Yesterday, the world lost a remarkable man. I only knew Mr. Segun Awolowo for a short chapter of my life, but he changed its entire trajectory.
When I lived in Nigeria, I was building a young, ambitious brand—Empire Jane, a gift manufacturing and retail company—with big dreams and limited reach. Mr. Awolowo worked with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, and his mandate was clear: to champion locally made Nigerian products. But what still humbles me today is that he didn’t only champion Nigeria—he championed me.
He attended my very first pop-up store in Victoria Island. Quiet, calm, and deeply attentive, he studied my work and bought so many pieces. He was all business, yet never calculating. Encouraging, yet never flattering. He wasn’t trying to “help me out”—he genuinely believed in the value of what we created.
Because of his support, my products found their way to the Presidential residence, to ministers’ homes, and into the hands of dignitaries and VIPs. Each time he called from Abuja to request a bulk order, my staff and I would prioritize with excitement to fulfill his order. Under his leadership, after the pandemic, my business received a grant, after a rigorous process—because his team took note of how we served our community during that difficult period.
I remember once telling my team after a quality inspection, “Every single item must be exceptional. Out of a thousand pieces, they must all reflect excellence. What if one of them ends up in the President’s hand?”
Because of Mr. Awolowo, that ambitious challenge turned out to be prophetic.
He helped my entrepreneurial dreams take root. Today, I imagine there are countless others who could say the same—that his quiet influence, his belief in people, and his unwavering commitment opened doors that would have otherwise remained closed.
To his family, I offer my deepest condolences and this small testimony of the kindness and legacy your loved one carried so effortlessly.
Mr. Awolowo, may your soul rest in perfect peace.
Thank you for what you did for me. Thank you for who you are.
