*By Rotimi Odofin*
Miss Tosin Joseph operates a thriving food business at Ganaja Junction, the commercial hub of Lokoja. As the CEO of Supernatural Food Catering, she reveals that 80-90% of the income generated from her food vendor business is reinvested into operational costs. This is largely due to the significant human effort, spices, ingredients, and raw materials required on a daily basis.
This trend is mirrored in nearly every household across Nigeria. Miss Joseph attributes the rising prices of meals at her restaurant to the overall increase in the cost of living, driven by inflation in the country. However, she takes pride in the fact that many of her customers find satisfaction in her offerings, often overlooking the prices because of the high quality and standards of the food she provides.
Tosin’s passion for the food and restaurant industry stems from her upbringing; she learned the trade from her mother, who has been in the business since Tosin was a child. Beyond her personal passion, she views her business as a platform for empowering other women. Currently, she employs no fewer than 15 women and girls, all of whom enjoy daily meals and receive a fair wage for their work. Despite the challenges of operating a food vendor business in Lokoja, she has made consistent progress, evolving from using a simple food cooler on a table to establishing a welcoming and conducive shop for her services.
Looking ahead, Tosin aspires to achieve her dream of establishing an international franchise akin to McDonald’s and Chicken Republic. She remains steadfast in her faith, believing that with determination and divine guidance, her vision will come to fruition.
She advocates for young women to refrain from engaging in social vices and prostitution, encouraging them instead to pursue specific trades that will enable them to achieve economic independence and make a meaningful impact. She emphasizes that the era of relying solely on a man for financial support is long over; every woman should actively participate in economic activities to complement their husbands’ efforts.
She expresses a strong belief in the potential for Nigeria’s prosperity, with the hope that, in the near future, the country’s economy will stabilize and become a model for other African nations to emulate
