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By Agatha Emeadi
Bashorun Eniola Fayose is the founder of O’Naphtali Company, a commercial printing and security document solutions provider. From his hustling years as a student at the University of Ibadan where he studied Geoscience, Fayose would go to Badagry weekly market in Lagos to buy second hand shirts with designer labels and resold on campus. This business saw him through university education and beyond.
He raised the bar by selling the same second-hand shirts with designer labels to new generation bankers. That determination took him to greater heights. From there, many other doors of success opened and have remained so till date.
In this interview with Saturday Sun, Fayose went down memory lane and spoke about his childhood relationship with His Imperial Majesty Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Oba Ojaja11, Ooni of Ife. He also shared his thoughts on the Nigerian fashion industry.
People say you have strong links and are connected across the board, how did you build such relationships?
Well, I believe there is something good about everybody. I also may have been privileged to grow up in the 1980’s and 90’s without any form of filter and over-pampered upbringing when mental health was never an individualised thing. It was only seen on sign boards in specific institutions. I always love to be part of everybody’s success story and having grown up in Ibadan where one had no airs but reality and down to earth or get dragged. Ibadan played second fiddle to Lagos so most of us grew up with a migration mentality and have ended up in various parts of the world, doing so well including in Lagos. So I just happened to have grown with people who sought to see the world and succeed. I am good at keeping in touch.
How was growing up; talk about family, parents and siblings?
Well I am an only son with three wonderful sisters. I lost my dad quite early in life and was raised by my mother. She is a superhero of a woman who I personally address as Mr. Mummy. She is ageing gracefully and doing well.
What is your relationship with the Ooni of Ife; did you just know him before or after he ascended the throne?
I have known His Imperial Majesty, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Oba Ojaja11 (CFR) Ooni of Ife for over 50 years. We were in nursery school together and went to Loyola College together. I know every member of his family and we all have a cordial relationship. Again, I can tell you that the Ooni is a phenomenal person. We were both school dancers in high school. He is a great break-dancer who could do a back-flip and land on the same spot five times at a go.
In those days when literary and debating society was the major flex in secondary school, Loyola College was known for notoriety in football and social stunts. The best dancers were always from Loyola College. We defeated all the neighbouring schools like GCI, St. Patrick’s, Abadina, ISI etc. Being an only boy’s school, we were the favourites of the only girls’ school as well. Ooni was very popular with the girls and he still seems to be. He was an astute sportsman who played table tennis, Hockey, Badminton and Kendo, a Japanese sword martial art which is very uncommon in Nigeria. He was also a long distance runner. As if he knew he would be the king, he started out very early and succeeded as well. Ooni became a chartered Accountant in his 20’s and had very outstanding success in real estate before age 30. He built over 3,000 houses by age 35.
His Imperial Majesty is an unbelievable giver, a poet and songwriter. He plays quite a few musical instruments. If one listens to some of his stories, one would think he is three different people in one person. He is the most loyal friend anybody can have. He will stand by you, under any circumstance. Underneath his calm demeanour though, is one fierce indefatigable and rugged daring human being. That is the ironic thing about him.
Ooni is a fearless and crazy risk taker. He has remained the same guy I have known for over 50 years despite the paraphernalia of his exalted office as Ooni of Ife. We still throw banters like we used to, speak pidgin English and recall hilarious moments of our times and lives. He can tell stories in the most comical way and has an uncommon ability to remember events of the past.
What pranks did you play together as very close friends while growing up?
We played a lot of pranks. I was a daredevil and could get away with a lot of exuberances because I was an only son. His Imperial Majesty had older brothers who could not be messed with. He was always getting punished by his big brothers then. Some of the things we did are not publishable and social media materials.
Again, you are a fashion enthusiast, talk about your styles.
From wanting to be original, not necessarily following any trend and strictly wearing what I am comfortable in and not necessarily to impress anybody.
I can see you are a collector of expensive wrist watches, shoes and perfumes. Why didn’t you make fashion your business as well?
I was once a seller of second hand clothes as a student at the University of Ibadan several years ago. I used to leave UI to go to Badagry weekly markets to source for shirts with designer tags and resell them in school. After graduation, I started sourcing the same second hand designer shirts from Katangwa market close to Iyana-Ipaja and sold them to bankers. This time, I added cufflinks and ties for bankers. This was the beginning of my progression in life. It led to my cash bag business.
I started extruding nylon and making cash bags for banks then. My patronage came from the first set of new generation banks like STB, GTB, Platinum, Gulf, Diamond, Owena, Fountain Trust and Access. Over time, it led to the registration of my company O’Naphtali Company, a commercial printing and security document solutions provider. Again, luck smiled on me and I started making scratch cards for over 200 higher institutions across Sub-Saharan Africa and all major examination bodies in Nigeria, including JAMB, NECO, WAEC, NABTEB and many scratch card promos which the company still does till date.
We included authentication labels with codes for drugs, labels for pharmaceutical companies, annual reports, political campaign materials, flexographic printing with personalisation. I branched into other business interests as part of ownership, board membership, strategic engagement, consultancy spanning Fintech, real estate, trading, wood processing, food and beverages, reward systems, gaming and courier services. I am a grounded business man.
What is your favourite outfit or do you wear anything that fits?
I love traditional attire in its original state. Fabrics like danchiki, kembe etc as our forebears wore them and my choice is always simple. I also wear other forms of semi-formal clothing, jeans and other attires. I keep it simple and sometimes play with colours. While I love shoes and admire them on people and owning quite some too, I have stuck to my signature clogs with my danchiki and kembe for about 20 years now. I think I should have close to 250 pairs in my wardrobe, all shades and colours. I can see a lot of people now admire it; they thought it was strange some years ago. Everybody now wears kembe with a pair of slip-on.
I had always said I was not going to work for anybody right from school. I just loved to own my time and do what I loved to do. I started trading while in school. From selling second hand clothes and different little businesses to owning businesses and factories and being on boards of many blue chip companies today.
Do you have a favourite colour in your fashion world?
I realize I tilt towards darker shades more but sometimes I just like to go all over the place with very bright colours but on a good day it will be cool dark colours.
While being fashionable, is healthy and organic eating part of your lifestyle?
That is the real fashion. When one is intentional with healthy habits like exercise, healthy relationships especially with God; it is the real fashion.
