Growing up in Warri, Aninyem Mercy Ogochukwu, a graduate of Social Work from the University of Benin, spent much of her time helping her mother with her food business. But beyond lending a hand, she developed a genuine passion for cooking and food preparation, finding joy in watching people enjoy meals and treats she had made herself. Those childhood experiences planted the seed for what would eventually become MevaFoods, a food and beverage business she founded to offer customers quality products worth their money.
By Eberechi Obinagwam
Growing up in Warri, Aninyem Mercy Ogochukwu, a graduate of Social Work from the University of Benin, spent much of her time helping her mother with her food business. But beyond lending a hand, she developed a genuine passion for cooking and food preparation, finding joy in watching people enjoy meals and treats she had made herself.
“What gave me the most joy was seeing people enjoy something I had made with my own hands,” she recalled in an interview with TheNiche. Those childhood experiences planted the seed for what would eventually become MevaFoods, a food and beverage business she founded to offer customers quality products worth their money. The business produces yoghurt, parfaits, banana bread, meat and chicken pies, finger foods and other treats.
Journey to entrepreneurship
After completing secondary school in 2012, while waiting for admission into the university, Mercy began making cupcakes for sale. “It was my first experience turning passion into something profitable. Throughout my years at the University of Benin, my love for cooking became well known. In fact, my apartment was nicknamed ‘Restaurant’ by my neighbours because I was always cooking and sharing meals. “Some of the male students around me would even bring their food supplies to me whenever school resumed because everyone knew I was ‘the kitchen girl,’” she recalled with excitement.
After graduating in 2019, she secured a job at a restaurant. However, the salary was modest, prompting her to supplement her income by making and selling zobo drinks from home. “One day, I noticed that a neighbour who sold spare parts in Ladipo kept requesting my zobo and introducing it to others. Demand began to grow, and what started as a side hustle quickly became something bigger,” she said.
Seeing the progress she was making, Aninyem made the bold decision to resign from her restaurant job and began travelling regularly to Ladipo to sell zobo.
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As her customer base grew, customers began requesting other healthy drinks, including tigernut milk and soya milk. She invested in herself by paying to learn how to prepare the drinks professionally to meet the growing demand.
However, just as the business was gaining momentum, her journey was interrupted when she was called up for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Undeterred, she remained committed to her passion. After completing her Service Year, she applied to several organisations and restaurants, attended numerous interviews with little success. She eventually secured a position at a fintech company, where she worked on shifts. Rather than abandon her entrepreneurial dream, Mercy used her off days to return to Ladipo and continue serving her customers.
The COVID-19 experience
Like many small-business owners, Mercy had to slow down during the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting her sales to customers within her immediate environment for a while. The business experienced another pause after she had her child, but her passion for food never faded. “Whenever there were birthdays, get-togethers, church events or family occasions, I was always the person cooking or providing finger foods and small chops,” she recalled.
On May 23, 2026, Mercy launched MevaFoods, a business she said grew from a simple idea. “My husband, who regularly goes to the gym, suggested yoghurt, and I saw an opportunity to create something of my own alongside my nine-to-five job. I researched extensively and enrolled in a paid training programme to learn yoghurt production properly. Interestingly, my banana bread and meat pie business came out of cravings. I would make them for myself, share them with people around me, and before long, people started placing orders and referring others,” she said.
As demand continued to grow, customers repeatedly requested parfaits, prompting her to invest in professional training to learn how to make them. “Looking back, every stage of my journey has been built on passion, continuous learning and listening to what my customers want. From helping my mother in Warri to being known as the ‘restaurant girl’ in university, to selling zobo in Ladipo Market and balancing entrepreneurship with a corporate career, every experience has prepared me for this moment.
“Today, MevaFoods is more than a business. It is the result of years of perseverance, learning, pauses, new beginnings and a genuine love for creating food that brings people joy. And for me, this is only the beginning,” she added.
Capital
Mercy said capital was not a major challenge when she started MevaFoods. She got supports from her husband, friends and family. “My husband was my biggest supporter, and I also received encouragement and support from friends and family who believed in my vision. As I look towards scaling the business, I know more resources will be needed, but I am confident that the same God who provided the support and resources to start this journey will provide for the next phase when the time comes,” she said.
Market penetration
Penetrating the market was relatively easy for Mercy because she started with products that people already enjoyed. “My biggest advantage was the quality of my products and the relationships I had built over time. My first customers were people within my immediate circle, including friends, neighbours, colleagues and referrals from previous customers.
“When I started selling zobo in Ladipo Market, word-of-mouth played a huge role in helping me gain visibility. As customers enjoyed my products, they introduced me to others, and my customer base gradually grew. The same pattern followed with my yoghurt, banana bread, meat pies and parfaits.
“Like every business, growth did not happen overnight. However, consistency, product quality, excellent customer service and listening to customers’ needs have helped me. Looking back, I believe my willingness to start, deliver value consistently and build genuine relationships with customers has made the difference,” she said.
Experience
One of the experiences Mercy found most challenging was having to halt her business several times just as it began gaining momentum. “First, I had to put everything on hold during my NYSC year. Later, COVID-19 disrupted business activities, and after having my child, I had to step back again to focus on my family. There were moments when it felt like every time I was making progress, life happened, and I had to start all over,” she said.
Despite these setbacks, her passion for food and the joy she derived from seeing people enjoy her creations kept her going. Even when she was not actively running the business, customers continued reaching out for her meals, pastries and catering services, reminding her of the value of her work.
Her family’s support, particularly that of her husband, and her faith also helped her remain hopeful. “Looking back today, I’m grateful I didn’t quit. Every challenge taught me resilience, and every pause prepared me for the next chapter. Those experiences shaped the entrepreneur I am becoming and made the launch of MevaFoods even more meaningful,” she said.
Breakthrough
For Mercy, the breakthrough came when customers began requesting her products without her having to market them actively. What started with a few zobo customers grew through word-of-mouth referrals, revealing a growing demand for her products.
She also noticed that treats she initially made for personal enjoyment, including banana bread and meat pies, were becoming popular among friends, colleagues and family members. Her yoghurt and parfait soon attracted similar interest.
“The biggest confirmation wasn’t a single large sale but the consistency of customer feedback and repeat patronage. Seeing people enjoy my products, return for more, and confidently recommend them to others gave me the assurance that this was more than just a passion; it was a business with real potential,” she said. The growing customer base continues to encourage Mercy in building and expand MevaFoods.
Challenges
For Mercy, unreliable electricity supply and the storage of perishable products have been major challenges in running MevaFoods. “Because my business involves yoghurt, parfaits and other perishable items, maintaining the right storage conditions is critical. Unstable electricity can lead to spoilage, product loss and additional costs,” she said.
She however, found a solution with the support of her husband, who invested in a solar inverter system. Together with a reliable fridge and freezer, the system has helped her preserve product quality, reduce waste and manage the business more confidently during power outages. Although unreliable electricity remains a challenge for many businesses, the solution has allowed Mercy to focus more on growth and customer satisfaction.
Japa
Like many young Nigerians, Mercy had considered relocating abroad but ultimately chose to stay, seeing an opportunity to build the business she had worked hard to establish.
“I’ve definitely thought about Japa, like many young Nigerians. However, for now, I’ve chosen to stay because I see opportunities in building the business I’ve worked hard to start. Despite the challenges, I’m passionate about growing MevaFoods and creating value through what I do. Every satisfied customer, repeat order and referral reassures me that I’m on the right path. For now, my focus is on growing my business, maximising the opportunities around me and trusting the journey one step at a time,” she said.
About Mercy
Aninyem Mercy Ogochukwu is a food entrepreneur, wife and mother of two, and founder of MevaFoods, a food and beverage brand offering yoghurt, parfaits, pastries and other treats.
A Social Work graduate of the University of Benin, Mercy developed her passion for food while helping her mother with her food business in Warri. She began selling cupcakes after secondary school, later adding zobo and other beverages before expanding into pastries and parfaits.
Alongside running her business, she works at Leadway Assurance Company Limited. Her entrepreneurial journey reflects her commitment to continuous learning, quality products and customer satisfaction. She is also preparing to expand into healthy beverages through her sister brand, EvritinLoiza360.
