Nigerian fashion designer and entrepreneur, Seyi Vodi, has shared how he started his business with his ₦3,600 monthly National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) allowance.
Speaking at an empowerment programme in Ilorin, Kwara State, Vodi said he began trading while serving as a corps member, using his allowance to identify small business opportunities.
He recalled travelling to Aba Market in Abia State to purchase men’s boxers, which he resold to fellow corps members at a profit. According to him, the experience taught him to start small and reinvest his earnings rather than wait for substantial capital.
Vodi said building his business took more than 26 years of hard work, patience and gradual expansion.
He urged beneficiaries of a ₦4.2 billion empowerment programme in Kwara State to manage the resources given to them responsibly.
He also cautioned against spending business funds on luxury items, stressing that vocational tools and equipment could create sustainable businesses when properly managed.
