Seyi Adekunle is a Nigerian fashion businessman. He is the founder and chairman of Vodi Group, known for its chain of businesses.[1] Seyi Vodi revealed that it was after he failed a bank test that he became spurred to go into fashion full-time.[2] As of May 2017, Seyi Vodi was listed as one of the largest fashion labels in Nigeria.[3]
Seyi Vodi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Seyi Adekunle |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Alma mater | University of Maiduguri |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, Fashion Designer |
| Years active | 2001 till date |
| Known for | Founder of Vodi Group |
| Website | voditailors |
Early life and career
editSeyi Vodi was born in Lagos but hails from Osun State.[4] He obtained a degree in Geology from the University of Maiduguri.[5] While undergoing his mandatory national youth service in Akwa Ibom, he befriended some tailors in the town and learnt how to sew from them.[6] He started with sewing shirts and boxers for his colleagues who were his first clients.[7] Seyi registered his company in 2001 as Testimony Fabrics but eventually changed the name to Vodi in 2003 as he wanted a name that sounded shorter and more African.[7]
In 2002, Seyi Vodi failed a bank test and had his application declined by the bank he applied to. He attributed this failure to what motivated him to take his craft more seriously.[8]
In 2003, Seyi eventually got a job in a bank but left to pursue a career in fashion designing. At that time, he had no shop but traveled around with a go-bag to buy materials, sew from home and deliver to his clients.[6] As his business progressed, he expanded his company to what is now known as Vodi Group. Today, Vodi Group of which Seyi is CEO, includes Vodi Clean, Vodi Training Institute, Vodi Debo, Vodi Textile.[7]
Seyi has listed Konosuke Matsushita as his greatest influence.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Meet Seyi Adekunle, The Tailor Who Failed At A Bank Test 15 Years Ago - DailyDigest Nigeria". Dailydigest.ng. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
- ^ "Fashion Businessman Seyi Vodi Adekunle Shares his Inspiring Story of How He Rose Failing a Bank Employment Test to having Chairman of UBA Bank as Client 15 years Later!". nircle.com. 2017-03-08. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
- ^ "Seyi Adekunle – National Youth Entrepreneurship Empowerment Summit 2.0 (NYEES)". Retrieved 2020-05-28.
- ^ "Connecting People Through News". Retrieved 2018-07-04 – via PressReader.
- ^ "Meet Seyi Adekunle, MD/CEO of Vodi Tailors, The Largest Male Fashion Label In Nigeria". Naijassador. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
- ^ a b 247NEWSNAIJA ADMIN on June 28, 2015 (2015-06-28). "The Inspirational Story of uncommon Nigerian Entrepreneur -a must read". 247newsnaija. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d "#BehindTheBrand: Seyi Adekunle of Vodi". LeadPreneur. 2018-05-23. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
- ^ BellaNaija.com (2017-03-08). "From Failing a Bank Employment Test to Having Tony Elumelu as Client 15 years Later! Fashion Businessman Seyi Vodi Adekunle Shares his Inspiring Story". BellaNaija. Retrieved 2018-07-04.