Meet Ufuoma Sheme | A knitterpreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ufuoma Sheme and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ufuoma, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Peace Knitwear was born out of a lifelong passion for knitted garments—a love that began in my childhood. During my early school years, cardigans and other knitted sweaters were standard parts of our school uniforms. But even then, I believed these beautiful, amazing pieces shouldn’t be confined to just school settings. I saw potential in them as everyday fashion.

I remember a defining moment in junior secondary school when my parents couldn’t afford the official school sweater. A kind schoolmate gave me a spare one, which I dyed so I could wear it casually outside school. This small act sparked a desire in me to break the perceived social boundaries around knitted fashion.

However, it wasn’t until my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year that the idea of turning my passion into a business truly took shape. During a Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) program, a lecture on knitting by Mr. Chinedu opened my eyes to the entrepreneurial potential of this craft. Inspired and excited, I approached him after the session and declared my intention to build a business around knitting.

My vision for Peace Knitwear was clear: to design and produce high-quality, stylish, and affordable knitted products that appeal to people across different income levels. I wanted to create garments that others who share my appreciation for knitwear would be proud to wear, while also ensuring that families—especially those with school-age children—could afford durable and attractive sweaters.

Today, Peace Knitwear produces a variety of knitted items including cardigans, sweaters, headbands, gloves, baby sets, ladies’ knitwear, and custom products for schools, individuals, and corporate clients.

Since launching the business, I’ve dedicated myself to growing both my skills and the brand. From humble beginnings, I’ve evolved into a knitting instructor, NYSC facilitator, entrepreneur, and workshop manager. Peace Knitwear has completed contracts and collaborations with clients both within and outside Nigeria, and we’re actively working towards acquiring more advanced knitting tools and machines. These investments will help us stay ahead in the ever-evolving fashion industry and continue to elevate our production quality and capacity.

At Peace Knitwear, we’re not just making clothes—we’re weaving passion, purpose, and progress into every thread.

What should our readers know about your business?
Peace Knitwear is a growing fashion brand specializing in high-quality knitted products including cardigans, sweaters, ladies’ knitwear, baby sets, mufflers, headbands, head warmers, and more. Our journey began during my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year in 2017, at the NYSC camp in Enugu State.

Although I didn’t immediately dive into the business after my service year, the desire remained strong. By June 2021, driven by passion and a need for fulfillment beyond my job, I decided to pursue professional training to upgrade my skills—despite the long distance between my home and the training center. Before the end of that training, I secured my first major contract: mass-producing knitwear for a school. Also, I am one of the facilitator/trainer for the NYSC body in Delta-State, Nigeria.

Like many entrepreneurial journeys, ours has not been without challenges. We’ve faced financial setbacks, lost contracts due to funding limitations, and experienced disappointments. However, through it all, we remain grateful to God Almighty for what HE is doing for us and through us. And we continue to grow with resilience and faith.

Today, Peace Knitwear is proud to be working on a community initiative: providing free sweaters and cardigans to public primary school children in our local area. This project aims to keep the children warm and unified, especially during cold seasons. Our goal is to expand this initiative to reach schools in other communities across Nigeria and eventually throughout Africa.

At Peace Knitwear, our mission is to become a leading name in the knitwear industry—offering beautifully crafted, high-quality products that meet the needs and preferences of customers around the world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came to visit, I would make sure they had an unforgettable experience. First, I’d treat them to some sightseeing and show them around the most interesting spots in Warri. We’d visit one of the best local eateries to enjoy some delicious meals together.

Next, I’d take them to the field to watch a lively local football match — a great way to experience the energy of the community.

To top it all off, I’d take them to my production center, where they can see firsthand how our various knitted products are made. It would be a fun and meaningful way to share a part of my world with them.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m sending a heartfelt shout-out to everyone who has contributed to this incredible journey — you’ve made the ride truly worthwhile.

To my mentors and my amazing team, thank you for your unwavering support and inspiration. Your contributions have been invaluable every step of the way.

A special shout-out to G-Win Perfect Touch, the brilliant fashion brand specializing in dressmaking. We’re currently collaborating on an exciting new design that will be launching soon. Your creativity and commitment have been a constant source of motivation.

To our customers and every single person who has supported us — thank you. You are contributed meaningful to this journey, and we couldn’t have come this far without you.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheme_ufuoma / https://instagram.com/peace_knitwear?utm_medium=copy_link

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ufuoma.sheme / https://www.facebook.com/Peace-Knitwear-102388699086233/