By Oluwadare Taiwo
Fashion entrepreneur and businessman, Seyi Vodi, has stirred emotions online after a video surfaced showing him taking his children on a nostalgic tour of where his journey to success began.
In the touching video, Vodi is seen standing in front of a modest shop in Gwagwalada, Abuja, pointing out landmarks and recounting how he once shuttled between the area and the city centre on commercial motorcycles and buses for years, chasing his dreams in the fashion industry.
“This was in 2003/04,” Vodi began. “I would pick okada from the front of this shop. If you know Student Village in Gwagwalada, then you know what this place looked like back then.”
According to him, rain or shine, he would ride motorcycles to the local motor park before boarding buses to Berger Junction in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.
“Then the roads were not dualized, no flyovers. I would stop at Citizen Bank, where my roommate, Kennedy Okwudili—now a GM and Zonal Head at Zenith Bank—would help me keep my big Ghana-must-go bag filled with shirts,” he narrated.
From there, Vodi said he would proceed to distribute shirts to bankers and clients, returning late at night to Gwagwalada—only to repeat the cycle the next day.
“I did that for eight years,” he added, underscoring the perseverance and grit behind his now-thriving fashion empire, Vodi Group.
The video has since gone viral on social media, with many Nigerians praising the entrepreneur for staying grounded and using his story to inspire his children and others.
“Legacy is not just what you leave behind but what you live and share. This is powerful,” commented one X (formerly Twitter) user.
Seyi Vodi’s story continues to resonate with thousands across the country, especially young Nigerians striving to overcome similar odds in pursuit of success.
