These Nigerian fashion creatives remind us that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams

These Nigerian creatives prove that success has no deadline and that it’s never too late to start again.

There is nothing wrong with wanting reassurance that success will find you. Yet many of us have also convinced ourselves that there is a deadline for it and that by a certain age we should have landed a dream job, built a thriving business, or achieved the career we’ve always imagined. Social media doesn’t help. Most of the time, it only shows the polished highlights, rarely the years of uncertainty, career changes, or fresh starts that came before them. 

The truth is, success rarely follows a straight line. Some people discover what they’re meant to do early, while others spend years building experience in entirely different careers before finding the work they’re truly passionate about. Neither path is more valid than the other, nor does it make someone more or less successful.

As we enter the second half of the year, many people are beginning to realise just how quickly the year is passing and starting to question where they are in their own journeys. If you’ve found yourself feeling that way, you’re not alone. That’s why we’ve put together a list of notable Nigerian creatives whose journeys remind us that it’s never too late to change direction, start over, or pursue what you truly love. 

Read also:  These are the Nigerian female creative directors in fashion you should have on your radar

Lisa Folawiyo

One of the queens of modern Nigerian fashion, Lisa Folawiyo, did not study fashion design or receive any formal fashion training. Initially, she studied Law at the University of Nigeria and was called to the Nigerian Bar before deciding to pursue fashion. 

After working in the legal profession, she took the leap and founded her eponymous label, Lisa Folawiyo Studio, which we all know and love today. 

During our conversation with her last year, when she graced our Power Issue cover, we asked what she would have been if she hadn’t become a designer. She replied, “I was a lawyer. Even though I can’t really imagine it, perhaps I’d still be practising law if I hadn’t gone into fashion.”  Thankfully for the fashion industry, she chose fashion. 

Mai Atafo

Mai Atafo is one of Nigeria’s most renowned menswear and bridal designers. Before becoming a designer, he enjoyed a successful corporate career. He studied Agricultural Economics and Information Technology before working for companies such as Guinness Nigeria as a brand manager. In 2010, while in his early 30s, he left the corporate world to launch his eponymous label. He has gone on to have his clothes displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum and also styled Icons like Wizkid and Banky W.

Omoyemi Akerele

While not a designer herself, Omoyemi Akerele has become one of the biggest names in Nigerian fashion. She earned three Law degrees and practised law from 2000 to 2003 before deciding to pursue her passion elsewhere.

In 2004, she left legal practice and moved into fashion styling and editorial, eventually founding Style House Files, the agency behind Lagos Fashion Week. In 2011, while in her mid-30s, she launched the first edition of Lagos Fashion Week, a platform that has since grown into a globally recognised event. Through her work, she has helped launch the careers of dozens of African designers while championing fashion as a serious economic sector.

Read also: Lagos Fashion Week presents Africa’s first manifesto for a regenerative fashion industry

Duro Olowu

Nigerian-born, British-based designer Duro Olowu moved to the United Kingdom at the age of 16. He later studied Law at the University of Kent, Canterbury and worked as a lawyer for several years before deciding to pursue fashion full-time.

Well into his legal career, Olowu launched his eponymous label in 2004 and achieved international recognition with his iconic dresses. His designs have since been worn by figures including Michelle Obama, Solange Knowles, and Uma Thurman. He was around 39 years old when he launched his label.

Femi Olayebi

Femi Olayebi, founder and creative director of FemiHandbags, also took an unconventional path into fashion. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in French from the University of Ibadan before pursuing her dream of becoming a translator. She later studied at the Institut de Traducteurs et d’Interprètes in Strasbourg, France, under a French government scholarship. After completing her studies, she worked as a freelance translator for several international organisations, including ECOWAS.

Her journey into handbag design began after she made a baby bag for her first daughter. What started as a personal project eventually grew into FemiHandbags, a brand she has now built for almost 25 years.

Ebuka Omaliko

Ebuka Omaliko never planned on becoming a footwear designer. He was studying Pharmacology when he had the opportunity to intern at Lagos Fashion Week. That experience broadened his horizons in fashion and sparked his interest in shoemaking.

He continued interning at the platform while developing his skills before launching his footwear brand Maliko in 2015. Although he had always been fascinated  in shoes and sandals, he entered the industry without any formal training, choosing instead to learn and build his craft through hands-on experience.

Read also: These 9 jewellery designers made us fall in love with African craft, and you need them on your style radar

Kelly Praise

Before becoming a full-time jewellery designer, Kelly Praise worked in marketing communications, building a career in branding, communications, and creative strategy. Her journey into jewellery began in childhood when she learned basic beadwork by accompanying her mother to a homemakers’ club in Jos. However, she did not immediately pursue it professionally. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she officially launched Kelly Praise Jewellery, creating affirmation jewellery designed to encourage and uplift people during a difficult period. In 2024, she trained in goldsmithing and silversmithing, allowing her to expand into fine jewellery.

Every journey follows  its own pace

The majority of these designers, brand founders, and creative entrepreneurs took the leap. They chose to start again, risking leaving behind established careers to pursue something they truly loved. Even those who didn’t change careers entirely were willing to start later in life, refusing to believe that time had passed them by. 

Their journeys remind us that if the opportunity presents itself to change direction and pursue what truly fulfils us, we shouldn’t be afraid to take it. Each of these talented individuals found the courage to turn lifelong dreams, unexpected opportunities, or moments of inspiration into successful careers.

So, continue to live in the moment. Don’t convince yourself that you’re already too late, that your time is running out, or that you’ve been left behind. There is always an opportunity to start again. There is always a chance to return to the drawing board, pick up the pen, and start again.

Read more: Six African designers redefining fashion with whimsy, courage, and creativity — and making us eager for their next piece

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