Veekee James opens up on childhood financial survival, family loss

Nigerian fashion designer Veekee James, has spoken up on some of the experiences that shaped her childhood, revealing that she began hustling at a very young age.

The entrepreneur, while speaking in an interview, disclosed that she lost her father before she was five and at a point when her mother was pregnant with her youngest sibling. While recalling her childhood, Veekee stated that her family was forced to rely on the support of relatives.

She also noted that the death of her father made her learn to fend for herself at a very young age.

“Growing up, I had to hustle a lot. My dad died before I was five. In fact, my mum was still pregnant with our last born when my dad died. So, you know, from five years old with no dad. Thank God for my dad’s brothers because they helped us, you know, at least through school. They tried their best. I have been like a hustler since primary school. E no get wetin I dey tell you I no do. I’m not sure say e get any handwork for this world… well, some sha, like all those carpenter works and the rest. In fact, I even follow do that one because there was a time I used to make kolo for saving money,” she said.

Veekee explained that while in primary school, she learnt to render beauty services to her classmates in order to make some money to support herself and her family. She added that despite their difficult circumstances, she refused to be limited by her background.

She added, “I used to make knitted outfits like caps and blouses. I was good in Ajegunle. From there, I started to sell things, started to do hair. I was making hair for like all my classmates in primary school every weekend after school. Even as I dey make hair, I still dey knit. I still dey sew clothes for people.”