For connoisseurs of top-quality designer jewellery, at No. 28 Community Road, Satellite Town, Lagos is a mecca of sorts. Up until March 2020, it was the address of ObisGallery, where lovers of blings come face to face with Stephen Efobi Obiajulu, the man who has been touted as the best jeweller in Africa and the craftsman behind the bling in Nigeria’s fast-growing hip hop community.
Obiajulu, the 26-year-old Nnewi North, Anambra State-born jeweller wears his passion on his sleeve.
His response to the question, what inspired you to go into the business, was brief and to the point: “My Love for jewellery and accessories.”
Similarly, the CEO of ObisGallery makes no bone about his ambition which is “to grow my brand to its peak and to become one of the biggest Jewelers in Africa.” Without any doubt, he is on course to achieving both goals.
With businesses crippled globally by the coronavirus pandemic, the jewellery business is no exception.
“Yes, it has affected my business, on the physical market, he admitted, “but I didn’t let it have a major effect on my brand.”
He explained what he has done to cope with the new reality: “I recently focus more on building the online presence of my brand and I put in extra effort in creating a good online platform for clients and customers to purchase jewellery.”
Obiajulu whose role models in the jewellery business are the Elliot Jewelers and Jacob the Jeweller otherwise known as King of Bling, has become one of Africa’s top jewellers in his own right.
After his education at Leads College Secondary School, Ijegun-Egba, Satellite Town, Lagos, he had enrolled for Udemy online certification course in gemology, the science of studying, cutting, and valuing precious stones. He has since made a name for himself as a jeweller extraordinaire.
Since the past few years, his name resonates in charmed circles and pop culture, his designs donned by the glitterati, hip-hop artistes and those who love custom pendants, rings and watches encrusted with real diamonds.
He explained why ObisGallery, its new address in Festac Town, daily attracts lots of celebrity customers. “We manufacture all type of 2-D and 3-D customized 10 to 22-carat pure gold hip-hop jewellery with natural diamonds and multicolour gemstones. These are part of the bling that powers hip-hop, so naturally, we will be highly patronized,” he said.