Toluwalope Adigun is building a fashion, food, and retail brand driven by excellence and intentional leadership.
Toluwalope Anne Jacob Adigun didn’t wait for perfect conditions to start her business. At just 19, while studying at university, she began selling fabrics and clothes to friends. She used school breaks and international trips to cities like Milan, Paris, and Dubai to source unique fabrics, which she sold directly from the back seat of her car. Her goal was to build something of her own instead of working for someone else.
By 23, she officially registered her first business, Anne Jacob, a luxury fashion house later known for timeless, elegant designs rooted in African aesthetics but aligned with global trends. With profits from her early sales and support from her family, especially her father, she opened a small boutique in Abuja and hired skilled tailors. Wanting to sharpen her design skills, she enrolled at the Instituto di Moda Burgo in Italy. By 2017, her fashion label marked its presence with a successful collection and grand opening, firmly positioning Anne Jacob as a bespoke brand with international appeal.
While growing her fashion business, Adigun held on to another long-standing dream of opening a restaurant. In 2020, after a year of planning and preparation, she launched TAJ Bistro in Abuja. The restaurant, named after her initials (Tolu Anne Jacob), quickly gained a reputation for quality dining experiences and a menu she curated herself. She played an active role in training the chefs and building a team that reflected her standards.
As the Abuja location flourished, she turned her attention to Lagos. In 2023, she launched TAJ Restaurant and Bar, expanding her hospitality footprint despite facing several delays during construction and managing financial hurdles. The Lagos branch eventually opened to a great reception, further solidifying her presence in Nigeria’s hospitality scene.
It was during her day-to-day operations in the food business that she noticed a recurring problem. The supply chain for food ingredients in Nigeria was inconsistent and unreliable. Rather than outsource the problem, she built a solution. In 2023, she launched TAJ Metro Mart, a retail outlet created to serve both B2C and B2B clients with high-quality, curated grocery items. It now supports both everyday consumers and professionals in the food industry, closing a critical gap in the market.
Across all her ventures – Anne Jacob, TAJ Bistro, TAJ Restaurant | Bar, and TAJ Metro Mart – Toluwalope Adigun has created jobs, mentored graduates, and built work environments that prioritise quality, growth, and employee welfare. Her businesses are recognised for their quality design, top-notch service, consistency, intentional leadership, and deep commitment to community.
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