In 2018, she started what has now become the Velma’s Academy after several years in the industry and receiving wide-acclaim including the tag as “Africa’s Queen of Hats and Accessories”.

The academy was initially designed to cater for the numerous people who had reached via social media and in-person expressing interest in learning the art of millinery.

It began with 4 students including Koshie who were trained in several courses including hat-making, bridal millinery and leather craftsmanship.

From the beginning, Velma and her team had plans of expanding the academy’s courses to cover other fields including jewelry, branding and arts which would meet international standards.

However, she did not just want to create a replica of any European academy but a unique institution that catered to the creative and economic needs of Africans.

She wanted an establishment where entrants would be trained by experts with a well-tailored curriculum in business management, surface ornamentation, illustration, sketching, bag making and jewelry design.

Students of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply to study with the renowned academy but the principal has one rule, “You need to have the passion for creating.”