Ehi Ogbebor, CEO, Sayaveth Interiors & Hotels
THE TOP10 MAGAZINE FEMALE BUSINESS EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR
Ehizogie Ogbebor enrolled in the university to read Microbiology with hopes of pursuing some science-based career. However, fate and her passion for interior decoration decided otherwise. Upon graduation, she was posted to an insurance company for her mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme. She was so good at her work that she got employed by the company but the pull of her passion for interior decoration compelled her to quit after seven years to pursue her passion and a new career in interior decoration.
As founder and CEO of Sayaveth Interiors & Hotels, Ogbebor’s breakthrough came in 2012 when she got a contract to decorate and furnish a 4,000-square metre building with 11 living rooms owned by a Nigerian lawmaker in Imo State. She made a huge success of the project which took her a year to complete. Ehi’s commendable delivery of that job generated referrals that brought in more jobs from other clients, and, over a couple of years, she achieved immense success in her business and became one of the most successful young female interior decorators in Nigeria.
With the growth of her business, Ehi acquired her first showroom in Victoria Garden City, Lagos. She later bought a small house designed and furnished to serve as her mini showroom, which helped her gain more referrals.
Today, her brand, Sayaveth Interiors & Hotels, has grown exponentially to become one of Nigeria’s biggest interior decoration brands. Her clients are mostly Nigerian politicians, top government officials, and wealthy entrepreneurs. She has become a household name among the crème de la crème of the society.
In addition to passion, Ehi’s success was driven by innovation, determination and self-development. She read a lot about interior decor online because she felt it was very easy to educate oneself if there was passion and intelligence. After a while, she went for some courses in wall finishing, designing, etc. to perfect her skills. Armed with the determination to break the norm, Ehi decided not to do the regular furnishing seen in most parts of the country. Thus, her outfit, Sayaveth, was one of the few companies that pioneered finishing to furnishing approach to interior decoration in Nigeria. Now, the company has partners abroad that it works with; it specifies what it wants and the foreign partners produce it. However, it produces 100 percent locally commercial furnishing jobs like hotels, restaurants, clubs, saloons, etc.
Ehi decided to go into hotels business for two reasons. “I just needed to go into it because some clients usually ask to see spaces we’ve beautified and taking them into people’s private properties seemed inappropriate. Sometimes too, they are in need of places to lodge when they come to Lagos to see us. That inspired the decision to venture into the hospitality industry in 2016,” she explained.
Despite the typical challenges of running a business in Nigeria, such as escalating exchange rate and cost of goods and services, Ehi remains resilient, holding the firm belief that “nothing is a barrier” for her.
Ehi’s success was driven by a combination of passion, innovation, determination and self-development. She read a lot about interior decor online because she felt it was very easy to educate oneself if there was passion and intelligence. After a while, she went for some courses in wall finishing, designing, etc. to perfect her skills. Armed with the determination to break the norm, Ehi decided not to do the regular furnishing seen in most parts of the country. Thus, her outfit, Sayaveth, was one of the few companies that pioneered finishing to furnishing approach to interior decoration in Nigeria. Now, the company has partners abroad that it works with; it specifies what it wants and the foreign partners produce it. However, it produces 100 percent locally commercial furnishing jobs like hotels, restaurants, clubs, saloons, etc.
Ehi decided to go into hotels business for two reasons. “I just needed to go into it because some clients usually ask to see spaces we’ve beautified and taking them into people’s private properties seemed inappropriate. Sometimes too, they are in need of places to lodge when they come to Lagos to see us. That inspired the decision to venture into the hospitality industry in 2016,” she explained.
Despite the typical challenges of running a business in Nigeria, such as escalating exchange rate and cost of goods and services, Ehi remains resilient, holding the firm belief that “nothing is a barrier” for her.
Born and raised in Benin, the capital of Edo State, Ehi, as she is called for short, had her primary and secondary education in Benin City before moving to Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, where she earned a degree in Microbiology. Ehi discovered she had a passion for interior decoration while still in school.
Ehizogie Ogbebor has been selected as the Top 10 Magazine’s Female Business Executive of the Year 2024 in recognition of her accomplishments in expanding the frontiers of Sayaveth Interiors & Hotels as leading game changers in their respective industries.
