Popular Lagos celebrity food vendor, Hajia Amoke Odukoya, CEO Ogo Oluwaniyi Amoke Oge is one of the biggest Bukateria owners patronised by many celebs in Lagos, with 7 different branches in areas such as Oshodi, Obalende, Surulere, Shomolu, Iganmu Moshalashi and others….CONTINUE READING
She just opened a new branch in Oshodi, and she opened up on how she started, and how she was able to open 7 branches in 7 years. She spoke about her very humble beginning and also talked about her 2 sisters who are equally big cafetaria owners in Lagos. She also revealed the strong support she got from her husband who also happens to be the former Chairman of White Men Gent Club.
On what inspired her into the food business? “I learnt everything about food business from my mother, she has been into food. My mother had a shop where she sells food in Araromi in Oyo State so I learnt everything from her, so when I grew up and I finished in 1999, I decided to go and learn more from my elder sister, she is the popular Saudi Alamala in Bariga. I learnt more from her, before I started mine 7 years ago.
I have never regretted anything and the journey has been good, because I started with nothing. Initially, I was just cooking for people at parties so I started considering opening my own shop, so I got a shop at Bawala at Pedro, and I was also told at the church that food business is my thing, so I kept working hard towards it, I never opened my first shop to start making money.
I just wanted a place I could stay and cook, so I started very small.
Also when I was with my elder sister back then she gives me 1,000 monthly, so I was like maybe if I am on my own. I could make like 2,000 daily, so I told her and she encouraged me to go ahead and prayed for me. I didn’t open it to make money but just to start cooking, I have strong passion for cooking and I enjoy cooking for people to eat and till date. I still cook despite being the boss.
It is very easy for me to multi-task I can easily cook many dish at the same time, I enjoy cooking.
When asked if she ever envisage opening 7 branches within few years she had this to say:
The name of my brand is Amoke Oge Ogo Oluwaniyi. So everything about my brand is by God’s grace. There is nothing negative about my brand. It was God himself that told me. I will be opening 10 branches and I am currently on number 7 whatever God has destined for man it will definitely come to past. I don’t struggle to open any branch.”
I” have Managers, who manage every branch and at the end of the day they report to me. God has been so faithful, we offer both indoor and outdoor services, and we are the best when it comes to local dishes and that is what stands us out amongst others.
Why the brand name “Amoke Oge” When I was with my sister, learning the food thing, I also do side hustle, selling earing and other accessories, and my sister had this customer, he is called Highlander in Bariga, he sells shoes and musicians sing his praises a lot, he was the one that calls me Oge, because of the jewellry business I was doing. Then secondly because I got the message from God that I will open 10 branches, so when it was time for me to open the branch I decided to use “Amoke Oge Ogo Oluwaniyi”. That is my name plus the nickname and Ogo Oluwaniyi due to God’s wish.
Then when I started the business, I started with less than two hundred thousand because things were not as expensive, as it is now. God has been so faithful, daily in all the branches, we sell more than 6 bags of food daily.
How profitable is food business in Lagos? “It is profitable for people who knows much about it to make profit, but if you don’t know much about it, you will run at lost cooking at home is different from selling outside. If you don’t know much about it, you will end up paying so much to people you are not expected to pay much to. Like I said I was born into the business, but I still went to learn more with my elder sister, so it requires lots of learning. We are three sisters doing the same business, and I can boldly tell you, we are the ones dominating the business in Lagos my elder sister Saudi Alamala is very popular in New Garage.
She has another branch in Ikorodu, and she is also working on a new branch.
My other sister is Ashabi Alamala. She has a branch in Ikorodu and Alade Lola, and I am the younger one amongst them.
Despite doing same business, we are closely knitted and do things together. If an apprentice leaves my shop, none of my sisters will employ such an apprentice, same applies to me.
To succeed in this business, you need to learn and endeavour to take your boss’s blessings to grow in life, we do things together and no quarrels, because if you quarrel your sister because you are doing same business, then what will you do to other people running same business, we are very united.
Running 7 shops in Lagos, she talked about how she relaxes.
I honestly don’t have specific time to rest, it is the normal time after close of business, then rest at home at night.
I opened the Bawala branch in 2015 which is the first branch, then three years later in 2018, I opened the Surulere branch, then 2019, I opened the Shomolu branch, which is the head office. If you notice since 2018, I have been opening one shop yearly, and this require lots of hardwork. My desire is to open 10 shops that God has destined me to open, so after opening the 10 shops, I can now relax, and I strongly believe with hardwork and determination, I will be able to achieve it.”
“As a business person, I have always encouraged my children to show interest in the business but none of them have showed any interest. I learnt this from my mother and upgraded it.”
“My success story won’t be complete without always appreciating, these special people in my life.
My darling husband Ishola Ade. He has been extremely supportive. God sent him specially to me he has been my backbone, and I will forever remain grateful to him for making all these possible. I pray God continue to bless him and may we both live long in life.”
“My elder sister, Alhaja Saudi, who I always refer to as Iya Amoke, I love her so much, I pray she won’t be put to show. Ajoke my mother, may God answer all your prayers.”
My other Elder Sister Alhaja Ashabi I call her Ashabi licking finger. She has always been good to me. She is always calling me for different business, once she sees anything that is useful to our business, she always call me. God bless and keep you for me.
Then to the only man in the house Akanji Ade, we don’t know if he will sell Amala too laughs!! He has always been there for me through thick and thin, always rendering different help to me….CONTINUE READING