Chief Executive Officer of Oak & Teak Interiors, Dr. Morenike Molehin, sheds light on the persistent challenges of the Nigerian design industry in this interview with JOSEPHINE OGUNDEJI
What are the greatest obstacles you’ve faced as a woman entrepreneur in Nigeria, and what advice would you give to aspiring female business leaders?
Entrepreneurship in Nigeria comes with its challenges, and being a woman in business presents its own unique set of hurdles. One of the biggest obstacles I’ve faced is navigating gender biases in a male-dominated industry. As a woman leading a top interior design firm, I’ve had to work twice as hard to prove that competence, vision, and leadership are not gender-specific. Another challenge has been accessing funding and resources. Unlike some industries where traditional financing structures are well-established, the interior design space in Nigeria still operates largely on a client-funded model, making business expansion and large-scale projects more difficult without strong financial backing. The third challenge is balancing entrepreneurship with family responsibilities.
As a wife, mother, and CEO, learning how to prioritise, delegate, and set clear boundaries has been essential for both business growth and personal well-being. My advice to other female entrepreneurs is this: Own your space unapologetically. Be relentless about your vision, invest in continuous learning, and build a strong support system. Most importantly, lead with excellence; when your work speaks for itself, opportunities will follow.
What impacts have inflation, Nigeria’s economic instability, and currency depreciation had on the interior design industry?
The interior design industry is heavily impacted by economic instability, particularly because we rely on both imported and locally sourced materials. Inflation, currency depreciation, and fluctuating foreign exchange rates have driven up the cost of furniture, lighting, flooring, and even basic raw materials like wood and fabric. These factors have made it difficult to maintain stable pricing, and many businesses in the industry have had to adjust their pricing structures frequently to keep up with rising costs. It has also affected client budgets, with many reconsidering the scale of their interior projects.
To navigate these challenges, Oak & Teak Interiors has adopted a strategic procurement model, prioritising early bulk purchasing, sourcing more local materials, and offering flexible payment plans to clients. This allows us to adapt to market fluctuations while still delivering high-quality designs.
With the rising cost of living, are Nigerians still prioritising interior design, or is the sector experiencing less patronage?
While the economic climate has affected spending power, interior design remains an important investment for many Nigerians. People are spending more time at home, working remotely, and looking for ways to enhance their living spaces. However, what we’ve seen is a shift in priorities; clients are more focused on functionality, longevity, and cost-effective solutions, rather than purely aesthetic enhancements. This means that designers who can offer practical, budget-friendly solutions without compromising on quality will remain in demand. The key to staying relevant in this industry is understanding evolving client needs and offering scalable solutions that cater for different budgets.
How do interior designers cope with fluctuating prices of materials, given the heavy reliance on imports?
Managing fluctuating material prices requires proactive financial planning and supplier relationships. At Oak & Teak, we use a strategic procurement approach, which includes bulk purchasing and pre-ordering materials when prices are favourable, building strong relationships with multiple suppliers to negotiate better pricing, exploring local alternatives that offer similar quality to imported materials, transparent client communication, ensuring they understand the cost implications and can make informed decisions, and flexibility and adaptability are key to staying competitive despite the challenges.
Are there sufficient quality local alternatives to imported materials, or does the industry remain largely import-dependent?
While Nigeria has made progress in local production, the industry is still largely import-dependent, especially for high-end materials like luxury furniture, lighting fixtures, and specialised finishes. That said, there are quality local alternatives in areas like woodwork, upholstery, and flooring. The challenge is that many local manufacturers still struggle with consistency, finishing quality, and scalability. With more investment in local production and innovation, we can reduce our reliance on imports over time. At Oak & Teak Interiors, we actively collaborate with local artisans to encourage the growth of the Nigerian design industry while still maintaining our high standards.
What impact do government policies on trade and foreign exchange have on accessing quality interior design materials?
Government policies on import duties, trade restrictions, and foreign exchange significantly impact material availability and pricing. High import duties make some essential materials prohibitively expensive, and restrictions on foreign exchange limit designers’ ability to procure quality materials from international suppliers. To mitigate this, the government can support the industry by reducing import duties on essential interior materials, incentivising local production to improve quality alternatives, and providing better access to forex for businesses dependent on global supply chains.
The goal should be to balance local industry growth with accessibility to high-quality global materials.
How are interior design businesses managing the high cost of operations, especially with power supply challenges?
Running a business in Nigeria comes with several operational challenges, and unreliable power supply is one of the biggest cost drivers for interior design firms. Unlike some industries where electricity disruptions cause minor inconveniences, in interior design, power plays a critical role in showroom maintenance, production processes, lighting, and overall workspace efficiency. The high cost of diesel and generator maintenance places a significant financial burden on design firms, especially those involved in furniture production or large-scale projects requiring heavy machinery and continuous power.
To cope with these challenges, many firms, including Oak & Teak Interiors, have had to adopt alternative energy solutions such as solar power and inverters to reduce reliance on generators. While the initial investment is high, it is a more sustainable and cost-effective solution in the long run. Additionally, effective cost management strategies such as energy-efficient lighting, proper scheduling of high-power activities, and outsourcing some tasks to more energy-stable facilities help mitigate these costs. That being said, for the interior design industry to truly thrive, there needs to be government intervention in power generation and distribution. A stable power supply would significantly reduce operational costs, allowing businesses to focus on expansion, innovation, and better pricing models for clients.
How are businesses dealing with supply chain disruptions and the high cost of logistics in Nigeria?
The interior design industry is heavily dependent on logistics, from transporting raw materials and furniture to delivering finished products to clients. The state of Nigeria’s road network, rising fuel prices, and port clearance delay significantly impact supply chains, causing increased costs and delays. One of the ways businesses are navigating these challenges is by forming strong partnerships with reliable logistics providers to ensure more predictable delivery schedules and cost efficiencies. At Oak & Teak Interiors, we work with a network of trusted logistics partners who understand the nuances of handling delicate furniture, ensuring safe and timely deliveries.
Another challenge is the high cost of port duties and delays in clearing imported materials. The bureaucratic process can lead to unpredictable timelines, which is why early procurement and strategic stockpiling of essential materials have become key survival strategies for many firms. For the industry to operate more efficiently, the government needs to streamline port processes, improve road networks, and create policies that encourage local manufacturing, reducing reliance on expensive imports and volatile logistics costs.
How can the government and private sector help to boost local production of furniture and interior materials?
The interior design industry in Nigeria has immense potential, but it remains largely import-dependent because local manufacturers struggle with funding, technology, and quality control. If we truly want to build a self-sufficient design industry, both the government and private sector need to invest in local production.
The government can support local production by providing funding incentives for local furniture and material manufacturers, reducing import dependency by offering tax breaks to companies that source locally, and investing in skill development programmes to train artisans in high-quality furniture production and finishing.
The private sector, including interior designers and real estate developers, can contribute by collaborating with local manufacturers instead of relying on foreign suppliers, driving demand for Nigerian-made products by prioritising quality control., and investing in innovation and sustainability to ensure locally produced materials meet global standards. With the right support, Nigeria can become a hub for high-quality furniture production, reducing costs for consumers and growing the industry sustainably.
Are Nigerian manufacturers keeping up with global interior design trends, or is there still a gap in product availability?
There has been a noticeable improvement in local craftsmanship, with Nigerian manufacturers producing high-quality furniture, flooring, and décor pieces that meet global standards. However, there is still a gap in specialised, high-end materials such as luxury tiles, lighting fixtures, and premium wood finishes, which often need to be imported. One major challenge is access to advanced manufacturing technology. While artisans are skilled, the absence of modern equipment means that finishing quality and scalability are still lacking compared to global standards.
Another issue is innovation in design aesthetics. Nigerian manufacturers must stay up to date with global trends, colour palettes, and material advancements to compete in the international market. To close this gap, there needs to be more investment in research and development, government incentives for modern manufacturing, and collaborations between Nigerian designers and local producers to refine quality and product diversity.
Given that interior design is often viewed as a luxury service, how can the industry adapt to Nigeria’s shrinking middle class and declining disposable income?
While interior design is traditionally considered a luxury service, designing functional and aesthetic spaces is an essential need, not just a luxury. The key is adapting services to different income levels. Many firms are now offering budget-friendly design packages tailored for middle-income earners, flexible payment plans that allow clients to spread out costs, and modular design solutions, where clients can renovate in phases rather than all at once. At Oak & Teak Interiors, we believe that good design should be accessible. By offering scalable services, clients can still experience quality interiors without overextending their budgets.
How can innovative financing models, such as installment-based payments, impact the interior design industry?
One of the biggest barriers to interior design services is the upfront cost. Offering installment-based payments can make interior projects more accessible, allowing clients to spread payments over time. However, this model requires careful financial management from interior design firms to ensure cash flow stability. Oak & Teak Interiors has experimented with structured milestone-based payments, where clients make payments in phases as the project progresses. To scale these approaches industry-wide, financial institutions could offer tailored interior design financing options, similar to home loans. This would make high-quality interiors more accessible to middle-income earners.
What are some of the biggest challenges currently facing the interior design industry in Nigeria, and how do you think they can be addressed?
The interior design industry faces several major challenges, including the rising costs of materials and import dependency. This can be addressed by strengthening local production and reducing import duties and the lack of formal industry regulation. The industry needs professional certification standards to improve credibility and pricing consistency; access to skilled labour; and more investment is needed in interior design training programmes to develop highly skilled artisans. Also, an economic downturn affecting client budgets by offering flexible and scalable services can help designers remain relevant.
By implementing structured policies and investing in local talent and manufacturing, the Nigerian interior design industry can become more competitive, sustainable, and accessible to a wider audience.
Oak & Teak has made a significant impact on Nigeria’s interior design industry. What motivated the creation of the business, what is its core vision, and how do you envision its growth and position in the market over the next decade?
Oak & Teak Interiors was born from a personal passion for transforming spaces into beautiful, functional environments. My journey into interior design began when I styled my first home. Seeing how a well-designed space could enhance comfort, productivity, and well-being inspired me to turn this passion into a business.
Our vision is to be the leading interior design firm in Africa, creating world-class, timeless designs that combine aesthetic excellence with functionality. In the next 10 years, we envision expanding into more African markets beyond Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya, building a full-scale furniture production brand to reduce import dependency, and elevating design education by mentoring and training upcoming designers.
We want to set new standards in African interior design, proving that locally produced designs can compete globally.
How do you balance professional responsibilities with family life?
Balancing entrepreneurship and family life is one of the biggest challenges, but I’ve learnt that structure, intentionality, and delegation are crucial.
I set clear boundaries between work and family time, ensuring I’m fully present in both. I have a strong support system from my husband, who has been my biggest cheerleader, to my trusted team that allows me to delegate effectively. I prioritise self-care and personal time, recognising that to pour into my business and family, I must also pour into myself.
Ultimately, balance is about being present in the moment. When I am at work, I give it my all; when I’m with my family, I am fully engaged. It’s a continuous learning process, but with intentionality and grace, it is possible to thrive in both areas.