Just last weekend, Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, was aglow with glamour and style as dignitaries from across the nation gathered to celebrate one of the country’s leading fashion entrepreneurs, Oluwaseyi Adekunle, popularly known as Seyi Vodi. The grand occasion marked his 50th birthday — a milestone he celebrated in unforgettable fashion, gifting himself a brand-new 2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan, reportedly worth over ₦1 billion.
The celebration was more than just a party — it was a statement of success, style, and visionary entrepreneurship. It drew governors, federal lawmakers, celebrities, and captains of industry — all coming together to honour a man whose journey from geology graduate to fashion mogul is as inspiring as it is extraordinary.
Before the Rolls-Royce, Vodi had already caused a stir months earlier when he unveiled his new palatial office space in Mabushi, Abuja — a luxury structure worth billions, described by many as a creative fortress and a fashion lover’s dream. The new Vodi headquarters has quickly become a tourist attraction, drawing both Abuja residents and international visitors who are eager to witness Nigerian luxury and craftsmanship at its finest.
A graduate of Geology, Vodi’s career took an unexpected but fateful turn when he failed a bank recruitment exam — a moment that might have seemed like a setback but turned out to be his defining pivot. In 2001, he founded Testimony Fabrics, which he later rebranded to Vodi in 2003. Today, that brand is a household name in luxury menswear, synonymous with precision tailoring, innovation, and elegance.
Over the years, Seyi Vodi has cultivated a star-studded clientele. His designs are worn by music icons like Burna Boy, 2Baba, K1 De Ultimate, and Saheed Osupa; media giants like Dele Momodu; political heavyweights including Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, MC Oluomo, and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke — all of whom proudly wear Vodi’s creations and have paid personal visits to his Abuja office.
Vodi’s reach goes beyond fashion. Through the Vodi Group, which includes Vodi Clean, Vodi Debbo, Vodi Textile, and the Vodi Training Institute, he’s created employment for over 500 people, empowering many in the fashion value chain.
In 2022, his philanthropic side shone brightly when he donated ₦5 million to the University of Maiduguri for the installation of solar panels, supporting students during exam seasons with stable electricity. For him, fashion is a platform not just for style, but for national development and youth empowerment.
His efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. In June 2023, he was conferred the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu — a recognition of his contribution to enterprise, innovation, and the Nigerian economy.
Reflecting on his 24-year journey, Seyi Vodi offered a powerful message:
“I do sleepless nights, keep vigils, travel across borders. I sweat, think, and work hard building Vodi and the group. I have been doing this for 24 years now. No break. No slowing down. Just steady grinding. This is the secret I know. This is what has prospered me. This is what will prosper me. I hope those who ought to learn are picking the pieces.”
Born in Lagos State, with roots in Osun State, Seyi Vodi exemplifies what it means to embrace one’s passion with boldness and discipline. From a geology graduate to a fashion icon, business tycoon, and philanthropist, he is a beacon of inspiration to millions of young Nigerians.
Today, Seyi Vodi is not just designing clothes — he’s designing dreams, proving that life beyond school holds boundless possibilities for those willing to believe, work, and dare.
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