By Oluseye Ojo
The life journey of Amina Olufunmi is one of a heartwarming tale of resilience and determination. She defied all odds to transform her life from one of hardship to that of a soaring success. With her infectious smile and unwavering spirit, she shares her inspiring story of going from grass to grace, proving that dreams do come true if one never gives up.
•L-R: Madam Olaode, CEO, Hana Tee Unisex Fashion Designer, Hannah Makanjuola, Amina Olufunmi, General Manager, IBEJI Foundation, Rafiat Gbadamosi, General Manager, Nasfat Agency for Zakat and Sadaqat, Mufutau Adelotan during the presentation of vocational tools for Amina Olufunmi who was empowered by lbeji Foundation and NAZAS held at NAZAS Corporate Office, Magodo, Lagos
Amina’s path to success was paved with countless obstacles and financial roadblocks. After finishing secondary school in 2009, she embarked on an apprenticeship with a building materials merchant. However, her parents, burdened by financial constraints, were unable to support her in establishing her own business. Determined to find a way, Amina took on various menial jobs, including working as a maid at a restaurant in Oyo town, in a desperate attempt to make ends meet.
But just when Amina’s dreams seemed far out of reach, fate intervened. A chance encounter in 2021 with a destiny helper, Madam Olufunke Olaode, an Assistant Editor with Thisday Newspaper, would forever change the course of her life.
True to her word, Olaode became Amina’s guiding light, transforming her from a struggling individual to a budding fashion entrepreneur. With the support of the Ibeji Foundation, chaired by Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti, Amina’s dreams finally began to materialise. Not only did the foundation pay for her accommodation, but it also provided her with a monthly stipend for her upkeep. In a remarkable gesture of faith, the Ibeji Foundation even covered the costs for Amina to secure her own shop, amounting to over N300,000.
Amina’s journey to success was further aided by the generosity of Alhaji Niyi Yusuf, the President of NASFAT, and the NAZAS organisation. Through their support, she was equipped with the essential vocational tools necessary to kick-start her career in the fashion industry.
Also, in an act of kindness from a stranger, Mr. Olabode Makanjuola, Chief Executive of Caverton Offshore Support Group, covered the expenses for Amina’s graduation ceremony and refreshments, amounting to a staggering N200,000. Today, she stands proud as a fashion entrepreneur, ready to leave her mark on the Nigerian fashion scene and give back to those who have supported her in her darkest hours.
Amina, who is 36 years old, said: “I finished secondary school in 2009. I first of all trained as an apprentice with a building materials merchant at Ijanikin, Lagos State between 2010-2012 but my parents were financially handicapped after graduation there was no money to establish. In the process of raising funds, I did menial jobs including a maid at a restaurant in Oyo town.
“My financial woes persisted until I met a destiny helper in Madam Olufunke. It was her friend, Mrs Biola Omosebi who introduced me to her in February of 2021. She was touched by my predicament and promised to do something. She did. And today from doing menial jobs I am now a fashion entrepreneur. I want to seize this opportunity to thank the chairman of lbeji Foundation, Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti whom I only met once and who acted like my father till I graduated.
“Apart from paying for my accommodation, the foundation has been giving me a monthly stipend for upkeep since 2021 till I graduated this month. Ibeji Foundation also paid over N300, 000 for my shop.
“The President of NASFAT, Alhaji Niyi Yusuf was kind and generous; and through NAZAS, I was provided with all the vocational tools needed to take off. Mr Olabode Makanjuola, CEO of Caverton Offshore Support Group, who I never met, paid for my graduation and refreshment of N200,000.
“Through Madam Olufunke, my life became a roller-coaster. God will bless those who have supported me to become somebody in life when all hope was lost. I promised to make an impact in the Nigerian fashion space through the help of God so I can give back.”
Speaking about her encounter with Amina, Funke Olaode, who is the convener: ‘Amina Olufunmi Must Be Empowered Initiative, stated: “I can tell you that it was God and again her moment had come. I was introduced to Amina three years ago through a family friend. I had these heaps of personal copies of newspapers that had accumulated over the years and I was looking for someone to help arrange them.
“When I met her, we got talking, and I was wondering if she was fit to work because of her slim and fragile stature. I was genuinely concerned. However, she was committed to the work I needed her for. So, I placed her on salary and was also giving her a daily stipend for her transportation and food. Later, I had to ask more about her, especially her background, just to know her more. Then, she told me her story and she needed help.”
Olaode said she was moved by Amina’s story, and she decided to ensure that Amina was empowered. The determination made her to float: ‘Amina Olufunmi Must Be Empowered Initiative. According to her, she approached former Managing Director of Accenture and Current Chairman of Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Niyi Yusuf, who advised she should be enrolled to acquire skills, which would last her a lifetime.
She also contacted kind-hearted Nigerians and organisations, including the Ibeji Foundation and its Founder, Alhaji Rafiu Adisa Ebiti. “Within two days, they enrolled her in a fashion school and also placed her on monthly stipends of N20,000 since 2021.
“I must also thank the management of NASFAT Agency for Saka and Sadaqat (NAZAS) an offshoot of NASFAT, an Islamic-based organisation for rising to the occasion. The agency bought sewing equipment worth over N600,000, including industrial stoning machines, sewing machines, and whipping machines. I also thank her boss, Madam Hanna Makanjuola, CEO of Hanna Tee Unisex Fashion Designer, for training her like a big sister and never got tired of her. I am grateful.”
The CEO, Hana Tee Unisex Fashion Designer, Mrs Hannah Makanjuola, said: “When she first arrived for training. I never wanted to accept her because of how she was looking. But I decided to consider her on trial, and I thank God I did. Amina isn’t a troublesome person. She is humble, quiet, and very religious.”
The NASFAT President, Mr Niyi Yusuf, stated: “The truth is that the lady was introduced to me by Funke Olaode, and I said yes because I was amazed at her keen interest in someone that is not in any way or form related to her, and the fact that she has been supporting her for quite a while, and also gotten a few other donors to support her.
“Today, she is benefitting in two different ways from our scheme. She is benefiting from the empowerment scheme, in which we are giving her equipment to support her training, which is fashion design. She is also benefiting from the Train to Fund scheme.
The founder of Ibeji Foundation, Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti, and the foundation’s General Manager, Rafiat Gbadamosi, also said: “Amina is like our own child at Ibeji Foundation. After hearing her story about three years ago, we started paying her monthly stipends, enrolled her to learn a skill, housed her, and helped to get her a shop where she could start making ends meet herself.
The CEO of Calverton Offshore Support Group, Mr Olabode Makanjuola, noted that the assistance which the company rendered to Amina stemmed from the its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He explained: “When my dear sister Funke approached me about this young lady and what she was trying to achieve, we just thought of yielding to our CSR initiatives that we have done in the past… We are happy to do our little bit and contribute our CSR to the development of Amina.”