Startup Story
As many entrepreneurs know, training and development can empower women to fulfill their potential, something Ubong Agina, founder of Nubeeka Concepts knows all too well. She is building a successful fashion design business and fashion training school to help others to realize their goals in the industry.
LoA learned more about this unique business from the enterprising Ubong Agina this month.
What does your company do?
Nubeeka Couture, an arm of Nubeeka Concepts, is a creative fashion designing private enterprise founded with the mission to promote African beauty, art and style through creative and innovative garment fashion designing. We are also committed to women empowerment through training and through our own fashion school.
Our range of products includes various female apparel such as corporate-wear, semi-formal and casual dresses, gowns, jackets, skirts and tops, and shirts, all of which we produce as bespoke designs, as well as small to large scale ready-to-wear (RTW) designs.
What inspired me to start the company was firstly, a love for African fabrics and the fashionable beauty of local, well-made designs relative to foreign brands; coupled with my love for teaching/training.
What inspired you to start your company?
Firstly, a love for African fabrics and the fashionable beauty of local, well-made designs relative to foreign brands; coupled with my love for teaching/training. When I ventured into couture, fashion designing and creation, I found a vast opportunity for capacity building and empowerment among my fellow African women. So, I expanded to also establish a fashion training school.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Our unique yet readily affordable Nigerian-African designs, and our affordable and client-oriented fashion training school.
Tell us a little about your team
Our team, led by me, consists of the production unit which takes care of the couture activities; and the training unit which stewards the fashion training school.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
Yes, I would say I come from entrepreneurial background though on a subsistence level. Coming from a meagre background, my entrepreneurial journey started as an arduous uphill task and my main anchor was my passion to drive my mission. After acquiring the necessary basic and advanced academic, as well as fashion design skills, I started my fashion making business in the comfort of my home for the first several months. When customer satisfaction incrementally drove patronage beyond what I can manage in my home, I took the bold but fretful step and I officially launched my business, with the inclusion of the training school.
“When I ventured into couture, fashion designing and creation, I found a vast opportunity for capacity building and empowerment among my fellow African women. So, I expanded to also establish a fashion training school.”
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
To access financial assistance to enable my business to expand to become one of the leading centres for African women empowerment through fashion training, designing and manufacture.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Customer satisfaction, especially with their kind and encouraging feedback and referrals.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
The entrepreneurial journey is not easy; it requires a large heart. However, as challenging as it may be, just as a child's first attempts at walking, success is sure with clear focus, consistency and the ability to manage changes.
Contact or follow Nubeeka Couture
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL ubongagina@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it….
It is always inspiring to see a woman entrepreneur not only fulfilling her own dreams but also helping to empower others to do the same. Ubong Agina is a great example of a woman who wants to make her own mark in her chosen industry, building a successful and respected business, whilst also on a mission to open up that industry to others who have similar dreams through training. She is a wonderful force for creative and empowerment change. — Melanie Hawken, founder of Lionesses of Africa