Daniel Seun Ayeobasanmi is the chief executive officer of Daniel Seun Arts. The 28-year-old entrepreneur is in the business of sculpting, designs and crafting.
He hails from Ondo state and has a Higher Nigeria Diploma (HND) from Yaba Technical College, Lagos, where he studied Sculpture. Many young Nigerians ordinarily do not consider Sculpture as a lucrative course, but Daniel has shown that it is after all a course to beat.
Daniel started his business with as little as N2, 000 obtained from his parents. He used the profit from his first work to obtain more instruments.
He has worked for clients who today recommend him for jobs all over Lagos.
The young entrepreneur was motivated to study Sculpture and take it as a profession when he discovered his love for the arts and decided to do what gives him joy. This prompted him to put in more efforts and think more creatively.
While growing up, he would sit for hours to draw his friends and families. He would likewise wait at the market square to obtain clays from heaps of yams which he would eventually use for moulding objects.
He began to get encouragements from his family and friends who supported him to study the art he loved, seeing that he had passion for it. Today, Daniel’s dreams have come to light.
“People in my field find it hard to make a lot of money because most people do not appreciate the arts in Nigeria today,” he explains.
Speaking on the challenges he faces, the young entrepreneur says he needs more funds and regular power supply to enable him use his machines effectively.
“I need a lot of finance to get good materials that will enable me deliver good jobs. Also, power issue in Nigeria has been a serious problem. I have welding machines that need light to function. More so, my electric oven which I use in baking clays most times requires energy.”
He urges the government to look in the direction of arts and crafts, saying that doing so will help attract tourists who would in turn help boost the economy. He further says that the government should be able to provide start-up funds for entrepreneurs, and must look into energy issues to cut production or operations costs of running business in Nigeria.
Speaking on his long term plans, he says, “I plan to start having my own exhibitions at least twice every year. I also plan to start having training classes for interested persons in arts and to make contacts with top artists in the country.”
He is yet to have permanent staff, but he has friends who help out whenever there is a big job that needs to be accomplished in a short period.
Advising other entrepreneurs and youths he says, “Have the zeal because it is like the engine that drives you to your final destination. Have the passion for what you are doing as it goes a long way. Also remember Rome was not built in a day.
