By Josephine Agbonkhese

In a grand move that marked a significant milestone in the wellness industry and sets the stage for expansion of wellness entrepreneurship in Africa, ORÍKÌ, a pioneer in the wellness and beauty industry, Friday in Surulere, Lagos, unveiled a first-of-its-kind entrepreneurship hub— the ORÍKÌ Wellness Entrepreneurship Hub.

The hub, a coworking space, was designed specifically to address the critical challenges faced by wellness entrepreneurs, including the high cost of electricity, limited access to equipment, high leasing fees, difficulty securing credit, and the need for enhanced technical skills.

The initiative birthed in collaboration with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, LSETF, and the United States African Development Foundation, USADF, according to Joycee Awosika, Founder of ORÍKÌ, is part of a larger initiative to enhance youth employability across various sectors in Lagos.

“Through this hub, entrepreneurs will gain access to state-of-the-art infrastructure and systems that support the growth and sustainability of their businesses. Our vision with the ORÍKÌ Wellness Hub is to provide a supportive ecosystem for wellness entrepreneurs, offering them the resources they need to thrive,” Awosika explained.

“By partnering with LSETF and USADF, we aim to provide a platform where wellness entrepreneurs can innovate, collaborate, and scale their businesses with ease.

“The hub will offer access to shared workspaces, business support services, and industry-specific mentorship, giving entrepreneurs the tools they need to succeed while earning revenue and growing their businesses,” she expatiated.

Speaking at the event which coincided with the ninth anniversary of ORÍKÌ, Feyisayo Alayande, Acting Executive Secretary, LSETF, noted that the ORÍKÌ Wellness Hub is a vital part of LSETF’s efforts to support entrepreneurs and create jobs in Lagos State.

“This collaboration with ORÍKÌ and USADF fits seamlessly with our hub model at LSETF, designed to foster clusters of MSMEs in the same sector,” Alayande said.

President/CEO, USADF, Travis Adkins, on his part, emphasised that the initiative which aligns with the USADF’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship across the African continent, will empower business owners, drive sustainable growth, and shape the future of the wellness industry in Nigeria and beyond.