Henri

The making of hats in unique designs, shapes and colours that meet exactly the need of the customers is the basis of Henrietta Agboola’s millinery business.

While in secondary school, Henrietta studied textile design and was awarded “best overall student”. Despite holding a degree in psychology and a higher degree in organizational behavior from the University of Lagos, Henrietta was unable to secured a salaried job. After much thought she decided to attempt to set up her own business, utilizing her skill in hat making. Henrietta was to turn her hobby of making cloths, bags, berets and hats for friends into a business. She only lacked the finance to make her dream possible, before Youth Business Initiative Nigeria financed her with a start-up loan of One Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira, hence the birth of Henrietta’s ‘House of Henri’. Hers was a vision that was oozing with success as reflected by good patronage and positive cash flow right from onset. House of Henry now has two show rooms located in Lagos metropolis, with increasing customer base.