Success Story- Ibok Offiong of Verche L'Art cessoire

Hi Mercatorians!

Welcome to Success Story, a segment on Mercatoria which will feature extraordinary young people who are against all odds excelling in their chosen areas of endeavour and making positive contributions in their communities, young people who are committed to making a difference.

Meet Ibok Offiong, MD/CEO of  Verche L'Art cessoire, an accessories and jewellery company located in Abuja, F.C.T.

Ibok says,”The idea for this business venture came to me while on holiday with my family in Paris. I walked into an accessories shop and was so in love with it that I decided to replicate it back home.”

Verche L'Art cessoire started as a home business with goods worth 300 Euros (about N-60,000). By September 2010 its flagship store was open to the public.

Today Verche L'Art cessoire is the go-to store for all women and men who value quality and stylish fashion accessories and jewellery.

With a net worth running into several millions of naira, Ibok's amazing growth remains a major source of encouragment to budding entrepreneurs.

“I hope young people can be motivated by my story. You don’t need millions to start a business. If you've got passion, go for it!”

Ibok, a graduate of Geology from the University of Calabar worked as a

banker for 7 years. She obtained her Masters in Oil and Gas Engineering from the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK. 

Upon her return to Nigeria, she worked with her husband in their family business, CoolCover, where she garnered some good business skills. 

Verche L'Art cessoire won the Best Accessory Designer of the Year-2012 award in the Nigeria Events Awards held in Lagos.

The company is also a nominee at the Abuja Young Entrepreneurs (AYE) awards, coming up on the 19th of April, under the category "Fashion Accessories”. You can  register to vote Ibok Offiong of Verche L'Art cessoire here.

Like the Verche L'Art cessoire page on facebook here.