Omotayo Deborah Olubokun is the chief executive officer and chef of Teelicious Catering Service and Eatery. The 28-year- old entrepreneur hails from Ondo state and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Banking and Finance from Adekunle Ajasin University.
She started her business with her personal savings and kind gestures from friends and used the profit from the work to obtain more equipment for her work.
Omotayo has also had the opportunity to work for some clients who today recommend her for more jobs. “I derive joy when I get positive feedback from my customers or clients all over Lagos,” she tells Start-Up Digest.
The young entrepreneur was motivated to embark on the catering business and take it as a profession when she discovered her love for cooking and home management. She then decided to do what gives her joy.
While Omotayo was growing up, she would sit for hours with her grandmother in the kitchen to learn new delicacies and most of the time she would be taking online classes about new meals.
She began to get encouragements from her friends who supported her to achieve her dreams.
“Well, for the kind of business I do, it is hard to make a lot of money because in our country today, most people do not have enough money to take care of themselves, talk more of patronising me,” she explains.
Speaking on the challenges she faces, the young entrepreneur says she needs more funds to set up standard environment for clients, and electric supply to enable her use her storage facilities effectively.
“I need a lot of finance to get quality foodstuffs and means of delivery to my clients,” she says.
She urges the government to look also in the direction of providing start-up funds for entrepreneurs and to resolve power issues facing the country.
On her long-term goals, she says,“ I am looking at expanding Teelicious Restaurants, mostly in area of traditional foods with our local wine. I also plan to make contacts with top chefs in the country.”
She is yet to have permanent staff. However, she has friends who help out whenever there is a huge task to be accomplished in a short period. “I get little assistance from friends and family when needed, but I intend to get help soon as the business expands and the customer base increases over time.”
Advising other entrepreneurs and youths, she says, “Never despise the days of little beginnings and put your passion into play because it goes along way. Do not be discouraged by the hardship in the country because at the end we will be fine.”
Jonathan Aderoju
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