In an interview with Deyemi Olowa, food entrepreneur and chef Bolatito Alimi Suberu shares how her seven-year culinary journey, faith in God and passion for healthy eating inspired the Salad & More Fair, a platform designed to promote wellness, celebrate local food businesses and make healthy living more enjoyable.
For Chef Bolatito, the journey into the food industry was not simply about preparing delicious meals. It was also about finding ways to make healthy eating appealing, accessible and enjoyable.
What began seven years ago as a personal love for salads and a desire to create nutritious meals gradually evolved into a business venture, TMC Seafood Restaurant, and eventually a bigger vision: the Salad & More Fair.
Looking back, Chef Bola describes her growth as a beautiful journey shaped by passion, persistence, learning and faith. She admits that she did not start out knowing everything about the food business. Instead, her experience at TMC Seafood taught her valuable lessons about cooking, creativity, leadership, resilience and understanding customers.
“Over the years, I’ve learned so much—not just about cooking, but about business, creativity, leadership and understanding what people really want,” she says.
Her early experiences also influenced how she approaches food today. What initially began as an interest in preparing tasty meals gradually became a more intentional culinary practice, with greater attention to ingredients, presentation, nutritional balance and the overall dining experience.
“I began asking myself, how can I make this healthier without taking away the flavour? How can I make healthy food something people actually look forward to eating?” she explains.
Her seven years in the industry have also given her a closer look at Abuja’s evolving food culture. She describes the city’s culinary scene as diverse and vibrant, driven by a blend of Nigerian flavours, international cuisines, talented chefs and growing interest in healthier food options.
“There’s growing interest in healthier meals, fresh ingredients, salads, balanced portions and knowing what goes into our food. At the same time, people still want food that is tasty, beautiful and enjoyable,” she says.
Bolatito believes this growing awareness presents an opportunity for food entrepreneurs to rethink how healthy meals are prepared, presented and marketed without compromising on flavour.
For her, the city has been more than a place to run a restaurant. It has provided the environment and connections to expand a personal passion into a broader initiative that brings food, wellness and business together.
The idea for the Salad & More Fair, however, came from a moment that was both ordinary and deeply personal. Bolatito recalls that she was preparing lunch for her customers when an idea came to her, one she believes was inspired by the Holy Spirit.
“I believe that was the moment God gave me the vision,” she says, reflecting on the experience that eventually led to the creation of the Fair.
The idea was to create a platform that would extend her passion beyond the restaurant, bringing together healthy food, culinary creativity, wellness, entrepreneurship and community engagement. But having a vision was only the beginning. She knew she had to take deliberate steps to turn the idea into reality.
For Bolatito, the theme of this first edition, Fresh. Healthy. Local., captures the values she hopes to promote. Fresh represents quality ingredients, healthy reflects making better dietary choices without sacrificing flavour, while local celebrates farmers, chefs and food entrepreneurs whose work contributes to the food industry.
She believes there is an opportunity to bridge the gap between healthy eating, local food businesses and the wider community. While Abuja has no shortage of culinary talent, she hopes the Fair will give more entrepreneurs the visibility they need while encouraging consumers to explore healthier food options.
“It’s about connecting people, promoting healthier choices and creating opportunities for local food businesses to grow,” she explains.
Bringing the vision to life has not been without its challenges. Bolatito describes the planning process as a mixture of excitement, uncertainty and learning. One of her biggest lessons has been the importance of teamwork and recognising that a major vision cannot be achieved alone.
“Faith gives you the vision, but the right people, hard work and persistence help bring that vision to life,” she says.
Her long-term goal is to establish a national platform that celebrates local food, encourages healthier lifestyles and supports the growth of food businesses across the country.
For Bolatito, the bigger picture is rooted in faith and a sense of purpose. She sees the Salad & More Fair as an opportunity to demonstrate how an idea, when pursued with commitment, can grow into something that benefits others.
For now, the focus is on bringing that vision to life in Abuja, one meal, one conversation and one connection at a time. What began with a simple love for salads has grown into a broader ambition to reshape how people experience healthy food, celebrate local culinary talent and discover the possibilities within Nigeria’s food industry.
