Fashion entrepreneur and social impact advocate Yetunde Akande has emphasised the critical role of structure, governance, and investor readiness in building sustainable businesses, following her participation in the inaugural edition of Capital Café Lagos.
Akande, founder of Yetroselane Fashion Hub, attended the event at the invitation of her mentor, Dr. Helen Emore, PhD. According to her, the gathering brought together serious business operators, founders, and stakeholders for practical conversations focused on execution, ownership, and long-term growth rather than surface-level networking.
Reflecting on the experience, Akande noted that her journey in garment manufacturing, alongside her work in vocational training and youth empowerment, has exposed her to the complex realities of running a business in Nigeria. She explained that while access to funding is often cited as a major barrier for entrepreneurs, discussions at the event revealed that internal business readiness may be an even greater challenge.
“One insight that stood out clearly was that capital may not be the biggest problem for founders. Structure, governance, and readiness are,” she said. She stressed that businesses built with clarity, discipline, and ambition are more likely to attract the attention of investors organically, rather than constantly chasing funding opportunities.
Akande described Capital Café as a deliberate platform designed to connect founders with investors through honest dialogue and shared experiences. She added that the event’s focus on sustainable and exponential growth resonated deeply with her vision for building enterprises that move beyond survival mode.
The entrepreneur also expressed appreciation to Dr. Emore for creating spaces that encourage collaboration and intentional connections within the business ecosystem. She noted that such initiatives are essential for strengthening entrepreneurship in Nigeria and inspiring founders to think globally while maintaining strong local impact.
Akande concluded that the experience has further motivated her to continue expanding her work in fashion manufacturing and social development, with a renewed commitment to building resilient, scalable systems that empower women and young people.
