I am honoured and thrilled to introduce you to the Founder of Scents Pro, Boluwatife Adeife in this exclusive interview.
With no further ado, let’s meet the Founder of Scents Pro Luxury for an exclusive interview.
Please Introduce yourself and your background.
My name is Boluwatife Adeife. A Nigerian and the creative director and chandler of Scents Pro, an indigenous fragrance company where we create premium quality, hand crafted home and space fragrances in diffusers, scented candles, et al.
Tell us about your work. How did your company start?
Scents Pro was birthed from the love for scents generally and how particular I’ve always been about my space and it’s general appearance. I was (still am) a fragrance lover, but when I did my research on home scents I realized at that time, there wasn’t a lot of indigenous brands, accessibility to international brands was a challenge and the quality of these international brands, as regards raw materials for production, was not 100% in most cases.
So Scents Pro Luxury came in, to bridge the gap by providing eco friendly, toxic free and luxurious home scents that’s would bring some level of comfort into homes and spaces.
How did you come about the name and what does it mean?
An expert in any field is called a PRO. An expert with Scents, is a Scents Pro.
What is your niche and how did you know it was a market to get into?
Indigenous and Toxic free(eco friendly). These were what seemed to be missing at the time we were going to start. These days, people are more open to buying locally made products and the fact that they are vegan and eco friendly makes it even better as people have become more conscious.
Where do you get inspiration for your products?
I get inspiration from everywhere, from different people and brands.
Can you remember one of the first products you made?
A scented candle. I was over the moon excited even though it was obviously not perfect.
What are some of the challenges you face in your business?
Running the business in general. It can be overwhelming
Do you have any regrets about venturing into this business?
Not at all.
What is your most popular product?
To what extent do you draw upon your Nigerian heritage for your work?
Scents Pro is an indigenous brand. Our products are all 100% locally hand made
What are some of your short term and long term goals, both in your business and life in general?
Short term goal is to evolve and improve generally in every area of the business. Long term goal is to be the leading and most preferred home fragrance brand in the Nigeria and West Africa.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I speak French
What profession would you be in if you weren’t in this industry?
Sales and Marketing
If you could give one piece of advice to anyone who wants to start their own business in your industry, what would it be?
Build your brand at your own pace and not compare with existing brands.
To connect with Scents Pro, you can follow and contact her via:
Small and Medium sized Entrepreneurs across the country are putting in a lot of efforts to survive, scale the hurdles and compete favourably in different sectors.
To carve a niche for themselves they need support, encouragement and a business friendly environment.
The immediate past Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr Olusegun Awolowo has been a pillar of support to many. He recently supported Bellafricana members with a 60 Million Naira Grant.
This opportunity is meant to support their businesses through the Export Development Fund (EDF) via the Expansion Facility Programme [EEFP] which issued a 60 million Naira grant to the 15 awardees of the 3rd ACE Awards as well as a few other Bellafricana members that have shown export potential.
The opportunity unveiled during the 3rd edition of the African Creative Exhibition and Awards, held on the 29th of October 2021, at the BWC Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos will help to transform this businesses to the next phase with ease.
There Mr. Awolowo made clear the commitment of the NEPC to support and grow non-oil exports in the country.
Crude oil forms the major commodity that is being exported in Nigeria currently. In 2020, Crude petroleum topped Nigeria’s commodity export for the year according to COMMODITY.COM. Nigeria presently ranks as the tenth most petroleum-rich nation and by far the most affluent in Africa which makes the reason for being such an exporter of crude oil not far-fetched. This has in some ways made other industries take the back seat because, in recent years, there has been more focus on the country’s exportation of crude oil.
The Export Expansion facility programme, founded as a part of Mr. Awolowo’s legacy to grow Nigeria’s export industry has therefore provided a catalyst that supports the country’s active export businesses and export-ready businesses.
Speaking on this development, the CEO of Bellafricana, Bukky Asehinde could not contain her excitement as she spoke about how Mr. Awolowo through the Nigerian Export Promotion Council has been supportive of the growth and expansion of not just Bellafricana but her members.
“Mr Awolowo has time and time again proven to be a huge supporter not just to me or the over 5000 creatives he has supported through Bellafricana but to many creative entrepreneurs all over Nigeria.
Since the over 5 years that Bellafricana was founded, Mr. Awolowo has been a strong pillar of support to this community, endorsing us fully and boosting our brand credibility”.
She added: “This 60 Million Naira grant by the Export Expansion facility programme will go a long way in pushing many businesses forward. I celebrate Mr. Awolowo for showing us who a true leader is and I know that his legacy will always be known for generations to come”.
Asehinde went on to express her gratitude to Mr. Awolowo for standing by Bellafricana over the years and thanking him for building a legacy through his leadership as the former Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council. “We are proud of his legacy and his support by helping and enabling MSMEs to get to the export level.”
Mr. Awolowo has always supported Bellafricana and her vision to give more visibility to African-owned creative businesses.
He has shown this through his continuous support at every edition of the ACE Awards held since 2017 to laud and encourage the work of highly skilled individuals who are making significant contributions to their respective industries and putting Africa on the world map with their creations.
He has through the Nigerian Export Promotion Council [NEPC] sponsored and supported over 5000 creatives and is now wrapping up with this grant so creative entrepreneurs can scale up their businesses while growing the country’s export industry.
He has also used his encouraging words to push not just entrepreneurs but everyone around him beyond their limits so they can achieve their goals and even surpass them.
It is no wonder Bukky Asehinde describes him as “The father of non-oil exporters.”
One of the awardees and a beneficiary of the grant also appreciated Mr. Awolowo for believing in Nigerian creative entrepreneurs and supporting them in scaling their businesses beyond the shores of the country.
“If we had more people like Mr. Awolowo in this country who have demonstrated true leadership, I have no doubts that we will see more Nigerian entrepreneurs succeeding and getting the visibility they deserve in the global space.”
The Export Expansion Facility Programme [EEFP], a flagship project of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council [NEPC] founded under the leadership of the now former Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
The Export Expansion Facility Programme seeks to democratize the discovery of exporters and their access to relevant government incentives to grow. The initiative supports businesses in Nigeria, with at least one customer abroad, or working on acquiring customers abroad.
It also supports businesses in Nigeria that provide services that an export business might need and it offers these businesses a series of incentives to expand their reach and become an exporter.
Bellafricana is a tech-enabled community that provides a platform for Nigerian and African Creative entrepreneurs in the Fashion, Arts & Crafts, Home & Living, Beauty, and Food produce & Snacks Industry to gain visibility, increase sales, and have the right business support and structure that gives them the capacity to grow their business.
Bellafricana’s vision is to become the biggest e-commerce company that promotes African products to the world and is on the verge of accomplishing this as it recently launched a Marketplace [www.bellafricanashop.com].
I had the utmost pleasure of meeting this beautiful soul during the ACE Awards 2021, where she won the category for the best home & lifestyle brand. I was beyond awed at her graciousness, humility and positivity that she radiated at every point. Hence why I am honoured and thrilled to meet the Founder of Yasmin Crafts in this exclusive interview.
Hamsatu Aliyu-Afegbua – Founder of Yasmin Crafts
*To know more about the products, simply click on the images*
With no further ado, let’s meet the Founder of Yasmin Crafts for an exclusive interview.
Please Introduce yourself and your background.
My name is Hamsatu Aliyu-Afegbua and I’m an architect and hand-crafter. By the grace of God, I juggle 2 businesses: Eden Signature Limited, an Architectural and Interior design firm as well as Yasmin Crafts Limited which is my handicrafts business. Both of them are situated in Abuja, Nigeria. I am a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria with an M.Sc in Architecture. I also hold a certificate in Entrepreneurship Management under the EDC, from Lagos Business School.
Tell us about your work. How did your company start?
We produce handcrafted products in the form of furniture, home decor and multi-purpose baskets. We use locally available raw materials to create these products. The brand Yasmin Crafts was born to satisfy the need for a custom crafts provider that could give better quality handcrafted products in Abuja.
How did you come about the name and what does it mean?
“Yasmin” is my proposed first daughter’s name. The “crafts” I derived from the general term “handicrafts” which is the term used to describe our niche.
What is your niche and how did you know it was a market to get into?
My niche is Handicrafts. Known by some as Arts and Crafts. Living in Abuja for over 2 decades, I came to realise there was no craft maker who could skillfully add on accessories like real leather, fabric, logos, and art on products to enhance them. Most of the attempts to customise crafts, that I saw by the roadside or in the local markets did not turn out looking too good. One day, I decided to buy the basket from the market and then, customise it to my taste. It turned out great and everybody asked me where I bought the customised basket from.
The rest is history. 3 years down the line, here we are 😊. I started out with baskets and decor and within a year into the business, we had begun furniture production.
*The Lidded Laundry hamper with removable liner is available in 5 different colors including natural, you can tuck this hamper away in a corner of your bed or bath room and keep those clothes off the floor.*
*These stunning natural wicker planters are a nice way to add interior plants into your home. They come with bottoms designed to drain water away from the plant pot you intend to place inside the basket. Great for both real and faux plants.*
Where do you get inspiration for your products?
From my imagination and from observing the needs in the market. I sketch ideas down and develop them. I also draw inspiration from nature.
Another source of inspiration is listening to feedback from our customers, especially negative feedback. We take the feedback and examine our way of doing things as a business. We change what we can and fix what we can’t.
I tell my entire team that here at Yasmin Crafts, customer service is not just one department, it is all of us. Working as a team and sharing feedback has helped us grow as a business.
Natural Lani trunk
*Giving gifts are an essential part of life and relationships. The packaging container is what will be seen first, so make it a memorable time for the person who is receiving it. This trunk is a classy woven gift box that you can be proud of placing your luxury gifts in.*
*With the high quality interior lining be ready to wow your recipients and make a great impression. You can’t go wrong with this as your choice of container when it comes to gifting. The best part is, the gift recipient can use the trunk as an extra storage, extra seating to give another gift or even as a decorative piece afterwards!*
Can you remember one of the first products you made?
Yes. It is a 2 tone coiled raffia basket that I made to store my small jewellery pieces in. I was just learning how to weave at the time, and I had to push myself to try and finish it. I’m very proud of that basket.
What are some of the challenges you face in your business?
Lack of funds to expand our production. Buying large scale woodworking equipment and conducting more research on product development.
Do you have any regrets about venturing into this business?
Not at all.
What is your most popular product?
Our Aisha set of 3 multi-purpose baskets is one of our best sellers. This is because they can serve a multitude of purposes like storage, home organisation, home decor and gifting purposes.
Aisha baskets are available in 2 designs: a Plain basket with no fabric lining and our fabric lined baskets.
*Customised Aisha storage baskets. These gorgeously lined baskets can serve a wide variety of purposes. They come in 3 different fabric lining as pictures unless you say otherwise. There is a touch of Ankara to symbolise Africa.*
Top uses among our customers for these baskets include:
Making a set of gift hampers with each basket.
Decluttering table tops.
Storing small items.
Displaying products for sale at a store.
Using them as a tray for serving snacks.
Hanging them as a wall decor basket.
Styling a shelf or console.
These baskets are dry use only, please note.
To what extent do you draw upon your Nigerian heritage for your work?
We spice things up with touches of popular Nigerian cultural items like sewing beadwork on the handles of our baskets. We also make use of African fabrics to customise our baskets, decor and furniture.
What are some of your short term and long term goals, both in your business and life in general?
Short term, we hope to be able to invest in large scale woodworking machinery and power tools that will help scale up production and cater for the time demands of our customers. Handcrafting is a slow process, having the right machinery speeds things up.
In the long run, we hope to expand our sales and grow the naira through large scale exports. Promoting quality African crafts all over the world is another long term goal we hope to achieve through expanding our locations.
For my goal in life, I’ll say I hope to be recorded in the history books as the founder of a premium Nigerian lifestyle brand that created employment for millions of women We currently employ a majority of women in our workforce and we intend to keep it that way.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I do some of the metal and carpentry work at Yasmin Crafts.
*This handy piece of furniture helps you save space. With varying sizes of storage baskets, you can organise and display products or decor items on these ladder shelf. Ladder shelves makes for an eye catching display and are great for small spaces where you need a tall storage option. Available in 3 colors: Dark brown, Black and White.*
What profession would you be in if you weren’t in this industry?
I would be in the building profession, which I am already privileged to have been doing long before I founded Yasmin Crafts.
If you could give one piece of advice to anyone who wants to start their own business in your industry, what would it be?
Learn the skill of crafting if you can. Knowing how to make your own products or some of them, is definitely an added advantage.
Take your failures as a part of the success to come. It may take a lot of time, and you will have to be committed and disciplined to be able to launch and sustain a business in hand-crafting.
It has been an absolute pleasure having this exclusive interview and getting to meet the Founder of Yasmin Crafts.
To connect with Yasmin Crafts, you can follow and contact her via:
What a year it has been for Bukky Asehinde! And I say that with lots of positives in mind. Ambassador Mrs Bukky Asehinde has been nominated for the 2021 Woman of the year – Start Up by Her Network.
Her Network is a Global Inspirational and Lifestyle Platform. This platform is created to inspire and encourage all women to stand in their greatness; to set real-life examples by living their truth.
Her Network Woman of the Year Awards celebrates outstanding women. Women who have made a significant impact in their community, network or workplace.
The Category for the 5th Annual Her Network Woman of the Year Awards 2021 are Advocacy, Community Service, Education, Entertainment, Entrepreneurship, Future (25 & Below), Healthcare, Journalism and Start-Up.
To connect with her, visit her Instagram page: @bukkyasehinde
Moreso, she would be going live on Instagram with @Olorisupergal on Saturday, the 11th of December, 2021, at 9:00 [WAT].
*Click on the picture below to watch Bukky Asehinde, one of the 2021 Nominee of the Her Network Woman of the Year Awards in the #StartUp category as she talks to @thetosinajibade of @Olorisupergal on #InstagramLive about the work she does, challenges faced and more!*
This recognition, for Bukky Asehinde to be nominated for the 2021 Woman of the year – Start Up by Her Network, is one to be celebrated. As it serves as an applaud for all her commitments and work towards building and helping creative entrepreneurs.
If you’d like to attend and join in honouring the 2021 Nominees and recipients at our Networking and Awards Night, RSVP via email at [email protected]
Together, we meet the Founder of Kathrah Enterprise in an exclusive interview. Ayobami Makinde is the CEO of Kathrah Enterprise, which produces good quality honey with the brand name Kathrah honey, bee-wax and honey derivatives.
She has been in the business of farming honeybees and processing honey for the past 7years and has been educating people about the benefits and myths of honey using social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram). Recently, she has been sensitizing the public about the adverse effect of climate change in the production of honey which has led to the loss of sales, discouraging the young beekeepers from abandoning the profession. It is my pleasure to be having this exclusive interview with the Founder of Kathrah Enterprise.
*To know more about the products, simply click on the images*
Please introduce yourself and your background
My name is Ayobami Makinde, a differently-abled, resilient and smart young lady farmer. I am an Alumni of the University of Ilorin, where I studied Pure Chemistry. I am a trained beekeeper, health research consultant. The founder and owner of Kathrah Enterprise. I hail from Orile Owu town in Osun State and am also a mother of two smart boys.
Tell us about your work. How did your company start?
I am Agripreneur, apicultural sector to be precise (Beekeeping). I keep the honeybees, harvest, process and package honey into shelf sizes (for retail outlets, stockists and end-users), in bulk (20L galloon) to honey vendors/resellers. We also infuse beneficial herbs spices and fruits into honey to help health-conscious individuals in achieving a wholesome healthy lifestyle. Sales of other honey byproducts such as Bee-wax are used in cosmetics, drug and candle industries.
Also, add shades of colours to events with our honey or infused honey favours as souvenirs in preferred package sizes.
Kathrah Enterprise started 2014 in one room in my parent’s house with the sum of 15,000naira only with support from family and friends. The business was registered with CAC 2016 with the guidance of my mother’s friend, interestingly as at then I had no clarity on the specific type of business, so I chose sales of agricultural products and general merchants.
Kathrah Honey infused with Black Seed
How did you come about the name and what does it mean?
The name Kathrah was coined from the Hadith on a surah in the Quran, Suratul kawthar. It means Abundance. Honey is an abundance gift from God that flows too, so I related it to the meaning I read about, and I fell in love with it and used it.
Kathrah Honey infused with Cinnamon
What is your niche and how did you know it was a market to get into?
My niche is Food, (natural). Food is a fast-moving goods. The profit margin is small but because it’s consumed daily, this makes it profitable mostly with volume. Honey is a class of food that has diverse usage ranging from cosmetics to pharmaceuticals. The food industry uses honey for therapeutic purposes.
Kathrah Honey infused with Cinnamon
Where do you get the inspiration for your products?
I got the inspiration to start a honey business from my experience when I used honey for medicinal purposes. On a fateful day, February 12, 2012, I had a road accident along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, leaving a very deep wound on my leg with my right hand partially paralyzed. I mixed honey with Shea butter and apply to the wound because the wound wasn’t discovered early which could no longer be sutured. During my school days, I had heard about the therapeutic ability of honey so I decided to try it, so I used myself as an experiment.
The results were amazing within two (2) weeks. That is how the journey started and In order to be an authority in the business, I did learn about the art and science of honeybees. Today we keep honeybees, sell the by-products and intentionally build a household honey brand in Nigeria and Africa at large.
Furthermore, we added new variants which are all NAFDAC certified to my products list. The pandemic made a lot of individuals more conscious about what they eat and their preference for natural food increased drastically. As a researcher, I thought to create a product that can help achieve a wholesome healthy lifestyle, not just flavour. This led to creating five (5) different variants that can serve as a natural remedy in managing some common illnesses among people. All variants solve a pain point in which all ages above 12month can use.
Kathrah Honey infused with Lemon & Ginger
Can you remember one of the first products you made? What makes it memorable?
A 350ml,500ml size of Kathrah Honey. it’s memorable because it’s my first. We’ve come a long way since then, from the packaging to the company’s growth.
Kathrah Honey infused with Zobo
What are some of the challenges you face in your business?
Honey business is a very controversial business. There are lots of misconceptions about raw honey. Majority especially in Nigeria mistaken original honey for adulterated honey because of the myths attached, which is a major challenge. Also, insecurity is affecting access to the farm and charges in logistics as results of the weight of honey. It’s a highly viscous liquid.
Kathrah Honey infused with Cacao.
Do you have any regrets about venturing into this line of business?
None. I have no regrets.
What is your most popular product?
Kathrah honey (plain), 1L size.
To what extent do you draw upon your Nigerian (African) heritage for your work?
In curating the new product line, infused honey, I ensured that at least three of my raw materials are native to Africa, specifically Nigeria. Asides, the health benefits, it is to promote our own homegrown, which are Zobo leaves, lemons, gingers and Cocoa.
What are some of your short term and long term goals, both in your business and life in general?
My short term goal is to distribute the new honey variants and plain honey to strategic retail outlets such as pharmacy retail chains, and superstores in Nigeria.
My long term goal is to create a manufacturing /processing hub for honeybees by-products, thereby profferring easy manufacturing process to MSMEs,startups and smart small businesses either for contract manufacturing or toll manufacturing.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I know how to process locust beans (Iru) and have the knowledge to water a mass number of building blocks manually. Also, I consider myself quite handy [LOL], as I can roll a lister Generator.
What profession would you be in if you weren’t in this industry?
I will be in the pharmaceuticals company, a laboratory or a Lecturer.
If you could give one piece of advice to anyone who wants to start their own business in your industry, what would it be?
I will advise any newbie in the honey business to ensure to invest in learning the art and science of processing honey and be willing to invest in educating people via marketing mediums.
Colour me impressed, enlightened and pleased!
There you have it. An exclusive interview with the Founder of Kathrah Enterprise. To connect with her, you can follow her via:
Maryam Aliyu-Baba is a verified member of Bellafricana and the winner of the best innovative product of the year 2021 at the recently held African Creative Exhibition and Awards. A military wife, mother of four, an entrepreneur and CEO of Clay by Marienne. I had the opportunity to meet the Founder of Clay by Marienne for an exclusive interview.
Please introduce yourself and your background
I am Maryam Aliyu-Baba C.E.O. clay by Marienne. A passionate designer with a BA in Industrial Design (ceramics major) from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, M.Sc. Hazard Management and Emergency Response IRGIB Africa University and the Winner ACE Awards (2021) best innovative product.
Tell us about your work. How did your company start?
The company started as Marienne art as a student experiencing the pleasure of creating, and the joy of seeing your creations add elegance to spaces. This passion took a back seat as I started having babies. We resumed mid-2021 and evolved into Clay by Marienne after learning that clay is much more than just art but indeed what we were made from and is indeed one with our bodies, possessing amazing healing abilities. It is also good for the environment and has no negative effect on climate, making it the next best thing and an amazing replacement for plastic and other culinary wares.
How did you come about the name and what does it mean?
Marienne is French for Maryam, so the name is pretty straightforward.
What is your niche and how did you know it was a market to get into?
The average global citizen with an awareness of personal health and overall wellbeing, people with health complications who are looking to make a holistic lifestyle change. The market is viable because we as humans are constantly seeking ways to improve wellbeing.
Where do you get the inspiration for your products?
Having children, and being exposed to a whole new set of health issues and remedies, and brought about the move to this range of products. Design inspirations come from my creativity and imagination, brainstorming with team members, ideas online and feedback from our esteemed customers.
Can you remember one of the first products you made? What makes it memorable?
Yes, I can. It was a set of 3 long neck tabletop vases. They are so memorable because I created them while trying to answer my 300level first semester exams.
What are some of the challenges you face in your business?
Introducing this new product range to the people and getting them on board. It Is quite challenging to get people to make a lifestyle change.
Do you have any regrets about venturing into this line of business?
None; except that I did not come across the knowledge to kick start earlier.
What is your most popular product?
It will have to be the alkaline water bottle series.
To what extent do you draw upon your Nigerian (African) heritage for your work?
To a very large extent, as it is common knowledge that traditional African homes would bury clay pots to store drinking water.
What are some of your short term and long term goals, both in your business and life in general?
In business, I look forward to spreading the word and getting as many people as possible on board this journey to a healthier more intentional living; growing the brand and becoming a household name home and abroad.
In life, I look forward to continued learning and being the best possible role model for my growing children and the upcoming generation.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I started out as a B.Sc Chemistry student and made the switch partway after discovering the beauty of the design.
What profession would you be in if you weren’t in this industry?
I would be a counsellor or a Teacher.
If you could give one piece of advice to anyone who wants to start their own business in your industry, what would it be?
It would be that you should start where you are and with what you have. There is never a perfect time/ situation.
There you have it. An exclusive interview with the Founder of Clay by Marienne. To connect with her, you can follow her via:
It’s the season for gifting and I won’t lie, I love receiving gifts [lol]. Who doesn’t? I am yet to meet anyone who doesn’t like to receive a gift. Even the “tough guys” would admit to receiving gifts, especially if they get what they truly want or like. That said, Christmas is around the corner and most people have started shopping for their loved ones, friends and even companies. If you haven’t started, then pay close attention. This is for you. Late shopping can be overwhelming and expensive, I know from experience.
Okay, let’s focus [lol]. Whilst I believe that in gifting, thoughts behind the gifts matter, I also believe that the gifts should be worth it or at least be something of value to the person receiving them. It could be something of sentimental value or even money [if the person wishes to trade it in later…]. The point is, know who you are gifting.
I’ve listed out a few gift items that I believe never run out of style. To see more of each brands product, all you have to do is click on the name of the brand. Let’s get started.
Cards
The right card can leave one swooning and it has the right amount of sentimental value for any occasion. Like these ones below
GARRI&GNUT CARDTO-MA-TOES CARDS
Not Just Pulp are the creators of these simple and creative cards. They are all about making bold statements and sharing good vibes.
Their cards are fun, colourful and encourage self-expression and evoke warm & fuzzy feelings of love, friendship and sometimes, childhood memories. They are the perfect goto gift for that special someone and what’s more, they are affordable.
Skincare Products
Taking a line from Fatima Mernissi, “Beauty is in the skin! Take care of it, oil it, clean it, scrub it…” which is why this serves as a great gift, especially if it comes as a set, such as the product below.
Modara Naturals
Modara Naturals is a luxurious natural skincare company that uses nature’s best ingredients to create pure, natural bath, body and skincare products. Their products are handmade using 100% natural ingredients ethically sourced from Nigeria, Africa and all around the world where necessary. The name ‘Modara’ is derived from Yoruba, meaning ‘I do awesome things’
The product shown above, which is called Asakwa means ‘bathe’ in the Igbo language, is a rich black soap made from an ancient West African recipe. This blend is infused with Turmeric, an age-old Asian ingredient, known to brighten and even skin tone. It contains relaxing essential oils and helps in clearing breakouts on the face and body.
The skin is important and so is the hair and that is why this next product is a must-have, gift item.
Organic Life Plus
Organic Life Plus is Nigeria’s first organic, natural and vegan-friendly beauty store. It is your one-stop shop for authentic organic and natural hair care and skin care products. Their beauty products are toxin-free, extremely mild and suitable for men, women and children. These sets of Body scrub, body butter and body oil are the perfect gift for that special someone.
Clothing
When it comes to fashion and style these brands got you covered with their unique pieces.
Afro head wrap textileMother & Daughter Series
Mimiremi Textiles creates unique fabric design and prints vibrant, compelling and boast a piece of exclusive art in every yard.
Is that special someone into brocades? look no further.
Adire boxed cotton brocade
Asologe makes unique and quality Adire, batik and African prints.
Jewellery & Accessories
You can hardly go wrong with gifting a lady jewellery. It’s thoughtful, beautiful, sentimental, perhaps a tad expensive but worth it. All these are wrapped up in a single piece of jewellery. Take a look at these gorgeous pairs of earrings.
Culla Gaze Drop Earrings.Culla Galaxy Studs in Golden Mocha!
Zivanora is a minimalist-inspired jewellery brand created for lovers of clean and modern styles. They design jewellery with the purpose to be graceful, comfortable, and delightful. So if you are all about luxe-looking, clean, fun and timeless jewellery for work or play, this is for you.
If you would rather go for something ethnic and stylish, then I suggest going for these hats.
Adeoba-Bucket-Hats by Ethnik Afrika
Bags
One can never have too much of this. Lol, as there is one for every occasion. These 3 brands caters to taste and style with a touch of Africa.
Lola bagYebo laptop Bag
Morin.O Designs creates handcrafted, luxury leather handbags and accessories for men and women, as seen above.
Or you can choose to stand out in Aseoke.
MILA MINI CLUTCH BAG
O’Eclat Designs (pronounced O-eyklah), is an Ethical Nigerian Brand designing premium leather and indigenous fabric handbags and accessories, handmade in Lagos, Nigeria. MILA MINI CLUTCH BAG is sourced from the best quality Aseoke.
The Agbaman bag & duffle bag
Ethnik Afrika is about promoting culture and giving back to the community. They create fashionable pieces for the brand-savvy trendsetter. Their product ranges from bags, blankets, and hats which can be seen above.
Moving on, we have Home & Living.
Candles
Wouldn’t you want to walk into a home and feel a sense of relief or peace? I do and this is why this makes for a good housewarming gift, even if it’s Christmas.
ABELA AROMATHERAPY RANGE
Abela World is a niche, ethnic-contemporary lifestyle & artistic perfume creation house with a spirit focused on positively transforming the human mind, mood & emotions in everyday routine through the essence of nature & aromatics.
THE ABELA AROMATHERAPY RANGE
The Farm Therapy Collection of aromatherapy candles and pillow sprays is
– A synergy blend made from 100% Aromatic Essential Oils formulated by our in-house artistic perfumer-creator.
These throw pillow covers are made with a Matt feel canvas fabric and a synthetic poly-fill fibre insert. It is a stylish statement piece that will liven up any room. All pillows are Individually cut and sewn by hand.
Another brand that creates fantastic throw pillows is Bosh Designs
ilu gangan throw pillowDanfo throw pillow
Art
Art is so beautiful and it tells a story. It’s a great way of telling a loved one how you feel. Plus, a good piece of art is a good investment.
Life in my village series
Ronkescott Art and craft Is an indigenous business enterprise that has been in operation for over ten years. If you are into African art and craft- painting(acrylic, pastel, oil paint, pen and ink, gouache e.t.c), then this is your go-to for ART.
Water hyacinth woven coasters and caddy
MitiMeth creates handcrafted products from natural fibres that would otherwise be considered waste or environmental menaces. These natural fibres include aquatic weeds (water hyacinth, typha grass) and agricultural waste forms (banana bark, maize husks).
And I didn’t forget about the children. While toys and outings are fun, you could also get them these sets of additional gifts.
Amal Botanicals provides pure and non-toxic natural baby [kids of all ages] Skincare products. From soaps to body and hair creams and oils.
Getting the perfect gift isn’t as stressful as you think. You just need to know who you’re getting the gift for and where to get them. All these items can be found on the Bellafricana Marketplace
The 5th edition of The Made in Nigeria Conference & Exhibition 2021 is here!
The Made In Nigeria Project, organizers of The Made In Nigeria SME Conference & Exhibition has officially announced the fifth edition of its annual conference scheduled to hold on Tuesday, 30 November 2021 at the Landmark Events Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The one day Conference & Exhibition, themed; A Post-Covid Economy – The Growth & Future of SMEs seeks to pragmatically address the present realities and challenges faced by MSMEs post Covid19 and have critical discussions on issues bordering on SMEs advancement, economic growth, ease of doing business, economic diversification, access to finance, and the role the informal sector plays towards job creation & employment.
The key thrust of the one day conference will focus on a holistic national framework that will project ‘Made In Nigeria’ as the surest and most bankable alternative to oil and provide a national development strategy for our short, medium and long term plan for self-sufficiency, economic diversification and an export-driven economy with a focus on encouraging local production and consumption. The Conference will feature notable speakers & panellists drawn from the public and private sectors and on the sidelines of the event host The Made In Nigeria Exhibition – WAZOBIA which will have a special trade hub and will be open to manufacturers, distributors, service providers whose products and services are Made in Nigeria themed.
On the sidelines of the event is the DEAL ROOM, an exclusive and specially dedicated room for SMEs at the conference. Consultants, private organizations, public agencies, and advisory firms will provide free 360 consultancy, tailored assessment, profiling, financial services, business solutions & mentoring to MSMEs at no cost as we have partnered with relevant stakeholders to enhance their businesses, provide funding, offer business support, empower them and aid their growth.
The ELOY Conference and Awards 2021 is here and I’m here to give you the scoop on everything you need to know.
Tewa Onasanya, Founder of The ELOY Awards Foundation wants people to know and understand the hidden fact that when one woman wins, it increases the chances of other women winning and serves as inspiration for other women to win. She says “we are not in competition with one another, we should be collaborating to lift one another up”.
That is why the theme for the ELOY Conference and Awards 2021 is Collaboration For Sustainable Empowerment. #whenshewinsyouwin.
The ELOY Foundation has moved the needle from just conversations about Sustaining Women Empowerment to taking action in providing a platform for Women in MSMEs to thrive and sustain their businesses through access to mentoring, training, affordable finance, grants and networking opportunities.
What to expect?
Come November 26th, the ELOY Conference will host speakers and participants to presentations and panel discussions focusing on the theme of the ELOYs 2021. The keynote speaker is Hon Cecilia Bolajoko Dada, the Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. The special address on the day will be given by Owen Omogiafo, President Transcorp PLC.
The 13th ELOYs promises to be informative, inspiring and will encourage collaborative efforts to sustain women empowerment. Other speakers at this year’s conference include Eno Essien, CEO Rheytrak, Sonnia Agu, CEO Sapio Club, Nonye Francic Madu, Psychotherapist, Lotana Ezeogu, Founder Skills Tribe, Ife Durosinmi-Eti, CEO Herconomy, Yetty Ogunnubi, Founder / Lead Publicist The YD Company, Tale Alimi, CEO Owoafara, Funke Bucknor-Obruthe, CEO Zaphaire Events and Mabel Aladenusi, Head, Corporate Communications, PR and Digital TVC Communications.
The day will end with the Awards Ceremony in the evening. The prestigious ELOY Awards will be presented to 20 women who have been voted for by the public and have fulfilled the criteria of selection of the ELOY Governing Body.
There are opportunities to sponsor a category and exhibit at the 13th ELOY Awards and Conference 2021. For sponsorship enquires and more information, please contact Hannah on 08098886184 or email [email protected]
About the ELOYs
The aim of the ELOY awards is to recognize Nigerian outstanding women and their achievements and roles in society. To increase the economic visibility of women in Nigeria, to create a platform for networking hence enhancing communication links to encourage women into businesses and to support the work being done by Nigerian women to improve themselves and Nigeria. This event is also being used as a platform to continue to increase awareness for cervical cancer which kills one woman every hour in Nigeria.
Impact of the ELOY Awards so far;
The ELOYs have been awarded to 205 women to date, who have gone on to be better at what they do.
We have been able to enrol 40 women in MSME’s onto the ELOY Foundation Sustainable Empowerment Program (SEP) that started in 2020, these small business owners were mentored for a period of six months and they had access to entrepreneurial training every month. 10 of them were awarded a grant.
It has increased motivation in all women as everyone wants to be nominated for an ELOY at one point during their career or business.
Improved self-development in awardees and nominees, that have gone on to make a huge impact on their sector.
A platform that has helped identify excellence in the creative and business sectors. They have gone on to become household names (Eno Essien, Sisi Yemmie, Tiwa Savage, Seyi Shay, Olamide, Korede Bello to mention a few)
ELOY recognizes categories and identifies industries where people think women are not active or striving in.
The ELOYs has become a permanent fixture on people’s calendars, as everyone in Nigeria looks forward to these prestigious awards every year with great expectations and trust.
Yes, I know. Before you say it, I already know. I’ve been yapping about the ACE Awards 2021 for a little while now and that’s because it was a combination of the celebration of African Creatives and their works, great company and loads of fun. So many moments to relive but here are some of my favourite savouring moments at the ACE Awards 2021.
The Creatives Connect was a blast. There was never a dull moment as the ever-energetic compere – Ajala Nene who worked the crowd.
Then there was the photobooth. It turned out to be a huge side attraction and there were lots of display. Take a look.
The exhibition.
Of course, the exhibitiors were actively present, showcasing their lovely products for shoppers and all in attendance. Some of the products are:
Skincare products
Scents Pro LuxuryModara Naturals
Clothing & shoes
Bosh DesignsAdire NationOmowunmi OlogeKijipa CoutureOba Couture
Bags
Qamin
Zeeza Bags & Accessories
Art
Paint StrokesTeniyah Art
With the exhibition came shopping. They shopped and shopped and shopped!
Perhaps one of my favourite savouring moments at the ACE Awards 2021 was the laughter & touching moments. Who could resist this smile…
Then the delicious food!
Ahhh, yes, you truly missed out on a phenomenal night! Tarry not, as snippets of pictures, videos and articles are plastered everywhere. Interested? Connect with us to view more:
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On the sidelines of the event is the DEAL ROOM, an exclusive and specially dedicated room for SMEs at the conference. Consultants, private organizations, public agencies, and advisory firms will provide free 360 consultancy, tailored assessment, profiling, financial services, business solutions & mentoring to MSMEs at no cost as we have partnered with relevant stakeholders to enhance their businesses, provide funding, offer business support, empower them and aid their growth.
