By Sam Hart
I sat quietly at Seyi Vodi’s 50th Birthday Dinner Yesterday.
The event was held at the Main Hall of the International Conference Centre, Abuja — the most spacious and prestigious venue in the city. And it was packed.
A former president of a foreign nation was in attendance. Nigeria’s Vice President was represented. The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives came. Four serving Ministers, the Chairman of the EFCC, captains of industry from all sectors, and the Ooni of Ife in full resplendence — all present. No fewer than 5,000 people struggled to gain access to the venue.
All to celebrate a ‘tailor’.
Yes, a tailor.
This year, Seyi Vodi opened a new corporate headquarters in the heart of Abuja — a sprawling edifice that rivals any government or multinational structure in design and presence.
On December 31, 2024, Seyi posted a gratitude reel on his Instagram — a full protocol list of top-tier clients. The President. The Vice President. The Senate President. The Speaker. And the list goes on. Everyone patronizes Vodi. Yet he remains the tireless chief marketer of his brand.
Have you heard Seyi’s story?
He arrived in Abuja as a youth corper — with nothing but his tape measure and a vision. He squatted. He hustled. No financial capital, but plenty of grit. Precept upon precept, line upon line, he built. With unwavering dedication to his craft, strategic marketing, unmatched customer service, and most importantly, a steadfast devotion to God, Seyi Vodi became an irreducible force in Nigeria’s fashion landscape.
My Principal Benjamin Kalu has something he likes saying which I have imbibed. The way you take your chicken to the market is how it will be priced. If you carry it like an eagle, it will be priced as an eagle but if you carry it as a crow, it will be priced as a crow. Seyi obviously understands this principle. He has carried his tailoring business to the market as a fashion enterprise and it is being priced as such. Those who present their tailoring business as ‘Obioma duwa duwa’ will be priced as such too.
And despite all his success, he hasn’t stopped — still marketing, still building, still rooted in humility and purpose.
It brought me joy to sit quietly behind him last night, watching dignitaries queue to pay their respects.
Everyone who knows me knows I’ve long championed the promotion of indigenous producers. I believe deeply in the potential of local industry — and Seyi Vodi stands as a shining example of what’s possible. He is a poster success story for the “Made in Nigeria” dream.
I’m equally proud of the work others are doing: Prince Arthur Uche with Beyond Clothing Nigeria. I am a huge supporter of Fadamasi Concepts, Ugomdi Ogbonna TOSKyme House Of Fashion T David Tochukwu Nwankwo Chibueze Richard Ikwechegh Ri-Kwech Donchizy Uchendu Uche Ogbonna’s Kloth Planet Reverand Dior @nefpatra and a host of others.
While I admit that opportunities are limited and challenges exist in the country, I remain stubbornly insistent that hardwork, dedication, faith in God and ceaseless grinding sets you apart and takes you to the top.
Congratulations my brother Seyi Vodi . Tis yet morning. The Lord whom you have ceaselessly honoured will yet expand your territory.
Happy 50th birthday and have my best wishes always.
* Sam Hart, mni is Chief of Staff to the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu
