My name is Ogoh Blessing Onyowoicho. I hold a degree in Physiology from University of Ilorin.
I’m a polymer clay artist. I make accessories (keychains, bracelets, bookmarks) and 3D customized mugs. My Craft business commenced in 2017.
I make really unique accessories and mugs that can be gifted to loved ones or used as souvenirs for occasions. At the moment, I haven’t done any training but plans are in place to make this possible. And interestingly, I’m a self taught artist.
Apart from polymer clay sculpting, I draw. I hope to get better at drawing and learn animation too.
Starting my craft about two years ago had been awesome experiences of expressions. For me my art has been my safe place because it’s where I can express myself without the fear or being judged or criticised. I’m better at my craft than I was when I started but there’s still so much to achieve with it. I hope I get better opportunities and more people get to know about what I do.
Birthday: She’s born on July 10, close to 60 years and with a wealth of crafting skills. A serial Craftpreneur.
Education: BSc Business Administration,
several workshops and courses in different crafts; training by Swarovski and
working silver smith
Craft Business: CEO/Founder, Crafties,
General Craft Materials, tools and Books
Carrying a few brands such as Beadalonu;ILoveToCreate, Polyform, Collection D’Art and many more
Crafties stock materials, tools and
books on many crafts: Crochet, Cross stitch, Knitting, Embroidery, Fabric
Painting, Paper Crafts, Children’s crafts, Jewelry Making, Tapestry, Rugmaking,
Felt works, Polymer Clay and more
She started craft business in 2002
Founder, Zilman Jewelry
Convener; The Craft Fest Show
She’s been referred to as a
multi-talented crafter, a serial craft entrepreneur, the pioneer Craftpreneur
in Nigeria, seasoned Craft Trainer and Consultant. …and Her titles are growing
TCC:
What’s
your vision: for self, the circle of your choice of craft business, and the
country?
Mrs. OA Abdullahi:
The
aim of Crafties is to ensure that materials/tools and Know-How are available to
as many people as possible. We aim to encourage creativity in everyone and
through e-commerce reach as many people as possible
TCC
How
far are you willing to go to take Crafties,
Craft Fest?
Mrs. OA Abdullahi:
Very
Far! We hope to become a regional force
TCC:
What’s your greatest source of encouragement,
inspiration/motivation? Did you have any family influence on your choice in the
crafts industry?
Mrs. OA Abdullahi:
No family influence on my career choice but I
enjoyed a lot of family support. The fact that some people come to learn and
then use such acquired knowledge to create amazing things continues to inspire me
TCC:
What kind of exposure (within or outside the
country) shaped you/your creativity the most?
Mrs. OA Abdullahi:
As a teenager I spent holiday time in craft shops.
I knew after a while that I wanted to have a big craft business
TCC:
Who are
your key clients, for the products, services and craft supplies?
Mrs. OA Abdullahi:
We provide
materials and tools for many individuals and Schools
TCC:
Next
to yours, what craft companies/businesses do you admire? And perhaps would
love/need to collaborate with?
Mrs. OA Abdullahi:
There
are Wool companies asking for an impossible MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity). The
one we would really love to work with is Alize based in Turkey.
TCC:
Please
share three pieces of advice with an undergraduate who is a potential
craftpreneur, underscoring the long term benefit of being an entrepreneur over
being an employee.
Mrs. OA Abdullahi:
i, Start small but have someone look over your
accounts
ii
Maintain a separate account for the business
iii
Be prepared to work really hard
TCC:
How
best do you think Nigerians can get involved to support the crafts industry for
the nation’s economy and eventual benefit of all?
Mrs. OA Abdullahi:
As
many people as possible should find something they love to do, improve on the
skills and make strictly beautiful things for sale. That way, unemployment
would be banished.
TCC:
How
easy (in an ideal situation) or difficult (in the current state of our society)
is it to secure investors for a crafts venture? Where or how did/do you raise capital for your own business(es)?
Mrs. OA Abdullahi:
It is extremely
difficult. In my case family and friends came to my rescue
TCC:
Which
do you think are the least/most explored kind of crafts in Nigeria at the
moment?
Mrs. OA Abdullahi:
Ceramics/
Pottery
TCC:
How/when best do you
generate new ideas? Crafting, craft supplies and craft business
Mrs. OA Abdullahi:
On going all the time
but I like to have quiet around me
TCC:
What would you say are
the top three skills needed to be a successful craftpreneur (especially within
or around your own choice of crafts business)?
Mrs. OA Abdullahi:
Accounting and record
keeping skills
Tenacity
Originality
TCC:
Do you have any specific
tip(s) on how to get the right people to build a business?
Mrs. OA Abdullahi:
No. Right now it is very
tough,
TCC:
What is your greatest
fear, and how do you manage it?
Mrs. OA Abdullahi:
None
TCC:
What has been your most
satisfying moment in your craft business?
Mrs. OA Abdullahi:
Having businesses spring up and seeing the way skills are applied differently to what we teach
Where do I start from?! I remember as a very young child, I watched one of my aunties when she crocheted (that is, every time she picked her hook I was by her side). That was how I picked up crocheting.
OK! let me mention, that I grew up at a time when art, craft, needlework classes were a part of the school curriculum, in Primary school (it was Needlework) and at Secondary level (ot was Fine art /Drawing). My works were always on display at school exhibition. But for a very long time after Secondary school, everything went passive. Not so good. Yeah?!
I studied Marketing and as a graduate in 1997, I worked as a Sales Rep in an FMCG company . At home (after marriage), as my needs increase, I made items just for my family and as gift to friends. Then, sometimes about mid 2013 my Church invited me to take the Girls Guild on needlework. This was when I met one of the girls who took me through the basics of beading during my annual leave from work in November 2013. I further learnt so much on Pinterest, YouTube, and Google… These platforms helped me in improving/sharpening my skills. And voila, that’s how my side business started oooo.
The company where I worked downsized in June, 2018. And I simply looked inward rather than outward for a job, I saw a need/opportunity to showcase my creativity the more, there was a limit to what I could do while in paid service. In fact, I had to turn down invitations because of work schedules. Ever since, my craft has become an official appointment for me, doing what I really love.
My skills and Craft Business include jewelry making (using beads), crocheting , embroidery, etc. I also run trainings for empowerment (poverty alleviation) purposes.
My name is Jumoke Dada, an Architect-turned-furniture maker. The Founder and Creative Director of Tǽillo Furniture and Lifestyle Company. I’m a graduate with a first class in Architecture from the prestigious University of Lagos, (Unilag) Nigeria. I hold a Master’s Degree in Environmental Design. Crafts has always been a part of me. My dad once told me that when I was a kid I would tear every book in the house and use the paper to make different kinds of sturdy crafts. He observed this passion of mine and encouraged me to study Architecture. However, I’ll say furniture making is better choice for me, perhaps simply because my very first attempt at complex craft design is in furniture making. I’d designed a sofa that transforms into a bed and vice versa and this is so memorable for me because it gave me the confidence to birth Tǽillo.
Nigeria is the only country with over 480 ethnic groups and the richness in this diversity fuels inspirations for Taeillo. The central theme of my ideas is based on culture, identity, morals in the society, issues relating to feminism, the society as a reflection of the home and how the home influences the society. I enjoy travelling especially within the Nigeria/Africa to view culture, values and identity from different perspectives so as to uncover new ways through which the younger generation of the continent can appreciate what had been and still in existence. Owning and applying them to harness creativity in new modern African living. Tǽillo is my own expression of all these and more.
While in school, I’d always wanted to incorporate a touch of Africaness into my own style of Architecture and this continued to grow in me till the Tǽillo idea started. I realised that many of our traditional arts and crafts evolved overtime to include practical and decorative items and that human expressions find their way through various forms of art. In the light of all these I had long resolved in my heart to rebrand our culture and identity and make it appealing to modern Nigerians through design. Deep in this resolve, my inspirations flow and are widely drawn. I believe there is a need to improve on traditional forms and materials and apply them in the modern day context creating a new cultural concept termed Modern Africa. In this as Africans, we can still maintain our identity living in the modern era despite the conflict in identity and culture and never lose being proud of who we are.
I started Taeillo with zero capital, a computer and the idea. The payment from my first contract was used for the purchase of materials needed for the first furniture piece I made. Subsequently, I sold the furniture for N52,000 and made a profit of N12,000 then.
After that, referrals from this first client, family and friends, have helped greatly to generate revenue which I keep reinvesting into the business.
Nonetheless, over the years, I’ve raised some money through grants from local and international organisations to further increase production capacities.
Since the official commencement of the business in 2016, it has grown tremendously despite the market being saturated. However, Taeillo has continued to grow owing to its leverage on technology and consistent investments into research, self- and product development. All raw materials used in production at Taeillo are sourced locally.
The industry lacks the required skilled professionals that are detailed in craft and designs. This remains the major challenge confronting the furniture making business.
QUICK FACTS In September 2015, I exhibited as a finalist at an innovation award event.
I have worked in top Architectural and interior design and Furniture-manufacturing companies in Nigeria.
I have also participated in design competitions and design workshop
I have also attended design workshop organised by the African Contemporary institute of Design.
I am a member of Young African leadership institute (YALI), and I have a YALI Certificate on Entrepreneurship skills.
I like to pass down my ideas through stories, proverbs, etc. as a medium of communication. These I have showcased in my works.
My name is Ogunbekun Olaitan, I’m the founder of Crafts Village Nigeria. An online community that promotes and connects creative arts, crafts and other Afrocentric businesses in Nigeria to their target customers.
Crafts Village was founded in April 2014. It is an online
platform that helps consumers connect easily with their favorite Art &
Craft products and services, as well as other locally made creative Afrocentric
items, fashion, gifts, art supplies and architectural materials. This is made
possible with the online local directory, the multi-vendor marketplace as well
as a physical retail store, CV Creative Shop.
I am a Paper Crafts Artist who specializes in Handmade Greeting Cards and have impressed up to the Presidency level of the Country. Being a graduate of the prestigious University of Lagos with a Bachelors in Biochemistry. I have accrued several years’ experience of online businesses, the e-commerce and online retail field where my skill set has been further broadened to include Content Management, SEO, Google Analytics, Search Engine Marketing, Web design, development and management, Strategic planning, and business development.
I’m a multi-potential creative guru and I’ve personally built myself in several handicraft trades. These includes creative digital prints services, ankara bags making, tailoring, functional and decorative crafts such as wall frames, artistic clocks, utensil designs, Afrocentric fashion and more.
Ayo Fanimokun; Founder and Creative Director of Circa 64 & Creative Safari
Education: I have a Bachelor’s in Studio Arts from the University of Pittsburgh and Master’s in Communication Design from the Pratt Institute, New York :
Craft Brands: Circa 64 established in 2004 for Contemporary Handcrafted Jewelry and Creative Safari – established in 2016 for DIY Craft Kits, Handmade gifts and accessories, etc.
In one word, characterise your life as an entrepreneur. Colourful
What aspect of the crafting process makes you happy the most? Seeing an idea I had in my head come to life in my hands
What’s your vision: for self, the circle of your choice of craft business, and the country? How far are you willing to go to take your craft business? My goal is to build businesses that motivate and inspire creativity in others while doing what I love.
What’s your greatest source of encouragement, inspiration/motivation? Do you have any family influence on your choice in the crafts industry? Greatest source of encouragement: My family. I get inspiration from any and everything I see, my creative imagination is often sparked by the most seemingly ‘random’ items
What kind of exposure (within or outside the country) shaped you/your creativity the most? Not quite ‘shaped,’ as I’ve always been creative, and always loved making things, since childhood. But the exposure that greatly impacted my creativity and my journey would have to be my university and graduate school experiences in the US, and the resources I was exposed to.
Who are your key clients, for both services and products? For Circa 64; Women between the ages of 21 – 55, who want to stand out with contemporary, one-of-a-kind accessories. As for Creative Safari – Our main product offering – the ‘Made in Nigeria Craft Kits,’ were created for anyone “between the ages of 9 – 99,” because we believe that creative exploration has no age limit!
Is there any book that inspired (or inspires) you the most? No. But I am very inspired by podcasts focused on sharing stories of successful entrepreneurs. Two of my favourites are ‘How I Built That’ by Guy Raz and ‘Dreams in Drive.’
Next to yours, what craft company/business do you admire? And perhaps would love/need to collaborate with? Crafties Hobby Crafts Limited
How best do you think Nigerians can get involved to support the crafts industry for the nation’s economy and eventual benefit of all? By patronising crafters/creatives who do good work, and recommending them to others.
How easy (in an ideal situation) or difficult (in the current state of our society) is it to secure investors for a crafts venture? Where or how did/do you raise capital for your own business(es)? Well, I have not tried to secure any investors yet, so I can’t answer that question. But I imagine it would be quite difficult to do so. So far, I’ve raised capital through family support.
Which do you think are the least/most explored kind of crafts in Nigeria at the moment? I’d say the most explored include Jewelry Making, Fashion Design, Millinery, Leather Crafting/Bag Making and more recently Soap Making, to name a few. And for the least explored; book binding, Mosaic Making, Resin Art, a wide range of Paper Crafting, etc. There are a lot of opportunities/areas for creative exploration in Nigeria.
How/when do you generate new craft product ideas? Anywhere, anyhow, anytime – I don’t think the creative mind ever shuts off.
What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful craftpreneur (especially within or around your own choice of crafts business)? Using paper, gem stones, etc A colourful imagination. A good editing eye. Attention to detail/finishing.
What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage it? Hmm, not sure I want to share that 🙂
What has been your most satisfying moment in your craft business? Still waiting for it!
My maternal great grandmothers, were both creatives. My grandfather’s Mum was into tie and dye (Iya Alaro), and my grandmother’s Mum used to carve calabashes (Iya Onigba). I also have 2 maternal uncles who were artists and graphic designers. I like to think my creativity stems from there 🙂
I’ve a very busy mind that’s always active and crocheting helps me to focus; conquering the discipline issues I had at school. How? When my hands are busy, I focus better.
My name is Jonah, I’m a self-taught crocheter, a fast crocheter who can crochet a hat in 54 minutes! Everyone now calls me a Crochet Prodigy and yes, I am! I am a full blown 100% crocheter. Lest I forget, I absolutely respect the Knitters.
For me, crocheting, started when I was just five years around the time my aunt had dropped off a bag of leftover craft materials at the family home. In it was where I found a hook that intrigued me and that was it! My foster parents have been quite supportive. My mum who doesn’t crochet helped out with Youtube channels that helped me learn.
I sell my crocheted items online and this has turned me into a social media star, on instagram and Youtube. I’m also an author with My first book, co-authored with my mum is titled ‘Hello Crochet Friends!’ (published July 2019). Oh! did I mention, I also love to read and I enjoy teaching too. teaching my crocheting skills of course!
Through the internet, I meet a lot of crochet tutors, fans and friends across the world. This seldom make me overwhelmed with orders, but I’m keeping up well, although with a temporary close on orders for now. I’ve so many beautiful crochet hooks and a few have got my name engraved on them. Exciting!
Here are pictures of My excited self posing with my My works:
It gives me joy that young people will carry this craft for generations to come; my mum will always say
I do not think I want to make a career out of crocheting, my mind is on Surgery because that will also help me with my hands dexterity. Ultimately, Ethiopia is on my mind so I can offer free surgical services where it is highly needed. At the moment, I donate some of my profit to the orphanage in Ethiopia where I was adopted from. I always feel a strong urge to give back.
Let’s be friends via @Jonahhands on instagram and Jonah’s Hands on Youtube. Let’s Crochet away!
The solo exhibition organised by Peju Layiwola was a huge success with – interesting works of arts on display. According to her, Indigo Reimagined is inspired by the art of Adire which evolved from an ancient of dyeing yarns made from hand-spun cotton usually woven into prestige cloth known as Asooke.
The exhibition which held at J. F. Ajayi Auditorium Gallery, University of Lagos opened on June 13th and had its curtain call on July 31st. It was a well attended event; students, artists, academics, lovers of arts across all walks of life were all present on different days while the exhibition lasted. Everyone had an interesting opportunity to engage with cloth from across disciplinary and practical perspectives. were definitely impressed and glad they did. The exhibition highlighted the multi-dimensionality of Adire art and other indigenous crafts like pottery, painting, foam (sponge templates), and metal work (stencils too), all associated with adire (tye and dye) interesting art pieces on display include; Orimipe (a glazed pottery with adire), amongst others.
Few interesting things taken from this laudable event is that Indigo Reimagined by Prof. Peju Layiwola stamped History in 2018 – 2019 as the most as the most captivating at the exhibition. Installed for display all through the exhibition days were over 2, 000 foam blocks bearing the same design that have featured on cloths in 30 – 40 years, are art forms on their own. The Indigo/Adire art form has transformed from being a strictly Yoruba Idiom to accommodate new ideas and meanings.
Peju Layiwola is the daughter of Princess Elizabeth Olowu; daughter of Oba Akenzua II of Benin. Obvious trace to her love for Arts and Crafts, you’ll say. Her paternal grandparent established the first cinemas in the Old Western region.
Professor Peju Layiwola graduated from University of Benin in 1988 with a BA, both MA and Ph.D in Art History at the University of Ibadan in 1991 and 2004 respectively. Good student she is; reminding us of the richness of African history, and connecting wholesome dose of it beautifully across the globe and for the future. Her career as a teacher, began in 1991 at the University of Benin, after which she joined the University of Lagos in 2002. She founded Women and Youth Art Foundation in 1994 and pioneered the production of instructional DVDs on Arts and Crafts in Nigeria.
She has received several awards both locally and internationally. Our Heartily Cheers goes to the Professor. Congratulations for a super successful outing. Thanks for the awesome inspirations!
