“My mother died when I was just 5 and being the only girl amidst 2 boys, it was rough growing up. It was a lonely and sad childhood for me. I missed the company of my mum as a girl growing up. My dad was that type of dad you couldn’t sit and watch TV with then. My stepmother and I never got along. So, you can imagine that scenario. As I grew up, I never wished my kids to have the kind of childhood I had. I wanted to be in their lives and be there for them. For me, the only way I could achieve that is being an entrepreneur. It was from then – as a child – that I began to develop a keen interest in being my own boss. My goal was to have a brand of my own whereby at the long run, I wouldn’t have to stress much and, that way, I can have time to look after my kids and family.
I love to bake. I was always mixing all baking ingredients together without appropriate measurements and most of the time my cakes would come out very hard. I knew I wasn’t getting it right but I kept doing it. Fast forward to 2011. I had just completed my ND program. I was supposed to do a year Industrial Training, but something kept telling me I was about to waste a year of my life. That was coupled with the fact that I didn’t get placement on time. When I couldn’t get placement on time, I decided to enrol at a vocational training instead.
When I told my Dad about my decision, he insisted that school was all he cared about, not some vocational training. I had made up my mind to do the training anyway so I didn’t allow his refusal deter me. It was then that I realized that to be able to realize my dream, I had to go against him. I told my elder brother who himself was a hustler at the time, he paid my training fee and that was it. At first I lied to dad I got placement at a bakery but he kept questioning me about kind of relationship existed between Science Laboratory Technology and Bakery. Eventually, I opened up and he wasn’t really happy with it.
After few months of the training, I got some of my basic instruments and started practicing from home. During that period, once I heard it was someone’s birthday like this, cake was the surest gift. I was always dashing people birthday cakes. Then, my elder brother used to give me weekly allowance. I would use my allowance to bake and design a cake at home. My dad was so amazed to see how much creativity and skill I always into my craft and finally, he accepted my choice to go into catering. He blessed me and supported me fully. I graduated from the catering school in 2012 and named my business Hummerwummie Catering and Events Management.
“Two weeks after my graduation, I luckily met with some politicians who were planning a function. A wedding. I was asked if I could cater for a wedding. Now, back at my training centre, my boss did cakes and decorations mostly; very little event catering. So, when the offer to cater for a wedding came my way, I didn’t have much confidence to take the job. I was scared I wouldn’t deliver up to expectations but later I summoned courage and went all in.
I billed and was issued a check. For the first time in my life, I got a contract – the happiness I had was not here at all. Lol. I put in all my best to satisfy them even if it means not gaining a kobo and God helped me, my client were absolutely satisfied with my services. From then I added cooking food at large quantities to my services. Then I started getting referral from friends and loved ones.
I got admitted to study Biochemistry at Osun State University. That saw me relocate to Osogbo. By that time, my father was no longer financially buoyant enough to sponsor my education. I had to work extra hard to make money to support the little I got from my brother. As a student and a business lady, it wasn’t easy but I got no choice than to combine both. I baked and decorated cakes through the night most of the time. There were times I missed classes, sometimes I missed tests.
I catered for most departmental activities and still did my cakes and other services by the side. Hummer was known as a hustler on campus then.’ I inspired many and am proud of that. During my final year, the school management contracted me to impact the knowledge on Cakes & Small Chops making to my fellow students during the Entrepreneurship Program. That, on its own, was an achievement for me.
After school, I thought it was time to actualize my dream of having an establishment of my own. I wanted an eatery. I have always wanted an eatery where an average Nigerian can afford quality-quantity meals, within a neat, hygienic and beautiful environment. The project was big and each time I thought of the kind of package I wanted, I was always scared. The thought of where to get money from without taking loans always troubled me.
Fortunately, I am blessed with the most caring men – My dad, hubby and my brothers, they believed in me and my dreams and they all went the extra mile to make it come true. They all rallied round me. I gave them the pictures of the eatery I had in my head and within 2 months God made it possible without having debt. I needed to give the eatery a name that would easily explained what we do, that was how Maxdelicious Kitchen came to exist. (Max from my baby’s name MAXWELL)
Running the business hasn’t been easy. Being a new mom, a wife, combined with the old & new line of business is a kind of tasking. At the early stage, I only employed just one staff and that was the cleaner. It was such a difficult task, being the CEO, the cook, the marketer, the waiter, and all at the kitchen. I opened at 7:30am so that I could meet up with making the breakfast and then I closed at 10pm. Within one month I became so lean. All the fats I acquired during pregnancy melted away.
I had to go back to the drawing board and find a way of maximizing my limited resources. As for adverts, I got some guys who volunteered to distribute the kitchen flyers to the neighbouring shops and offices. I also cooked and served everyone in my complex, I sent invitations out to some loyal friends and family to come visit and patronize the kitchen yet sales was still so unencouraging.
The first one or two months, 90% of the sales was from my immediate family and few friends. My husband was the Angel God used to alleviate the stress I underwent at the time. He would call to ask how far with the sales and he’d encourage me to be positive, that after all I just started the business. Later in the day instead of wasting or keeping the foods till the following day he would bring along some of his friends and younger ones and he’d buy all the foods for them.
You can imagine the stress making all types of food available and yet no one to ask to buy a plate. During that phase, I always just wanted to sleep and never wanted to wake up. In fact, I began to feel that, perhaps, it wasn’t my calling but I kept the hope alive and I was always positive about my business.
Later, I started going from shops to shops and offices to advertise the kitchen. Telling people about our service, making them to see that it’s not an eatery but an “advanced BUKA”. Everybody I met was wowed. All of them commented that our packaging was toooooo much and that confused them and they didn’t want embarrassment from us and that that was why they hadn’t been patronising us. That day a lot of people trooped to patronize and they were convinced. I nearly cried that day because I couldn’t imagine that could be the reason for my predicament all this while. lol. Since then God has been faithful.
What keeps motivating me is my faith in myself. I know I can do it, I know who I am, I know am not a failure, and I know the future ahead is bright. I also know that a bright future wouldn’t come easily – the challenges and hard work are what make up the stories of success. Another factor that has kept me going is the awareness that I know some people who are watching, waiting to see how the whole enterprise would go. Knowing this keeps me on my toes, I can’t afford to let go of my dreams because then, they’d have won. Instead of go down, I keep dreaming and God remains God.
Lastly, I want to appreciate all of whom made it possible. My king and my family I say thank you very much.”
