Adenike Ogunlesi is the founder of Ruff ‘n’ Tumble, a children’s clothing line in Nigeria. From a tiny shop run by Adnike and her mother as the main staff, she has earned accolades, both at home and abroad, for building an exciting and hip children’s clothing business.
In her second year as an undergraduate law student at the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Adenike dropped out of school unsure of what to do with her life. She then reluctantly accepted her mother’s invitation to work in her women’s tailor shop. That experience helped her to discover who she was and what she wanted to do.
She conceived Ruff ‘n’ Tumble when her kids ran out of pyjamas. She then decided to make pyjamas and later moved on to making other play wear like jeans, t-shirts and skirts for her children.
To inform more people about her product, she started using her children as models for her clothes and would dress them in outfits which served as a catalogue for potential customers.
Ruff ‘n’ Tumble is today one of the most successful and innovative children’s apparel companies in Nigeria with outlets carrying its brands. She has built a reputation as one of the best manufacturers of children’s clothing in Nigeria.
Ruff ‘n’ Tumble is also a strong children clothing line in West Africa. With more than 50 employees and 7 branches nationwide, the business has grown from her home as a creative children clothing line to a lifestyle brand that has transformed into a multi-million naira business with recognition beyond the borders of Nigeria.
Over the years, Adenike has been featured in the BBC World Documentary of the Year, Africa Open for Business Documentary and was honored as FATE Foundation Model Entrepreneur in 2005. She also been featured on the CNBC program Dangers and Dollars: Africa the final investing frontier.