My story about how Bawalicious came about might help encourage someone not to give up on their dreams.
You know school was about to go on strike and there was no vacancy for me to travel back to Lagos. So I wrote 5 different application letters to go job hunting.
The first Hotel I went to never believed me when I said I am a chef and was comparing me to their chef who is a full-grown man and huge why me looking all small and skinny, kept asking questions I don't understand. The most annoying aspect is when they ask me how possible someone at my age has worked with different countrymen and nobody knows me which they have never heard of me in kaduna. They were asking who trained me or which of the culinary school I attended.
I was like allow me to go and prove my skills in the kitchen, but then the H.R said they don't allow any type of people in their kitchen except professionals and he does not believe what was written on my C.V.
Then he ended our discussion by saying:"no problem I will give you a call".
I left the office and while I was approaching the last floor, I saw this elderly woman who called me and ask me if I can help fix her small phone that she needs to call someone and the phone just went off, she knew the battery was fully charged before she left home.
I collected the phone which is a small Nokia, removed the battery, raised it to press it to the terminal well, the phone came up but once I drop it down it will go off. So I said it just needed a little paper to support it.
We could not find any piece of paper on the ground, I said let me go check one of the trash bins I saw while coming down the steps, I was sure we would find one there, I went to the basket and I saw a brown envelop inside it then took it out to tear from it just to see a red sign exactly the one I use to differentiate all my letters, so I won't interchange them, I said let me open it and check it's content, to my surprise, it was my handwritten application letter, C.V and 2 passport that were inside the envelope.
That was the envelope I submitted to the H.R.
The distance between that place to my house was like from Surulele to Yaba but I trekked back home because I was very sad, I just threw the remaining envelopes in my hand into the air.
I spent the whole day in a moody State and kept thinking how to fix my brand.
After 3 days I decided to go by the name a music producer created for me which is Bawalicious then asked a graphic designer to make a logo for me when everything was done, I created my first page (2021).
Just to have contents to post I went back to a restaurant I once cooked for and requested for a job, she gave me the job because she knew I was good, but then it was not easy for me there, because since I was the one that came asking her for a job, she knew I was broke and needed it and took advantage of it to use me, but I never complained.
Just to build #Bawalicious and make my name known I kept doing it, and I kept taking so many jobs that won't even pay me well, just to have contents to post.
Fast forward to today, I never believed I will attain this height in cooking.
One of the advantages of the online visibility I have earned for myself is that I can actually earn twice my salary in a week by writing out recipes and creating menus for people.
A lot of people are like you are good, why not open your restaurant or culinary school and start selling food?
Most people tell my Bawa, Why don't you become your own boss? but I have my plans and I still have a lot of places I want to travel to and exploit my knowledge.
I have worked with different foreigners and learned from top Asian chefs and believe me when I say I am still not satisfied with what I have as I still want to learn more, build connections and earn big.
I am not yet close to what I dreamt of and planned to achieve but I am not backing down until I get there. And I plan to achieve all and even more, because I'm very much aware that the world is evolving 💯.
Thanks to you all who have been part of the growth of this community. 🙏
Linus, Ruth Shedrack
10 months agoGreater dimensions,sir.
Okonkwo Cynthia Ifeoma
10 months agoGreat inspiration. God will surely seal your contract with Him.
Wealth
10 months agoYour story is amazing and very inspiring sir , just like what am facing now ,wanted to chat you up for a while now buh am scared I won't even get a response,from this story right here I've actually gotten the piece of advice and encouragement I needed,I really appreciate this. I wish and pray to work with you some day .
Simi
10 months agoSoo inspiring Bawa Sometimes we are our own motivation, no one else!
Abigeal Ifeoluwa Aderounmu
10 months agoSo inspiring. Learnt so much from your stories. I want to become a professional Chef too someday. I will work towards it.
Salome David
10 months agoYou going places. This is such an inspiring story
Nafisah Raji
10 months agoYour story is so inspiring,keep on pushing hard and the sky is going your limit
Munachim Amanda
10 months agoYour story inspire me today to work harder. May God continue to bless you
limarow gayus sawok
10 months agoQuite inspiring and motivating ❤️❤️Bawalicious
Chioma Lydia love
9 months agoMore greater heights to you, chef bawa.i wish to be a chef like you someday.
Itam Princess
10 months agoYou'll attain your God ordained height. More success sir. I hope to be a chef too, soon!🙇 All I need is mentorship, knowledge, God and the resources.
Cheddarz Connexionz
10 months agoI have a dream of becoming a chef as well.
Jephthah Stephen
10 months agoAllah zai bishe ka danwa
Onyinyechi Chizuru
10 months agoWhat an inspiration. I hope it gives me enough to start mine.
Theophilia Ziriyi Didam
6 months agoBawa by reading this am lifed
Brenda Manglim
10 months agoGod bless your hustle sir
Victoria
10 months agoGreater dimension die hard spirit
https://www.instagram.com/haramshelia/
10 months agoThe lesson is sometimes you need to make sacrifices in order to grow. You are paying your dues Bawa and I am hopeful you will be such a great and record breaking known Chef around the world. Congratulations in Advance
Augustine
10 months agoThis is inspiring. Please keep up the good work and never stop pushing forward till you achieve the greater goal and vision that you have
Silvia Silas
10 months agoMay God continue to bless the works of your hands.