The name, Sesan Ogunlana, may not actually ring a bell, but his business name, Cecil G does in the social circuit. He rarely talks about himself and his career. However, he granted our Contributing Editor, IFECHI OKOH, an extensive and revealing interview recently. It touched on his foray into the fashion concern, his ascendancy, challenges and exploits, designing for some military and civilian governors. Here is the vintage Cecil G, a front seat occupier in the Nigerian fashion runs, fully unwrapped. Enjoy it!

When did your romance and passion for fashion design begin?

It all started as far back as 1985. That was the time, I began. Then, I was an undergraduate in Ogun State University (OSU), now Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Agowoye, where I read Physical and Health Education.

Can you tell us how you combined successfully, the challenges of your education and fashion design apprenticeship?

The answer finds quick explanation and justification in my interest and genuine commitment in both. As a result, I had to sacrifice time and comfort in my struggles to ensure that I made a success of them at the end of the day. When you are interested in something, you don't remember the attendant distractions and inconveniences. This is because you enjoy doing that thing which may have seized your attention and interest, leading you, in the long run, to passion for it. Oh yeah! That was exactly what happened in my own case with my studies and combination of learning my fashion design, leading to the effective combination of both. That was how I was able to meet up with the financial demands of my education. It was not actually easy. But with passion and determination, I succeeded where others may have failed woefully. However, I must embrace the divine encouragement of Jesus who gave me the encouragement and support when and while it mattered.

Was there any kind of parental support then?

When I started, there was nothing like that. Honestly! I remember that at the time I was talking about, fashion designing, as it is known today, was simply regarded as tailoring. That time modernization was yet to get to this level. Just because the practice was known then as tailoring, my parents, especially my father was completely disenchanted with my love for tailoring. He and my mother wondered aloud what I was doing with tailoring of all professions as an undergraduate. They could not understand! As a result, my father was bewildered. However, that tailoring nomenclature, changed soonest to fashion designing. As a result, people began to address us as fashion designers. The name people use to call us then, does not matter to me. What mattered most was my passion for tailoring. That's all!

Did the initial poor and pitiable stance of your parents concerning your love for fashion designing change with time?

Yes, it did when they started to read about me in the newspapers, listen to me on radio and watch me on the television.

What lessons did you learn before taking off finally and climbing to the heights?

It was simple! That’s whatever you have chosen for yourself as a profession, just ignore human distractions which come in various shapes, sizes and colours, if you have made up your mind and you will succeed at the end of the day. It's certain!

Why fashion designing of all professions?

It was simply my whole life that moment! I was thinking it, eating it and even sleeping it then and even till now. However, age and time phenomenon have modified my belief and actions now. You may be shocked to hear that this is a passion I will love to toil for the rest of my life. Hence till now, I am yet to see anything that could be more attention-grabbing than fashion.

Can you give us an insight into how you became the toast who cloth showbiz Celebrities like Adewale Ayuba and others?

It was simply as a result of my being focused, industrious and creative in the industry. These are the qualities I expect from the younger ones, if they want to top showbiz players to be their clients. Oh yeah! That's how to magnet their attention and keep them too as clients for as long as possible.

Have you had the golden chances to design and cloth top government functionaries?

Oh yes! I have been lucky to design and cloth some military and civilian governors for years. In fact, I considered such big time opportunities in clothing celebrities as special jobs I did at the height of my fashion designing career.

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