At every South West colourful social outing, otherwise called Owambe, Faith Olorunfemi took note of the same thing – the small chops disappeared first. That gave her a clue of a future business plan.
By Eberechi Obinagwam
At every South West colourful social outing, otherwise called Owambe, Faith Olorunfemi took note of the same thing – the small chops disappeared first. That gave her a clue of a future business plan.
“In our culture, no gathering feels complete without them,” she told TheNiche in an interview. “I saw an opportunity to turn that into something meaningful”. So, in 2021, while waiting for her call-up to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Faith and her cousin began frying chin chin at home in Akure with only basic kitchen skills. Her cousin, a teacher, sold the packs at the school she taught.
Faith, who holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Business Administration from Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, had no formal culinary training when she started. In 2023, she got married and relocated from Akure to Ibadan. Unable to secure a paid job, she returned to the chin chin business she had started with her cousin.
This time, she invested in the skill. She took online classes to sharpen her skills and trained in pastries, baking, and natural drinks. After each lesson, she practiced with small batches, selling to neighbors, family, and friends. Gradually, the home kitchen hustle grew into FemFaith Treat, a brand now known for quality, taste, and creating memorable food experiences at gatherings.
In November 2025, Faith was recommended to Save Our Souls (SOS) Children’s Village in collaboration with Unique Child Development and Community Family Initiative (UCDCFI) to train young women and youths on her skills.
Sourcing capital
Faith said sourcing for capital was challenging at the beginning because she didn’t have access to large funds, making her start small with what she had. She began by using her personal savings and focused on making small batches of products like chin chin and peanut burgers.
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“Instead of waiting for big capital, I grew the business gradually through consistency, reinvestment, and learning. That approach really helped me build Femfaith step by step into what it is today. It wasn’t easy, but it taught me discipline and how to manage and grow a business with limited resources,” she said.
Penetrating the market
Faith said penetrating the market was a bit challenging at the beginning because people didn’t really know her brand, adding that it took a few months of consistency and patience before she started seeing real traction. “It wasn’t an overnight success, but staying consistent and delivering good quality products helped me break into the market,” she said.
She explained that in the food business, trust is very important because people want to be sure of the taste, quality, and hygiene before they buy.
“At first, I started by selling to people around me. My neighbours, family, and friends. That helped me build confidence and got honest feedback. I focused a lot on quality and consistency so that anyone who tried my products would want to come back and also refer others,” she said.
“Gradually, through word of mouth and repeat customers, I, began to gain more visibility. Social media and personal recommendations also played a big role in helping me reach new people,” she explained.
Initial low sales
Faith recalled an experience she had while trying to establish her brand. “I had made a batch of chin chin and peanuts with so much effort and hope, but sales were really slow that day. It was discouraging because I had invested my time, energy, and the little money I had,” she said.
At some point, she started questioning if she was on the right path. But some days later, a customer who had previously bought from her came back and told her how much they loved the taste and even asked for more.
“That moment changed everything for me. It reminded me that even if progress was slow, what truly mattered was the quality of what you’re offering and the impact it had on people. That experience taught me patience, resilience, and the importance of believing in what I’m building. It’s something I always carry with me, especially on tough days,” she said.
Breakthrough
Faith’s breakthrough came in November 2025 when she was recommended to SOS Children’s Village in Nigeria in collaboration with Unique Child Development and Community Family Initiative (UCDCFI) to train young women and youths on her skills.
“That moment meant so much to me because it showed that my work was not just being noticed, but also valued. Being given the opportunity to teach others and give back to my community made me genuinely happy and fulfilled,” she said.
Faith said it reminded her that what she was building with Femfaith was bigger than just making and selling of pastries/food, but also about impact, empowerment, and creating opportunities for others.
“That experience gave me a strong sense of purpose and motivated me to keep growing, improving, and pushing forward no matter the challenges,” she said.
Business challenges in Nigeria
For Faith, the cost of materials is her major challenge. She explained that prices of ingredients and supplies change frequently, which makes it difficult to maintain stable pricing while still delivering quality. She also said unreliable power supply, trust and logistics were part of her challenges.
“Since electricity is not always reliable, you sometimes have to spend extra on alternative power, especially when working with zobo drinks, samosas and spring rolls in large production that requires consistency and proper storage,” she said.
She added: “There’s also the issue of building trust in a competitive market. Customers have many options, so you have to consistently prove your quality, hygiene, and reliability to stand out. Logistics and delivery can also be challenging at times, especially when trying to meet up with event timings and customer expectations,” she said.
Faith has learned to stay the course, adapt, manage resources wisely, and remain consistent despite all the challenges. “These experiences have actually made me stronger, more creative, and better as an entrepreneur.” She said in Nigeria, challenges are part of the journey so is growth.
Japa
The brand owner of FemFaith Treat said she understands why many young Nigerians want to japa, stressing; “It’s because the economy can be challenging, and everyone is looking for better opportunities and stability.” Faith said she has chosen to remain and keep building because she believes there are still opportunities here to grow, create impact, and build something meaningful. “My journey with Femfaith is something I’ve nurtured from scratch, and I’m passionate about continuing to grow it,” she said.
She is not ruling out the possibility of relocating. “If I have the chance to relocate through the right opportunity or sponsorship, I would definitely consider it. And wherever I find myself in the world, I would love to continue my business and expand Femfaith beyond borders,” she said.
She added: “So for me, it’s not just about location it’s about growth, impact, and taking my brand to the next level, anywhere I am.”
About Faith
Faith hails from Ondo State but was born in Okene, Kogi State. She holds a Higher National Diploma in Business Administration and Management at Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti. She is a wife and a mother. She is the brand owner of FemFaith Treat, a brand focused on quality, taste and creating memorable food experiences. She is an employer and trainer.
She has earned a Certificate of Completion in Entrepreneurship Skills Development Training and Business Incubation, implemented by KRP-FEMA using the SMEDAN recognised ICSS model, an initiative of SOS Children’s Villages in Nigeria in collaboration with SOS Children’s Villages in Norway in May 2025.
She also completed a Smartphone Video Editing training, implemented by She Leads Africa (SLA) in collaboration with Jobberman in April 2026. A feat she said has helped her build both her business knowledge and ability to promote her brand effectively. “They’ve strengthened my confidence and equipped me with practical skills to grow Femfaith to the next level,” she said.
