My husband
encouraged me to go into aso oke business – Ogunbadejo
By AGATHA EMEADI
Monday, February
27, 2006
 |
•Chief
(Mrs) Ogunbadejo
Photo: The Sun News Publishing |
|
Fortune, often times, comes from unexpected quarters. While
some plan for it, others stumble on it. For Chief (Mrs.) Olufumilayo
Ogunbadejo, fortune smiled on her from an unexpected area.
As a dutiful housewife, Mrs. Ogunbadejo had gone to the market
this fateful day, as was her habit, to buy food items for
her family. On getting to the market, she saw a Ghanaian displaying
and selling the popular aso-oke material. Something in her
stired and she went to admire the materials, then priced them.
From that moment, she took the decision to go into the business
of selling aso-oke.
Today, Chief (Mrs.) Ogunbadejo sits atop a flourishing business
which has brought her fortune and fame. Apart from retailing
the product, her TISBEE Enterprises, now supply the clothes
wholesale to retail traders and individuals. Chief Ogunbadejo’s
aso-oke business has also brought her several times closer
to the corridors of power as she was the sole supplier of
the fabric to some past Nigerian first families. On one occasion,
she supplied over 700 pieces of the fabric to a former first
lady.
Background
I am Chief (Mrs) Ogunbadejo. I will be 60 years in a few days
time. We are from Ijebu but more of Lagosian because we were
born and bred in Lagos.
Business
I am the Managing Director of TISBEE Nig Ltd. TISBEE has been
a household name for my family. It was the name I used when
I was running a super market, distributing Coca-cola and coloured
pop-corn.
But today my aso-oke business has taken over the name finally.
Even my daughters who joined in the same business, also use
the name TISBEE.
Attraction
As I told you, I have been in business almost all my life
because I inherited it from my mother and grand mother. I
stumbled into the business the day I went to Alade Market.
I saw a Ghanaian with a piece of aso-oke, I called on him
and made enquiries and I asked him. Whether he could come
to my house and collect his money. He agreed and came. In
fact, that piece I bought from him, impressed my husband who
encourage me to go into the business. Since that time I have
not looked back.
Uniqueness
My aso-oke is unique because of the fabric I use. The setting
also matter to me because there is a way you set the loom,
to enable the aso-oke come out very smooth, while some settings
could make it a bit rough.
I have also read books on aso-oke. The books are not foreign.
I got them locally here in Nigeria. All my weavers are trained
according to the taste and style of TISBEE. I do not employ
road-side weavers, if I do, I make sure they undergo the basic
training. Training at every level is very important.
1st million
Like I told you, I have been in business before I discovered
aso-oke. A prominent family in Nigeria had requested for 700
pieces of the fabric for their daughters’ wedding, 350
pieces was for the engagement while the other 350 pieces was
for the white wedding. Because of the wide coverage of the
wedding and the personalities that attended, it attracted
more customers to me. The customers are still there and to
God I give all the glory.
High point in business
Every day to me is a high point because God has been faithful
to me. I am not the first person in the business, nor the
only one. Some people were there before me, and, other people
would still be there after me, so it does not call for wrong
attitude towards customers. It is God that has made it so.
Challenges
In all honesty, I do not see anything as a challenge, nothing
disturbs my business. I do the one I can and leave the rest
to God. I am not in competition with anybody. I am not in
comparison with anybody. I sit here in my shop and attend
to my clients. Even when Damask was in vogue, people were
panicking that it will affect the business, I told them not
to worry because aso-oke is traditional both for chieftaincy
titles, marriage ceremonies and others. aso-oke lovers will
always come.
Family front
My husband is Chief (Dr) Tayo Ogunbadejo, he was the former
provost of the Federal Polythenic, Ilaro. If there is re-incarnation,
I will marry him again. We met in the 60s and got married
then. We were in Canada during the early part of our marriage
and that was where I became pregnant.
My husband has given me peace of mind, love and joy of marriage.
My children too, I am proud of them all. To God I give all
the glory. It is because I am at peace that my business flourished.
My husband has proved that he really loves me.
Advice
I want to advise fellow women to get something doing. Do not
sit at a place and watch the days and years go bye. One good
secret of a beautiful marriage is the woman’s financial
empowerment, when a woman is gainfully employed, her marital
problems become less. I say it because I have been in it for
over 30 years now.
By the time you retire from office/shop/market, you would
have been very tired and the only thing you need is rest.
It is all the lazy and idle ones that their marriages have
problems very often. If you are empowered, you command respect.
You can afford to buy things for your family without disturbing
your husband.
Men should encourage their wives when they need assistance
especially in business because two heads and two hands are
better than one. |
