Today’s Arewaobinrin

It’s not easy managing a business — Salawu

 

Meet Mrs. Zainab Abiola Salawu, the Brain behind Chef Bii Catering Services and Chef Bii Culinary School. She studied Microbiology from Al-Hikma University, she shares with us her experiences and served us hot dishes of motivations as young women to serve as a guide on our journey. Plus did I tell you she’s from Ilorin South Local Government in Kwara State! Sit back and enjoy our exclusive chat with her!

What’s the inspiration or story behind the Brand Chef Bii?

When I decided to go to a culinary school, I wasn’t inspired by anyone, i did just because of lack of empowerment and I just wanted to empower myself.

Where is your service area?

If it’s location, We are located opposite Government Day Secondary School, Tanke Ilorin. If it’s what we do ” Catering Services, Culinary training, Restaurant consultancy and fast food outlets .

You have a culinary school, what prompted the start of the school?

After my training, during my NYSC year, I had the chance to teach someone Chinese rice, that was when I discovered myself.

Since the start of your business, what do you find most helpful about Social Media in marketing and growing your brand?

Social media is very helpful to me, 70 percent of my students got to know about my culinary school from my  Instagram page.

What were the major challenges you faced when you started your business, and how did you over come them?

I had lots of challenges when I started the catering services, most people did not believe am up to the task or capable , some will look at me and ask if I can actually handle a catering job. So I came up with packaging, food presentation and signature taste.

How has the journey been like, achieving your set goals for your business?

Focus and prayer. It’s not easy managing a business, but if you are the brain behind your business and you understand it in and out, then it will be a lot easier.

How many students have you trained so far and what was the experience like when they graduated?

Have lost counts, but I can proudly say have trained close to 150 people and I have reasonable numbers of them working as catering chesf and they are doing very well.

If you weren’t a chef, what other profession would you have embraced?

If I wasn’t a Chef then a lecturer will be perfect.

We have so many caterers and chef out there, what distincts you from them?

We all have our standards, my selling point is the fact that am a Chef instructor, I train people and I understand spices, seasonings and herbs. Above all, our top notch services and customer relations.

Do you have a role model in this industry, have you met him or her? Why choose him or her?

Yes I do. His name is Abiola Akanji, owner of Reddish chronicles culinary school, the best culinary school in Nigeria. Yes, I’ve met him, he’s my boss as I graduated from his culinary school.

What’s your take on having multiple streams of income?

Multiple streams of income is very important, just that it’s better to do that with same line of business . Am a chef, I make money from training people on  how to cook, am also a catering chef, I make more income from catering job, I own  fast-food outlets where I sell shawarma, burger, ice cream, chicken and chips and others. All these multiple streams of incomes are still food business. I don’t believe in someone being a baker, at the same time being a food caterer and also at the same time being party drink chiller.
how to cook, am also a catering chef, I make more income from catering job, I own  fast-food outlets where I sell shawarma, burger, ice cream, chicken and chips and others. All these multiple streams of incomes are still food business. I don’t believe in someone being a baker, at the same time being a food caterer and also at the same time being party drink chiller.

If you were given a day to be the First Lady of Kwara state, what are the 3 most important things you will do for Kwara Women?

I will empower women and girls with skills and acquisition programme that will eliminate hunger and encourage healthy living.

What do you think about the Sustainable Development Goals  2 and 3, zero hunger and good health& wellbeing in relation to your business?

I am an advocate of the goals and I create healthy recipes for individuals through my meals, I also have a CSR project, where I feed  the less privileged which am hoping to make a daily routine. Ramadan or not.

Show More

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button