BYOB: Build Your Own Business

Oze

Welcome to the BYOB podcast! Brought to you by Oze—the number one growth partner for small businesses across Africa. On the Build Your Own Business podcast, we bring you honest, unfiltered conversations with entrepreneurs from across the continent about how they’ve built their businesses—the challenges they’ve faced, the lessons they’ve learned, and the strategies that helped them grow. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale, this podcast gives you the insights and inspiration to take your business to the next level.

Episodes

  1. How My Face Built My Business - Big Samps Market (Adwoa Agblobloshie)

    Feb 20

    How My Face Built My Business - Big Samps Market (Adwoa Agblobloshie)

    In this episode of Build Your Own Business, Winnie and Dave sit down with Elselund Ewudzie-Sampson also known as Adwoa  Agblobloshie, the founder of Big Samps Market, one of Ghana’s leading grocery delivery services. What started in a small kitchen with national service savings and a dream has grown into a brand that helps busy households shop smarter and cook faster by bringing fresh groceries to your doorstep.Through her journey, Adwoa shares how creativity, consistency, and showing up personally helped her turn a concept that was unfamiliar in Ghana into a business that customers trust. You’ll hear how she overcame early challenges, used her background in marketing to connect with customers, and turned feedback into innovative meal bundles that make life easier for families across Accra. You’ll learn: - How her entrepreneurial journey began with selling basics in university and evolved into Big Samps - Why she leaned into showing her face and building trust through social media- How creativity and being relatable helped shift a foreign idea into local culture - The importance of persistence, consistency, and product innovation- How customer feedback shaped her unique bundles and offerings - Practical insights on building community through content and engagement 🔗 Links & Resources Follow Big Samps on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/big_sampsgh/ Shop with Big Samps: https://bigsampsmarket.com/Contact via WhatsApp: +233 549 964 842 Watch the Kitchen Nuggets Show: https://www.instagram.com/kitchennuggets 👉 If you’re a small business owner or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode shows how starting small, staying consistent, and putting yourself out there can turn an idea into a thriving business. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real stories from African entrepreneurs.

    38 min
  2. How a Marketing Guy Built One of Nigeria’s Coolest Furniture Brands (The Guy Behind the Tobi Table) - Boho Studios

    10/13/2025

    How a Marketing Guy Built One of Nigeria’s Coolest Furniture Brands (The Guy Behind the Tobi Table) - Boho Studios

    In this episode of Build Your Own Business, Hachi speaks with Solomon Akinsanya, founder of Boho, one of Nigeria’s coolest young furniture brands making stylish, functional designs affordable. Solomon never imagined himself as an entrepreneur. He started out as a marketing professional and stumbled into furniture after working at a furniture company. With his eye for design and marketing know-how, he launched Boho in 2023 and quickly built a brand that resonates with customers searching for “Pinterest-worthy” furniture made locally. From sketching his first table on paper, to building prototypes in his apartment, to handling the unpredictable schedules of artisans, Solomon shares the gritty reality of building a furniture business from scratch and how Boho has become a trusted brand in just two years. You’ll learn: How Solomon used his marketing background to build a furniture company Why his first product — the “Tobi Table” — made an impact The challenges of working with artisans and lessons learned Why paying artisans per product instead of a salary changed everything How Boho gained customer trust through reviews and referrals The role of social media and marketing in scaling quickly Why Solomon sees Boho’s future as a marketplace for empowering artisans ⏱ Timestamps 03:21 – From 9–5 marketing to starting Boho 07:54 – Designing the first Tobi Table 12:17 – Getting the first real customer 15:39 – Building prototypes in his apartment 21:12 – Challenges of working with artisans 25:18 – Why paying artisans per product works better than salaries 30:47 – How customer referrals fueled growth 36:55 – Marketing strategies that built Boho’s brand 42:01 – Lessons learned and what’s next for Boho 🔗 Links & Resources Follow Boho on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boho.studio.ng/ Website: boho.ng Visit Oze: https://bit.ly/ozesp Download the Oze App: https://oze.app.link/zNtAbSKg2Vb Oze Business School: https://bit.ly/spobs 👉 If you’ve ever wondered how marketing skills can turn into a real business, this episode shows how one idea grew into one of Nigeria’s coolest furniture brands. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real stories from African entrepreneurs.

    42 min
  3. How This Banker Quit Her 9–5 to Build a Fashion Brand (Getting startup capital from her husband, surviving tailor drama & going viral by modeling her own designs) - Mode by Tantish

    10/03/2025

    How This Banker Quit Her 9–5 to Build a Fashion Brand (Getting startup capital from her husband, surviving tailor drama & going viral by modeling her own designs) - Mode by Tantish

    In this episode of Build Your Own Business, Hachi sits down with Tayo Owoeye, CEO of Mode by Tantish, a ready-to-wear fashion brand known for chic, African-print inspired dresses. Tayo’s journey is a powerful story of reinvention. After years of working at Access Bank, she walked away from the security of a 9–5 job to pursue her true passion: fashion. What started with selling clothes and accessories back in university has now grown into Mode by Tantish, a brand known for stylish ready-to-wear outfits that blend creativity with African culture. Her path wasn’t smooth. Tayo faced disappearing tailors, betrayal from trusted staff, and the challenges of staying consistent while raising a family. But with persistence, creativity, and the courage to put herself in front of her brand, she transformed her passion into a thriving business. You’ll learn: How Tayo transitioned from banking into full-time fashion entrepreneurship Why fashion school gave her the knowledge to succeed The pitfalls of managing tailors and how to stay ahead of challenges How modeling her own designs changed her brand’s trajectory The viral Instagram post that earned her 4,000 followers overnight The lessons she learned on trust, resilience, and consistency Why “knowing your craft” is her golden rule for new entrepreneurs ⏱ Timestamps 03:32 – Selling clothes & accessories in university 04:17 – From fashion school to a banking career 07:52 – Getting startup capital from her husband 09:31 – Selling her first collection on Instagram 11:41 – Pregnancy, pandemic and taking a break 14:59 – When tailors show you “premium wahala” 18:59 – Putting herself front and center on social media 20:37 – The turning point: modeling her brand herself 23:37 – Going viral: 4,000 followers from one post 27:59 – Lessons learned: trust, consistency & knowing your craft 🔗 Links & ResourcesFollow Mode by Tantish on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modebytantish/ Visit Oze: https://bit.ly/ozesp Download the Oze App: https://oze.app.link/COLCczTe2Vb Oze Business School: https://bit.ly/spobs 👉 Thinking of quitting your 9–5 to start a business? This episode gives you the honest truth — the struggles, the breakthroughs, and the lessons that can help you build your own brand. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real stories from African entrepreneurs.

    34 min
  4. How Social Media Turned Her ₦16,000 Side Hustle Into a Real Company (From posting daily on Instagram to Lagos Supermarket Shelves) - Papuna Foods

    09/29/2025

    How Social Media Turned Her ₦16,000 Side Hustle Into a Real Company (From posting daily on Instagram to Lagos Supermarket Shelves) - Papuna Foods

    In this episode of Build Your Own Business, Hachi sits down with Adaobi, CEO & Founder of Papuna Foods, to unpack how she transformed a side hustle into a thriving food brand with the power of social media. Starting with just ₦16,000, Adaobi turned her passion for nourishing her child into a business that now produces fruit and nut-infused pap for families across Nigeria. She shares raw lessons about consistency, building an audience online, and scaling from posting daily on Instagram to supplying supermarkets across Lagos. You’ll learn: How Adaobi used social media to grow her customer base from scratch Why hygiene and trust were the foundation of Papuna Foods The struggles of moving from solo hustling to managing staff and factories How consistency online turned followers into customers Lessons from scaling into supermarkets across Lagos The role of COVID in shaping her business and why funding matters ⏱ Timestamps 02:10 – From fashion drop-shipping to pap for kids 08:15 – Quitting 9–5 while pregnant to pursue business 11:45 – The ₦16,000 story: Starting Papuna Foods 19:04 – Knowing your audience: marketing like a mom 29:00 – Ownership mindset & rewarding staff initiative 36:54 – Funding struggles, angel investors & scaling into powders 40:36 – Mistakes, staffing chaos & learning culture 43:30 – Final advice for entrepreneurs: consistency wins 🔗 Links & Resources Follow Papuna Foods on Instagram: https://instagram.com/papunafoods Find Papuna Foods in select Lagos supermarkets like Jendol & more Visit Oze: https://bit.ly/ozesp Download the Oze App: https://oze.app.link/f9AGD4Uc2Vb Oze Business School: https://bit.ly/spobs If you’re building your own business, this conversation is packed with unfiltered lessons on grit, consistency, and how social media can transform even the smallest side hustle into a real company. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real stories from African entrepreneurs.

    44 min
  5. How a Don Jazzy Shoutout Changed Her Business Forever (The unexpected journey from side hustle to procurement expert) — Mobolahub

    09/12/2025

    How a Don Jazzy Shoutout Changed Her Business Forever (The unexpected journey from side hustle to procurement expert) — Mobolahub

    In this first episode of Build Your Own Business Podcast, Hachi talks with Omobolanle (Mobolahub), a procurement expert whose entrepreneurial journey went from selling jelly shoes in university to surviving debt and getting an unexpected boost from Nigerian music legend Don Jazzy. That one shoutout turned her struggling small business into a viral success — but Omobolanle didn’t stop there. She pivoted, adapted, and eventually built Mobolahub, a procurement service that helps businesses and individuals source goods directly from China without ever stepping foot there. Her story is packed with lessons on resilience, marketing, and the power of consistency. You’ll learn: How a Don Jazzy shoutout became the turning point for her business The pitfalls of importing without understanding shipping and costs Why she pivoted from teaching to procurement How to build trust with customers as a small business The role of social media and ads in sustaining growth Key lessons on consistency, avoiding the wrong investors, and scaling wisely ⏱ Timestamps 03:32 – Starting with jelly shoes in university 07:04 – First big mistake: debt from importing goods 09:25 – Taking on investors too early 12:22 – The Don Jazzy story: a shoutout that changed everything 16:18 – Pivoting into teaching and procurement 19:30 – How to buy from China without ever going there 25:05 – Marketing, ads, and building trust with customers 28:02 – Three lessons every small business owner should know 🔗 Links & Resources Follow Mobolahub on Instagram: https://instagram.com/mobolahub Visit Oze: https://bit.ly/ozesp Download the Oze App: https://oze.app.link/LYwsj8oc2Vb Oze Business School: https://bit.ly/spobs 👉 If you’re a small business owner or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode shows how one viral moment can change everything — but also why sustainability depends on consistency, marketing, and smart business choices. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real stories from African entrepreneurs.

    31 min
  6. He Put Suya in a Burger… and Built a Lagos Food Brand (The Food Business Lessons on Staff Theft, Inventory, and Resilience)

    08/15/2025

    He Put Suya in a Burger… and Built a Lagos Food Brand (The Food Business Lessons on Staff Theft, Inventory, and Resilience)

    In this episode of Build Your Own Business, Hachi sits down with Feranmi Ajetomobi, co-founder of Ni Fries, the Lagos-based food brand famous for its suya burgers. Feranmi’s story is one of grit, reinvention, and tough lessons. He dropped out of university in 2013 to start a food business with akara burgers, only to face financial collapse and theft. Years later, during the COVID lockdowns, he experimented at home, put suya in a burger, and struck gold. With a mix of creativity and community-driven marketing, Ni Fries has grown into one of Lagos’s most talked-about food brands. But it hasn’t been easy. From stolen cash and rogue staff, to navigating Lagos logistics and dealing with landlords, Feranmi shares what it really takes to build a food business in Nigeria. You’ll learn: How Feranmi went from dropping out of school to building Ni Fries The mistakes of “over-trading” and how food businesses lose money without knowing it Why inventory management is life-or-death in food How a stolen ₦1M nearly ended everything in year one The birth of the suya burger during COVID lockdowns How influencers and community growth hacks put Ni Fries on the map Why partnerships and shared kitchens are key to survival in Lagos Lessons on staff theft, operations, and protecting your margins ⏱ Timestamps 03:41 – Dropping out of school to start a food business 07:15 – Losing almost ₦1M in stolen cash 11:25 – Discovering “over-trading” and food business math 15:44 – Restarting during COVID lockdown with home experiments 19:02 – The birth of the suya burger 23:28 – Growth hacks: sending burgers to micro-influencers 29:55 – The logistics nightmare of Lagos deliveries 35:12 – Staff betrayal: when your ops manager steals from you 41:09 – Inventory management as the #1 survival skill 46:25 – Partnerships, shared kitchens & reducing risk 52:33 – Advice for young food entrepreneurs 🔗 Links & Resources Follow Ni Fries on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ni_fries/ Visit Oze: https://bit.ly/ozesp Download the Oze App: https://oze.app.link/PmjG6GOg2Vb Oze Business School: https://bit.ly/spobs 👉 If you’re a food entrepreneur or dreaming of starting a restaurant, this episode is packed with unfiltered lessons on money, logistics, and resilience. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real stories from African entrepreneurs.

    52 min

About

Welcome to the BYOB podcast! Brought to you by Oze—the number one growth partner for small businesses across Africa. On the Build Your Own Business podcast, we bring you honest, unfiltered conversations with entrepreneurs from across the continent about how they’ve built their businesses—the challenges they’ve faced, the lessons they’ve learned, and the strategies that helped them grow. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale, this podcast gives you the insights and inspiration to take your business to the next level.