I’ve no regrets being a fashion designer, says STEP beneficiary, Finine

By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh

BRADOUYAI KNOWLEDGE FININE hails from Burutu Local Government Area. He attended Bayelsa State University where he obtained a BSC in Business Administration in 2010. Five years after graduation, he was fortunate to be enrolled into the Delta State Government’s Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) in the 2015/2016 Cycle, the pioneer set. The rest is history as he is now the CEO of Drex Me Apparels, an outfit known for its unique taste for style and class. He designs male wears such as suits, senator wears, agbada, shirts, trousers etc. Bradouyai is enterprising, an employer, a trainer and a hard worker with classic dress sense. Hear him,

“I was jobless for five years, but I never really wanted to collect the STEP form because I felt I won’t be selected. You know in Nigeria today, you need to know someone to get anything. To my greatest surprise, I was invited to attend an interview, thereafter to Songhai Delta, Amukpe for one week Orientation and Personal Effectiveness Training.

“From my establishment package of six months training, ₦10,000 stipend for nine months, one manual sewing machine, one industrial weaving machine, an iron, cutting table, a generator and shop rent subsidy, I have grown my enterprise to acquire four industrial sewing machines and other equipment. Though it wasn’t easy initially, yet I kept pushing.

“Six years after, I have six staff on my payroll. I have trained so many people that have passion for fashion who have also established and are doing well. I have expanded my business from a small office space to a larger office to accommodate my equipment. I currently own a show room where I attend to my clients and a factory where my workers work. All my designs bear my label- Drex Me Apparels.

“I am proud to be a fashion designer, being my own boss and making my clients look good. I have no regrets being a fashion designer. I am married to a beautiful woman and we are blessed with a son. I could be reached on Whatsapp @ 08123541624; Instagram @ Drexmeapparels.”