The Nigerian beauty industry has been thrown into mourning as news of the passing of Chief Abogo C. Ugwokegbe, more popularly known as Chief of Dsalon
The Nigerian beauty industry has been thrown into mourning as news of the passing of Chief Abogo C. Ugwokegbe, more popularly known as Chief of Dsalon Downtown in Surulere filtered in. The news was broken by makeup artist, Omolola Shonowo, more popularly known as Lolar Shon.
Just a few months ago, Chief Abogo was in Lagos to acquire a new property meant for the expansion of his thriving beauty enterprise which he planned to launch much later in the year. His plans of opening a World Beauty Academy that would change the face of the Beauty industry in Nigeria was his main reason for his periodic visits back home from the US where he lived with his family. Unknown to him, his visit a few months ago, would be his last
While some say he passed from a ruptured appendix, others say he went into a coma after the appendectomy procedure and had to be flown back home and placed on life support system which he never recovered from.
For 27 years, Chief Abogo has been at the forefront of beautifying the rich and famous. He was known to be a godfather in the beauty industry. He was one of those who revolutionized and re branded the beauty industry especially in the braid sector.
Operating from his two outlets in Surulere and Victoria Island both in Lagos, Dsalon Downtown retained one of the top spots in the hair care and beauty industry from its launch in 1992. With its state-of-the-art equipment and facility, Downtown grew in leaps and bounds with a chain of unisex hair care and beauty salons and beauty products marts in Lagos with over 250 employees.
During his lifetime, Chief Abogo also established a beauty library which will provide technical assistance and consultancy for young Nigerians who wanted to set up beauty salons. It also provided assistance for repairs, maintenance and servicing of beauty equipment including installation.
Two years ago, Downtown salon was in the news when it was reported that a member of his staff was accused of stealing N11.9 million cash as well as hair weave and hair products valued at N12 million.
Chief Abogo will be sorely missed as he was one of the pioneers in the Nigerian beauty industry.
