Mudiaga Enajemo: 10 Milestones That Built a Nigerian Fashion Empire

From humble beginnings in a one-room apartment in Lagos to building one of Africa’s most celebrated fashion brands, Mudiaga Enajemo’s entrepreneurial journey is defined by resilience, vision and determination. In this reflective piece, the founder of Mudi Africa recounts the 10 defining milestones that transformed his dream into a Nigerian fashion empire. Ferdinand Ekechukwu brings the excerpts:

1 The day I was admitted into secondary school (the prestigious Government College Ughelli) 1979.

I received the news of my admission letter with so much excitement and I remember vividly the very first day I resumed, my dad took me to school to appreciate the then principal late Chief Ogboduma. I sat in the front seat of my dad’s car with so much excitement as we drove into the prestigious Government College Ughelli

2. The day I received the key to my first shop paid for by the legendary actor RMD.

I started my career from a one room apartment in Ketu, Lagos and when it was time to get a showroom, I had to approach RMD to support me financially to enable me pay for a shop. He gave his younger brother Martins a cheque of N45,000 to cash and we both went to pay the landlord for two years. When the landlord asked for a name to be written on the receipt, I specifically told him to address the receipt to Richard Mofe Damijo.

3. The very first time I travelled out of Nigeria to Paris.

The trip was for a client’s birthday party and it was truly an exciting moment. I spent just two nights. My visa and flight ticket were organised by him. We went straight to the hotel and the party was held in the same hotel.

4. The day I bought my first car.

A friend of mine was the one who propped me up to buy the car. He saw me at a bus stop as I was about to take a bus to Victoria Island to deliver clothes to a client. He felt it was time for me to get a car to ease my movement so the following day we both went to Cotonou Benin Republic to buy the car. My heart was overwhelmed with joy the very first day the car was delivered to me.

5. The day my head office complex was inaugurated by former Governor of  Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola.

I didn’t know Fashola before and I wanted the Governor of Delta State, then Emmanuel Uduaghan, to commission it but  later changed my mind. The traditional ruler of my town, His Royal Highness Oharisi the third) and my late mum flew in from Delta to attend the event. That was the first time my late mum shook my hand to appreciate me for putting up the structure.

6. The day the street where my head office complex was named after my brand (Mudi Lane Anthony Lagos).

I got a call from an official of the local government area that he has been mandated from Alausa to name the street where my head office is located after my brand name, Mudi Lane Street.

7. The day my first outlet outside Nigeria (in Accra Ghana) was jointly unveiled by the Nigerian ambassador to Ghana Musiliu Obanikoro and the American Ambassador to Ghana.

My move to open an outlet in Accra Ghana which was the first propped up when I visited Ghana for a ceremony organised by Nigerian community in partnership with the embassy to welcome Musiliu Obanikoro as the Nigerian Ambassador to Ghana. As the event went on I was looking at the outfit those that came wore. A lot of them tried to look African. That was when I said to myself that there is a market for my outfits in Ghana.

8. The first time I shook hands with a foreign head of state (Ghanaian President, John Kuffour).

His Excellency the president saw a Ghanaian client of mine who happens to be among my first clients in my design and he asked him to invite me over to Accra. My flight ticket and accommodation were taken care of by the office of the president. I was received by the foot of the plane (Aero contractor) and driven in a state house vehicle straight to the president house.

9. The day King of Morocco visited my head office.

The King of Morocco (King Mohammed VI) was in Lagos on a private visit after his State visit to Abuja. He was in Victoria Island and he needed to visit five places in Lagos and my head office was among the places he visited. The MUDI Africa fashion house and Fela Shrine in Ikeja were the only places on the mainland the king visited. I took him round my showroom and personal office and he was so impressed. His interpreter said to me that they have visited so many fashion houses in Africa and that mine is the finest. The king later invited me to Morocco with a business class ticket and accommodation paid for. I spent six nights (two days each in Novotel Hotel Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakesh).

10. The day I was given an award by Urhobo progress Union (UPU) to celebrate my achievements in the Nigerian fashion industry.

The award by Urhobo progress Union (UPU) was very touching for me. Though I received numerous awards but the one UPU was very commendable and it has further energised me to keep doing things that touches lives.