“Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.” 

When French lawyer, politician, and author Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin penned those words, he had no idea how people like Mrs. Josephine Adesina, founder of Awari Olounje Omode, would swear by them over a hundred years later.

BACKGROUND

Mrs. Josephine Adesina is the CEO of Awari Olounje Omode, a company based in Ibadan, Oyo State, that offers affordable, nutritious, and locally sourced baby food. With her background as a teacher and a lifelong passion for healthy living, Josephine made a bold transition from educator to entrepreneur. Her goal? To fill a crucial gap in the market by providing wholesome food options for children.

The brand name, Awari Olounje Omode, translates to “Awari, seller of baby food” in Yoruba, is a reflection of her commitment to raising healthy children through nutritious, natural meals.

Mrs Josephine Adesina CEO Awari Olounje Omode. Source: Facebook

THE CHALLENGE

Josephine’s entrepreneurial journey began with a deeply personal challenge. She wanted to give her baby the best possible nutrition.

“I’ve always been mindful of what I eat for as long as I can remember,” she says. “So when I had my baby, I wanted to make sure she ate natural, nutritious, and wholesome foods. But much of what I saw in the market was overly processed, and the healthier alternatives were far too expensive.”

Determined to find a solution, Josephine took matters into her own hands. She began experimenting with grains and spices to create blends that preserved their nutritional value, eventually developing a formula that not only met her child’s needs but also caught the attention of her community.

Josephine encountered several significant challenges as she expanded her now-registered business. One major hurdle was logistics. “Transportation costs were a big challenge,” she explains, adding that potential customers outside Ibadan often found the high cost of delivery prohibitive.

Scaling production was another issue. Maintaining the quality of her products while increasing output was a daunting task. She recalled a particularly disheartening experience: “I once tried to increase output, but the batch didn’t meet our usual standards. That was heartbreaking.”

Additionally, the fluctuating prices of raw materials, particularly grains and spices, frequently disrupted her operations. “One day, grains cost one thing, and the next day, the price had doubled. It was frustrating,” she says, highlighting the unpredictability of managing costs in her growing business.

Despite these challenges, Josephine has remained committed to creating nutritious, affordable, and accessible food options for children.

TURNING CHALLENGES INTO OPPORTUNITIES

Despite the challenges she faced, Josephine identified several ways to scale her business and make a lasting impact. One key strategy was her focus on community engagement. Recognizing the potential to empower others, she developed a network of distributors, prioritizing women and stay-at-home mothers. This approach not only provided these women with a source of income but also significantly expanded Josephine’s market reach, allowing her nutritious products to reach families far and wide.

To manage costs while maintaining the quality of her products, Josephine turned to local sourcing. She established strong relationships with local farmers and trusted spice markets, ensuring her ingredients were always fresh, affordable, and of the highest standard. This approach not only supported her business but also bolstered the local agricultural economy.

In addition to running her business, Josephine became a mentor, sharing her expertise with young people in the nutritious food sector. She encouraged them to see agriculture and food processing as viable career paths, emphasizing the potential for innovation and growth within the industry. Through her mentorship, Josephine has inspired a new generation to embrace the opportunities in nutritious food production and contribute to building healthier communities.

Awari Olounje Omode Mix grain pap Source: https://awariolounjeomode.com.ng/

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

Josephine dreams of making Awari Olounje Omode a household name in Nigeria and beyond. She is currently developing new products, such as a lactation pap for nursing mothers, to broaden her customer base. “I want every child in Nigeria to have access to healthy, affordable food,” she shared.

Josephine also envisions expanding her partnerships and scaling up her production capacity while maintaining the quality her customers trust. “It’s not just about selling products,” she explained. “For me, it’s about building healthier families and a stronger future.”

Awari Olounje Omode Nutty pap Source: https://awariolounjeomode.com.ng/

Through her resilience and passion, Mrs. Josephine Adesina has turned a simple principle into a thriving business that empowers women, uplifts youth, and nourishes the next generation. 

We invite you to join this journey of healthier families and empowered communities by exploring Awari Olounje Omode’s range of nutritious products. Visit https://awariolounjeomode.com.ng to learn more and support this inspiring initiative. 

If you would like to learn more about how Inspire Decisions Consulting through its EPIC Accelerator Program, supported by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is supporting nutritious food sector enterprises like Awari Olounje Omode, visit https://inspiredecisions.com/gain/