Celebrated Nigerian fashion entrepreneur, Seyi Adekunle, popularly known as Seyi Vodi, has responded to the growing scrutiny over his lifestyle and success.
Days back, the renowned designer turned 50 and hosted a star-studded birthday celebration in Abuja.
Speaking about constant criticisms trailing his success and affluence as designer, Seyi said it’s disheartening that people are quick to question the source of wealth once someone appears successful.
Drawing comparisons to global fashion moguls, Vodi referenced Philipp Plein — the German designer who founded his fashion empire in 1998 and is today reportedly worth nearly a billion dollars.
“Philip started his company in 1998, and I founded Vodi just three years after him,” Vodi wrote. “While I’ve done extraordinarily well for myself, in the context of the world, there’s no big deal about my numbers and successes.”
Vodi, who has built his brand over the last 24 years, says he finds it disturbing that instead of celebrating growth and excellence, many Nigerians default to cynicism, envy, and suspicion.
“I’ve heard in different ways people asking, ‘Is it only fashion that is giving him all this money?” he said. “These questions often come from a place of want, lack, penury, ignorance, and excruciating poverty.”
The entrepreneur emphasised that the problem is not with the question itself, but with the mindset that fuels it. In his words, “If our society was one where people generally prospered, we wouldn’t be so hateful and suspicious of success and successful people. Especially when often times, those successes barely measure up globally.”
He believes that the reason many people express doubt or resentment towards successful individuals is due to prolonged exposure to hardship and the normalization of poverty.
“If the average person wasn’t so used to stories of poverty and failings, we’d be more inclined to wonder why Seyi Vodi isn’t a billionaire yet, instead of wondering where the little I have comes from.”
Vodi didn’t shy away from stating the hard truth: many criticisms stem not from a place of investigation or genuine concern, but from deeply embedded societal frustration. “We need to reform our mindset,” he stressed.
“The things we see of the world are moderated by the mindset that has been principally shaped by our environment, culture, and education.”
Revisiting his comparison to Philipp Plein, Vodi made a striking observation. “Philip rolls around in his own private jet. I have none. He is almost a billionaire. I am not. But no one around him will ever ask about the source of his money,” he noted. “Because his money doesn’t mean much amidst the wealth in his society.”
The Vodi brand, known for its classy tailoring and bespoke menswear, didn’t become an empire overnight. According to Seyi, the journey has been defined by intense hard work, sacrifice, and relentless consistency. “I do sleepless nights, keep vigils, travel across borders. I sweat, think, and work hard building Vodi and the group.”
He added that his entrepreneurial journey has had no shortcuts or lucky breaks. “I have been doing this for 24 years now. No break. No slowing down. Just steady grinding. This is the secret I know.”
Despite the noise, Vodi says he remains unshaken and focused. “This is what has prospered me. This is what will continue to prosper me,” he affirmed. “Let those who need to learn, learn. Let those who want to hate, hate.”
In his final words, the fashion mogul sent a message to Nigeria’s youth and aspiring entrepreneurs: “Don’t let society’s negativity kill your drive. If you work smart, work right, and stay focused, you can build your own greatness. The proof is here.”
