At just 30 years old, Oluwatosin Adejumo, a Home Economics graduate with a Nigerian Certificate in Education, had already endured some of life’s hardest struggles. After losing her mother four years ago, she was left with little more than sheer determination. To survive, she turned to a small puff-puff business, selling daily to keep herself afloat.
“After graduation, I lost my mum, and that made it impossible for me to continue with my education. Along the way, I met another mother figure, Mrs. Funmilayo Grace Ajakaiye, who works as a caterer. I often followed her to work, and through that, I was able to save a bit. With the support of suppliers who gave me goods on credit, I started a puff-puff business and repaid them after sales,” she recounted.
Her breakthrough came unexpectedly during a solidarity walk when Governor Ademola Adeleke noticed her selling puff-puff. He invited her forward, bought everything she had prepared, and gave her ₦50,000 in cash.
She narrated the moment: “As I was selling puff-puff, everyone around was rejoicing with him, and I joined in, shouting ‘Imole.’ That was when he saw me and called me. He asked for the price of the puff-puff, and after I told him, he gave me money. Then he asked me to come inside, inquired if I was a graduate, and when I said yes, he handed me over to the Commissioner of Affairs and Protocol.”
But that was only the beginning. The governor went further to announce that Oluwatosin would no longer have to rely on puff-puff sales for survival. Instead, she was appointed as a chef at the Osun State Government House.
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