At Camp Junction, Abeokuta, Ogun State, a Business Administration graduate stands out from the crowd, dressed with the confidence of an office executive.

By day, Akeem Muraina looks ready for the boardroom. But instead of heading to an office, he resumes daily at his meat stand.

Akeem is a meat seller, a trade popularly known as ‘Ẹlẹ́ran,’ in Nigeria’s South-West region. But he gives it a trendy lift.

Popularly known online as the “Korporate” meat seller, Akeem is bringing a distinct identity to the traditional meat-selling business.

Speaking to Channels Television, Akeem revealed the inspiration behind his decision to blend fashion with the trade.

“You know, wearing a suit to sell meat has always been my dream because I see people wearing suits to offices everywhere. But no matter how small your office is, it is still your office,” Akeem said.

He adds that the Idea is to challenge the stereotypes associated with butchers.

“You know, people see those who sell meat as thugs. They always dress dirty, fight… But I just want to change the narrative. Me, being a fashionista, I’m bringing it into my business. I want to combine the two,” Akeem said.

Akeem

Akeem encourages people to pay attention to their appearance, emphasizing that dressing well has no boundaries.

“There is an adage that says, ‘Dress the way you want to be addressed.’ So, there is nobody who will see me like this, come to my stand and harass me, or talk to me anyhow. So, the only message I’m going to give to other people is: always look good,” he tipped.

But Akeem says the interest in the trade did not begin with him as he learnt the business from his father.

“I’ve been following my dad right from when I was this small, to the market, to sell meat,” Akeem revealed. ‘So, since then, I’ve had an interest, not just ordinary interest, but a passion for selling meat.”

Beyond the meat stand, his story reflects the growing role of social media in helping young entrepreneurs promote their businesses.

“Social media has already played a vital role in my business. Because anything you are doing, this is now a new age, let’s say computer age. Anything you are doing, you have to put it out there so that people can see.

“But it has already played a vital role by giving me more customers. I see many customers from TikTok, Instagram, Facebook,” he noted.

Akeem Muraina is bringing a whole new meaning to ‘dress for success’ while challenging the way people see the traditional meat-selling business.

For him, the suit and tie are more than a style statement; they are his way of showing that professionalism can exist in any line of work. (Channels TV)