SKLD at 25: Rooted in Legacy, Driven by Impact
Navigating a quarter-century in Nigeria’s dynamic business landscape is a testament to exceptional resilience. Surviving economic cycles, regulatory shifts, and supply chain shocks demands a model worthy of respect and study. As SKLD Integrated Services Limited marks its silver jubilee, the reflections of its Founder, Mrs. Temilola Adepetun, and incoming CEO, Tayo Osiyemi, reveal a narrative not of fleeting luck, but of sustained relevance, discipline, and meticulous execution.
The journey began with a foundational insight. “Children will always be born, and they will always go to school,” stated Mrs. Adepetun, explaining the genesis of School Kits. This core belief in a perennial need provided a stable foundation. Her approach to challenges was equally systematic: “I see problems as challenges that must be solved. I take time to process them… then rise with solutions.” This mindset, coupled with operating discipline honed in her prior corporate career, became a cornerstone. She carried forward a principle of accountability: “You don’t submit what you can’t swear by.”
Strategic evolution was driven by observation. Assessing relevance traditional school uniform offerings, Mrs. Adepetun identified critical gaps—unsuitable fabrics for Nigeria’s climate and inaccurate colors. This led to the creation of Marcel Hughes Schoolwear in 2009, a brand designed for local realities. Owning this quality control transformed scaling from a risk into a logical progression. Retail expansion followed, and a significant 2019 milestone involved scaling manufacturing capacity with Bank of Industry support.
At its heart, SKLD remained a master of supply chain logistics. From school supplies, expansion into corporate, manufacturing, and humanitarian sectors was a natural progression. A pivotal 2017 move was subscribing to the United Nations Global Marketplace, which unlocked international NGO supply contracts and reshaped the company’s growth trajectory. Further solidifying its market position, SKLD became the official distributor of CASIO calculators in Nigeria in 2018. In a business climate where leaders like Guardiola warns that complacency is dangerous, SKLD’s continuous adaptation underscores its enduring success.
