Nigerian entrepreneurs encounter various obstacles as they strive to establish and grow their businesses. Oghale Kadiri, founder of Rattan By Sandrah, a Lagos-based handbag company, shares her experiences.

Kadiri’s company has produced over 12,000 bags and served 5,000 clients since its inception in 2019. However, managing her workforce poses a challenge. “Sometimes, having workers delay jobs can affect customer/seller relationships,” she notes.

Design plagiarism is another issue Kadiri faces, with her designs being used by other brands without credit. This highlights the need for stronger intellectual property protections in Nigeria.

Despite these challenges, Kadiri is working towards expanding her brand. Her experiences reflect the broader issues faced by entrepreneurs in Nigeria, including workforce management and intellectual property protection.

“I started small, and even though I’m not fully where I hope to push the brand to, I’m 20x farther than where I came from,” Kadiri says. Her story underscores the importance of perseverance and adaptability in navigating Nigeria’s business landscape.