Some people chase success. Few build legacies. Engr. Barakat Adesina belongs to the rare few who chose purpose, skill, and resilience to create something that lasts. Through technical mastery, entrepreneurship, and an unshakable commitment to quality and people, she is redefining Nigeria’s indigenous paint and coatings industry. Not only as a structural engineer and paint specialist, but also as the visionary behind Glizt Manufacturing Industry Limited, an emerging force in sustainable construction and finishing solutions.
Behind her influence lies a deeply rooted story shaped by sacrifice, family values, and determination. As the second-to-last child and her mother’s lastborn, Barakat’s early life was marked by challenges that tested her resilience long before her professional journey began.
Education became both her anchor and her escape. Barakat attended Saint Isabel Primary School and Moret Comprehensive College before earning her B Tech in Civil Engineering from LAUTECH and later completing a Master’s degree at the University of Ibadan. Beyond formal engineering training, she is a distinguished graduate of Nigeria’s leading painting institution, the Artisan School for Decorative Painting, a trade test-certified painter, and a graduate of Mavens School of Interior Design and Decoration. Today, she is a COREN certified Engineer, a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, a member of Wimbiz, and a member of the Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN), solidifying her presence across both technical and creative industries.
Her transition into paint manufacturing came shortly after NYSC and was entirely intentional. At just 25 years old, Barakat leveraged skills gained from the NYSC SAED program in paint production and POP while channeling her alawee savings into registering her company with CAC and investing in online training for paint branding, color chart production, hand mixing, and operating a mixing drum.
From a single room in her father’s house, where her late mother served as her first staff, marketer, and production partner, Glizt Paint steadily grew. Long nights, self-funded training, and hands-on experimentation defined the early years. Barakat later processed SON certification and completed training at the EDC Centre, laying the foundation for scale and professionalism.
Today, Glizt Manufacturing Industry Limited operates a store in Ibadan at Odo Ona Apata and one in Lagos at Adeniji Adele, Lagos Island, with distributors across Oyo State and beyond.
Innovation continues to define her work. She has currently developed coating solutions designed to hide wall cracks, withstand harsh weather, correct dampness, and eliminate the need for skimming or priming. Alongside this is her commitment to empowerment through a training academy that helps entrepreneurs and artisans build fundable, long-lasting businesses. Her newly launched Groovy and Marble Trowel Paint line reflects Glizt’s dedication to functionality, durability, and aesthetics.
She is also currently expanding into new verticals through the soft launch of Kerakleenbyglizt, a cleaning products brand offering solutions for homes, offices, and commercial spaces. This further positions her not just as a manufacturer, but as a builder of complementary product ecosystems within Nigeria’s construction and lifestyle industries.
Guided by a philosophy rooted in honesty, resilience, and purpose, Engr. Barakat Adesina continues to build more than products; she is building people, systems, and a legacy that proves what is possible when courage meets competence and vision meets work.
Tell us a little about your professional background and journey to Glizt.
My career has been anything but linear. I’ve always been someone who questions things, sometimes uncomfortably so, and that habit pushed me to pick up different skills along the way, from operations to product development and distribution. I didn’t want to build blindly; I wanted to understand the full picture.
At some point, I had to confront a question that kept bothering me: why do we rely so much on imported products for things we use every day? In the paint and finishing space, I saw firsthand how this dependence often meant higher prices, inconsistent quality, and products that simply weren’t made with our climate or users in mind. That realization was frustrating, but it was also clarifying.
Glizt Paint was born from that tension. I remember doubting whether it made sense to take on an industry where huge capital is needed, shortcuts are common, and trust is fragile. But I also knew that copying what already existed wasn’t the answer. I wanted to build something thoughtful, quality, and reliable products made for Nigerians, by Nigerians, and built with a long-term mindset.
That journey has shaped how I lead today. I’m less interested in quick wins and more committed to doing things properly, even when it’s slower or harder. For me, building Glizt Paints isn’t just about paint; it’s about proving that we can create quality, integrity-driven products locally, and do it on our own terms.
What made you choose paint manufacturing specifically? Was there a moment when you knew this industry needed you, or was it a calculated risk that grew into conviction?
During my NYSC SAED program, I was exposed to paint manufacturing, and it immediately caught my attention. What resonated most was when I engaged with engineers, builders, and homeowners, they shared the real gaps in local paint production: inconsistent quality, poor durability, and products that didn’t meet our climate or needs
That feedback turned curiosity into conviction. I realized this wasn’t just a business opportunity; it was a chance to build products designed for Nigerians, by Nigerians. What started as a calculated risk became a responsibility: To create reliable, quality paints that truly work for our environment and restore trust in local manufacturing.
You hold a Master’s degree in engineering, you’re COREN certified, a member of multiple professional bodies, and yet you chose to get your hands into paint production, hand mixing, and operating drums. Why was that technical, hands-on mastery so important to you?
Even with a Master’s in engineering and professional certifications, I knew that understanding paint production on paper wouldn’t be enough. During Glizt’s Paint early days, I rolled up my sleeves, hand-mixed tint colours, sourced raw materials, and experienced every part of the process.
Hearing from engineers, builders, and homeowners showed me where local paints were failing, but feeling it firsthand taught me why and how formulations react to our climate, where skills fall short, and where quality slips. Being on the floor wasn’t humility; it was responsibility. To build paints that truly serve Nigerians and West African countries, I had to live the process myself.
What drives your innovation process?
What drives my innovation process is a combination of curiosity and responsibility. I start by listening to engineers, builders, homeowners, and even distributors, to understand their frustrations, the gaps in products, and what really works in our environment. I’ve found that real insights rarely come from assumptions or imported solutions; they come from observing, questioning, and testing in the context where the product will actually be used.
From there, it’s a cycle of experimentation and iteration. I get hands-on with formulations, test new approaches, and refine them based on performance and feedback. The goal isn’t novelty for novelty’s sake, it’s creating products that solve real problems and perform consistently. In short, my innovation is driven by purpose, observation, and accountability to the people who use our products.
Tell us about your training academy and what motivated you to teach what you’ve learned instead of keeping it to yourself?
The Glizt Paints Training Academy came from a simple realization: knowledge is only powerful when it’s shared. Over the years, I noticed that even the best products can fail if applicators, distributors, or end-users don’t understand how to use them properly. I also saw professionals struggling because practical training in paint application and finishing is limited in Nigeria.
I could have kept that knowledge to myself, but that would have limited impact. Teaching others, from builders and painters to distributors, not only elevates standards across the industry, but it also ensures that Glizt paints products are used to their full potential. The academy isn’t just about technical skills; it’s about creating a community of professionals who take pride in their craft and can trust local solutions to perform.
What’s been your hardest fight so far building your businesses, and what did it teach you about what it takes to build a winning brand?
The hardest fight so far has been balancing expectations from both customers and distributors while building a local brand. Customers often want the highest quality at the lowest price, while distributors expect products in bulk without investing in inventory, yet still want fast returns. Early on, this meant I was constantly chasing payments and educating partners on the value of consistent quality.
What it taught me is that building a winning brand isn’t just about making a good product. It’s about managing relationships, enforcing discipline, educating the market, and staying relentless even when shortcuts are tempting. Glizt’s Paint credibility today is a reflection of that persistence and the uncompromising standards we refused to compromise.
Has there been a moment when your values were tested, when it would have been easier to compromise, and you chose not to?
There have been moments when compromising would have been much easier. Early on, pressure to lower costs to sell faster tempted us to cut corners on raw materials. Another test came with a developer whose payment was mostly made, but we wouldn’t need all the quoted paint. It would have been easy to keep the balance, but I called the client, explained the situation, and returned what was due. Upholding integrity isn’t always convenient, but it’s what builds trust and lasting impact for Glizt Paints.
Barakat, who did you have to become to scale Glizt from a startup to a manufacturing company with national reach?
To scale Glizt from a startup to a manufacturing company with national reach, I had to become relentlessly curious, disciplined, and willing to get my hands dirty. I needed to understand every part of the business from formulation and production to distribution and customer experience. I also had to become a teacher, negotiator, and problem-solver, building systems that endure beyond me. Scaling Glizt Paints wasn’t just about growth; it was about creating reliable, locally-made products Nigerians can trust.
You wear multiple hats—engineer, manufacturer, educator, innovator, business owner. Which role feels most like home to you? The one where you’re most fully yourself?
If I had to choose, the role that feels most like home is being an educator. I feel most fully myself when I’m sharing what I’ve learned — not just about paint, but about business growth, helping friends with their ventures, or guiding the public on the complete painting process and how to get the best from our products. Teaching allows me to combine curiosity, hands-on experience, and problem-solving while multiplying impact beyond what I could do alone.
If you could sit with the 25-year-old version of yourself in that single room, watching your mother help you mix paint, what would you tell her? Not advice. Just the truth about what’s coming and what it’s going to require.
If I could sit with my 25-year-old self, watching my mother help me mix paint, I’d tell her the truth: building something real will demand more than skills or degrees. It will test your values, push you to get your hands dirty, and often feel slower than you expect. And above all, stay strong and healthy — don’t burn out or give up. The struggles will be real, but the impact and trust you create will make it worth it.
Looking at the next chapter of Glizt, what’s the legacy you’re building toward?
Looking at the next chapter of Glizt, the legacy I’m building toward is one of trust, empowerment, and local excellence. I want Glizt to be more than a paint brand — I want it to be a platform that equips professionals, inspires innovation, and demonstrates that Nigerian-made products can compete on quality and reliability anywhere. I hope to leave a mark where people don’t just use our paints, they learn, grow, and take pride in what they create, knowing that local solutions can solve real problems. That’s the kind of impact that lasts beyond any single product or transaction.
| Connect with Engr. Barakat Adesina |
| Instagram – @Gliztpaint and @Barakatadesina_ |
| LinkedIn: Engr Barakat Adesina |
