On first contact, one will not believe that Sequence Ventures CEO – Mr Lawal Waheed Abidemi is not a printer with his verse printing knowledge. Having being born and bred in one of the printing hubs in Nigeria – Mushin, the unassuming print supplier is endowed with printing knowledge just like a trained printer. In this edition of SMART PRINT CELEB, WHERE To Print met with Mr. Lawal Waheed Abidemi – an Agricultural Engineer, who professes the reason for his first love – printing. Excerpt:
CAN WE MEET YOU?
I am Lawal Waheed Abidemi, the Chief Executive Officer of Sequence Ventures Nigeria.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BE IN THE INDUSTRY?
Sequence Ventures has been in business since 1996, but we started printing consumable business as far back as 2005 and the company was incorporated in 2000.
WHAT IS THE NATURE OF YOUR BUSINESS?
Basically we are into trading of post printing materials and digital large format printing materials which include laminating films, laminating machines, foil, UV Vanish products and digital large format materials like Flex and SAV with laminating services.
WHY DO YOU CHOOSE PRINTING CONSUMABLES TO VENTURE INTO?
It’s important to know that when you are investing in print business, it is not mandatory you base your investment on just one line of business. There should always be room for diversification. For the fact that I was born and breed in Mushin coupled with the fact that Mushin happens to be one of the hearts of printing trade in Lagos and since I am not a printer; I need to look for a way to be part of the industry. That was why we decided to be selling post printing materials.
We actually started with laminating service at 35 Sokunbi Street Mushin, but later when our customers started asking us about how to get the materials and the machines – and we initially start to get them from industry pioneers who are into sales of printing consumables and machines in Ikeja and Shomolu. And in 2007, we started to import the materials ourselves and since then we have been acknowledged as a major distributor of post printing consumables in Lagos. Just like post printing consumables and materials, we later expanded the scope of our business to supply of digital large format printing material.
WHAT ARE THE EXPERIENCES YOU HAVE GARNERED IN THIS LINE OF BUSINESS?
We have gathered a lot of experience from attending exhibitions locally and internationally and from WHERE To Print magazine and her online presence. These experiences have also contributed greatly to the success of our business today. I will also use this medium to encourage other stakeholders in the industry not to be content with being a local champion but rather widen their horizon by attending international exhibition. This is because the information and exposure you gather from print and related exhibitions and trade shows will be the only thing that will stand you out among your peers. Experience separates a successful printer from a good printer.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU HAVE FACE SO FAR?
As it is common to all business, funding still remain the major challenge. Getting financial institution to finance our business has always been difficult and this usually limits the numbers of goods we import. This sometimes impedes our expansion projects. Irregular power supply is also another bane in the business. If our customers could not have regular access to power it will no doubt affect the demand for our materials.
HOW DO YOU STAY AFLOAT DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES?
We have been able to get fund from family and friends who so much believe in us and the prospects embedded in our line of business. We are determined to also remain focus and consistently maintain our integrity in the market. This has gone a long way in making our customers come back to us. However, we still look forward to when bank will charge single digit interest to assist small scale business like ours. As for the regular power supply, we believe in God’s intervention.
WHAT ADVICE DID YOU HAVE FOR YOUTH WHO WANT TO EMBARK ON THIS LINE OF BUSINESS?
I will advice them to be patient and try to acquire basic education like National Diploma with basic skill in commerce to know the basic terms and issues involved in business transaction. They should also learn from the experience of the leaders in the industry for them to make headway in their businesses.
WHAT ARE YOUR LIKES?
I like truthfulness and diligence a lot.
WHAT ARE YOUR DISLIKES?
The opposite of what I like. I detest untruthful and lazy people.
HOW DID YOU RELAX?
I travelled once in a year on a vacation with my family.
WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES?
Reading, browsing and seeking for more knowledge
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME SIR
It’s my pleasure
BRIEF PROFILE
Was born over 40 years ago in Mushin area of Lagos where he started his primary education at Temidire Primary School Mushin. He went for his secondary education at Okota High School, Isolo where he later proceeded to University of Ilorin to study Agricultural Engineering where he graduated in 1998. He is a consummate print supplier with the vision to always provide the best print consumables and materials at the competitive price in the industry.
Future prospect: In future, we intend to be the major supplier in post printing materials and large format materials in West African sub-region.
