Founder and Creative Director, Zeelicious Foods, Winifred Emmanuel Nwania has said that her love for cooking is a passion that has grown into a cooking business. While very few people have the perseverance(毅力) and diligence to go after their dreams, and make it a successful career, she is among the few living out their dreams.
Nwania grew up in Lagos with her mom and six siblings. She enjoyed a loving relationship with her dad, who passed away when she was only 12 years of age. Losing him aroused an intense desire to succeed within her. She decided making a success of her life will be the most ideal way to honour her absent father and make her dogged mother proud of the woman she raised. She grew up deprived(剥夺) of most of the comforts her father provided for the family. But, she didn't let this bother her. Instead she learned to turn all the sour lemons life threw at her into sweet lemonade.
After graduating from the University of Lagos, with a degree in Economics, she landed a high-paying job with an oil and gas firm in Lagos. Her career seemed to have taken off to a flying start. But her heart was pulling her in a different direction. With zero business connections, and little to no savings, she quit her job. And the Zeelicious Foods brand was born.
"Frankly, I didn't know much about business. I just knew I love to cook and I love to see people enjoy my culinary creations. I also loved helping the people who contacted me asking for recipes and cooking tips. I knew if I did this for the rest of my life I will be one of the happiest women in the world", Nwania said.
Zeelicious Foods is now making inroads onto the big screen. The cooking show airs on free TV channels in Nigeria and Ghana. And talks are ongoing for it to get picked up by seven other TV stations across Africa. But, this young lady isn't done yet. Nwania is working on two cookbooks for healthy eaters. She's also working on completing the new Zeelicious website, which she's so excited about.
