Some Nigerian entrepreneurs living in the United Kingdom have shared their experiences of running businesses abroad, highlighting both the exciting opportunities and tough challenges that come with building brands in a foreign environment. These Nigerians, now based in Birmingham, say that although the UK business space is relatively friendly, the journey has not been without its emotional and operational hurdles.
Ayomide Babadele, a fashion and interior designer, relocated to the UK in 2023 to pursue a Master’s degree in Project Management at Birmingham City University. She used the opportunity to relaunch her creative brand, Anthillbyenitan, which she originally started in Nigeria.
“It all began back in Bowen University. I used to make a few pieces for my coursemates,.Officially, I’ve been running the fashion and interior business for six to seven years, mainly between Abuja and Lagos.”
Since reviving her business in the UK late last year, Babadele has attracted a diverse group of customers including Nigerians, Lebanese, Algerians, Asians, and Britons. She takes pride in sourcing her fabrics directly from Lagos, using traditional Nigerian materials like Adire and Aso Oke in her designs.
“All our fabrics are designed by me and sourced from Lagos. It’s always been a dream to take the richness of these fabrics — Adire, Aso Oke, and more — to the global scene,” she said. “They love the prints and colours. It pops for them.”
However, starting over in a new country has not been without its challenges. Babadele said she struggled with finding a clear path to register her business in the UK and faced difficulties entering an industry where Black or African representation is still limited.
“There’s no clear guide for starting a business in England. Business registration, finding networks, breaking into an industry with limited representation — it’s been emotionally tasking,” she said.
One of her recent achievements was exhibiting her work at the World African Heritage Day celebration hosted by Lloyd’s Bank, where she received great feedback and made impressive sales.
She advised aspiring Nigerian business owners in the UK to focus on visibility and purpose. “You can’t be shy doing business here. You have to speak from a place of purpose and inspiration. Visibility is everything,” she said.
Chisom Anoruo, another Nigerian entrepreneur based in Birmingham, also shared her experience restarting her baking business, Somdrew’s Cakes. Like Babadele, she paused her business operations when she arrived in the UK to focus on her postgraduate studies in project management.
“It was a full-time job for me back home. I came here, paused the business because of my studies and visa restrictions. But earlier this year, I prayed and felt led to start again,” Anoruo explained.
She officially resumed baking in March 2024 and has since made cakes for weddings and other occasions. Her clients so far include Nigerians, Gambians, and Jamaicans living in Birmingham. Most of her customers have come through personal referrals and social circles.
“The feedback has been overwhelming,” she said, noting that her cakes have gradually gained attention within the African and Caribbean communities in her area.
But she also acknowledged that there are challenges with brand awareness and logistics. “People don’t know you yet, so they can’t trust your work until they see results,” she said. “Logistics, too, has been tricky. In Nigeria, I could easily get a dispatch rider. Here, I have to gather the right information before even registering my business.”
Both women agreed that while the UK offers a more structured and supportive environment for entrepreneurship, Nigerian entrepreneurs must be ready to adapt, do extra research, and stay bold in building their brands from the ground up.
Their stories reflect a growing trend of young Nigerians abroad who are finding ways to balance education and business, blending traditional Nigerian culture with global standards. From fashion to baking, they are contributing to the cultural and economic landscape of their new home while staying connected to their roots.
