The race for success is never about speed. It is about purpose, focus and determination. If it is a perception that speed only can make dreams come true, then Jimmy Ofuoyan, 360Kuts founder, is more of a phenomenon.
The two extraordinary international brands the young man built from sheer perseverance, inspite of the smooth mountains he had to climb on his way to stardom.
Born in 1998 to a Nigerian family in the southern part of the country, Jimmy Ofuoyan went through a very patchy and obstacle-filled childhood. He lacked many things his contemporaries would consider as a right, but in his own case, the luxury was never there.
The boss of 360Kuts, also known as Khalilimages grew up as the youngest of three brothers and also has four sisters. The circumstances around him was sufficient enough to becloud any pathway to a successful future, but he created one for himself. Rather, as a young kid, he used those daunting challenges as springboard to fighting for a brighter future.
At the age of 12, when many teenagers were preoccupied with acts of juvenile delinquency, the the 360Kuts and Khalilimages boss put in for apprenticeship at his brother’s unisex salon to learn braiding and fixing of women’s hair. He was so good at it that after a few years, he was issued a certificate of completion and authorised to practice on his own. He added more knowledge by learning modern haircut for men by watching tutorial videos on YouTube.
Seven years ago, the entrepreneur, with a relative and two friends, decided to chase their dreams in Italy through Libya. However, they were taken by human traffickers in the war-ravaged North African country. While in prison camp, he used basic barbing technique– comb and razor, to provide services to fellow inmates and their captors.
Fortunately, Jimmy Ofuoyan, who runs
escaped from captivity and its horrors. Closer to his destination, he continued the risky trip to Italy, where he first lived in Laboratorio per le Aree Protette Italiane e lo Sviluppo Sostenibile (LAPISS) in a small city in Abruzzp, Sicily. He took up jobs like a disc jockey to entertain goers at festivals and other events to survive.
Jimmy Ofuoyan found it difficult to secure a job of his dream after moving to Pescara in 2018, and it played out perfectly as a blessing in disguise. The entrepreneur encountered a complete turning point in his life when he dumstruck a Pescara player, and later, Argentinian footballer, Leandro Fernandes, with breathtaking haircuts. It catapulted him to becoming an internet sensation. He arrived at this point after offering home services to people. Out of wisdom, he used the social media to promote and propagate his works, which helped his fane spread further around the globe.
“Absolutely. It happened when I had the opportunity to offer a haircut to a player from the “Pescara Football Club.” Being the first migrant and foreigner in my state to achieve such recognition in the hairstyling industry was a game-changer. The experience brought attention to my work and attracted influential personalities and football stars to my Instagram account. It was a turning point that catapulted my career and gave me a platform to showcase my skills to a broader audience,” recalled Jimmy Ofuoyan in an interview.
