Coming from a line of lawyers, Chief Jideofor Ezeofor hoped to follow in his parents’ footsteps. However, he tells Vanessa Obioha that he discovered his true calling in the needle and thread business.
Providence has a way of directing other people toward their true calling. Take, for example, the wonderful chef Jideofor Ezeofor, lawyer and mastermind behind the famous Zeof fashion logo.
Coming from a circle of relatives with the highest noble rank in the legal career, the group of councilors, Chief Ezeofor would probably have worked on the court as a judge of the Court of Appeals if he had followed the classic circle of relatives. Career. Instead, Ezeofor, who practiced law for a time, turned to the fashion industry. Today, your logo toasts to high-end fashion enthusiasts, captains of industry, political leaders, business leaders, and professionals of all colors, whether at home. and abroad. Her story is a classic example of how passion, dedication, and hard work can help someone achieve their dreams.
Fashion became an attraction for Ezeofor when he was a child. Although no one in his family circle showed any inclination for art, he embraced it with all his heart.
“I started designing garments when I was very young, around 12 years old,” she recalled in a recent conversation. “Throughout school and college, I designed and made garments. My first clients were my classmates at the University of Ife, now Obafemi. Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where I studied law.
Although he did not obtain any formal education in the fashion field, his talent and ingenuity paved his way into the industry. Ezeofor, whose eyes sparkled with pride, revealed how he ended up in the fashion world despite his prominent parents in the legal world. According to the soft-spoken entrepreneur, fashion and design are his true calling.
“I am a lawyer by training, a tailor and an artist by inclination. I have not abandoned the legal profession. I am a second-generation lawyer. My father and mother are lawyers. My father, Ichie Ezeofor, is a life member of the Benchers Corps; is a framework of lawyers of difference in Nigeria.
“The law is also in my blood. I was previously a justice of the peace in the judiciary of Anambra State. I worked for five years at the High Court of Ogidi and Onitsha, respectively. The satisfaction I received in dispensing justice without worry or favor is unparalleled. I felt conflicted when it was our turn to be elevated to the High Court. The artist in me couldn’t sit still. Later I resigned from the judiciary to dedicate myself to the hobby of my formative years, which is the creation of clothes, interior decoration and furniture. But my first love has been creating clothes. I get inspired by nature: I can get inspired by seeing how the breeze affects a tree. Simply observing the way the leaves dance in the wind becomes a drawing. »
With more than three decades of experience in the industry, Ezeofor has especially grown its fashion business. Its design brand, Zeof Excluzioni, now caters to a varied clientele in all segments of society and is a premium brand.
“We dress captains of industry, bankers, professionals, senior officials, businessmen, governors, African presidents and others with a wonderful sense of style. Over the years, our attention to detail in our attire is second to none. ” , he enthused.
Following the shift from foreign to local designs, Ezeofor sees this as a trend and attributes it to the maturation of the Nigerian fashion industry. He noted that more and more Nigerians are adopting local fabrics and designs, a testament to the growing popularity and appreciation of the industry in the country.
“Nigerian designers have matured in their craft over the years. When I was designing garments in 1985, I wasn’t popular; Nigerians liked to buy ready-to-wear garments imported from Europe and America. But now we’ve matured into trendy content, just like our Afrobeat music. We have consumers in Europe and America. The logo of Nigerian fashion is international,” he explained.
The fashion czar clarified: “We receive orders from abroad, package them and ship them. Sometimes, in 2007, I showed how my tropical, hybrid, and African Zeof dress is worn in the fashion scene at the Magic Market in Las Vegas, USA. The U. S. Department of Commerce, organized through the U. S. Department of Commerce, is organized through the U. S. Department of Commerce. U. S.
The prominent designer lamented that nowadays, many young Nigerians are rarely informed and acquire craft skills such as sewing, tiling, electricity and mechanics. Instead, they prefer to leave the country in search of greener pastures.
According to him, the scenario is twofold: the inability of the government to supply basic goods and the challenge of the youth who are in a hurry to get rich quickly, which according to him is not the right path.
To address this problem, Ezeofor urged the government to provide enabling services. He also suggested Nigerian youths understand that good luck is a slow process – it is about learning, running hard, making mistakes, enjoying and progressing over time.
“There is no silver bullet, but the younger generation is in a hurry to earn money, which most of the time leads to unscrupulous situations where they get involved in fraud cases or other activities that fall outside the reach of the law. .
“In Nigeria, it takes about five years to master those craft skills, but in most cases, after two years, the student moves away and tries to establish himself. Like a space on a forged foundation, the fall is inevitable .
“The fashion industry is tough; You must have an additional hobby to succeed in the fashion industry. The first few years can be frustrating, but if you persist, you’ll gain experience, tenacity, and good luck will be yours. I call on young people to be patient and get to know an industry or an industry; You can be a billionaire. There is money in sewing, plumbing, painting, pop placement, electrical installations, and other areas.
Ezeofor also denounced that many textile companies in Nigeria have closed their operations due to an unfavorable business environment. He admitted that this unfortunate situation has forced Zeof to start sourcing most of his raw cloth from China. According to him, the common strength of cuts in Nigeria is one of the main reasons for the closure of the textile industries, as a source of constant force is very important for the production of fabrics. He suggested that the federal government offer long-term, single-digit loans to textile brands to help revive the textile industry. industry and resurrect the numerous textile corporations that have closed their doors.
Zeof, he added, is also a victim of force paralysis in Nigeria, where the fashion company suffered from an epileptic force source for 10 years, hampering production. He, however, revealed that he has since drawn on select strength sources, giving Zeof Fashion a much-needed respite of strength.
“We suffered from epilepsy for 10 years. It was very unbearable for us, especially to put fuel in the turbines and keep them running. From there the company Zeof Solar Solution was born. We install solar systems for Americans and companies,” he said. Explains.
While calling on the government to integrate fashion designing and other professional skills into the higher education curriculum, Grand Chief Ezeofor expressed optimism that in the next 30 years, Zeof will surpass its current prestige and global brand. He expressed his absolute confidence that Zeof Fashion would outlive him “because some of my juniors have shown interest in following the fashion line. “
“My first son, who is an architect, needs to continue with his business. It has its design for the younger generation and also for its younger brother. They created a brand known as Denzel Blake Imperial, which is an offshoot of Zeof Exclusioni. .
An avid golfinger and historian who carries his golfing bag anywhere he travels, Ezeofor revealed that the Zeof Fashion Training Institute is in the works. The Fashion Training Institute, he said, will mentor and exercise young Nigerians to gain fashion design skills.
“It will basically give you practical training and when you graduate you will be a more experienced person. This will happen to many of our unemployed young people,” she remarked.
Founded on January 22, 1995, THISDAY is published through THISDAY NEWSPAPERS LTD. , 35 Creek Road Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria, with offices in 36 states of Nigeria, the Federal Capital Territory and worldwide. It had on all platforms for the political, business, pro, and diplomatic elite and the middle classes in general, while also serving as a meeting point for new ideas, cultures, and technologies for ambitious and millennials. The newspaper is a public framework engaged in the pursuit of facts and reason, covering a diversity of topics, from breaking news to politics, business, markets, arts, sports, and community, to the crossroads of other people and society.
You can email us at: hello@thisdaylive. com or our Contact Us page.