When Ubok Ameh joined the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE) Program by Shecluded in 2025, her business already showed promise, but it lacked the structure and capacity required for scale. What followed was a period of strategic transformation that highlights the importance of targeted training, mentorship, and community in building sustainable women-led enterprises.
Ubok Ameh is the founder of Uban Leather, a leather bag brand that later evolved into Uban Bag Factory, a manufacturing-focused business. Today, the business operates with four full-time staff and six part-time staff and produces bags for individual customers, organizations, and partner brands. What began as a small-scale operation has grown into a structured manufacturing outfit serving wholesale, white labelling, and corporate production needs, including laptop bags and backpacks.
As demand increased, the need for skilled manpower became a major challenge. To address this, Ubok established the Uban Bag Making Academy, a training initiative designed to equip individuals with bag-making skills and integrate them into the production workforce. This approach strengthened internal capacity while creating employment opportunities.
Ubok joined the CFYE program primarily in search of grant funding to scale operations. She also recognised the importance of training and mental grounding in building a sustainable business. Through CFYE, she gained clarity on business structure and readiness. This led to a strategic restructuring of the venture and a transition from a general leather brand to a focused manufacturing entity known as Uban Bag Factory.
Following the CFYE training, Ubok successfully secured multiple grants, including three thousand dollars from the SIA Pitch Competition and five thousand dollars from the Mary Ojulari Foundation, among others. These achievements were supported by practical guidance from the program, particularly from her mentor, who helped her understand what funders look for and how to position her business competitively.
Like many Nigerian MSMEs, Uban Bag Factory continues to navigate operational challenges such as power supply instability and staffing. Through the CFYE program, Ubok adopted practical management strategies that helped reduce operational costs and improve team engagement. This resulted in a more committed and productive workforce.
The CFYE community also played a critical role in this journey. Through peer support and shared opportunities, Ubok gained access to funding leads, encouragement, and exposure. These contributions strengthened her confidence and consistency in applying for opportunities.
This growth journey reflects the impact of the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment Program and Shecluded’s commitment to equipping women entrepreneurs with the skills, access, and community they need to build resilient and scalable businesses across Nigeria.
