Fashion entrepreneur Princess Kelechi Oghene speaks on her journey and foundation

From a small start, Oghene has grown in bounds to become a successful fashion entrepreneur now and has stretched her strive to a foundation with which she is helping women to eradicate poverty by training and empowerment.

She recently had a brief chat with Pulse and these are the excerpts.

On her Gmyt Foundation

“I have always had the passion to create millions of entrepreneurs who will become great ambassadors and tomorrow’s leaders.

“Like I have always preached and done over the years and so you will agree with me from the ongoing pandemic that we need it now more than ever."

Challenges and journey of being an entrepreneur

"The life of an entrepreneur is a journey on a contorted road dotted with bumps and craters. At certain points, the bumps could seem as high as mountains and the pits as deep as lots, making this journey appear quite despondent.

"The vision evolved 15 years ago when I started building myself to become what I have always admired, a successful entrepreneur who will raise millions like me in this nation and the diaspora. This optimistic philosophy that I have adopted had been much v to me in my journey towards achieving my goal. It was not at all easy.

"I am also a big reader with a strong appetite for learning which prompted me to attend several Workshops, Training and have bagged several Executive degrees and qualifications from notable institutions which have made me more structured in my business dealings today because I am a leader with purpose.

"Every journey begins with one small step. I took that step, 15 years ago when I opened a boutique and later ventured into bespoke; This metamorphosed to the Fashion Academy of today. The one positive trait that had proved to be highly efficient in boosting me out of hitches and deadly pits is ambition. I know that too much of it could corrupt a person, but so far it has only empowered my spirit with much-needed optimism."

Women empowerment

“I'm dedicated to my commitment of eradicating poverty through training and empowering women with the necessary skill-set to thrive and become financially independent thereby reducing what women go through like abuse, rape and other vices and because of that, I founded the Gmyt Foundation, a non-governmental organization set aside to help women and youths.

“On the grounds that I have seen how women and youths are suffering and so using my position, I took it upon myself together with my team to reduce the suffering in our society by conducting free entrepreneurial sessions, seminars, workshops and scholarships for women and youths worth over N200m.

“By the grace of God, we have empowered over 300 women and youths with industrial sewing machines through my proclaimed Initiative and we have trained over 500 women and youths that aspire to be Fashion designers.

"My life, passion, vision, dream and mission is to contribute more to societal growth, that was why I organized the SME’s Scheme to support and encourage women and youths with brilliant ideas and so far, we have given millions of naira to support this movement; I do this because I am a philanthropist and it is in my nature to give and I want to encourage everyone to use their positions to help because I believe it starts with individuals."

On her fashion awards show

“My avid love for fashion coupled with my passion for humanity propelled me to create an Award ceremony that recognizes and celebrates philanthropists like myself.

“It is important we recognize and appreciate their efforts, as you can see it’s not an easy task. It is also a platform that celebrates The Best Fashion Designers that have graduated from our prestigious school and it might interest you to know that we have done the 6th edition of this prestigious award over the years and counting.

“The reason for all these initiatives is that the economic system in Nigeria is not only relentlessly harsh; it is sadistically cruel. Society has deemed that your school degrees do not guarantee job opportunities."