His brand is already making waves in faraway Asia but he intends to establish malls and factories in Africa that will create employment for so many jobless youths. His vision appears to be a pipeline dream to undiscerning audience. He is determined to achieve success legitimately in an era where young people a pitching tent for the fast lane. Bright spoke with Dr. Uzor Ngoladi on sundry issues regarding his business empire. Excerpts:
Hello, Lets meet Bright?
My name is Bright Kenechukwu Eliogu. I am from Uke Idemmili north LGA of Anambra State. I am an entertainer and entrepreneur based in Hong Kong.
Tell us about your genre of music?
My music is Afropop with a show business mindset. It’s a chant like blueprint that hopes to breed a type of attention to business and arts from Africa to Asia and back to Africa and the world, so you can call it AFROASIANCHANT.
I see. It’s a kind of slow rhythm. Is that deliberate?
Not at all, it depends on the product and force needed to musically and visually draw attention. So, some of my songs are not slow rhythm but could sound pop or hiphop to fit the respect intended for the message or product.
What is the Look Bright clothing line all about?
It’s the business that makes meaning towards a direction of Asian twist. As a young man I did a lot of buying and selling from here to major markets in the east and west of Africa with mass production. My dad was a well-known beauty product trader and I loved the fact that he could be successful in his own lane so I chose clothing and tried doing greater than just a trader. After dealing with other people’s product for so long I decided I could actually start mine and grow it from here as an entrepreneur just after an experience here that gave birth to the dream.
That’s interesting. What challenges are you facing so far in the clothing business?
I am facing a lot of challenges especially when it’s not an average hustle and you know men are about street and fast lanes apart from 9-5 jobs. My major challenge is our own people who will always not walk with your ideas while they came to hammer and go home. It’s not easy telling a person on the fast lane that we can actually become huge like Zara while he is hanging around persons making quick cash from illegitimate deals. Every other challenge can be handled if you already know the system believes in building and maintenance as culture. The tall buildings already explained their bamboo tradition and it’s a slow, steady and sure lane to the top but you know boys are not smiling waiting for who wants to build so they could turn speed bumps in different ways and it becomes a challenge trying to come correct on your own since it’s your vision.
Why did you choose Hong Kong as a place of residence?
I have been coming to buy and sell clothes from here as a young man and most people that know me well know that we were behind some good clothes then like Tommy, Nautica or Ralph shirts. When Tommy shirts was the fashion statement amongst club boys during school days, I would get an original for 7k then come to HK make same in other colours and sizes in large quantity and go sell back home. It was like drug money too you didn’t have to sell drugs or work for persons you don’t want to. It’s strictly buying what is new amongst students and serving them affordably.
Define your style and brand for us?
My style is not complicated for the eyes that seek knowledge. I have been like an open book about it that I can say it’s a known secret, that it’s a mission with a vision to LB anything the people need, especially when we all agree the future is Bright. So, I am building a brand in a position to cross over any brand from Asia to Africa and having same factory or franchise back home. I never thought I could even think beyond clothing until someone said to me at an exhibition that I can even brand an electric car with my logo if controversial enough to be the future of a new automobile product.
Why do you have a bull with horns as logo?
It’s my zodiac sign. I was born April 22 ,1972. I am a taurus. It’s also a spiritual motivation that should anything happen I should keep bouncing back like a bull that don’t lose totally.
What do you mean by Ozodimgba Hongkong?
It’s a name that shows the dream will go through a lot of happy and sad moments in the journey of success.
Tell us about the Chinese lady you always post on Instagram?
Her name is Winnie. She is my wife and God sent helper. She works at the hospital but believes my dream due to the fact that her own late dad was into making school uniforms when he was alive. We have been married for 10 years. I am very grateful to her.
How can African youths be empowered?
By becoming sales persons and having legitimate jobs such as designers, models, actors etc. The youths must not be in a hurry or engage in get rich quick schemes.
Will you ever live in Nigeria or Africa again?
Hahaha, hopefully God will grant my dream of LB Malls and you wouldn’t ask a man that sang KpumkpumOgene if any place is better than home. I want to come home with at least a flagship store for my brand to employ and empower youths with same vision that its possible if the mind made it clear and guts keeps keeping on.
Tell us about your lovely younger sisters?
Oh, you know them. I am so proud of them all but at this stage I look a bit crazy to them knowing I left a lot of things back home and embarked on a mission they are yet to really believe in. I know what I am doing. I am happy they don’t bother me for anything, neither do my parents so I am on this on my own and I hope to really see them proud of me again as soon as the pandemic is over and the vision get more clearer.
