Follow Us on Google
Dr Princess Oghene is the founder and Group CEO of God’s Might (GMYT) Group Ltd. She is an entrepreneur, strategic fashion educator, institution builder, and advocate for women and youth empowerment. According to her, the journey into fashion began long before the establishment of GMYT Fashion Academy.
“I started as a young entrepreneur selling jewellery and clothing, gradually moving from a small retail space into the boutique and bespoke fashion business.”
Oghene spoke with Sunday Sun recently on her business, how she went into fashion, her academy and others.
How has the GMYT Fashion brand and academy evolved over the years?
GMYT has evolved beyond simply being fashion school. It is a platform for raising skilled, commercial awareness, and global competitive fashion entrepreneurs. Through the wider GMYT ecosystem, we have empowered more than 12,000 women and young people. We have distributed over 500 industrial sewing machines and supported emerging businesses. Again, we have helped many graduates establish fashion brands, employ others, and train the next generation.
Where were you before fashion business came?
Before establishing my fashion business, I studied Industrial and Personnel Management which gave me a strong foundation in leadership, organisational development, and human resource management.
Like many entrepreneurs, I started small. I sold jewellery, later clothing, and gradually grew my business. Every stage of my journey taught me valuable lessons about customer service, sales, branding, and entrepreneurship.
What informed your choice of career as a fashion designer?
For me, fashion was never just about designing beautiful clothes. While running my fashion business, I discovered a major gap in the industry. Some talented designers possessed exceptional creative skills but lacked business knowledge, leadership, financial management, and operational systems. I experienced those challenges firsthand. Instead of sitting down and complain about the problem, I decided to build a solution. That decision gave birth to GMYT Fashion Academy, where we combine fashion with entrepreneurship, leadership, and business education.
Are you from a lineage of fashion designers and fashion icons?
Yes, fashion has always been part of my journey. Although I did not come from a family of famous fashion designers or fashion icons, my late mother was a talented seamstress as well as a serial entrepreneur. She believed every child should acquire both formal education and practical skills, so I was introduced to fashion from a very young age at home.
Beyond learning from my mother, I also went to a professional fashion house to refine my skills because I believe that talent should always be developed through continuous learning. Looking back, I can confidently say my mother laid the foundation, while education, experience, and years of practice shaped me into the fashion entrepreneur I am today.
How long have you been in the fashion business? What area is your specialty? Have there been other designers you have mentored?
I have been in the fashion industry for over a decade. My specialty is fashion entrepreneurship and business development. Beyond creating garments, I focus on helping designers build sustainable businesses, develop systems, attract customers, and create lasting brands.
One of my greatest achievements is mentoring thousands of aspiring fashion entrepreneurs. Many graduates of GMYT Fashion Academy now own successful fashion brands, operate fashion schools, employ staff, and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s creative economy.
What were your early challenges in the fashion business, and how did you surmount them?
One of my biggest challenges was not sewing; it was managing people and building systems. I experienced staff resistance to change, poor documentation, lack of accountability, and limited business knowledge within the industry.
Other News
To overcome these challenges, I invested heavily in my own development by attending trainings, engaging mentors and coaches, documenting every process, and implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). I also embraced continuous learning, which remains one of my greatest strengths. Those challenges eventually became the foundation upon which GMYT Fashion Academy was built.
There has been a great influx of foreign clothes like Turkey, UK, Italian and Chinese wears. What has kept you in the business even with the high influx?
The influx of imported clothing has certainly changed the fashion landscape, but it has also reinforced why fashion education is more important than ever.
My focus is no longer on producing garments for customers; my passion is developing people. Through GMYT Fashion Academy, we prepare aspiring designers and fashion entrepreneurs to build businesses that can compete on creativity, quality, innovation, branding, and entrepreneurship rather than price alone.
Imported clothing will always have its market, but there will always be demand for skilled designers who can create bespoke solutions, build strong brands, and understand the business side of fashion. That is what has kept me relevant. Rather than compete with imported clothing, I chose to solve a bigger problem which is the shortage of well-trained fashion entrepreneurs. Today, my greatest impact comes from equipping others with the skills, business knowledge, and mindset to build sustainable fashion enterprises and create employment for others.
How do you succeed in the midst of competition from other designers?
I believe competition should inspire innovation, not fear. I succeed by continuously learning, researching industry trends, investing in systems, listening to customers, and constantly improving our services.
I also believe that collaboration is more powerful than unhealthy competition. When you consistently create value and solve real problems, customers naturally choose your brand.
Is yours a one-stop fashion shop, where a lady walks in and gets transformed for a party?
No. That is no longer our area of focus.
While my journey began in bespoke fashion, presently, my passion and expertise are in fashion education and entrepreneurship development. Through GMYT Fashion Academy, our focus is on training and equipping aspiring designers and fashion entrepreneurs with both the creative and business skills they need to build successful fashion brands.
Rather than making clothes for clients, we are building the people and businesses behind the industry. Our mission is to produce competent fashion entrepreneurs who can create jobs, build sustainable businesses, and contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s fashion ecosystem. I often say that my greatest product today is not a garment; it is a transformed entrepreneur.
What advice do you have for upcoming designers?
First, I will tell upcoming designers to understand that talent is not enough. They should invest in their education, learn the business side of fashion, build systems, document your processes, embrace technology, and never stop learning.
Again, it is important to find mentors, remain teachable, and focus on solving problems rather than chasing trends.
Most importantly, I would advise them to build their reputation before chasing profit because a trusted brand will always attract opportunities.
What is that one fashion business achievement that has brought you the greatest joy?
Without a doubt, establishing GMYT Fashion Academy has been my greatest source of joy and fulfilment. While I have built businesses across different sectors, nothing compares to seeing lives transformed through fashion education. Watching our graduates become financially independent, launch successful fashion brands, employ others, and even establish fashion schools of their own is the greatest reward of my journey.
For me, fashion was never just about making clothes. It has always been a tool for empowering people, reducing unemployment, and creating sustainable businesses.
My greatest legacy will not be the garments that were made, but the entrepreneurs that were raised, the businesses that were built, and the lives that were transformed. That, to me, is the true measure of success.
