Bosede’s story: serving meals & serving communities

Bosede Laide Akindele grew up cooking with her mother and developed a passion for feeding to people. Her love of food and desire to financially support herself led to the creation of her event catering company, Deluxefoodie. The business provides more than just food, it also provides jobs and training opportunities to people in Bosede’s community, while boosting the local economy. 

“My journey into entrepreneurship was shaped by my parents, who firmly believed that every woman should be able to support herself financially before marriage. From an early age, they instilled in me the value of independence, resilience, and being a faithful helpmate to my husband by contributing meaningfully to the family. I also wanted to inspire other young women to create something for themselves, rather than depending on others for survival.

My passion for food began when I was a child. As the only girl in my family, I often joined my mother in the kitchen. She was renowned for her tenacity and culinary skill in preparing meals for others. I grew up waking at 4 a.m. to accompany her to the market, preparing food for primary school children, and helping to clean up afterwards. From her, I not only learned recipes but also the discipline of service and hospitality. Later, I formally trained in catering and food safety, determined to set a higher standard in the industry, where hygiene and presentation are just as important as taste. 

When I attended events, I was often disappointed to see food served carelessly, poorly packaged, disorganised, and sometimes unsafe. I wanted to change that. At Deluxefoodie, we focus on quality, safety, and presentation. I take pride in knowing that when people eat our food, they enjoy it without fear of food poisoning or illness. That commitment to excellence is what sets us apart.

Running my business hasn’t been without challenges. As a woman entrepreneur, I’ve faced difficulties with staffing, especially managing male employees who sometimes resist female leadership. Relocating from Lagos to Abeokuta also meant starting fresh, learning the local business environment, and building new networks from scratch. 

The turning point came when I joined the Road to Growth programme, supported by the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and run in partnership with FATE Foundation. The training exceeded my expectations. I learned how to price effectively, negotiate with confidence, and adapt my business to my environment. Through the programme, I also built valuable networks, many of my first clients in Abeokuta came from connections I made there.

Since then, my business has grown significantly. Our revenue has increased by nearly 100%, and I have expanded from working with two contract staff to employing five permanent staff and several contract workers, depending on event size. We also invested in a building that houses both our catering operations and a catering school, where we train others. Recently, I was invited by the Ogun State Government to train young graduates in catering, further expanding our community impact. 

To me, success means impact. My business is empowering young women to support themselves before marriage so they can support their families and build stronger communities. My dream is for Deluxefoodie to thrive even when I’m away, with women I’ve trained training others in turn, creating a ripple effect of empowerment.

When women are supported, families and communities are strengthened. Programmes like Road to Growth equip us with the tools and confidence to build sustainable businesses. For me, entrepreneurship is more than food, it’s about creating opportunities, dignity, and legacy.”