AMAZING SUCCESS STORIES:
Please view our pictures, they tell a little story of our impact. We have also attached profiles of some of our alumni and works of current students, to let you know we are talking about real people. All records are verifiable.
We equip, empower and enable trainees to start new businesses or grow existing businesses.
- Two have benefitted from Free Sponsorship to Further Entrepreneurship Training in the USA.
- Many have recieved equipment to support their business’ growth.
- Over 50% have started their own businesses and become employers of labour.
- About 25% have started training sessions for others at home.
- About 15% have gone to work for bigger business owners with the same line of trade
- About 25% are mentoring at FSD.
Read Success Stories & View the Works of some Trainees below:
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Alumnus Elizabeth Evbuoma
Elizabeth Opodo Evbuoma an alumnus of our Hotel & Catering Management department (2009) was nominated for AWEP (USA) by Foundation for Skills Development.
Nigerian Delegate to 3 weeks AWEP 2011 in the USA.
All expenses were paid for by the sponsors and she had the best of exposure to entrepreneurship programs and interactions specifically designed for women.
Elizabeth Opodo Evbuoma, Managing Director, Lizzie’s Kitchen, Lagos, Nigeria, her company specializes in baking and confectionaries. She is also into the production of dehydrated spices.
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My name is Mr Femi O.
Since 2010, I always encouraged my wife to attend FSD MSME Seminars, but I never attended.
In November 2011, I decided to attend the 5th edition of the seminars.
My business took a new turn the same week after the seminar. I had amazing new insights for my business. I diversified, formed partnerships and now I can confidently say I am a totally different person – empowered just by the kind of information I got at the seminar.
Obviously, the FSD MSME seminars are instructive, enlightening and empowering.
This is the best seminar I have attended in years – though the cost is super – subsidized; the content was not. The speakers gave world class training and there were no hidden costs; FSD even gave us Free Cd’s of previous seminars.
This was a seminar that renewed my hope that great people and organizations still exist in Nigeria and there is hope for the growth of MSME’s.
Keep up the good work FSD – you are truly transforming lives.
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Miracle – FSD Trainee (September 2011 – March 2012: took a break of 1month during her 6month training program)
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ALUMNUS PROFILE: OLUBE JUSTINA
The above designs are made by Olube Justina.
She is based in Port Harcourt.
She came to our training centre from Port Harcourt in 2009 for three months training. Today her business is doing extremely well and she has five employees. She is also trying to give back to society by training and empowering lives with the added value of business management.
Her Business – De Grace BL ejust is situated at No.26 Ejamah Ebubu Eleme, RIS, Port Harcourt.
Telephone: 08036739663. Email: olubejustina@yahoo.com
MRS. LILA OLOWOFOYEKU – MD, Lilac Pharmacy
I am the Aunt and Sponsor of one of your students, Tina Udeme Sunday.
I write to thank you for the positive impact your centre has had on Tina in such a short time. What impresses me most is the fact that she uses appropriate technical words when describing things that she has been taught.
You definitely have a good team and together you are doing a good job.
There are many young people out there that will benefit from what you
are offering. ……Mrs Olowofoyeku
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Loveth – 07037384418 – works with a Restaurant in Victoria Island, Lagos.
‘I could not believe I could get this job because I am not literate; but they tested my practical skills and getting the job was automatic – thanks to FSD’.
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On Thursday 16th February 2012, FSD staff visited one of our students (2011) who recently opened a Fashion House at Egbeda area of Lagos State.
Here she is with some of us in front of Chiky Fashion House.
Congratulations ChiChi – you make us proud.
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Victoria Fraser – 08030513470 – ‘I was struggling with my sewing business. I could not get enough customers to sustain my business. A kind lady told me about FSD; she said I needed more professional sewing skills to retain my customers. I went to FSD for 2months to brush up my skills.
Hmmm – today, my story is different. I am a different person and my business is different. I have remodelled my shop in Yaba and I am blessed to have attended FSD.
Thank you FSD and thanks to my kind neighbour.
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ALUMNUS PROFILE: Oluronke Oyebade
I came to FSD for my training in the 1st quarter of 2010 where I acquired exceptional training in fashion designing and entrepreneurship skills.
Long before I graduated from FSD, I knew I was going to put all I have into my fashion designing business as I already had a business plan ( which I was taught and made to write at FSD), only for me to realize it takes much more than a business plan but I kept patching it up until December 2010 when I gave in to discouragements and started looking for a paid job with plans of working and running my business at the same time since I had a girl that worked with me.
I got a job in January 2011 with a Real Estate Firm as a Business Development Manager where I put the Business Plan writing skill I acquired during the course of my training at FSD into practice for my new employer.
It felt good at first because I thought I would save enough money and three months into it I started losing interest in the job as it was too demanding and my business was suffering at the same time and I became so frustrated and the only option was to quit.
Then I attended the graduation ceremony of a new set of students at FSD and everything changed.
First it was the speech by one of the FSD partners, then the exhibition done by the new students and later a discussion with one of my former colleagues who also came to the event.
I was inspired and made up my mind to go back and stick to my original plan no matter what.
We were still discussing around the premises when I received a call from an old friend. I was quick to tell him I’m a fashion designer and he asked if I could make school uniforms, I answered yes and the rest is history.
My 1st order for school uniforms was to make the a batch of two hundred (200) pieces of school uniforms for the Nursery and Primary section of a big school.
Now, I have learnt to encourage and believe in myself even in the face of challenges as well be around positive people.
I also discovered I’ve got to start somewhere and that I have all I need to excel I don’t actually have to wait for the very big shop and N1million to equip/furnish the shop.
Thank you.
Oluronke Oyebade. Managing Director – Royal Apparels, Ifako Agege.
E-MAIL ADDRESS: ronkemore@yahoo.com
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ALUMNUS PROFILE: EHI EDEAGHE
The owner of the Restaurant pictured on the left is Mrs. Ehi E. She was a housewife before her three (3) months training (December 2008 – March 2009) with Foundation for Skills Development.
According to her, “I have always been interested in bakery. I went for an exhibition at Sheraton Hotels and noticed the superior quality of the products displayed by students at the stand of Foundation for Skills Development.
After I tasted their cake, I knew I had to learn from them, so I applied and I have to admit that the training I got at their centre in three (3) months was far better than I had gone through in other trainings.
When she graduated, her husband gave her the financial support and she promptly established the Ultra Modern eatery- FRESH DEW. She presently is an employer of 35 people.
Mrs. Ehi is the CEO, FRESH DEW FOODS on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Street, in Ikeja, Lagos.
ALUMNUS PROFILE: Mercy A. Malagu
Former Trainee in the Fashion & Textile Design Department
My name is Mercy A. Malagu, I am from Kwale in Delta State.
I have always had passion for Fashion Designing but kept it a secret because I come from a family where my mother is a school proprietress and my dad a retired solicitor who also wanted me to become a lawyer.
So the idea of becoming a fashion designer was not going to be welcomed at all.
It all happened when I came across FSD advert in a magazine and I told my parents about my intentions of pursuing my dream as a designer.
All hell broke loose; in fact my Dad almost disowned me.
In summary I got enrolled in FSD for a six month course in Fashion Designing with the help of my mother.
Today I am proud to say my dreams are being fulfilled. I am now my dad’s designer. I make clothes for him and his friends; in fact he is now one of my advertisers and would always tell his friends about his daughter who is now a Fashion Designer.
What gives me joy mostly is the fact that FSD has made me a designer today, I can sew to fit and not just to copy what is in vogue and that has kept my customers coming back.
Finally my success story will be incomplete without FSD
Contacts: 08180775785 & ebelemalagu2000@yahoo.com
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ALUMNUS PROFILE: Oluwayomi Aka
FSD Ex Student in Fashion Department
My name is Oluwayomi Aka. I came to FSD 2009 for six month training in Fashion Designing.
The training I got in FSD cannot be quantified. I actually got more than I bargained for.
I was not only trained in the field I desired but also I was trained in Entrepreneurial skills, I was taught on how to write my bankable business plan myself, how to register my company, how start a business and manage it to grow big, how to hit the market and get customers despite all the designers on ground and how to manage my time which is essential in business.
Today the styles I had always wondering how they were made, I can now make on my own for people.
I thank God for the vision of FSD which is impacting lives and building future, because the skills and knowledge I gained from FSD are truly immeasurable.
Contacts: 08035660622, 08088778098
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ALUMNUS PROFILE: NIKE YUSUF
These designs are some of the creations of Stitches and Designs by Nikki owned by Nike Yusuf (Nee: Gbolahan). Her Fashion Institute is situated in Lagos.
She came to our training centre for three months training in the year 2007.
Then she was a single girl. She is now a young married mother of two and an entrepreneur.
Today her business is doing well and she has several employees and trainees. She also is a regular mentor at the Foundation for Skills Development.
Her speciality is ‘Wedding and Evening’ Gowns as we can see from the pictures. She started her business the same month she completed her training.
Stitches and Designs by Nikki is situated at Ikeja, Lagos State.
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ALUMNUS PROFILE: Soetan Folashade
That there are many acquisition centres in Lagos is no news but there aren’t many that can match up with FSD.
This is a centre that takes you in as raw materials and refines you into finished products beyond your expectation.
FSD shared my dreams and at no point left me till I could stand firm. That is why today, I find myself achieving much more than I anticipated.
With an encouraging Director and humble teachers, I won’t mince words in saying the centre is not just about skill acquisition rather, a total transformation centre!
Soetan Folashade
C.E.O – ABENI DESIGNS
abeniabiola@gmail.com
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A Current Undergraduate
Thanks to FSD, I really want more hands now because the work is coming more now and can’t wait to be through with school so that I can face it squarely. .It’s a good thing ma, to do what you love.
I’m really grateful for your support. My love to everyone at FSD.
Tolu Ilori – spent her vacation at FSD learning to design and make clothing.
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ALUMNUS PROFILE: Taiwo Oridedi
My sister- Mariam – introduced me to FSD in 2009. I was a restless young man; but she believed I had a passion and she wanted me to pursue it.
I loved to draw and I was creative, but I did not know how to take it to the next level, I kept doing several things and was not just getting it right.
I enrolled for a six month course in Furniture craft. I persevered and FSD believed in me. There were times, when I was the only student in the class, yet I was always well taught by the FSD trainer.
By 4months, I was making beautiful pieces of furniture, even my sister, family and friends could not believe when they saw the pictures. FSD taught me Furniture Craft and Entrepreneurship.
Immediately after my 6months training, FSD got me an IT job which helped develop both my craft and business skills quickly.
In less than 3months at that firm, I knew I was ready to fly. I picked another job where in less than a year; I rose to become a supervisor.
Today, my company invites FSD to supply them more staff than even FSD can graduate, because of my performance.
I am back in part-time school at weekends; self-sponsored and I am pursuing my dream and doing well.
FSD thank you. My sister Mariam – I love you
Contact: 08094616472
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Faustina – a trainee of FSD – focused and pursued her dream – started training in 2011, completed training in 2011, set up her business and now an employer of labor – all in 2011.
All this happened in less than 10months.
Congratulations – you make us very proud of you and your work….
Faustina Ubani – Fashion & Textile Designing Alumnus and Now CEO of Tee’s Concepts, Omole Estate – 2011
Read Faustina’s words
‘Hmmm
What can I not say about FSD: this is an institution where the value for your dreams and aspirations are cultivated, groomed and nurtured to reality.
No matter your situation, when you come here, you find a new reason to live…………………I am proud to be a part of this great institution”
FaustinaUbani – Today she is the CEO of TEE’s Concepts – Designer of Great Clothes.
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