For Zainab Jika, entrepreneurship started early. As a child, she was already buying and selling products. Today, she is the founder of Zeemama, an Abuja-based fashion retail business that offers quality clothing and accessories for men, women, and children, with a special focus on children’s fashion.
Starting Over in a New City
After relocating from Yola, Adamawa State, to Abuja, Zainab had to rebuild her customer base from scratch. At the same time, health challenges forced her to step away from fashion design, leaving her to rethink the future of her business.
Seeking guidance, she joined Shecluded’s IVO and WE-Elevate programs. There, she gained practical business skills that helped her make smarter decisions. One lesson stood out: understanding your market before expanding.
Finding the Right Market
After conducting a market survey, Zainab discovered there were no ready-to-wear clothing stores serving residents of Lube Federal Housing in Abuja. She repositioned Zeemama to meet that need, giving her business a clear direction.
She also learned that business growth is not always about having thousands of followers. Instead of worrying about Instagram and TikTok, she focused on WhatsApp, consistently showcasing her products and engaging with customers.
The strategy paid off. In May alone, Zeemama good sales through WhatsApp, proving that consistency and customer engagement can deliver real results.
Growing Beyond Sales
Beyond increasing revenue, Zainab strengthened her business by introducing invoices, investing in branded packaging, and improving the overall customer experience. She also credits Shecluded’s mentors for providing practical support, including helping her set up Facebook Ads and offering guidance long after the training ended.
Her visibility has also grown. WhatsApp Status views increased from about 40–60 per post to more than 120–150, creating more opportunities for customer engagement and sales.
Giving Back to Other Women
Inspired by her own journey, Zainab established a community for women entrepreneurs in her area. The group now supports nearly 100 women, while collaborations with a local women’s business association have extended her impact to about 60 more through mentorship and business training.
Today, Zeemama is more than a growing fashion business. It is a testament to how the right training, mentorship, and support can help one entrepreneur build a thriving business while creating opportunities for many others.
If you’re looking for stylish and affordable clothing and accessories for the whole family, you can support Zainab’s business by following Zeemama on Instagram: @zeemama_global_ventures.
Follow here: https://www.instagram.com/zeemama_global_ventures
