Ehizogie Ogbebor is a lady of many party. She’s a lady with a large heart. An entrepreneur per excellence who has carved a niche for herself as the founder and ceo of SAYAVETH Decor and Hotel, At 35, she has proven that what a man can do, woman can do as well.
She seat a top multi million naira interior decor and hospitality business in lekki axis of Lagos Island. The Rich, the famous and the Powerful have crave for her products and services. In this interview with Adeniyi ifetayo, she talks about her journey into luxury design and decor and what has kept her to remain focused but not allowing her past to dictate her future.
How was your growing like, was it tough, good or bad? Share your humble beginning with us?
I grew up in Benin city, Edo State. I grew up in very humble family, My father is Mr Samuel Ogiebor and my mum Mrs Juliet Ogiebor. I’m the third child of my mum and my dad died about 10 years ago.
Many people admire your drives, your bold moves and your wins, How do you metaphors from being Ehizogie to SAYAVETH Decor and Hotel?
I think interior decoration is a gift for me that I was blessed with by God , I remember long ago in Benin and I think was 6 years old. We went for end of the year annual cultural dance at the Palace of the Oba of Benin, I remembered vividly that the Oba walked up to me with a couple of chiefs and said that my head is meant for a crown. I never understood what that really meant but life experiences has showed me that I was blessed with a gift, I’m just happy that I realized it on time. I was doing insurance before but I was not really enjoying it.
How did you come about your brand name SAYAVETH?
Sayaveth is a name I saw one day when I was seated with my kids watching cartoons and at the end of the tbe cartoon, I saw the name Sayaveth and I was like that name sound nice and I was in joint venture at the time about 10 years ago then I opted out based on the advice of my banker so I started SAYAVETH but now Sayaveth is a name that is known for luxury designs, when you talk about Classic design, classic decor and Royal designs the name Sayaveth comes to mind. At Sayaveth if you give me a house, I will turn it into a beautiful home.
So many people see the Glory, the giant strides, the projects here and there but they don’t know the story, how has been the journey so far and what has kept you going, Had there been a time that you wanted to give up but forge ahead?
I never thought of giving up because it is something I really really enjoy, yes we are making money but I love to walk into a space and When I come into a space I already almost know what I want to achieve for the entire space and space by space. From the finishing to the furniture to the decor to the accessories. I also work with the mood of my clients, I need to study the mood of my clients to know what they may like.
As an entrepreneur and business owners, what would be your advice to young people across Africa to survive post Covid-19?
Post Covid-19 is going to be tough and we need to brace up. Covid totally reset the world, it makes Africans realize that we are lacking in a lot of areas, a lot of people had to develop their talents, hobbies has turned into money making machines. Covid-19 is bad but it has come to teach us a lesson and I know a lot of people are going to come out better from it. I’m coming out better and a lot of other people that I know. By God’s grace when it’s over, the people will start to learn just like China, now every tailor is using Ankara to make face masks so we could do that before why did we wait until now.
During lockdown, you reached out financially to some of your followers to ease their pain, what inform that decision and any plan to own a foundation?
At some point I will own a foundation but my job for now won’t permit it, I don’t want to run a foundation without putting in my best, by the grace of God maybe in two years, I would own a foundation a non-profit profit organization that I would at least wholly sponsor 50 or 60%. Sometimes my mom will say Ehizogie you can’t help the whole world but I know some day I hope I can help a lot of people.
Your birthday is coming up on 15th June, someone jokingly said that we will postpone lockdown for us to part hard, how do you intend to celebrate your 35th birthday?
Yeah, I’m going to celebrate with my family, you know I will be clocking 35 so a lot of reflection, I think on that day I will just be at home celebrating with my family and maybe celebrate it in the office with my team.
You are good looking and Powerful Dresser, what inform your mode of Dress?
I dress according to my mood but lately I dress according to the job because when you are going to the site, you know what to wear but address mostly weekends. I’m a very skin conscious person.
What lessons have you learnt about life?
Number one, Life is not fair, sometimes what we wished for did not necessarily come out the way want it so we need to learn how to accept defeat and move on. A lot of people today are depressed because they don’t know how to move on after a huge defeat. Life has taught me that if you believe, you can by the Grace of God too, also life has taught me that family is everything.
Your slogan, Do not give your past to define your future, what message are you trying to pass across to the younger generation with that statement?
It just reminded me of when you are airborne and it gets bumpy when taking off then go to auto cruise, do not let your past determine your future, don’t do self pity because a lot of people are depressed today because of self-pity, they limit themselves and they don’t know that they are powerful. They limit themselves because of what others says about them. I’ve been a victim of bad press.
My close friends will tell me, Ehi these things that they are writing about you, don’t you bother because these people that are write this things they don’t even know you. I will say to my friends, it doesn’t matter even if you you believe them , I know myself and my heart, I know God will bless not because of what people say, He sees inside of us. He will bless you based on your needs and your heart.
