“I dropped out of school because I wasn’t getting what I expected,” Says Man Who Turns Old Cars into Luxury Cars

Afam Kings Dozie a young and talented man in an exclusive interview with Legit and The Punch, opened up on his car refurbishing business and why youth should go into it.

Dozie who is an indigene of Anambra State was born and raised in Benue State. He currently lives in Lagos where he owns a workshop. He is an automobile mechanic by profession and also into refurbishing of old vehicles.

How it all started

Speaking about how he started his business with Legit.ng, Dozie said “The mindset of looking different got me into refurbishment, so since I was already a mechanic, I made a choice of going into what stands out in the field of work, so I had revamping as my only way to exercise the idea. 

“It started with my love for fabrications and remolding things with metals, which my dad for there to guide me and he provided me books to grow my knowledge at that time, while he teaches me practically.” 

When asked how he gets the vintage cars and other whips he refurbishes, the young man said: “I scout for these cars, I traveled to so many states, made friends with old mechanics, drivers and some individuals, and told them to hit me up if they come across any vintage car. 

“So these are people that search for me, once they get one, they call me, I negotiate, then pay, and make arrangements of how it gets to Lagos. Then I commence work on it.”

Education

Upon the completion of his secondary school education, Kings stated that he proceeded to Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) to read mechanical engineering.

He however dropped out in his 200 level because he wasn’t getting the needed practical and expected knowledge. 

Kings then went to New Delhi in India where he honed his skills and he says dropping out actually inspired him. 

Explaining this, he said: “…Because the mind of challenging my peers in school was a reminder.”

It is noteworthy that while in secondary school, Kings was enrolled in a technical school where he was trained in mechanical engineering as well.

Patronized by Big Players in Music Industries

Since his return to Nigeria in 2011 after his studies in India and starting properly in 2012, business has been moving fine for Kings. 

The likes of producers Clarence Peters, Unlimited LA, Mex films, Adasa Kuki, Avalon Okpe, Aje production, Director K and TG Omori have employed his services for video shoots. 10 years down the line, Kings said it is a profitable venture.

READ ALSO: Video: Mother Interrogates Son Who Wants To Drop Out Of School to Become A Bus Conductor

I’m not a thief

While encouraging youths to go into refurbishing cars, Dozie reacted to views that revamping whips amounted to intellectual theft of sort. 

He said: “For me it is not an intellectual theft, because everyone has a choice of restoring or let me call it changing existing idea to suit his/her want. “Innovation! People who buy already built houses also do the same. So I feel it’s a choice thing.” 

Dozie’s Motivation

According to Dozie, he receives a lot of accolades and it is those accolades that keep me going in the business because that alone is my motivation. Those accolades from people and customers are the energy driving what I do.

Big Plan

Dozie sees himself establishing a vehicle assembly plant. “the plan is to own a car brand; that is the direction I am driving towards if the country permits because the Nigerian situation is not encouraging,” he told The Punch.

Unpleasant Experience

Describing his annoying experience, he said: the worst is when I have an idea and on getting to that point of executing the idea, I am stuck because there are no parts or companies that can mold exactly what I need to get the job done. It can be very frustrating.

READ ALSO: “Most tech billionaires graduated from great schools. Don’t encourage people to drop out of school because Bill Gates did” – Lawmaker

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